With relaxation comes realization

What have I been doing for the holidays? I didn't head to Texas and I wasn't able to jump back to North Carolina- I stayed in Minnesota. Before you feel bad that I was away from friends and family this Christmas and New Years,  I just want to let you know that staying was one of the best choices I could have made.

I've been relaxing, reading and blogging. Yes, I'm all over the 'interwebs' as one of my coworkers says. I have found some great passions this 2009. I started out working toward a certificate in Broadcast Engineering with the hopes for graduate school to study communications theory. Now, heading into 2010, I'm looking into

• MBA programs to study business communications
• Create a social media plan for a non-profit and for profit
• increase my consultative sales experince

All of these things would have never been on my list 7-10 months ago. I know that God has been leading me in a direction that I not only enjoy, but I thrive in. Stay tuned for my list of new years resolutions sometime after the new year. I have some projects that might be completed the first week of the new year. So, I feel like it would be cheating to complete some things on January 2nd and have them on my new year list. 

Does anyone have resolutions they would like to share? Or, perhaps some suggestions? 

Community

Every Thursday we have game night. Some of us get together to forget about work (or try to), seminary shenanigans (or try to), the plummeting temperatures and the overall stress of life. For two to three glorious hours we bask in the glow of community, a little beer and some wonderfully awkward and sometimes confusing board games. Last night we played what some just call 'the awkward game', I don't even know the real title of this cardboard square that makes so many of us giggle. Frankly, I don't mind that so much. It's about spending time with people. I may not remember the games or who won, but I know that I left energized and full.

This has been a fabulous blessing. When I'm having a tough time with work, life and being away from family and friends, a since of belonging is sometimes all I need to get through the remainder of the week.

I'm also incredibly fulfilled with my community of strong women around me. They range from coworkers, mentors, fellow church members, encouraging seminary wives and friends that I can just bum around with on Saturday night. It's been a long year and three months in Minnesota, but things have really perked up the last five months, and for that I'm left blessed and thankful.

 'People won't remember what you did for them, but they will remember how you made them feel.'

A cat, snow & the loss of leaves

With the beauty of fall comes the loss and stillness of winter, and winter is finally here in all it's Minnesota glory. I've been mentally preparing for the cold for about a month, and now that it's here and I know what to expect when I go outside again, so it's a little easier to bare.

I know that my cat isn't as big of a fan of the snow, not as much to look at out the window. I adopted her and I'm pretty sure she was a 'wild' cat. My apartment isn't as interesting as the wild outdoors apparently.

I have been working with my church St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church for the past few months on the Communications/Outreach Commission. It's been pretty amazing actually. I'm in there with people that love their faith, the church and communications. Pretty awesome. It's been an amazing experince, I'm actually in charge of some of their social media efforts. I created and currently maintain their Facebook fan page, and it's been loads of fun. I also 'tweet' and maintain a Facebook page for Suka-Rama Boutique in the Park. This shop is located in St. Anthony Park, MN, and it's where I've been working off and on since I got to Minnesota.

I will be staying in the Land of 10,000 Lakes this Christmas, but it will be nice since I have a few days off between. I have some tasks around the cities that I need to take care of, so this will be a great time to get some things done.

I've also been dealing with death this week. A great mentor and friend, John Hipp, died this past weekend. He was hit by a drunk driver and was killed. It's been an intense time for the Lenoir-Rhyne communications community. Also, my black lab, Sadie, had to be put down this week. Sometimes life deals you a hard deck to deal, but you just have to keep playing. I know my buddy John wouldn't want me to be shutting down. He was a strong and passionate person to have in my life during college. I'm blessed to of had him in my life.

If you are on Facebook or Twitter, connect with me! My Twitter name is Kristina_e.