Since I last wrote I've been to New York and have been helping a friend of mine clean, paint, and remodel her new house while simultaneously packing her old house and watching her two adorable boys! Staying busy has been such a phenomenal blessing.
I'm excited to start shopping for my mission. As it's getting closer to departure time I find myself more thrilled that I made the decision to go. The amount of encouragement has been a huge support and comfort. Just telling people what I'm doing and their positive response has helped me stay focused and practice missionary skills. Soon, I'll be able to do it in Spanish!
As for New York :) I went with Christina and her Aussie friend Natalie. We stayed in Jessica's former roommate's apartment. The girl was actually in DC for the weekend, so we had her room to ourselves. The trip included many highlights such as Phantom of the Opera, bartering in behalf of Natalie, seeing Time's Square, Fashion Row, getting the smile discount on a hilarious caricature, and having quality time with my cousin.
Life is good.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Home for six more weeks
I'm home, and it feels great. Since I moved out after high school I haven't returned home for any long periods of time. So being home, and not having any extraordinarily pressing engagements, feels wonderful. I'm able to spend mornings exercising, reading 'Preach My Gospel', and putting my life in order so that I can successfully leave all personal affairs at home while I'm on a mission.
But here's the real story. Monday night our manager took everyone out to dinner because we had reached an office goal. As I was waiting for our food to arrive, I noticed both my managers sitting at the end of the table, talking with each other. Up until that point, I hadn't thought about how I was going to tell them I was leaving. Thus when I saw them sitting there, it was the perfect opportunity. I went over, sat down, and said, "I have bad news, I'm not coming back once I go home." One of my managers immediately said "I think that's a smart move." He then explained how right before his mission he spent time with his family and friends, and how that was one of the best things he could have done.
It felt SO GOOD! I felt like I was on cloud nine after I told them!!! It was such a confirmation that going home was the right option.
So I talked out some logistics with them, and then went back to my seat where dinner had arrived. Now our car arrived a little late, so we were behind the curve by about 40 minutes. We were just starting to eat when everyone else was starting to go home. Also, while we were eating, Ryan too the car to Wal-Mart to get groceries. So after dinner we had to wait for him for another half an hour. Thus, by the time we were starting to drive home - which was still a solid hour away - it was around 12:30am. Lovely.
As we were sitting in the parking lot, waiting for Ryan, I was reflecting on how great it felt to know that that was the last parking lot I would sit in as Pinnacle employee. I would never need to wear that ridiculous uniform again with clunky sneakers, ill fitting shorts, and hair that reeked of McDonald's. i would never need to deal with the Floridiots again!!!! I was going home. Pure euphoria.
When Ryan finally showed up, with half of Wal-Mart in the van, we pile in, pull onto the freeway, and head for home. I was full, I was happy, and I was leaving Florid. As we started to drive home I noticed that the car was starting to shimming in an odd sort of way, and thought to myself "I bet something is going to happen - I bet there is no way we can get home before 2am...." I ignored the odd shimmy and continued to happily reflect on the decisions I had made with life and where I was headed until...
BOOM!!!!
The van jerked to the left and back to the right as Brandon locked his arms on the steering wheel and slammed on the breaks. Simultaneously Kerry and Joy start screaming, Ryan starts swearing at the top of his lungs, Natalie jumps up from Ryan's lap, and I start laughing! OF COURSE!!! Of course something would happen!!!! The cacophony of voices continued until Brandon pulled the car over on the side of I-4 near DinoWorld and we all piled out into the grassy median to find a blown out front left tire. Kerry, Brandon, and Ryan all put their hands in the air in one form or another and cured the van. Natalie and Joy were still trying to figure out what was going on. And I continued to laugh.
We quickly found out that the hazard lights wouldn't turn on and neither would the car. The car wouldn't even turn over. So we sat on the guard rail while Brandon assumed responsibility and started calling people. I continued to laugh...of course something like this would happen.
Eventually a highway response vehicle came to help us, some coworkers came to pick us up, and the van got home (the battery had come disconnected when the van was jolting to and fro as we came to a thrashing halt).
Oh, the adventurous life of a summer sales rep. Next time I'm going to be a tech.
But here's the real story. Monday night our manager took everyone out to dinner because we had reached an office goal. As I was waiting for our food to arrive, I noticed both my managers sitting at the end of the table, talking with each other. Up until that point, I hadn't thought about how I was going to tell them I was leaving. Thus when I saw them sitting there, it was the perfect opportunity. I went over, sat down, and said, "I have bad news, I'm not coming back once I go home." One of my managers immediately said "I think that's a smart move." He then explained how right before his mission he spent time with his family and friends, and how that was one of the best things he could have done.
It felt SO GOOD! I felt like I was on cloud nine after I told them!!! It was such a confirmation that going home was the right option.
So I talked out some logistics with them, and then went back to my seat where dinner had arrived. Now our car arrived a little late, so we were behind the curve by about 40 minutes. We were just starting to eat when everyone else was starting to go home. Also, while we were eating, Ryan too the car to Wal-Mart to get groceries. So after dinner we had to wait for him for another half an hour. Thus, by the time we were starting to drive home - which was still a solid hour away - it was around 12:30am. Lovely.
As we were sitting in the parking lot, waiting for Ryan, I was reflecting on how great it felt to know that that was the last parking lot I would sit in as Pinnacle employee. I would never need to wear that ridiculous uniform again with clunky sneakers, ill fitting shorts, and hair that reeked of McDonald's. i would never need to deal with the Floridiots again!!!! I was going home. Pure euphoria.
When Ryan finally showed up, with half of Wal-Mart in the van, we pile in, pull onto the freeway, and head for home. I was full, I was happy, and I was leaving Florid. As we started to drive home I noticed that the car was starting to shimming in an odd sort of way, and thought to myself "I bet something is going to happen - I bet there is no way we can get home before 2am...." I ignored the odd shimmy and continued to happily reflect on the decisions I had made with life and where I was headed until...
BOOM!!!!
The van jerked to the left and back to the right as Brandon locked his arms on the steering wheel and slammed on the breaks. Simultaneously Kerry and Joy start screaming, Ryan starts swearing at the top of his lungs, Natalie jumps up from Ryan's lap, and I start laughing! OF COURSE!!! Of course something would happen!!!! The cacophony of voices continued until Brandon pulled the car over on the side of I-4 near DinoWorld and we all piled out into the grassy median to find a blown out front left tire. Kerry, Brandon, and Ryan all put their hands in the air in one form or another and cured the van. Natalie and Joy were still trying to figure out what was going on. And I continued to laugh.
We quickly found out that the hazard lights wouldn't turn on and neither would the car. The car wouldn't even turn over. So we sat on the guard rail while Brandon assumed responsibility and started calling people. I continued to laugh...of course something like this would happen.
Eventually a highway response vehicle came to help us, some coworkers came to pick us up, and the van got home (the battery had come disconnected when the van was jolting to and fro as we came to a thrashing halt).
Oh, the adventurous life of a summer sales rep. Next time I'm going to be a tech.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Moving
Dear Friends, Family, and other such cheerleaders,
I am moving back in with my dad until I go on my mission.
This has been an interesting experience for me. At the end of the semester I felt very strongly that I needed to come here to Florida, but was unsure why. As I've been down here I have had an incredibly hard time trying synthesis the different skills this job require. There have also been several other remarkably difficult thing about the work and living environment.
A few weeks back I considered quitting and going home. I wasn't doing as well as I had hoped, the whole office was struggling, there is no good stress outlet....etc, etc, etc. But I talked with a good friend who helped me sort through some thoughts and decisions. I concluded that I would stay here until the Lord showed me that my purpose here was fulfilled, rather than reinforcing the habit of quitting simply because I thought things were getting tough.
On Sunday, I had an experience that showed me and confirmed that my purpose here was fulfilled. It was like being liberated from the binding depths of the ocean and wrapped in a warm blanket on the sunny deck of a ship sailing on calm waters. I realized, with contagious joy, that I can go home without quitting - and that was a tender mercy from the Lord. When the idea of going home was tossed around before, I felt like I would be quitting, and now I feel like I'm progressing.
As has been the case before, once I fully commit to the will of the Lord, he makes a path through what I thought would be impossible. It usually isn't the path I would have imagined, but it always turns out fantastic.
Much love,
Susan
I am moving back in with my dad until I go on my mission.
This has been an interesting experience for me. At the end of the semester I felt very strongly that I needed to come here to Florida, but was unsure why. As I've been down here I have had an incredibly hard time trying synthesis the different skills this job require. There have also been several other remarkably difficult thing about the work and living environment.
A few weeks back I considered quitting and going home. I wasn't doing as well as I had hoped, the whole office was struggling, there is no good stress outlet....etc, etc, etc. But I talked with a good friend who helped me sort through some thoughts and decisions. I concluded that I would stay here until the Lord showed me that my purpose here was fulfilled, rather than reinforcing the habit of quitting simply because I thought things were getting tough.
On Sunday, I had an experience that showed me and confirmed that my purpose here was fulfilled. It was like being liberated from the binding depths of the ocean and wrapped in a warm blanket on the sunny deck of a ship sailing on calm waters. I realized, with contagious joy, that I can go home without quitting - and that was a tender mercy from the Lord. When the idea of going home was tossed around before, I felt like I would be quitting, and now I feel like I'm progressing.
As has been the case before, once I fully commit to the will of the Lord, he makes a path through what I thought would be impossible. It usually isn't the path I would have imagined, but it always turns out fantastic.
Much love,
Susan
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Oh wow.
I GOT ONE!!! I made a sale yesterday! It broke my bad streak! I had gone almost two and a half weeks with out making one sale, and I got one yesterday!!!! HURRAY!!
As for today...I can't wait to go home. I want to be in my dad's house, see my sister, and talk to the normal people of the Springfield ward. People here in Florida can be crazy, rude, and frustratingly dense. This job is doing an incredible job of teaching me compassion, patience, and skill synthesis.
I took a nap in a church parking lot today. Here in Florida some of the parking lots are grass fields. It's interesting.
Over all, it was one of my better days.
Happy 4th of July. I'm thankful for those who had a more noble cause to live for.
As for today...I can't wait to go home. I want to be in my dad's house, see my sister, and talk to the normal people of the Springfield ward. People here in Florida can be crazy, rude, and frustratingly dense. This job is doing an incredible job of teaching me compassion, patience, and skill synthesis.
I took a nap in a church parking lot today. Here in Florida some of the parking lots are grass fields. It's interesting.
Over all, it was one of my better days.
Happy 4th of July. I'm thankful for those who had a more noble cause to live for.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Dates, of several sorts
Dates. I went on one, I have a few set, and I have a few coming up.
I went on a date with a tech on our team. It is the first date I've ever been on with someone younger than myself. BUT it was actually quite enjoyable. We went to dinner and then watched a movie at my apartment. I was surprised at how much more mature he was than his other dating counterparts. He was also very gentle - which is a nice change from the rough-and-tough guys that I work with and atrocious environment that I work in. Also, he accepted my invite to come to church on Sunday.
I have a date set to go through the temple. I'm coming home on July 8th-13th and will be taking time to get a few things ordered. Today also marks two months before I enter the MTC!
Prayers would be very much appreciated.
The upcoming date is the temple. In one week I'll have the opportunity to enter the House of the Lord and make sacred covenants. For more info about the purpose of temples, click here.
For info about the message I will be sharing on my mission, click here.
It's an interesting time in life. A lot of good things are happening, and the future is bright. For those reading, please continue to pray for me. This job is hard, and dealing with myself is hard. I am thankful for a God who answers prayers and for a Savior who atoned for us and makes up the difference when we fall short.
Much love,
Future Hermana Denker!
I went on a date with a tech on our team. It is the first date I've ever been on with someone younger than myself. BUT it was actually quite enjoyable. We went to dinner and then watched a movie at my apartment. I was surprised at how much more mature he was than his other dating counterparts. He was also very gentle - which is a nice change from the rough-and-tough guys that I work with and atrocious environment that I work in. Also, he accepted my invite to come to church on Sunday.
I have a date set to go through the temple. I'm coming home on July 8th-13th and will be taking time to get a few things ordered. Today also marks two months before I enter the MTC!
Prayers would be very much appreciated.
The upcoming date is the temple. In one week I'll have the opportunity to enter the House of the Lord and make sacred covenants. For more info about the purpose of temples, click here.
For info about the message I will be sharing on my mission, click here.
It's an interesting time in life. A lot of good things are happening, and the future is bright. For those reading, please continue to pray for me. This job is hard, and dealing with myself is hard. I am thankful for a God who answers prayers and for a Savior who atoned for us and makes up the difference when we fall short.
Much love,
Future Hermana Denker!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
