Time Flies

How is it already November? It's been 3 months since I wrote and a lot has happened! Things in life are great for the most part. Here are some of the highlights:

Jacob and I moved in together at the end of August! Our new apartment is great, but I'm still getting used to the newness of it. Not that the apartment is new -- it's actually a pretty old building -- but just the newness of living somewhere else. Living with Jacob so far has been extremely easy and fun. I truly love it and am so happy that we decided to make this choice. We had been dating for about a year and a half when we moved in together. For some people that's a long time, but for me it felt fast. But I realized that no matter how much time passed, I'd never be 100% sure. Jacob on the other hand was sure. He was secure from the beginning and at least outwardly, expressed very little fear or uneasiness. His confidence in our relationship made me feel stronger, and is something I'm really grateful for. I'm excited for what the future could hold for us.

My job is great. I feel more confident than ever and am happy with my workload and the variety of projects I get to lead. I am still riding high on my promotion from earlier in the year. Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm a director! I manage two staff and am learning how to be a better leader and manager. In September I started a year-long certificate program through Tufts called the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. I'm only 2 months in, but it's already been all that I hoped for and more. I'm so grateful for the network and skill building I'm getting from this program and feel inspired by own potential to lead and make change.

I'm coming up on my year anniversary with my mentee. She turned 13 about 3 weeks ago. Sometimes I still feel unsure about our relationship and whether I'm making an "impact" on her, but there have been small moments that show we are building trust. I can already see so much potential in her, and I know that my role as a mentor will be to help her find and unleash that potential. But for now, I think my role is to accept her as she is and where she is. A few months back she opened up to me about her past. I had to keep a straight face but could barely breath. At just 12 years old she had been moved from home to home and from school to school, sometimes with her sister and sometimes without. I just want to be a rock for her. Someone who no matter the challenges, will keep showing up. Back in both 2013 and 2014 I set a goal to establish a long-term and consistent volunteer role. It took me a while, but I'm glad I finally found it and have stuck with it for a year, which was the time period I committed to. While I don't intend to end after a year my mentee has to agree and want to continue as well. We have a meeting set up with the program coordinator later in the month so we'll see.

Over the last 6 months I have lost and maintained about 25 pounds. I am proud of that but have been here before. I'm excited about the holidays but am not looking forward to my office and home being filled with unhealthy food (it's already started). I've kept up a great workout schedule for the most part. I've continued to work out in the morning 1-2 times per week which will never not be shocking to me. It's honestly not even that hard anymore to get up at 5 am. Crazy! Anyway, I hope I can just keep this weight off for the remainder of the year and then refocus after the holidays. Easy goal to achieve?

And now a photo dump from the past few months...

Jacob and his nephew!

Awesome birthday dinner at Cafe ArtSciene

Oyster farm tour on Long Island!

Cape Cod lobster bake

Last Sox game of the summer

Cool mural in Back Bay

Everett Fest

Kayaking on the Charles

Take the Lead event at Fenway

Work event in Pittsburgh!

My favorite visitor!

<3 <3

Sleepy munchkin

A rainy oyster fest

Hangin' in P Town

Fall hikes

Harry Pottah!

Long Island wedding

Love this picture :)