2 weeks and counting...

It's 5:00 in the morning and I don't have to be up for another 2 hours. I don't know why I'm awake, it's been an exhausting week/weekend! Life has been super busy as of late, but I'm making it and I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Over the summer I was given the opportunity to submit a proposal for a new program. I had two weeks to develop a program and write the grant. I spent many long days at the office those two weeks but it paid off when we got the letter of approval in August. We were being awarded $4.5 million to open a 12 bed crisis respite unit for adolescents!!

Since then I have been working hard to get the program started. We did what seemed liked 5,000 interviews and hired the 28 staff needed to run the unit. It's an amazing staff and I'm so excited about the leadership! We've spent countless hours coming up with the policy & procedures, rules, and schedules (who knew how hard making a 24-hour schedule was?!?).  I don't know how long I spent debating between furniture.  I love that kinda stuff but it's hard to pick out furniture from a blank slate and hope if will work! $58,000 later the furniture was picked out and sent to order.  I have spent hours upon hours and thousands of dollars shopping for the unit.  I've had overflowing carts of towels, pillows, and home goods.  We packed the work Tahoe full at IKEA, and then I went back a week later to get even more stuff! I spent this last weekend doing even more shopping and have much more to do this week.

It's all coming along though! We are set to open December 2, 2013!  The furniture is being delivered today, the building renovations are almost complete and we are having a community sneak peak this Thursday! It's crazy that all the hard work is coming together and we are about to open our doors in two short week! I am so excited to be able to serve this population and to love them well while they are in our care! I also look forward to being able to rest once it is open!

Yesterday I got to spend the day with sweet friends from Heartlight. It was so good to be able to reconnect with them and to reminisce about our time at Heartlight. I love how Gid used each and everyone one of us while we were there and the relationships He formed. I pray that this new unit will have the same result!

I love seeing how God is using my past to mold my future and I love the opportunities I get to love people well!