A Job Hunt and Romans 8:28

Here is the promised update...I now have a job! What a process this has all been...and through it all the Lord has been so faithful to give me exactly what I need. So this all actually goes back to March, when we found out at Match Day that we were coming here. I started looking for jobs at that point, and nothing was posted at any of the hospitals, which is really where I wanted to work. Blaine and I have been praying that the Lord would lead me to the right job and that he would work out the timing of everything. After Audrey was born in August, I resumed job hunting and kicked it up a notch. I applied for a couple positions at St. Vincent and Baptist, but didn't hear anything. There was a posting at Children's too, but I didn't apply cuz I really didn't want to do peds. Time went by...don't remember exactly how long, but after not hearing anything for a good while I started to get a little nervous. My student loan payments begin in January, which is when I planned to start work, but I still had no bites. In continuing to pray about it and learning to truly trust God for his provision, I came to a realization. I decided to apply for the Children's job, because if I truly wanted God to lead me to the "right job" then who was I to think I knew what that was? As scary as it seemed to me (dunno why, sick kids scare me a bit), maybe this was what God had for me. Or at the very least, I had a lesson to learn about letting God be GOD and letting him be Lord of my life, including my decisions. So. I applied. (Side note here: my sweet hubby, in helping with my job quest actually went by the PT dept at ACH and spoke with the director to see about a job for me...what a dear!) Very shortly after applying, I got called for an interview! Now, this was probably the 5th application I had put in and the 1st interview. Ok, so I was catching on about following the Lord's guidance. Had a good interview, and got called back for a 2nd interview about 2 weeks later to meet the staff. I was still feeling kinda squirmy about doing peds, but I got a good feel for the working environment and for the orientation/mentoring process they have set up. The director said she'd be in touch...while waiting on that, I got a call from Baptist to come interview. So here's my thinking, ok, God just wanted to see if I'd really trust his plan, so I did the Children's thing, now here's my real job. The interview went well, and I went back for a 2nd about a week later. Initially it seemed like a good opportunity for me, but when it came down to it, there were so many uncertainties about the job and ultimately, I felt like the ACH job was a better fit. I got offered both jobs (how nice to have choices!) and accepted the ACH job. I'll be working full time 8-5ish for the first 3 months while I orient and train, then I'll go to 10:30a-7p M/W and 9:30-6 on Fri. Weird hours, yes, but I'll only have to work 3 days a week, and then be home the other 4 with my sweet girl and hubby. And I know that God has a sense of humor. Ya know which textbook I DIDN'T keep from PT school? Yeah, peds. But I'm excited about the learning opportunity, about working at ACH which everyone seems to love, and mostly about seeing the Lord orchestrate all the details of this whole job hunt to put me where he wants me. I don't think I'm really putting this into words very well about how incredibly obvious God's hand is in this. I really couldn't have worked it out better myself.

I'm REALLY not looking forward to leaving Audrey to go to work, but I knew I would have to at some point. And as it is, I will have had almost 5 months at home with her, to enjoy just being a momma. God has also provided a HUGE blessing in the childcare dept...one of Blaine's chief residents and his wife ended up moving around the corner from us. (That's kind of a strange series of events in itself...I'm thinking providence??) Marcy is her name...she's a stay at home mom with 2 boys, ages 4 and 2. For one of my interviews, I was kind of in a crunch for someone to keep Audrey, so I called her up. In the process of talking about the interview and jobs, she mentioned that she'd love to keep Audrey for me! And I say thank you Lord! (and Marcy of course!) This was my ideal situation, not having to put her in daycare, where she'd be exposed to all sorts of sickness. Plus, there's just something more comforting about leaving your baby with another momma. And being within walking distance is great, so it doesn't add to my commute. Again, I can't really express how amazingly God has worked this all out! Marcy and Josh are actually moving in June, so I'll need to come up with another childcare plan by then. I'm not worried, cuz if I haven't learned that the Lord will provide by now, then good grief, when would I? So the lesson in all this is that the Lord works all things for good for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Also, he is Jehovah Jirah, our provider, for our physical needs yes, but also providing the wisdom and guidance to be in his will. Thank you Lord and work starts Jan. 4!