Economy The recession of 2009 impacted us all. While I'm still blessed with full time employment, it was certainly a dynamic year at work. Through all of the changes and decrease in revenues, I have a new appreciation for my employment and my opportunities at Caterpillar.
RLO This is a new Three Letter Acronym used around the office in 2009. RLO = Rolling Layoff = time off of work without pay. In an effort to control cost, many employees at Caterpillar were placed on RLO. I was asked to take 4 weeks without pay, knowing that I would have a position to return to after the time off. I learned the ropes of the Illinois unemployment system, and I found that time off without access to work e-mail was a good thing. Many folks called if Fun-cation or Play-off. I don't want to take the impact of no work lightly, but I certainly had a rejuvenated spirit after my RLO weeks.
Brazil During my July RLO I participated in a mission trip in the Brazilian Amazon. Talk about appreciation of my job...putting my Portuguese skills to use in ministry was very encouraging. I could have never predicted my language skills would be used in this capacity. I'm prayerful about the next trip in March of 2010! Special prayers for those in need in the interior of the rain forest.
John in July My brother came to the US for a training class. He was able to take vacation and visit the family in the Mid-west. While we missed his wife and kids, it was a treat to have him around the house. I love my family!
Adopt - A - School I have volunteered in a Peoria School District Middle School as a mentor with the Adopt-A-School program. I volunteer with the Society of Women of Engineers with the goal of inspiring a passion for science, math, and the engineering career in middle school girls. It has been a wonderful experience as I learn first had the importance of education on our society. Indeed, it takes a village to raise a child.
Adopt-A-Block Every 2nd and 4th Saturdays I participate in an Adopt-A-Block ministry. The concept is pretty simple...visit houses on a block and build a relationship with the residents. Pray for their needs and help them out as possible. HUGE return on investment for me. My faith is strengthened and I formed friendships that I treasure.
Old Testament I read it. I'm reading through the Bible in a year. During the first part of 2009 I was reading the old testament for the first time in its entirety. Sometime challenging, always very rewarding. My faith has been refined by the experience.
Dec 25 CHRISTMAS! It was a very special holiday in 2009. I celebrated with my parents and sister in Indiana. I will forever treasure the time together and the memories.
Dec 28 The day Jeff Hoerr asked me to be his wife. I said yes. I changed residents and now live on Cloud 9. Sooner or later I'll come back to earth, but now, I'm in the sky. His proposal and timing was perfect.
The more things change, the more they stay the same Amidst the year of significant changes on a global, national, and personal level, I have found a consistent stride in my life in Peoria. I suppose I can call it a sense of peace or contentment. The ability to establish roots yet be excited about the changes in the future is very comforting and exciting.
Thanks for the memories, 2009! 2010, ready or not, here I come!
Jada
PS. If any of you are wondering, the vegetarian "thing" of 2008 hung around in 2009. In fact, it is going with me into 2010.
