Humbled and Grateful

Every year my company awards employees in various categories of recognition. There is "Best of..." in each of the vertical businesses...."Best Display of Corporate Values" among others.  The entire list of employees eligible goes out to the company for nominations.  No one in upper management can participate...only peers.  Once the nominees are tallied, each category presents four folks up for the vote.  The winning candidate is chosen by their peers.  

This year, I was surprised to win the "Best of B2B" award.  For those of you who are wondering, "B2B" stands for "Business to Business."  The winners each receive an Apple gift certificate for an iPad, which is quite exciting for me, the technology geek who is too cheap to buy an iPad or Android tablet, though I've pondered buying one for quite some time.  I'm now planning my budget to accessorize my prize and, of course, a name for said iPad.

Winning this award not only surprised me, but humbled me...and caused me to be very grateful from a heart that grumbles more than speaks gratitude.  It was just about a year ago that my company was acquired.  I said good-bye to co-workers I'd worked with for years and built companies with and started on a journey that seemed quite unknown.  I rarely make it over the "acquisition line" and knew that nothing in this life is certain when it comes to jobs.  I began to ponder what my options would be and how I should navigate these new waters in a new world order.  I never would have believed that a year later I would be here.  But, God is good, and I am grateful.

Not only did I grow in my knowledge and lessons learned in my career, I've grown and learned so much in my personal life as well.  As I reflect back over the year, I see how God has been working in my life all along and yet, I never knew exactly what was happening.

A year ago my focus and thoughts were elsewhere.  I was preparing to face an impending change of employment.  I worked out all the scenarios in my head on how I'd proceed once I lost my job.  Well, I still have my job, and though nothing is guaranteed, I've weathered our acquisition, another large acquisition, loss of many co-workers (voluntarily and not so voluntarily) and a difficult layoff a month ago that caused a loss of both of my bosses and my counterpart.  I press on knowing that for this season, I'm where God wants me.  

What did I learn over this past year?  One of the lessons I learned (among so many) was that although I'd love God to come into my kitchen and write on my nice blank wall each morning every step I need to take, I really only need to trust Him.  You see, trust is a challenge for me.  Trusting people is hard because I've had many in my life not be so trustworthy.  Many times I transpose that characteristic unfairly to God.  He knows that, so He does things to stretch my faith to trust Him oh so much more.  Over the past year, I've prayed and begged God for "what's the next step here?" in many areas of my life....work, service in His church, relationships, etc....and I've heard more often than not one phrase...."Trust Me."  Really, God?  It's that simple?  What He showed me was that if I devote my life to Him, pray, get in His Word daily, I don't need all the answers or all the steps that my little OCD planner heart longs for.  I just need to take one step at a time and my immersion in Him will guide my way.  Oh, my sinful heart may take steps in the wrong direction, but He will work it all out for His Good.  

As crazy and chaotic as my life has been over the past year, I feel very confident that I'm right where I need to be.  I wouldn't have put myself here in this place a year ago, but looking back at the journey, I have many confirmations I'm where God wants me for now.  So I'll enjoy the soon-to-come iPad prize and remember each time I use it that God is good and He can be trusted, even when my doubtful heart doesn't want to believe.  Humbled, Grateful and Blessed.

Five Minutes: Focus

Each week Gypsy Mama chooses a word to write about for five minutes. No editing, stream of consciousness. Today's word is: Focus.
Ready. Set. Write.

The more technology in my life, the less I focus.  You would think with the advanced tools we have we'd accomplish more in much less time.  Although sometimes that is true, it has just made me more ADD and quite distracted.  Let's take work for example.  I have two instant messaging platforms I'm logged into at all times....wait, three, if you count the one connected to in our CRM.  My email notifier pops up on my screen in the bottom right hand corner when mail arrives, which is about every 5 minutes (or less.)  My phone rings and the caller ID pops up on my computer screen.  I keep my cell phone tucked away at work and only look at it periodically in my day or I'd have those bells and whistles dragging me away.

This week has been a busy one, but at the end of the day on Friday, I'm thankful that I accomplished most all I needed to this week.  When I left yesterday I was exhausted and literally fell asleep with my phone in my hand playing a round of Hanging with Friends.  This morning I was able to spend some quality time in the Word and in prayer and it was so refreshing.  One of the lessons learned was keeping Jesus on the throne of my heart...not any other thing...not a possible husband (that I long for)....not a job...not anything, but Him.  Ahh, the focus that comes from a wise and simple lesson such as that.  May I keep my focus on what is eternal, not temporal...and may I keep my focus always on Him.

Everything Old is New Again

Last week I returned from a much-needed vacation to visit my friends, Chad and Tracy Todd, in their new home in Buford, Georgia.  Words can't express how much I needed to get away, and going to visit sweet friends, and their precious two children - Allison and Logan - were just the ticket.  Last year, they moved from the small town of Adel in south Georgia to the larger metropolis of Buford, home of the largest mall in the state, appropriately named "The Mall of Georgia."  Each trip brings the challenge of a blog post recap which makes Tracy nervous until it's published to confirm I haven't revealed too much.  This year's trip was definitely a time for the new, but a recollection of the old.  Many of things we did were great traditions that carried on to a new city, yet brought new and exciting memories this year and for many trips to come.  The first benefit of this trip was the shaving of 4 hours of travel time, making this jaunt more appealing to do multiple times a year.  So my recap of this trip will include the things that were old, yet new again...

The Church Tour - When the Todds moved to Adel, our first trip included the complete tour of their church prior to Sunday when it would be too hectic to thoroughly make the tour without interruptions.  This first trip to Buford was no different.  We went to the church on Saturday to tour the facilities, but this time complete with Allison and Logan as our guides.  Allison wore Miss Christie out wanting her to run up and down the halls with her, and Logan loved pushing the elevator alarm button. 

The City Tour - Touring the town of Adel didn't take much time.  But we did tour outside the city to see the farmlands, specifically the sod farms (who knew people grew sod?).  Buford was a more exciting tour since the town is bigger.  We got to see where the local eateries, shopping and schools were located and the rental house they lived in when they first moved to town.  We can also attest to the various Kohl's locations throughout the surrounding area.

Memorial Accessories - Speaking of Kohl's, many a trip was made to Kohl's.  All totaled there were 3 trips over the weekend, but I only made 2 of those trips.  During our first visit to Adel, we shopped at Peebles, the only local department store in the town.  For you small towners, you know Peebles is quaint and cute, but small.  While there, I purchased a pair of silver earrings that I still wear to this day.  These earrings are usually my "travel jewelery"  in honor of their purchase location.  I'm not the shopper girl - I go with a mission, get what I need and leave.  Christie and Tracy are much more into the shopping scene.  But, they told me I had to buy something to commemorate our first trip.  I did purchase some PJs that are just glamorously cute, but also invested in a new belt for my jeans (withhold your excitement).  Though a belt isn't as thrilling an accessory as a pair of earrings, it's a necessity...and something to always remember the first trip to Buford.

Games - A trip to the Todds isn't complete without games.  We wait to play our card games and adult board games until after the kids have gone to sleep, but now that Allison is older, she loves to play the Wii.  She would say "Hey Miss Rose, wanna play bowling?"...I'd respond with "Sure!"...and then she'd say, "And tennis too, I'm really good at tennis!"  She is pretty doggone good at bowling (or "bowing" as she calls it), but tennis, eh, not so much.  But, I'd humor her and we'd play tennis.  She also wanted Miss Christie to play Hi-Ho Cheerio, and "Guitar Hero...with the two Purple Girls!"  She is a 3-year old that can sing Barracuda...look out world.

Friends - The best part of the Todds moving to a new town is meeting new people and making new friends.  We got to spend some time with the Gentrys - Ted and Christina - and their six-year-old, Jack, and sweet little Kate.  They are fun folks and Christina even went with us on one of the Kohl's visits.  I fell in love with Jack when he asked, "Are you 17?"  Why, yes, Jack, I am!  Then he came over and gave me an unsolicited hug and said "Now, don't kiss me."  What a charmer. 

Food - Emulating her Mom, Tracy is a great cook.  She had the meals planned out for the week and they were scrumptious.  She was planning for the choir open house she and Chad were hosting this past Friday and we were the test kitchen for some of her dishes.  You never go to their house and ever get hungry.  Between her whipping up brownies on the spot, or pushing her Golden Oreos and ice cream, the diet just had to go on hold.  We did eat at the food court one day at the Mall of Georgia in preparation for Allison's non-ride on the carousel.  (Note:  If you are scared of the horses on the Carousel, Miss Christie will hold your hands while you ride)  After dinner one night we took the kids to one of the local froyo places - Sweet Monkey.  If Allison asked once, she asked a bazillion times "Can we go to Sweet Monkey??"  One day while we were in the kitchen, she said "Remember when we went out to eat a lot before we had children?"  We did, but, honestly, being at home with the children is just as good. 

When the visit was ending, I didn't want to leave.  I had a rough week ahead of me at work, and had daydreams of just moving to Buford on the spot.  Just when I finally had learned how to unhook Logan's car seat quickly, the trip was over.  The night before we left, Allison said a prayer over her dinner.  It was the sweetest prayer a 3-year old could utter.  When she finished I was a weepy mess.  To see that little one tell Jesus how much she loved her Momma and Daddy and for all the things she prayed for just melted me.  The night I got home, I was having major post-vacation depression. I got weepy again missing Allison especially and waiting to hear "Miss Rose!" ..playing googly eyes with her across the table....watching Disney Jr. with her.  I found an episode of Doc McStuffins on my OnDemand channel and watched it to help me not miss her too much.  I'm looking forward to the next trip to Buford...that place of refuge, sweet friends, and sweet little souls that love so unconditionally.

Three Signs It's Time for A Vacation

I'm counting down the hours before my vacation and I have to confess I'm a bit giddy.  This is the first "real" vacation I've had for quite some time and I am sorely overdue.  My friend, Christie, and I are heading to visit Chad and Tracy, and the precious Allison and Logan in the great state of Georgia.  This has been an annual trek until last year when they were moving to a new city, so I'm really excited to resume our annual tradition.  Tracy will be anxiously awaiting my blog post upon our return.  The pressure gets greater for hilarious content after every trip.

Although I'll be checking in on work daily, the break is beyond needed.  How do I know?  Let me share three signs of why I know it's time for a vacation...

1.  It's been over a year since my last one. - Our offices shut down between Christmas and New Year's, so that was somewhat of a vacation, but not officially.  Our company was acquired the end of last August and this year has been a complete whirlwind.  Even more reason that a vacation is sorely needed.

2.  Things are going from hilarious to plain sad. - I normally find hilarity in most all situations and that helps me cope with the chaos of most days.  Yesterday, I had a moment that went from hilarious to just plain redonculous.  I got an email forwarded from a co-worker, entitled "Notes from the "Too-Much-Time-On-Hands" Department".  It read....

"The masthead on the your newsletter has a coffee cup that has the handle pointing the wrong way. Even if you're left-handed (only a very small percentage of the population is), the cup is on the right side, and it would be natural to pick it up with the right hand, therefore the handle should be on the right side, not the left. As depicted, it isn't my coffee cup but someone else's."

Cue the crickets.

Folks, there are days I don't know whether to laugh or weep for the future.

3.  I'm having dementia moments. - Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a verbatim brain and never lose things or misplace items.  I take pride in that.  But evidently when I left work last night, I left my wallet sitting.on.my.desk.at.work.  Even sadder, I didn't realize this until I was driving to work today and was pulling out my wallet to pay for some oatmeal in the drive-thru.  Thankfully I had enough in my purse to pay, but a panic set in about where my wallet was and why I hadn't missed it until now.  I'd driven around last night and this morning without a driver's license.  My guardian angels clearly works overtime.  I prayed on the way in that it would be safely sitting on my desk, still intact with all the contents....and it was.  Thank you, Jesus.  But clearly, I need a break.

I'm hoping this vacation will restore my sanity...well, part of it. 

Five Minutes: Connect

Each week Gypsy Mama chooses a word to write about for five minutes. No editing, stream of consciousness. Today's word is: Connect.

Ready.  Set.  Write.

I find myself way too connected.  I never go very far without my smartphone as an additional appendage.  That device allows me to make calls (ahh, the days when that's all it could do), check email, text, browse the Internet, get directions, play music, Pin things, find movie times, play games (YES!)...and the list goes on and on.  This tecnology keeps me extremely connected to my worklife as well since my work email populates via my smartphone.  And, even today, I have a conference call after hours (way after hours for a Friday, my friends) that I'll have the flexibility to attend thanks to my smartphone and my connected headset as I'm on the go.

Most days I love this because as a single gal, I don't feel like I'd ever be lost as long as I had my charged-up smartphone.  But other days, it's wearing.  Disconnecting is tough, yet, oh so refreshing. 

I find that all this technology is great, but I need time to connect with my Savior.  I've come to realize of late how easily we can be distracted (SQUIRREL!) and take our eyes off Christ.  I want to be content and satisfied in Him, and for that to happen, I must stay connected to the true Power Source.

Each night before I go to bed, I now use that technological device to read Scripture, devotions and help me close my eyes with my view on the Lord.  Even that which can be a distracting deterrant can be leveraged for good.