On Jobs and Current Events in my life

I have learned more about people now with my job than I ever have before. Of course, with my previous job I learned a lot, especially about employer/employee relationships and problems, but I am discovering a whole world of good relationship techniques, and reasons relationship difficulties and problems. It's very interesting working with people. I really love it, and I enjoy being around people a lot. I thought it would be emotionally draining and make me depressed a lot. But I have been soberly learning a wonderful truth; God gives me strenght as I need it. I am learning that my strength doesn't ever match up to the level of strength that is needed, but I rejoice to say that when my heart is heavy and I am overwhelmed with life difficulties and problems, He always sends cheer my way. And I somehow am also given the strength to send cheer other people's way, in return. "Always remember, Joelle, you're a daughter of the King. You're a princess, and your Father loves you so, so much. I cannot stress that enough, how much God loves you." And people pray for me. I have been so extraordinarily blessed... I can't explain it all. Doesn't mean I feel the best all the time, or that I don't get depressed. No... Far from that. I do, still. I get very sad. I wonder how to get on. I see no light at the end of my tunnel. Then I remember, Ah, Joelle, you're focus is wrong. Joy doesn't come from a changed circumstance, but from a changed heart. Love doesn't come from a lack of disagreement, but from a commitment and the choice to love. Peace doesn't come from a calm surrounding, but from a sense of God's presence in the storm. Oh, I really am still learning. I don't think I will ever have learned all of what I should. Well, this was supposed to be a post about my job. And I guess I'm changing it into an all around current-thoughts post. About work, though, I have a great number of wonderful coworkers. I love the ladies I work with, and the one guy I work with is a great guy. It is very interesting to try to understand and observe the different temperaments and personalities my coworkers have. Each of them are different. It's sad to see how some of them disagree and don't like each other as much because of their differences, or just misunderstandings. I found it interesting to note how this one girl I work with really doesn't like to have people telling her what to do all the time, but that she often will do the same things as the older lady she complains about. For example, she got very frustrated at Sh____ for taking over in a situation she was in, but she will often take over or intrude into my work if she thinks I'm not doing it right. I started to get annoyed today, I admit, but then I realized that it wasn't big deal, and that just as I realized that its pride that makes A____ not like Sh___ to tell her what to do, its pride for me to get offended if A____ is a little bossy. It's interesting, too, to see how the two younger girls I work with, A___ and S___, don't like Sh___. I can see how they get offended at her. She is a somewhat difficult personality to get along with. But as I realized before, its only pride that keeps us (cause even I once in a while feel annoyed at Sh___ for certain things) from appreciating Sh___ for who she is. I admit I have annoying sides to me. I only hope that I am willing to change as I learn of my faults. I really don't know if that all makes any sense. I'm tired today! I only got five hours of sleep last night. Well, there are other things for me to do. A post is coming up, one for my car I got (because I did get a car) and one for Thanksgiving. :)

An Update, of Sorts, for Donny

The future seems to drag, yet the past already seems to be afar off, and have gone so fast... It's amazing how many feelings and emotions I can experience in such a short time. It's amazing how fast I can laugh after crying, and how short it takes for my joy to leave and depression take its place. Work keeps me busy. I keep a schedule... Write a list. /Make cards... Scrapbook... Make fudge... Go shopping... Call Grandmama... Practice cello... Buy rosin... Update account book... Look for a car... Take pictures of the children... Blog post... Blog post... Blog post.... I have had it on my list to write a post for some time. I actually wrote quite a few pages in my journal, but then I deemed those pages not fit for most people to see. And I think about it every so often, but then forget, or feel just plain out of the writing mood. Or I can hardly find how to express the words inside of me, and fear actually saying even a part of my thoughts aloud. And so I set my alarm. I get up, bleary eyed. Or, if I have no work schedule that day, I turn off the alarm and close my eyes again. Dread to take the covers off and have to be brave another day. But I do get up, and I do brave another day. I smile, I laugh, and I try... I try so hard to make each day a better one, for someone, even if not for myself. Today the sky has too many clouds. What should be pure and clear blue is a mass of dull grey-white. I sit in the cafe during my lunch/supper break, and stare out the window. Different strangers go by... Looking sober and serious. Little kids, happy-go-lucky according to their cheerful perspective, laugh, smile, and chatter. I smile, and watch. There is a elderly man, indicating his perfectionist nature by reparking and reparking his GMC truck. Work. Life is full of it, isn't that so? As adults, there is so much ordinary and schedule. The perpetual smile is the first to go. I see it, where I work. It's the distracted-ness, too. I see it in both my co-workers, and in the customers who come in to order deli meats and cheese. When the job gets tiresome and ordinary, and when the cares of life outweigh the love of life, distracted faces replace the personal smiles. She comes up to the counter, hurriedly. "Half a pound of chipped ham, a quarter pound of the presliced American cheese, and a pound of shredded coleslaw. Yes, that's all. Thanks." The lack of eye contact. No smile. Standing there, lost in thought. Stress creased between the eyes. She pulls out her phone, and slips it away into her back jeans pocket only when I have her order ready. "Busy adult worker" is spelled all over her. But Mr. Mustache man... He and those like him make my day. "Hello, miss! How are you? Oh, I'm doing tolerably! It's my day off today, and I am doing "honey-do" things today! She wants some of that chipped beef! Oh, I don't know what. Probably the one that's on sale. She reads that sale paper every week! Oh, that's fine if its a little over. It'll all get eaten! Oh, and she wants two pounds of your baked limas! Hm, is that two pounds? It's not two of those things then? Oh, well, if its wrong, can I tell her that you told me this container is two pounds? Thanks! Yeah, that's all! Thanks, you have a great day, too!" So day goes after day. Soon it will be Thanksgiving. Already. And then Christmas, and the new year. 2015. Already. My, where did the time go? I can hardly remember how it was a year ago... I have been so many places and experienced so much in the short year that's past! How can it be. I'll in my nineteenth year... Well, I am in my nineteenth year. And, well, time will keep flying. One thing after another... I'll keep busy, I hope! Next post up: my car. Well, I hope it will be that... I hope to have a car by the time I post next. Lord willing. :) Blessings.