lunch

Recently I got a new, part-time job to help our family get out of debt faster. Finance guru Dave Ramsey says 76% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, the average student loan is $29,400, and 90% of Americans buy things they can’t afford.

I don’t want to be a slave to the lender the rest of my life; how about you? This new job is for a specific purpose: to help set our family free! I pray that I can persevere to the finish line.

My job is physical labor which is a big change from the work I typically do as a speaker and author. I’m not used to standing on my feet all day long, constantly moving, and using all these muscles (non-muscles?).

By the time I get home from work, I’m a puddle and just want to lay down…preferably in a hammock at the beach! I’m totally exhausted!

I try to get as much rest as possible the night before I work; I wake up at 5:45 a.m. to get ready for the day and have my “coffee with God” time–eat an egg, make my coffee, get dressed, pray, read the Bible, and journal.

Then I take my “work stuff” with me to work, to be there by 8 a.m.:

• Uniform–a t-shirt with the company logo, blue jean capris, white ankle socks, my new Nikes for standing on my feet all day, and an apron;
• my lunch box which I pack the night before, usually a salad, and my water bottle (Americans spend almost $3,000 on midday meals each year, with men outspending women by 60%. Taking your lunch to work saves a LOT of money and is often healthier! I usually take a salad.);
• my toothbrush and Tom’s toothpaste (yes, I brush my teeth after lunch!);
• my journal to write notes about the job from my trainer, Chantal;
• my purse with my iPhone for emergencies. We’re not allowed to use our phones during work hours, but I keep it nearby as I’m a little addicted to it! For some reason it brings me comfort just being in my pocket! I’m not alone in my addiction; one in five people check their cell phones every 10 minutes!

I have a 90-day probationary period at this job. For the last week, my trainer Chantal was on vacation in Chicago, so that was sort of the “litmus test” to see if I could do the job alone.

It was hectic and stressful (this place is always busy!). But I had great help from the previous owner’s wife and the current owner’s wife, which I was very thankful for, and I made it solo through the week! I think I passed the test with a few mistakes, but we learn from our mistakes, right? (Hopefully!)

I’m still speaking and writing when I’m not at work, and in fact today I was sharing about writing books with two of my co-workers (they started asking me questions about it).

Right now I’m writing a new, non-fiction book about writing, and will keep you posted on the deets!

Meanwhile, please keep me in prayer about this new job. My desire is to do it as unto the Lord, with excellence.

You can check out my newest fiction book by clicking here at Amazon, Afflicted: A woman missionary kidnapped by terrorists in Africa.