A Full-Circle Moment

This morning I put together and participated in a conference call that involved my non-profit kicking off the spring fundraising campaign for the firm my dad works for.  It was the first time I've ever done something this big, so it was kind of a big deal (to me, anyways!).

I was a little leery of being on this call because I don't want to be known or introduced as "Gary's daughter."  Not that I mind being his daughter, I just don't want to be that girl.  Oh well, it is what it is.

Well, also on that call were about 15 other people from all over the state, and one of them was a lady named April.  Here's where I attempt to make my story make sense, now that you have this background.

{At Troy's HS Graduation Party...I forgot to mention they love T-roy too!}

My dad introduced me to April about eight years ago.  At the time, she worked for the communications department at the firm.  Her job was to communicate internally with people, making sure everyone got the right information.  She sent out a daily newsletter and did a million other various things, I'm sure.

My dad suggested that I go hang out with her at the office one day to see what sort of things she did.  He thought that we would get along, and he (wisely) wanted me to be exposed to other career opportunities.

At the time, I wanted to be a teacher.  I've wanted to teach since I was in first grade.   I came home from school to play school.  It's how I spent my afternoons, my summers, and all my extra time.  I had grade books, homework, students, a whole Lillian Vernon Teacher Kit, and who knows what else.  I think I played school well after elementary school.  I would even dream up themes for my classroom.  (Today it would be jungle themed...just sayin'.)

My dream to be a teacher continued all through high school.  Meanwhile, about a year after I spent the day with her, April had twin boys, and later another one.  I began to babysit them and spend summers and weekends keeping the kids, getting to know April and her husband Jack, watching the dynamics in their home.  To say it was entertaining and eye-opening would be an understatement.    Now, it's as though the boys are my own almost.  They are precious to me, and I love seeing them.

Originally, when the boys were a few weeks old and I was 16, April hired me to help alongside her, just to have another set of hands.  Twins are a handful.  Double the trouble, especially if they're these boys!  I got to spend quite a bit of time with her, and we have become good friends.  Although there is about 10 years in age difference, we bounce ideas off one another and kept in touch while I was away at school.

Back to school...I was going to be a teacher, remember?  Well that all changed about three days before Baylor orientation.  I talked my good friend Allison, and she said, "If you're not 100% sure you want to teach, then get your degree in something else, and you can always get your teacher certification later."  Which is what she did.  That was probably the best advice I was ever given.  Or at least the most life-shaping.

So fast forward to age 23...I became a Public Relations major, and now I do that sort of thing for a non-profit company.  I would still love to teach, but for now, I quench my desire to be in the classroom by living vicariously through my teacher-roommate and I still hang out with the three hoodlums.

The Twins, J and G.

To say they're a handful is an understatement.  But I love them.

Baby K.  

Not really a baby anymore, but will you look at those eyes?  Makes me melt.  Every. Time.

Now that we're back in the same city, I get to see them a bit more often, and April and I are now working together.  My dad shared a brief version (basically that April was my mentor, and now we're working together as peers) today on the call.  April said it well when she summed it up with a "Thanks for the Group Hug, Gary!"  It was slightly embarrassing, but I'm not going to lie...I did kind of enjoy the attention.  Just a bit.

Thanks for making it to the end of my super-long post.  You're a champ.