Unemployed...still!

I have officially been unemployed for 25 days as of today. I have been on 5 interviews, invited for 2 more interviews, offered one position (which I turned down), did not finish one of the interviews when we realized the position would not work with my school schedule, did not get one of the jobs but was encouraged to apply for future positions due to the fact I was a strong candidate, and I continue to wait for a response from the other two! One of the said jobs I'm waiting for a response from is the one I WANT! So here I sit and wait...

This time has become a lesson in trusting in the LORD. I had the recommended two months worth of bills saved up and come December 1st I will have been unemployed for two months and therefore my savings will be depleted. I have begun to freak out a little bit and yet I feel the calming presence of the LORD! I have said a few times over the last week that this month of unemployment has been the best thing for my relationship with the LORD. I have had time each morning to spend a significant amount of time reading, journaling and just being still with the LORD. I have been able to spend time praying for people in my life and doing things to serve within the community. I still have a great peace about turning down the job offer a month ago. When I begin to question that decision I am reminded about how sweet this time has been with my LORD, and ultimately I believe that is more valuable. And therefore I sit and I wait...

I honestly do believe that I got the job that I really want. It is a job working with Mental Health & Mental Retardation (MHMR) of Tarrant County. The position is a Family Intervention Specialist. I would have a caseload of 20-30 kids ages 4-17 who have mental health issues and whose families have decided to be a part of this program. I would meet with the kids either every week or every other week and work on their goals. I would make my own schedule (I schedule when I see clients) and therefore will work great with my school schedule. I honestly think that I would excel at this position and that my gifts, talents and education would be a great asset to this program. The interview went great and my interviewer made it sound as though I have the job. MHMR is a huge agency and therefore there is a LOT of paper work and they are not quick to do things (so I've heard from current employees) and therefore I sit here and I wait...

Things are tight financially and I'm not able to do some of the things I desire to do, but yet I am in one of the best places emotionally and spiritually that I have been in in a long time! And therefore I will continue to sit here and wait and most importantly, trust!

Unemployed!

As of today I am unemployed! As I have mentioned I have been searching for a new job, and honestly it has been going pretty well. I have my resume out there and many different non-profit agencies and I have had 4 interviews (the 5th is tomorrow morning) and 1 job offer. I don't know if it was the wisest decision but I turned down the job I was offered because of the promise that the 2 interviews I have/had this week. The position I was offered was a central intake specialist for a non-profit agency. I would have spent a lot of my time on the phone accessing the needs of clients and referring them on. Not my dream job, and the salary was less than what I am currently making. Both of the jobs I'm interviewing for this week are for positions that I would love excel at. Through this process I have had to put to work many of the skills that I taught my classes this summer. I have been asked many interview questions and have had to think on my toes. Here are some of the interview questions I have been asked so far....

The person we hire for this position will be the 'face of the company', why would you make a good face for this company?

What are you strengths and weaknesses?

What brings you joy? And what irritates you?

What are your professional goals?

Have you ever had to deliver hard news? How did you respond to that?

What do you like about this agency?

Describe a stressful situation you've encountered at a workplace, how did you deal with the stress?

What type of schedule do you like to work with?

And so many more! One interview this week took 1 hour and 45 minutes! I was told earlier this week in a interview that I am very poised which I guess is a good thing! I hope that tomorrow as I go on yet another interview I am as poised as I have been. I will keep ya'll updated on the process!

Where I am from...

For one of my classes we had to write a poem about where we are from, I thought I would share mine!

Where I am from…

I am from the trailer park,
Living week to week,
Waiting for the welfare check.
Living with my brother and father,
While my mother remarried
Making my uncle my step-father!

I am from a home where everyday was filled with love…
Until one day, I believe I was 10
And things began to change
The fridge began to fill with beer
And my brother and I began to live in fear
My brother was the first to go
And I soon too followed

We moved in with the mother we barely knew
Now I must say I am from the other side
Living purchase to purchase
My love trying to be bought
Feeling lonely and sad

My brother followed in the family foot steps
Became an addict and completely withdrew
One would expect that I too would become an addict
But instead I fell in love with my Savior
And O what a different path I have taken
I love to look back and see and remember…
Where I am from!

The job search...

So the summer is over which therefore means that my summer employment program is over. Going into the summer I knew that my job was a temporarly job, but it was thought that more money would come in so that I could stay at the agency. Now here we are a week and half until the end of September and still no money has come in to pay me. So come October 1st, I will no longer be at TXRS unless some money comes in soon.

Because of this, the job search has begun! There is nothing I enjoy less than searching for a new job! I have my resume out there all throughout the Fort Worth area. I have been applying mostly to non-profit agencies. I have a second interview on Tuesday and am hopeful for an offer. I must say that I am very excited to be done with my school so that I will be qualified for the jobs that I want! Until then I will continue to build up my resume. I must say that my experiences will look great on my resume and hopefully where I end up next will add to that! I'm just ready to know what the near future will look like!

Well...

It has been over a month since I have blogged! What has been going on you ask, well here is the run down!


I finished my first semester of Grad school!


A weekend float trip that brought me back to junior high in the antics of some of the people on the trip!

5 days days in Arkansas celebrating Leslie's birthday with the Steens, Emily and Bonnie!


2 of my very dearest friends from undergrad,Melissa & Natalie, came to visit Fort Worth!


Which included skating, once again a junior high moment!



And spent time with some great friends here in Fort Worth

I have begun to volunteer with my small group at Union Gospel Mission a local homeless shelter. Every Tuesday we help to serve supper there!
I read Same kinda different as me ... Seriously go out and read it, it is GREAT!
I have begun my second semester of Grad school in which I am taking 3 classes that I am already LOVING! I love my classes more and more every semester. It is nice to continue to be affirmed that this is exactly what I am suppose to be doing! As a part of my course work this semester I have to attend two 12-step meetings and also go to 3 "out of my comfort zone" places. I will be excited to share these experiences with you! Next week I am lining up for supper with the homeless at a shelter and experiencing that. SO that is my life over the past month... there is a lot going on right now but I will leave that for the next blog!

Where part of my heart is....

This past weekend I went to Longview to celebrate the marriage of Kacie and Phil Peek. Kacie is a dear friend of mine from Heartlight. Theresa, Marti and I drove over Friday night and stayed with Heather, a friend so very dear to my heart! It was so good to catch up with old friends. Although I was sick all day on Saturday I sucked it up and went to the wedding. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and it was so good to catch up with old friends! Heartlight was such a huge part of my life and these people are so dear to my heart! I loved the time I had to spend with these great people!

Mr & Mrs Peek


Heartlight staff



Theresa, Marti and I before the wedding


I love these girls!

The last two months...

Well it's been almost two months since I've been on here... bad bad Jen! I've got lots of catching up to do! Here is the run down... Graduated with my Bachelor's of Social Work, transistioned from being an intern to a supervisor of a program that I designed, began Grad school, began teaching the work readiness classes for the youth program, went to Houston for a weekend,moved to a new apartment, saw the X-Fighters motor-cross games, went to Arizona and have really enjoyed life.

Graduation Photo


Sarah, Theresa and I at the X-Fighters


My new apartment!









I will write more soon! For now I have a mid-term to study for!