I wanted to do a quick update of everything that has been going on lately because it has been so busy, and with the holidays coming up I don't know when I'll get a chance to post again.

First of all, I got a new job! Thanks so much to a friend from work who helped me to get in touch with a company she worked for in the past. Its a medical billing company called ASC billing and they have been growing a lot and were able and willing to hire me pretty much on the spot. I started this past Monday and am working in the posting department.  Honestly, I know nothing about medical billing, so its all new to me, but they have been great about teaching me everything and I really like it so far. I like the idea that I am in a way helping doctors to focus on just being doctors and to not have to worry about billing their patients and working with insurance companies, because even after just a week, I can say that its A LOT of work! The company is not much farther away than my retail jobs, plus its a Monday-Friday, 8-5 schedule, and I love that.

I left my job at TJ Maxx but decided to go ahead and stay with NY & Co.  I like working there and we can always use the extra money, especially around the holidays. That being said, I'm working a ton, this past week was very busy, and I'm not sure how long I will be able to keep it up. I don't think I have ever mentioned before, but I also volunteer at the Library one night a week and take an Institute class one night. Between all that Sunday is really my only free day, and I am so grateful that my managers at NY & Co have always allowed me to have Sundays off. They have really been great about working with my schedule.

I have also been busy with two callings at church. When we first moved into the ward here I was called to be a Visiting Teaching Coordinator, which basically consists with helping to make visiting teaching assignments and reporting statistics at the end of each month. I think visiting teaching is so important, it really helps women to build friendships and serve one another, so I am always willing to help where I can in that capacity. Then, just a few weeks ago I accepted a second calling as the Mia Maid advisor in the ward. The Mia Maids are the young women age 14-15 and the advisor usually teaches a lesson on three of the four Sundays out of each month. I loved the Young Women program growing up, and had some great advisors, especially Jenn who is still a good friend today, so I of course was delighted to be called to work with the young women in this ward.

My last post was about me signing up for NaNoWriMo and how excited I was to start writing a novel. I wrote and wrote ever day, until this past Monday when I started my new job. With all the things listed above I have barely had time to write much more than a few paragraphs this whole week. Its a little frustrating because I was so excited and kind of on a roll, and now that rolling has almost come to a stop. I am not giving up on this dream. I still have a story idea and am still working on it, but I feel a little sad when I look at my stagnant word count on the NaNoWriMo website. I am at 12,158 words, which is more than I have ever written in this short a time before, but the goal is 50,000. I am going to keep trying though and one way or another, even if no one ever reads it, I am going to finish this novel.

OK. Update complete. Have a happy Sunday!