In September 2012 I was laid off from Supervalu, it was
on the one year anniversary of my lay off that I received my offer letter from
Nativity of Mary in Bloomington. Today, I celebrate one month at Nativity of
Mary in Bloomington!
Two Women One Inspiration
I met Jackie Sauber in 3rd Grade at All Saints in
Lakeville-she was my teacher. As I became more active at church Jackie served
as a mentor and supporter of my creative talent. I was proud to tell my
students & people around me that she was my teacher. I am even more proud
to tell people she was my friend for 35 years. She is a wonderful women that
impacted thousands of lives. Each time she saw me she would ask about my job
search and left me with the encouraging words of “God has a plan for you and
the right job will be there at the right time and you will know it.” On July
22, 2013, Jackie passed away and I lost a women that has been a lifetime friend
and supporter, but I know she still is keeping an eye on me. Jackie’s sister and my good friend Mary Kay
Bungert had been equally encouraging in my search. Mary Kay started sending me jobs from the
Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis website that fit where I wanted to be
going with my life and offered to be a reference. One of the jobs was here at
Nativity of Mary for the Development Director position. Shortly after I emailed in my resume I had a
call for an interview. For the first time in the year that I had been sending
out resumes and having interviews I was excited; I had the feeling this is
where God wants me to be.
A Priest,
Principal, and Administrator walk into a room …
It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but that was my
second and final interview at Nativity.
I think I even made reference to the last time I was in a small room
with a priest and a principal asking me questions was in high school. There were no canned list of questions filled
with “tell me about a time…” They wanted to know ME and what I have done. Trust
me any smart interviewee can make up scenarios to the “tell me about a time…”
question. (Heck, I have done it.). Then came the question that every interviewer
has, “Do you have any questions for me/us?” I have some canned questions I
typically ask, but this time I had one, “If I am hired what is one thing that
you really want me to accomplish?” The principal wanted an alumni program and
the priest wanted parish stewardship.
Is God Testing Me?
After the first interview, I sent a follow up “Thank You”
and received an email to set up the second in about two days. After the second
interview, I sent another a follow up “Thank You” and I waited. And waited.
Uh-Oh, was it my reference to the priest and the principal joke? I sent an
email to ask if they needed additional information or if I could give them the
names of people that would emphatically say, “Hire Kelly.” Should I call?
Patience! One more day. The next morning, September 26th I had my
answer.
“Do you like your job?”
I love it! My
excitement for the job is the same that I think I share with a little girl, who
on my first day walking through the hall joyous told me she had just lost her
first tooth as she pointed to the small gap in her mouth.
There is a saying, “Everything I need to know I learned
in Kindergarten”, three days on the job I met a Kindergartener named Brianna as
I waited for an assembly to begin. She asked if I would help her with the
zipper on her sweater because it kept getting stuck. I commented that I liked her Hello Kitty
lunch bag and she told me “You need to remember your snack.” as she proudly
held it up.
One benefit is I can have lunch from the cafeteria for
$3.50. The first day I went to get lunch
I was greeted by young girls who welcomed me to sit at their table. “Are you a
teacher?” they asked. I told them I
worked at the church office and I was new.
I asked what grade they were in, to which they answered “First”. I said, “Oh you girls are new too.” My new
friend Quinn told me “No, we were here in Kindergarten.” Then Quinn, Isabelle,
Angelina, and Autumn showed me the ropes when it came to eating in the
cafeteria like if a teacher puts up two fingers in a V then you are supposed to
be quiet, and where to put trash and your tray.
I was invited to see their classroom and their teacher, Mrs. Barth,
welcomed me to say for “What’s in the Sack” (Show and Tell). The girls told me
I can have lunch with them anytime; I try to have lunch with them once a week.
“I’ll know you for
a long time!”
Today, as I celebrate one month at Nativity of Mary I
coincidentally got my new ID badge. I
didn't have a lanyard to put it on and was given one by the school
secretary. The lanyard was for Academy
of Holy Angels School, many students from Nativity go there. I had also promised my first grade friends I
would join them for lunch and today was the day. Quinn asked, “Does that say Holy Angels?”
“Yes, the school secretary gave it to me.” I said. “Well I am going to go there after Nativity
and you will be here so I’ll know you for a long time!” I paused, thinking of
my relationship with Jackie Sauber and said, “I hope I will get to see you
graduate from there!” I think this is God’s way of saying “this is the right
job and I am here at the right time.”
I don't remember if I knew in 3rd grade that I would know Jackie for a long time. I don't know if Quinn will remember telling me she will know me for a long time. I do know that if we do what we love the world around us changes and we make an impact and that is what will last a long time.
