Miracles Happen

 

I was going through some old papers in my file cabinet, trying to get rid of stuff and I came across this piece of paper that said at the top, “Miracles I would like to see in my lifetime”.  I had eleven listed.  This list was probably written eight years ago. These were things that I wanted to have happen but maybe the timing wasn’t right but I felt like none of them could be accomplished without the hand of God.  As I read through the list I was surprised that three and a half of the eleven had come to pass.  One miracle on my list was that my brother-in-law Tyler would be converted to the Gospel of Christ and that he and my sister would be sealed in the temple together.   This one happened about five years ago.  This definitely wasn’t due solely to my faith.  My sister Cate did a lot of fasting, praying and coffee making to get Tyler to attend her Gospel Doctrine class.  Now just look at their cute family...

This was a good reminder to me that miracles really do happen.  I shared this with Cate and Tyler and Tyler responded and said that he was very grateful to have the gospel in his life.  It all just make me want to write more lists and keep praying and fasting for the miracles that I have yet to see. 

The Wheels are in Motion

Well not exactly.  I just like to quote a Seinfeld episode where Jerry tries to help Babu Bhatt a Pakistani get some immigration help and really nothing is happening.  Watch a clip here. I did however get a nice recommendation from the Commissioner’s Director of Auditing for a position at BYUH.  It makes me feel like my dreams aren’t dead after all.  Here is the email I was blind copied on today…

“Eric and Rebecca,

We have a great accountant in S&I Financial Services that has shown a lot of interest in becoming part of the financial services team at BYUH.  Her name is Alicia Doutre.

I know you don’t have any immediate openings, but she’d be a good one to keep in mind.  She’s very professional, experienced and detail oriented.  Let me know if you have any questions about her or if/when you might have a need for another professional in your office.  She’d be a great fit in either financial services or student financial aid.”

I was a little worried because he referred to me as an accountant and that is not my job title so I wrote him back to clear that up and this is what he said,

“I think you’d be a great fit there.  I spend more time in the finance offices at BYUH than anyone in our office, so I’ll keep my eyes open for you.”

It is so nice to get such unexpected help.  I didn’t ask him for this or anything.  I am not going to start packing my bags yet, BUT I am sure going to keep selling everything I don’t need for the time being.  Maybe I can take this smog filled air for a few more months since I have people looking out for me like this.  The way people are going out of their way for me makes me feel like I better accept a position if I get offered one.  I mean I would have to be crazy not to.  Chance of a lifetime!

The Waiting Game

The latest on the move to Hawaii is that the position they thought was going to open for me is not going to open for me. :( They said if I was able to be flexible that they would keep their eye out for positions to open up.  I am not sure what that means my chances are, but for now I am going to continue to sell and get rid of stuff I don't need and be ready just in case something does magically materialize. 

One Step Closer to Sunny Days!

I just talked to THE man over all church schools who asked for my resume before he took his Christmas break.  He had just come back in the office today.  I asked him if he had received my resume and he asked me to sit down for a few questions.   He wanted to be sure I understood how my life would change with a move to Hawaii.  We went over financial differences, cultural differences, and small town issues.  In the end I told him that I had been doing a little bit of research and I had made a friend over there that could help me find housing and make social connections.  He said that the cost of living is 30-40% more but I would only receive about a 15% pay increase which didn’t frighten me too much.  I mean how can you put a price on paradise?

 

Then he asked me what I could bring to BYUH.  That was a question I wasn’t ready for.  I told him that I was reliable but in looking back he probably would have wanted me to say something about my finance experience or my attention to detail.  Oh well.  He told me that there was definitely a need for someone with my skills.  I was a little surprised to hear that but that was certainly good news. 

He asked me if I had any questions for him.  I just wanted to know about time frames but he certainly didn’t have that kind of information yet.  Now I just have to figure out how to sell everything I own, relocate my roommate, rent out my place and store the things I can’t sell.  No big deal.  Okay, the reality is that I am completely freaked out with a good amount of excitement in the mix. Coming from MN, this would be fulfilling a lifelong dream. 

Can a Person be a Sellaholic?

I have a new addiction.  The good thing about my addictions is at least they are healthy.  Well I guess I should say that I like to keep them in a healthy range, because any addiction can get out of control even eating squash.  I am sure a good number of people question my level of squash eating as healthy, but they are the crazy ones!  ;) Spoken like a true addict, right?  Anyway, I have gotten into selling on ebay and I have noticed that there is a bit of an exhilaration that comes when you get an email telling you that your item sold.  It doesn’t matter if it was only sold for $1.99.  The point is that someone wanted your stuff.  Someone found value in something that you had no use for and could just be ready to toss. 

I have been feeling for a while that I have way more stuff than I have use of and it is all just cluttering up my life. It makes me feel bogged down like I never want to move anywhere because it would just be too much work. I am sure that this hording (and I am not a crazy horder like the ones on TV by the way) I have done just comes from not having much when I was younger. It made me want to collect more and more things in case I ever needed them for any situation.  

Just in the last two weeks I have sold 10 items and made over $240. I have bids on three more things that will sell within the next week.   I have also posted some larger items on KSL and sold two things there.  This is even going to change how I buy things now. I am going to have to ask myself, “Is this a good investment? Will I be able to sell this later for a good price?” Hopefully the sales will continue to happen and I will feel more and more free from all of my stuff. 

Christmas 2013

Last year’s Christmas was probably the worst Christmas ever, and I have had some bad ones.  My brother’s family had the stomach flu so dinner was canceled and then my gifts were stolen off my front porch the day before Christmas.  My roommate was out of town and I was feeling very alone. This year I guess I had low expectations and that is a good thing because Christmas dinner was canceled again.  Let’s just say that a break-up in the family got in the way.  For some reason it didn’t bother me as much this year.

There was a gal who spoke at church last Sunday and she talked about how when she was in Jr. High her parents decided that they were not going to celebrate Christmas anymore.  No presents, no tree no nothing.  She never knew why but the season just left her with bad feelings for a long time until she realized that Christmas wasn’t about her.  It was about Christ and becoming the kind of person that emulated Christ’s life.  She said in the end she probably should have thanked her parents because they helped her learn more about the true meaning of Christmas.  Perhaps her talk prepared me to not think of myself and my problems this year.   I did have a good time at Temple Square with Marianne on Christmas Eve and I got some pictures for next year’s Christmas card.   Here are some of the highlights…

Gypsy Itch

Uh Oh... I am starting to get that feeling again that something in my life needs to change.  I have had this feeling before and it usually entails me moving across the country.  It doesn’t help that I have just come back to dreary, dry, cold, smoggy Utah

from gorgeous, lush, warm Hawaii. 

I have made a list of all the reasons that Hawaii is calling my name. 

1.       The temperature is moderately warm every day of the year.

2.       The humidity and salt water do amazing things for my skin.

3.       The fresh oxygen packed air is great for my overall health.

4.       I love the rocking of the waves.

5.       I am ready for a new adventure.

6.       I could go running every day and not be cold.

7.       I could learn to surf and be really tan.

8.       My skin would get plenty of vitamin D and I would never have seasonal affective disorder.

9.       I could ride a bike or a scooter to work.

10.   They grow avocados there.

I do have a good list of reasons not to move too but it just doesn’t seem as compelling right now.

1.       I would have to sell my place.

2.       I would be further away from family and friends.

3.       I would be giving up my stable job that I have been at over 7 years along with some pension benefits.

4.       I have a lot of stuff.

5.       The cost of living is high.

6.       Not sure what my social life would be like in the LDS community over there.

Well even if it does ever happen, I have a hard time believing that it will happen any time soon.  I have been feeling that I needed to get rid of stuff for a while, so this will just give me added motivation to keep doing it.