The whole job "thing"

From Kelly:
Well, since I created a buzz about the job thing and have generated more questions (sent to me via email) than I seem to have answered, I think I need to do some 'splaining.

So, I thought back in June that it was time for me to leave Pathways. I just wasn't feeling like I was the right person for the job anymore and was pretty burnt out on various aspects of the job, such as working every Sunday and having volunteers cancel on me at the last minute. Mike and I were also kind of longing for a church that was a little closer to home, so we could meet some people nearby.

I got up the nerve in early July to tell my boss that I quit. Well, he wasn't too happy about that and we worked out a plan where I would stay and we would hire a friend of mine to do Sundays and volunteers, since those were the two areas that were stressing me out. So, we did that. Katey started a couple of weeks ago and I was happy with my job again, even getting to do some communication things, which I was really liking.

But then. . . An old co-worker contacted me whom I have done some freelance work for in the past. She is at an environmental engineering company called MWH and they needed someone in her department. Now, she has asked me to come work there before and I have always said no. I had no desire to get back into the 80-hour work weeks and stressful culture I was in at my job before Pathways. But, she was relentless, so I told her I'd at least come in for an interview.

At the interview I met my potential boss, whom I really liked. She told me more about the job and it didn't sound too bad-- very little overtime (which can be made up as comp hours), a chance to work on a variety of marketing materials, some event planning for trade shows, some travel, bonuses, and some work on a new business line they are starting to develop involving biofuels. So, they basically offered me the job right then and fedexed the offer sheet overnight for saturday delivery in this really spiffy leatherbound portfolio. I was even more enticed when I found out they had offered me the top salary available for the position.

After giving it a lot of thought, Mike and I realized that if I take this job (which pays a LOT more), we would be able to pay off all of my debt that is still lingering on credit cards and student loans very quickly. This is a huge deal since we'd like to have kids in a few years and really don't want to be making debt payments when that happens (kids are expensive enough). Plus, this job will give us an opportunity to look around for a church near us where we can both feel at home and where we can hopefully meet some people nearer us. Also this job is much closer to home, which will save on car wear. So, overall it was kind of a financial decision to make the move.

I am pretty bummed to leave pathways when it comes down to it. I am going to miss my coworkers and the families I work with so much. I am also definitely going to miss the flexible hours. I am so nervous I won't even be ABLE to work normal hours again. . . I am also kind of stressed about when the heck I am going to get things done, like going to the dry cleaners or the post office. But, many people do that, so I'm sure it will be fine.

I'm also sad to leave because I have put so much energy into building the children's program at Uptown. I know everything there is to know about what happens there and I'm nervous that things won't go as smoothly when I turn it over to someone new. And I'm also bummed to be giving up some new things we have started recently that seem to be going really well. I hope the ball doesn't drop on those things.

But, I just keep thinking that this feels like the right thing to do and that by stepping out of my position I'm giving someone else a chance to thrive in it. I feel like this is what God is leading me to do, so all I have to be willing to do at this point is follow. . .