oh the possibilities of a new beginning

I love new journals. So much so that my book shelf is full of journals that have wildly creative and fabulous writing in them.... for the first 5 to 10 pages. That is about when another journal with crisp new blank pages catches my eye. So neat and and clean and full of possibilities. All I can think of all the amazingly life changing letters, prayers, poems and doodles u will fill the pages with.

There is so much I want to do...so many journals I want to fill with my musings and so many ways we can impact those in need. Which is so exciting...and so overwhelming. I don't want to diminish my passion for new ideas and possibilities but I don't want to be so enthusiastic about the possibilities that I become stifled by all the missed opportunities.

How do we nurture this passion and big ideas AND continue to feel the pride of the smaller short term achievements?

I have no idea but I am pretty darn proud of the fact that I was able to articulate this struggle....now maybe I can figure out what to do about it.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

never let words get in the way of pictures

I love road trips.  They provide so much time for reflection and rocking out to good music.  This year when I drove to Virignia from Chicago I connected my iPhone to the rearview mirror of the rental car so i could easily use the GPS system... i quickly realized that this was a perfect location to photograph my trip!  Needless to say i took some 300 pictures ... below is one of my favorite and very relevant to the topic....big blue sky and a road that is endless :)  country roads, take me home, to a place i belong!





coming out....

I have not been overt about my faith on this blog as I wasn't sure if this was going to be a "professional" blog or personal ranting and ravings - and did not wish to offend anybody.  But today I have decided that if I am going to be talking about my lifetime value there is no way I can leave out my faith - it is the sole defining characteristic of who I am and my value - whether professional or not. 

Today marks the first day of my new job.  I have struggled with the transition almost as much as I am excited about it.  I am going back to school and this position will be an amazing fit for me to pursue an interest that I have always had but never acted on.  I will be studying Workplace Theology (specifically getting a Master of Arts in Religion, Workplace Theology and Ethics) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary while raising money through direct response for the Salvation Army Metropolitan Division in Chicago as my day job.

Moving from a national organization to a regional program has its benefits and its ego challenges :)  But God has very clearly used the last two weeks to encourage my decision to change my career and with it my life.  He has used people I have meet in professional settings to encourage the decisions I have made to put my faith first.... that's right people I have meet outside of church! He has proven to me that the integration of work and personal life is a great thing and he will be there to encourage me even when smooshing those two together isn't easy... and down right scary.

So here goes... my name is Suzanne Joiner and I am a Christian.  I <3 Jesus and I <3 direct marketing.. .now you know and knowing is half the battle...