Bringing Home the Bacon

Hooray, celebrate with us what the Lord has done! In His great faithfulness He answered our (and many of your) prayers by providing me with the perfect job in His perfect timing (thank you for praying for us!)!!!!

To be honest, finding a job was one of the more stressful parts of our transition here because we can only live off our savings for so long. Even before we had even moved I had been doing some preliminary research and had even started applying online with the seminary for the few open positions that they had. I received two interviews for the two positions that applied for. My first interview was a phone interview for an event planning position which I had while still in Sac. Unfortunately, I didn't get that position, but this was all according to God's plan because he had something better in mind. (Also, even though I didn't get the job, my interviewer still invited Greg and I to dinner and we got to join his family and some other ex-Cali people for food and games. People are so hospitable and eager to serve here!). For my second interview, they wanted to wait until I came to Louisville to do a face to face interview so they gave us time to settle in and I had my interview last Thursday. I was extremely nervous, but I thought the whole interview went well. Unfortunately my interviewer told me they probably couldn't get back to me for sure for another 2+ weeks so I resigned myself to looking for back up jobs just in case this one didn't come through. The beginning of last week I started to look was considering tutoring centers, being a nanny, working at a doctor's office and even Starbucks or Pottery Barn! Nonetheless, I received a phone call on Wednesday afternoon from my interviewer with a job offer!!! I was grinning ear to ear as I pulled up to pick up Greg from school and tell him to great news and my heart was filled with thanksgiving to God.

So here are the job specs:
I work full time (37.5 hours per week) for the seminary as an hourly paid employee which means I get benefits, vacation, sick leave, retirement and all that jazz. Also, I get fun perks around campus like discounts at the cafe and cafeteria and a better parking spot (woot!). One of the reasons Greg and I were particularly hoping I would get at job with the seminary is so that 1) we can carpool (since we sold the red clunker back in Sac) 2) we can see each other and even eat lunch together if possible 3) I can feel involved in the same community that he is in. Another added benefit that we found is that I can keep his lunch cold in the office fridge and he can use the car as a locker for his books (haha, inconsequential, but a nice perk!).

So what is it that I do?
This is the coolest part about God's perfect plan...I work for the president of the seminary!!! Yup, I get to rub elbows with Dr. Mohler himself and serve on staff in the President's Office! It actually was a pretty confidential position (they only released the job description to applicants that they thought might make a good fit) and they had waited 2.5 months to fill the spot which makes me all the more thankful that they waited for me! My first day was yesterday and I received the grand tour, got settled with HR and read my whole position manual. So basically my job has two main functions. The first is to coordinate the bi-weekly chapel meetings which requires a lot of event planning (yay) and organization. I contact potential speakers, arrange travel and lodging and meals, send invitations to speakers and provide thank you cards and gifts. Also, I coordinate with the worship band, speaker, Seminary publicity and the presiding minister (generally Dr. Mohler) to make sure they have everything they need. This part is neat because I actually get paid to go to chapel every week! Also, I will get to meet some neat men like Matt Chandler, Bruce Ware, etc. when they come to speak. My second role is to coordinate everything about the bi-annual Trustee Meetings which are a huge ordeal. There are about 40 executives who come to the seminary and I am in charge of the schedule, meeting agendas, finding meeting space, lodging, transportation, meals, and handouts for them and their wives. I was looking through the files and it sounds exciting because there's a lot of spreadsheets for organization (yay for excel!). In addition, I serve as back up secretary meaning I translate dictation from Dr. Mohler, help Mrs. Mohler with any of her needs, answer the phone during the receptionist's lunch break and just overall offer a helping hand.

From what I gather people enjoy working there and everyone is very friendly and helpful. There are some nice perks like a stocked break room with coffee, sodas, protein bars, fruit and yogurt and high security features and a guard who takes care of us. The two other secretarial type ladies are really nice and we've really hit it off. Also, everyone seems to love my boss and what he has been doing since he was hired in June so I'm excited to work under him. I also am loving that I'm moving up in the world and have my own office with a window! I can't wait to decorate soon and make it my own! I think right now the only foreseen drawback is that I have to wear pantyhose! But in the grand scheme of things, even this small inconvenience is not too much of a sacrifice.

Ok, Greg is telling me to stop writing an essay. More later!