A large part of my life is wrapped up in my job! I am the program director at the Huntington Boys and Girls Club. (http://www.bgchuntington.com/index.asp) Thinking back it is quite a story how I ended up at the Boys and Girls Club, and back in Huntington for that matter. I had intended on going to Brazil for a year after graduation, but with the difficult visa process, I ended up jobless, homeless, and relying on my Huntington friends for a place to stay. With literally 4 months of nothing to do, I decided to volunteer at the local Boys and Girls Club. Volunteering turned into a part time job. When faced with a very stressful decision as to whether I should continue to wait and pursue a visa after months of dead ends, or take another part time position at the club, I decided to stay in Huntington! I became the educational assistant for the club, which turned into the full time position I have currently at the start of summer of 2007. The job is physically and emotionally exhausting, but one that I find very meaningful. I come home tired every day. We currently have anywhere from 90-120 Huntington kids ages 5-18 coming through our doors daily. We feed them a free meal. We work on their homework with them. We let them throw dodgeballs at each other. We allow the kids a place to go when most of them would be somewhere else either causing trouble or alone at home. We aim to make every kid who walks into our doors a better kid. It is really a complex operation and I couldn't do it without the help of my executive director and 15 part-time staff.
Another large part of my life is my incredible girlfriend!
As you can tell, this photo isn't current, as it was 3 degrees in the Midwest last night.... (Perhaps I would have a more up to date photo if I hadn't left my camera on a train to Chicago.) Kristi and my story is very much intertwined with the story of Brazil and how I came to Huntington. We have known each other for many years but started dating when I found myself in Huntington during my Brazil visa mess. We have been dating for almost a year and a half! She is spectacular. If you haven't met her, you should.There are many other things going on in my life. These are the things that I probably think about most often:
-Work.-Kristi.
-<----How I can be more environmentally friendly / the Global Warming issue.
-The upcoming presidential election.
-Ron Paul.
-youtube videos.
These are the things that I should think about more often:
-God.
-My friends who are scattered all across America.
-How I can contribute to Spring Water Church's new move.
Now it is time to brave the cold and head outside. I am so grateful to have a heated home, thick wool socks, and a big winter coat to keep me warm!
