It’s been a long time since I last wrote on this blog. Honestly, I’m not even sure if anyone still reads these posts. I stopped writing a while ago as life began to shift in unexpected ways.

After we purchased our property, our focus shifted heavily toward church involvement. Jolene and I poured ourselves into ministry. So much so that we hardly had a moment to breathe. Jolene became the Director of the Adventurer program at church. Adventurers is essentially a Christian version of Cub Scouts. Not long after, our daughter Johanna became old enough to join Pathfinders, a program for youth ages 10 to 15. A year later, I stepped in to take on the role of Director for Pathfinders.

While things were going well on the surface, I still felt like something was missing. I continued running my small businesses. I built websites and earned income where I could, but it felt incomplete. One day, my son Braeden asked, “Why don’t you work?” He saw me home every day, working on the computer, and couldn’t quite connect that to a “real job.”

As Braeden prepared to start school, I found myself with more time on my hands. I also wanted him to see a dad who worked. I didn’t want him to think that he could grow up and not work. Years ago, I used to substitute teach, so when a job opened at my kids’ school, I applied. I was initially offered the position, but then the offer disappeared. They called me back for a second interview, told me they would send the hiring packet, and then nothing happened. Weeks passed. It became clear it wasn’t going to happen. I was hurt, not just by the rejection, but because I truly believed it was something God had planned for me.

That moment pushed me to take a leap. I applied to La Sierra University to pursue a Master’s of Arts in Teaching, with a focus on Curriculum and Design. I committed to finishing the program as quickly as I could. My original plan was to teach at a private school; I didn’t want to deal with the state CalTPA exams required for public school teachers, nor deal with the behaviors of the public system. But God had other plans.

I applied to a middle school after completing my student teaching at a high school. When my master teacher moved into a new role, they offered me her position, but by then, I had already accepted a job as an art teacher at a middle school.

Teaching is hard. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. Every day, I don’t just teach art—I teach life skills, character, and compassion. So many students come to school without knowing basic courtesy or how to respectfully interact with others. I thought I’d be in a different place by now, but this is where I’ve been placed. And I trust there’s a reason.

I finished my Master’s degree. That chapter is done. Now I’m asking myself—what’s next?

Is it time for a doctorate?

Timothy