Here are a few of the things I did in the last few weeks:
- Put up signs reminding people to turn off projector.
- Answer a lot of e-mails
- Get asked a lot of questions
- Ask a lot of questions (usually because someone else asked me. Hint, people, Sister Ward doesn't know!)
- Get lists of people with wrong information that somehow I'm supposed to fix. The info, not the people.
- Writers community of practice... we had a great lesson on how we can't write meaningfully if we don't take care of ourselves emotionally.
- Process terminations
- Explain that I can't process things until they are approved...again.
- Set up meetings
- Refill the mint bowl...a lot.
- Return badges
- Give people badge access
- Know more about people's hiring than I ever wanted
- Bishop clearances
- Finally make it to the post office
- Write short writer bios and upload them to our writers page.
- Learn how to change the cartridges in a giant printer (The cartridges are the size of baseball bats).
- Learn how to process promotions
- Learn I need to tell managers "no" when they want me to change something they don't like but is right.
- Realize that everyone thinks their task is an emergency and not to take them seriously. You'd die of apoplexy before lunch.
- Change people's departments...a lot.
- Begin the process of remaking CDOL, the Church Directory of Leaders, for Publishing Services. This will involve cutting and gluing all the org charts until I figure them out.
- Typing up a story for the director (I was so excited to be asked to do something I knew how to do, it was ridiculous.)
- Teach someone new the mail run...again.
- Go crosseyed over spreadsheets
- Finally transfer a call correctly...after more than a few panicked attempts at button pushing.
- Have a panic attack while getting my blood drawn...whoops.
- Go to the temple (Wednesday is my temple day. I love it).
- Process an education reimbursement
- Sign up for a free biblical Hebrew class held during lunch. As a missionary I get all the same benefits as an employee, so I'm looking forward to trying this class.
This was just a crazy fun list to think about what I did in the last few weeks. I do love my mission. It can be exhausting and frustrating at times, but I know I am where I'm supposed to be. And of course, everyone is so nice. The HR Business partners that I report to are some of the nicest gentlemen, and the let me pester them with questions all day long without showing any annoyance. Together we share the dream of going through an entire day without receiving a single e-mail. =) I saw a quote in one of their offices today that made me smile: "Grandpas exist to get kids into mischief they haven't thought of yet." The other partner has a quote that has helped me too: "The more times you fail, the sooner you will succeed." That one is good for me to remember when I am scared of making mistakes.
I also attended a meeting explaining the HBDI, or Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument. It's pretty cool. They have all the employees take a test that is kind of an in depth personality test. It turns out I'm in the right major for my brain! Good thing, since it's getting a bit late to be changing my mind. I'm somewhat balanced, but mostly favor red and yellow, or red and green if I'm under pressure. Pretty much I'm good at or enjoy interpersonal, feeling based work and creativity, but when I'm stressed my creativity turns into planning and details. It also tells you, based on your profile, what things you might overlook when trying to communicate with others (which is kind of the point of this test in a work environment). If you can figure out, or are told where someone lies, you know the best way to communicate with them. Apparently (and truthfully) I struggle with high volumes of data , lack of personal connection/participation, and following processes. I always thought processes and regulations were just a necessary evil, but apparently some people really like them and when I dismiss them it upsets other people. So I'm trying to be more patient with all the finicky processes we have to go through when working in an office.
Here is a brief overview:
Some other fun stories:
The other day I was eating breakfast while Carter got his laundry started (it should be noted that he does nothing quietly. He has only one volume). I hear "OW!" and then a few seconds later a weird "AwAwAwAwAw...ooooooohh!" He figured out how to make a new weird sound by hitting himself in the throat while singing and he got so excited he squealed and had to come out and show us. He may be a goof, but he's a cute one.
Bethany's new goldfish had two near death experiences in one day. She put too much metal detoxifier in the water the first time and they started going belly up. We saved them, but they were probably in shock for a while. Then later that day my dad hears a crash, and what does he find? Merlin couldn't fit his head in the fishbowl, so he knocked it off the desk so he could get a closer look at those shiny, swimmy thingies. He had his nuisance of a nose about an inch away from the fish on the carpet before my dad rescued it. Now whenever Merlin sneaks into Bethany's room we see him get dumped out, quite unceremoniously.
The other great Merlin story: Merlin puts up with everything. He gets carted around like a rag doll all the time and he just lets the kids do it. Anyway, Bethany came down with him during General Conference, and he was wearing a balloon pattern baby bib. He looked extremely put out. Probably hard to put fear into your enemies when you're wearing a baby bib...
In other news, I saw Elder Rasband and accidentally ignored Elder Holland when he waved at me. Cognitively I knew that the floor was locked down because General Authorities were using it, but people in suits go by all the time...It wasn't until another sister waved back and said "That was Elder Holland!" that I realized that I had just ignored a General Authority. I'm still a bit annoyed with myself for that one.
I hope you all had a lovely General Conference. I loved a lot of the talks, but this one was probably one of my favorites. It was just what I needed to hear.
That's it for now, I hope everyone is doing well.
-Sister Ward
P.S. I love you.
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