Workin Hard for the Money

     Hello World, long time no see. I had the idea that I would be a blogging machine once we moved but to be honest, I just haven't felt like it. And that's OK. The day blogging starts to feel like a chore is the day I am out! Chores are one thing I do not like.

     However, I have great news to share and decided now would be a good time for a quick post. I GOT A JOB! Yeahh! It is not a fancy shmancy social work job but it is a job in the Psychology and Counseling department here at the seminary. I had the interview last Friday and started.... Monday. Yea. That was fast. 

     I am basically a secretary; a totally unfamiliar field for me. I think God has been teaching me some humility through it already. Don't get me wrong, secretaries are vital to practically every institution but I didn't exactly go to school for 6 years to be one. I am grateful nonetheless and am trying to focus on taking this job as seriously as I took my previous job even though it is not a "career" move, whatever that means. 

     On another note, one of my all time favorite home bloggers, The Inspired Room, is going to be hosting a Fall Nesting series so get ready for some Fall related posts come September! 

     I'm also going to be posting a great pimento cheese recipe that I have been hoarding for a week and a State of the Apartment tour, so hang in there while I get back into my blogging groove! 

AND

Linking up today with YOLO Monday.... a day late. 

Par for the course!

Getting new jobs

Since my last post focused on quitting our jobs, I thought I would write one about getting new jobs in NOLA. When I picture our life there, I mostly see myself decorating our apartment, hanging out with awesome new people, doing fun things in the city and eating my weight in shrimp. For one reason or another I, ahem…. NEVER envision myself working. Hmm. That’s not gonna work. Pun intended.

Andrew plans to try to get a job on campus when we get there. I think they usually work around class schedules and afford some study time on the job. Me on the other hand, I’m just downright mixed up about what to do. I have a Master’s of Social Work degree and am even licensed (LMSW) in the state of Georgia. However…

I don’t really want to do social work. There, I said it.

I don’t mean I never ever want to do social work, just not right away. New Orleans is a big new city. I’m positive there are many opportunities for social work. But to be honest, I have had some frightening experiences in my field and I am just not up for potentially frightening experiences in a completely unknown place. The interstate will be terrifying enough.

So here is what I am currently thinking of doing:

1.       Becoming a nanny, again. I was a nanny for an amazing family in Athens and absolutely adored it. I think it fits well with my future mommy aspirations.

2.       Get a job on campus. It’s not my favorite choice but it is on the list because it is a very likely possibility and I need to accept it. I just don’t want to get trapped in a bubble and never get off campus. If this is how it turns out we will just have to be proactive… hold me accountable!

3.       There is a weird part of me that just really wants to get a job in retail. I know I should be careful what I wish for. But seriously, I could spend my days (and nights, weekends, holidays) in Anthropologie. Or Sephora, LOFT, Banana, or even Saks… a girl can dream.

Sidebar: there is no Nordstrom in all of Louisiana… what tha what?

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. Things don’t typically go according to plan so there is a high likelihood that the mere act of creating this list will eradicate it altogether. No big deal!

On a side note, we are trying collect our pennies in such a way that we are able to survive the month of August without me having a job. This will buy me some time to find one, and give us a chance to really settle in. If you are in the business of praying for us, this would be a great area to lift up a word. Thank you!

I apologize for the tedium (thanks Microsoft Word synonyms) of this post. Maybe something in our lives will merit pictures soon!

I'll leave you with this picture I pinned on Pinterest a few days ago. I just think it is adorable!

Easy and hard

Some parts of moving to New Orleans have been really easy. Going there on vacation and eating tons of seafood was easy. Meeting new friends was easy. Getting a better apartment than we hoped for was easy. Deciphering when to tell our jobs we were leaving was hard.

I intended to tell my boss I would be leaving once I found out that we were actually getting housing. In my mind that was the most sure-fire approach because once we had housing this whole thing would be real. The problem is, I didn’t expect to find out about housing until late June.

When we found out last week that we got an apartment on campus we were thrilled but it really threw me for a loop about when to tell my boss. Late June was going to be perfect because it would be enough time to give a month’s notice.  Long enough to leave well but short enough to not be too uncomfortable. 

I think deep down I knew it was time to tell the minute we found out about housing but I didn’t want to face it. I really like my job and I have an amazing boss. The last thing I wanted was to disappoint him. He has invested a lot of time into training me and teaching me how to be a good therapist. His lessons have been golden. When I got my job I had every intention of staying at least 5 years. That is the impression I gave him when he hired me and that was something he was looking for. I knew the whole time that telling him about New Orleans would be the hardest part of the whole thing.

This morning in my quiet time I was really resistant to the Spirit leading me to go ahead and let my boss know today. I basically prayed that God would allow me to wait. He asks that of me so often anyway and I am so prone to jumping the gun. I assumed this would be my opportunity to show Him I could really do the waiting thing after all. He more or less said no. I read this verse which falls under a heading in my Bible that says “Paul’s change of plans,” how fitting.

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12

At that point I had to stop denying what I knew I needed to do both ethically and to be in good-conscience. I decided I would talk to my boss today. Andrew decided he would too.

I was extremely nervous and felt way too unprepared for something as big as quitting my job. I just laid it all out there. I tried to be totally honest about the situation and not sugar-coat or over apologize, I’m really bad about that. For the most part, I think I did OK. What really blew my mid was my boss’ response.

He was the epitome of understanding and acceptance. I guess that’s the perk of having a therapist as a boss. He told me some really nice things that made me feel better about it and then he told me that it was a shame I was leaving when I had really started making a mark. That hit me pretty hard.

I was pleased to know that I was doing good work but something in me felt that the work was being abandoned prematurely.  I will have to trust God with that one. And with a host of other impacts I’m sure this move is bound to have.

I once heard Beth Moore say something to the effect of: “God deals with the consequences of our obedience to Him.” I know he will take care of my job… the work didn’t depend on me anyway.

Andrew’s experience with his boss went as well as it could have. He hated to see Andrew go but understood. Our last days will probably sometime around the end of July.  Our excitement still far outweighs the difficulty of today. I am thankful that the difficulties we face are so extraordinarily easy compared with many brothers and sisters around the world. I am thankful for a God who is faithful even to us. And I am thankful I can share it with you.