Because you don't really need a reason for cake

But today there was one. Today marked my official Compassion anniversary. I have worked at Compassion know for 6 years. It's actually been a little longer but my time as an On-Call Worker does not count towards my official anniversary. I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you my exact first official day working at Compassion but I put it on my outlook calendar to remind myself (as a reoccurring event).

To my wonderful surprise my team wowed me this year. I say surprise because we don't actually celebrate anniversaries usually (now if it was my birthday I probably would have been expecting something). Today was an exception. At our team lunch to celebrate the Regional HR Directors my boss said some super nice things about me and presented me with a gift, a card (that my whole team had signed...good thing Compassion Store now sells greeting cards) and a cake. I didn't know what to say and actually had I tried to talk at that point I probably would have gotten emotional.

I LOVE working at Compassion. It is a blessing that the Lord called me here and I get to work in a way that millions of children around the world are blessed with opportunities and hope through Jesus Christ. My co-workers are truly a blessing and they made me feel very special today.

With my cake...it was very good.

My boss, Luis (and Dawit got in the picture too).

This is me with the other Carmen H. on my team. We worked specifically together for about a year and a half and I'm grateful for everything I learned from her!
I will miss her when she leaves Compassion.

And here are the Regional HR Directors (and Dawit representing John Q) right before we played laser tag. This week has been full of fun times with them. We had some great opportunities to talk through projects and procedures and to discuss initiatives for the next year. However, I feel the best part that came out of our Forum with them is that we had so much fun together!! Yet, again, more people that make working at Compassion such a blessing.

In case you are wondering the red team beat the blue team (I was blue team) but only because Dawit (also blue team) kept shooting blue team members. I guess we forgot to tell him he should be shooting the red team...

Kingston, Dawit, myself, MJ, Robert, Luis, & David

Because it's a new year

9 for 2009...that's the name of the kick start, life change, 12-week program that my training studio is putting on. It's 9 people: reading this book, putting the concepts into action, working out, getting enough rest, and rejuvenating our spiritual lives. It's mostly an on-line accountability group but I'm really looking forward to what this will do to 'kick start' the year. I did okay over Christmas and New Years but since being home, it has been hard to get back to my good habits, good choices, strong-self. Well, this will help me get back.

Just so you can help keep me accountable too...here's my goals for the next 12 weeks:

• run a 5K (actually run the whole thing)
• lose 18 pounds
• write in my food journal every day except when I'm out of the country
• journal my journey 4 times a week (either on paper with pen or here)

Here we go!!

Because Scarves are Fashion Forward

I was so happy I got to visit my friend, Missy while I was back in Iowa for Christmas. I love hanging out with her.

While we were running around town she took me to this great store and told me to pick out a scarf (her Christmas present to me). I found one I liked and we checked out. While Missy was paying for the scarf, I casually asked the sales girl if she knew any other cool scarf ties and she taught us 3 new ones. Since I'm wearing the scarf today I thought I'd just take a few pictures of the new ties and pass them on to you.

First let me remind you of the Euro (not sure if that's the real name but that's what the sales girl called it). Most of us know this one.

Well you can build on the Euro very easily by just hooking one of the scarf ends through and then wrapping the other scarf end through the other way (clear as mud I'm sure). She called this on the Euro Faux.

Then came the Buckaroo. Sort of like a 4-knot tie a little complicated as you watch someone doing it but once I tried it myself (and okay with some assistance from Missy the first couple times), I've got it down now. The scarf Missy was wearing in the store was so long that the sales woman made a Double Buckaroo in hers...intense.

Last is what she called the Turtleneck. I doubt I'll wear this one much as it feels like a choke hold (or so I would imagine a choke hold to feel. And definitely I wouldn't wear it with a V-neck. I think this photo makes me look like I have a neck brace on and I'm trying to cover it up with a scarf.

So, I'm way excited to wear scarves for the rest of the winter. If you know of other ties, let me know.