Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson, (attributed)
US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)

You know I get inspiration from the oddest places. Believe it or not they just came and knocked down the house next door to me!!! Left in the morning…house; came back at night…no house!!! So now I live right next door to a real live construction site...I'm watching them drive those big yellow trucks all around right now as I type this!!! Ha ha but guess what?...That house was like my life. There one day, gone the next. And now it's time to rebuild, (re)construct, and restore.

Anyway, I started to think more about my life in terms of it all. (Heck, what else am I gonna do while I sit here recovering from a cold and lack of sleep from cubs who just had to get up at the crack of dawn to unwrap presents on Christmas morning). So I did a bit of research and discovered that there are usually two phases of building...deconstruction and (re)construction.
I just think that the whole thing is so exciting something brand new is going up!!! (or maybe it's just that the cold medicine has finally kicked in and I'm delirious...LOL).

“Deconstruction Phase” – incorporates either the partial or complete

deconstruction of the facility. Deconstruction involves at least two phases

either partially or fully:

dismantling (I believe that my life has had various stages of dismantling. The first stage came during my divorce in 1997; since then I continued to make mistakes that chipped away at any stability that I ever had and lead to a full dismantling of my life)

and disposal (I'd say that 2006 was the end of my deconstruction which cumulated in this last month when I finally got rid of the old foundation and put down a new spiritual foundation).

"Construction Phase" - is the building or assembly of any infrastructure on a site or sites. Although this may be thought of as a single activity, in fact construction is a feat of multitasking (that's for sure as there are now so many things that I need to do to put my house back in order). Normally the job is managed by the construction manager, supervised by the project manager, design engineer or project architect (don't need any of those guys just God). While these people work in offices, every construction project requires a large number of laborers, carpenters, and other skilled tradesmen to complete the physical task of construction (that's where you guys and everyone else in my life comes into place. If it takes a village to raise a child then it makes sense that it would take many friends lending support and giving advice to restore ME; as always I thank you all for being in my life, I'd be lost without you).

For the successful execution of a project effective planning is essential (as you all know I've put a lot of energy into dreaming...planning...and implementing).

Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the environmental impact of the job (as I rebuild I find that I've got a new perspective on my interaction with the world; my main mission is to love and be faithful to God),

the successful scheduling (gotta walk before ya run, right?!),

budgeting (I have to make sure that I spend my time and money wisely, that is be a good steward),

site safety (as I become more successful the challenge will be to continue to rely on God for my protection),

availability of materials (it seems that the only limits that I have to worry about are the ones that I place on myself),

logistics (making sure I'm where I need to be when I need to be there),

and the inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays (obviously those will be the days when I'll be deep in prayer).

The day after Christmas I kinda felt like Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghosts had all visited and I had a new lease on life. I woke up and threw the Christmas tree out the door!!! Why so quick? Well, I have things that I must do and no time to waste!!! Now that I've been so blessed with a do over by God, I have to get things right. Who knew that any of this would be possible just 1 YEAR after sitting in the aftermath of total and complete devastation?!

I've been given a fresh start but there still are alot of things left to do before I can sit back and enjoy. I've got some reading I need to finish on community redevelopment before new week...I just started a new self-development book by Joel Osteen...plus various details concerning the bankruptcy, the bar exam and other business details of my life that need to be wrapped up fairly soon. Plus I've got to start giving some serious thoughts to my New Years resolutions which will now include an update of my 5 year plan.

WOW!!!...maybe next Christmas I'll be able to take a break however I wouldn’t change a thing cause I’m so happy and tickled to even be in this position. Thank you God.

Dear Santa,

It's been awhile since I sent you a letter. Sorry for that but I've been lacking in faith these past few years. However, it seems as if I've been given a most wonderful gift this year, a brand new FAITH, and I wanted to thank for that. The WORLD is a new place to me now filled with wonder and excitement.

So back to my list, it's pretty simple cause I only want one thing and you can check in with GOD on this one, please just answer my prayer to bring comfort, healing for physical and emotional pain, and joy to all of my family and friends, including all of my friends here in the Stream.

Thanks in advance.

Love, ME

I told you guys that I'd let you know about my Christmas miracle and all of its' pieces. Basically, it's a story of 16 months worth of events that HAD to happen exactly the way they did for me to arrive at this point. I'll start with a bit of background. According to the state's figures Michigan's unemployment rate right now is 6.9% causing it to have the highest jobless rate in the country. That fact alone makes getting a job at this time in this place a miracle...LOL.

Here are the pieces...

Recommendations: I had three recommendations that nailed the job for me. The first was from my former boss, so OK that was a given (but remember that really nothing is a given, right?). But the other two, no way. The second came from my neighbor who I became friends with cause he's a nice guy who has a nice family. Turns out that he's a big big guy in the 'hood. When I asked him if he would go in and put in a good word for me I had no idea the weight his word would carry.

The third recommendation came from one of the most wonderful ladies that I've had the honor to meet. Turns out she is a pretty heavy hitter in the community also. I first met her because my former boss wanted to get a project done and I found her business in the yellow pages. During that time that we worked together I came to see her as a really neat person. So when I needed a place to volunteer so that I'd have something to do during my non-working hours I asked her and she said yes. And not even a coincidence that she runs the local Christian TV station. During my volunteer time there I received lots of prayer and encouraging words. Everyone at the station kept me going during a lot of cloudy depressing Michigan days when I felt like giving up!!!

Also, I had to have been at the station on that one particular day that the organization's newsletter was delivered cause that's how I even knew about the job. The doorbell rang...I went out to my desk...and the newsletter was lying there with the job post on the front page.

Area of expertise: I've only been working in this "area" for 10 months and the fact that I was even doing this type of work was because someone knew me and thought that I would be right for the position and sent me out for an interview that resulted in a job.

Application for the job: before the TV station I stopped off at the organization cause it just seemed like the place where I wanted to be. I wasn't able to stay because they didn't have enough volunteer work for me to do but I did work for two hours that day. But, you know that doing so allowed me to put together the most perfect cover letter!!!

See what I mean!? Lots and lots of precise things had to happen in a short amount of time. Looking back I can see how God guided here and there. I thank Him for making me flexible enough that I just went and made the best of each situation even though there were lots of times that I didn't want to be where I was. And in the last 16 months I must have applied for a 100 jobs and had less than 5 interviews for positions that I was so qualified for that it wasn't funny.

So, without further ado here's a bit of the job that I'll be doing...

The organization is a neighborhood development group that is one of the biggest and most recognized in the state. Officially my title will be Administrative Assistant to the Director. The neat thing is that the real title, that is the one she wanted to have filled (and what I'll actually be doing), is Deputy Director. Pretty cool, huh?! But basically I'll be the person who helps keeps the office running while the Director is away. This will include helping her to automate the office and do whatever she needs me to do so she can be out and about representing the office. I'll also be going out with her from time to time as she attends different meeting around town. Additionally, I'll have my own areas that I'll be managing.

But you know the real exciting part of the job is that it doesn't have set duties so it will be what I make of it. It's a hell of an opportunity and I'm so excited about it!!!

It's a dream come true as I'll be able to really develop two of my strong skill sets which are working with people and making things happen. Plus, it's a highly visible position that will give me the chance to meet a lot of influential people. I've always been in the position of having someone tell me what to do but this time around I'll be stepping up to the plate and standing on my own two feet for the first time in my career. And even though it's not legal I'll be doing such high powered stuff that it will just enhance my existing career.

Can you believe it? I can't!!! God really did have something awesome that he was saving for me. Plus, it's just down the street from where I live. I can ride my bike or jog to work!!! This job really is too cool in so many ways!!! I wanted to do this post so that everyone could see just how glorious God is and spread the good news about how good God is!!!


MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL...May all of your Christmas dreams come true.

I got it!!!

 

I prayed for a Christmas miracle ...I planned for a Christmas miracle ...I expected a Christmas miracle and God delivered it to me!!!

Praise God, when I tell you guys all that had to happen for me to get this job you'll understand why it's a miracle.  But I'll save that for my next post. 

Thank you, each and everyone of you, for your prayers, well wishes, and words for encouragement.  You guys are awesome!!! May God bless you all.

Love,

 

ME