Just within the last two days, so much has changed for so many of the people I know and love.

1. I got offered a job with Temecula Unified.

2. One of my friends just got engaged.

3. Another friend of mine just found out she is pregnant.

4. Another friend just reunited with his father after some time of estrangement.

5. Another friend’s family has reunited after 15 years of broken relationships and estrangement.

6. Another friend just learned she is moving to Europe for two years.

And that is just the last two days. Over the last couple of months, my brother has broken up with his long term girlfriend, been laid off, and finally rehired. My mother has found work after months of unemployment. My cousin’s biological family found her after 29 years. And one of my good friend’s passed the first step in her application process for the FBI.

So the change has been good for everyone, even if it took us through some roller coaster rides. If I get too analytical and I might start stressing about what will happen in 2010, but I am choosing instead to enjoy the change set forth for me in the next year, without knowing what will happen thereafter. And for everyone else as well.

As always, the Lord is good. He blessed me with a job offer from Temecula Unified today. But I must say, it was a roller coaster of a day. My poor adrenals never knew it so bad. It all started Monday when my colleagues approached me with an article in the newspaper reporting that our district will be able to hire 28 teachers back for a one year temporary contract. But then we figured, if we had to hear about it from a newspaper, we probably weren’t any of the 28. Well then as I was walking through the office, our school secretary told me that the principal wanted to talk to me. I went into his office and he proceeded to tell me that he may have some good news for me on Wednesday morning so that if Chapparal High School called me wanting me to sign a contract, to tell them to wait. I asked him how he knew I interviewed for a position with Chapparal High School and he said that they had called asking for a reference on me that morning, good sign. So for the last couple of days, I thought I might have a choice. So many pluses and minuses lined up for both schools. But how awesome it would be to have a choice, even though I didn’t really know what I would pick. I silently hoped God would just open one door because if two were opened, he would literally have to shout the answer down from Heaven in order for me to know which one he wanted.

This morning I come to school and open my email to find an email from our director of human resources. I wasn’t one of the 28. She recommended I take Temecula’s offer. So all day, I’ve been waiting for my administrators to finish calling back the school and giving their recommendations for me. And all the while, I am worrying about whether or not they would be good enough and whether or not they had wanted me or were deciding between me and someone else. But by three o’clock I still didn’t have a call and I began to think that I just didn’t get the position. Wouldn’t they know by now?

So I did what any stressed woman would do—I went and got a pedicure and bought a new outfit. And as I was paying for my clothes, my phone vibrated. I had a message. It was Temecula Unified, offering me a job. The message was left at 5:05. I returned the call at 5:35 to hear Chris, the gentlemen on the other end of the phone tell me that things had changed over the last 25 minutes and that the position may not even be available anymore for me to take as enrollment had decreased at one of the sister high schools. He said he’d have to call me back. I couldn’t help but laugh. This was getting ridiculous and I didnt’ have any tears left. But 20 minutes later, he did call me back, informing me that the position was still indeed available. And of course, I said yes. One door opened. Another closed. God might as well have shouted down from heaven, right?

Temecula, oh hot Temecula, here I come.

This is a doctored up version inspired by a relative from my past. Delicious! Refreshing! And can be adjusted to your tastes! 🙂

Here is my favorite version. And as far as amounts go, I don’t have any. I like to cook by how I feel. So cut the veggies and if you decide you want more, add more. Go with how you feel. If you like onions, add extra onions. If you don’t like too much carrots, then add just enough for color. You see what I mean? I’m planned in every part of my life except my recipes. But so far it has worked for me. Anyway here you go.

 Spring Crab Pasta Salad

• Imitation Crab (or if you have enough money, go for it and add chunks of the real deal!)
• tri-colored pasta (I prefer a mixed grain)
• Vegenaise (or Mayonnaise if you want the real stuff, or even just some light olive oil if you don’t do mayo)
• diced red and yellow bell pepper
• diced red onion
• diced green onion (chive and bulb)
• shredded carrots (I prefer to shred them myself. They’re thinner and sweeter!)
• diced red cabbage
• sliced celery
• chopped cilantro
• thinly diced jalepeno (I don’t know how to add the tilde)
• diced medium cheddar cheese
• diced pepper jack cheese
• cranberries (lots! Don’t be scared. This is the favorite part of everyone who tries this salad!)

Find a big, big bowl. Cook pasta, rinse in cold water. As the pasta is cooking, chop up veggies. After you rinse the pasta in cold water, pour into your big, big bowl.  Add veggies, mayonaise, and crab and mix thoroughly. Add more veggies or crab or mayo as you see fit.

If I don’t have imitation crab, I substitute the meat with canned chicken or tuna. With these meats, the cranberries are still divine, but raisins are also a good swap if you need a change. I sometimes add pesto to the mix if I am using chicken, which is a nice change sometimes too. But the above recipe is my all time favorite and it has been a hit with everyone I know who has tried it. Enjoy!