A new job

Plot twist! A little over a week ago I said goodbye to my INCREDIBLE friends and colleagues at PATH. Leaving them was was hard -- as was disengaging from a mission that I strongly believe in and an organization that I have put so much into.

But after eleven years, it was time for a change. In fact, at my ten-year mark I had begun to wonder, what next?! It took me about a year to figure that out -- and I am deeply grateful to you, friends and family, for listening, advising, helping me network, and otherwise supporting my exploration.

In May  I will join AdoptUSKids as director for digital media. The US Children's Bureau funds this national program. Northwest Resource Associates, based right here in Seattle, administers the digital presence, which includes marketing and engagement as well as a "match dot com" for kids needing homes and for families looking to foster or adopt. The position will play to my strengths and interests in leadership, marketing, and user experience, and I'll be learning about the field of child welfare from a cadre of experts and partner organizations all over the country. I'm SUPER excited -- my enthusiasm dampened only by the number of logistical details I have to pull together in the next week, before I start.

Stay tuned...

And meanwhile, I stumbled home from a fabulous last Tequila Tuesday with coworkers to find Tristen's best wishes taped to the front door, drawn in a style that can only be described as "Minecraft." I think the copy and emphasis reflect how hard it was for me to make this leap -- and probably also how NECESSARY.  :)

Easter bunnies

An evening of egg-dying, pancake breakfast, dress-up clothes from Grandma, full baskets, and egg hunt (also courtesy of Grandma). All-in-all, a nice pagan holiday.

Lovely as ever.

Tristen: I'm sorry you're not feeling well, Mommy. How about if I draw you a picture?

Me: Okay.

Tristen: What do you want me to draw?

Me: Ummm...how about a nice sunny day, with people running around, being happy? That might make me feel better.

Tristen: How about guinea pigs with jet packs! Good idea?

Promise

Tristen and I had a blast watching the winter Olympics together. Every night we snuggled up on the couch, crossing our fingers that NBC would dish up some short track.

It was our second winter Olympics: when Tristen was four, Chris was at a Spanish language training in Mexico, and we also watched the Olympics every night.

I wondered out loud whether Tristen would still be snuggly in four years, during the next winter Olympics. He'll be 12.

He promised he would, so I made him write it down. 2018 here we come!

Ukelele lullaby

Tristen, Chris, and I all learned to play the ukelele this year -- because Tristen's class took lessons.This is Tillie taking the "Hush, Little Baby" song very literally.

Closed, open

How to become one with Seattle winters? You gotta just go with it: put your pine cones in the oven and watch what happens.