beginnings...

As I walked into the first day of my new job, I found myself singing this chorus to a song by Chantal Kreviazuk, "Feels Like Home."

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

Before I worked for SoonerStart, I worked for Family & Children's Services, and I found myself drawn back to that agency.....for so many reasons. I'm thrilled to be back there, and can't wait to see the opportunities I will have to grow both personally and professionally.

F&CS is an awesome agency in Tulsa that seeks to help all those that need it. It has become known as a premier agency for serving the clients of Tulsa. Did you know that 1 in 6 Tulsa citizens has benefited in some way from F&CS? What a statistic? And, I get the opportunity to go back to that and make a difference....in the lives of a bunch of kids and workers.

I'll be working for the Early Childhood Program department and I can't wait to see all that lies in front of me! I'm thrilled beyond belief at the opportunity, and I've been working on reading some good John C. Maxwell books on Leadership. I'll have my first role as a Supervisor, one in which I'm thrilled and going to do my best to model those excellent supervisor's I've had in the past.

I'll try to take pictures of my new office and cool building when I get there, but I don't know what the next week looks like. I'm along for the ride, and can't wait to get going up the hill!

I'll try to post how things are going for me, but for now, know that I'm thrilled and I feel like I came home when I walked back into that Central Office. It's a great feeling to be wanted, appreciated, and to work for an agency like them, it's an absolute honor!

And, I thought I'd let you know some about their core beliefs, of which I have always felt that I've carried them as a person as well regarding my work habits.

Core Values

Access to Services
We assure rapid access to services and utilize branch locations and co-location with other entities to serve underserved populations.

Recovery-Oriented
We focus on recovery and resiliency, working with our consumers to define and achieve each individual's best possible outcome.

Customer Service
We promote a customer service philosophy of accessible, affordable, convenient and quality services.

Community Needs Responsiveness
We are ready to respond to emerging demographics and community needs.

Professional Training
We promote staff development and training.

Evidence-Based Practices
We research and implement evidence-based practices in all that we do to bridge science to practice.

Compassionate and Confidential
We treat clients with respect and dignity, and uphold privacy and confidentiality.

Strength Based
We build on family and individual personal strengths and increase their capacity to form positive relationships and self-sustaining lives.

Advocacy
We advocate for clients’ needs, mobilize formal and informal resources, and engage in public policy activities.

Diversity
We promote diversity and cultural competencies.

Performance and Quality improvement (PQI)
We ensure a results oriented continuous improvement culture.

Stewardship
We accept the responsibility of the public trust and hold the highest standards of accountability.

Data-Driven
We validate the outcomes and impact of services.

Integrity and Ethics
We adhere to the highest level of professional standards and code of ethics.

Facility Environment
We value attractive facilities, a positive workplace and client-friendly environment.

Partnerships
We value multiple strategic partnerships and collaborations to enhance service effectiveness and efficiency.

Technology
We are committed to a high technology environment to enhance client services and organizational effectiveness.

Stakeholders
We value the unique contributions of our various stakeholders who invest time, talent and financial resources to the agency.

picture time....

Violet came to visit for a week in August...and we had a ton of fun. My mom entertained her because I couldn't take off of work. However, one of the trips was to Texas to see Kate and Will and Andrew....and I, of course, documented everything by camera. See below. I took a ton, and these are some of my favorites.

And, Violet's a gem..she loves to have her photo taken...and my niece and nephews are the same way. This weekend is was more about Andrew....he's the newbie in town. So, it was his turn! Enjoy!

Stories from my feet...

I've finally managed to take a little time down to sit and tell you a bit about my trip, with the exception that it's going to be slightly out of order.....the pictures uploaded backwards...and I'm at the library...and for some reason I can't cut and paste them...odd. I'll try to figure it out eventually, but I wanted to get a little caught up on life for you all out there, my fellow friends!

I'll first tell you that I decided to take a picture each day with my feet, and you'll notice that I'm wearing the same shoes in the pictures...yes, I wore those shoes all day every day (except bedtime). They are AWESOME shoes. Chaco's. You should totally check them out. Totally worth it. Totally. As you can tell I went to a waterfall, had to hike an almost mile long trail and I wore the shoes...on slipper ground...and I didn't fall once or hurt myself. I only had one experience of getting attacked by ants. Only one bit me, so I consider myself blessed! :)

To catch you up, I went to Costa Rica with my church, on a mission for Bible School, Construction, and Eye Clinic. It was AWESOME. Beautiful. Inspiring. And, it really helped center me in a new way. Ever since I've returned home from that trip, all things seem to be going well, and I'm certain it's because I've put myself in the right frame, and I've gotten back on track with my life. Good stuff. (More to come later: note to self!)


Friday (FUN DAY)

LaPaz Waterfall Gardens: Stunning. Google it. I can't even describe it. By the way, I took about 800 photo's of my trip. I printed about 500 and put them in albums and I had a great time taking shots. I took my Rebel instead of my 40D because it wasn't worth anything happening to it. I even took the Rebel to the waterfall and would hide it under my shirt and raincoat and pull it out for shots....it was hilarious.

Cold and rainy. There I am!





Saturday (LAST DAY)

This was my last foot picture, and how appropriate and fitting to have the feet of the group....perfect. We were the feet of Christ. The whole purpose of photographing my feet each day. And the second one is of the puppy whom I fell in love with, and if it weren't for a thing called customs, I would have brought him home with me.





Thursday (Last day of Bible School)

My feet with the goodie bags. We gave these to every kid. First day we had about 35 kids and ended the week with almost 100. It was awesome.

And the second photo is Genesis. I'll never forget her smile. She loved to smile. She'd lose in the game and run up to jump in my arms. I couldn't resist taking a ton of pictures of her. I have a series of her blowing bubbles that will forever be a favorite series of mine.





Wednesday (Halfway mark)

The church we worked at the whole week has a pastor and his family, who has a lovely little four year old boy named Jefferson. Jefferson quickly developed a crush on me and was constantly around me. It was fun. This day he brought me flowers, grass, random things from the ground...just to see me. See, the funny thing is that I don't know Spanish (poquito) at all and we'd totally hang together and communicate. It was awesome..and if he didn't know what I was saying, he'd just shrug his shoulders. So, this day I took my feet with his feet...and then it was raining....EVERY DAY IT RAINED. Not kidding. You don't believe me, do you? Seriously. The weather was AWESOME. Cool. Breezy. incredibly perfect in every way. (Driving of the driver on another hand, that's another story!)And, Jefferson is a ham too, so he plays in the rain and liked to smile for me as well. Lots of pictures of him!





Tuesday (Fun Puppet Day)

Another kid picture of Genesis, but if you can tell.....I'm really happy. I loved it there. It was the BEST group I've ever worked with and been a part of. Awesome.

And, Pablo is with my foot. I was Pablo this day....I think it was this day. He was a bird who loved crackers and we did a puppet show in Spanish (on CD)! Ha, I got ya didn't I!





Monday (First Day of Bible School YAHHHHH!!!!)

I was the tall puppet Wordbird....as evident by the striped legs and feet.

The second picture is one of a little boy named Elian. He really struck me. One of those kids that stands out. He wasn't really social. He didn't play with other kids. He didn't really communicate. He would typically be considered to be a challenging kid, but what was sooo amazing was how patient and wonderful is mom was to him. It was awesome and inspiring to see her with him. She was so good, positive and always encouraging him in the appropriate ways. I've never really first hand watching parenting skills in another country, let alone a third world country....but she did remarkably well. I was so proud of her....and I do hope to go back to see the progress he's made....and that's something I pray for....progress for Elian.

I also put two more in here...one of my feet and the picture frames we made. I glued them all together with hot glue! Fun. The most prized craft all week!

And, the last one from today, The kids absolutely love sidewalk chalk. I think it's universal!










Saturday (FLYING DAY TO COSTA RICA)

Boring feet picture, but they were freshly clean!



Sunday (First day to see the country)

A few of my favorites from the first day outside in Costa Rica.

The first picture is of a mango with the sunlight behind it...there were fruit trees everywhere and we had the BEST fruit all week! It was awesome!

Then, my foot and the dog, Tommy. The Methodist Center we stayed at had two five month old lab puppies who were adorable...loved on them everyday and it was awesome.

And the last one was a spider spinning her web with water droplets on it...much cooler in person, but I wanted to try to capture it on camera too.








So, there's a walkthrough....slightly disjointed, well....very much disjointed, but I tried.

I'm glad it's out there so you can see how much fun I had....I've got tons of pictures, but don't want to bore you with all of them!

I've been back..

But.....you'll NEVER guess all that has happened to me in the last two weeks.

It's been a whirlwind, and wonderful....and I can't wait to fill you in. However, my computer has crashed and I haven't had the time to take it to the shop yet....so I'll be a bit behind on posting....

I came home on the 26th from an amazing trip to Costa Rica, and that place is beautiful. We did wonderful things and I'd love to go back. Here are a few of the pictures I had on my email.....

For a little story about it, click here.
When you get to the church website, go to the link "calendar and newsletter" and then click on "week of 8/10/08!"