A Jam Packed Week

Tuesday and Wednesday found us down the road in Powder Springs teaching a two day workshop to 15 people, and what delightful people they were: Charlie Baggett, Nick Pritchett, Jose Gomis, Mike Holmes, Dave Colby, Ron Bass, Kristy Malone, Maricela Harn, Narcos, Joyce Green, Alex Westin, Starla Williams, Seth Hardin, Christ Cordulack, Naycole Sai. We have a teacher, HR student, appraiser/inspector, architect, remodeler, accountant student, two SAP ladies, meatcutter, Business Administration student, salesman, bi-polar genius,and an accountant and three day convert! Got home at 6:30 Wednesday night in time to pick up Catherine for a meeting with the Bishop to get a referral to Developmental Services for employment help. Thursday we had all day training and then that evening we had a PRONET meeting in Sandy Springs. It was a super networking meeting, so whenever they were short a person, I got the nod to sit in the circle. I loved meeting these people! Joel, who is one of Karen's favorites, has a full time job and is also an entrepeneur with three businesses: finding leads for software, facebook application for providing gifts to people by searching all entries for clues, picking up the $500 boxes to return to Cable Companies...besides, he is a gem of a man. Friday: training half a day...work the rest. Seth called wanting me to look at his resume and also to let me know he has an appointment Monday afternoon with the Rome Braves, a minor league team, and this without using any of his contacts!!! LaShonta couldn't keep her appointment because she doesn't have any gas money, but has been working with me over the phone and email working up resumes for a full time job to care for her two year old while she completes her Bacheor's degree in the evenings online. I called Jamshid with a job lead only to find he found a job as a mechanic!!! What a thrill...he was in such a panic when he came into our office several weeks ago. I had put his name on the prayer roll. I put Seth's on today and should have added LaShonta's, but will next week. Friday was a bit of a rough day so after work I went Christmas shopping to keep my mind occupied. There was a sweet uplift, and that was receiving emails from Natalie, April, Bonnie, Dani, Jennie Stanfield, Valerie Kunde, a text from Marissa, a call from Rory, a card from Jill Lichfield, a handmade ornament from Davis, and a whole packet of notes from members of the Meadow Springs Ward sent by Ellen Sly. The tenderest of mercies! Fell asleep working and awoke at 3:45 a.m. so I got all my family's cards and packets ready to mail with their checks and odds and ends gifts. Also got my email Christmas letter out. We went to our usual 9 a.m. temple session where I did the work for Mary Ann Slauter, one of Sister P's relatives by marriage. Friday night Jarron and Dani and other family members were in the temple. Saturday morning Tiffany and Bruce were doing the initiatory work for 50 ancestors on the Mitchell side. After the temple a half hour line at the Post Office, but I got all of Christmas mailed! To the store to buy some fruit to take to the Ward Christmas Party that night. A few hours at home to putter and off we went. So nicely decorated, a tasty breakfast was served, and the kids got to see Santa. Catherine and Justin came, so that was great! Elders Salomonson and Nelson were there to fellowship them and others. Justin paid his tithing and will be getting a call on Tuesday for an interview at the new Chipotle, and then will follow up with McDonalds as well. Party over, but not before Sister P and I had our pictures taken with Santa! To Walmart for Sister P to pick up photos while I called Sonya to see if she still was going to church with us tomorrow in Conyers, but a second voice mail in as many days, so....probably not. Home to do some laundry, email a Christmas letters to my home Bishop and to my Stake President. President Meyer and his executive committee had sent me a Christmas letter with each of their testimonies and encouragement. So appreciated, being far from home. Icing on the cake....Amanda is pregnant!