God's sense of humor

Well, isn't this ironic.

2 posts ago, I wrote a looooong post about how I may never be a grown-up and how I've had lots and lots of jobs (or so it seems).

God's funny.

And I think that God sometimes sits up in heaven and (while watching me type that suuuper long post) says, "Hahaha.. This should be fun! She has NO idea!"

In a humorous way, of course.

Because I truly had no idea. Still don't perhaps. But that is neither here nor there.

What is here is a new job. Or to be more exact, an old job but better.

On Wednesday, I was offered the position of Assistant Manager at the bookstore where I used to work.

It's a full-time position.

Which is a blessing, because with Stephen in school and doing church stuff and working part-time at the bookstore, he is way busy.

And I haven't been. And that has been hard for me.

But I'm also feeling a little sad.

Because it's a real grown-up job.

While working at the church had some serious drawbacks, I liked the freedom and flexibility I had there. If Stephen got home early, I could ask to leave early and meet him at home.

Or if my parents were flying into DFW with a long layover, I could ask for the day off to drive up and see them.

Or if I wanted to take 14 days off after Christmas so that Stephen and I could go to Washington, I could.

Now I'll be in a job where time off is accrued and I have to fill out requests for time off and going to Washington after Christmas for 14 days is impossible (but we might be able to do 5 or 6 days.. we'll see)

Stephen sometimes tells me that I over-think.

It's true, I do.

And sometimes I agonize more after I've made a decision than while I was trying to make it.

But I do think that this is a good move for me. I already know some of what I'll need to do, I know a few of the people I'll be working with, and I know the manager above me (who is an excellent boss).

I'm excited and scared and I feel blessed and nervous and I think that God is upstairs chuckling and saying, "Just stick with me, kid, and we'll do this together."

And that makes me feel better.

New Beginning

I'm going to use the term 'new' pretty loosely for a minute...

For some, being married for over a year may seem like old news--

To me, it's still miraculous!

I've been married to the love of my life/bestest friend for almost 16 months.

This is crazyness.

Also, we have been living in Texas for the same amount of time.

Some mornings I wake up and I still can't believe I live in Texas....

No, it has not grown on me.

These big parts of my life still feel new to me.

Something else is new too:

I have a new job!

(Shame on you if you thought I was pregnant! Shame shame shame! I wouldn't announce that on here till all of you already knew!)

I am the new church secretary of First Baptist Church in Mart, Texas.

For those of you not new to my blog, yes! It is the same church where Stephen

is the music minister!

I'm going to be totally and completely honest-- I don't really enjoy telling people I have a new job.

Don't get me wrong; it's totally a God-thing. And I am so thankful for the better pay, steady schedule, and that I like the work I'm doing now better than what I did at the bookstore.

But, I feel a little weird.

I mean, how many 23-year-old church secretaries do you know?

Just the one? That's what I thought.

Church secretary positions are usually filled by older women. I'm not ageist, it's just truth.

And for that reason, I feel a little ashamed to tell people that I am a church secretary.

I've gotten the incredulous looks, the wide-eyed wonderment looks, the furrowed-brow-is-she-joking looks and a few others.

I've heard the surprised tones, the disapproving tones, the shocked tones, etc.

But, the people at church have been so supportive. They make a consistent effort to notice what I do and affirm me and make me feel like I'm making a positive impact in our church.

So I am deciding right now not to be ashamed of my new job.

I am the secretary of FBC Mart! And I think, so far, that I am pretty good at it.

I like that it is challenging and I like that I still have more to learn.

I like the routine and I like having the freedom to decide how I want the work to be done.

I like my new job.

I have spoken!