Winding Road.

​It has been a winding road the last year, and I have had this blog on my mind. I paused to reconsider what direction to take it since life seemed to be changing by the second at times over the past year- all in good ways. However, often I had a hard time wrapping my mind around all the fantastic good things. 

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Where have I been? I need to give an update and set up what season I am in as a SAHM. This past year, I was volunteered to be a Community Leader for the 501(c)3 Lovepacs, and graciously took the role. Within the same 24 hours, I was volunteered to the Board of Directors of the Providence Village Hope Foundation 501(c)3 as Vice President. I am not going to pretend that I didn't get really nervous about what I committed to and panic set in for a brief moment. I say "was volunteered", because in both roles two different people in my circles suggested I volunteer my time. I have learned sooooooo much with those two roles. The good, bad, ugly and amazing. About a week or so later, one of my dear friends contacted me about exploring Rotary. This became an unexpected passion and gave birth to the Chartering of the 380 Rotary Club just a few months ago on January 5, 2019. I picked up a job at our local music academy for the fall season, which lead to more opportunities to connect in my community and gave me the time to dig into my new found commitments. I found myself volunteering on a few new civic committees, applying for an open Town Council appointment, to which I am thankful I was not selected. Why am I thankful since working in Government or Non-profit is my end goal after the SAHM season ends? Well, because in this whirlwind drive down this winding road in 2018, I started back to school in December for my Communications degree with the plan to roll straight into my Masters in Public Administration. This is where most people tell me I've lost my mind. This is where I tell most people I am a high capacity person who thrives on a full plate. People fuel the extravert in me. I feel alive when my days revolve around doing good. 

I have since completed my year with Lovepacs and baring a few bits of paperwork- I will be passing the baton on to a new leader. Lovepacs was a labor of love. Chapter Leader was a lesson in time management, and trust in my community to provide for the children with food insecurity in my area. I cried. I am not a crier, but this organization brought tears to my eyes after the long nights, hours spent prepping, and the friendships forged over canned goods and boxes. The chapter grew in children served and a year-round panty space. I will step back, but not out of supporting this non-profit, knowing I have helped propelled it forward. 

Providence Village Hope Foundation. Yes, it is a subject and a verb and a full sentence on its own. Shortly after its conception, we hosted an event on Memorial Day. It was an honor to work with the BoD to create a dedication event of a local park and have our U.S. Congressman speak, alongside our Mayor, and I read a speech by our Founder of the PVHF. I met one of the then State Representatives running for the open seat in November, who ended up winning the election. I walked away from that day trying to fathom if what I experienced was real or just a dream. It was a beautiful collection of community that day. Soon after the event, our Founder stepped down, and the BoD selected me as the President. I may have told them they lost their minds at that moment or at least expressed it, but the leaders on that board reminded me that we are a team. It has been a slow and steady task to create the Foundation; I have learned Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are Foundations. We have raised some funds towards the park, and as we progress will take on other work in the community. One of the amazing moments included seeing this foundation and our community help a family, who has been near to my heart, with the tragedy of their house fire after Thanksgiving. Very much a humbling moment I will never forget. A whole post could be done on that family, specifically the matriarch and why she is such an important person to me. 

If you have gotten this far, know I am wrapping this up, but man, oh man it was a wild year. I rounded out the year by resigning at the music academy and trusted it was the best decision for my family. I am happy to say it has been the right choice. Rotary is my jam, and what better way to help non-profits than to be active in a service organization who helps non-profits. Win-win. Rotary adventures will lace throughout this blog going forward. Finally, last night I stumbled into a new volunteer role, one I didn't see coming much like the others. After being nominated to run for our HOA Board of Directors, I will be stepping into one of the two open seats for the next two years. I am thrilled to work alongside a group of Board members who have carefully and tirelessly worked to keep my neighborhood topnotch. Filling the shoes of those who have come before me on this Board is not lost on me, and I am honored that my neighbors trust me to continue the great work of the Board. 

Direction? This blog is up and running. I will be posting on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Being a SAHM, going to school and volunteering like a crazy wild woman is my calling; this is my season, and I am embracing it. Too Tall and I are still happily married, and all the kids are doing well-- trust me I will share more on the family in another post. ​

If you are up for it, go for it. Looking back, that was my 2018 theme.