A bit too many workouts...

I just wanted to let you know I made it back safely to the USA! (Phew!) I’m sure you knew that, but in case you were worried or anything, I want to calm your nerves.

I am currently in St. Pete Beach, Florida. It’s been a good holiday season here, where I’ve been trying to take a walk on the beach nearly every day (keeping up with my walks to Hyde Park in Perth). I actually did get a tan on Cottesloe Beach, and it hasn’t faded at St. Pete… although I must say I prefer the ocean on that side of the world… sorry Florida.

However, I don’t aim to stay here. I desperately wish/hope/pray I return to Colorado (and Denver in particular). I believe my heart never left there. But of course, as I’m sure a lot of you can relate, I need to have a job, place to live and food to eat (as well as health insurance would be nice). And so that’s what I’ve been searching for… and desperately praying that God would open up the right door—whether that means going to Colorado or (I hate to say this) not.

Thankfully a friend recommended a friend of hers who works for Career Direct, which strives to “identify your strengths, natural abilities and values” so that you might “discover God’s path for your life.” I took the evaluation and discussed my answers with Ann Benson, a great consultant, for nearly four hours. Much of what the assessment showed was expected, but overall, it assisted me in seeing the jobs that would be appropriate for me right now.

And honestly, I am afraid to say I am plain worn out of the design world (this was not on the test, but what we discussed afterwards). I feel I’ve been in a workout session or in the middle of a battle, and my creativity battered—whether in graphic design or writing. On a project, even if I am capable, I have a huge fear of not doing it well or on time.

Nonetheless, the test helped me see that I have a heart for order and naturally strive to achieve things. So, as of right now, I am looking more for an administrative assistant/receptionist job. I am a people person and look forward to organizing (appointments and plans and such). I love supporting and encouraging others.

Don’t think I have lost my heart or desire to do design. It’s just that right now, I need to do a job I feel capable of and don’t have to worry whether my creativity is on or off. In fact, I would love to keep up with design, but just not have it be my primary source of income. I would love to continue handwriting Scripture in order to potentially sell it, and to begin a blog based on the effects of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or other hardships in life—and to examine God’s hand in all of this (I began my first article on this at https://www.mywalkwithhim.com/post/having-been-through-a-workout ).

Additionally, I have been given the gift to have debriefing from my mission’s “trip”/life/time overseas. For the last week of January/first week of February, I get to rest at a retreat center in Marble, Colorado, and seek to be restored—through counseling, as well as time alone with God. This is nothing against the organization I was with, but throughout the year I dealt with struggles, hardships and uncertainty. It was a blessed year… but also painful at times. It was like a rose—a beautiful creation, but with thorns in places all along the stem. And thankfully my church (Fellowship Denver) assisted in giving me the opportunity to go to this retreat center.

This is what I need prayer for:

- That I will be fully rejuvenated and refreshed at Marble Retreat Center

- That God places the right job in front of me—one in which I am able to handle without

being overly stressed

o My thinking says that an administrative assistant would be appropriate for me

right now, but of course I will strive to keep up with design—either through my

writing/designing Scripture or writing on my blog

o Or if God thinks I can handle it, that I would not refuse any jobs that incorporate

design—whether in graphic design or writing

- That God did use me over in Australia, even though I may not see or know it, and that

may remember what I learned from that experience

- Thanksgiving that I am able to be in Florida with my parents right now—a great place

for the holiday season and wonderful people to be with

As most of us are probably pretty glad that 2020 is over, I pray that 2021 holds much promise for all of you. Please tell me any way that I can pray for you as well. Thanks so much already for your prayers. (And if you hear/know of any jobs that I might be interested in, send them my way!)

- Christie

These are a few pictures of the holidays at St. Pete… obviously it’s a pretty warm season here right now (but not as warm as it is in Perth!)