The day was October 12, 2020. I remember it like it was yesterday. Once again, I was starting a new job, this time working for Mosaic. At the end of July that year, I had lost my job due to the pandemic. We knew I was going to have to find something else, but the future was so uncertain. All signs indicated it would take at least a year to find a new job. After countless applications, I had some solid leads. And, numerous interviews later, my journey was leading me towards Mosaic.

Interviewing

I remember during my last interview with the Talent Management Team at Mosaic, I was asked, “Why Omaha?” My response was, “Why not Omaha?” We were originally from the Midwest, and we knew living in California was no longer viable, so it would be a welcome change to return to our roots. It wasn’t long after that that my husband and I flew from Northern California to Omaha, Nebraska, to find a place to live and pick up my computer equipment. I remember sitting in a hotel room working with our IT Dept to set up my laptop. A storm blew in later that evening, rattling the windows and bending trees over. The next day, we found a place to live and flew back to California a day later. The week of Thanksgiving, we officially moved to Omaha.

Reflecting

Today, October 12, 2025, I am sitting in my home office, reflecting on the last five years and examining the life choices I have made. A lot has happened in these last five years, both personally and professionally. When I hit my milestone birthday this year, I realized that time on this earth is precious and temporary, and you must do what you genuinely love.

I love helping people. More specifically, along this five-year journey, I realized that I love to help find people who truly want to support the people that Mosaic serves. My job is not easy; in fact, some days are incredibly hard. The Unemployment Rate in Nebraska (as of August 2025) is sitting at 3% which is under the National Unemployment Rate of 4.3%. Some days, I hold my head in my hands and pray that I will find the one person for that position I struggle to fill. And when I do, there is no more joyous feeling in the world!

Life Is Hard

But life, too, is hard sometimes. It contains grief, loss, struggle, and difficulty. In the last five years, I have cried more days than I could count. I lost my dad, and have seen my mom slip away from old age. I’ve watched my husband go blind and then, by some miracle, seen it restored only to discover that he will probably never be able to drive again. I’ve experienced my own health challenges, from having a cancer scare to having my back go out on me and everything in between.  

But I am still standing.

I guess you could say I have grit, which is one of Mosaic’s core values.

In my personal life, I admit that I have not always been happy and have wallowed in negativity. I worry that the people I work with don’t want to hear my woes anymore. And every time I claw back out of that negative space, something else happens that brings me back in. It is exhausting. But they still listen to me, support me, offer advice, and even bring us dinner when things are really bad.

Joy and Positivity

So, you see, there is joy and positivity in my life; even if I don’t always see it.

On a professional level, I have reduced the number of open positions at Mosaic that I personally recruit for in the state of Nebraska. Most days I don’t think about it, but when my team leadership acknowledged it, well…I literally cried with joy, knowing that I made a difference. This is what I am really good at and what I want to continue to do for Mosaic.

On the personal front, I know that there are parts of this world that are in chaos. My personality is such that I need to fix things, but I know I can’t fix everything wrong in the world. But I can make a difference on a smaller scale. I learned during these last five years that I need to get out of my head and into my hands. I am much happier and more fulfilled when I can be creative and make things with my two hands.

So, after hundreds of face masks made and shipped all over the country during the pandemic, 1125 soap sacks crocheted for S.A.C.K. – Support A Community with Kindness, two quilts, and numerous cross-stitch patterns stitched, I have begun the next phase of my life by spreading joy and making a difference through the works created by my own two hands.

Being Happy

If we want to be happy, we have to do what we love, and when we do what we love, we make our own joy. You can call me what you want, but I love being a Talent Acquisition Team Lead at Mosaic, where I help find talented individuals to support the people we serve. I also love using my creative skills to make beautiful things with my two hands to help others in need.

Do any of us know what our future holds? Probably not. I know that there are a lot of people out there who are struggling because they can’t find work. If you are in the Nebraska area, reach out to me and let’s discuss the possibilities that Mosaic has to offer.

As I wish myself a happy work anniversary, I will continue to create my own happiness by doing what I love. I encourage you all to do the same.