Our House e-newsletter September & October 2012 | Page 13

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I attended the Wild River Country field trip with My
Picture Perfect Summer. I had the pleasure of hanging
out with three spirited 12-year-old girls for the day.
We had a blast! Not only were the water slides exciting,
but spending the day with these girls gave me a better
appreciation for the summer program and the kids
who attend.
I received a beautiful canvas painted by one of the
children attending the summer program. The canvas
has bright colors with flowers and butterflies and is
the perfect decoration for my office. What a welcoming
and thoughtful gesture from the kids!
Meeting the dedicated staff and inspirational residents
has definitely been a highlight of my first two weeks.
As you already know, all of the staff members who
work at Our House are enthusiastic about their jobs,
the mission of Our House, and the residents. It is
inspiring to see the staff members constantly encourage
each other, which then leads to a healthy and positive
environment. One of the residents told me that when
she came to Our House a year and a half ago with her
two kids, she was reading at a 4th grade level. She
recently passed two sections of the GED and plans
to pass the other two this month. In a year and a half,
with the help of the Learning Center, she completed
almost 8 grade levels. So impressive and inspirational!
After reading over my list, I realize how incredible
these events are. I think this list exemplifies the diverse
range of services Our House offers its residents. As the
Director of Children‟s Programs, I am looking forward
to my new role in growing and enhancing the children‟s
programs and gaining many more stories to share!