The Job Story

First and foremost thank you to each and everyone of you for praying and being of such great encouragement to me these past several months as the trial of being unemployment was anything but a cinch. I believe so much about the power of prayer and see it so much through this. I was getting very discouraged and wondering what God was doing... is He closing the doors to my living here on the Central Coast? Or in California?

As you all know I was looking for just about anything besides digging graves at a pet cemetery (well and people for that matter). I was on Cal Poly Mustang Jobs Wednesday morning and saw an ad for File Clerk/Shuttle Driver (and the pay was decent-- as I calculated my expenses), so I said "sure,why not?'. Within an hour got a phone call from Cole Doge Chrysler Mazda and he asked me to come in that afternoon. I did after meeting with AmeriCorp (which was not something I had peace about walking away from). So, I meet this guy who is laid back and really nice, and he says he will check my references and get back to me the next day. I have heard this before and was like... "okay, thanks". So Wednesday night my friend Joanna, who was the Assistant Manager at Talbots said she was called for a reference. I then got the call yesterday morning from Jacob again, the manager from Cole, and asked me to come back in. I went in this morning and met other managers, and they also decided they would give me more responsibilities given I have a B.S. and am working 40 hours a week. So it is more of an Administrative Assistant position. SO, then I took my drug test, got my DMV print out-- then proceeded to file I-9 paperwork. :) He detailed my hours and my start date and said in 3 months if all is well then I would get a raise.

So, thank you for praying and encouraging me. I was getting pretty discouraged, but God always comes through at the last minute it seems. I start on Tuesday at 8:30 in the morning til 5:30. Then I will be M-F 8:30-5:30 with weekends off :)

So that is the story! Now the next two months of catching up from NOT working is the next task and prepare to celebrate turning 25 in October. So definitely Praise the Lord for Prayer Warriors, for friends and family (church family included), and for His provision!

Also, once I get caught up... I owe some friends a visit including Amber, Ali, Abbie, Roon... and Tania... and others and it will happen. One weekend at a time.

Will I Ever Kick This Thing?

So yesterday I decided I should get a follow up visit after being there a month prior for the double ear infection and throat infection.... well....

it is all coming back or just won't die. So it is back to being on the antibiotics, and rebuilding the immune system I apparently don't have. Increasing my Vitamin C and Omega 3 intake and just try to get better and rebuild at the same time-- sounds tiring doesn't it?

So prayer for that this week would be awesome! I think I could make a career in being sick, however I feel like I am paying out instead of being paid for it.

Summer Comes to the End.... and on a quiet note.

After two months I am still job searching and I feel so discouraged. I know that it is not my fault that the unemployment rate in California is at a record high of 11.9% and climbing and the nation is at 9% and recent reports state it will only continue to climb. While I am petrified of continuing to make ends meet... .God has gotten me through today and I assume I will make it tomorrow.

My family was in town this weekend and with that comes mixed feelings. Love them in small doses, but I definitely have my limit of how much I can handle, and I definitely handle being around them better separately than as a whole. With my parents situation, that is always needing prayer.. it scares me a bit. I see things in me that remind me of my mom.... and things that I believe hinder her from wanting to be happy or making things work... like marriage, and it scares me to wonder if I will be the same way... and knowing that am okay with not being married as I deal with those things like being a reactor. They definitely need prayer as my mom continues saying they will be divorcing and all this other stuff. I saw a lot this weekend, and it really just was disheartening.

I do have some ideas with working in a position under AmeriCorps, so I am really praying God does something with that... as there is a position in Santa Maria that I feel would be a good fit for me. It would be doing some program coordinating for a non-profit, and there is a stipend and 4,700 at the end of the term paid back to my principle on my student loans, and health insurance, and only 15-20 from my house. So prayerfully God works through that, or works through something soon.

Nothing else really going on. I have been enjoying more "me" time lately than usual, so not too sure why. As I stare 25 down in a little under a month and a half, I have been reflecting on a lot and just thinking how I never thought I would be where I am at 25. But here I am... now what to do with it.

Prayer Requests: My parents for restoration and healing and forgiveness. My job and financial situation and for God's peace and having the faith He will continue to provide. Also, I feel like my ear infections are coming back, so prayer for that to not be the case.

The National Debt Road Trip

Meyers-Briggs Personality Test

For the third time in 5 years I have taken this:

Caitlyn took the quiz "What's Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type?" and got the result: ENFJ (Extraversion, iNtuition, Feeling, Judgment)!

You are warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. You are highly attuned to the emotions, needs, a...nd motivations of others. You find potential in everyone, and want to help others fulfill their potential. You may act as a catalyst for individual and group growth. You are loyal, and are responsive to praise and criticism. You are sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership. Famous people with your same ENFJ personality include: Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Dick Van Dyke, Diane Sawyer, Peyton Manning, Pete Sampras, Johnny Depp, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Remembering

I am constantly being reminded that "if at all possible... we are to live at peace with all men". Reconcile ourselves as brothers and sisters in Christ. We must be willing to be humble. We must be willing to forgive. In that we strengthen our love with Christ and towards the body! Nothing anyone does is worth cutting them off or devaluing them. We are to look at others, love others, and forgive others as Christ as loved and forgiven us. See people how God sees them.

Is there someone in your life that you need to make peace with? Bitterness is a bad thing in your heart to have.

Being genuine..... and loving..... can't go wrong there.

What's my love language.... well according to Facebook :)

Words of Affirmation

Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Verbal appreciation speaks powerfully to persons whose primary Love Language is “Words of Affirmation.” Simple statements, such as, “You look great in that suit,” or “You must be the best baker in the world! I love your oatmeal cookies,” are sometimes all a person needs to hear to feel loved. Aside from verbal compliments, another way to communicate through “Words of Affirmation” is to offer encouragement. Here are some examples: reinforcing a difficult decision; calling attention to progress made on a current project; acknowledging a person’s unique perspective on an important topic. If a loved one listens for “Words of Affirmation,” offering encouragement will help him or her to overcome insecurities and develop greater confidence.

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Joyous reminder

Church today was very different than other services we have had. First of all, Mike Gunderson (the Lead Pastor at my church) was wearing a suit and tie.... but because each service was half sermon and half wedding ceremony. 1st service Rick DeJong and Carrie Cole (now also DeJong) were married in front of the whole congregation... .1st service was packed. 2nd service not packed at all with the same format except new members, Robert and Anita Paloma, to our congregation who are also new in their relationship with the Lord, renewed their vows. Definitely a joyous morning reminding me of some of the cool things that God orchestrates.