This year Christmas was a very strange time for me. I usually have a list of things to tell family and friends what I want when they ask me. This year I just could not bring myself to tell anyone my list before Christmas. It contains two things 1) Getting a full time job 2) Being with my family for Christmas. Well needless to say I got gift number one the week before Christmas! I started work the Monday before Christmas for MRC (Medical Research Consultants). I am a full time temp for one month and then they are hiring me full time. It is very different from what I thought I would be doing, but I like the work. Now as for gift number 2. I was not able to go back to NC for Christmas. However, I did spend the evening with two of my friends, talked with my parents, brother, grandfather, and my cousin Annette. It ended up being a wonderful Christmas.
Christmas Eve was very strange and hard for me though. I thought about not going to church because I knew it would be full of families, people would look at me strange and I would more than likely cry. Well two of those were true. It was full of families and I did cry, but no one looked at me strange. At first I was sitting in a pew all by myself and think about my family, yes this caused crying. The next thing I knew this huge and I mean huge family piled into the pew with me. The oldest teenage son sat next to me. At first I could tell he was uncomfortable sitting next to a young woman who was tearing up a little, but turned and said Merry Christmas. I smiled and said it back. It was at this point that I looked down the row at the family and realized that I kind of fit in. It was funny. They were all either brown or blond hair and I kind of looked his mom. The kid and I both laughed a little as I think we realized this at the same time. Then I began to think as a the service started that I was with family. I was with all my church family, people who share my faith and love of Christ because who else would show up at 11pm for a church service. As the service ended I looked and the teenager and smiled this big smile. He smiled back and said goodnight. It was wonderful.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
What a Year!
Life never happens as we plan it. Just a year ago I was posting about my interview in Texas and getting what I thought was a job that was going to lead me to my dreams. A year has past and a lot has happened. I am no longer at that job. My dreams while they still play on my heartstrings are changing as am I.
A year ago I was taking my last exam of Seminary. Telling everyone good bye and making plans with my family for a long journey that would bring me to Texas. I left behind my family, my friends and my dog (Lynn). I set out for my journey to begin in Texas.
Where is my journey now? Well parts of it have ended and new parts begun. I am no longer officially in ministry as a career, yet I minister every day. I minister to my roommate, my friends, fellow e&a members, my co-workers, my church singles group and just people I run into and smile at. When people ask me what my old job was I get odd looks now. Many people cannot believe that a person that can hang out and be cool would ever be a minister. When people give me odd looks I just smile and say they may want to check out church again sometime. I have a new job at MRC (medical research consultants). I plan to keep my spirit going there. I am also hoping to teach in middle school sometime in the near future. I have a great new set of friends who have become my family here in Texas. I think the biggest change though it that I love Texas!
My calling and my dream of being a minister are still there. I just have come to the realization that right now is not the right time for me. There is still a lot for me to learn and I need to grow spiritually some more. What that means for me right now is forgiveness, acceptance, and learning to trust again. My plan for that is continue to go to church at Tallowood. I trust that someday when God lets me know I am ready I will have their support to go into hospital chaplaincy. Until then I will continue to minister in my own way everyday.
A year ago I was taking my last exam of Seminary. Telling everyone good bye and making plans with my family for a long journey that would bring me to Texas. I left behind my family, my friends and my dog (Lynn). I set out for my journey to begin in Texas.
Where is my journey now? Well parts of it have ended and new parts begun. I am no longer officially in ministry as a career, yet I minister every day. I minister to my roommate, my friends, fellow e&a members, my co-workers, my church singles group and just people I run into and smile at. When people ask me what my old job was I get odd looks now. Many people cannot believe that a person that can hang out and be cool would ever be a minister. When people give me odd looks I just smile and say they may want to check out church again sometime. I have a new job at MRC (medical research consultants). I plan to keep my spirit going there. I am also hoping to teach in middle school sometime in the near future. I have a great new set of friends who have become my family here in Texas. I think the biggest change though it that I love Texas!
My calling and my dream of being a minister are still there. I just have come to the realization that right now is not the right time for me. There is still a lot for me to learn and I need to grow spiritually some more. What that means for me right now is forgiveness, acceptance, and learning to trust again. My plan for that is continue to go to church at Tallowood. I trust that someday when God lets me know I am ready I will have their support to go into hospital chaplaincy. Until then I will continue to minister in my own way everyday.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Exhaustion
As I sit here after three crazy days of working I wonder if I will make it through the rest of the week. To start off with I do have to say I had a great Sunday off from all forms of work and enjoyed resting and studying. However, I have worked as a Substitute teacher three days this week. I have worked one 7:30-11:30 shift at Bath and Body Works. Which let me tell you getting home at 11:45 to be up by 6am does not work well with me. I have to relax before I can sleep so it was at latest 2 am when I feel asleep. I work again tomorrow at Bath and Body Works as well as host a Karaoke Night for Events and Adventures. Then Friday I work at 9:45 am at Bath and Body Works. I truly love all the jobs I am doing, but can I just have a day to sleep. Three part time jobs is killing me. I don't know how people have a life of doing this type of thing. I REALLY need to find a stable full time job soon.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Not Quite the Same
As I am starting to feel Christmas and Advent in the air I am realizing it is just not the same this year. Yes the radio stations are playing the music, the stores are all decked out, streets have lights, Santa is in the mall, and the Advent wreath is at the front of the Sanctuary at church, but something is just not right.
That sometime is within me. On Black Friday while I was at work I received a phone call from my mom. When I got off I returned the call to hear here crying. The guys (my Dad and Brother) had left her alone with the Christmas decorations. The tree, the nativity, the ornaments, and her Christmas village were all there for her to put up with no help. As I listened to her I could feel her pain. This is OUR time and it always has been. My mother and I were always the ones to bug my dad and brother to go to the basement and bring up all the boxes. Then we would turn on Christmas music, which drove the guys crazy, and decorate everything. This included me hiding the wise men until after Christmas most years. However, this year it is not OUR time. It is just another reminder that I am far away and cannot be home this Christmas.
Ever since the phone call I just don't feel right. I don't feel Christmas and Advent, I feel hurt. Yet, I still feel love and know it will all be ok.
So I leave you all with this:
That sometime is within me. On Black Friday while I was at work I received a phone call from my mom. When I got off I returned the call to hear here crying. The guys (my Dad and Brother) had left her alone with the Christmas decorations. The tree, the nativity, the ornaments, and her Christmas village were all there for her to put up with no help. As I listened to her I could feel her pain. This is OUR time and it always has been. My mother and I were always the ones to bug my dad and brother to go to the basement and bring up all the boxes. Then we would turn on Christmas music, which drove the guys crazy, and decorate everything. This included me hiding the wise men until after Christmas most years. However, this year it is not OUR time. It is just another reminder that I am far away and cannot be home this Christmas.
Ever since the phone call I just don't feel right. I don't feel Christmas and Advent, I feel hurt. Yet, I still feel love and know it will all be ok.
So I leave you all with this:
I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
and although I know its a long way back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can Count on Me
Please have snow and mistletoe
and present under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams, if only in my dreams
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Evils of Black Friday
Long Lines, Finding a Parking Spot, Working with Black Friday Shoppers (they are crazy and sometimes down right rude), Having Large boxes of fragrances fall on your foot (bruised/broken toes), Not knowing exactly how to keep you manager happy when you are doing your best.
Need I say More????
Need I say More????
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Not Quite the Same
I have been living out what I have dubbed since moving to Texas as "The Dreaded Week." What that means is having my 27th Birthday and Thanksgiving without my family and Candler Friends. However, it is not turning out to be so bad. Last Friday night 25 of my new Events and Adventures friends took me out for dinner at Cafe Adobe (amazing Mexican). We sat around laughing, talking, and just having a good time. I had some drinks, great food, and wore a balloon teria. It was crazy. After dinner me and a few of my friends went out dancing. It was fun, but I am not a big fan of the club we went to.
Now I just have to make it through the next day without breaking down. Thanksgiving has always been a really big day for my family. We get up and have waffles as we watch the parades, cook all day long, watch football, and then have a late dinner. This year is going to be a little strange for me since it is my first away from my family and our routine. This year I still want to get up early and watch the parade and will make pancakes. I will go over to my best friend Xeania's house to enjoy a mid-day Mexican Thanksgiving meal. Then tomorrow night I will host a Thanksgiving dinner at the Hilton Post Oak in a dinning room over looking all the Christmas lights in the Galleria square. I am looking forward to this change, but missing my family something awful.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wonderful World of Retail Part II
The demonstration is a big selling point at Bath and Body Works. Studies have shown that they more we give demonstrations the better our sales are. I did not totally believe this until about a week ago.
I have been working cash register since I start at Bath and Body Works about a month ago. Last Wednesday I was pulled off register and asked to work area 1 (the front of the store). That means I had to give demonstrations of our new "Twilight Woods" fragrance. If you have not smelled it yet, you should. It is kind of different. As I went about handing out coupons and giving demonstrations I became more aware of just how imports demonstrations are to stores and to Christians.
The more knowledge I showed about the Bath and Body Works products the more people bought. I brought our conversion rate from 40 to 75 % that night (conversion is the amount of people that enter the store compared to the amount of people that buy). So I started thinking if more Christians would just demonstrate Christ in their lives we would have a lot more Christians. People would be asking questions and getting the answers they needed if we all knew more about our faith. I am not talking about denominational crap, but real facts about what Jesus taught, Paul and the Apostles taught, and how God's grace is really strong enough for all (sorry about the grace reference I am still a little Methodist in my theology). If we all knew more than we could better demonstrate what a real Christian is supposed to be.
I have been working cash register since I start at Bath and Body Works about a month ago. Last Wednesday I was pulled off register and asked to work area 1 (the front of the store). That means I had to give demonstrations of our new "Twilight Woods" fragrance. If you have not smelled it yet, you should. It is kind of different. As I went about handing out coupons and giving demonstrations I became more aware of just how imports demonstrations are to stores and to Christians.
The more knowledge I showed about the Bath and Body Works products the more people bought. I brought our conversion rate from 40 to 75 % that night (conversion is the amount of people that enter the store compared to the amount of people that buy). So I started thinking if more Christians would just demonstrate Christ in their lives we would have a lot more Christians. People would be asking questions and getting the answers they needed if we all knew more about our faith. I am not talking about denominational crap, but real facts about what Jesus taught, Paul and the Apostles taught, and how God's grace is really strong enough for all (sorry about the grace reference I am still a little Methodist in my theology). If we all knew more than we could better demonstrate what a real Christian is supposed to be.
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