It's all good so far

Getting into routines. Back and forth to the in-laws either shuttling Sandra or running support errands.

Yesterday I did make it to Church and served as Worship Leader (leading the corporate prayers of the people). It was a good service. Attendance was good, songs familiar and sermon moving. We have a good support base there. A friend sent the altar flowers home with me for Mother-in-Law.

We did the shopping for both houses and then had some “us time.”

I attended an online conference call for spring fellowship and during the call I received a call from a former employer about potential job lead. I was impressed especially since he called while on a business trip to Puerto Rico.

We also had the first nighttime healthcare aid for the Mother in Law, freeing Sandra up to spend the night at home for the first time since the layoff. New attendant is a big help and will be with them every other night as needed.

Spent the morning getting the computer a little better organized with calendars, task managers etc cleaned up. Documented job search to date and some financial review. Now getting the car done. Getting things set in order for this transition.

The search continues with new leads on the horizon.

The first weekend on the new journey. I have made some progress after fighting the spammer debacle.

I have started the reach out for recommendations and references and started the research on opportunities.

The assistance my friends and former co-workers are giving has been great. It appears that there are opportunities out there with other firms and I will press forward.

As I am getting organized in the job hunt I am also getting caught up on family business. A lot of engineering and economic data entry in our accounting. And inspite of all the battles lost with quickbooks online, yesterday I found a feature that will make life easier. Small victories.

What a difference a day makes.  I had last posted right before work on the 23rd and then shortly thereafter (and quite unrelated to the post), was notified that the department was changing focus and my services were no longer needed.  I spend the next couple of hours clearing the office and was home and unloaded by noon watching the company car drive away.

It was a shock, but I am working through it.  It is not the first time that I have been through this process where a change in economy or philosophy has resulted in a job change.  I know I do good work and if the skill set is not needed, then I can accept that it is a business decision.

So as I was getting things organized at the house, I started reviewing the available job boards and having to log into a couple.  I am still not sure how one of them seized my address book, but a short time later I start getting email alerts from friends that I have been hijacked.  

One of the last things I needed was to have my email address compromised.  It is an address that I have had for a number of years.  I have changed the password and set up a new email address.  I have been updating subscriptions and will let some lapse.  The process did cost me some historic email.  I have been a digital pack rat but I was probably due a clean out.

We can’t prevent outside changes from effecting us.  We can roll with them and see what happens next.  I choose to approach it as an adventure.  I will spend a couple of days in recovery mode but there are opportunities out there and I will be back in the game.

Its all good so far.  

We received word yesterday that a Church Member had passed away unexpectedly. She was a remarkable character, not one that will be the subject of many anecdotes, rather a quiet Christian.

I don’t recall exactly when we first met her, for she seems to have always been a presence at the Church. It was probably after our transition from back benches to our current pew, where she was the anchor.

She always had a smile and a warm greeting, and had soon recruited my wife and daughter onto her altar guild team. She first put the bug in my ear about running for the vestry. She supported the remodeling of the sanctuary.

She continued to serve the church quietly as she could, inspire of the many changes. Changes in the liturgy, changes in National Church policy, some things rather radical to her, but she persevered, continuing to anchor our pew as long as her health allowed. Still smiling, asking after Sandra’s mother or how our daughter was doing.

She was a mentor, an example of what a quiet, committed Christian could do. She has earned her rest.

I am now at the age where I am seeing more of my parent’s generation, the mentors that helped get me to where I am are passing. Reflecting on her passing, reminds me that it is time to step up and be a part of the next generation of mentors, to lead by example, sometimes quietly, and to try to make a difference.