Monday, July 27, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
His Mercies are New Every Morning
I have prayed. You have prayed. And God has answered. I just received word that I will not have to stop working for United for the time being! My first thought. . .I couldn’t have done this without you all praying for me. I found a Bible passage during my waiting time that really struck me. It was from 2 Cor. 1:9-11: “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
That being said, I want to thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement during this time of uncertainty. And for those of you who are still in times of uncertainty, my prayers continue on your behalf that you will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel you’re in. Having walked through this tunnel for about a month, I know what it feels like.
Please send up a word of thanks on my behalf to our God, Who’s mercies are new every morning. I don’t deserve them, but I’m thankful.
Love,
Shawna
That being said, I want to thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement during this time of uncertainty. And for those of you who are still in times of uncertainty, my prayers continue on your behalf that you will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel you’re in. Having walked through this tunnel for about a month, I know what it feels like.
Please send up a word of thanks on my behalf to our God, Who’s mercies are new every morning. I don’t deserve them, but I’m thankful.
Love,
Shawna
Thursday, July 16, 2009
From My Roomie!!!
So, I got home, and Emily asked if I had a birthday cake for my birthday. I told her no. Next thing I know. . . .
She's pretty thoughtful, I think! This one is a frozen custard ice-cream cake. YUM!!
She's pretty thoughtful, I think! This one is a frozen custard ice-cream cake. YUM!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Special Birthday Trip
I celebrated my 33rd birthday staying on the 33rd floor of the Frankfurt Marriott Hotel in Germany!
Delightfully, Mom and Dad were able to join in the festivities, and came up to take me out to dinner for the evening. It was special to have them there.
We celebrated by going to a local eis-cafe and I got a banana split!! Yum!
They left in time to catch the last train home, and I went to bed. However. . . .
During our walk around town, I had taken the decoration of my banana split and worn it in my hair. We went back to the hotel, and sometime between the Lobby and my room, the decoration fell out. Both mom and dad thought it fell out in the elevator. Well, this hotel has 4 elevators, and you never seem to ride the same one twice. Well, dad was SURE it was still in the elevator, so every chance he got, he tried to get that particular elevator door to open. Right as they were leaving, they got to ride the elevator! The door opened, and my little decoration was waiting on the floor (about 3 hours later!!!). Thus, the funny picture! :o )
This one's for you, Papa! :o )Saturday, July 11, 2009
A Visit To Colorado Springs
I just spent a couple days visiting a friend from high school and her family that live in Colorado Springs. We got to go to the zoo!!!
Now, I don't know about you, but if this was the view I had to look on from my cage, I think I could handle being cooped up in THIS zoo! It was beautiful!
This is my friend, Carolynne, and her youngest, Anica. We got to feed the giraffes!!
The girl with the butterfly is Alexa, Carolynne's oldest, and the little red hat is her son, Ashton. (Don't worry. . .this skunk, named Lily, had her stink removed!)
It was great to be at the zoo and see things through a child's eyes, like the otters!
These guys were great. . .did quite a bit of playing right in front of us!
Then we went home and had a good summertime snack. These are the kids, along with their friend, Sarah.
Anica woke up from her nap, and her brother (while playing in the sprinkler) doused her good by accident! Mom took advantage and created a rockin' hairstyle!
I made some new friends in Sue and Sarah (and Jeffery, who was elsewhere in this pic). These guys are great buds!
Anica thinks her mommy is somthin' else!
Another thing that says summertime: BUBBLES!!!
I even got to squeeze in a quick visit with Ryan, a guy I graduated with, and his new wife, Jamie. SOOO fun to see them!!
I love it when God chooses to bless a visit so much. I hope I have many other opportunities to see friends like this in the future, as long as I still have my job. I'm praying this is not the end of impromptu visits and great God-times.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Trust Needed
I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help.
Like servants, alert to their master's commands,
like a maiden attending her lady,
We're watching and waiting, holding our breath,
awaiting your word of mercy.
Mercy, God, mercy!
We've been kicked around long enough,
Kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men,
kicked when we're down by arrogant brutes.
I read this when I was in Zurich this past weekend as a part of my “read the Bible in a year” program. It’s taken from Psalm 123, The Message. I thought it was quite appropriate, especially considering what I had found out the week before.
First of all, you have to know that things are changing when it comes to the economy in the entire world. Because of that, people seem to be traveling by air less, and trying to do things at home. The loads have cut back quite a bit in our airplanes, and this causes budget cuts to happen across the board.
We are also in the process of negotiating a new contract for flight attendants, which is kind of where I saw Psalm 123 fit in. If you know anything about the CEO of our company, and many of the people in leadership, they are money hungry. It has often been that when the workers take pay cuts, the management very soon after gives themselves huge bonuses.
Why do I tell you all this? Well, they are furloughing another 700 flight attendants, in addition to the 1550 they have already completed. The last time this happened, there were enough volunteers to fill in the gaps, and no one had to be involuntarily furloughed. An involuntary furlough would happen to all those who had been hired within the last 3 years. I was able to keep my job during the last one. I hope to do the same during this one.
When you look at things from the world’s perspective, however, things do not look good. People are very hesitant to take a break from their job because of the chance of not getting any supplemental income. Even if they want to, they stick with what they have. And that leaves a lot less guarantee that I will be working at the end of August.
In all honesty, I really like my job, and I really hope that I will not be without one at the end of August. God saw me through the first time. I want to trust Him to do the same for this time, too. But I also know that He will provide for me no matter what happens. Now all I have to do is make sure I don’t get caught up in the hopelessness I feel from looking at what’s going on around me.
For those of you fortunate enough to work your dream job every day pray that I, too, will be able to continue in mine. For those of you who don’t have a job right now, and are looking for one, pray that I and my other 1,000 new hire colleagues won’t join the unemployment lines and take away more opportunities for you to get a job.
I had a really hard time writing this update. I wonder sometimes why God chooses to bless some people with avoiding the trial, while He allows others to walk through the fire. In all honesty, I’ve been on both sides of the fence. I truly believe with all my heart that BOTH sides are blessings, not just the one that makes more sense to me. Still, I ask that I keep my job. As I do so, I pray for all of you that didn’t get to keep your jobs, and are searching for income.
As I found out about this, a song has been running through my head. I leave you, and myself, with this reminder.
I read this when I was in Zurich this past weekend as a part of my “read the Bible in a year” program. It’s taken from Psalm 123, The Message. I thought it was quite appropriate, especially considering what I had found out the week before.
First of all, you have to know that things are changing when it comes to the economy in the entire world. Because of that, people seem to be traveling by air less, and trying to do things at home. The loads have cut back quite a bit in our airplanes, and this causes budget cuts to happen across the board.
We are also in the process of negotiating a new contract for flight attendants, which is kind of where I saw Psalm 123 fit in. If you know anything about the CEO of our company, and many of the people in leadership, they are money hungry. It has often been that when the workers take pay cuts, the management very soon after gives themselves huge bonuses.
Why do I tell you all this? Well, they are furloughing another 700 flight attendants, in addition to the 1550 they have already completed. The last time this happened, there were enough volunteers to fill in the gaps, and no one had to be involuntarily furloughed. An involuntary furlough would happen to all those who had been hired within the last 3 years. I was able to keep my job during the last one. I hope to do the same during this one.
When you look at things from the world’s perspective, however, things do not look good. People are very hesitant to take a break from their job because of the chance of not getting any supplemental income. Even if they want to, they stick with what they have. And that leaves a lot less guarantee that I will be working at the end of August.
In all honesty, I really like my job, and I really hope that I will not be without one at the end of August. God saw me through the first time. I want to trust Him to do the same for this time, too. But I also know that He will provide for me no matter what happens. Now all I have to do is make sure I don’t get caught up in the hopelessness I feel from looking at what’s going on around me.
For those of you fortunate enough to work your dream job every day pray that I, too, will be able to continue in mine. For those of you who don’t have a job right now, and are looking for one, pray that I and my other 1,000 new hire colleagues won’t join the unemployment lines and take away more opportunities for you to get a job.
I had a really hard time writing this update. I wonder sometimes why God chooses to bless some people with avoiding the trial, while He allows others to walk through the fire. In all honesty, I’ve been on both sides of the fence. I truly believe with all my heart that BOTH sides are blessings, not just the one that makes more sense to me. Still, I ask that I keep my job. As I do so, I pray for all of you that didn’t get to keep your jobs, and are searching for income.
As I found out about this, a song has been running through my head. I leave you, and myself, with this reminder.
Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.
Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.
My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus
My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
My Saviour, You can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes You conquered the grave
--Lyrics by Hillsong Australia
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