Friday, July 28, 2017

A note of thanks, and other stuff

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the positive comments on my last post! I've been overwhelmed with good wishes both online and in person since I accepted my new job, and I feel very loved....and very lucky. I have so many wonderful friends, both on this blog and in "real life". Thank you for listening to me complain about the job I'm leaving for the last few years and the difficult (and often discouraging) job search. I look forward to regular blogging again now that the search is over and finding a new job is no longer something I have to worry about!

I have one week left at the bookstore...my last day is next Friday. Yesterday I finished my Guardian ad Litem training, and I go to court to be sworn in on August 8th, the day before my first day at my new job. Our GAL trainer, Kareem, told us yesterday that if we're ready we can be assigned our first cases next week. I took him aside after class and explained that I'm starting a new job and would like to hold off until September if possible. The newest cases all have preliminary court hearings on August 22 and I simply can't ask for time off a week in at my new job! He was wonderful and understanding. I explained that when I signed up for the GAL class I had been job hunting for years and had no idea that I would find a new job this summer. He laughed and said, "That's how it works. When you open a new door in life, other doors start to open, too!" He also suggested that for my first case it might be best to take over one that's in "monitoring mode", where another volunteer had to leave the program mid-case but all of the initial court hearings are done. He said he has a few like that and there probably won't be court dates for them for at least 90 days. That sounds like a good plan to me! After 90 days, I'll have accrued some personal leave time and won't mind asking for a morning or afternoon off to appear in court. Visiting the child can happen after work or on weekends, and I can write my monthly monitoring reports anytime. So by the end of this month I should have my first Guardian assignment, too! New doors are indeed opening for me all over the place!

Life is pretty exciting right now. After months and years of feeling stuck, it's exhilarating (and kind of scary, too). Thanks again for all your encouragement and support!


11 comments:

  1. Exciting times for you, I wish you every success with your new job.

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  2. It's exciting for all of us to experience these changes through your eyes! I'm glad you were able to come up with a way to begin the GAL work while getting launched in the job. It's a lot to take on all at once but I know you'll be terrific at all of it!

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  3. Why the hell am I crying? I must be the softest sucker anywhere... Get a grip Pudding!

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  4. I am so happy for you. Could not happen to a nicer person.
    Teared up thinking how great your life will be with regular work days, days off, weekends, holidays and Summer !

    cheers, parsnip

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  5. I meant to congratulate you when you last posted but read the post on my phone and forgot once I was home. So, how good are things looking for you!

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  6. You have new and life fulfilling adventures in your future. What an exciting time for you.

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  7. Dear Jennifer, whoever it will be that gets you to be their GAL can consider themselves lucky - at last, as I suppose those children have not had the most luck in their lives so far.
    I know what you mean about exciting and a bit scary at the same time; I felt like that when big changes were ahead a few times in my life.
    All the best, and a big hug!

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  8. You, my dear, are an inspiration!

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  9. The GAL man knows the best way to make things work for everybody. I will be waiting with great interest to see hear about all the new things in your life.

    Alphie

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  10. I am so excited for you! Can't wait to read about your new experiences. It's been a pleasure getting to know you here.

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  11. This is fantastic! Congratulations to you!

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