Yes, I have returned to the great state of Michigan to get some quality time resting up and preparing to head back onto the field to lead July squad. WOOT!
But, amidst my resting I have discovered what is quite possibly the best job opportunity of all time (at least for me right now). Get ready………..drum roll………….substitute lunch ladying! Yep, that’s right I made up a verb: lunch ladying. What does this job entail, you ask? Well, I walk up to the Alpena High School (a grueling 2 block walk) for 2 hours and 45 minutes of food service fun. This past week I was the fry cook so I strapped on my apron and plastic gloves and dumped loads of french fries, popcorn shrimp, breadsticks, and mozzarella sticks into vats of boiling oil, and cooked them to perfection for hundreds of students to later consume. Livin’ the dream!
Now, I’ll be totally honest with you, I’ve strategically avoided ever working at a fast food joint my whole life on purpose. Spending hours hanging out with greasy, fried food is quite possibly the opposite of what I call fun. Despite my previous distaste (no pun intended) with the fast food world, I have seriously enjoyed my time frying up a storm. My enjoyment has had little to do with WHAT I’ve been doing, but rather it’s all about WHO I am doing it with.
I have been SO encouraged by the people surrounding me while working. Many of them knew me from subbing as a lunch lady prior to my leaving at the end of December. When I returned last Monday they were SUPER friendly and quick to ask about how my 4 months of traveling had gone. One of the janitors took a few minutes to not only say hello, but to inquire about how he can support me when I head out again. And one of the women was very encouraging in telling me that she admires me for doing what I do when I’m on the field. They have also been SO encouraging about my job in the kitchen. I think I hear at least half a dozen times each day how great a job I’m doing. I honestly don’t think I’ve been so affirmed in a workplace before.
And so, as I take a few minutes to thank the Lord for blessing me not only with a few hours of work each day (and of course the money it yields), I am more importantly thankful for the blessing of fabulous people with whom to work beside. God is such a genius and takes care of us in ways we NEVER would have imagined. I am SO grateful to be a substitute lunch lady. In fact, I’m going to do it again this week! Yay!
