The word is out

Well, I told everyone at work today. Carla is the "mother hen" type, so she was most shocked as she knows the most about my situation with Dave and all that. But the guys were just like "oh hey, thats great, congrats!" And that was it. Why can't everyone be like that? Haha. I told my friend Michelle too, although reluctantly. I knew that because of her religious beliefs, she would not be happy with me. And she wasn't. Even though she met Stephen and liked him very much...I think she really couldn't get past the "out of wedlock" part. So I just gave her the old "everything happens for a reason", and she really couldn't argue with that. HEHE! But it is still frustrating that someone who I've known for years, who knows me really well, can instantly turn on you like that...over some stupid 2,000 year old moral code. Seriously people.

Anyway, not much else to say about today, I'm feeling kinda icky like maybe I'm getting a cold, or maybe just sinus stuff. Either way I'm stuck with it cause I can't take medicine. I've been coughing some this evening, wil have to keep an eye on it.

Tomorrow is a very exciting day. I have a presentation that I wrote for a conference last year that is all about children's "disconnection" with the natural world, and how studies are showing being outdoors in green spaces is healthy for children, in many different ways. And interpreters such as myself are that link between those children and the outdoors which, sadly, many of them fear. Anyway, this presentation has caught like wildfire. It helps that it is based on a book that has done very well, and the auther coined it "nature deficit disorder" and also said we need a nationwide movement to curb this problem, and he coined that "No Child Left Inside". Well, I have been asked to present this session 6 times at various conferences and trainings! The one that is coming up is a Visioning conference for the entire Division of State Parks! All the directors and big wigs will be there (no pressure, right?!). Well, many states are joining the No Child Left Inside initiative, and apparently Missouri is starting to pay attention too. So a girl who works in central office for Planning and Development wants to meet with ME to hear MY ideas on how Missouri can start its own intiative. ME! MY ideas! Wow. I just can't get over all the attention this is getting. Its great, because this issue definatly needs this attention...but I'm not really used to being in the spotlight like this, its really crazy! But exciting that I may get to be a part of something really big, and something I feel is really important to the health and well being of our children. I'll let you know how it goes!