Office Relics

I've been staring at this blank screen for too long.....and no words have come. I thought I would write about President's Day, which occurred this past Monday, but I tried to do some research and found myself more confused than ever about the origin and meaning of the holiday.

So today, I'm going to tell you about some of the interesting things I see on my desk.

The roses that were so bright one week ago are nearing the end of their useful life. Each bud is darkening and drooping, but interestingly the petals are turning a deep purple on their edges. They are still just pretty enough to prevent me from throwing them out, though I seriously doubt they will live to see the weekend.

Just in front of the flowers, I have my daily Far Side desk calendar. I decided early this year that I needed to infuse my days with a bit more humor, so I picked up this calendar at a 75% off sale, and subscribed myself to daily emails of Calvin and Hobbes, and Dilbert. The great thing about my Far Side calendar is that it is a favorite of Coach Steve, and so I will sometimes tuck a particularly funny cartoon into his in-box or travel packet. It puts him in a good mood, which bodes well for me.

Next to my calendar, within arm's reach by necessity, I have a mini Slinky. It is the original metal kind, none of this plastic nonsense. Some people have squishy stress balls on their desks; I have a Slinky. Often when I am on the phone, I'll pick it up and play with it - the chink-chink sound it makes is immensely satisfying.

On the other side of the calendar is a small hand-painted dish from Mexico, brought back for me by Coach Steve from the ALE (Achieving Leadership Excellence) event a few years ago. I've been campaigning to go to this event ever since I heard about it, as it's always in some fabulously tropical destination, but somehow they never seem to need my assistance.....pity. The dish has been used for candy in times past, but more recently I have been keeping my husband's business cards displayed here.

Next to the dish, I have my Core 4 Puzzle set, of which I am quite proud. There is a metal puzzle piece (which doubles as a drink coaster) for each of our Core 4: Life Plan, Business Vision, Business Plan, and Priority Management. These are typically given out to new coaches as they learn how to coach their clients through the Core 4. I managed to earn these by coaching Raymond on why the Life Plan needs to come first, and he did not pull any punches. He threw out every tough objection he could think of - so I had to work pretty hard!

On top of one of the coasters, quite appropriately, is my coffee mug. It is a pretty blue color with orange olive branches and "Athens 2004" written in small white print. My brother was stationed for 9 months with the Air Force on Diego Garcia, a tiny military island in the Indian Ocean. Souvenirs were tough to come by, so on his way home he bought me this mug during his layover in Athens (where the Olympics were to take place later that year). I am very protective of this coffee mug, and I almost never place it in the dishwasher here at the office - I opt for hand-washing instead. Every single time I leave it overnight in the dishwasher, someone takes it (assuming it is for community use) first thing in the morning. It is very distressing to me to lose track of my coffee mug, which probably should tell you a little something about my personality.

At the base of my computer monitor is a "diamond"-studded tiara. Sometimes when you're having a rough day at work, you just need to feel like a princess.

Next to that is a tiny glass duck, which I purchased on a family trip to Italy. It's made from Venitian glass, and was carefully and lovingly carried home in my backpack. He makes me smile every time I look at his silly bulging eyes. Go Ducks!

I have also decorated my monitor a bit - I have noticed that this is practically inevitable in the office environment. There is a small smiling sunshine which I drew and colored with a highlighter one day, and have kept taped to the top of my monitor ever since because it's so cheerful. There's a metallic muti-layed star whose origins I cannot recall. There is a Far Side cartoon titled "Aerobics in Hell" that reminds me to go to the gym. And there is a small post-it in Laura's handwriting that says "Romans 8:28." This reminds me that God is in control.

On a small ledge, peering through the glass divider that separates my desk from Imaya's, is my Hello Kitty Pez dispenser. She is pointed at an angle toward her new friend....Imaya's Hello Kitty Pez dispenser. Both of us received them as stocking stuffers from our moms.

Pictures. I do have quite a few pictures around. My favorite wedding photo; me in Mexico hugging the little boy whose family we built a home for; Steve and me at Tressa and Doug's wedding; my friends Jennee and Carson with their two adorable daughters Rachel and Sarah; Steve and me at a Dave Matthew's concert in the Gorge; me with my parents at my college graduation; the Pink Pterodactyls ready to build the house in Mexico in a suitably pink phrame. Oh, and a hand-drawn picture of our cat, Maeby, done in Sharpie on a post-it note by my talented husband.

Treasures, one and all.

Most of us spend a great deal of time sitting at our desks, so it is nice to be surrounded by things that make you smile, and things that remind you about your life both inside and outside the office. There is more to me than the 8 hours a day I spend at my desk, and I never want to forget that. Seeing these personal items reminds me of who I am, and how blessed I am.

I really am blessed.

Reflections on a Holiday

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.

As my husband cleverly reminded me, this is just another day on the calendar for many people. Yes, I suppose this is very true, but even still whenever I write the date 2/14 at the top of a page, I can't resist drawing a heart around it. If that makes me hopelessly "girly," well, I am more than OK with that.

Some people complain that it is a commercialized holiday, invented by Hallmark for the purpose of guilting people into buying cards, candy, and flowers at an otherwise slow time in the retail year. Perhaps this is true on some level - I must admit I'm not completely up to date on my retail conspiracies. But it has always been my view that holidays give us an opportunity to celebrate things that need celebrating: our parents, our friends, freedom, gratitude, and in the case of February 14th, the great gift of love.

I am happy to be able to report that I was treated to one of the nicest Valentine's Days I can remember. The day began with breakfast in bed, served on a tray with a homemade cappuccino. At lunchtime, Steve arrived at the office to take me out, bearing a dozen red roses - cliché for sure, but they became cliché for a reason. It is always wonderful to be given flowers. We enjoyed a nice lunch at a nearby Thai restaurant. Then, after work, I picked up the fixings to make "breakfast for dinner." I replicated a favorite invented dish of ours from Rose's Deli: The Triple Pepper Omelet (pepper bacon, pepper jack, and red peppers). It was the general opinion that my homemade omelet was even tastier than the restaurant version. We toasted with mimosas, played a few games of Boggle, and then I made heart-shaped chocolate chip waffles with raspberry-maple syrup for dessert - accompanied by another round of homemade cappuccinos. We ended the evening with a bubble bath, with a CD of our wedding music playing in the background.

All in all, a terrific day.

Of course, what made it great was not just the "things" that I was made or given. The best part was spending quality time with my husband, my best friend. We had some great talks throughout the day over each meal, and there was a sense of increased closeness and intimacy at the end of the day. It's amazing to me how you can feel very close to someone, and then realize it's possible to be closer still. That is the power of love.

Also, it has to be said that this Valentine's Day afforded me a valuable learning opportunity, thanks to a favor requested of me by Daniel. Did you realize that there is a law restricting the overnight shipment of perfume?

It's true (as seen on the website of Marilyn Miglin beauty products):

The United States federal government considers perfume, eau de parfum and cologne to be Hazardous Material, due to its alcohol content. Therefore, according to new regulations, these fragrance items may not be shipped via air delivery without a “HazMat” fee of $30 imposed upon Federal Express. In addition, it is illegal for these items to be sent through the United States Postal Service.

So, if there are any of you out there who still think that Valentine's Day represents a real hazard that is putting the lives of our children at risk.......well, perhaps you have a point.

Personally, I'll still be drawing hearts around the date this time next year.

“What the world really needs is more LOVE

and less paper work.” -Pearl Bailey

TMC in the Desert

I've just finished up the first day of the two-day TMC February Event in Scottsdale, AZ. The Masters' Coach group is a gathering of top mortgage professionals (31 this year) who have reached a certain level of success in their careers. The program involves One-on-One Coaching as well as Quarterly Events such as this one. The weather was great, the property is first-rate, but the highlight of my day was most definitely the people!

I always look forward to these events because they are an amazing recharge for me. Even doing what I do, at such an amazing company, I still need to be reminded from time to time about the purpose behind my labor. Here at these events, I get to be face-to-face with the people we are impacting, and hear about their challenges and triumphs firsthand. I am rarely more certain of being in just the right place in my work than when I am at an event.

I still recall my very first event at L'Auberge Del Mar, arriving into this room full of familiar names but strange faces, uncertain of my exact role and how I fit in. Everyone was cordial, and a few made me feel more at ease, but still it was hard not to be intimidated by a room full of very successful people.

What I have come to realize, however, is that there is nothing really intimidating about these people. Yes, some of them do suffer from being Hyperpro and need to show off how cool their cars are and how snobbish they can be about their wine; there is no getting around that. But the more involved I have been in the process of planning and executing these events, the more I see that TMC only works if we fill it with people who are genuine, willing to share, and have a desire not just to make more money, but to make a positive difference in the mortgage industry while maintaining a balanced life. The cool thing is, just about everyone in the room is willing to be transparent enough to admit that they're not doing that perfectly - they don't have it all figured out just yet - and yet they truly want to improve. And so, they are able to help each other do just that.

Selfishly, though, it's a great experience because of how freely everyone shows their appreciation for my role in putting these events together. Much to my amusement, I routinely receive credit for how delicious the meals are.....even though I am convinced that I could throw darts at the menu list and each dish would be as delicious as the next. So, since I'm going to have to eat it too, I just pick whatever sounds tasty to me! But I won't deny that a lot of long hours and thoughtful planning go into each event, and as my role in putting these things together has grown, it's a wonderful and sometimes overwhelming experience to have people showering gratitude on me.

This afternoon, we took the group on a desert hike with the goal of helping them get to know each other better. We told them to ask one another about the focus of their business in the year ahead. What we didn't quite anticipate was that this was a fairly strenuous hike (and I know that is a VERY relative term). The path was steep, the terrain rocky, and the sun bright. Of course, in February it's hard to complain too much about heat or sunshine! But I love the fact that everyone took on the challenge with a good-natured attitude, focused on the great exercise they were getting, the beautiful weather, and the stunning views of the surrounding area. It really was breathtaking, in more ways than one!

I was also impressed by the way that the conversations moved along. I saw people connecting with others they had never met before, staying on task with the questions we'd provided quite often, but breaking sometimes into more personal conversations. I also felt pleased with my own easy ability to engage people in conversation during the hike and throughout the day.

Dinner this evening was relaxed and fun, probably due in large part to the fact that I found myself at the "wine table." At every event, the wine-lovers of the group bring some favorite bottles to share at the group dinner, and everyone who happens to be at their table is treated to as much as they care to try. Tonight, Paul Hirschauer ordered up several bottles of a Pinot Noir he had tried the night before and loved. I helped myself to a glass, only to discover that it was actually the wine produced the the parents of Christine Gerrie, our Sales Assistant at BC!!!! It was fun to discover that connection, and the wine was really very good (and I'm not just saying that in case Christine ever reads this).

I'm tired for sure, but looking foward to another great day tomorrow. Being here among such a driven but caring group of people inspires me to strive even harder to live out the values we have at BC, so that I can be a credit to my company and a positive reflection of our culture.

Maybe it's just the wine talking, but it really is a special experience!

Too Many Choices

Recently my dad, who is the Director of Insurance at AAA Oregon, was offered a very cool career opportunity. It seemed like the perfect blend of his talents, his experience, and his passion (in this case, BMW Motorcycles). However, it also carried with it a great deal of uncertainty, and lacked the stability and certain retirement plan of his job with AAA. He didn't go out in search of this opportunity because of any deep dissatisfaction with AAA - it essentially fell into his lap, and he knew he would regret it if he didn't at least look into it, but he had no strong motivation to leave, either.

Once he was offered the new job, he had a choice to make. I discussed this with my mom at length, and she petitioned our ladies' Bible study group for prayers. Both of my parents seemed torn about this decision....should he go with what seemed like a dream job, or stick with what was stable and certain?

My mom tends to worry about things - I know this because I have inherited the trait from her. We both know that we need to just trust in the Lord to guide our decisions, protect the people we love, and work all things for good as He has promised. But let's face it - that is not easy! As women, we want to go in and fix things, to make them right, and to make the right decisions so that our life story and the life stories of those we care about will have a happy ending. Unfortunately, we live in the kind of world where innocent people are oppressed and bad things can happen to good people. The four-year-old child in me wants to pound my fists and cry out "It's not fair!!"

And yet, "we know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) I have this verse written on a post-it note stuck to my computer monitor because I often need to be reminded of this.

At church this past Sunday, Pastor Guy spoke about our calling as Christians (you can listen to this sermon on the River West website, see link on the right). He said that we are called to be "a kingdom of priests," which I'll admit, didn't sound all that exciting to me at first. But when he talked about the role of priests as "traffic cops at the intersection of hurt and hope," guiding a hurting world toward the hope of Christ, then things started to click. He also made a point which spurred a spirited discussion at our small group this week: that THIS is our Calling. And when people come to him and ask "should I move there or stay here? marry this person or not? take this job or that job?" that he just refers them back to their Calling. If you weigh the decision against this calling, you will make the right decision.

In this 31 flavors, have-it-your-way, half-decaf-grande-soy-extra-foam-latte society, we have so many choices! It can be paralyzing at times, the complexity of it all. I sometimes find myself standing in front of a menu board at Starbucks, and I know their offerings backwards and forwards, and yet I cannot make a simple decision that will have very little repercussions in the grand scheme of my life. With so many small decisions to make, how can we ever make the big ones?

"It's a typical situation in these typical times
Too many choices..."
-Dave Matthews, "Typical Situation"

That's probably why my mom's comment last week made so much sense to me, because when I really thought about it, it was one of the most freeing ideas I had ever heard. We were discussing my dad's job options, and she said, "I've decided that I don't need to worry about this, and I'm fine with either decision your dad makes. We've prayed about it, and others have prayed for us, so I know that whichever decision he makes, it will be the right decision."

She didn't say, "It will be OK," or "either decision would be fine." She said, "It will be the right decision."

Sometimes I think all we need to do is ask God to go with us, no matter which path we take. He has a plan for our lives, but he also gave us free will, and I believe that He delights in us asking for His wisdom and including Him in our decisions. But ultimately, he expects us to decide for ourselves. The great news is that He works all things for good - our mistakes and our bad decisions, our flawed selfish thinking and our self-righteousness. I can sometimes picture Him with a hand on my shoulder, smiling and shaking His head and wondering if I will ever learn. Always, though, He is there.

How can I go wrong?

Incidentally, we know that God will be at work at AAA, where my dad has decided to stay. Was the nice pay increase they offered a sign from God that this was His will? Hmm......that's a question my 7:26am brain can't quite tackle. But I know that He is there, and His plan is in place no matter what the future holds.