Even In Banking, Give Me Jesus

Kelsey's death changed everything. The Lord used the horrible event to refocus my life, and call me to His side. He always used hard things in order to draw my attention back to Him. One thing he changed was one of my wake up songs. So many mornings, I wake up practically physically singing a hymn or praise song I know. And often, ever since Kelsey's death - one of the most common songs my mind contemplates as I wake is "Give Me Jesus" by Fernando Ortega. The opening lines go something like, "In the morning, when I rise - Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus."

I love waking with Him in my thoughts. David said the Lord put a song in his heart - and I want to have a song in my heart too. A song that ever brings glory to my King.

Psalm 40:3 ~ "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD."
I was thinking about Him when I opened the bank this morning. :) Caleb reprimanded me for not being interested enough in biology. "How can you not be fascinated with the miraculous creation of the human race!" He poignantly asked me last semester.

I was totally ashamed. :) He is RIGHT! Biology, geology, physics. ALL OF IT. We can better understand the glory of God when we understand this world.

Thusly, after we opened the bank, I asked Karan for a petite respite so that I could enjoy and take a couple pictures of Gods miraculous creation. Check out the ice. :) I love how it completely frosted the foliage of the bank plants.
They are "Frozen in time" ...

I was careful to take the pictures before the early morning fog dissipated. I didn't want the sunlight to steal the frost. :)

Yesterday, we had to take special care to ensure that no elderly customer took a spill on the ice covered parking lot. Mark and Chase poured salt on the sidewalk and such, and I asked for them to take special care NOT to get salt on the Pansies. They are even more frosted today than yesterday. :) Maybe when the weather thaws out, the out door rodents will still be able to frolic in their shade.

:)

Or maybe the rodents wont return in the spring. Wouldn't that be nice?

All in all, the day is beautifully luscious. It beckons me as I wait patiently at my teller station. Perhaps our customers will be enchanted with the day as I am. It could be slow ... or perhaps they will want to come to the bank and relay their frightening ice experiences. It could be busy...

I can't wait.

The day promised beauty.

But even more, I want Jesus.

Neither Snow, Rain, Nor Treacherous Ice

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." That is the unofficial motto of U.S Post Men and is an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City. The courageous words are derived from from Herodotus' Histories (8.98) as he referred to the ancient courier service of the Persian Empire.

Just last week, I thought about the job of a mailman. The position used to be held in high regard. It was a romantic, daring job. And now, no one even thinks about the men and women dedicated to brave the elements in order to bring small parcels of hope to the awaiting American people.

What would we do without letters? I think about my school friend in Ireland. We will write letters that are to be sent across the globe.

What about letters of encouragement, coupons and shopping adds? What about bank statements and bills? I do think I could do forever without getting another bill, but not if it meant my mailman sacrificing his enduring service.
Not if it meant I might never get another letter.

Well ...

:)

I felt like a postman this morning. Employees have to be dedicated. They need to be ready and willing to face incredible odds so that arrival at work can be prompt. I want my boss to be able to count on me.

I have never called in sick to work. I always come in only to have my boss send me home.

And Weather has not kept me from the bank yet.

Not even the ice storm we had last night.

It went something like this...

"Are you sure you have to go to work in the morning, Ellen?"

"Dad, I am sure. I need to get up around 6. Check the weather. And start out pretty early so that I can get to the bank on time."

"I don't want you driving if its icy." Dad warned.

"I know, Dad. But if I'm going to be CSM, I need to show up."

I went to sleep pretty early so that I would be ready to get up and get the car road-ready.

But, instead of having to brave the cold and freeze my innards, Dad entered my room and hold me not to worry. He would drive me in to work if I really needed to go. :)

I love my, Daddy.

Thus, the drive to work was incredibly adventurous. We were stuck for about 15 minutes on a small hill. My dad's pickup truck attempted valiantly to get over the crest, and finally succeeded. I thought we were going to be stuck forever!

My Boss was so pleased that I got to work on time. Nay, I got to work 20 minutes early.

I try to be a really good employee. I gave my Dad a big kiss for getting me here.

Maybe I am not the mailman after all. I think my dad needs that credit. :)

Meanwhile, I can tell that this day is going to be quite long and ... slow. :) We haven't had a single customer yet. But just in case, we are available and eager to assist their financial needs!

We all took down bets about how many customers we will have.. I think we will either have 2 customers before noon or NONE.

P.S. The empty banking center is going to put a damper on achieving our checking account goal. Where are we going to find the people!? :0

Improving AMEX with COLOR!

Organization is essential.
Especially in banking.
You might say it is the key to the doorway of success.
Organization and consistency – a bank can survive without these aspects.
But it would never thrive.
:)
Karan and I are the consistent organizers at 312.
She always writes in black.
And I color coat.
Believe it or not – we get along famously!

We have countless adventures every quarter when we succumb to the urge of our organizational skills. Today, we took a few minutes to complete the American Express Travelers Cheque audit and the American Express Gift Check/Card audit.

Now, I have only been here a year and a half – and I have just recently taken over more responsibilities. When I was promoted, a whole new world was revealed to me. There is so much to organize. So much to consistently maintain. So much to color coat. :)
The progress I am making is drastic, unique, and completely OCD.

I heard a joke once. It went something like the following:
“I am not OCD. If anything I am CDO … that’s alphabetical order. The way things SHOULD be.”
:)
Karan and I joke constantly about being OCD. We check locks twice, we have lists for our lists, we check each other’s lock jobs, we know dual control procedures backwards and sideways, and we fail to understand why people insist on forgetting to initial the night drop log. :)

I love improving my work environment. Thus, I love to organize – and one of the greatest ways to organize things, is to assign a color (or theme) to each type of items.

Now, that doesn’t mean that this process is stressful and takes massive amounts of work. Rather, organization starts with fixing the little things. And I can not tell you how much joy the small things can bring!

The AMEX Cheque Card/ Gift Card Log and the AMEX Travelers Check Log used to be contained in a grimy, historic folder that was practically falling apart in my hands. It didn't even have brackets! But ... :) I got this new binder and created the bright yellow coversheet for the logs!

No one can miss the vivid color - so no one should fail to initial the logs when AMEX products are purchased!



This is the side view of the new binder.

:)

When I called Karan to come back to the teller line and see my new accomplishment, she could only smile.