As I was recently reminded, it has been quite some time since I have posted. My laptop is currently out on loan, which has curtailed the amount of time I spend online. (Our two home computers both have terribly uncomfortable chairs.) Moreover, though much has been on my mind, priorities have been elsewhere.
Last week a close family friend, Charlie Harris, unexpectedly went home to be with Jesus. Charlie was the assistant pastor at our church and has been a regular part of my life for nineteen years. My family and I have been spending a lot of time with his family and answering phone calls, etc. It has been a long week and a half.
Though it has been over a month, I am also still waiting to be confirmed from the national AmeriCorps office for my position in Orange County. It has been a frustrating process -- or lack of a process. There are about thirty other people in the same boat, but I am a bit more affected because I am one of the only ones relocating. My move date is August 3rd, but I may have to secure housing by July 20. I say "may" because the woman who sent me paperwork with that date is unsure whether or not that date is correct. This seems to be AmeriCorps modus operandi. Unfortunately, to summarize a long explanation, I have to wait for my confirmation to sign a lease. Despite my anger towards AmeriCorps' incompetancy and inconsideration, I do know that the Lord has a place for me. I'm not looking forward to moving back to Orange County, but I do think that is where He wants me for now. This means He also has a place for me to live. Thankfully, I am looking forward to my new job and shall probably be updating you on it.
My mom just told me: "Your days are numbered."
Me: "I am going to put that in my blog post."
Mom: "That's not good if your mother says your days are numbered."
Me: Unsympathetic chuckle
She was referring to me being on their health insurance.
My part-time job is proceeding nicely. Mary, my boss, feeds me chocolate and compliments me effusively, so I am pampered. I finished a small grant proposal for the City of Ventura, Cultural Affairs Division and turned it in on Friday. We are now working primarily on planning the Ventura Book Festival, which will be July 25. Last year almost 1,000 people attended, and we have twelve presenters and thirty exhibitors lined up for this year. It's fun to be a part of it, though I won't be able to attend the actual event due to being in Cabo San Lucas for Deanna and Chris's wedding. Last Wednesday Donovan and I walked through Main Street in Ventura asking the shops to display posters for the book festival. It was nice to be able to stroll downtown, ducking into all the stores on a temperate afternoon while being on the clock.
In other recent events, a group of friends from Orange County (Amanda, Becca, Donovan, and Ryan) joined me a couple weeks ago for a viewing of Les Miserables in Solvang. The show is one of my absolute favorite musicals, and it was good to be on the Central Coast again, albeit briefly. My friend and former London roommate Sarika visited me last weekend and we had a lovely time, despite the recent news of Charlie's death. We went honeytasting, saw a play in Santa Paula with Kate, walked around Ventura, played games with Donovan, and went to Orange County for the Fourth of July. It was a treat to have her here from out of state. Today, I met with Lindsay for the first time since December. She has been in West Virginia for a few months for a dietetic internship and is now home in Simi Valley for a season. It is good to have her back in the vicinity.
I aim to enjoy these last three weeks with my family, minus Emily who is in Israel. Soon I will be working full-time again in a new location, sleep-deprived and farther away from many of my friends. Still, the best place to be is where God wants you. I'll also be closer to my grandparents and Emily, Donovan, Heather, Joe and Suzanne, and my newer friends in Orange County. I praise God for taking care of me.
No comments:
Post a Comment