It's been a long time!

Ok so it has like been over a year since I posted on this blog. I may or may not have given it up for a while. I'd love to catch you up...but a fear that's impossible.  I have something important on my mind so I'm just going to start there. 

I've recently been doing these devotions through a She Reads Truth app. It's honestly one the best things especially when you have a new born laying on you. It's so easy to pick it up and have access to solid devotionals written with women in mind. They are short, to the point, and challenging in nature. 

That being said I'm fulfilling a challenge made to me on this app...so here we go!

1)The question was, "How is spiritual mothering already taking place in your community?" 

Answer: The picture of "spiritual mothering" in the book is quite amazing. An older woman teaches women my age the secrets of cooking as well as provides deep spiritual truths during her regular meetings with the younger women in the church. This is awesome, however not something that I see going on in my life right now.  However! What is going on is an incredible bond and commitment among the women my age in our small group. Yes, I've certainly had some mothering by one or two of them haha, but really we are all there to take care of each other and it's unlike anything I've ever experienced.

2) Has a godly woman influenced you in your growth in the Gospel?

Answer: yes. These same small group women have challenged me in my walk more than anything.  From Jess's discipline to Sara's ability to memorize to Kristin's ability to put Scripture to practical action to Becca's words of gentle truth when I'm struggling...  All of these women have had a major impact.

3) Has mentoring a young believer impacted your life?

Answer: This was convicting.  A while ago now I served in the jr. High ministry at our church, but since having kids I stepped away. I believe I've also had an impact on my small group friends, but I think this question is more pointing towards seeking out someone who is younger, both physically and spiritually.  This has me thinking about the few younger girls I have in my life and how I could apply Titus 2 with regards to them. I haven't worked everything out yet, but I want to do something.  I'm just not sure what that looks like yet. Of course, I can't forget that I have 2 girls of my own that I am responsible for mentoring and hope someday they have and are mentors as well. In the meantime I will ponder this more and hopefully this will be the start of a new-ish blog series/season for me. 

#shesharestruth #shereadstruth

Landed.

There's so much I want to share with you right now! I'm so humbled by God's provision and timing...it's hard to even know where to start. I guess I will start with the most exciting news...but not without some back story. Yesterday I had what I thought was a final interview with a fairly new player in the IT staffing industry. I must admit I was very skeptical in exploring the opportunity. I couldn't ignore that a trusted colleague in the business had been working there and was loving it.

I talked with the recruiter and we seemed to hit it off right away. She shared the role with me and for the first time in a while I became truly excited about a job opportunity as well as the company. I was invited to their office the very next day to meet the team and one of the co-founders. I won't lie...the meeting was exhausting! It was all extremely positive, but when you are engaged in the interview process with 6 people in the matter of 2 hours...it wears you out! I walked away feeling extremely energized and excited. The recruiter assured me I'd me talking to the CEO within a couple days. Meanwhile I was exploring other opportunities...but I couldn't help but have this one on my mind constantly!

The interview with the CEO was yesterday. We were on the phone for nearly an hour. He was extremely professional, engaging, and warm. His vision and passion for this company was clear and contagious. The next thing I know I was booked for a 6am flight out of Midway this morning! I got up at 3:30am and was at the airport going through security at 4:30! Crazy.

When I arrived in Atlanta I was a bit disoriented. I really didn't feel like myself at all. The recruiter picked me up from the airport and I felt completely at a loss for words. For the life of me I couldn't make conversation. My mind was completely useless. I was starting to get nervous that I would not do well. We arrived at the office and went in. At this point I didn't even notice I kept my coat on for an unusually long period of time. So much so the recruiter drew attention to it! Oopsie haha.

Well I'm not sure what happened between removing my coat and sitting down with the first person on the schedule to meet...something clicked. (Thank you to those of you praying). I was back! Excited, focused, and ready to land this job.

The afternoon flew. At the end I found myself shaking hands with the CEO and joining their team!!!!!!!

I start Monday! Lots of work to do from there on out, but I'm excited. Now we are in the process of working out daycare for my little monster. This whole process was incredible. So here I am on the other side knowing the Lord is faithful and he does indeed answer prayer. This is one of those posts I will refer back to when things get tough. Oh...and those other job opportunities? Many of them dropped off one by one as I moved forward in this process. Verifying in my mind and heart that this is the opportunity for me!

 

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Days 3 and 4

What a crazy week it's been.  At this point I'm so overwhelmed with the response I'm getting - I don't know what to do with myself!  I'm so grateful for all my contacts and friends!  I just can't deny that the Lord has allowed me to make some of the best connections this week.
There's been so much activity I couldn't possibly go in to everything and still keep your attention.  I suppose the best thing I can do is just tell you about the opportunity that most excites me. 

Tomorrow I have a final interview with a small staffing company located in Naperville.  The commute is going to be long, but I believe it will work.  I would be corporate recruiter for this staffing firm.  I'd be responsible for finding talent (recruiters and sales people) to come work for this company.

In other news - our house got a facelift this weekend!  I will post pictures soon!  Our dear friends from our small group gave up a Sunday and worked at our house to get it sell-ready!  We have freshly painted walls in the living room and foyer.  It really does make the place brighter.  We still have a lot to clean up and finish, but I'm so encouraged by how much got done today.  I seriously don't know what we'd do without such great friends.

Well - this is just a quick informal update - nothing staggering.  I just wanted to check in!

Encouraging

What a day!  You know - there's just nothing like a day filled with productive activity!  I talked with so many people today my head is still buzzing with excitement.
My day started at 6am and I was on the train to the city at 7:11.  I met a good friend in the business for coffee and from there my day really took off!

I talked on the phone from 1:30 to 4:30 -right up until the time I had to pick up Claire!  Crazy!

I now have a face to face interview on Friday and two informal meetings next week. (to see if it makes sense to pursue something more)

Claire and I even found the time to run to Ikea and grab some new curtains for our living room - productive day for sure! 

Tomorrow I have an 8am phone interview and a networking lunch meeting.  I'm anxious to see where all this goes!

Accountability

OK, I know the comic is cheesy, but I needed something light after my last post. 
I've decided my previous post is going to lead to a new type of blog for me during this season of my life.  For those of you stopping by to see cute pictures of the kiddo (and random news about the family (ahem grandma) please keep checking in!  I will still give updates!
Right now, since I have the extra time, I'm going to write about my journey (such and epic word) to finding a job.
Some of you might or might not know that Friday was my last day with a company that I absolutely loved.  It's a bit of a long story how I came to leave, so I won't bore you with the details.  We're going to start with today - moving forward.

I'm not sure if I will write about every day, but I'm going to try to be pretty consistent.  Mostly for my benefit because I want to look back at these days and see growth in me.  I want to see where I had problems and where my successes were.  Afterall - that's why we document things right?  To look back with fond memory or to avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over again.
So here it is -
Day 1 of my job search.  I finished my resume and am now in the process of posting it on the job boards.  This is a new experience for me.  I don't recall searching for a job this way since I was fresh out of college.  Humbling. 
I had a phone interview last week and a phone screen with a recruiter today.  I also was able to reconnect with an individual with 20 years of experience in the industry.  My talk with him went very well and he highlighted a potential opportunity that could be available in a month or so.  The position sounded like a perfect match for me, so I was very encouraged. 
The afternoon was spent organizing a few meet-ups and chats for the remainder of this week.  I don't want a single minute to be wasted.
Tonight I sat down to memorize a verse that I believe will be helpful as I move forward. Matthew 11:29 - "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.  For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  The main part of this that stands out is "and learn from me"  I MUST learn something from all this to avoid repeating a similar scenario in the future.
As I move forward I'm praying for an open mind and open heart and ears to hear.  I don't want to be reliant on my own strength, wits, or will to get out of this.  I know the Lord has a plan and a place for me.  I'm seeking His direction.  And now - every day I will be accountable for updating this blog on what I've been doing and what I've been learning.

God at Work

I go to Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows and yes...I admit I completely borrowed their logo for God at Work above. 
I started attending in late 2006 and never looked back.  A series of hard, traumatic circumstances drove me to seek the Lord and really find out where I really was in my faith.  To tell you the truth...I was a poor excuse for a Christian looking back at that time in my life.  The difficult circumstances were from a combination of my poor choices and "life happening" all at the same time.
I don't enjoy testimonies that glorify the wrong in the past, so suffice to say in a matter of 8 months time I had gone through a divorce, lost one brother to suicide and my father to lung complications, and was in a rebound relationship that I knew I needed to end.  I had nearly no friends, was living alone, and wanted to stop the world so I could get off!
I entered Harvest on a cold December day.  I instantly knew that this was where I should be...that God was going to use this church/these people to mend what was broken and what I had selfishly ripped apart.  The 1st person I connected with there invited me to her small group - and the Lord used those amazing women to start the healing process. 
Fast forward a few years and here we are - I'm married to an amazing, caring, godly man and have a beautiful daughter. We go to a couples small group now and couldn't ask for a better group of people. 

Life now isn't perfect...actually far from it.  The last 3 years have been chalked full of trials, consequences, and overall hard financial times.  Some are a result of bad decisions, some (I'm sure) trials allowed by God to refine us, and some...well...maybe just life happening.  All that to say - God has never let us down - not even one time. 
A close friend of mine said she believes God is trying to teach me (us) something and this is why these past 3 years have been so incredibly hard.  As hard as it is to admit...I tend to agree with her.  As I look back thus far I see us closer as a couple, better with our money, more reliant (not perfect) on the Lord for needs, and closer on a spiritual level.  This is just scratching the surface really...and merely things I can list off the top of my head.  God has given us a family away from our families in other states.  He's provided money when we least expected it and used various people in our lives to bless us beyond our wildest prayer.  He's brought friends in our lives when we needed it most - but perhaps were too proud to really ask.

This is my 1st blog in 2014 - I have put off writing it for 2 months because every time I started to type something...it just didn't seem "right."  This seems right.  I'm beginning my 2014 blog year by declaring that I trust the Lord in everything and I know where my provision and strength comes from.  I'm drawing a line in the sand...no more am I turning to fear and fret.  I see the Lord has grown me in this over the years and I know I'm not perfect but am increasing in victory.  I've never really been sure if "prayer reallyworks" in the past, but I can say without hesitation it DOES and it will become more and more a vital part of my weekly, if not daily routine. 
The last 3 years have been hard...but they would've been impossible without the Lord.  Impossible.  So now - as I embrace this new chapter in my life...as I look for God to provide my next job I'm NOT afraid, but excited and expectant.  He's been faithful before and will continue to be faithful  This year might be the hardest yet...but I will continue to seek Him...I strongly believe that He is teaching me how to not be shaken and to trust in His name.

Psalm 62:6-7
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Thanksgiving 2013

Gobble gobble!

So I'm averaging about 1 blog post every two months or so.  Ya...I know pretty lame.  How am I ever going to catch everyone up?  Truth is, I really can't so I will start with the most recent event - Thanksgiving.
The day before Thanksgiving both Brian and I had to work so we got a pretty late start on our drive to MI.  We left the house a little after 6:30 and headed off to Lansing!  Claire entertained herself for a solid 30 minutes before getting too fussy then just kinda faded off to sleep without much trouble.  Answered prayer!  The trip was roughly four hours even though we came across some lake effect snow near St. Joseph.  We arrived at Grandma and Papa's around Midnight. 
Like usual we spent some time catching up, but before long we were all headed to bed to rest up before a big day of eating.
Claire decided that 6am was a great time to get up at Grandma's.  We went downstairs and played with all of grandma's fun toys and occupied ourselves until the rest of the family emerged from their beds. Grandma and Papa headed off to Mass and seemed to return before I knew it!  Soon after a few cousins showed up and the house was buzzing with activity.  The kids were playing, and the women were mapping out their strategy for Thanksgiving night shopping.  We discovered that all the deals we were interested in were happening that night! For the 1st Black Friday that I've been in MI -we did NOT get up at the freakin' crack of dawn.  I'm selfishly hoping this whole Thanksgiving night shopping thing continues!
Before long we were on our way to Mandy's where we ate until our tummies were well past content.  Turkey, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole - YUM!  Oh and did I mention lobster bisque?!  Ya, Mandy does it up right when she hosts a party.  We ate like kings.

Photo op while I waited in line at Target!

Right around the time I wanted to doze off to sleep - the troops were preparing for the shopping trip.  Target at 6:30 (they opened at 8pm) and Kohls right after. 
Note to self.  In 2 years when you are ready to do this again - pack hand warmers and bring a hot chocolate to drink while waiting in line - oh and bring warmer shoes - fake Toms just won't work well!!!
As time ticked by the Target workers would come and go - handing out maps of the store and made sure to draw attention that we could easily save 5% on every purchase with our Red cards - if we didn't have a Red card they were ready and waiting to sign us up.
Overall - we were in and out of Target in 30 minutes!  Kohls too a little while longer - then some really committed shoppers went to the mall after that - I did not.  It was extremely productive!  I have 1 more gift to buy for Christmas and I'm done!
Friday Papa made us all Walleye from the fishing trip during the Spring - YUM!  Claire is a fish stick snob - will not eat them out of the box, but couldn't get enough of  Papa's fish!
The ride back was smooth - no complaints here!  What a wonderful way to celebrate the Holiday!

Next order of business - wrapping gifts!!

Papa reading a book to the kiddos

Nate getting the swirly he asked for!

Claire spent a lot of time on Papa's lap this trip!

Kid's table!

What a great family!

Move your feet - lose your seat...or is that really the rule?