O Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A at the Arboretum. My first job. This is the fountain they installed in the back of it in the latest remodel and it is just a glimpse of the excellence and class that this store has (let’s be real, what other fast-food restaurant has a fountain in the back of the store to admire while you wait in the drive-thru?)

Today I said my precautionary good-byes, as it might have been my last day there due to the move..I can’t quite accept the fact it was my last shift ever, it just doesn’t seem right to stop working there, it’s just become a part of who I am. When I told the owner, Art, I was moving and possibly transferring to another Chick-fil-A his response was entertaining. He said, “Don’t do it. You’ll be miserable. We do that on purpose, we show you how awesome you have it here and when you go somewhere else you won’t be happy.” It’s true though. I don’t know any other job where the owner greets every single one of his workers with a hug and smile, takes time to get to know them personally, invites everyone to his house for pool parties just because, makes smoothies to reward for hard work, opens up the word of God to every one of his employees, and created a system where he allows his employees to give less than a week notice at anytime to come back to work or take off for vacation. It’s a pretty sweet system. My third training session Art had the new employees over at his house where he had us do an exercise about our personal “signature.” He had us write down the name of two individuals closest to us and the characteristics we would hope they would say about us; then we signed our names. This exercise was to demonstrate the Chick-fil-A purpose. As an employee the signature of Chick-fil-A “is to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that He has entrusted us with.” 

One shift before I clocked on I was talking with Art about life and I said I needed to go start working up front. He stopped me and said, “Hey Pico when you go clock on, I want you to go make people’s day. You have the opportunity to interact with so many different people here and serve them. Go make their day.” And honestly, working at Chick-fil-A has helped me to learn how to do that. When God’s glory is the goal, everything else falls into place- even loving a perfect stranger who is buying chicken.

I have learned so many lessons from so many different people at Chick-fil-A from customers to co-workers to managers.

I know that while I might be moving I always have a home at the Arboretum Chick-fil-A. They are my family and I will come down and work a weekend just for old time sake because it’s a place I want to work because it’s refreshing.

There are few jobs people can say that. 

I am very blessed. 

Beginning of Summer Musings

I don't think I could fit all of my thoughts into one post, nor would anyone want to read all of them either:) But needless whenever there is an ending of something, such as the school year, and a start of something new (SUMMER), there's always a time of reflection that blogging is totally appropriate for.

With every semester I'm pretty sure I say it's been one of the hardest or more challenging than the previous one. At the same time I generally would say I have had more fun and such awesome experiences than the prior semester or time of my life. However, reflecting over the past two years at Liberty I can be confident in saying this semester completely rocked my world in terms of challenges and difficulties. To spare the details, I dealt with a lot of different challenges I was never faced with in the past. Many friendships changed in ways I would have never thought, I formed new friendships, was able to mentor and minster to my girls by God's grace and be used in some pretty awesome ways, I have had some of the hardest conversations with people I've ever had in my life, felt lonely lots of times, stressed, pure exhaustion, little bits of depression, and been totally drained. I grew up a lot this semester and I think I have changed a bit in many ways (yet also still remained me). There were many days I wanted to give up and my faith was challenged, but with the encouragement and strength only that God can give, I was able to push on to the end and finish strong. It's safe to say that I dealt with some real life issues this semester and needed God's guidance in how to move on. This semester God completely took me by the hand and drew me so close to Him and showed me His incredible unchanging character. I have fallen so in love  with my Savior and He has confirmed His faithfulness so many times in my life.

That leads me to a little story I'm hesistant to write about, since I still feel very undeserving and like it didn't actually happen to me, but I will share it because I know all the credit belongs to God. As an SLD on campus at Liberty we stay an extra few days to help with graduation. Most people head out of town before then, so I spent quite a bit of my time with a dear friend. Last Wednesday we decided to go shopping at the Goodwill. While I was there I received a phone call from the Dean of the Helm's School of Government's Secretary asking if I could meet with the Dean on Friday. I said of course but was thrown off as to why. She replied that it was concerning a scholarship. The next day I received an email designated for graduates telling them where to sit in order to receive their award at graduation. I showed the email to my friends and even made a joke about it on facebook...My initial reaction was that I joke about being a senior all the time, I even crashed the senior picnic, but did they really confused my graduation? O dear this is going to be awkward.

I arrived Friday morning to the Dean's office and wasn't quite sure what to expect. He asked if I knew why I was there and I explained I was pretty confused. He seemed happy about my confusion and had a big smile on his face and told me that I was the first recipient of the (Former NC Senator) Jesse and Dorthy Helms Scholarship. He said that they chose me out of all the students as someone who possessed courage, academic excellence, leadership, and other qualities...He also explained that I would meet Dorthy Helms personally at some point and amongst other honors involved. The meeting wasn't too long, but he confirmed the email, I was supposed to go to the Helm's School Graduation where the first announcement of the scholarship would be made. I left the office feeling overwhelmingly blessed...beyond words. The funny thing is I don't really know the dean that well, just some interaction...all of the things he said that he chose me for most people I don't think actually witness, a lot of it is very personal to me or what I like to call "closed door conversations." I felt like God was showering me with such an undeserved blessing and furthermore confirming my call not only to be at Liberty but my calling in life. The next day I walked on stage and received an award and was excited because my Dad was able to see me get it. I can't quite explain why or how or what happened, but it was so awesome to see God's blessing and confirmation after such a difficult semester. God has increased my faith so much and has by far blessed me in ways I didn't deserve. There were so many other people that could have and  should have won this award, but for some reason he allowed me to. I don't quite understand it, but I am amazed to see what the Lord has in store for me next.

Now I can say coming off of the semester, it was a tough one but it ended with an unexpected blessing from the Lord and the freshest thing coming home in my mind was the total confirmation of awesome God is in the way He works out details in our lives completely unforseen.

I want a puppy

I don't know what it is, maybe it's a growing up thing and being a girl, but i really really really want a puppy. I have been addicted to looking at pictures of baby animals lately...they are just so precious...so cute, so adorable...they're eyes of innoncence and they are just so pure. I LOVE it! It's the same exact way with babies and toddlers, I just love little kids. ( the reason I say I want a puppy is because I'm totally up for babysitting, but I'm not quite ready to be a Mom for years down the road...but Happy Mothers day to all the wonderful moms out there!!). I won't be getting a puppy anytime school because I am at college and I can't have one in a dorm nor would my parents get one. For now, I'll just continue to look at pictures and want one. It probably won't happen for quite some time, but a girl can dream!