• April Check-In

    Friday, May 1, 2020 Permalink 0

    Happy May! Ah, April with its showers, fog, snow and stay-at-home order. It was like no April I’ve ever experienced. What a surreal time?! Coronavirus? COVID-19? Shelter-in-Place? These are all words I didn’t know 3 months ago. The present is like a futuristic movie. When I toasted 2020, I welcomed a new decade of adventure. I ...

  • March Check-In

    Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Permalink 0

    My monthly check-in!? It’s only been a month? It feels more like a year since February 28th. In this moment, on this day, I’m grateful to report: *I’m healthy. *My family is healthy. *My friends are healthy. In this moment, on this day, that is amazing! And I am truly grateful!! This pandemic is kicking the world’s ...

  • January and February Check-In

    Sunday, March 1, 2020 Permalink 0

    March 1st Winter might be the best season to acclimate to a new job. I’m figuring out multiple moving parts. I’m navigating the schedule, the commute, and the ton of information. It’s exhausting. Since the weather is cold, dark and wet, going home to relax is even more appealing. In the last two months, I’ve put ...

  • September and October Check-In

    Friday, November 1, 2019 Permalink 0

    November 1st Happy Candy Hangover Day! Here’s the biggest treat I received last month: I will start my new position of Director of Grants Management and Development at AllianceChicago on November 18th. I’m so excited. I’ve met with several members of the team and was impressed and inspired by their passion and commitment. I’m honored ...

  • July & August Check-In

    Monday, September 2, 2019 Permalink 0

    September 2nd Happy Labor Day! I took this picture at sister Jenny’s lake house on Friday morning. During my Wednesday and Thursday visit, it was very windy and the lake was choppy. Since wind is my favorite weather element, I loved it. When I woke up on Friday, the winds had subsided. The lake was still ...

  • June Check-in

    Thursday, July 4, 2019 Permalink 0

    July 4th     Happy Independence! This is a picture of the card I sent my sister Cindy for her birthday. I love the sentiment. Life is short! I had a reminder of that last week when I met a woman, around my age, fighting cancer. Despite being in pain, she had an amazing warrior spirit. She ...

  • May Check-in

    Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Permalink 0

    June 5th  April showers did bring May flowers… and also more showers. This month, the weather and my life mirrored each other. I landed a part-time consulting gig with a great organization and I have another budding possibility. I’m delighted! I’m ready for the intellectual exercise of managing projects. I was connected to both of these ...

  • Check-in for March and April

    Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Permalink 0

    May 1st  This is a two month check-in for March and April. It’s a little different than my monthly report but I was so busy that I needed to cram two months together.  My beautiful niece-in-law Kylie asked me to be a part of a surprise 30th birthday trip for her husband (my nephew) Joey. I joined ...

  • February Check-In

    Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Permalink 0

    I’m heading into my ninth month of underemployment. The days go slow but the nine months has flown past. This nine month realization made me understand how important it is to have time for growth between conception and new baby. Much like parents-to-be, I’ve spent my ‘pregnancy’ researching, learning, contemplating, understanding, and transitioning into this ...

  • January Check-In

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Permalink 0

    February 1st  January Report Card: Collin gave me this “Hamilton” pillow. I love it! It reminds me daily ‘not to throw away my shot.’ This is an inspiring mantra especially during a month anchored in a government shut-down and ending with a Chicago shut-in. This past week, temperatures of -25 coupled with -47 wind chill crippled ...