My New Job

In the spirit of privacy, I’m not going to share *too* much about my job(s), but I will share interesting things from time to time. Here are your facts for the day…

• I got a holiday bonus from my church job. Which means I’m getting a new bookcase for Christmas! (the far wall of our dining room is the perfect width for 3 IKEA bookshelves. We have 2…and they are crammed with books. No where for knickknacks.  Naturally I’ll put the 3rd bookshelf in the middle and FILL it with knickknacks.)
• My 3-day job is totally awesome. The people are awesome. The material is awesome. The preparedness is awesome! Tomorrow I’ll be put to the test and do some phone shadowing. I’m totally nervous. But thrilled to have a job that is changing the world. I sit at my desk in my jammies making us one step closer to a world without breast cancer. (you’re welcome)
• Having a home office would be WAY cooler if we had a larger place or more space between the TV and the office. It’s a struggle for everyone. Will definitely take some getting used to.

Happy almost close of the advent season!

I promise not to put the knickknacks all on one bookshelf. I promise we’ll rearrange and organize our books based on subject and author’s last name. Never fear!

 

Christmastime

I had several blog post updates and deep thoughts saved and forgot to post. So this will will be a random mix of updates and thoughts.

• Last week Jarrod’s e-mail and facebook were hacked. The creep asked friends and family for money. Said he was robbed at gunpoint in London. It was crazy madness for a few days. Sundays are always busy with Jarrod, so this was an especially horrible day to deal with the FBI and local authorities.
• Jarrod was in an adorable Christmas music at church last weekend. He was Uncle Yule in the children’s musical at church. Incredible.
• A family from our Sunday school class adopted a little boy last weekend. They started the adoption process with an agency in September, got a call around Thanksgiving, and were there when he was born last Sunday. Now he’s off with their sweet little girls at Disney World. It was incredible hearing their story. In a few years, I’ll totally be ready to begin the adoption process. Thankfully I think Jarrod feels the same way.
• I went to Chicago for a few days with Event360 to train for my new 3-day for the Cure job. It was absolutely fantastic to meet everyone. I’m overwhelmed with information and anxious about starting on January 4th for real, but feel prepared and well-equipped. Also, Chicago is freezing.

Now that we are in the week of Christmas, it’s definitely feeling more like Christmas. The 4th Sunday of Advent is always my favorite because it really feels like Christmas. This morning we had a traditional lessons and carols service at 8:30am and then a contemporary lessons and carols at 10:45am. It was absolutely beautiful. Jarrod did an amazing job leading both services. I always get weepy this time of year and always for different reasons. Here’s a recap of Christmases from years past…

• As a child, Christmas was a joyful time. Spending time with extended family, traditions, and the magic of Santa. I’d enjoy running around with my cousins, seeing Santa ride in on the fire truck, and wake up on Christmas morning to a stocking full of gifts from Santa on Christmas morning.
• As a teenager, I spent Christmas going back and forth between mom’s and dad’s. It was stressful, full of self-induced guilt, and crazy. I was emotional, sported a serious attitude, and took advantage of having options.
• In college I remember going to church alone, waking up to an empty house, and generally feeling sorry for myself. Some of it was choice, most of it circumstance. It was a tough season.
• After college I spent a few years working working working on Christmas eve, unable to fly home for Christmas. That’s when I began to really appreciate the magic of Santa. I would wake up and things would be exactly the same as when I went to sleep. No magical presents, no stocking, no family. I was officially a grown up and it was somewhat sad. I would spend Christmas day with various families who graciously welcomed me into their homes for Christmas. It was bittersweet, but I was thankful for sweet “family” in Texas.
• My favorite Christmas memory is from several years ago. I worked ALL day (Christmas eve was on a Sunday!) and came to a friend’s house exhausted after midnight. I walked to the bedroom I would be sleeping in only to find a full stocking, left at the end of the bed…just like when I was a kid! Several hours later I woke up to babies and a sweet little girl excited that Santa had come. The day was full of magic, presents, food, and love.

The bottom line is that there have been some sad Christmases in my past. This reminds me that while Christmas is such a beautiful season, it is not always the happiest for everyone. I sang with tears in my eyes this morning so thrilled that this Christmas is shared with my dear husband and our incredible church family. I am excited to have my sister with us in Slidell, singing in the choir and band. I’m happy that Jarrod and I both have jobs that fulfill us and more than pay our bills. I’m happy to be surrounded with people that I love in Slidell and with the prospect of heading to Dallas soon to find more and more friends and family. Our life is so full. Life is still stressful, nothing is perfect, but overall I am so thankful for this season of life. May you all have a joyful season of peace and love.

 

This really happened.

Last week, ALL week, the weather was predicted to get VERY cold on Friday/Saturday. Note that VERY cold means in the mid-40s here in Southern Louisiana. On Friday night it was lightly raining and was cold enough for a jacket, but certainly not that cold.

Saturday morning Jarrod and I woke up and dressed in light layers, it was chilly! But the sun was out and it was a beautiful day. No rain, no snow, and definitely no ice. The temperature at 10am was probably 47 degrees.

Our first stop on Saturday morning was the library. I’ve been reading like a mad-woman and I had a book on hold. I ran into the library at 10:10am only to find the doors locked. I know the library opens at 9am on Saturdays… Then I see a sign that the library won’t open until 11am today because of “inclement weather.” I kid you not. No ice. No snow. No rain. Gorgeous sunshine and the need for a light sweater.

Fast forward to this week. It started raining yesterday and hasn’t stopped since. Our sidewalks are flooded. This morning at the gym Jarrod and I noticed the pool was overflowing. Streets are flooded. One of the drawbacks of living in this area. Certainly not terrible, though. This morning we woke up to heavy rains and lots of water. Schools in NOLA are closed due to flooding. On my way to work this morning I saw several parking lots completely flooded. An entire fast food restaurant was surrounded by a 2 foot deep lake on all sides. Side streets were under water. I got to work and couldn’t park along one whole side fo the church because it was UNDER water. Note: While I do tend to exaggerate, when I say there was flooding, I mean undriveable feet of water covering streets and parking lots.

Was the library closed this morning? Of course not. Did anyone but my sister, Jarrod, and I notice that there was a surplus of water in town today? No.

 

That’s YOUR leg!

Last night Jarrod and I were in bed falling asleep. I was on my stomach and pushed my toes to the very bottom of the bed. I felt something strange and asked if it was Jarrod’s leg. It felt like his leg was diagonally on my side of the bed, which is totally not cool.

I laughed and assumed he was joking.

“For real, isn’t that your leg?”

Not his leg. It was starting to click that it was the afgan bunched up on top of the comforter but before I could say that out loud, Jarrod says… “No, that’s YOUR leg!”

This wouldn’t be as funny if he weren’t COMPLETELY serious. I’m pretty sure that after nearly 28 years I can tell what is my leg and what is not my leg.

 

Go VOTE!

I wrote last week about the amazing photos my friend Jen captured of our family. Jen is obviously an incredible photographer and it’s time for her to WIN! It’s very easy to vote, so please go vote for her today! Voting ends tonight, so vote quick! For instructions and a link to the page, click here. Vote for your favorite picture, but seriously Jen’s is obviously the best!

 

Togetherness

Jarrod and I like to eat together. Breakfast or dinner. When I was working in an office we never had breakfast together and only occasionally had dinner together. I was coming as he was going. We were missing each other. Now that I’m working locally (more on that in a minute) we are able to not only eat dinner together, but also we occasionally eat breakfast together, go to the gym in the morning, and enjoy time together. It’s been more than delightful.

I have written some about my job changes but now I am able to write officially about everything. I left my office job the first of November. Within a few days I’d accepted a position as the Executive Director of Project NOAH. I work part time during the year and will pick up more hours as the summer gets closer. My job right now is to get ready for the summer. I’m registering youth groups for summer mission trips, hiring summer staff, and planning events for the summer. I’m really enjoying myself because I’m doing some of my favorite things. I’m creating excel spreadsheets, writing curriculum, dreaming of t-shirt logos, etc. I office out of First United Methodist Church, which is very close to our house. Totally awesome.

I’ve also accepted a position as a National Sales & Service Coordinator for Event 360 and Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure. I’m thrilled. I work from home…I have an awesome home office/guestroom/cat room. Today was my second day of home training and already I’m in love. Everyone is so nice and I’m learning a lot. I’m beyond thrilled to help register people for the 3-day for the Cure. As you know, this is such a special event and I’m so excited to be on this side of things.

I also do some at-home photo editing, which I’m loving! Overall, things are really good. Our animals are so happy to have me home more. I’m happy to be home more; the house is cleaner and I’m cooking more!! Our house is decorated for Christmas and Jarrod roasted a turkey on Monday. Amazing! Life in the Slidell Johnston house is very good!

 

Thanksgiving Recap

I wish I had pictures, but I completely forgot my camera(s) at home… Here’s the short version of our week/end.

Facts:
Courtney, Jarrod, Lucy-the-dog, and I drove to Dallas.

We left on Wednesday morning and arrived in Dallas at rush hour.

The humans stayed with Jarrod’s bro and sis-in-law. Lucy stayed with Jarrod’s parents.

We left Dallas on Saturday morning and got back to Slidell at dinner time.

The Details

• Our nephews are freaking adorable and getting so big! (They turn two in January!)
• Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday ever and did not disappoint this year.
• I miss Dallas food so much. We ate Chipotle and On The Border while I was home. Delightful.
• Jarrod and I got our pictures taken by the beautiful and talented Jen of Sugar Photography. It was so awesome to see Jen and her sweet family again. It’s been years…way too long!
• We got to share in a turning-on-the-Christmas lights tradition in Frisco with our sweet friends. We stood on the sidewalk singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas when the lights came on.
• Dallas was very cold. Weird.
• Everyone tried to hook Courtney up with a short, Asian doctor. Not just hook up, it was an arranged marriage. We’re not sure if said doctor actually exists. If he does, Courtney will marry the crap out of him.

I am so thankful to be entering my first holiday season as a married lady. Jarrod and I spent the evening putting up Christmas decorations/3 nativities… We’re very thankful for health, supportive and super fun friends, and jobs we love. We came home from a great trip to Dallas and jumped into the hanging of the greens service at church. What a reminder of how dynamic our faith community is. And good food. We love that church also means good food.

 

Giveaway!

I promise to post an update from Thanksgiving (I already have been forming bullet points in my head!) but until I get to that, check out this incredible giveaway!!! I absolutely love Fantabulously Frugal and read her posts religiously. I get some GREAT deals, but winning things is even better!!

I really want to win so be sure to enter yourself and use me as a referral!

Bullet point Thanksgiving really soon. I promise.

 

Wine

I enjoy a glass of wine every now and then. We have beautiful stemless glasses that I absolutely adore. This afternoon when Jarrod got home from work I was feverishly cleaning the guestroom and reorganizing the desk. I was carrying around a tall juice glass as I ran from room to room repositioning stuff.

After about 30 minutes of me running around while Jarrod sat on the couch he finally looked at me and said, “Is that wine?” No judgment, just concern and curiosity. It was a VERY tall juice glass.

Of course it wasn’t wine, it was pomegranate-grape  juice watered down. He thought I might have just had a rough day at work… Rough day indeed!

 

Airport Failure

I have forgotten some of the important details (the punchline) of our funny story of the day for yesterday. If I remember, I’ll be sure to share it with you.

Sometimes Jarrod and I do silly things independently of each other. Today’s funny story is one of those times.

I spent about 36 hours in Dallas for my awesome friend Julie’s bachelorette party/girl’s weekend. It was awesome. I didn’t check a bag, but brought Courtney’s sweet roller bag and my briefcase. Getting in and out of the bathroom was a challenge the few times I went at the airport, but I am a confident and savvy flier, so I can do it…

Until today. Evidently either the stalls got smaller or my bag got bigger. The door is curved out to give more room, but the doorway is not any wider than normal, so the curve is really just a tease. Let me set the stage. Picture me waiting in line at the airport. It is finally my turn to enter a stall and I walk in and proceed to pull my suitcase in behind me. Fail. Won’t budge. I step to the side of the commode (trying carefully not to touch anything) and wiggle my suitcase around the door. Nothing. I pull it from the sides, thinking maybe it’s the zipper that is stuck. Nope. A woman walks down and peeks in, thinking the bathroom is open and ready to help alleviate the line. Wrong. I turn bright red from embarrassment and try to lift my suitcase a little bit to maneuver it into the stall. Sadly it is not the commode that is causing the problems, it is the door itself. I do not know why inward swinging doors are a good idea at airport bathrooms. Finally I get my suitcase safely into the stall.

I took a few deep breaths in the stall before attempting to leave, knowing that getting out with the suitcase would be just as difficult as getting in. Thankfully the time it took me to get out was about half as long as it took me to get in… Unfortunately that is till longer than it has ever taken anyway to leave a bathroom stall. To make matters worse, the line had gotten even longer…