Tuesday, August 24, 2010

What's Been Going On?

It's been a while since I've posted to this blog.  I've been a little busy.  Crazy summer is almost a cliché but it really has been one around the Vickery home.
You remember that in back on June 17th I went under the knife for a second procedure on my right shoulder.  The ROM or range of motion just wasn't coming back so the doctor suggested that they could help it along
by doing what they call a "manipulation".   After that I was to do no travel for another two to three weeks so that I could use "the rack". (See previous post for a picture)
During those weeks I was going to PT everyday and trying to do what I could for work to keep my numbers up.  We were always under pressure to be "billable" as much as possible.  So even though I had a medical reason for not traveling I was still expected to stay billable.  It wasn't fun.  You end up having to take all of the 'garbage' assignments that no one else wants.  Anyway, it was during this time that I got a call from a recruiter that I had talked to back around the time when my mom passed away last December. 
The opportunity that I had originally talked to him about had basically fizzled into oblivion and I had all but forgot about him.  I had even interviewed for other positions that were local to Dallas since then so this recruiter and the organization that he was recruiting for was completely "off my radar" as they say.  Since things at the Big Orange hadn't really improved but rather gotten worse I was eager to see what he was presenting.  I learned that the same organization that I had talked to him about before was now going in a different direction but had come back across my resumé and were interested in talking to me again.  This was on June 28th that I talked to him.
The very next day, June 29th I had a phone interview with a new Director at the University of Mississippi Medical Center who was putting together a team to implement a HCIS or Health Care Information System called EPIC.  That interview went well and she said she wanted to have me come in for a face to face.  Well, I was due to go back on the road for the Big Orange so it was very tricky setting this up.  That same week on July 1st I had a lunch interview with a former colleague of mine named Tom who was offering me a job as well.  I was very interested in what he was offering so the UMMC interview moved to the back of my mind.   Tom was aware of the Big Orange's reputation so he asked me to check into the non-compete that I had signed.  After some investigation it was determined that it would probably result in a fight if I took a job with Tom.  That pretty much killed that because Tom wasn't willing to pay court costs if it came to it and I couldn't afford to.  Needless to say, this really ticked me off.  I already felt like an indentured servant and now it was made plain that in fact I was.  It could have been the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back".

The next weekend I went on a vacation with my family to Camp Allen in Navasota, TX.  We attended a camp for special needs kids that we've been a part of for about four years.  Our kids really love this camp put on by Joni and Friends and so we wanted to go and have a good time and reconnect with some friends we hadn't seen in a year or two.  A few days into the camp my youngest who has Type I diabetes became ill.  Not being willing to chance the local ER we drove her back to Children's Medical Center in Dallas and she was admitted and stayed in the hospital for 5 days.  She's fine now, its just one of those things you go through when your kid has Type I.  This was the first week of July.  The next week I went back on the road and then on July 16th went down to Jackson, MS for an all day interview process with UMMC.  
Jackson, Mississippi city hallThe next week I was back on the road and midway through that week I got the feedback that UMMC liked me and was probably going to make an offer.  Well as you can imagine my head was spinning and I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I should do.  It was all happening so fast.  So I talked to the wife and we decided we needed to get away and talk and think and pray.  So where else do you go when you need to do that but Longview,  TX.  My wife's sister and family live out there and our kids were missing their cousin's so we though a road trip sounded like fun.  We packed up the kids and took off for a the weekend.  I even left work early on Friday (don't tell my old boss, he he)  So its July 23rd and we're driving the two hours out to east Texas from Dallas when the recruiter calls and conferences me in with his boss.  They think I'm about to get sent an offer and they want to know if I'll accept it.   I'm talking to them while driving down I-20 so I tell them this is not a good time.  They tried their best to press me for an answer (guess they wanted to protect their relationship with their client.  It's a big account for them).  But I stood firm and told them I needed the weekend to talk and pray with my wife about it.  I don't think they were expecting that answer.  But hey, that's how I roll.  Anyway, They reluctantly gave me the weekend to decide.   Apparently no one communicated this to UMMC because after spending the evening with my wife's sister's family playing games and having some fun I received an email with an offer letter in it.  Geesh….now the pressure is on.  They even had the nerve to give me exactly what I asked for in Salary and relocation benefits.  I wasn't prepared for that.  I mean I told them a big number I thought so that they wouldn't ask me if it wasn't right.  Did this mean it was right?  Did this mean it was God???

Suddenly our relaxing weekend away wasn't so relaxing.  We still had a good time and I'm glad we were there with family to discuss it and I certainly appreciate their wisdom and encouragement and them praying for us. 
We talked about it.  Prayed.  Then we talked some more. Then we prayed some more.  Finally I just said, "Let's sleep on it".  So we did.   We had been asking each other what percent we were each at.   75%....82%.....90%
It would appear we were going to actually do this crazy thing.  After praying one more time we decided to step out in faith.  Yes, that's what I said.  It was a step of faith.  

I handed in my resignation at work the following day while I was on the road at a client.  My boss called me later that day to introduce herself and ask my why I was leaving.   Yeah, you read that right.  She had been my manager for well over a month by this time.  I'll refrain from throwing them under the bus.  Mostly because I'd be tempted to run over them in it and back up a few times.

The new job wanted me Aug 9th.  I asked if I could wait one more week because I had a brand new client that I didn't want to leave in a bad place.  They agreed.

So, fast forward to now.  Aug 24th and I've been here in Jackson working while Shelly and the girls get everything packed up at home.  I'm going back and forth on the weekends to help of course.   Next week we close on our new house in Jackson and move our stuff and our family here.

Like I said, its been a crazy summer!   But we're excited to see what adventure lies ahead.  Who knows what God has in store here.   Sure its going to be a great career move.  Sure its more money which will be good for my family.  And yes I won't be traveling anymore for work so I'll be here for Shelly and the girls every night.  These are all blessings for sure.   But I wonder what God is really up to?  There's always a reason behind his moves…..we just have to make sure we pay attention and listen to figure out what that is.

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