As of yesterday, it has been two weeks since I’ve been a part of what they lovingly call “The Village”. In other words, I’ve been at Living Proof Ministries for an entire two weeks. I am certain that if I had a penny for every time I’ve heard the words “The Village”, whether referring to the LPM staff, or in the phrase “It takes a village!”, I’d be one wealthy girl.
But if I’ve learned one thing these past two weeks, I’ve learned that it certainly does take a village. And that The Village is very easy to love. I may not be wealthy in pennies, but I am certainly wealthy in sisters.
I jumped into what I like to refer to as sanguine land.
I myself am quite the sanguine, but have noticed the past two weeks that I’ve really toned it down a bit. I have been a top notch observer, just taking everything in moment by moment. Quite honestly, the other night I sat down to journal and I couldn’t think of one thing to write down. Not because I have a lack of words or thoughts, but because I didn’t know where to start.
Even as I started this post, I uploaded pictures then decided I had nothing to say. Thankfully, I regained consciousness and came back to this post shortly after my loss of words and this is what you’ve got. What is it I’ve got, you ask? A list of observations from a week of working with the village.
1. This may disappoint, but my first observation? The phones never stop ringing. Ever. LPM is a hopping ministry. Praise God!
2. These ladies are hilarious.
3. They know how to pray. And they do it often.
4. A lot of laughter is heard all day long.
5. LPM knows how to eat. Let’s be honest, we like food around here. The workday pretty much revolves around lunch. I’m a-okay with that because I consider myself a food junkie. It might not be that endearing, but it’s true.
6. There is nothing you do alone at LPM. It really does take a village. For instance, it took four of us to connect my computer to another screen so I’d be double screening it. I don’t know the technical term for that since I’m not technical, but let me tell you, it is a blessing.
7. You won’t get to work or leave work without getting approximately ten hugs.
8. Personal? What is that? The village needs to know all personal matters. But at least you know they’ll keep it to themselves. At least that’s what I’m told.
9. Skype is a must. As is email. As is HeyTell. As is text messaging. Communication is flourishing.
10. They love Jesus. For real. I want to love Jesus more because of them.
11. With their forces combined, along with the prophetic dream Amanda had, I’m sure I’ll be married in six months. Except I’m totally kidding. Maybe.
12. You know your boss is legit when she sends you a picture text message of the yogurt you’d been discussing earlier. She wanted you to make sure you knew exactly what it was so you wouldn’t have to go on a wild goose chase. I’m thankful.
13. I need to get used to eating a bigger breakfast on Monday mornings. Instead of the workday revolving around lunch that day (see #5), it revolves around Bible study and prayer. We skip lunch and feast on the Word of God. He is good, y’all. And He does satisfy. Needless to say, however, I go home with quite the appetite.
14. The UPS man could probably drive to LPM with his eyes closed. From my office I see him pull up everyday and I watch in amazement at all the boxes he brings in. LPM might just be his second home.
15. We may or may not meet frequently at the reception area on the second floor for the most interesting conversations you’ve ever heard. And by interesting, I mean we discuss what we had for breakfast. It’s pretty epic, y’all. I have heard, but have yet to experience the 3:00 stretches. I’ll let y’all know how that goes.
In all seriousness, I’ve been there a week and I can say I sincerely love it already. I’m still slowly taking everything in, but really enjoying learning the ropes and getting to know everyone there. Yes, I’m tired and adjusting to a new job and bed time, but I feel beyond blessed to get to serve alongside these incredible ladies.
Here are some pictures from my first week.
My old boss JJ and his wife Anna sent me flowers my first day of work at the office. It was so sweet and they were beautiful. Thank you so much, JJ and Anna! It meant so much to me.
I have literally taken zero pictures with my real camera, but here are some of my office that I took with my phone. I share an office with Jenn, our Tuesday Night Bible study coordinator, but she is a mama of three youngins’, so you can imagine that her office hours are more flexible and different than mine. We’ve only shared the office for two hours! The desk on the left is hers. I can take zero credit for how adorable this office is. Everything was already done, I just simply moved in.
This is the view looking out to the balcony. Not too shabby, eh?
Just a cute corner of the office. Don’t you love those pillows? At 3:00 everyday I’m tempted to take a nap.
This is my side/desk of the office. So far, I love it.
This is what the double screen looks like. It has been such a tremendous help when you stare at a computer all day long!
We hosted our volunteers at the ministry for the simulcast. It was really fun getting to know them and also getting to be with my co-workers soaking up God’s Word. We had the best time! I am so glad I went. And boy did I get a Word! Amen.
Beth came up to work one day when she planned on not actually being there. That day she worked at the front desk with Kimberly and although we may not have gotten a ton of work done, we sure had a lot of fun. And yes, Beth is wearing a tiara. This is women’s ministry after all. We may or may not have a few of those around here.
Here is Kimberly, Sabrina and Susan. They are known as the three stooges. We meet at this very countertop for conversations throughout the day.
I got to experience my first LPM birthday celebration yesterday and it did not disappoint. I had heard they were quite the big deal and I have to say, LPM knows how to celebrate. Of all people, we got to celebrate sweet Nancy in the middle. We love her!
In case you were wondering, yes, I still pinch myself every morning. I don’t deserve to work here with these incredible ladies, but believe me when I tell you I thank the Lord (very often) for this sweet gift.
And that, sweet Siestas, is my first list of observations. I am sure there are plenty more to come. I can tell I’m going to really love it here.
thanks for sharing with us Lindsee! And, love the pictures….nice to be able to see faces of the other Siestas there and the places where you all do your thing. Excited to join with you all in January!
Blessings,
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
We are blessed by you being so blessed, Lindsee.
What a wonderful addition ot the LPM staff and the Siesta community.
We are nuts about you, Lindsee. Could not be happier that you are here.
So glad to hear that you are loving it at LPM. We are excited about what God is going to do in and through you.
Now in reference to #11, I am quite sure that Amanda has the gift of prophecy, besides you are failing to take into account #3. Said a prayer for you now on this subject myself. 🙂
Lindsee… I like number 11 on your list 🙂
I wish I worked there just to have a room full of mothers. 🙂
Amy Beth! I feel like I have certainly gained 14 mothers. It’s not so rough. 🙂
What a wonderful first post, Lindsee! I loved learning all of this about the LPM office. What fun!
Loved this post. I do have a question though…what in the world is HeyTell? Linda
Linda, HeyTell is just a fun iPhone app that basically works as a walkie talkie. It’s a verbal text message!
Love how you said the work day revolves around lunch 🙂 And how you can’t leave work without getting at least 10 hugs 🙂 If everyone operated like that, the world would be a better place, huh?
Lindsee…YES! What an awesome blessing of an opportunity! It is SO wonderful to see GOD move! I just can’t wait to see where He’s going to take you, through LPM! …and where He’ll take LPM, through you, Lindsee Lou! It’s a beautiful reminder to me that God DOES open doors and has all of our sweet little details worked out.
I nearly get goosebumps thinking about how amazing your work environment must be. …and yes, if you ever need a substitute…I’m your girl.
Thank you for sharing! We look forward to following you along this journey!
Blessings, Siesta! Shoulder to shoulder!
Oh…and ps. I had to look up “sanguine”. Thank you for today’s vocabulary lesson. 🙂
I agree with Ashley. It is wonderful to see how God opens doors! I loved your post and look forward to reading more.
P.S. I too had never heard of HeyTell. I plan to look it up.
LPM sounds so much like a type of spa. Who wouldn’t want to go there for a day to get filled up with love, hugs, and Mexican food?
So thankful for y’all.
Lindsee, thank you for that wonderful overview! I loved it. Congratulations on your new job! If I could work anywhere in the world (when my girls are grown!) … it would be for LPM! Congrats, congrats!
Hi Lindsee,
Welcome to your new job!! I am sure you are having a blast!! I love my job too!!! I smile every single morning as I drive in at 7am feeling so blessed to get to do what I do and with whom. I rejoice with you that the LORD has blessed you with such a position for such a time as this!
Enjoy every minute and keep thanking the Lord (very often) for the sweet gift He gave you. I read that He really likes it when we continually thank Him for His goodness!!!
Blessings!!!!
Roxanne
Thank you, Roxanne! I hear you’ve been at BCF lately. I might just get to meet you one of these Sundays!
Yes, Lindsee, I have been at BCF for the last 2 weeks and have enjoyed every single moment! I will be there this Sunday but then I have to move on and let my siblings have ownership and accountability. Oh how I have prayed for them to find a church where they could get connected and grow. Then, lo and behold, the Lord plants an AWESOME church in my baby brother’s backyard and not far from my younger sister’s home. Years of prayer answered through BCF!! GLORY!
One of my friend’s that I brought with me the first week asked me to please go back with her one more time and she is bringing a friend, too!!! This is so amazing and sweet to me! I love seeing how God is working and calling His children to get out of the world and into the WORD!!!!
BCF is planted in West Houston and embedded in my heart! I pray God’s richest blessings upon her and all those who are blessed to enter her doors!
Lovin’ your posts, Lindsee!
Keep bringing the pictures!
If you don’t mind… Could you share you own personal blog with us {That we heard about earlier}? I love blogging and reading them. It would be awesome if you would share!
LovE,
EmILeE
Ephesians 2:10
Phillipians 2:13
Thanks Lindsee! I wondered what it would be like! Looking forward to more posts.
Lindsee,
Thanks for the update! What a huge blessing to work with Godly people…and I have no doubt they are just as thankful for you!! I loved reading this because you’ve already started to talk (write) like Beth! You pretty much have the dream job!
Enjoy! Congrats! Praise God!
Lindsey
It’s called Dual Monitors or Dual Screens and for that the Windows + P button will be your friend.
If it goes away or you need one monitor off/on, etc. press the Windows button (to left area near space bar) then type letter P.
With love and joy, Computer Geek Jill
Jill, thank you for your wisdom regarding the dual monitors. I’ll take all the help I can get! 🙂
So fun to see a “Behind the Scenes”! This ministry is such a spoon full of goodness and hope to so many. May God’s blessing continue to pour out!!
Thank you for sharing. What a blessing! You all inspire me in ways you will never know – even if I am hundreds and hundreds of miles from Texas.
P.S. If you are discussing what you eat for breakfast (#15) – you should share that info. 🙂
Oh! We are going to enjoy you so much! Thanks for this gorgeous post! Blessings to you!
Thanks for the recap! Super fun times at The Village, it looks like. And they are so blessed to have you. Can’t wait to hear more about it.
So — are you happy with HeyTell? Does it go wonkie? I don’t know enough about it — but would it be good for a long-commuting husband?
Sarah, HeyTell is just fun! It hasn’t ever gone weird on me yet, but I probably don’t use it enough. However, it’s much better than texting when you’re in the car as it acts more like a phone.
love it Lindsey! Thanks for sharing!! The LPM offices look like a lot of fun!!!
Lindsee,
I am so happy for you and a little bit jealous all at the same time. I’d love to spend my days at The Village!!! God has great things in store for you and I am so thrilled to have a peek into your days. Thanks for sharing…
Hey Lindsee
I hope you’re having a great day in our Lord Jesus! I just wanted to share in your joy as I really can relate to it! I can tell you are super excited as well you should be. I sat in a position at LifeWay Christian in Nashville similar to yours for a season before I became a stay at home momma (MY FAVORITE blessing in the world right along with being a wife to the handsome one, Chris.) Anyway, I know you’re going to LOVE digging into ministry and loving on a whole lot of girls. The Lord will grow and change you through this process. Enjoy it! Seek the Lord’s presence continually. The pursuit should be made easier especially with such sweet Jesus loving company.
Grace to you sister in Christ
Regina
Where did they find those giant buttons in your office? Adorable!
Hey Lindsee!
Thanks for giving us a peek into life at The Village. 🙂 Was wondering if they would let you introduce us to the different ladies? It would be fun to put some faces with names and know some fun facts about each lady and maybe the story of how they came to work at LPM. Just a thought. 🙂
Asking God to continue to give you abundantly more than you can ask or imagine.
HUGS
Liz
Liz, we’ll have to see about that. It would be fun!
Gosh Lindsee, that is amazing but seems so expensive. How much do they charge you to work there? Hee hee. (I would pay good money for a work environment like that, and extra for all the hugs!) God bless you and the whole ministry team.
umm it totally makes my day that you use the word legit. SO LEGIT!!!!! C:
Hey Lindsee:-)
“Welcome” to Siestaville in your official capacity And THANK YOU for serving us all here. May the Lord Bless you and guide you in this new season of your professional life 🙂 Thnaks for the inside view of “the Village” too.
What a blessing to have a job that you love so much…and to love (and be loved by) the people around you so much too.
sounds like your home… and looks pretty cushy too! best wishes to you!
Oh my! It looks like you are having an awesome time! Okay…I’m a notebook geek. I noticed your notebook on top of your Bible on your desk–what kind is it? It looks so cute! 🙂
Enjoy the ministry girl…enjoy it!
Rebecca
Rebecca, I think I got that notebook from Target or Walmart. It made me laugh because on the front is says, “I am a notebook. Someday I hope to be a (then it has a picture of a paper coffee cup.)” So funny. I looked on the back and I think the brand is Note2Self. I hope that helps! It might be old, so I’m not sure they still have it.
Lindsee
Your adorable!! I loved the pics and the posts. Great recap! Your a treasure to siestaville!! Blessings to you on this new adventure with Jesus and his girls!!
Lindsee, Sounds like the blessings are abounding at LPM. You are blessed to be there and they are blessed to have you! I wish you much happiness and continuined blessings as you begin this new chapter in your life! Can’t wait to get to know you…..I’m new here too (to the blog that is.)
Lindsee,
It is great to hear your excellent report – and your observations! I am sure you will have an awesome time working at LPM. And, I am so glad to know that you will be reaching out to the young ladies. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned.
I don’t comment much on the blog, but I do read it often. Being a teacher in a pretty tech-savvy school, I know what your double screen thing is called. I use one every day with my SmartBoard. It is an extended desktop! I love it because you can have more than one thing going at a time and you can see everything clearly, not having to minimize. I’m sure it is a benefit to you so I’m glad the four of you were able to get it hooked up.
Congratulations! Have fun and keep us posted!
And this is why we love our Siestas. They teach us so much! And by the way, Carolina, I’ll have you know that I do know what a SmartBoard is as I had to take a class on it during college. I was an education major and those were just coming out. I loved it! I bet you do to!
Lindsee,
Loved your post and am looking forward to hearing from you in the future. You’re a lucky girl to be working at LPM – what a blessing!
Debbie
Lindsee, I love love this post! I think it would be just sheer fun to be working in an environment like LPM. Thanks for taking us through the “play by play” and for the pics!
Wow….
That’s all I have to say!
God bless you, beautiful Lindsee
Michele
I hope it’s okay to post this here, but you sharing your day at LPM and laughing makes me want to share something from our ladies Bible study group. We are currently studying David by Beth. Monday night a dear friend of mine, Melissa, went with me for the first time. This is her first Beth Moore study and fell in love immediately. We completed the study, visited shortly with the ladies, then went to town and parked our cars at City Hall. We live in a small country town in Texas. We have children so getting out once a week for Bible study is a highlight. We weren’t ready to go home so we sat in my car and visited for quite a while. A car pulls up behind us very slowly, a man gets out, in uniform, with a flashlight and says, “M’am do y’all realize this looks like suspicious activity here?” In his Texan accent. We had been laughing so loud with the windows down and throwing our heads back Lord knows what it looked like! Melissa being ever so sweet said, “Officer this may look strange, but we just came from Bible study and you are welcome to check our cars.” He leaned down and said, “What?” Melissa replied, “Would you like us to open the doors for you?” I fell out laughing! He shined his lights in my car and checked everything, in between shining the flashlight in our eyes to make sure we were not completely crazy! It was one of the funnest nights I have had! All because of Beth’s David study. It is important to laugh. Even if it causes the police to check your cars!
Pam, that is so funny! I think I would have been slightly terrified. But so glad y’all got a good laugh out of it! Laughing is one of my all time favorite things to do. Blessings, sister!
Lindsee –
What a fantastic summary of your first impressions at Living Proof!! There is something so special about the first few weeks of working in a new place because you see everything around you with fresh eyes.
Not only did I enjoy seeing and hearing about it all through your eyes, but now you have created a wonderful record of your first memories there that will be fun for you to look back on over the years.
God’s blessings on this new season of service that He has given you there!
Laura K in SD
Lindsee,
Loved this post! Looking forward to hearing more from you!
Oh sweet Lindsee I’m so glad I get to live my dream of being at LPM vicariously through you 🙂 I’m so grateful, and I love the pictures. I almost feel like I am there LOL
I get up earlier than my kids to work out- I’ll have a stitch in my side this morning! Rejoicing with you, Lindsee! 🙂
I’m a double-monitor girl! It will change your life! Or your work! Or at least improve your spreadsheets!!!!
Natalie, I just laughed out loud at all the wonderful things the double monitor can do for me. It is indeed a blessing!
What an encouraging post!! I loved reading how the Lord is working in your life and through the ministry of LPM!!! I hope you share more posts like this in the future.
Praying for you and the ministry!
His,
Shari
PS- Oooh!! Never heard of HeyTell! I’m downloading it as I type!!!
thanks for sharing!!!! please keep us posted on your wonderful job and by the way ….is Beth hiring? if I weren’t in Georgia, I guarantee you I would be sending in my resume asap!
🙂 God Bless. Donna Attaway
awww…thanks for sharing Lindsee 🙂 This was really fun to read! What a blessing! God is GOOD!
I love you, Lindsee!! This post was perfection!
I so wish I could work there. I have considered moving to Houston just so I could volunteer. Enjoy for the rest of us!
Awe, so nice to meet you, lindsee! You seem like a sweetheart and also like you fit. right. in!
What a sweet blessing to work in such a wonderful, loving atmosphere!