Not that bad, right? 3 weeks? My wife and kids recently flew to Kalispell, Montana to visit my wife’s parents… and I was left to somehow figure out how to live on my own again. As hard as I try, I cannot forget that first day they were gone.
I sat on the empty couch in the empty living room.
I rode around the block on my bike.
I again sat on the empty couch in the empty living room.
I rode another lap around the block.
I ate cereal and watched Inside Edition.
I was hopeless and helpless.
I am not a loner. I am the guy that drives to Wal-Mart just to walk around and be with people.
So I dove into work. And by diving in… I jumped off the high-dive. That first week consisted of shift work, new hire orientation, paperwork, etc. Just a nugget shy of 70 hours. If you had googled “Where does Kent live?”, Chick-fil-A would have popped up.
Second week was busy as well. Not as many hours, but throw in Grand Opening preparation… paperwork, packing, etc. It was my first “real” Grand Opening, and I was excited and a wee bit nervous having never served outside of my home store.
Third week was Grand Opening week. I attended my church Sunday morning, June 22nd, with fellow CFA team members, grabbed lunch at a Greek place, then hit 74 East to Fayetteville, NC.
I had attended Certified Trainer class back in the spring at the CFA headquarters in Atlanta, and part of becoming certified was to actually take part in Grand Openings. So in planning for my first, I wanted to time it to where my family was away… as we have no family in Charlotte to help with the kids while I am on the road.
I will not go into the details of the Grand Opening, as many of you would not be able to relate on an operational level, but I will say that God gave us an incredible week as a team. Only person I knew going in was a girl that had been in class with me in Atlanta. That’s it. But that is what makes it so cool! Fellow CFA’ers from all over come to serve together… to lead… to train… to love. So amazing! Jeremy Stouder was our Grand Opening supervisor and though I had never served under anyone else… I felt he was top-notch! He never micro-managed… only empowered.
I trust that God used me in some small way to impact that community in the few short days I was there. I know that my life was impacted by my fellow teammates, the incredible staff at the Chick-fil-A of Raeford Rd, and by the wonderful guests I had the pleasure of meeting.
If you are ever in the Fayetteville area, please stop in and show your support! It’s a military town with a lot of history. I tried to thank as many veterans as I could while there. Because of them, I am free to pursue the journey of operating my own Chick-fil-A one day… God willing. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Drive-thru Celebrities and Jesus
The Golden State Warriors’ Superstar, Steph Curry, came through drive-thru again today. Awesome individual and a joy to talk to. He’s a native to Charlotte, NC, and lives here during the off-season. He LOVES Chick-fil-A… and I would go so far as to say that his lavish point totals in the NBA are directly attributed to the consumption of our food. 🙂
I meet a lot of sports figures, CEOs, etc, as our CFA is located in a very affluent community. It’s natural to run and tell your friends and family who you met that day. “Hey babe! Got to meet Steph Curry. Class act guy!”. And it’s true. He is a class-act guy.
Reality check.
How often do we excitedly tell our friends and family about Jesus? “Hey man! I know Jesus… and He wants to know you too!!” Sure, Steph Curry can be a role model for young people… sure, he can impact your life in a positive manner… but Jesus Christ can literally change your life! He can forgive your sins. He can give you eternal life in Heaven.
Guess what else? Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is not surrounded by bodyguards. You don’t have to stand in line for 12 hours to get an autograph from a guy who will never remember your name, let alone your face.
You have an all-access pass to Jesus. He’s the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, yet He wants to know you… personally. He gave His life for you… that’s how much He loves you.
I don’t want you to be in hell. It’s an awful place. Whether you believe it exists or not doesn’t matter. The Bible says it’s true… and it will be the final destination for those who don’t place their faith and trust in Jesus. Bottom line is this… we all deserve Hell because we are all sinners. But here is Hope! Jesus is your Hope. Because I love each of you, and because I can’t personally talk to each one of you… I want you to see a little video from Billy Graham that explains why you need Jesus, and how He can give you eternal life in Heaven! After watching the video… if you would like to know more about how to receive Jesus as your personal savior, click the chat box and talk to someone who can help.
For those of you who already have a relationship with Jesus Christ… share it!! Tell others of the hope, joy, and peace that they can/will find in Him.
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When chasing a dream… you must have heart!
We rented the Gabby Douglas Story from the local RedBox tonight. What an inspiration! I definitely drew parallels to the journey at Chick-fil-A, and am encouraged to keep pushing towards the goal of becoming an operator one day. 🙂
“You want to know how to become a champion? It’s easy. Turn your dream into your goal. Plant it deep in your heart. And for the next ten years… eat, sleep, breathe, laugh, and cry without ever taking your eye off your goal. Not even for a second. You want to know how to stop becoming a champion? I actually tried that once. Believe it or not… THAT was a lot harder.”
– The Gabby Douglas Story
Now go rent it!
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And I didn’t think life could get any CRAZIER!
I worked the mid-shift today, 11am-8pm. That is unusual for me, as I normally work mornings, but due to kids asking off for proms and graduations, I was scheduled. As for the shift, it was going well! We had a great group of team members, and times were good on front line and drive-thru. Then I get a call from my wife.
“Trey missed his nap… baby is hungry… and I got my ring stuck on my finger”
I was in the middle of work, so I gave her a few tips how to remove a ring and went back about my business at Chick-fil-A. Over the next couple of hours she tried calling me multiple times, but I couldn’t answer them due to being busy. The last call I answered went like this:
“Babe, I can’t get this off. It’s so swollen and it is so painful. I have the neighbors here watching the kids, but I need help”
I was able to help get the other leader on shift to a position where I could leave 10 minutes early… about 7:50pm. I drove home and began watching youtube videos for tips and tricks on how to remove a ring and tried a few. Nothing. She was getting frustrated and in pain. Finally, we decided to run up the street to the volunteer fire department in the Fort Mill, SC, area. We loaded up a hungry Lauren and a VERY over-tired Trey… and set off into the night. That’s when I noticed we were on “E”… below “E”… as in, the digital read-out said “Distance to Empty is 0 miles”.
We had almost reached the volunteer fire department when we see a fire engine racing the other way… lights and sires ablaze. Welp, just as we expected, no one answered the doorbell when we arrived. They were all out on the call they had just received. So I decided to head towards the first main fire department I could think of… the big one in the Charlotte area 20 minutes up the road.
To get there, we had to go through the little town of Pineville, NC. By now, it’s around 9:30pm. As I approached Main Street, I was doing a healthy 40-45mph in a 20mph zone. Sure enough, there in the dark was the Pineville Police. I tapped my brakes on instinct, but then continued on at the same pace. Sure enough… here he came. The blue light special! I commented to my wife… “Good! Let him pull me over!”
He got out of his car, approached me (I was sitting in my minivan in a CFA bow tie and badge), and asked for my license. I said, “Funny story… I just left Chick-fil-A early because my wife has her ring stuck on her finger, my wallet is in our other vehicle, and we are trying to get to the Charlotte Fire Dept.” He took one look at her finger and exclaimed, “Good Golly! Follow me!”… He zoomed off and led us to the Pineville Fire Dept, ran inside, and soon 3-4 fireman appeared, along with an EMT who was hanging out at the station. The EMT tried the rubber band trick that “always works”. It didn’t. He was able to move the ring to the knuckle, but it was stuck again… and this time the finger was turning blue. Next plan of action: “Get me the ring cutter”.
Thankfully, it wasn’t her main ring. It was her wedding band. She has been itching to wear it again after being pregnant, and thought her weight and fluid had gone down enough to wear them. We thanked the EMT, fireman, and the cop… who laughed and commented that this got us out of a $240 speeding ticket. And that, folks, is how the House of Prain spends their Friday evenings. 🙂
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Shhhhhhh! It’s our secret!
Today is my son’s 3rd birthday. Wow… time does fly by! While we don’t really have the time and money to make a big deal out of his day, we still wanted to make it special for him. I was scheduled to open the store at 5:00am, and finish at 2:30pm. My wife brought Trey and his little 5-month-old sister, Lauren, over to Chick-fil-A around 2:00pm to see me. Trey came over and gave me a hug and I wished him a Happy Birthday.
After my shift, I hurried out to our storage unit and with the help of my team member, Evan, changed into the cow costume. It was my first time. It was hot. Really hot. For those who are the cow at long events, I wish I could pay you $100/hr. 🙂
Back to the story… After changing into the cow costume, I walked into the store and approached Trey and about 7 other kids who were playing in the playground. I instantly scared one little girl, but the majority of the kids and parents LOVED seeing the Chick-fil-A cow. It was Trey’s first time seeing the cow. How ironic, as it was my first time BEING the cow. He was delighted, and asked the cow to follow him around the restaurant.
After spending a few minutes with the kids and posing for some pictures, I went back outside and turned into Daddy with the white shirt and tie again. I found Trey inside and Mommy asked Trey who he had just seen. He told me all about getting to meet the Chick-fil-A cow. It was so fun!! Maybe when he turns 18, we will have a father/son talk and I will explain to him that it was really Daddy inside the cow suit… but for now, it’s our secret. Shhhhhhhh!!
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I Stand Amazed
In the hustle and bustle that is Chick-fil-A life, I rarely get a moment to think… let alone reflect on the fact that I am so incredibly blessed to live in a free country. I have the privilege to run around in a pink bow tie, selling great tasting food and loving on thousands of people each week. Why? Because of the sacrifices of men and women who have fought and are fighting for our freedom.
As I hurried out the front door this morning to grab something out of our storage shed at the restaurant… this view (pictured) greeted me. I paused for a moment to take a picture, simply to be reminded that our freedom is not to be taken for granted. We are blessed beyond measure and owe a huge THANK YOU to our United States Military and their families. God Bless America!!
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This is all about you, God!
About a year ago or so, I joked that before our new Chick-fil-A in Indian Trail opens for business, we should join hands, completely surround the building, dedicate it to God, and have a plane fly over and get pictures…. I thought it was far fetched. But thanks to Dean Sandbo, Wayne Potter, JAARS and their helicopter… it became a reality. Can’t believe it has almost been a year! Excited to attend Certified Trainer Class this week in Atlanta and continue to grow in my journey at Chick-fil-A!
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Why I do what I do…
This is the Chick-fil-A where I serve. These are real people. This is a real story. It’s FAR more than just good chicken. It’s life touching life. So blessed to be a part of it all.
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A [drive-thru] Window to the Soul
A couple days ago, during the crazy week of snow, one of our somewhat-regular guests came through drive-thru. I happened to be positioned at the window that afternoon, and greeted the guest with my usual, “HEY!! How are you doing?” The guest replied that she wasn’t having a very good day. After asking if the snow and ice had made it a difficult day, she responded, “No, my husband just left us.” She has 6 kids. As I saw a fragile woman try to stay strong while fighting back tears, I took a couple minutes to encourage her and invited her to my church…. she told she might visit because they don’t go to church but need a place where they are loved and supported. She then left.
Fast forward to today… a busy Saturday lunch. I was in the zone. Flying back and forth, making sure team members were on task and guests were pleased… when suddenly I heard a voice say, “I’m coming to your church tomorrow.” Looking up, I saw that young mother of 6 standing there. I was so happy. During our conversation two days prior, I had told her that the Wesley Chapel Chick-fil-A would be her home away from home. We are her family, and we will do everything to help and support her.
Cannot wait to see them at church tomorrow! I know they will be loved and accepted at Grace Baptist of South Charlotte. This is why I do what I do. Use the platform God has given you to reach out to those who are hurting.
Every person has a story.
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One Year!
Today is the final day of 2013, and also marks my 1 year anniversary at Chick-fil-A! I am so blessed and thankful that God led me to this company/ministry. The things I’ve learned and the people I’ve met have changed my life. Excited to see what the Lord has in store for 2014! To Dean Sandbo and my immediate CFA families at Wesley Chapel and Indian Trail… I love you guys to the moon and back. Thanks so much for investing in me daily. Your friendships are invaluable. No matter where the CFA journey takes me, I will ALWAYS remember you.
HOUSE OF PRAIN 