It's That Time of Year..

One of my co-workers brought some LARGE zucchini into our office for us to take.  (Thanks, Jen)  I had taken some  last year and literally didn't know what to do with it.  So this time around, I was prepared.  :)  I decided that I would make a loaf of zucchini bread.  I decided to make it on a night where the house was a little chilly, so the oven warmed up the house a little, it was great.  I love, fall!

  

Another thing that happens during this time of year is the fact that my work, Rachel's Challenge is in it's busy season, really busy season.  With that being said, I'm an occasional presenter, so whenever there is no one else to go on the road, I get to go.  Rachel's Challenge has a new 6-hour program called Chain Reaction.  Check out the video promo for it Chain Reaction!  I feel so blessed to have had (and have) the opportunity to share Rachel Scott's message, but to also interact with kids for 6 hours and really get to the root of some of the issues they are facing on a day-to-day basis.  There are times that I walk away heart-broken at the fact that students in middle school and high school literally have no hope, but I'm also inspired by the fact that just telling them that someone cares and there is hope, turns their life around!  I have a pretty cool job. 

So, on Monday I got sent to a town on the east side of San Diego called, Poway (POW-ay).  Let me start off by mentioning that as a Colorado native I forgot to take a light jacket, and lesson learned.  That ocean breeze can get a little chilly now in September.  So, I had to run to Target to get a jacket.  But here's what I saw walking out of Target!  Pretty! 

Okay, back to the event.  So, I went to a middle school called Twin Peaks, with my co-worker Cody Hodges.  Chain Reaction is done in pairs, with a female and male.  It was a great day and I feel so lucky to work both in the Rachel's Challenge office and on the road, because being on the road is a good reminder of why I love Rachel's Challenge so much. 

I met this 6th grader, named Tony.  I'll never forget him, he introduced himself to me and apologized for missing the Rachel's Challenge presentation the day before because 'his schedule has been so crazy.'  (As a middle schooler, I'm sure it is!)  Haha!  Later in the day we do what we call, 'Whole Group Share' where everyone has the opportunity to share something with the whole group.  He stood up, which took a lot of courage for him, and said that he just transferred schools because he was picked on at his old school.  One time in particular he said he was playing basketball and some kids came up to him and took his ball and then they took his favorite hat and stomped all over it.   He was getting choked up and he went on to say, 'And I neever..saw that hat again.'  Ahh...little Tony!