All along, I've felt God was calling me to Hawaii to start a new career. Well He had other plans. The new career didn't materialize but along the way, I met some wonderful new friends, and I feel that was my real purpose for being in Hawaii.
I had already decided to make the move back to Texas when my parents arrived, so it was much easier to say goodbye when they left. Taylor arrived in mid October for my last week in Maui. We had a blast vacationing! I sold everything I had purchased and came pretty close to breaking even. Good deal! Taylor and I flew back to Texas together and she flew on home to Ohio.
I spent so many hours and days searching for a hotel job in Maui, and literally got home from the airport, applied for a seasonal position at the Gaylord Texan that same night. The next week I interviewed, was hired, and started working.
During the holidays, I worked the ticket box office for the ICE exhibit. It was so cold in the box office that I dressed for snow skiing weather every day. Over the next 2 1/2 months, I worked all the time. I formed many new friendships while I was there.
After the first of the year, I was hired for a full-time position as a dispatcher for Gaylord's private transportation service. It was through this job, the realization that the hotel business wasn't for me became very clear. I wanted to feel like I was serving a purpose...that my contribution was making a difference. Instead I was frustrated and unfulfilled.
It was a hard time for me coming to terms with ending my pursuit of a hotel career, but I know all the experiences life brings helps to shape/mold you. In this lesson, I learned it was time to cut my losses and allow God to open the next door.
In March I flew to Cincinnati to visit Taylor and Nate. Before I left, I applied for a few jobs online (in Cincinnati) just to see what happened. As it turns out, I was called for an interview, which I was able to schedule while I was in town. Taylor and I were driving to her house after my interview and the company called me back for another interview. We made a quick U-turn to go back to The Children's Home in Cincinnati where I spent the rest of the afternoon doing more interviews and testing.
Over that weekend, we checked out apartment options but the one I really liked didn't have openings. A little over a week later, I received the call--the job offer! Immediately, I made a call to the apartment manager and they were just notified of an apartment opening available in two weeks!
It's a good thing I'm a spontaneous person. Because I immediately went into the planning mode. Two weeks later, Dad and I left Burleson with a full moving truck and headed to my next big adventure...
Hello Cincinnati! I've been here for one month now and LOVE being able to see Taylor and Nate again. My two-bedroom apartment is great...and only 12 short miles to work (much closer than my 40 mile each way commute).
Next month Taylor and Nate are moving into a new apartment in the same complex, so we'll be right around the corner neighbors. I'm working for the Vice President of Services for The Children's Home of Cincinnati. Everyone is very nice and I am learning so much.
In closing, here's a funny picture of Dad after the truck was stuffed full for the move to Ohio.
That's all for today...it's good to be back.
