I love my job

I'm such a dork. Today, I was getting ready for work, and actually excited to go there. I was looking forward to seeing customers, coworkers and the products! I love those products. Before you go on thinking how lame and nerdy I am (cause I am, don't you worry) chew on this: how many people get to say they are looking forward to going to work? Excited to go to work! Now who's the nerd :) I'm so blessed that God has brought me where I am today. Not just a job, but a good one, and not just a house, but a free one, and not just a husband, but an awesome (and hilarious) one at that.
 

God has blessed us through this journey, and I am so grateful for it.


See if there's a store  near you!

An interesting read if you have a moment and are interested in some of the reasons that make this a company different than other retailers.

In the Dog House #1

So anyone who reads our blog, probably already knows that we live at a dog shelter. But in case you didn't know... now you do!

Most people are very curious how this works... so I figured I'd share some fun details.

We have over 100 dogs on any given day, and sometimes up to 150. We usually get new van loads of dogs 2-3 times a week. They usually come from local animal control organizations and high kill shelters. Most of the dogs are strays, abandoned, or owner surrenders. We also have cats here, several hundred, in fact.

There is an apartment above the shelter, and also a house on the shelter grounds. We moved into the apartment in October of 2010, and then over to the house in June of 2011. The best part is, we get to live rent free in exchange for helping with chores!

That's our life now. Not what we had imagined or anticipated, and probably not what we would have chosen or planned had we been in charge. But I'm sure glad we're not calling the shots. I love our little life. It's quirky, it sometimes smells like dog poop. We have more space than we know what to do with. Oh, and our favorite part, is that we found our little Virginia Peanut! She is our baby, and she loves us back :)




"Thank You!" - Peanut

Fake Identity!

I have a fake identity! Drum roll please...

Fleet & Travel Coordinator,
IPC International

It's official. I am in my third week working, and it has sure been busy. I didn't want to post too soon, just to be safe :) But I think they are gonna let me stay, at least for a while. ;) It's not a temp job, it's a permanent job. I'm really enjoying it, though it's been extremely stressful. I have a feeling that once I get into routines and feel more comfortable with the way things need to go, I'm gonna love it.

Just a few details:
Commute: 5 minutes! (or 10, if I have to wait for the train to pass)
Industry: Shopping Mall Security (yes, very much like the movie "Mall Cop")
Office Size: There are about 60 people at corporate -where I am- and there are hundreds more in the field.
Span: We do security at properties all across the country, and even some in Europe.
Hours: 8:30-5:00, but I stay till 5:10 usually, so I get some brownie points, plus I have plenty to catch up on work, AND I'll still be home before 5:30 :D
My Responsibilities: Coordinating our fleet of 150 or so leased vehicles. Booking travel (flight, hotel, rental cars) for all of our employees. Sounds simple, but right now, it is anything but.
Friends: Mandy! She is awesome! she was a huge help when I temped at this company, and we still work in the same department. There are lots of other really nice people too :)

I can't think of anything else that you might be interested in, so if you're curious about something, just ask!

Mistaken Identity

I am quite frequently informed that I look "just like" so and so. Or, "I could have sworn I saw you the other day!" but alas, it was not me. I think this is actually very amusing. I take joy (er, pride) in knowing I look like other people, sometimes even famous people. This picture is me and a girl dubbed as my twin in college.


This post however, is about the other kind of identity. The one we hold of ourselves. What do you see as your identity? There can be many, but usually there is one that you tell first to people you've just met. Or the one you make sure to include on your bio or "about me" statement. Now, I know as believers, you are to strive to hold our identity in Christ. You are supposed to be completely confident in your adoption as a son or daughter of Christ that you are most excited about it and it is the first and last thing you want to share with people. Let me be the first to confess that I struggle so much with this concept that it feels like I am writing about a foreign country that I've never visited.

**Warning**: I acknowledge that I have a tendency to whine :) and exclaim "woe is me". Please feel free to stop reading if you start to gag.

Over the last few weeks I have been unemployed, waiting for my next assignment from the staffing agency. The first week was bliss, the second was miserable and the third was a combination of both. Having time off from full time employment is like an impromptu, mini-vacation. Woo hoo! I get to bake things (Raspberry Banana Bread, Chocolate Peanut Butter Mallow Bars, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies...) and plan real meals for my husband! It was a fun week. Then week two rolls around and the fact that I should have been called by now, and the temping agency is clearly neglecting me, sets in. (That is sarcasm, because they can only call when they have assignments, I'm not really blaming them). Week three got the pendulum swing started with reminding myself that not everyone gets to enjoy time off like this, and at least we have some savings in the bank to keep us afloat. Swing... I am useless, jobless, lazy, unmotivated and annoyed. So that is what has prompted the ponderings of my identity. My conclusion:

It is harder to struggle with your identity when you have none at all, than when you have a fake one.

Oh how I long to be the kind of person with a profession. So that I could say, I am a _____. And in that statement, I would be informing people that I am of value, I bring something to the table, I help mankind! It could simply be, "I am a Mom, I have little people that are completely my responsibility and I am doing my best to raise them as good humans and lovers of God." Or I could be, a nurse, a barista, an accountant, a pastor, a counselor or a teacher. But no. Instead I am a person that works for a Staffing Agency doing temporary assignments as an Administrative Assistant.

I realize that all of these identities are, in reality, fake. They are titles that help describe us, but they are not supposed to be our identities. However, when you have one, it is easy to get comfortable and tell yourself (or possibly lie to yourself) from time to time that your real confidence and comfort comes from your identity in Christ. Lie or not, it is easier when you have another identity to fall back on.

Getting around to it...

Yes, I am still here. A blog is a funny thing. One day you love it and want to share your every thought on it... and the next, it is feeding your guilt for not being "active" or posting enough. Technology in general seems to be a silly combination of ways to make life easier, yet complicated it immensely.

I am applying for jobs, here in Illinois. It seems to me that this process is expedited through the internet. I am able to search tons of available jobs just by typing a few key words into a few key websites. I am grateful for the internet yes, but I also occasionally despise what it has done to society (depending on what it is that I am attempting to do, and of course on my mood). I have squealed in glee at the long list of available jobs that match my search criteria... and I have moaned in agony as I type the same basic information into the application sites over and over again.

(side-note: Did you know that each school district in Illinois has it's own 'wonderful' application to fill out online? Also of note, is that there are usually only a few, if not just one, schools in each district. So when you want to apply to 4 different jobs, in 4 different school districts, you have to type the same information 4 different times. Joy.)

Don't get me wrong, I understand why they have these online submission things. It makes their job a million times easier when everyone's application is submitted in the same format. I just don't like it when it makes more work for me :)

I will be positing more photos, videos and updates... I promise! This is from my last trip to the pool with the girls. I miss them so much!