Two great reads

I am reading two very therapeutic and highly recommendable books:


Kristin's book is funny and relatable. Makes me feel like I am not alone, and what I really need is perspective and a good laugh.

 Great devotional that I read in 2010 and is proving very helpful again during some "bumps".

Perspective on Work: A blessing and a curse

It's been hard going back to work and I have really not settled in to it. I could argue my particular job is above average in the stress department but my husband argues, so are a lot of peoples. I keep trying to get perspective, be thankful, and settle into my full-time job but every time I do some very off-putting thing happens at work and I think to myself (and God), really? Not to mention, since we have found out officially that Chris is going to seminary this summer, the joy I feel about it is drowned by the overwhelming pressure of supporting the family the next four years with my meager income at a less than satisfactory job. I just want to feel settled, if not somewhat satisfied, with this whole working thing. Should I suck it up and just smile or do I keep searching, maybe I just haven't found the right job yet.

Then I talk to people who have a lot more stress balls to juggle than just their job: marriage, divorce, finances, faith, illness and I wonder...maybe I just need to get. over. it. I am blessed, more than I deserve, isn't that enough, and really aren't we to be thankful in all circumstances and isn't God going to grow me exponentially from this? Yes, sure, but still I made a list of pros and cons of my current, um, situation. Here it goes:

Pros:

• HEALTH BENEFITS (above average I would say)
• Paid Time Off (17 days and 10 holidays, not too shabby)
• Good commute and free parking
• NO overtime (because it's not in the budget)
• Customers (though some call me from the fiery pit of hell, most are sweet old ladies from churches that say "You are a genius" or "God bless you" or "I love you!", much appreciation, most of the time, from the customers anywho.....management well that's another story
• Bookstore discount
• Co-workers (mostly outside of my dept) who are encouraging and can relate to the stress because they work there too
• Small cash Christmas bonus and a new Kindle (which I love, love, love)

Cons:

• Pay
• Workload/stress
• Tardy policy/stringency (one minute late and we will document it, 6 and we can fire you, lovely)...even though I am only paid for the time I am clocked in, duh
• Time clock (a subtle way of saying, "we don't trust you" and "we are watching")
• 30 min lunch (don't be a minute late or we will mention it) and rare breaks (and NO 4 minute trips to the bathroom is not a break!)
• No job security ( have had two friends fired since I have been there)
• Spiritually draining (which is very ironic considering my company, very)
• No tangible value of the "little" people or much development of them; rather our thanks to you is that  you get to work here (maybe that's a tad exaggerated but not much)

So an even split but do some outweigh the others?...........debatable. In the meantime, I am praying and searching.....and hoping that wherever I am at the end of 2012, I feel peace that surpasses ALL understanding.