A new journey....but saying good bye is VERY hard..

Well, after 13 years working in special education in the public school system, I have made the hard and very sad decision to move to another area of my career in Occupational Therapy.  I have felt the call from God for many years.  I would say every year this will be my last year but still remain.  I remained for many reasons and the biggest one is the kids......I would call them my kids..  I guess when God wants something he will do whatever he needs to do to have you move on to what he is calling you to do.  Life this last year has been very difficult in my career and in my home financially.  I don't usually talk about that because I find it to be very personal.  I work hard to be the best COTA that I can be and I so love working with the kids.  I work hard to keep our finances up and stable but there was just never enough money.   With the medical bills and other bills adding up well it took us financially to an ugly place.  So with the both of them together, God had me on rock bottom.  He had me where I thought it was an ugly place but for God.........it was to be beautiful.   As Christmas break began I knew he was calling me to make the change.  I had the right people with the right words come to me and tell me it was time.  I had such support from people that I would call friends but not close friends.  I do call them close in my heart now though.  All three of them guided me to make this horrific and sad decision to say good bye to working the children and to move on to working in another area of occupational therapy that I love just as much......Nursing Homes....aka SNF.  I have been doing PRN (which means when ever a nursing home needed me they would call)  and I knew how much I loved it.  I would work a full day at the school and then go to the nursing home and be so excited and so lifted.  I think I could have done another 8 hours.  Well, I am excited about the new path God has finally got me on..after I have fought him for years.  I know financially it will take Mike and I to a place that we have never known about.  We will have savings and we will have the extra money for the fun we want to do and most importantly...........all of our bills will be paid and paid on time!!!  It will give me the change to grown in the area of geriatrics and to build my ability to work in the area of occupational therapy.  I can promise my life in children is not completely done.  I will continue to work very heavy in the adoption world.  I hope I can return again this summer to work for another company by providing Occupational Therapy training and just loving on the kids.  So....as I begin this new area of my life........I am thankful for my time in Peds Occupational Therapy because I truly believe it is where my heart fell into international adoption and where my heart fell for the children who are physically involved but still have the special and true spirit that can teach us all the meaning of love.