I started off 2019 on the Oregon Coast with friends for New Years.... While it may have been a little chillier than this beach seeker likes, I could not think of a better place to get away for a couple days, enjoy time with friends, and one of the most amazing sunsets I've witnessed. WIth the much nicer PNW winter weather, I was also able to get in a few hikes during the month. I am truly blessed to live where I do.
February found me needing to make an escape from the gray skies of winter to find... you guessed it.. a beach! I spent a long weekend in San Diego with a friend, and enjoyed the sun, some hiking, good food, and of course some beach time... I had a blast renting an electric scooter, and gliding on the walkway along the beach.
April, I made a surprise visit to Billings for my mom's Birthday. It was great sneaking into town and surprise her at a small celebration. In April I also headed back to Maryland for the 1st of 4 weeks to attend the Executive Academy at the Emergency Management Institute, but more on this to come.
May had a visit from some friends that used to live in the Portland area. It was great to catch up with them! I hope I helped convince them they need to move back! May also took me to Palm Springs where I presented on a program that I have partnered with the City and County to make communities more disaster resilient! While there, I was able to take a drive and witness Joshua Tree National Park. Another off of my National Park Bucket List!!
June was a busy month. My best friend from Montana visited and we were able to take in a concert before taking a mini vacation that included Mt Rainier National Park, the Oregon Coast, Northern California, and Crater Lake National Park. A long drive but some great hikes!! Returning to work, I traveled to Spokane for a work conference as part of the E911 State Public Education Committee I sit on. I also flew back to Maryland for the second week of the Executve Academy.
In July, mom made her annual visit, and we were able to get some beach time in along with a visit with her cousin that happen to live in the area. I took mom to "Wicked, the Musical". It was her first Broadway Musical. I hope she enjoyed it!!
August is always a busy month at work
including 10 days of the local county fair, where we have a booth. I am so proud of the outreach our agency has been able to achieve over the past few years. I no more than finished fair, and flew back to Maryland for my 3rd week of Executive Academy. The month also included my dad finally making a visit. It was great to have him see the area. I was able to show him Multnomah Falls, Mt St Helens, Fort Vancouver, Fort Clatsop, Fort Stevens the coast, and other local attractions. It was great to have him there for my birthday!
September was life changing as I flew to Uganda as part of a Mission team. While there we helped provide nutrition, clothing, medical aid, and clean water into several villages all while sharing the Good News! I even recorded a song while there!! I cannot express how life changing this event was, and if you are interested in more, there is an entire blog and video devoted to the trip. The trip also included a boat ride on Victorian Nile, a hike to the top of Murchison Falls, and a Safari seeing animals I never imagined I would ever see outside a zoo. I returned just in time, (literally) to repack and fly to Maryland for the last week of the Executive Academy. During this final week, I graduated from the leadership course which is the highest level of training provided and am now one of only 250 people throughout the country to have completed this course.
October had me back at work trying to catch up on my work projects along with teach classes in partnership with two other counties training community advocates to help us reach individuals where English may not be first language. In the Portland metro area, there are 17 languages spoken by significant communties. In Clark County, where I live and work, there are 5 and we are working to ensure all recieve critical information when needed. I also traveled to the Seattle area to help with a workshop, where I was able to mentor and coach the Public Information and Joint Information Section during the exercise.
November started off with holding a new preparedness training class that I developed to help reach folks regarding the importance of being prepared for disasters. The one day class was very successful and I look forward to holding more in 2020. I was also able to squeeze in another concert November also brought one of the GREATEST events of the decade!! The 48-14 victory by the Montana State Bobcats over Missoula. While I wasn't able to be at the game, I enjoyed watching with friends and being able to have a fun rivalry with friends and family. It has sure been great to be on the winning side for the last four years.... Back to Back to Back to Back!! Go Cats Go!!
2019 has truly been a great year of pushing myself to new levels, while achieving goals a few years back, I didn't even know I had. I feel so blessed to be where I am while having the opportunties that I have. So much has changed during this past decade, and as I reflect back, I could have never pictured being where I am now. I am looking forward to 2020, and perhaps slowing things down a bit. While I had the opportunity to improve myself in many ways, I know there are other parts of me that paid the price, and I want to make sure to focus more on those parts of me in the coming year.
Thanks for getting this far and I wish you all health and happiness in 2020!! If you have another 10 minutes.. Here is my Holiday Video! All the Best in 2020!!
