Learning Curve: The Circle of Life

Well, it's been a hot minute since I've updated anything here on the blog. I've popped over a couple times to write and have been sidetracked, I'm sure you can relate.

In my last update I told you I'd gone back to work. July 17, 2025 was my 2nd anniversary with the City. There has been SO MUCH drama and changes in those two years. Our director was fired and replaced and all of our superintendents have retired or been replaced. I've been promoted to office manager, and am currently trying to right the ship within the administrative team. Replacing people has been extremely challenging, partially because our salaries aren't competitive with the private sector and partially because people lie REALLY well on their resume and in interviews. The previous office manager hired, and lost, three differed part time people for the same job, over a 6 month period. I think the one I just hired is going to work out, fingers crossed on that one.

Olivia continues to thrive in the equestrian world. She's getting to do a lot of traveling with her employers, and has been to several World Shows. Her employer is very generous and includes her in their team photo shoots, magazine articles and posts.

She earned her purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in June. She's teaching several kids BJJ classes a week, has hosted women's self defense seminars and is on the adult teaching staff at her gym as well.

Additionally, she traveled to Australia in July of this year for grins and giggles. She spent a week in Melbourne and had a grand time. She had one of those delayed landing situations that required running through the Sidney airport with all of her things to catch her connecting flight. I was super impressed with how well she navigated things, especially after having been awake and traveling for over 24 hours straight by the time she landed in Sidney. She had a great time, and got to do some fun animal encounters at the Melbourne Zoo.

We added a son-in-law!! Lindsey married a wonderful young man, named Ethan, who we all adore. He is a federal forestry firefighter, and is often out west putting his life on the line in the fires that seem so prevalent there. They are very down to earth and don't like a bunch of fuss or fanfare, so the wedding was a simple, private event with only parents present.

Then in August, they blessed us with our first grandchild! Little Hazel Grace was born 7 weeks early, but is healthy and perfect, just tiny. Lindsey and baby are both doing well, and Ethan is completely smitten with his new little love. On a side note, someone in our area needs to open a preemie shop because it's crazy trying to find anything like that unexpectedly.