Memorial Day Weekend

What a fantastic weekend! We decided to pack up on Friday afternoon and head up to the mountains to do some camping on this glorious three day weekend. It was our first time out this year and it was a fantastic trip. Check out the view we had from our campsite.

On Saturday our friends Brianna and Rob came up to spend the day and night with us. We went on a beautiful hike and enjoyed the near-perfect weather as we headed up the mountain side.

On our way back to the campsite later that afternoon we ran into a hail storm. It was raining really hard when we jumped out of the car and made a dash for the tent - just in time for the rain to turn into hail! No good!

The forecast for the day was supposed to be sunny and hot and I was quite unhappy to be so cold and to not have packed enough warm clothing to keep my body temperature hot. We spent the rest of the afternoon under our canopy positioned over the picnic table playing Phase 10 with Brianna and Rob while Gromit took a nap in his camp chair (so he didn't get muddy laying on the ground).

It finally stopped hailing and raining and we were able to enjoy a nice dinner and s'mores complete with peanut butter - my favorite! It was so cold that night from all of the rain and hail that Gromit ebded up sleeping in my sleeping bag with me. He scooted all the way to the bottom and curled up next to me and stayed there all night. What a cutie!

On Sunday we all took a scenic drive and even took a little walk on the hunt to see a moose, but ended up unsuccessful. Oh well, maybe we'll find one next time.

After Brianna and Rob left Dave and I walked around our camp ground and I had a little too much fun taking pictures and playing with the macro setting on my camera. I'll spare you from posting all of the 222 pictures I took on this trip and just show you a couple of my favorites.

We woke up this morning and packed everything up and headed home. I truly love going camping, but there's nothing like a hot shower and a flushing toilet to come home to.

I hope everyone had as great of a weekend as I did. Happy Memorial Day!

Baby Tom-ato

Good news! Tom the tomato plant has finally begun to grow some tomatoes! Dave has really been taking care of that plant and I'm so glad his hard work is paying off.

Right now there are three baby tomatoes and a few more flowers waiting to turn into fruit. We can't wait until they get bigger in the coming weeks and we can pick one off and eat it. Yum!

New beginnings

Today was my first day at my new job and I am so excited! Here are just a few highlights of what made it so great:

• I was given an office - an actual office - with four walls, a door and a window that looks into the lobby
• My office has a desk, two lamps, a bookcase and two chairs - there's so much room!
• Direct deposit - no more paper checks!
• A really caring and open boss
• Being invited to lunch with some of my new co-workers
• Having my calendar quickly fill up with meetings (hey, I love meetings and getting to know new people)
• Starting to plan new awareness and fundraising events
• Finding out that Thursdays are Spanish lesson days where anyone interested can join in learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone software

The list goes on and on. I am so excited to get things organized and arranged so that I can do the best job possible. I am so excited to be in this new position and can't wait for all of the wonderful things that lay ahead of me.

And I want to thank my loving and supportive husband who took me shopping for office decorations tonight at 9:30. What a guy!

Bring on tomorrow, I'm so ready!

Goodbye

I gave these to my co-workers on my last day at the first "real job" I ever had.

Thank you to everyone who I have worked with over the last three years, eight months and ten days. You have all made an impact on my life and I will never forget you and the laughs we shared.

Starting a new chapter

I have always had a passion for nonprofit organizations and helping those who couldn't help themselves and it was my goal to work for one in some sort of PR capacity once I graduated form college. Imagine my surprise when my very first job was working as the event/volunteer coordinator for a nonprofit organization.

It was a new position in the organization and I was told that I could set the bar for what the position would be. Being who I am, I wanted to set the bar high and took it as a personal challenge to do the very best work that I could to benefit the organization and the people it served. I worked hard, revamped the volunteer program, began to take on new tasks such as writing the newsletter, starting MySpace, Twitter and Facebook accounts for the organization, writing press releases, editing the website, etc. and eventually every activity I ended up trying out became part of my job. The volunteer program grew, I was doing an array of new job duties and eventually I became so busy that it was decided to split my position into two. I became the event/marketing manager (another brand new position) and a separate volunteer coordinator was hired. I think I achieved my goal in setting the bar pretty high.

I have seen and experienced a lot over the past four years at that organization. I've been there for the good days and the bad days, I was given the ability to follow through on a few of my crazy event ideas, I've seen a total of four supervisors come in and out of the position (some good to work with some more frustrating to work with), I've grown my skills and abilities, I've been pushed to my emotional limits, I've met some fantastic and interesting people, I've learned a lot about business, I've seen co-workers go through hard times, I had some fun and I've also had some of the most trying times of my life.

But it's time for a change.

I've accepted a position as volunteer/special event coordinator at another nonprofit organization - another new position where I once again am challenged to set the bar high. My first day will be May 24th. While it is sad and kind of scary to leave behind the job and organization I've known for nearly four years, the only job I've had since I graduated from college, I am excited and re-energized by the opportunity that lies ahead of me.

I will be supporting another cause close to my heart, the staff members there are overwhelmingly warm and welcoming, I will get to meet new people, I will get to implement some new fundraising ideas, I can grow my marketing, PR and event planning skills, I will get to be working closer to home, I may get to eat lunch with my husband every once in a while, I can go home and see Gromit at lunch and I have an opportunity to help a new group of people in need.

So, with God's help and the support of my family and friends I am embarking on this new journey; a new chapter in my professional career and personal development. Ready or not, here I come!