I currently work in Broomfield, north and west of Denver, and live in Southeast Aurora (also south and east of Denver). It is 46 miles from my parking spot to work. The commute is generally during high traffic times as Denver is high traffic about 16 out of 24 hours per day. If you drive between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM you miss some of the traffic, but it is still surprising how much is out there. Add the traffic congestion to the cost of gas, and you get a less than desirable situation. Now, add to that the fact that the company I work for is not exactly paying top dollar (at least not to me) and you get a less than satisfied employee. As a result, you are right, I am on the job hunt again.
To that end, I have set up a Website with jobfox.com. The URL is http://www.jobfox.com/people/SharleneJustus
Feel free to look at the site, and recommend it to anyone you know who might be hiring a Project Manager. I would love to keep the commute to 10 miles or less, and I am definitely interested in raising the pay rate to something more commensurate with my experience.
The good news is that I am employed while I look for a better situation. After the last couple of years with no income, it is good to have "something" coming in. Now I am working on making that "something" enough to actually support us, Mother and me, though the entire month. We have pared down to bare bones, and now need to supplement our income.
Well, "lunch" is nearly over, and I need to get back to work. I hope your day is going well, and I hope you will help in this networking effort.
Thank you,
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
FHE.... It's good for everyone
Last night I had the opportunity to attend our monthly Senior Family Home Evening (FHE). It was a delightful evening. This is a very special opportunity for 8-10 single seniors to get together, discuss the gospel, sing together, pray together, learn more about each other, and enjoy a snack as we visit. We have a really fun and motivating group. Our "family" gathers together on the second Monday evening of the month.
Last night David drove and Mother, Teresa, and I were escorted to Bill's home. He treats us with such respect, opening and closing doors, making sure we are safely to our destination. The door was open and Bill was waiting for us with a smile on his face and open arms. We visited, laughed, and joked until everyone who was available was there. The evening started with prayer and a song. Now, you need to understand that we love to sing. Not only that, but we have some wonderful voices in our group. We also have a very good organist David, and a back up Teresa, and if neither of them are available Bill can step in also. As you can see, music is important to our "family".
We discussed our "family business". This week we decided that our hot air ballooning activity will be on Sept. 20th and "0 dark thirty" in the morning. The object is to lift off just as the sun is coming up in order to maximize our time prior to high winds and heat destroying the peace and serenity of the activity. We are hoping that we can get two or three rides done that morning. Most of the "family" have not been ballooning before so it will be new to most. David is also going to bring his boys (4 and 6) to the activity so that will add another layer to the fun. The next activity we discussed was to begin putting together a fireside for the stake. We have designated the fifth Sunday in November (11/30) for the activity. We are asking Brother Handy to present the program "Evidence of Christ in the Americas", which is a slide show that he has put together as a result of several trips to Central and South America as well as many years of study. He has done it previously for multi stake single adult conferences, but we felt that our stake general population (over the age of 12) would enjoy the evening.
The next order of business was a personal profile by Chris. She told us about growing up in Colorado, being in the Air Force, stationed in Japan, and some of the more bizarre places she has been while part of the military. She said that she has been escorted (blindfolded) to top secret facilities, done the necessary electrical work without moving very far one way or the other, and then being blindfolded until she was returned to the starting point. She has seen experimental aircraft, ordinance most of us never hear about, and been in a variety of missile silos. She has worked in telecommunications as a result of her military background and continues in that area today. She is an avid Family History buff and has specialized in Scottish history and "clan" lore.
Teresa gave the lesson on Testimony. It was a simple and beautiful lesson that lifted my spirits. She stressed that the gospel is "Simply Beautiful and Beautifully Simple". She referenced the most recent conference talks on testimony to remind us that a testimony is not a travel log, health or family update, a thank you note, a sermon, or an expression of our love of family. It is bearing our knowledge of the Godhead, prophets, scripture, the atonement, and the truthfulness of the gospel. She reminded us that a simple four sentence testimony, in the presence of the Holy Ghost, is more powerful that any prepared speech or lesson.
We had a closing prayer and sang another song, "There is Sunshine in my Soul". Refreshments were fruit, cheese, and cookies interspersed with plenty of conversation, stories, and more enjoyment of each others company. After a pleasant ride home, again dropping off Teresa, we bade good night to our escort and visited awhile with Porter, my grandson who has been visiting and spent the evening dining with his Aunt Anna. A very pleasant and uplifting evening right to the last.
Last night David drove and Mother, Teresa, and I were escorted to Bill's home. He treats us with such respect, opening and closing doors, making sure we are safely to our destination. The door was open and Bill was waiting for us with a smile on his face and open arms. We visited, laughed, and joked until everyone who was available was there. The evening started with prayer and a song. Now, you need to understand that we love to sing. Not only that, but we have some wonderful voices in our group. We also have a very good organist David, and a back up Teresa, and if neither of them are available Bill can step in also. As you can see, music is important to our "family".
We discussed our "family business". This week we decided that our hot air ballooning activity will be on Sept. 20th and "0 dark thirty" in the morning. The object is to lift off just as the sun is coming up in order to maximize our time prior to high winds and heat destroying the peace and serenity of the activity. We are hoping that we can get two or three rides done that morning. Most of the "family" have not been ballooning before so it will be new to most. David is also going to bring his boys (4 and 6) to the activity so that will add another layer to the fun. The next activity we discussed was to begin putting together a fireside for the stake. We have designated the fifth Sunday in November (11/30) for the activity. We are asking Brother Handy to present the program "Evidence of Christ in the Americas", which is a slide show that he has put together as a result of several trips to Central and South America as well as many years of study. He has done it previously for multi stake single adult conferences, but we felt that our stake general population (over the age of 12) would enjoy the evening.
The next order of business was a personal profile by Chris. She told us about growing up in Colorado, being in the Air Force, stationed in Japan, and some of the more bizarre places she has been while part of the military. She said that she has been escorted (blindfolded) to top secret facilities, done the necessary electrical work without moving very far one way or the other, and then being blindfolded until she was returned to the starting point. She has seen experimental aircraft, ordinance most of us never hear about, and been in a variety of missile silos. She has worked in telecommunications as a result of her military background and continues in that area today. She is an avid Family History buff and has specialized in Scottish history and "clan" lore.
Teresa gave the lesson on Testimony. It was a simple and beautiful lesson that lifted my spirits. She stressed that the gospel is "Simply Beautiful and Beautifully Simple". She referenced the most recent conference talks on testimony to remind us that a testimony is not a travel log, health or family update, a thank you note, a sermon, or an expression of our love of family. It is bearing our knowledge of the Godhead, prophets, scripture, the atonement, and the truthfulness of the gospel. She reminded us that a simple four sentence testimony, in the presence of the Holy Ghost, is more powerful that any prepared speech or lesson.
We had a closing prayer and sang another song, "There is Sunshine in my Soul". Refreshments were fruit, cheese, and cookies interspersed with plenty of conversation, stories, and more enjoyment of each others company. After a pleasant ride home, again dropping off Teresa, we bade good night to our escort and visited awhile with Porter, my grandson who has been visiting and spent the evening dining with his Aunt Anna. A very pleasant and uplifting evening right to the last.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Training Has Started....
What have I done? Can I really do this? What a humbling experience this mission is going to be. I am totally dependent on Heavenly Father for this one. The training is intense; every day and every night for the next two months. The agenda is packed with on line training to be taken between the nightly meetings. There is a training assistant for every five students. I am averaging 6 hours of study for every hour of group live labs, and that is only for the orientation. What will it be like when we get into the meat of the training?
Our trainer is in New Zealand; students are from all over the world. There are about 20 in my class. Some of the names are overwhelming to try and pronounce. Yet, all are here for the same reason; to learn how to become the best Family History Worldwide Area Support Missionary possible. Every night class begins and ends with prayer. The overall goal is to make sure that an Area Support Missionary in Colorado has and gives the same information as an Area Support Missionary in Africa or Australia or Tonga or Germany, etc. We fully recognize the importance of having the Holy Ghost with us as we take on this responsibility.
What a testimony builder this mission is. Looking at all of the material available, all of the tools available, and all of the work to be done, it is evident that Heavenly Father's hand is firmly in this endeavor. It is a massive undertaking to locate all of our ancestors, link them to family groups, and then get the ordinance work done for each of them. However, the organization behind this effort; the tools that have been made available; and the support of willing missionaries, consultants and other experts is making this task doable.
What an incredible time we live in. The tools and opportunities are growing and evolving daily, and the work moves forward. I am so blessed to be a part of this work.
Our trainer is in New Zealand; students are from all over the world. There are about 20 in my class. Some of the names are overwhelming to try and pronounce. Yet, all are here for the same reason; to learn how to become the best Family History Worldwide Area Support Missionary possible. Every night class begins and ends with prayer. The overall goal is to make sure that an Area Support Missionary in Colorado has and gives the same information as an Area Support Missionary in Africa or Australia or Tonga or Germany, etc. We fully recognize the importance of having the Holy Ghost with us as we take on this responsibility.
What a testimony builder this mission is. Looking at all of the material available, all of the tools available, and all of the work to be done, it is evident that Heavenly Father's hand is firmly in this endeavor. It is a massive undertaking to locate all of our ancestors, link them to family groups, and then get the ordinance work done for each of them. However, the organization behind this effort; the tools that have been made available; and the support of willing missionaries, consultants and other experts is making this task doable.
What an incredible time we live in. The tools and opportunities are growing and evolving daily, and the work moves forward. I am so blessed to be a part of this work.
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