I am here.

Birmingham-- The Magic City

So I’m here. What’s next?

This is how I've felt the past few weeks.

We moved all of my stuff back to Alabama and I’m getting settled here in the Ham. I have enjoyed getting to see folks I have missed during my time in the Carolinas.

But it is also surreal.  Being in the town where I lived while in school. I feel like I've changed so much and some of it hasn't. It’s almost like the past 2 years did not happen.

But they did. I met some amazing folks and received the opportunity to serve in 2 amazing communities. I miss them both.

But I know that I am here for a reason. It has not been without  great difficultly that I have trusted this. I was “letting go and letting God,” but was recently reminded of the inaccuracy of this statement. My job is not to sit back and watch how this thing unfolds like a viewer of my own life story. I want to be a part of it! 

So I carry on; hopeful in this new direction and opportunity for growth.

I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to work for this company out of Charleston right here in AL. I’m excited about making connections and getting more involved in this community.

Plus I have a birthday in a few weeks! I only bring this up as I am planning some things to celebrate this milestone. Will you join me? Periodically in October I will be asking for help compiling “25 things” lists and other topics here. Looking forward to it!

Thanks for the support!

Hope and excitement for the future. That’s Why I am still smiling. 

How about you?

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." --MLK

Next Steps

Oh, Charleston-- how I will miss thee.

After 2 years in South Carolina, I’m returning to home to Alabama!

Okay, not my hometown, but closer. At least in the state I refer to as home.

I wish I could say it was my idea.

So at the end of July as my term as a VISTA Leader was coming to a close, I was seeking leads. What was I going to do next? I was grateful for the opportunity to go to Dallas with my parents and clear my head a bit. I had been talking to people and sending my resume out lots of places. Doors were closing—almost at a supernatural rate, I decided. So I prayed and asked for the Lord to show me where doors were open. The next morning I felt what could only be described as a whisper on my heart: Birmingham.

So, moving to Birmingham was always an option. I figured after I got the Carolinas out of my system and earned some money, I could move back. I mean it seemed to be where most of the cool kids lived (aka those with whom I graduated). Sure, why not? But not now.

I figured I could move to the Ham if things didn’t work out here. I mean, I love Charleston, right?

Can I just tell you that during the one week mulled over what to do traffic in Charleston was a nightmare? And it flooded. None of these things were out of the ordinary, but it was as if my decision was being made for me. And I am okay with that.

Those of you that know me know that I am incredibly indecisive about important things. Small things, not so much, but the big ones, I have to poll the audience 12 times over. And then I will most likely choose the other option.

But I never asked for what to do about this.

Because I knew.

I knew that I knew that I knew that this was the path. I didn’t know what I would find when I get there, but I’m going. Sure, I will miss the people I’ve had the opportunity to know and the beach being so close and Charleston and the beach and the food and South Carolina and the beach; and suddenly, all of that didn’t seem supremely vital.

So I began to tell people that I was moving. And it began to feel real. And I was so blessed to be able to share the Who (me), What (TBD?), When (soon-ish), Where (B’ham-ish), and Why (God). I am not naturally a person that steps out in faith, but I am so excited about whatever it is that lies ahead. Even if the reward is that of obedience and absolutely nothing comes out of this, I would do it again.

So, those of you in the B’ham area, I look forward to seeing you soon! I’m trying to get all the important details sorted out now.

I finished my term as a VISTA Leader a few weeks ago. I shared with our members that it will take time to process all that one has truly gained from the VISTA experience and I look forward to it. There is a new batch of VISTAs and Leaders starting in Charleston, so think about them as the work continues.

Thanks for your continued support.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -- Ephesians 3:20-21

That, my friends, is WHY I AM STILL SMILING.

Month 10 Update

Garden downtown

So I officially have less than 2 months left as a VISTA Leader!

Right now, my co-leader and I are in the midst of recruitment craziness. Every application we get, we call and interview them, and then pass them along to our sites. Some days, I have talked to as many as 6 applicants. It is difficult to keep everything straight. We were extremely lucky and despite budget cuts, we were able to secure 26 VISTA positions for the 2013-2014 year. This honor is only as a result of the hard work of our members and project sponsor that continue to provide measurable outcome improvements.

If you know someone who would be interested in joining AmeriCorps, positions are posted online at americorps.gov. The VISTA positions for our project can be found by searching the project name: Charleston Area Service Collaborative. We currently have positions in the areas of Youth Leadership, Literacy, Veterans, Health, Mentoring, and Child and Family Supports. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. (Shameless plug J)

Since I have less than two months left, people have been asking me what is next.

 I have decided that this term will be my last with the VISTA program. I have been thankful for the opportunities it has provided for me and the connections I have made, but quite honestly, I’m tired of being poor. Don’t get me wrong, I have somehow managed to make this modest budget work, but it would be nice to do the things on my “When I have money” list that has recently been growing (at the top is getting the A/C in my car fixed). Though I know I am not guaranteed to have more money come August 10^th, and that it even seems somewhat self-seeking that I so easily could.

I also feel like the last 2 years have been figuring out what I’m good at and what I like, and I’m ready to put turn that into a career. I’m also not tired of serving and volunteering and plan on doing that wherever and whatever I end up doing.

I consider the connections I have made here valuable enough to make this the first place I look for employment (which is great for those of you who haven’t made it here to visit me yet J). I know I want to help people and that I would like an environment that values innovation. As far as where and what I would be doing, I’m still researching. I liked marketing last year and enjoy communications and problem-solving. I wouldn’t mind being back in a non-profit.

So there you have it, you know as much about my future as I do J. I trust the Lord to open doors and am seeking His guidance during this process.

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

Breaking News!

 I’ve been promoted!

For my loyal blog readers, I wanted to update you regarding my career plans.

I was offered one of the two VISTA Leader positions in Charleston and after much consideration, deliberation, and prayer, I decided to accept.

Unlike working at a non-profit, I will be supervising 26 VISTAs at 16 different non-profits for a year around Charleston with the help of a co-leader. The program is called the Charleston Service Collaborative and their website can be found here. I’ve very excited and the site couldn’t be more thrilled to have me which is a plus.

I am in awe of how blessed I am to have such awesome references and to have been given this opportunity.