Friday, July 5, 2013

Friday | Observations of the Unemployed


Hey, friends! It's now been four whole days of being officially unemployed.

In that time, I've hung around my house, cleaned my room, ate the last of my ice cream, tried to find things to do, filled out job applications, watched Psych, painted my nails, played in the sprinklers with my niece and nephew, laid on my bed and stared at my gray walls. As you can tell, I've been very busy. Not. I've actually been nearly bored out of my mind. My family has been out of town for the week, both my roommates were gone, I had no job...and whereas I'm not complaining, there have been some moments where I felt profoundly bored, lonely and useless. Especially knowing that laying around my house was NOT garnering me a pay check. But I've sent out applications and prayed like a....person who prays a lot (?), and so now I'm sort of waiting for further direction or new opportunities.

God is good, though. And in this unexpected and very strange season of being without a job after being a full-time working woman for four years, I've made a few observations about life.

Sonic Happy Hour. A better choice for me when I just need that Route 44 Root Beer, easy ice.

Driving to the coast. As therapeutic as it may sound, spending the money on gas probably isn't a good idea.

My sister invites me over for dinner. Free food. Free really good food. Of course, inviting me over may also have had to do with the rest of the family being gone...

Boredom. I think I forgot what that was like.

On the flipside of boredom...I have free time! Long, gorgeous hours of time to just do whatever I want, without the pressure of having to work the next day or only having so much time to enjoy being home. It's....strangely liberating! I think I could get used to this. But I'd better not.

Fireworks are so much more fun when you're not worrying about having to be up early the next day for work. Oh and just a side note, fireworks are best enjoyed with a little 2 year old niece bedecked in glow-stick bracelets sits in your lap, cheering and clapping the whole time. Or when a 3 year old niece snuggles up next to your arm and calmly watches the show. Or when the 2 year old nephew plunks down in your lap and won't stops saying "I like these!" on repeat.

And what I like the most...how everything is taking on that God shine. I see things as more valuable and more important. How every Christian song I hear seems to mean something to me right now, how I see His blessings around me so much more, my family's already sky-rocketing value looks even higher, I'm more thankful for my room in my house as I ponder the possibility of having to leave it if I can't find a job before my next rent check is due, and how even though my faith is small, I'm still seeing God's hand around me as I'm reminded afresh that really, everything I have right now really is a testimony of what God has already provided. And He is faithful to complete that which He has begun.

22 comments:

  1. Even if it doesn't feel like it right now, look at this time "off" as a "good thing," Kellie. Life goes by so fast and family is more important than jobs. Often we forget that. (Although I understand your bank account may not agree. ;D)

    Wishing you the best of luck with those resumes - I sure hope that you'll be back to work in a new job soon. :)

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    1. I like that thought, Rissi! And I am enjoying the "free life" to the fullest extent! :D

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  2. Good observations, awesome pic, and you will learn a lot about yourself during this, hopefully, short season. Keep up the faith!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle!! That encourages me a lot!

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  3. Sonic Happy Hour...YES!
    Free time...YES! You don't know how much I could use some of that (trying to get through the LOTR trilogy :) but seriously I have been as busy as a 14-almost-15 year old can be!
    Fireworks with the family....always fun! (especially with those nieces and nephews!)
    I love those times when you can pull something out of every song you hear! It is so encouraging. I wish those times happened more often.
    I hope you don't have to move out of your apartment complete with huggable grey walls!! Praying!

    Your crazy friend,
    Madison

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    1. Thanks for your prayers, Madison! I truly hope that me and my gray walls will be friends for quite a while longer! :D

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  4. I think it sounds like you have a great perspective on this season -- and if you're tempted to forget that, remember that it IS a season. :) Best wishes on the job hunt!

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    1. Yes, a season, thank you for that reminder!! :)

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  5. It's like you wrote this abut me, feeling bored and useless but LOVING the free time! Lots of reading and catching up on my Hulu queue went on, but I'm ready to go back to work! I had all that free time and no money to do anything! =P
    Love the term God shine, I think I shall steal it!

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    1. Haha, yes! KatySue, that's how I feel - I have all the lovely wide-open afternoons to go thrift-store shopping and other fun types of shopping...but shopping sprees are exactly on the budget right now! At least for now I'm still on my month free trial of Netflix, so that's free. ;)

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  6. Come visit me in Germany!!! I have so many projects I want to do....you can help...and then make my last month of school more fun.....I promise I'll make time to go to the castle with you. ☺

    Iris♥

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    1. That would be so much fun, Iris! I'd love to visit Germany!

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  7. Keep that chin up Kellie! Praying for God's guidance and you walk this path He has for you. I can see that you're trying to keep a good attitude, way to go! Oh and I wish places hired based on cuteness factor 'cause that picture would land you a job in no time flat!

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    1. Thanks, Brea! You are a huge encourager to me. Always. :)

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  8. Oh Kellie. I'm so sorry this happened. I just read your other post regarding the new events in your life. It hurts, it's hard, it's NOT FUN! I'll be praying for you, my friend. Hang in there. God will work something out, whatever that something may be.

    And yes! Fireworks are so much more fun with children around! We had several little girls at our gathering and their giggles and excitement was almost more fun than the fireworks themselves. :D

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    1. Thanks, Kara! You'll let me know if you hear of anything in our area? :D And I agree, I almost had more fun snuggling with the n&n's that I did the actual fireworks. :)

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  9. You know, Kel, you could go try standing on the road side in town with that sign. Never know...you might get a few dollars.

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    1. You never know...that might be me before too long. ;)

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  10. Oh Kellie I'm sorry! We have SO been there and it is such a raw and testing time. But such a beautiful season. I'm praying God gives you peace as you go through this season with grace as I'm sure you will (: Keep going blogging friend! This won't last forever! (:

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    1. Thanks, Alyssa!! That so kind of you, I definitely have those moments when I really need that encouragement!

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  11. I really admire your positive attitude during this time. I know it can't be easy--but I firmly believe that seeing the positive in everything will help you grow during this time. Praying for ya girl!

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    1. Thanks so much, Angela! I'm usually a pretty optimistic person (as I have to keep saying over and over again in all those application survey's I've been taking, haha) but frankly, I've definitely been struggling with not burrowing down into negativity during this fruitless job search time.

      But I'm determined to not let this get me down, God's going to be the victor in this (not Satan) and so I keep grabbing myself by my eyeballs and looking back at Jesus.

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