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Women I Admire: April

Posted on by Michelle

This is the second in a series for this month of women I admire.  I met April my Sophomore year of college through my friend Stephanie. We clicked immediately, becoming fast friends and eventually roommates.  I have always thought April to be an amazing woman.  She has been through much in her life, but has kept her faith and continued to work hard.

I had an opportunity about a year ago to have dinner with April while she was in town for a Mary Kay conference.  As always, it was great to visit with April.  I loved catching up for a few minutes.  I also enjoyed hearing about her work with Mary Kay.  I was so impressed with what she had done as well as her genuine interest and care for those she helps by selling Mary Kay products.

I admire what April has done in creating a business and building it in order to help her family.  I admire how hard she works and how she cares for people. Thanks April, for your friendship.  May the Lord bless your work/ministry.

 

2011 Books

Posted on by Michelle

Several years ago, I started tracking the books I read during the course of a year. I use goodreads.com to do this.  Last year, I read a personal record of 64 books.  I read a lot more fiction last year than  I usually do.  Most of it was my typical spy novels.  However, there was novel that stood out: “Gods and Kings” by Lynn Austin.  This is the first book in a series that I plan to read that gives a fictional account of the lives of Kings in the Old Testament.  Austin did an amazing job of pairing Biblical accounts to create a life story of sorts.  Through her novel, she succeeded where no one else has in getting me interested in this part of the Old Testament.  I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

The other two books that I favored during 2011 were “Rest of God” by Mark Buchanan and “Margin” by Richard Swenson.  I was reading these books at the same time and found that though they are very different books, they are similar in topic.  Margin is more of a self help book and covers emotional, physical and spiritual health.  His basic premise is that we are overloaded and need to have margin in our lives so that when those super busy times come, we don’t collapse.  It is a great book for anyone who is stressed out and doesn’t know what to do next.

Rest of God is more of an inspirational book and deals more specifically with the spiritual although he does cover the need for physical rest.  He reminds us that God created us to need rest and rest is good.  Rest gives God the opportunity to restore our soul as well as our body.

These cover my faves from 2011.  I don’t think I’ll break my record this year, but I am looking forward to reading more great books.

Complete list of books read in 2011.

Why I like social media

Posted on by Michelle

Occasionally I come across someone who is not a Facebook user or is anti-social media. I don’t believe social media is for everyone or that everyone has to use it. I respect people that simply say “I choose not to” or even explain their reasoning for not being a user. What I do find interesting is the people that attack Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc saying “It’s stupid,” or, “a waste of time”.

It can be a waste of time, certainly. However, other activities long accepted can be a waste of time as well. TV and reading books can be considered a waste of time. Some would say my love of doing jigsaw puzzles is a waste of time (I consider it keeping my sanity). As with other activities, it is all about priorities. If your priorities are in order and you are getting things done, you ought to have, and feel the freedom to pursue these activities without being scoffed at.

That said, I have asked myself recently why I use Facebook and why I blog. I can’t answer for others, but here are a few of the reasons I do.

  • I love Facebook because I get to regularly see pictures and hear stories about my nephews that I wouldn’t otherwise
  • I was born and raised overseas. Many of my friends and classmates are scattered all over the world.  Facebook gives me glimpses of what they are up to.
  • Because of social curating of information, I am exposed to books, articles, and more that I would know about otherwise
  • I love blogging because I love to write
  • I love blogging because I love to hear what other people’s ideas are and learn from them
  • I am a technology geek and love trying out new things
  • Because my background in in Internet design and development, I feel it is important to participate in Internet technologies

I think one of the biggest appeals of blogging and social media is that they have given a voice to the average person.  For the first time, an average person can share their thoughts, ideas etc and gain a following without having to go through agencies etc.

I respect people that don’t use social media.  However, I have to disagree with people that I call haters.  As with every new technology, there are pros and cons, but to dismiss it without any consideration of both sides of the coin is thoughtless.

Women I Admire: Stephanie

Posted on by Michelle

At the beginning of the year, I decided I wanted to write a series of blogs about women I admire.  Today, I’d like to introduce you to Stephanie of Stephanie’s Mommy Brain.  Stephanie and I went to college together.  I met her during our Sophomore year when we ended up in the same Spanish class together. We bonded over studying and, if memory serves me, maybe rolling our eyes at the Professor.

One of the things I have admired about Stephanie since our years in college has been her organizational skills and determination.  When Stephanie sets her mind to something, she pursues it and stays with it unless there is a good reason for setting it aside.  She has been organized for at least as long as I’ve known her.  I have watched Stephanie use her skills as she has raised a family and I admire how she has done that.  In more recent years, I have enjoyed reading her blog.  Though I don’t have a family myself, I enjoy keeping up with her in this way and invariably, she shares a tip or two that I can use in my own life.

Stephanie, thanks for your friendship, for sharing your faith and for stepping out into the blogging world to share your practical life experiences.

Tracking Time

Posted on by Michelle

I recently asked the question How do you spend your time when you are job searching?  To be honest, I wondered at that point how I would fill my day job searching.  Now, a couple of weeks later,  I have no problem filling the time.  I am working on finding a schedule that works best for me. I am trying to spend half the day on my part time work at home.  That only leaves half the day for searching for jobs, applying, networking, writing and re-writing my resume and trying to keep up with the blog.

I find that creating a schedule helps.  It gives me a purpose for the day so I have more determination to get up and get going.  I have even found myself beginning to set my clock earlier so I can get more done.  This is is very good considering I am not a morning person. It feels good to be accomplishing something each day.

A special thanks to all those who have written to say they are keeping their ears open for opportunities.

My favorite online job board

Posted on by Michelle

I have used many online job boards in the past and this time around there are even more.  My favorite site is indeed.com.  Indeed collects leads from multiple job sites.  It’s a little like a one stop shop.  Although it doesn’t include everything, I have found a lot of great niche sites through here.

The interface for indeed is very minimal and basic.  I like this.  It gets right to what I want to do without a lot of fluff.  Like most boards, you can save searches and have it send you an email whenever something new comes up in your search.  My favorite thing is thing is that I can make notes about most of the searches right in the search screen.  I can quickly note that I applied for the job without having to go through a long process.

Indeed also has a great mobile app that brings up your most recent searches immediately and notes whether there have been any new postings before you even click to search.

I am always open to suggestions, but for now indeed.com is my favorite place to search.

Looking for threads in a broad skill set

Posted on by Michelle

I have a broad skill set.  I have done front end design of web pages, back end coding, worked as an office manager, in retail, and most recently in Christian ministry.  I love that I have a wide variety of experiences to draw from.  However, it can be daunting as well.  When you find yourself without a job, where do you begin?  What kind of job do you look for?

There are a couple of threads that run through my experience.  I love working with computers and new technology.  These days I am fascinated with social media and its use in business and marketing.  I am always reading and trying to learn more and love opportunities to do hands on work.  Most of what I know about computers and coding I have learned on my own.

The second thread is people.  I love helping people whether it is finding the best product in a store or helping them understand, find or do something on their computer.  Most of the jobs I have been in I have ended up being a sort of personal help-desk to those around me and I love it.  One of my first jobs, I did a lot of training.  There is nothing like being able to see the light come on when someone finally gets something.

I don’t know what I will end up doing, but I do look forward to the opportunity to learn and grow.

 

How do you spend your day when job searching?

Posted on by Michelle

It’s been a while since I have had any time to blog. Now that I am looking for a job again, I have decided to get back to it.  I have a little more time on my hands and I thought it would be an interesting experiment to blog my search.

Today, is officially my first day on the job looking for a job. I’ve been looking for  a while , but today is my first day to be looking and not working at the same time.  One of my goals today is to lay out my plan for how I spend my time.  They say you should work at looking for a job as if it is a job.  So here’s my question.  If you were looking for a job, how would you spend your time?

The Secret of Contentment

Posted on by Michelle

I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. –
Philippians 4:12b-13

Last night, we began our summer study of the book ‘Rest of God” by Mark Buchanan.  It is no coincidence that I am reading this and “Margin” by Richard Swenson at the same time.  Both books are a thought-provoking look at work and rest and what the Bible teaches us about them.

One of the thoughts that struck me in reading these two books is how much we have bought into the lie of “if only.”  If only I had a different job, or made more money or a different boss or didn’t have to deal with the snippy, snarky co-worker, then everything would be fine. Really?

We think contentment lies at the heart of better circumstances.  Swenson writes that “contentment isn’t denying one’s feelings about unhappiness, but instead a freedom from being controlled by those feelings.”  This rings true throughout Scripture.  Paul knew the secret to contentment didn’t lie in different circumstances, but in fixing his eyes on Christ.

I don’t know what circumstances you find yourself in today.  I have no doubt many of you have had a bad day, week, month, or even year.  Let me encourage you to seek God.  Ask Him to show you what He can do in the midst of your circumstances.  Will you worship God and thank Him for His blessings regardless of the circumstances, or is your faith proportionate to your level of comfort?

Intentional Community

Posted on by Michelle

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…
– I Thessalonians 5:11

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8

This past weekend on our single adult retreat, we spent a lot of time talking about community, what it is and why it is important. Chris pointed out that there are a lot of “one anothers” in the Bible. Our faith isn’t meant to be lived out alone. All of us, whether married or single need community. It is where we learn and live out faith, where we are challenged and encouraged by the testimony of others.

As single adults, it is easy to isolate ourselves. When we are not part of a community, it becomes easier not to show up on Sundays because no one will know we are gone. Being part of a community requires intentionality and sometimes, we just plain don’t feel like working at it. I have a picture in my mind of a herd of zebras and gazelle in Africa. When they become ill or hurt and drift behind the herd as it moves, they become easy targets for predators. I think the same is true for us. When we try to do life on our own, we become easy targets for Satan to whisper lies into our ears.

I encourage you today to be intentional about being part of a community. I don’t know exactly what that will look like for you. I do know that it will mean letting your guard down and being vulnerable, but I believe in the long run, you will find yourself strengthened.