6 Years

 6 years. 

That’s how long I’ve convinced the big wigs to pay me to live my dream. Kidding. Well. You know. 

Today officially marks 6 years as a full time staff member for Urban Impact. I won’t even go into how many years it’s been since I started in non profit & urban ministry. That’s a story for another day! 

In that time I’ve helped open a community center, run a high school program, summer camps, back to school rallies, sports leagues… I’ve attended community meetings, advisory councils, youth summits, conferences, graduations. Started a violence prevention program… Hell my kids started having kids! 

There have been really hard seasons sprinkled with good days, and really good seasons sprinkled with hard days. 

When I started here, I never wanted my kids to see me weak. But I’ve learned that in order to be strong, I have to tell the truth. I can show cracks and tears and still have joy. 

We are a family. We are neighbors. We are a village. In the deepest of valleys and the highest mountains. 

It’s easy for us to say “back in the good old days” or wish for a better future… but I want to take today to be in the moment and just be thankful. Be proud. Be honored. Recognize the blessing I have to wake up daily and do what I love. I’ll never say it’s easy.. because I need strength from Him more often than not. But I will say I wouldn’t dare let anyone take it from me. 

I’m not sure what the next 6 years hold for me, let alone the next 6 months! But I pray it’s exactly what the Lord wants.

Thanks to all the folks who rock with me daily. The folks that got me here. The folks that played a role in the background. And even the ones who didn’t think I was cut out for it.