The Girls.......and Lil' Niecie!!!!

Maya, Nicolette, and Angela, with lil' niece, Rebecca, aka "Hollerin' Annie." LOL 

 

Adrian

 

HOW TO WORK IN ANY ENVIRONMENT

HOW TO WORK IN ANY ENVIRONMENT by TD JAKES


HOW TO WORK IN ANY ENVIRONMENT
(By: T.D. Jakes)

1. Don't expect to be appreciated. Your only expectation should be to get a paycheck. Don't come to work to have personal relationships. Don't allow what you do to affect who you are.

2. Do your job well, but remember your mission. God put you there to be a Light.

3. Seek opportunities to change the atmosphere without commenting on the problems. You have a God to talk to. You are on an assignment . Quietness and competence shall be your strength.

4. Don't let your environment get inside of you. You should influence it, not let it influence you. Stop going to work to be fed. You didn't come to receive, you came to give.

5. Increase your capacity to work with different personalities. God will often bless you through people you don't even like!

6. Remember, where you are does not define where you are going. This will deliver you from frustration. God has a plan for your life. Keep your eye on the prize. When Peter did this, he was able to walk in what other people sank in!

7. Get the optimum results with minimal confusion. Be effective without making the environment worse.

8. Don't be associated with one group or clique. Labels limit your usefulness. God wants you to work with everybody but be labeled by nobody. Use all your gifts.

9. Always keep your song near you. Keep a consecrated place in your soul. Hold on to your praise.

10. Understand that God anoints you for trouble. Put on the whole armor of God before going to work.

Points from T.D. Jakes

WOW!

What a day I had yesterday!

First, a tropical storm system swept through Houston, flooding most of the streets and major highways.  I couldn't bring Nelly (my 21 year-old car, which I love, LOL) to work, so my husband had to bring me in the Suburban.  I thank God that we weren't stuck in those floodwaters, and that none of our vehicles suffered any water damage.  Many people were stuck in rising floodwater for hours, and some had to be rescued.  The water rose around our little home, and a teeny bit of water seeped in, but dried up or seeped back out once the waters started to recede.  We thank God for that, too.  Some of our neighbors just around the corner and down the street from us received substantial floodwater into their homes.  You know those beautiful Honda Odyssey vans?  We saw two people pushing one of those through the flood waters on our way to work!  There was also some college kids whose brand-new BMW was stuck in the waters on the news.  I hope those people can get those cars running again!

Got to work about 25 minutes late (I had already called my sups and let them know the situation.  I was fine, of course; I used emergency vacation (EV) to make up the time), and folks were hopping mad, as usual, because many, if not all, inbound and outbound flights were delayed due to the weather.  I managed to calm most of my callers, though, with my Southern charm (LOL). 

I knew that my co-workers were planning to celebrate my birthday since last week; they had already asked me what kind of cake I liked and all.  However, with all that was happening today, I didn't think that they'd go through with it.  Sure enough, one of the co-workers who was planning the bash (and who was OFF today) came with a delicious Taco salad (made from scratch), 2 cakes (devil's food, my favorite, and pineapple upside-down), and plenty of sodas and teas.  I was SO taken aback at how generous these people were to me!  And I thank God for that, because I know all too well that my co-workers DIDN'T have to care, or go through the trouble. 

After we shared my birthday meal, I received a surprise.  Remember a while back, I had mentioned that one of my co-workers was going to mornings, and her Sunday-Monday slot would be opened.  I didn't expect to get it, though God knew that I WANTED it, because even though I work evenings, I still go to church every Sunday morning.  Plus, I am dead last on the seniority list.  One of the sups handed me a paper asking if I was interested in the off days.  I signed my name, but I made a specification that if I didn't receive them, to keep my off days at Tuesday-Wednesday.  Well, my co-workers told me that they "talked it over," and all decided on my behalf that I was going to get those days!  Well, words cannot express how happy I am.  Getting my girls ready for church Sunday mornings can be such a drain, then I am almost always late because after hubby and girls leave, I have to prepare Sunday dinner, then get ready for church AND work.  Now, I have ALL DAY to do those things!  God is SO GOOD!!!!

I remember when I worked for the police department in New Orleans.  They had this system set up where every co-worker's birthday was supposed to be recognized, too.  Everyone was required to participate when the birthdays came around, meaning that we either had to contribute money or bring potluck for the celebrations.  I participated for EVERY party.  But when my turn came, lo and behold, there was no celebration.  No plans.  No potluck.  No money contributed.  I was the only one who had a birthday in August.  Words cannot describe how hurt I was.  It was obvious that I was snubbed.  I wasn't well-liked.  I had told a trusted friend about what happened, and he told me that from then on, NEVER expect or wait on someone else to celebrate my birthday for or with me.  He told me to celebrate my birthday whether anyone else, that goes for my husband, relatives, or friends, remembers.  And I have done that ever since.  Needless to say, I was taken aback by the kindness.  I had worked for the NOPD for several years, and hadn't been here a year yet! LOL  I am humbled,and so very grateful.  

It's nice to know when God is smiling on you.  Sometimes, I work so hard, and in return, sometimes life just kicks me in my gut.  I wonder what the point is many times.  But the Lord loves me so much, that He shows me, in His way, that He sees me, and that He is pleased with me.  I am grateful that He can trust me to live a kind of life that influences others in a positive way.  All that happened yesterday is just a reminder, and encouragement from Him, to keep on keeping on!  Hallelujah!   

Other cool things happened yesterday, but I think this blog is long enough, LOL.  Who knew that such an ugly day could turn out so nice?

Adrian  

WHEW! AUGUST!!!

Well, we're back from vacation in Chicago!  We had a great time, but that ride going there and coming back was a killer!  We did all of our bookings online, so we were pleasantly surprised at how nice our hotel room, and the location (smack-dab in the middle of a shopping mecca!) was.

The reunion was nice; these were people from my husband's grandmother's side of the family.  It was fun finding out where my husband's mom, sisters, and my little one got their noses from! LOL  It was so cool and breezy up there; nothing like the parching heat here in Houston.  The next reunion will be held in Dallas, Texas!  A hop, skip, and a jump from us.  One of our great uncles, the one we stayed with when we arrived here in Houston, hopes to probably make it to that one.  He's very old, however, and has failing health.  We are hoping that he will still be around in 2009.

We are back to the daily grind, working, taking care of the girls, and getting ready for school.  Matthew is getting ready to receive his MCSE (Microsoft Systems Engineering Certification) in just a few weeks.  Nikki is starting middle school, and Maya and Angie are going to fourth and second grade.  Angie and I are hoping that she will have Maya's second grade teacher this year!

I had put Matt's name in the system to try and get him a city job.  They called him this morning to schedule him for an  interview.  I sure hope that he goes, and I am hoping that he gets the job.  Matthew is working, but his job offers him no medical benefits, no vacation time, and no paid holidays.  The job that they are calling him for offers all of that, plus the hours that he wants to work and weekends off.  It would be a good opportunity for him.  I cannot make him take advantage of it, I can only hope that he does.  We'll see what happens.

As far as the car accident goes, both insurance companies denied both claims.  He wants to pay something so bad, let him pay for the damages to his own vehicle, IF that was his to begin with!  I'm done with him, and the entire incident.  Moving on..............

Adrian    

P.S.  My birthday was August 5, and Angie's was August 11th!!!