Sales School, Week 2

Things are beginning to get really busy, so I apologize for not posting more regular updates on Sales School. Nothing too exciting has happened, and I can just sum it up here:

• Some of the guys party really hard at night and come to class hungover. Today one of the guys was MIA and we learned that he had spent the night in jail. Really? I just don't get it. I know we are adults and can make our own choices, but really?
• Role Playing should be outlawed. I mean, really. What's the point? It kind of feels like adult make-believe, and I am just not buying into it. But I survived the worst of it today, so that's definitely a blessing!
• Being in a class of all guys has its perks: no girly drama and no catty competition.
• But being in a class of all guys also has its drawbacks: "guy talk" followed by a quick apology forgetting that I am in the room (my ears have been violated by inappropriate and sexist comments on more than one occasion), too much testosterone in the room (competition of another kind- proof of "manliness"- the kind that elicits an eyeroll and a sigh from the one female in the room), and the room smells like a guys' locker room. Sigh.

I am half way through...a week and a half to go. I will be focusing on school and some projects at work, so things are going to get crazy. Bear with me if I don't post regularly...I will get back to regular updates in a few weeks :)

Hello Fall...

And even when the trees have just surrendered

To the harvest time

Forfeiting their leaves in late September

And sending us inside

Still I notice You when change begins

And I am braced for colder winds

I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come

You are autumn

Today is a good day. It's one of those [deep breath] "ahhhhhh....." days. The weather is gorgeous- sunny, clear skies, with just the right breeze- so I have all the windows and patio door open. I put out a few fall decorations and have pumpkin spice candles burning.

Fall is most definitely here. I can't help but notice my heavenly Father in the change of season- in the beauty and the quiet entrance of cooler weather.

Happy Fall!

Really?!? Sales School, Day 2

Today I found myself wondering what was up with the guys in my sales school. One guy caught the looks on my face, and I learned I should be more careful in hiding my feelings...

Guy 1 in my sales school: So what exactly do you mean by the radius? What does that mean?
Guy 2 in my sales school: Yeah, is that, like, how many miles you drive in a day?
Guy 3 in my sales school: Yeah, it's when you drive a circle around your office and measure the distance that circle makes all the way around.
Guy 1 and 2 in my sales school: Oh ok. That makes sense.
Me in my head: FAIL. (Really?!?)

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Guy in my sales school: I don't know about these sales techniques that they are teaching us. I just know that I am already a good salesman. A charismatic killer is what you would say. (Really?!?)

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Guy in my sales school: So. (slides up close next to me) Are you married? (Really?!?)

A Look Back at the Rain....

Ever sit and read your old journals? I hadn't done this in a long time, but felt compelled to do so tonight. On my way home from girls' Bible study, it was pouring down rain and lightening like crazy. When I got home, I was completely drenched and just grateful to be in a warm, dry place. Then God brought to mind the Third Day song When the Rain Comes. I started thinking back to when I was first introduced to this song, and I found myself at my old blog. As I read through the pages of the last 2 years of my life, I couldn't believe the journey that I have been on. Through all of the joy and the pain, the hardships and friendships, the fun times and the scary times... I can't believe all that God has brought me through just in this short time. I could write for pages all of what I can look back on and praise God for. But I was particularly struck by the post that started my trip down memory lane. In December of 2006 I was crying out to God for relief from the rain. Back then I wrote:

I am so thankful that He holds me until the rain goes away. So many times I sit and cry and wonder why He won't stop the rain. I miss the whole point: that He holds me until it's gone. I just have to rest in Him. Everything will be alright. And no one loves me like He does. And so I sit and cry in His arms...as the rain falls.

Today I have tears welling up in my eyes for different reasons. The rain from December 2006 is gone; several different storms have come and gone since then. But the truth of God's presence and love remain. Everything is alright and no one loves me like He does. And I can look back on that time and let my heart rejoice over all He has done and has yet to do. My God is like no other, and He was, and is, faithful to hold me until the rain is gone.

Sales School, Day 1

So today I started the dreaded 3-week new producer's school- a.ka. sales school. I have already done 4 weeks of pre-coursework, and now I am completing the 3 weeks of in-class training portion of the program. I am very thankful for this opportunity; I appreciate the training that my company wants to pour into me. But for those who know me, you know that anything sales related is just not my cup of tea. Umm...I got some bad advice in college and switched my major to Professional Selling. I was a ProSales major for a grand total of 1 week. First and only class I ever dropped at Baylor. When the professor opened the class with, "Over this next semester, you will learn the 32-step process of making a sales call..." I knew I was in the wrong place.

Me + Sales = no bueno

So when my boss said I would be attending this 7-week sales training, I really just wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. Over the past few weeks, I have been praying about my attitude toward this school. I have prayed for positivity and for open eyes to the things I could potentially learn (and really walk away feeling like I could use it). I will let you know how things go at the end of the 3 weeks. Still praying....

It is also more difficult now, knowing my recent change in direction within the company. While they didn't hire me to do sales, and this was just "extra" training "just in case" (whatever that means), now I know I will use this training less than before. But I was already signed up, paid for, and 4 weeks in....

And so today was Day 1. This is what I learned:

• I am in a male-dominated industry (I am the only female in the class. Awesome.)
• I do not possess the right personality to make a good sales person (at least according to today's assessments...but this is no surprise to me. I could have, and have, said this before)
• After spending 1 day in the room with all sales-oriented people, I want to do sales less than ever before. Not my kind of crowd.
• I think sales people mistake in-your-face excitement and pushiness for enthusiasm
• It's really hard for me to "buy into" most of these concepts because it is so far opposite from my personality
• It's going to be a long 3 weeks....sigh.

I'm Going to be Toby

My favorite show The Office premiered this week. I have to say that the episodes seem to be going downhill...I really hope the writing improves. But nonetheless, there will always be the previous seasons ;) I typically don't relate TV shows to my life; but when God placed a new opportunity in my path, I just couldn't help but think of Toby Flenderson, the HR guy from the show.

As many of you know, I started my new career in insurance about 5 months ago. Things have been going really well; God has blessed me in so many ways, and I have loved seeing His provision in my life. Recently, He has provided the opportunity for a promotion and a move in my career to Human Resources. I am going to be Toby! Haha. Of course, I hope I won't be as boring or hated as this character...it's just funny to me :)

I can't even express how excited I am about this position! I studied management at Baylor, so I feel like I am moving back to things I am more familiar with, particularly something that really seems to fit my skill set. I will still continue my insurance training, which means I get to continue with my major client, but in a few weeks, I will move into my new HR role. I feel completely blessed, and I am in complete awe of how God has orchestrated this new position for me. How awesome is God? I have been so encouraged; God's plans have proved to be better than anything I could have ever planned for myself.

Sweet Ride

I got a real treat the last couple of days of knowing what it's like to ride around in a luxury car. Of course, the circumstances that surrounded this opportunity were not really fun: my car decided that it was not going to start. Had to have it towed and everything. Thankfully, it ended up only being the battery. And really- I haven't had to replace my battery since I got my car about 5 years ago. I can't complain about a battery that lasts that long. And it was good timing in that my brother could help me. And I have an amazing and generous boss who let me borrow his extra car. I am not much of a car person- I have become used to my SUV (it's just safer in Texas). But when I got to drive this sweet car around...let's just say I really enjoyed it.

Yep. Talk about a sweet ride :)

Hmmmm.....

My grandpa sent me an email today that had this cartoon in it. It really made me think.


How much truth is in this one little cartoon? I really had to step back and reflect on this idea. So I went to the Scriptures to remind myself of what God says:

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." ~ Deuteronomy 16:17

"Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to." ~ Deuteronomy 15:10

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." ~ Proverbs 3:9-10

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and gives strength to all." ~ 1 Chronicles 29:10-12
Why is it that we seem to struggle with giving God 10%, but don't think twice about dropping an extra 15% at a meal? Hmmmm.....

Family Drama

Those of you who know me well enough know that my family has all kinds of issues. We joke about how we are our own "Cops" episode and how we should write a book. For those of you who don't know me that well, let me clarify and say that my extended family has issues. My parents and bro are golden. They are absolutely amazing, and I am so thankful for the work God has done in our little family unit. It's when you add in all the other people I am related to that things get interesting...I know that everyone's family has issues. Mine just seems to take it to a whole new level of the term "dysfunctional."

In all reality, I really shouldn't talk so flippantly about my family and their never-ending issues. Please don't misunderstand my heart. I love my family, but my family is very lost. They desperately need Jesus, and that is no joking matter. It is so difficult to know what I know, to have the abundant and fulfilling relationship with Christ that I have, and then think about how they live their lives without that. It's even harder to know that they really don't want any part of the faith that is so influential in my life. So know that my heart breaks with the thought that my family members walk every day without Christ. I can't imagine my life without Him- He is everything to me. I couldn't breathe without Him. Knowing that they do...it's why I try to joke about it because otherwise I would be a mess of tears and anguish.

Without divulging every sordid detail of the most recent family drama, I do want to request prayer for my family. My uncle is about as far away from God as you can get right now- he is a member of the church of Satan, and if demons still inhabit human bodies, I believe he is battling them now. He has severe mental and emotional issues, and he really needs a lot of medical/mental help. He has threatened to hurt himself or others, and he is just not in a safe frame of mind. The drama stems from knowing how to handle the situation- and denial, hurt, anger, misguided/misplaced love, and ignorance abound. He desperately needs help, but it can only come from God. So please pray for my family. Please pray for wisdom and rational decision-making, for peace and unity, for safety, and for courage to do the hard thing. And please pray for my mom in all of this. She has such a broken heart over the spiritual state of her family, and she is trying so hard to be the light in the hostile darkness. Please pray for her strength and wisdom as she tries to interject reason and truth.

Remembering 9/11

It's hard to believe that it has been 8 years since the terrorist attacks that infamous day in September. I can't say that I truly understand the terror experienced on that day; I did not lose a loved one in the attacks. But so many people lost a mother, brother, sister, friend...and it is for them that I choose to remember.

I remember the fear that ran through the country. I remember the fear that I felt for my own loved ones, when no one knew what was going on and everyone expected more attacks in other parts of the country. I was a junior in high school, and we were getting ready to leave for our annual high school retreat. We were all gathered in the cafeteria, ready to load the buses and head out for a week of fun with our classmates. Our principal came to the podium and made the announcement that two planes had flown into the twin towers. It took a few minutes for the reality and weight of the situation to hit us. For our safety, since we lived in a military town (and there were reports of pending attacks on military bases), the administration decided to go ahead and get us out of the city and take us to camp. So we loaded the buses and road 4 hours in silence. We prayed and tried to catch tidbits of information through a broken radio. When we arrived at camp, we were finally able to call our parents and loved ones. Over the next 2 days, we caught bits and pieces of what had actually happened. Needless to say, our retreat turned into a prayer vigil for our nation. While it was hard to be away from my family during that time, I am very grateful for the time I had with my classmates.

Since that time, I have watched several friends and my cousin deploy. Thankfully, many have come home safely. I pray continually that they all come home. I am so proud of those who serve their country with such courage and selflessness. To these brave men and women, I say THANK YOU. Thank you for your service, for fighting for the freedoms I enjoy. Thank you for giving up what's comfortable and familiar to you so that I can feel safe in a place that is comforable and familiar to me. Thank you for the sacrifice you make on behalf of those who don't even know your name. Thank you for bravely serving to protect and defend our great nation. I pray for blessings and safety for you and your families.

Sweet Text

Today I received this sweet text from my brother:

"i just want to tell you i love you so much and that God has been good to us and will continue to be good to us"

:)

Meet the New Man in my Life

God has placed it on my heart to sponsor a child for quite some time now. Growing up, my parents "adopted" 2 children from Guatemala for my brother and I to support. I wrote letters to Deysey for many years until she turned 18 and left the program. Since then, I have wanted to do this on my own, but have just never done it. A couple of weeks ago, my 20s group decided that they were going to support a child through Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope program. I felt the Holy Spirit pressing on my heart that now was the time.

So I got online and signed up to sponsor a child. I instantly wanted to go through this organization; 100% of the funds go to the children, and their main focus is to share the love of Christ with each child. I immediately fell in love with this precious little boy and have been anxiously awaiting his information packet in the mail.

Meet Yusuf! He lives in India and is 6 years old. He enjoys playing see-saw and flying kites. My heart is bursting with joy, gratitude, and absolute humility that I get to support this precious little one throughout his schooling. He has asked for prayer for himself and his family, who are part of the group of outcasts known as "the untouchables." I cannot wait to write to him and begin to build a relationship with him. I will make sure to update you on this sweet boy.

With his sweet face hanging on my refrigerator, I cannot help but feel abundantly (and undeservedly) blessed with the life I live. Talk about putting my life in perspective. I realize that sponsoring this sweet little boy is only a tiny step toward obeying God's call to help the poor and oppressed. But I needed to start somewhere. And so I pray that this is just that: the first step toward understanding the heart of God for "the least of these." The beginning of a broken heart for the lost and the needy. I also pray for Yusuf; that he may know and understand the love of God and come to a saving knowledge of His Son.