A Journey Home

After two wonderful years in Phoenix, AZ serving at Andre House, I returned home to Beaumont, TX in August.  I came home kicking and screaming.  A year ago after much discernment and prayer, I planned on staying in Phoenix after my time at Andre House came to an end on August 10^th.  I began searching for employment and apartments during my down time and slowly began getting frustrated as nothing seemed to be working out like I wanted.  About the second week of July (after many tears and several hard talks with community members) I came to the conclusion that I would have to return home to Texas.  More tears were shed as I called home to tell my parents.  I felt disappointed in myself.   I felt angry and confused.  How could this have happened?  What was wrong with me that I couldn't get a job?  I had finally began to find light after a very long, very dark and lonely depression only to be plunged back into it with a vengeance.  When I returned home I began to only feel worse.  I had spent two years constantly being around groups people for 90% of my day every day to being around just my parents.  I went from working between 65 and 70 hours a week to being unemployed with nothing to keep me busy.  I had been on a schedule for so long that suddenly not being on one left me feeling lost.  I didn't know what to do.  How do you cope with life when suddenly you have no purpose?  Friends and family tried their best to help me through it, but I was surrounded by darkness and needed to figure my way out on my own.  After several weeks of moping and crying I slowly began looking for work.  I went to a temp agency that placed me with a company mid-October.  Even while working there, I knew my time was only limited so I kept applying for other jobs.  I interviewed with the Diocese of Beaumont mid-December, but did not get the job.  I also interviewed for a county job, but again did not get the job.  Christmas came and went.  Adjusting to being home for holidays was tough.  It sounds odd, however while serving at Andre House we couldn't go home for holidays because we still had to have the building open to serve our guests who don’t have the option of not being homeless on holidays.  Being home during this time was an adjustment.  The week after New Year’s I received a phone call from the Diocese of Beaumont saying that they had a position that was becoming available and thought I would make a great fit.  I didn’t even apply for the job.  Apparently I had left enough of an impression on the HR Director when I interviewed for the job several weeks before that she called me back to see if I would like to interview for a different position.  Would I?  Heck yeah I want to come back to interview!  Well, I got a call a few days later from our wonderful HR Director who extended an invitation for employment and of course I accepted.  As of February 12, 2013 I am the Secretary for the Office of Lifelong Formation/Education (if you can say my entire title 5 times fast you I’ll give you 25 cents)!!!  I was lucky in that when I started I had two full weeks with the wonderful lady who I was replacing.  After many years in this position, Shirley was retiring.  I will have been here two months on Friday and it has been awesome.  Mid-January I also started my academic career again as well.  I am taking two night classes (history and philosophy) which still allow me to work full time during the day.  In a couple of years I will have my bachelor’s degree in accounting.  Monday and Tuesday are both very long days.  I work 8am – 5pm then I have class from 530pm – 830pm.  I am thankful that I am able to go back to school and work full time.  I am starting to look for apartments and hopefully will be in a place of my own within the next couple of weeks.  Well, this is my story so far and I’m going to stick with it for a little while longer.  I hope to blog more often as life keeps unfolding, God willing.  Peace, y’all!!!