Top 10 things I will miss about unemployment:

I'm a list writer. In many ways, I love to write lists so I can cross them off when I complete tasks. I love writing lists of the things I need to work on or complete by the end of the week, month, and year. (see that list there?) My brain organizes information in that way. I often have to process through a list of friends or activities to remember some minute detail that I was searching for to remember. I don't want to forget all of the enjoyable things about this long period of unemployment, especially since I will most likely return to this state one day. I want to focus on the positives as a reminder to myself and others who are going through this stage.

The top 10 things I will miss and have loved through unemployment:

10. I will miss sleeping in! I have truly enjoyed the option to stay up later and sleep later. My body will quickly adjust and I will soon reach "old lady" status again of going to bed before or by 10 and waking up at 5:30, BUT I do love and will miss my bed. :)

9. I will miss the opportunity to take as much as time as I want to plan my meals and make them! Over the past month, I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to look over recipes and take time making myself a delightful lunch or scrumptious dinner; sometimes spending hours doing so.

8. I will miss my random day trips up to Trinity. Over this past school year, I have visited my friends at TIU on several occasions; sometimes with little to no warning. These have been some of the greatest and most challenging times over the past year involving conversations that have completely changed my direction or thought of direction.

7. I will miss the ability to be available to talk on the phone whenever my friends can! Lauren could literally text or call me at any point and we would talk while she was in the car driving to babysitting, school, etc.

6. I will miss my comfy clothes! I hope they have casual Friday but that doesn't mean I can come to work in my pjs.

5. I will miss watching tv or movies randomly in the middle of the day if I want to. Although I didn't do much of this except for the occasional movie, I won't have the opportunity to watch too many episodes of Arrested Development or Modern Family at 1 in the afternoon.

4. I will miss Wednesday mornings. These were mornings often spent by myself as my mom was away and Tim was sleeping. They were times of quiet and peace, especially when I stopped watching tv.

3. I will miss Facebook. I know this may seem trivial to you but communicating with people is what I do. I love having random Facebook conversations with old friends, new friends, old coworkers, and acquaintances. Communicating is a part of my daily life and I will miss the constant ability to do so via Facebook and Twitter.

2. I will miss tutoring my first graders. Since February, I have had the opportunity to tutor 2-5 hours a week at a local Kindercare. These children have brought such a joy in my life as I have spent an hour working on their school work. Someday I see myself returning to this job and maybe working on it full time, or as full time as I want it to be. This full time job right now will help me pay off my school loans and then I can return to what I really want to do.

1. I will miss the randomness that my day involved. Sometimes I spent all day looking for a job. (Top ten things I will not miss!) Sometimes it was organizing my room, hanging out with a friend or my sister, shopping, working, shredding, sleeping, reading, etc. I did enjoy the flexibility that I had during this time because when I graduated college, I jumped head first into the campaign and my internship. God gave me this time to teach me a lot about patience, waiting, depending on him, and more. I know I will keep learning these things and other but it will look different now that I have a consistent schedule, which I am very excited about at the same time!

Please Remind me of this post if in 7 months I am looking for a new job!!!!!

God's overwhelming Love

This week has been extremely intense, in some of the best ways possible. On Sunday, I was feeling pretty defeated over my job hunt situation. I talked with my friend Tony who snapped me back into the reality of putting my focus on to the things of God and how He takes care of my every need. After this discussion and some prayer, I made the decision to fast from looking for a job for the entire week. I told a few people this plan but basically decided to just spend the time that I would looking for a job in the Word and prayer.
Monday morning I had spent an extended time in the Psalms really soaking up the cries and prayers of David. Later that morning I received a call from an unknown number which ended up being AIM (Analysts in Motion) Consulting services with a job that they were interested in me applying for. I went in the next day for a person interview with AIM and to talk about the job.
By Thursday, I went into Allstate Insurance and interview for a Recruiters Assistant position. It was pretty nerve-wracking as I was going into the corporate offices. I basically went through a pre-interview with one of the AIM consultants which was good because it calmed some of my fears and helped me process through some thing to talk about before the interview. At the end of the interview, I felt confident in the way I had presented myself but really unsure about whether I would get the job.
The entire week I was really praying that God's will would take place through all of it. I had so many people supporting me through this week which was amazing! Even my old manager from Advocate called me and asked about if I had heard from them yet because she had been called as a manager. Friday I was a nervous wreck having a panic attack whenever my phone made any noise. But I knew that God was in control and I was going to still be in His Hands no matter what.
I got a call at about 1:30 from AIM saying they didn't have any final answers yet but asked me if I was still excited and would be able to come fill out paper work that day. About half an hour later, my phone rang again. I think I nearly died before answering. Ultimately, my consultant Steven told me I got the job with Allstate and that I needed to come in right away to fill out paper work. Anyone want to guess what my first reaction was? I cried. like almost sobbed.

I have been looking for a job for nearly 6 months and it had finally happened. Not in my timing - if it were my choice I would've been working in December. But God was taking care of me during this entire time. He knew I would be making new friends during this period and I needed the opportunity to develop those, He knew I needed to learn to depend on him 100 percent through a breaking of my life, He knew I needed to give Him control before I was ready to step out into the job life again.

Ultimately He has shown His overwhelming love for me this week, this month, and even more so during this time of looking for a job. A chapter in the Bible which has really impacted my time is 1 Peter 5 but verse 7 has specifically comforted me.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

He cares for me and wants me to express my anxieties! Oh boy, have I taken that to heart!!! We are all going to have our own stories when adventuring out into the world and are looking for jobs. Ultimately I may only spend 6 months at Allstate or I may be there for years. But God has brought me through a lot over these past 6 months. I would have never learned the seriousness of dependency that I need to have on him if I would've been given the first job that I interviewed for because I got it on my own. I didn't even apply for this job - they sought after me because of my resume on Monster. When I let God take control of my life, His stories that He gives me are the best! I cannot help but keep reminding myself of the Jeremiah verse about how God has planned out our lives for us to prosper. (Please see previous post if you haven't already!)
I start work on Tuesday and would so appreciate your prayers!!! Thanks again for all of your support.

Interviews are like first dates...

For all of you that are going through the job interview process like me:

Ok, so I had an interview today with Allstate for an assistant type of position. And as I've gone through the long process of interviewing, I've realized its a lot like going out on your first few dates. Both are neverwracking, possibly life-changing, possible rejection, worry, anxiety, loss of sleep, and first impressions. Mentally preparing for an interview is much like preparing for a date. It is constantly on your mind (when you go to sleep and when you wake up). You go through possible questions and answers to these questions. You freak out, stomach is turning in knots, you prepare your outfit before hand (possibly even buy something new). Ultimately you go into the said interview and/or date and most of your mental preparation is not used. You don't go through your greatest strengths and weaknesses like you thought you might. Or in a first date, you don't go through all of deepest fears and accomplishments. You do end up covering a few vital pieces of information, put yourself out there, and then it's over.

Now it is time to wait. I sent the proper thank you email (in a date, this may look like a text but same concept). The advantage of a date is you may receive immediate feedback as to whether you are going out again, or you may not. Most job interviews, at least in my case, I wait. You sit there fidgeting at your phone waiting for them to call or checking your email every half an hour. Maybe I'm just showing some of my neurotic behavior here but I think we can all relate. Just like a first date could be life changing and you end up dating/marrying the person, a job interview could lead to a life long career, or at least satisfying for a period of time. It can also result in rejection of the job and it is passed along to someone "more qualified." First dates can result in a similar type of non-life changing result. The parallels are astounding in my mind.

Today I went out on a first date with Allstate Insurance. I'm currently in the neurotic behavior stage as I wait. If you I don't get the job, I know it will hurt a a little bit. I may even cry (Shocker, I know!). But ultimately I'll move on and hopefully have another one. I'll let myself go through the grief of rejection for a little bit and move on, this may be a day or a few minutes. Thankfully, I can then hold onto the promise that we are given in Jeremiah 29:11 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Friends, thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement while I've been going through several "first dates" these past 5 months. I truly would've crumbled without you. :) *Like a cookie*

The FedEx arrow

Have you ever noticed the fed ex arrow? Look at this logo bellow and look at the white space in between the "E" and the "X."



See it now??? Now every time you see those Fedex trucks on the road, you will only be able to see the arrow. Some people find this annoying. I love it. My dear professor, Wayne, showed us the arrow image in my desktop publishing class. I've never looked at the Fedex logo the same. (I'm sitting in Starbucks and have seen three trucks since starting this random blog.)

I love learning these random facts of life and sharing them with others. I hope as to not to come across in a boastful, all-knowing way; because I am far from that. If you know of a job where I could do this, I'm totally in. Observing and learning these random facts is one of the missions in my life, but ultimately my goal is to pay it forward to the person sitting in the driver seat next to me as they learn a random tidbit. Hopefully you can never look at a FedEx truck the same again.

21 things I did while I was 21:

Today is my birthday. 22 years ago, I was born at Glen Oaks Hospital in Glen Ellyn, IL. That first year, my accomplishments including crying, sleeping, giggling, crawling, etc. Funny, I've done all of those things this year too! The year 21 was a year with a lot of celebrations, working ridiculous amounts, growing up, squeals, sadness, brokenness (sometimes literally - like a leg), new friendships, reconciliation, and so much more.

Here are 21 highlights, lowlights, and troking moments from my 21st year:
1. Graduation - I completed my four-year degree at Trinity International University. I majored in English/Communications. I also had the best escort who helped me "walk" at graduation - Jordan Schoffstall!

2. Weddings - I went to one in May with my dear friend Lizzy. I threw up in the car and had to buy a dress. Another one I went to the day after I had broken my leg.
3. I went blond - the day after I had colored, I cried and hated it. I colored it blond two more times than returned to my brunette status.

4. I traveled - and took nearly every form of public transportation in one trip. Trains, planes, automobiles to Mississippi, St. Louis, Chicago, and California.
5. Drank Dr. Pepper - and loved it for the first time!

6. Worked in the corporate communications field - as an intern.
7. Used at least 3 different cell phones - I have dropping/throwing problems.
8. Ended up going downtown Chicago/Indiana - at least two times with my friend, Renee, we drove late at night escaping our problems.
9. Made new friends - at my jobs, the campaign, churches, and through other friends.
10. Joined Twitter - @bekstirsoen
11. Learned to budget my money - Thanks to my sister and the Dave Ramsey plan
12. Renewed old friendships - I seriously don't know what I would do without Lauren and Lylli now that they are in my life

13. First boyfriend and break up - yup spent the first 21 years of my life without dating.
14. 7 Job interviews - including phone and in person interviews for various positions.
15. Puffed a cigar for the first time - this was kind of fun :)
16. Called hundreds if not thousands of people - on the political campaign my last two weeks of work were dedicated to making phone calls. I hated my life during it and ended up having some interesting arguments.
17. Punched a bag - like a punching bag. I discovered how amazing it was to let out anger, frustration, etc by using a punching bag. I wish i still had it nearby but unfortunately I do not have room.
18. Emergency Room visits - I went to the E.R. several times. Sometimes it was for me because I had broken a leg or worried that I had broken my foot. Sometimes it was to be there for and cry with a friend who needed me. Other times just for support.

19. Became deathly ill for exactly 24 hours - and was perfectly fine afterwards. I even went downtown within hours of getting better.
20. Realized through the good and bad times that I have sooo many people who love and care for me. But most importantly that God is my Rock and Fortress. He will never leave nor abandon me.
21. Tasted alcohol for the first time ever. Don't question this fact.

22. Nothing has happened yet but you'll probably hear about it soon. I'm looking ahead to the year of 22.