Movin on Up!

So, this kind of made me laugh because more than once as I've presented myself at the doors of families I've been asked how old I am. One time, when scheduling an appointment over the phone with a new family I told her I couldn't do a certain time because I would be in class. When I arrived at her home she asked me what my credentials were becuase she thought I was a high school student doing some sort of volunteer program. She felt somewhat silly upon discovering I was working on a masters degree, not a high school diploma. None the less, I was the youngest in my masters program, and now I will be the youngest in my new position- by about 10 years.

I've been offered and accepted a position to move into management for the program I currently work for. I took the position on Monday and haven't really slept since because I've been so excited. The most exciting part is that I'm building a team from scratch. We didn't previously serve the Apache Junction area, BUT we will now so we're putting together a new team. I get to train five new social workers! That's like getting to do five times the amount of good in this community. (Well, if you consider AJ part of your community.)

So they held all the interviews in one day, and I was the first one. They had an applicant in mind, there were applicants with the same amount of education as me, and applicants with more years of experience... apparently, I said something right.

As if the holidays aren't busy enough I've just gotten about twice as busy. I'm wrapping things up with the families I've been meeting with for over three years now (very emotional work) all the while working with my new boss to put together a new site and team.

To help in the coordination we've decided to make my Christmas present a new phone. Its a bit more than we usually spend of gifts so Mark's considering it a Merry Christmas/Congratulations present. This'll be my new lifeline in a few days: