I found my journal tonight. I don't write as often as I would like only a few times a year. I always find it interesting to read back over what was filling my thoughts. I think it will help you to really see my journey, so I'm going to post some of what I have written. Not necessarily word for word but along those lines:
3.4.09
Last Tuesday at BOL (Balsamo Olson & Lewis, the architecture firm) we all got called into the conference room, and told that the place was going 'barebones' and that the rest of us would be on 'furlow.' So as of this Monday I am jobless. I'm actually ok with it. I feel like God is definitely at work in this situation and it's time for me to find something I am truly passionate about.
James MacDonald has been speaking on trials and I have been really encouraged by these verses:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 1That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Hebrews 12:7-11 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
1 Peter 4:12-16 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
It's interesting looking back, sure I had been laid off and had a lot of decisions to make but I wasn't even in the real trial yet. I think God was gearing me up for the year to come.
I don't have journal entries for the next few months.
But a few major things happen. I have a garage sale and sell just about everything I own. On June 1, 2009 I move into Tara and Matthew (my step-sister and brother-in-law) basement and my animals (Pepper & Maddox) go to live with Dad and Nay. I decided that if I was going to be serious about being open for anything the less 'stuff' I had the easier any transition would be.
I also hear back from the Peace Corps. I went in for an interview and was told that spots are opened about four times a year. My advocate would nominate me for a spot and then we would wait. I got the first 'No' in the summer of 2009.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
What's next...
This is part of a STRIVE (Campus Life Fundraising) letter that I wrote back in April of 2009. It's also were I got the title of my blog =)
-Amanda
I'm also writing to give you an update on my life. =) I always plan on writing a Christmas letter, but not much changes from year to year. However, 2009 thus far has been filled with change starting in February when I got laid off. If anything, I was happy it happened. My firm has been laying people off for almost two years, so things have been pretty tense at work for awhile. I've wanted to leave the Architecture industry for some time, but feared making the jump... especially since I didn't know what I would jump to! I really feel as though this is God's will for me. Time off to regroup and try to figure out what comes next. As a matter of fact, the night before I got my pink slip, another Campus Life volunteer (who knew my office was really slow) suggested that I ask my boss if I could go part-time so that I could also work for Campus Life.
After I stared volunteering for CL, I realized how much I enjoy the whole process from brainstorming behind the scenes to spending time with the kids. For probably a year now I have been thinking about applying for the Peace Corps, but the planner in me wanted to have everything figured out first. The dog, the cat, all my belongings, would I still remember autoCAD if I was out of an office for two years, you get the idea. At the beginning of this year it hit me though that there is a chance that I won't even get in. So I decided that I would worry about this stuff when/if the time comes. All that is to say that the first thing I did after I got laid off was email CL, and then apply for the Peace Corps!!
Currently I am working part-time at CL and going through the LONG application process with the Peace Corps. Apparently my fingerprints checked out okay and now I'm on to the interview process. From what I understand, that can take up to a year. I'm not planning on the Peace Corps but I'm preparing for it. I've got a few back up plans in mind, but I feel at peace about where I am now. I finally have the time to work more with CL and heck, I'm even getting paid for some of my work. As stressful as it can be, it's a good stress. Please keep me in your prayers as this next year could be one of major changes.
-Amanda
I'm also writing to give you an update on my life. =) I always plan on writing a Christmas letter, but not much changes from year to year. However, 2009 thus far has been filled with change starting in February when I got laid off. If anything, I was happy it happened. My firm has been laying people off for almost two years, so things have been pretty tense at work for awhile. I've wanted to leave the Architecture industry for some time, but feared making the jump... especially since I didn't know what I would jump to! I really feel as though this is God's will for me. Time off to regroup and try to figure out what comes next. As a matter of fact, the night before I got my pink slip, another Campus Life volunteer (who knew my office was really slow) suggested that I ask my boss if I could go part-time so that I could also work for Campus Life.
After I stared volunteering for CL, I realized how much I enjoy the whole process from brainstorming behind the scenes to spending time with the kids. For probably a year now I have been thinking about applying for the Peace Corps, but the planner in me wanted to have everything figured out first. The dog, the cat, all my belongings, would I still remember autoCAD if I was out of an office for two years, you get the idea. At the beginning of this year it hit me though that there is a chance that I won't even get in. So I decided that I would worry about this stuff when/if the time comes. All that is to say that the first thing I did after I got laid off was email CL, and then apply for the Peace Corps!!
Currently I am working part-time at CL and going through the LONG application process with the Peace Corps. Apparently my fingerprints checked out okay and now I'm on to the interview process. From what I understand, that can take up to a year. I'm not planning on the Peace Corps but I'm preparing for it. I've got a few back up plans in mind, but I feel at peace about where I am now. I finally have the time to work more with CL and heck, I'm even getting paid for some of my work. As stressful as it can be, it's a good stress. Please keep me in your prayers as this next year could be one of major changes.
Welcome to my 1st blog!
For the last year or so I have been telling myself that I need to start a blog. Well today is the day.
My life for the last 2 years has been on a path that is not my own. I'm still not exactly sure where the Lord is taking me, but this journey has been one of growth. Even though there have been ups and downs it has been a blessing. I have journaled some about it and will try to add anything I can to catch thing up to date.
Thanks for reading!
Amanda
My life for the last 2 years has been on a path that is not my own. I'm still not exactly sure where the Lord is taking me, but this journey has been one of growth. Even though there have been ups and downs it has been a blessing. I have journaled some about it and will try to add anything I can to catch thing up to date.
Thanks for reading!
Amanda
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