A sad happiness

Today seemed very sad and very exciting at the same time. John Tate announced he will be going to BICS and joining them as of the first of the year, right after he is married. He officially "resigned" this morning and his last Sunday will be Nov 7. I am more sad than you will ever know. John has become more than just our pastor, but also a close friend. He has spent many Thanksgivings at our house as well as birthday's, been to concerts and games. Our loss is the enormous gain of BICS. I have a greater concern with John's leaving, however, in our church. I am excited for the opportunity God is presenting John with but also with the opportunity we have as a church to rally together and pray seeking His will for us as a body. Please pray for us during the months ahead. It will not be easy to be without John, but we know that God's will is perfect and it is easy to forget that when we become personally involved in the lives of others. We often lose sight of the fact that the Lord has a plan. "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and give you a future" Jeremiah 29:11. It is also exciting because I am leaving on a missions trip today. I love going and serving. However, I am going with a saddened heart. I am torn and will be sad for awhile after he leaves. I am so happy for John and Lisa with this fantastic opportunity. I truly love BICS as well! I have a hard time being sad knowing he is going there. So, I guess I would covet your prayers for my trip, our church and our Pastor.

Decisions, decisions...?!?

It's amazing to listen to people. When people are in crisis, they usually ask for prayer (as they should). But, have you ever stopped to think about why people get into a crisis? There are clearly some things that they have NO control over. Car accidents, sicknesses and general maladies at times, cannot be helped. But there are many instances where a persons actions have directly resulted in a consequence and not just that person, but their ENTIRE family have to suffer. It's sad. I've seen it time and time again. A lot of people make decisions based on what feels good for the moment, and not how it will affect them long term. How do you help someone not do that? I have had the pain of watching this happen, seeing the consequences played out then listening to the person complain about their circumstances. I feel like saying, "well duh!!", but clearly I can't. I have fallen victim to my own stupidity time and time and time again. I have made mistakes and been the victim of other's mistakes too. It makes me think about Jesus and the plan for salvation. He comes to us while we're in the mud puddle at the bottom of the cesspool, listens to us whine and says "well duh!!". Then he says, let me take you out of the mire, clean you up and make you whole. I have forgiven all you have done and will do. I love you and truly care about you. What decision could be easier than to accept Christ's work on the cross for our sins? The great news is we have done nor will do anything to deserve it! The only thing we have to make/do is a decision.....

Acts 4:11-12

New Chapter

Well, the last post was about changes. They were closer than I thought. I made the decision to go back to what I've been good at. I was with Aflac for 9 years and even though I have worked at an agency for over a year, things are very uncertain in the medical field. Carriers (BCBS/Humana/Aetna, etc) haven't decided how they're going to pay agents or IF they'll continue to use agents in the field or not. The funny thing is Aflac and other supplemental companies are not being affected by this new legislation at all. Funny. Sometimes we can look at a decision we've made and go "What the heck was I thinking?", but I think in this case my experience doing what I've done for the last 16 mos has given me invaluable experience to understand aspects of the bill, how it will affect accounts I currently have and what type of insurance would be good for them. Would I have gone to work for the agency if I knew I was leaving 16 mos later? Probably not. Was it the best decision? Maybe. But as with all decisions made and consequences played out I think it was a good one. I am not sure what is coming down the road or why things happen the way they do, but I am back to what I love and back to making my own schedule and working for myself! I really cannot describe the level of relief I felt when I handed in my resignation letter! I am looking forward to my next Aflac chapter (not that the last one ever really ended), but as with everything, I pray I am able to continue to do well and make the right decisions!

Changes are in the air..........

I would be kidding myself if I didn't recognize the changes coming in my industry. I have worked for the past 10 years in an industry that's ever changing based on regulation coming from both Washington and Atlanta. Every time you get comfortable with how things are, it changes. I would have to be blind not to see the panic set in with those in my industry. Some are changing industries, some are waiting it out to see what changes come about and then make a decision. It is all about compensation. How will agents be compensated? Well, the way it works now- I find the best policy at the best price for you and am compensated by the insurance company we place you with. If the insurance companies pull all sales operations in house, then insurance agents will either go to work for the company or become a paid consultant. It will redefine our industry and create a whole new level of cost for the employer. I have no idea what's coming and anyone who says they do is lying because I've seen it change even since the new legislation has passed. Oh well. Am I worried? A little. But then again, maybe not. We'll see.

Body Gospel, Really???

Let me preface this blog post by saying: 1. I am a Christian, 2. I take my relationship with the Lord very seriously, and 3. I abhor those who use your relationship with the Lord to sell their stuff.......... for only two payments of only $39.95! Okay, let me explain myself. I was watching TV one Saturday morning, when what to my wondering eyes should appear? The hokiest commercial I have ever seen. "Body Gospel".....Beachbody's latest offering to those who won't do "P90X" or "Insanity" because it's perhaps too "worldly". Hey, do you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you want to be skinny? Are you willing to pay? Well, we have the program for you! I wonder how the marketing pitch in the conference room went? So, we need to have lots of clouds, perhaps a shot of her with her arms stretched out to the sky as if getting a divine word from God; don't forget about the "rays of light" coming down and shining on her for effect. Really? Wow. Her bio on the website says "Donna Richardson Joyner has starred in award-winning workouts, including the Buns of Steel^™ and Sweating in the Spirit series. " Really, from Buns of Steel to Body Gospel?? Ok, maybe I'm taking the making fun of this to an extreme, but really? I mean, their tag line when the website first comes up is this:

Body Gospel^®: Have faith in your weight loss success.

At last, you can combine the power of your faith with your desire to lose weight and get fit. Body Gospel is a first-of-its-kind program that includes workouts set to inspirational gospel music, breakthrough new resistance bands, and a complete nutrition plan created by fitness icon Donna Richardson Joyner.

She shows you how to combine this effective program with your faith in God to transform your body and your life. With glorious music guaranteed to get you moving, every workout is a “party with a purpose,” and the results will amaze you.

If you believe, you will succeed!

I wonder if the resistance bands are called.............resist evil bands, or resisting the devil bands. This is almost too easy to make fun of!!

Well, if you want to see said product/marketing material...........here it is:

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/body-gospel.do?code=BBHOME_CONTROL_BG

You decide.

Old folks driving in cars.......sort of

Ok, I am CONVINCED that old folks who drive need to take a drivers test. Why? Well, let me enlighten you. I was at the stop light at the end of our cross street and directly behind a car with a "handicap sign" hanging off the rear view mirror. Occupant: 1 old lady. Ok, my first sign of trouble was the white "back up" lights were on. I gave her some room because I figured she'd gun it and hit me. Good call, cos that's just what happened (except the hitting me part, I gave her enough room thank goodness). Then, after recovering, she punched into D and took off. I was still behind her, and she and that Mercury Grand Marquis kept swerving between the two allotted lines. I felt like I was in the scene of Ferris Bueller's Day Off where his Dad is trying to pass the little old lady with the beehive hairdo. Scary. So my remedy? If you are of the "older" generation and feel the need/have the ability (so says you) to drive, you HAVE to take a test. No do overs either. If you fail, that's it, kaput! I know it sounds harsh, but c'mon! My daughter and soon my son will be on the road. I need to know they're not going to be run over by Grandma Moses in the Mercury Grand Marquis!!!

Schedule, precious schedule!

Routine. I love it. I have to have it to order my freakishly disordered life. Why? Because chaos usually rules our house in the summertime. I love order, and schedules, and the busyness of after school activities. I am not sure why this is, but even when I was a little girl I couldn't wait for school to start. Why? Not because I enjoyed school. No, I DEFINITELY didn't excel at any particular subject. I was marginal at best in History and Math (because I liked the subject). I was no Rhodes Scholar. No, it was always the routine of the day that I looked forward to. I crave it. I am not sure what I am going to do when Jonathan actually finishes High School. Perhaps take over for some overworked Mom and order their child's life. I complain about how busy we are but secretly I love it! So here's the schedule for this year: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Jonathan has band practice after school and Friday is a game. Mostly home games this year, but there are some away games and a few competitions on Saturday. Slap in some meetings Mark has after school, Sunday activities and there you go with our chaotically ordered life. The funny thing is not everyone loves my precious schedule. I am a list person (see previous blog post http://wwoman2000.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-check.html), constantly going through a "mental checklist" in my mind to ensure I haven't forgotten anything related to the next activity. Jonathan, on the other hand, could inevitably breeze in with just the shirt on his back and has a "whatever" attitude about most anything and everything. It's frustrating. I usually get at least 2 calls a week from said panicked boy wanting to know if I can fit in running a very important item to school before going to work. Yesterday it was a baritone horn. I expect at least another phone call before the end of the week. Welcome to my world, my preciously ordered, scheduled, chaotic world!