I've been meaning to tell you...

I think it's time I told you all the truth behind one of my biggest secrets. I've tried to keep it quiet for a while, but since I'm moving, I think it's finally time to tell you. I have recently been diagnosed with an incurable disease. It's a fairly newly diagnosed disease that, oddly enough, strikes evenly across all demographics, although more commonly in young women. The symptoms were subtle, but several people commented on them during my time in Costa Rica.Unfortunately, there is no cure. There are things I can do to mask the symptoms, but they may never completely go away. I have to admit, I have FOMO, commonly known as the Fear Of Missing Out. 

 

Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), according to the reliable resource, Wikipedia, was first classified in the mid 80's and is a label for the sadness one feels when knowing he/she is missing a good time with loved ones, the worry one feels that memories are being made that he/she will not have, or the anxiety one feels when deciding between multiple equally fun-sounding events. For more information, click this link.

The symptoms were fairly mild in Costa Rica. They mostly were characterized by wanting to do EVERYTHING with teams and be in three places at once. Apparently that is not currently physically possible, although Lord knows I tried. During my transition time in the states, it has become slightly more definitive. My heart wanted to be in Costa Rica, not wanting to miss anything going on there, while I still wanted to be fully involved in Michigan. As the job hunt continued, I was torn as to which direction to go in. If I stayed in Michigan, I would miss out on all the projects, classes and adventures going on in Costa Rica. If I moved back to Costa Rica, I may miss an awesome job opportunity to get back into the medical field. If I moved to Australia to pursue my aspirations to become a kangaroo trainer I could very well miss an opportunity to become a midwife in Honduras!! You can see how much stress that could induce!!

Now my disorder is at an all time high. I am moving across the country. Which means I will be missing SO many things in all the places I love. Weddings in Michigan. Stateside Tico visits. Close friend birthday parties. Random girls nights in downtown Grand Rapids. Etc., Etc., Etc.

But there are a few things that bring me comfort. I know this is where God is calling me next and I know He is going with me. I know I will still be able to keep track of people and what they're up to via facebook. Oh, facebook, what would the post-modern world be without you? (Don't answer that). There is always skype, e-mail, the US Postal Service, airplanes, and the pony express. The biggest comfort is knowing that we are on the short end of the time stick. Meaning while we may live 80 or even 100 years here, that is nothing in comparison to all eternity. I can't wait to get to heaven and see Jesus...and spend FOREVER with all my friends and family all in one place. Selfish? I think not. Maybe then my FOMO will finally be cured ;)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling One-Size-Does-Not-Fit-All Tupperware

The journey has not ended, it has only just begun. I thought it was about time for an update, seeing as my life in Tupperware continues for just a bit longer :) So here's the update:

January in Michigan marked the onslaught of sub-zero temperatures and snows measured in feet. The job search continued with an accumulated total of almost 95 applications, 16 phone interviews, and 6 face-to-face interviews. I knew I was getting desperate when I applied for a job at the local David's Bridal that a friend had recommended (she also works there) and desperation turned to depression when I couldn't even land that job. Always a bridesmaid, never a bridal consultant. 

Then it happened. My friend, Sarah, who lives in LA, posted on facebook that there was an opening in her apartment for a roommate. "Hold it for me!!!! PICK ME PICK ME!!!" I posted, half serious, half kidding. Less than a minute later I opened up the job query. I have never had a strong desire to move to California. It just never appealed to me. I always considered it a fun place to visit, but never a place where one could actually live. Isn't it completely populated by gorgeous models and glamorous starlets? Do normal, jeans-clad, one-piece-bathing-suit-wearing people actually making their own coffee in the morning and send their children off to school on a yellow school bus? Aren't their school buses covered in Swarovski crystals? But heck, you only live once, so I opened up my favorite job board (on my favorites toolbar in the browser, of course) and typed in Pediatric Speech Therapy in Los Angeles, Cal-i-forn-i-a. Up popped a job at Simi Valley Hospital at a child development center. The job description looked inline with what I was looking for, so I applied for it. Within 12 hours I got a phone call. It was the hospital and they were interested in my resume. 


 
And then the fun begins. I had two separate hour-long phone interviews with the hospital. I had decided that if I was really serious about the job I would need to go visit. I mean, finding a job online is like internet dating. You can sell anything over the internet or phone, but until you meet in person and have that chemistry, no sale.  Once again on facebook a post caught my eye: my RA from college, who lives in downtown Chicago, posted that she was flying to LA at the end of January for a work conference, who was going to be out there? I e-mailed right away that I was also tentatively planning a trip to LA, what were the details? Long story short, I ended up driving to Chicago, staying with my friend, and we were on THE SAME FLIGHT to LA. She lives 6 blocks off the L in Chicago that goes right into O'Hare. Crazy. 

The long and the short of it is, I flew out to LA for a week and spent two full days at the hospital and clinic. I really liked it. They offered me the job at the end of the second day and I accepted it. 

The Tupperware will be making a cross-country journey at the end of March and I start the job in the middle of April (I had to apply for a California Speech Pathology license and it takes 10 weeks to process). Keep your eyes peeled for updates on the trip out. My mom and I will be making the drive out together in March in my Civic and the movers will be heading out a bit later with the Tupperware. Woot woot!!

Thank you all for your prayers and support as I was making the transition. Thank you for all the prayers while I was in the "cave" resting and waiting on the Lord. I'm very excited about this next phase and to see where Jesus will take me next!!! 

Jill looks up to me...

My friend Jill made this cartoon for me today. 

It made me laugh so hard I had to repost it...

She titled it: Jill looks up to Julie.

Enjoy!!