Growing and changing

My my my...it's been a LONG time hasn't it!? Goodness.

There's been an ebb and flow between "I don't have anything to talk about..." and "oh good lord! I've got TOO much to catch up on! The post will take forever!!" So...I never wrote here. Sad really. The other thing that prevented me was that I didn't want to talk about my transition (see the family in transition blog if interested in those topics) because I wasn't fully out yet and didn't want family or friends to find out via stumbling across my blog.

What I really wanted to talk about though was the growth that's happened as I look back on a chapter that's coming to a close.

Sept of 2008 my spouse and I had just moved from Phoenix to NE Washington. Talk about a culture shock!! I'd only worked sporadically and didn't have much for solid work experience. I took a job that sounded promising as an Americorp member. I knew a bit about the federal program but really had no idea what the state program entailed. I just knew the economy was headed for a bad space and 10 months of promised, contracted work sounded good. The pay was terrible but the experience sounded well worth it.

My position was to take on a Computer literacy program and teach computer basics to adults. What I didn't know at the time, was that all the program was; was a thought! That's it! I created it from the ground up. I had no idea what I was doing. I'd never had any experience in managing or advertising. However I quickly fell in love with my position and gained confidence.

WA stat Americorp positions last from Sept-July. You can only be an Americorp member for two years. I really wanted to build this program up to sustain itself and make a long term job for myself. It became my baby. I partnered with the library system to spread my classes. I was invited to stay on in my position over the summer of 2009 until my next Americorp term started. I was so pleased that my bosses seemed to see what I saw! I was nurtured and trusted and allowed to do as I saw fit for my program. Never have I been given such freedom in my work environment!

My second, and last Americorp term started Sept 2009. I went back to my measly stipend. We made it work though.. My partnership with the libraries bloomed and my program saw great growth from it. We expanded from three classes to six. I started teaching at all of the libraries in my whole county.

As July loomed I began to ask my site supervisor about what his plans were for my program. As I work in a social services office we're entirely dependant on federal and state money. It came down to $$. He wanted to keep me on, wanted to keep the program but had no idea what the money would look like for it. It came down to the wire but I've been granted stay through the end of Aug at least. I'm so proud of what I've accomplished. I really hope that I can continue on past that.

The Computer Literacy program kind of runs itself, so I'm only working part time through the summer. This works out perfectly for me as I've also come full circle and re-opened my Etsy store! I've consolidated my skills and shrank my inventory to the items I REALLY love to make. Skirts. I will be taking custom orders for bags or other items that are within my skill set, but I think that perhaps I just spread my store too thin and filled it with too much diversity. It may work for Walmart but it didn't seem to work for me. Here's hoping that my skirts can take off and I can build a name for myself and my art.

More than anything I feel a great peace in this length of my journey. I feel more settled in my skin than I ever have and I don't feel frantic about where our money will come from. Tomorrow will take care of itself, I have only now. There is only one *now* and I must enjoy it to it's full potential because there will never be another *now* like this one.

Be well friends. (here's hoping I post more!)