The Very Hungry Mommapillar (an adaptation of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle)

In the light of the moon a little lady lay sleeping. One Monday morning the warm sun came up and – plop! – out of the bed rolled a very hungry mommapillar. She started to look for some food.

At 7 am she ate a granola bar. But she was still hungry.

At 8:30 am she ate two muffins, but she was still hungry.

At 12 noon she ate three hot dogs, but she was still hungry.

At 2:30 pm she ate four oatmeal cookies, but she was still hungry.

At 6 pm she ate five pancakes, but she was still hungry.

At 9:30 pm she ate one banana, one piece of toast, one burrito, one bowl of ice cream, one slice of pizza, one cupcake, one apple, one bowl of soup, one potato, and one piece of rhubarb pie.

That night she had a stomachache!

Oh yes, this pregnant momma is hungry nearly ALL OF THE TIME. I can’t seem to get enough to eat lately. It pains me to spend money on food, but at least with this pregnancy I’m not just flushing it down the drain (literally – I puked for four weeks with the first one. I seriously pictured that money going down the toilet every time I found myself hunched over it). I am supremely grateful that I have not experienced any morning sickness so far. The P.A. at my doctor’s office said that usually if you’re going to have it bad it will start early, around 6 weeks. I’m almost at 8 weeks and have had no hint of it. I’m not out of the woods yet but it’s looking good so far. That’s a miracle in my book!

The continuation of my public introspection as I read “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller (my answers to the questions at the end of each chapter): 

1. Do you understand your areas of competence?
Yes, I think so. I work well with details. I am very comfortable with forms, numbers, spreadsheets. I like solving logic puzzles. I work well on my own but I like being surrounded by people. I rarely want to be in charge and would rather be a support to those in charge, to enable them to focus on what they do best.

2. Do you feel trapped because of your current or past work experience?
A little. Looking back it seems as if I’ve been on a hamster wheel. I don’t feel like I’ve learned anything new or grown in my skills much.

3. Do you recognize how easily your abilities may transfer to a new industry or profession?
Yes. My strengths are of an administrative nature so they fit well into any industry.

4. Can you see value in those things you may have done as a volunteer through your church or community?
Absolutely. I’ve done a lot of volunteering – some in leadership roles but mostly in supportive roles. All of it required some stretch outside of my comfort zone and helped to build my character and confidence.

5. Are there skills or training you need to make you a candidate for the work you love?
Oh, tons. Just need to nail down a plan and figure out from there what training I need. If it’s budget counseling I am looking into training through Crown Ministries or Dave Ramsey’s office.

6. Has God given you abilities that do not match your desires? If so, how can you reconcile those?
Not that I can think of, though I am getting a little bored with accounting.

Previous Chapters:
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 1
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 2
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 3
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 4
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 5

The continuation of my public introspection as I read “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller (my answers to the questions at the end of each chapter):  

1. In what kinds of settings are you most comfortable?
Small group settings

2. How do you respond to management?
I’m very submissive, but will speak up when I feel strongly about something.

3. How would you manage people?
I have a hard time with this, though I’m less timid than I used to be. 

4. Are you better working with people, things, or ideas?
Ideas, definitely.

5. Are you more analytical, detailed, and logical, or are you one to see the big picture and respond with emotion and enthusiasm?
See the big picture and respond with emotion and enthusiasm? Ha! That is so not me. I am detailed and logical.

6. Are you steady and predictable, or do you seek variety and new challenges?
Fairly steady and predicatable. I get bored if I don’t have variety every now and then.

7. Are you verbal and persuasive, or are you the caring, empathetic listener?
Well, I’m not verbal and persuasive, but I’m not the most empathetic listener either. Maybe I’m somewhere in the middle?

8. What strengths have others noticed in you?
Good question, and one I think the readers should answer (those who know me IRL, of course… others could only speculate)!

9. What are 5 words or phrases that describe you?
I hate these kinds of questions. Do I have to answer?

10. In writing your epitaph, what would you want people to remember about you?
That I made time for others. That I made people laugh. That I cherished every day. That I reflected Christ in the little, every day things. 

Previous Chapters:
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 1
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 2
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 3
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 4

The continuation of my public introspection as I read “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller (my answers to the questions at the end of each chapter): 

1.  Are you a goal setter? Do you typically set goals at the first of the year? If not, why not?
I always thought I was, but I’m really not. I don’t set true goals, I set vague ideas of things I would like to work towards. True goals are ones you can quantify and are accompanied by a plan of action, and that is something I am just now learning.

2. How would you describe your current focus on work?
It is extremely task-focused. I have a hard time envisioning the end result or the big picture, so I focus on checking off the items on my to-do list.

3. What hobbies do you have? What other skills and interests do you have?
Reading, crocheting, blogging (obviously). I like to bake. I like playing with spreadsheets and solving logic puzzles.

4. How are you involved in your community?
I run the FPU class at my church. I’m still technically on the finance committee there but haven’t attended a meeting in ages. I volunteer at a children’s grief camp every year and LOVE it. I started the volunteer training at Ele’s Place but then I got pregnant and couldn’t complete it due to severe morning sickness.

5. What was your father’s or mother’s attitude toward work and how has that affected you?
My mom works. A lot. I have called her a workaholic many times. When I was a kid her work life and personal life were completely separate, and I never got the impression that she hated her job, but that she was simply there because she had to and that was okay. Now, I don’t know. I think the work she is doing now is in an area she enjoys, but I don’t think she enjoys having to do so much of it. I think she wishes she had more time to play. Am I right, Mom? Correct me if I’m wrong. 

My dad is a pastor. He has been a pastor for 3 decades. His work life and personal life are nearly impossible to separate. I’m not sure how he came to the decision to be a pastor all those years ago but I would be interested to hear about it. I know he feels called to be a pastor but I wonder if he ever feels a pull to go in a new direction. Dad, any chance you could chime in on this? (Yes, my parents read my blog. Scary, isn’t it?)

I think the affect all that had on me was that on Career Day I really didn’t give any thought to my passions or my calling. For some reason I didn’t find them relevant or realistic. I didn’t really believe that you could make a living at your calling unless you became a pastor or a missionary or something. I’m starting to wonder if it’s possible.  

Previous Chapters:
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 1
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 2
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 3

The continuation of my public introspection as I read “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller (my answers to the questions at the end of each chapter):  

1. In today’s rapidly changing work environment, is it realistic to expect a job to provide more than just a paycheck?
We have so many options today that our parents’ parents didn’t have. While it may not be reasonable to “expect” more than just a paycheck, there must be jobs out there that do offer more than that. Intangible benefits such as telecommuting and flexible hours are becoming just as important as benefits like health insurance and 401(k).

2. Have you ever had a sense of calling in your life? How did you hear that calling?
I definitely feel called to help people with personal finances. I know this because anytime I see an opportunity to do that, I get a jolt of excitement and my spirit lifts.

3. Does God call only a few people?
I imagine God calls many but most of the time we’re not listening. 

4. Is it reasonable to expect our work to be part of the fulfillment of our calling?
I hope so. For all the hours we spend working we should be able to fulfill a calling at the same time.

5. Do you currently have a job, a career, or a vocation?
A job. Sort of a career, only because I’m in working in a field I enjoy. Not a vocation, because I don’t feel called to the job I’m currently in.

6. What does success mean for you this year?
Success this year would mean finding a clear focus, setting a long-term goal for my life, and begin working toward it. That’s a broad answer. There is one thing in particular I want to accomplish this year; I would like to find a way that Mike and I could have more time with Luke. With our current situation he is with a sitter five days a week and we miss him terribly.

7. Are you where you thought you’d be at this stage in life?
I never had a clear vision of where I was going. I know I didn’t expect to be a mother. We struggled with fertility for so long that I was beginning to lose hope. Professionally I had hoped to be a controller, an office manager, or perhaps a self-employed bookkeeper. But because I lacked clear vision I never settled on any one thing. 

8. Do you go home at night with a sense of meaning, purpose, and accomplishment?
Not from my job, but when I’m running an FPU class I ride home every week on Cloud Nine.

9. If you want different results next year, what will you change in what you are doing now?
For starters, decide where I want to be in three or five years. Until I make that decision I won’t know what changes to make.

Previous Chapters:
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 1
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 2

Oh my, this 48 Days book is so good. Here is a great excerpt from Chapter 3 – Creating a Life Plan:

“There is a Hebrew word, Avodah, from which come the words ‘work’ and ‘worship.’ To the Hebrew man, his Thursday morning activities were just as much an expression of worship as being in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Nothing in Scripture depicts the Christian life as divided into sacred and secular parts. Rather, it shows a unified life, one of wholeness, in which  everything we do is service to God, including our daily work, whatever that may be.

Jobs will come and go, but they should never derail you from the fulfillment of your calling.

Good career decisions have to be based on more than a casual look at the job opportunities or at personal aptitudes. What we invest our time in daily and weekly must incorporate the three critical areas mentioned in the introduction: (1) skills and abilities, (2) personality tendencies, and (3) values, dreams and passions. The most common mistake people make in choosing a career is doing something simply because they are good at it. . . . Remembering the happiest times in your life and the times when you felt most fulfilled are better indicators of your calling than just knowing what you can do.”

Here’s more:

“The Bible gives dignity to any work. All occupations are sacred. “Called to ministry” or “full-time service” are simply cultureal misrepresentations of God’s view of meaningful work. We need to eliminate the artificial ranking of the godliness of work. There are no second-class citizens in the workplace. I thank God for the talents of our lawn maintenance man and greatly appreciate and admire the beauty he creates in the grass, flowers, and trees around our home.”

AMEN.

The continuation of my public introspection as I read “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller (my answers to the questions at the end of each chapter):  

1. Respond to the statement, “All progress requires change, but not all change is progress.”
I think this is true. We can change this up but unless we are making progress and working toward a goal, we’ll grow tired after a time.

2. What statement describes your career path so far?
So far it has been lateral and lacking in a clear focus.

3. How has a company change affected you? How did it make you feel?
An employer decided they were going to cut our insurance benefits, and the proposed cost was a huge blow to our family budget. I felt betrayed because I had only recently started working there and had agreed to a lower wage than I wanted simply because our insurance benefits were to be paid for.

4. Have you experienced any “failure” in your career? If so, what did it lead to?
I think the fact that I’m earning less than I was eight years ago is a huge failure.

5. What were your childhood goals and ambitions for life? Which ones have you been able to fulfill?
I only remember in high school having aspirations of teaching Special Education. In fact, that was my college major until I dropped out (I since went back to college and earned my Accounting degree). Can any of you family members out there help me answer this question?

6. Who are 2 or 3 people you know who seem to have accomplished their dreams? What do you remember about their accomplishments?
This is a tough one. I’ll have to give it more thought and come back to it. I’m curious if any of you can answer this though! If you know anyone like this leave a comment and tell us about them, especially if it’s you!

7. What do you imagine your retirement will be like?
Lots of free time to be available to people – time for family, friends, church, and volunteering.

Previous Chapters:
My “48 Days” Journey – Chapter 1

I just started reading 48 Days to the Work You Love, by Dan Miller. I’ve heard a lot about the book from Dave Ramsey and have wanted to read it, so I finally broke down and purchased a copy. Dan Miller offers up great questions for reflection at the end of each chapter and since I don’t do much pen and paper journaling anymore, I’m going to use the blog to keep track of my answers. Lucky readers, you get to follow along. If this book is the lifechanger Dave says it is, you should be able to catch at least a smidgen of inspiration from these Q & A’s. Let’s hope.

1. Who gave you your first job? What kind of job was it? How much money did you make?
My first job was at the local State Farm Insurance Agency. There was a high school student who worked a 3-5 pm shift so the agent’s assistant didn’t have to work so late. She was graduating and the agent who owned the place knew me (it was a small town) and hired me to replace her. I basically ran the office for those two hours every weekday. I think it paid around $6 per hour. I was 15.

2. From looking at your work life so far, what has been of the greatest value or worth?
I learned the most professionally while working for a struggling software company. A CEO basically ran it near to the ground, racking up all kinds of debt. He was ousted, then the Vice President took over and worked hard at making it profitable again. By that time the size of the company had dwindled to 6 or so employees. That job came with extreme challenges but it was the only job I truly loved. I especially learned a lot from the new head honcho. He was an intelligent, laid-back, well-spoken man with a good head for business. He knew how to spin criticism in such a positive way that it made you want to be better. I learned a lot through that experience about problem solving, communication, and working as a team.

3. If your job changes, does your purpose change?
No. I can’t say my job is helping me fulfill my purpose.

4. Do you think your current job will exist 5 years from now?
I’m not counting on it.

5. What would be the key characteristics of an ideal job or career?
In my ideal job I would be helping people in some way, making a difference in people’s lives.

6. When you daydream, what do you see yourself doing?
Recently I had the opportunity to help a few individuals with their personal budgets. It was exhilarating. I really felt like I was able to help, and they were all very appreciative. It was as if I had helped lift the weight off their shoulders. I think I would enjoy doing stuff like that more often. Oh, and a flexible schedule would be awesome.

7. What have been the happiest, most fulfilling moments in your life?
This is a tough one. Let me think about it… Okay, some fulfilling moments I can think of: volunteering at the children’s grief camp, working in the mail room at Chrysalis, and coordinating Financial Peace University. All of these are experiences that, although they are hard work, they always leave me rejuvenated and energized.

8. If nothing changed in your life in the next 5 years, would that be OK?
No way! I want to be growing and changing, and in the professional arena I would hope to be making a little more money and be doing something that I love, which is the whole point of reading this book!

My stepmom is currently in the hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery. I just spoke with her and she is heavily medicated, waiting for the hospital to have an opening to take her in for surgery. She has never been good with pain and I’m sure she is scared right now, so I’m just asking that you take a minute to pray for her.

I’m reading an autobiography by Joanie Yoder called “Finding The God-Dependent Life.” Joanie was my great aunt. She was a missionary in England so I didn’t see her very often, but the few times I did get the privilege to spend time with her, we had wonderful, memorable conversations. She passed away in 2004 and she is certainly missed. She was loved dearly by many, including me. The story of her life is quite amazing. She shares in her book how she struggled with extreme anxiety and agoraphobia and how she overcame it through prayer and dependence on God. In the particular section I read today she tells of how she started a Bible study for the women in her neighborhood. At the first meeting she was terrified to speak to the women, much less pray with them, but she was determined to try. She had that mustard seed of faith that God would give her the strength. She said in order to step out in faith she had to decide that she was willing to fail in her efforts for the Lord.

As I was reading that chapter in her life I immediately thought of my Financial Peace class at church. Leading this class has been a total expansion of my comfort zone, but there is one area I still really hold back in. At the end of each night I sense a nudging from the Holy Spirit that I need to pray with my small group, and at the end of each night I ignore that nudging because I’m afraid. I am deciding today to take my Aunt Joanie’s attitude with me to class tomorrow. I need to be willing to sound like a complete and utter bumbling idiot in an effort to pray with my group, because that’s where I know God is trying to lead me. Group prayer has always been a challenge for me but I must not let fear keep me from it anymore.

I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that I can really relate to:

“So many books, so little time.”

I currently have three books checked out from the library and I’m only half way through the first one. It’s a good thing I can renew them online and there are no late fees! I love my library!