Secret Project 101 Revealed

I received the following flowers and wine on Friday evening. My family took me out to dinner to help celebrate a new beginning in my life. My Hayman gave me the beautiful flowers and a bottle of wine, my parents gave me a nice card, wine and paid for our dinner out. My children and friends gave me hugs and words of encouragement. It was a fun evening and very special to me. You see, way back in September, Hayman and I had a conversation about a job that was posted in the local newspaper. I had first hand knowledge about this job because I have been involved with this program as a volunteer for the past eight years. The lovely lady who held the position for the past 23 years was retiring, so the process had began on finding her replacement, hence the ad in the paper. Now like I said, I have been a volunteer for this program for years. I actually started as a volunteer co-leader when we lived in Idaho many, many years ago. Little did I know at that time that the path I was taking then would lead me to where I am today. Okay, back to the story.......after a good long talk with Hayman, I decided to fill out an application for the job and turn it in. It was also decided at this time that only my family would know what I was doing.....so the code words, "secret project" came into play. When I got the application, I was a bit freaked and had to place a call to my dear sister for advice. She gladly helped me get my thoughts in order and on paper. I turned in the application just two days before they were officially due. I then put the whole thing out of my mind as I figured I would not hear from anyone on the matter. The following week, I received a letter in the mail saying they had received my application and that I would be kept informed of my status during the application selection process. The week after I got that letter, I received a phone call saying that I had been chosen for an interview. I would need to put together a 15 minute Power Point presentation to present to the committee on the day of my interview. They gave me the date of my interview and allowed me to pick the time. I hung up the phone and walked to the shop where Hayman was working. I calmly told him what had just taken place over the phone.....he was pretty dang happy for me and I was in shock! So for the next 4 weeks, I worked on that darn presentation almost daily. I had never worked with power point before and we didn't even have it on our computer, so I borrowed a lap top from my very good friend, Mrs. L. ( she is a wonderful lady and I'm proud to call her my friend, even though I already consider her part of my family!! ) I had to learn quickly how to use the lap top and program to create my presentation. The day of the interview finally rolled around. I just wanted to get through the process without throwing up on my shoes!! I completed my presentation and then we moved on to the actual interview part. They fired questions at me and I had to answer off the top of my head......it was a process called "Behavioral Assessment Interviewing" or something like that. My interview lasted about two hours. I was told at the end of the interview that a selection would be made the following week, so it would be about a week before I would know anything. Once again, I really tried to put the whole thing out of my mind. Hayman left on a Saturday two weeks ago on the elk hunting trip. That weekend was a bit crazy for me.....the fridge died, I had little children in the house and the next week was going to be busy, busy, busy......Monday morning of that week I got a call......I was offered the job. Now I really was in SHOCK!! I had to sit down and I became totally speechless......not kidding! I accepted and everything has been rolling forward ever since. The last two weeks have gone by so very, very fast. This past Friday, it really hit me that I will be returning to work full time on Monday morning! I am the new Volunteer Coordinator & 4-H Events Specialist for our County. I will be working with youth, developing 4-H programs and events, promoting our county 4-H program and other youth programs that relate to agriculture in our area, organizing workshops for volunteers, leaders and youth and organizing our county 4-H fair events. So I have spent the last week getting things in order around our home. Countrychick will still be homeschooled. We had to purchase a lap top for her this week so she can become portable with her schoolwork. There are days she will ride to town with me and stay with my parents in order for her to take part in our regular homeschool activities. My mom, Countrychick's Grandma, will fill in and drive her to the these activities when needed. It won't be long and Countrychick will be driving herself!! I still have lots to accomplish today and I will get through my list of stuff to do. I will stop and pinch myself a thousand more times just to make sure once again that all of this is real......after being a stay at home mom for the last 22 years, tomorrow seems to be like my first day of school all over again.......except this time, I won't have my mother's leg to hide behind. So off into the working world I go and into a new future for us all. That gravel road you see at the top of my blog.....I will travel it every day now, come sun, rain, sleet or snow..........the snow part has me a bit worried, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. So stay tuned........I think this new journey in my life is going to provide some great future posts...........