We’ve closed out another year, another decade actually. I identified the culprit in a murder mystery dinner, was on the team that won the treasure hunt on New Year’s Eve, visited with a few friends with more on the list, worked a few jigsaw puzzles with Dad, and watched the Mr. Rogers movie with Mom (they couldn’t have selected a better actor for the role – go see it!)
I also worked on a team that opened a few hundred Donor Advised Fund accounts in the last few months of the year. It was seasonal employment, the Dec 31 deadline has passed, the workload has settled down to normal volumes, and my time there is complete. Thankfully, I was able to work remotely, so I worked from my bedroom in Albany, IN for a few weeks, then Dad set me up with a workspace at their house in Ohio since Christmas, complete with a “Janeen’s Office” sign on the door. It’ll be hard to beat the five-minute commute. On a side note, this adventure satisfied an interest in a concept I’d heard about on the radio – look into it, it’s a cool idea.
The workload prevented me from serving Silent Blessings during that time, so I gave a verbal intent-to-resign effective Dec 31. The workload and holiday schedule with family and friends also kept me from submitting a formal resignation letter… so when I received the news that the seasonal contract was complete, I asked Marshall and Paula if I might “un-resign.” Their answer was a resounding “Yes!”
They’ve embarked on a data migration project, seeking to reduce expenses for the donor communication system. Data is the unique strength I bring to the Silent Blessings team, so it’s good that I’m once again available to assist in this effort. I’ll be doing so as a contracted resource. Though some are uncomfortable with this choice, it offers the most flexibility to me and to the ministry, opening the opportunity for me to serve some of the other Deaf Ministries with what I do best. More on that later.
So – the most clear and honest answer I have to the question of, “What are you doing/planning?” is… “I don’t know, yet.” But, there are others who have given the same answer: Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul… I’m in good company.
Hello, Square One. May every step be forward.