Where HR Lives

For me of late I feel like I've been living at my office. Our organization, like so many across the nation has been hit by troubling financials. I work for a day-trading firm and because of what they do they do better when the stock market is acting crazy as opposed to staying calm.

Meanwhile, in my rather back office work which is Human Resources (HR), I don't know if I've ever been busier.

Aside from a number of projects that were in play for a number of months that are all coming to a head in the next couple of weeks, I'm not sure that most employees always understand all the things that their HR department does either in the hiring process or the firing / laying off / disassociating of employees. There's a TON to do.

HR is the keeper of all things legal, often times the organizer of all things fun, the listener of both the good and the bad, a guide to executive management in important decisions and holder together of much. Sometimes a bit daunting if I do say so myself.

But, I love it. I love the idea that I'm here to help people and our company. Even exhausted and out of breath, I'm thrilled that I'm working in the capacity that fulfills me the most.

Welcoming Family Back After Loss

I've attended Shoreline Christian Center in Austin, Texas since I was in college at what is now Texas State back in the early 90s. When I moved to Austin in 1997 I never church shopped, but simply made Shoreline my church home.

One of the first few Sundays I was there I approached Pastor Laura Koke and told her that I was new to Austin, new to the church and ready to serve where she needed me. A week or so later I got a call asking if I could babysit her three kiddos. Of course. Seemed an easy enough request.

Over the next decade I was called on whenever they needed me. Pastor Rob and Laura's kiddos grew up during that time and I found my self moving away from Austin a couple of times, but every time I moved back I was ready at their becon call. They became an extension of my family. Their kids - my kids, even if it was for a few hours as their parents made the most of a well deserved date night.

I've posted about the loss that the Koke's experienced earlier this summer when their 17-year old son, Caleb, passed away in a car wreck. It's still a bit unreal to me as I'm sure it is to them as well.

Last week our church family welcomed Pastor Rob and Laura back. It was an amazing service and I only attended one of three of them. At our service at the north campus just about every seat was filled. The sanctuary seats 5,000 and that obviously doesn't count all the children and babies. Cars were parked way beyond the parking lot - sometimes four deep in the grass.

We love them and I wanted to share a bit of the service here:

Welcome Back Pastor Rob and Laura Koke from Bryan Martin on Vimeo.