I can't believe it has been almost two months since my last post!! Here's what I've been up to for the past few months...
I spent October preparing for the very first session of youth classes at the YMCA. In my position I am the director for an elementary before and after school program and an after school at program at the middle school between the two programs we have nearly 165 students and 18 staff. It keeps life exciting, that's for sure!! It is an awesome responsibility and although some days are better than others, I know that we are making a difference in the lives of the children in our programs and for me that's what it's all about. In addition to the school-age programs, I also oversee our youth classes at the branch and for our first session of classes we offered several dance and gymnastics classes, home school gym and a couple preschool age classes. I spent most of October preparing for classes, hiring and training staff and getting everything ready to start on November 2. We are now in the last week of classes for this session and (knock on wood) I feel like everything went pretty well. Exactly 6 months ago today I started my job and I can honestly feel that 6 months in I am starting to feel like I am really getting into the grove of things, which is good. I appreciate all of the support, prayers and happy thoughts from everyone!
As far as how things are in my personal life, I would say pretty good. As we near the end of the year, I stop and reflect. For me, 2009 was all about growing. As all of you know I was an ELC for my sorority and traveled around the country on my own for 10 months, it was an adventure that started in the summer of 2008. Two weeks before I started that adventure a 6 year relationship with my high school boyfriend abruptly ended and I was devastated. But I've always been a believer that everything happens for a reason and that God lets things fall apart so that good things may fall together, and for me that's what happened.
I would say that I've never really been afraid to be myself, I just wasn't always brave enough to stand on my own to feet. I would also say that I've always known who I am and what I want to become, but I got to the point where I made myself believe I was someone else. For me traveling for the fraternity was one of the most liberating and life-changing experiences of my life. It was what I needed to find myself again and really figure out how to stand on my own two feet. The motto of our fraternity is "inspiring women to realize their potential," and as I spent months on the road, going from campus to campus, I met amazing women who inspired me to realize my potential. I also learned that I am strong enough to pick up the pieces, to hold my head up and move forward. It wasn't easy, but with the love and support from family and friends and my faith in God, I did it.
Here I am now, with so many blessings and so much to be thankful for!! (I forgot to do a Thanksgiving Day post, so consider this part my ‘Thanksgiving Day post…) I am 6 months into a professional career working with youth, teens and families and I am doing what I love to do, which is work with children and with people, and I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for my supportive and loving family who make me laugh and who have helped make me who I am today! I am thankful for great friends that, even though we don't get to hang out and even talk as often as I'd like, are there for me through the ups and downs and who also love and support me. We have fun together! I am thankful for a great roommate, her house has become my home here in Lincoln. I am thankful for a great guy who treats me with kindness, care, respect and who makes me laugh and brightens my day. I am thankful for my wonderful little dog, Chloe, who I truly believe was made just for me. She makes me feel safe and has taught me a lot about unconditional love!
I needed to think about this stuff. The past two days have kind of been grey days and it’s so easy to get down in the dumps and start complaining about all the negative stuff that comes up in a day. I needed I stop and think about it, and when I did I realized I really don’t have room to complain because I do have a lot to be thankful for. I know there are others out there who don’t or who’s “grey days” are a lot darker than mine. I needed to take a second to stop and “smell the roses,” so thank you for listening.
I hope that you are all doing well! I promise, I will get better at updating my blog and reading my fellow bloggers blogs! Thank you for your support!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Love,
I spent October preparing for the very first session of youth classes at the YMCA. In my position I am the director for an elementary before and after school program and an after school at program at the middle school between the two programs we have nearly 165 students and 18 staff. It keeps life exciting, that's for sure!! It is an awesome responsibility and although some days are better than others, I know that we are making a difference in the lives of the children in our programs and for me that's what it's all about. In addition to the school-age programs, I also oversee our youth classes at the branch and for our first session of classes we offered several dance and gymnastics classes, home school gym and a couple preschool age classes. I spent most of October preparing for classes, hiring and training staff and getting everything ready to start on November 2. We are now in the last week of classes for this session and (knock on wood) I feel like everything went pretty well. Exactly 6 months ago today I started my job and I can honestly feel that 6 months in I am starting to feel like I am really getting into the grove of things, which is good. I appreciate all of the support, prayers and happy thoughts from everyone!
As far as how things are in my personal life, I would say pretty good. As we near the end of the year, I stop and reflect. For me, 2009 was all about growing. As all of you know I was an ELC for my sorority and traveled around the country on my own for 10 months, it was an adventure that started in the summer of 2008. Two weeks before I started that adventure a 6 year relationship with my high school boyfriend abruptly ended and I was devastated. But I've always been a believer that everything happens for a reason and that God lets things fall apart so that good things may fall together, and for me that's what happened.
I would say that I've never really been afraid to be myself, I just wasn't always brave enough to stand on my own to feet. I would also say that I've always known who I am and what I want to become, but I got to the point where I made myself believe I was someone else. For me traveling for the fraternity was one of the most liberating and life-changing experiences of my life. It was what I needed to find myself again and really figure out how to stand on my own two feet. The motto of our fraternity is "inspiring women to realize their potential," and as I spent months on the road, going from campus to campus, I met amazing women who inspired me to realize my potential. I also learned that I am strong enough to pick up the pieces, to hold my head up and move forward. It wasn't easy, but with the love and support from family and friends and my faith in God, I did it.
Here I am now, with so many blessings and so much to be thankful for!! (I forgot to do a Thanksgiving Day post, so consider this part my ‘Thanksgiving Day post…) I am 6 months into a professional career working with youth, teens and families and I am doing what I love to do, which is work with children and with people, and I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for my supportive and loving family who make me laugh and who have helped make me who I am today! I am thankful for great friends that, even though we don't get to hang out and even talk as often as I'd like, are there for me through the ups and downs and who also love and support me. We have fun together! I am thankful for a great roommate, her house has become my home here in Lincoln. I am thankful for a great guy who treats me with kindness, care, respect and who makes me laugh and brightens my day. I am thankful for my wonderful little dog, Chloe, who I truly believe was made just for me. She makes me feel safe and has taught me a lot about unconditional love!
I needed to think about this stuff. The past two days have kind of been grey days and it’s so easy to get down in the dumps and start complaining about all the negative stuff that comes up in a day. I needed I stop and think about it, and when I did I realized I really don’t have room to complain because I do have a lot to be thankful for. I know there are others out there who don’t or who’s “grey days” are a lot darker than mine. I needed to take a second to stop and “smell the roses,” so thank you for listening.
I hope that you are all doing well! I promise, I will get better at updating my blog and reading my fellow bloggers blogs! Thank you for your support!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Love,
