Super Thursday

For my first "official" blog post of married life there is much news to share. As of this last Thursday, August 13th, I have resigned from the Hilbert School District as Director of Library Media Services. As many of you are aware, I have been going through a somewhat tumultuous off-season. First I was going to be dropped to 50% time, so I went and found part-time employment after our honeymoon. Less than a week after starting I received a call from my Superintendent telling me they had located some funds and that he was going to recommend my time be increased. Jumping to the end, I found out last Wednesday that he was going to recommend at this coming Monday night board meeting that I be reinstated to a shared position between Hilbert and a neighboring school district who had cut all of their Media Specialist positions at the end of last year. After many years of being a media specialist I can assure you that when you are made to serve two "masters", especially in education, very little good comes of it.

As we, along with many of you, have been praying for this situation, our recent prayers have been that God would give us clear direction and make the choice obvious. I really think that was accomplished. Paralleling the school storyline, my part-time job had been going very well. I really enjoy what I am doing and the office in which I work. I currently work for Appraisal Group One of Oshkosh, WI. This company is not just your run-of-the-mill appraisal firm.

At AGO, they provide specialized appraisal services including eminent domain valuation, which is essentially fighting for the personal landowner's rights against large utility companies or the Dept. of Transportation (whose intent is to either take or use land to run pipelines, power lines, wind turbines, etc. without truly valuing the impact on people's property value). Additionally, their skill in expert testimony has led to identifying this in-depth style of appraisal to be referred to as "forensic" appraisal. A forensic appraiser then is a recognized expert witness who gives testimony in court as to the value of a property.

So, I begin my new journey as an appraiser trainee. The owner of the company has made a commitment to put me on the full-time fast track of licensing. What a blessing and opportunity. We will have to live frugally these next few years until I reach all my levels of licensing, but God is always faithful and as we diligently trust upon Him, He is faithful in ALL things.

I realize there will be many sacrifices along this path to come, and some have already begun to happen. I am grateful for such a supportive and loving wife in Kari. I can't begin to express how calming and stabilizing her support through all this has been. Additionally, it should be noted that she has had to sacrifice her RAV4 for the cause. This was an incredible gesture on her part as that car represented a lot of different experiences and feelings for her these past few years. She has given that sporty woman-on-the-go persona over and we now have joined the mini-van brigade! :| (Although I must say she will always be a "sporty" woman-on-the-go in my eyes. :))

Please continue to pray for us, and thank you for your continued encouragement. We greatly appreciate it.

Brent