Wow, it's been so long where do I start! I won't take you back to the beginning but I'll take you to December of 2009... Last year (Jan 2009) I started school again, this time to become a teacher. It was truly the best choice in a long time, and one that seemed to set off a long line of great choices and happy endings :) In December of 2009 I was granted permission to do my final teaching practicum in Nanaimo. At this time I moved in with my fiance Micheal, and boy what a change it was to go from me living on the mainland and him living on the island and us seeing eachother only on weekends and holidays! Everything takes time and adjustment and those of you who know me know I was pretty set in my ways and had been single a looong time! In March of 2009 I graduated from SFU with a Bachelor of Education degree and a minor in Learning and Developmental Disabilities. Not so great for me however was that there were NO teaching jobs on the island at that time. And even less fortunate for me there remains to be NO teaching jobs on the island! Nanaimo didn't even open their TOC list due to the 700 teachers on lay off recall this year.. Oy Vey! Well let's look at this in the positive... it sure gave me a lot of time to plan my wedding! lol. On October 8th, 2010 Micheal and I were married! I am truly the happiest women around, he is the rest of my life and truly gets me... yup he gets me (and he puts up with me!). We went to the Dominican for two weeks on our honeymoon, it was sunny, hot and sandy! I could go back there now! When we came back I was hoping that maybe something
for teaching on the island would open up, however it still refused to budge so I started to apply to districts in the North (more short term positions because then I could always go home!). In the morning on January 6th 2011 I recieved a call from the cariboo-chilcotin School District (#27 Wiliams Lake) saying they wanted to interview me for a position in Big Lake. That afternoon they did a telephone interview and on Friday the 7th they offered me the position and asked me to be in Big Lake by Sunday the 16th to start Monday the 17th! Well what a shock this has been! I am currently/temporarily living in Williams Lake. Lisa Walker was so great and she hooked me up with a place to stay (Thank goodness for Lisa!) I am currently in my third week of teaching a multi grade class. I teach primarily K-3 however 75 min a day or more I teach K-7!! It sure has been something to get used to and no teacher training prepared me for this! It has been a great experience so far, the school, staff, parents and students are super great and they have all been so welcoming. It has sure made this move easier seeing as I have left my husband of 3 months in Nanaimo! This opportunity is going to be the best for me however because I have so much going for me when I apply for teaching jobs in Nanaimo after this. Not only can I put that 
I have taught K-7 (in my first year teaching)but I am also the Teacher in Charge when the principal is away and I get special all day K training. Pretty fortunate experience coming here to Williams Lake/Big Lake! And to top off all the great fortune that has happened in the last year.. On January 21st 2011 at 8:06 am Micheal and I found out we're Pregnant! 2011 is definitly going to be the year of the deRuiters! We are thrilled and over joyed (now if I can just get my husband up here for a few months it would all be ok!). I go for an early ultrasound Feb 18th to pinpoint my due date (I'm not on a 28 day cycle so they need to make sure), however as of now they predict my estimated due date is Sept 30th. Yippee Yay! Well thats all my fun and exciting news for now, I promise to try and keep everyone better updated. Love and miss you all
for teaching on the island would open up, however it still refused to budge so I started to apply to districts in the North (more short term positions because then I could always go home!). In the morning on January 6th 2011 I recieved a call from the cariboo-chilcotin School District (#27 Wiliams Lake) saying they wanted to interview me for a position in Big Lake. That afternoon they did a telephone interview and on Friday the 7th they offered me the position and asked me to be in Big Lake by Sunday the 16th to start Monday the 17th! Well what a shock this has been! I am currently/temporarily living in Williams Lake. Lisa Walker was so great and she hooked me up with a place to stay (Thank goodness for Lisa!) I am currently in my third week of teaching a multi grade class. I teach primarily K-3 however 75 min a day or more I teach K-7!! It sure has been something to get used to and no teacher training prepared me for this! It has been a great experience so far, the school, staff, parents and students are super great and they have all been so welcoming. It has sure made this move easier seeing as I have left my husband of 3 months in Nanaimo! This opportunity is going to be the best for me however because I have so much going for me when I apply for teaching jobs in Nanaimo after this. Not only can I put that 
I have taught K-7 (in my first year teaching)but I am also the Teacher in Charge when the principal is away and I get special all day K training. Pretty fortunate experience coming here to Williams Lake/Big Lake! And to top off all the great fortune that has happened in the last year.. On January 21st 2011 at 8:06 am Micheal and I found out we're Pregnant! 2011 is definitly going to be the year of the deRuiters! We are thrilled and over joyed (now if I can just get my husband up here for a few months it would all be ok!). I go for an early ultrasound Feb 18th to pinpoint my due date (I'm not on a 28 day cycle so they need to make sure), however as of now they predict my estimated due date is Sept 30th. Yippee Yay! Well thats all my fun and exciting news for now, I promise to try and keep everyone better updated. Love and miss you all
Christmas Party
