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One of the biggest insights I learned while working at Gallup was that my weakest strength is Adaptability, one that would continue to be a challenge throughout my personal and professional life. Yet when presented with the challenge of dropping everything and pivoting within the span of 24 hours to hop on a plane and be there for family thousands of miles away from home, I not only rose to the occasion but actually crushed it in a way that would only have been possible by someone who actually LEADS with Adaptability. So in honor of this accomplishment and with a huge sense of relief now that the terrifyingly surreal family issue has been resolved, I’m posting this memory experienced during my bonus trip to the New Mexico oasis where I learned more about myself, flexing a strength I never knew I had in the process. Amazing what the power of love for family can do to lift a person up in times of adversity - weaknesses don’t even stand a chance. 
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Just kicking back savoring the sugary dream as the Creighton men’s basketball team chalk up a win over Villanova. This is how to enjoy quality family time on a cold December afternoon!
What started as a WFH day with my BFAW (“Best Friend at Work”) on a TGIF abruptly morphed into a Tornado Emergency with my favorite weather team alongside communication with family via SnapChat. And now, after all is said and done, I am beyond SHOOK as I realize, shockingly, how my little house in the ‘burbs survived tornadic destruction by way of some sort of bubble within the Omadome. Now, as cleanup continues way too close to home, the everyday nuances of life seem so much more precious than they did only a few short days ago, and I’m left with a new perspective… both good and bad of life in this crazy world and how it can change unexpectedly within just seconds. Holding my loved ones so much tighter and closer while keeping an eye over my shoulder for more unexpectedness. In the past 12 months since my last blog post, I've been doing just that - figuring it all out. And what exactly is it that I've been figuring out? All of these things and MORE:
Lately, this is how I'm feeling about how things are going both on the home and work-fronts.
SO COMPLETELY KILLING IT. Today was the first full day visiting my folks in New Mexico and we most certainly made the most of it as evidenced by this slideshow of the Sandia Crest hike Dad and I took on and conquered nicely. Weather? Perfect at @73 degrees even though we expected colder temps, bringing jackets just in case but ending up wearing them around our waists unnecessarily. Then after landing all of the perfect photo opportunities and feeling confident about our overall hike achievement, we finished off the afternoon in the best way possible by eating Gyoza, Sushi, and Bento boxes at Kyoto Sushi and Steak House, the best meal I've encountered in longer than I can remember and one that I hope to repeat again soon. So this whole hike through the Sandian Mountainside experience was not on my bucket list but entirely should have been. So in retrospect of it all? CHECK.
 Found this sweet flashback of hiking with family in Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, a rare moment made possible by my dear Dad who arranged this surprise family reunion. Hiking wasn't in the original plan but was a random afterthought since we were all there to surprise Mom on the celebration of their wedding anniversary. But being all antsy to get out and enjoy some New Mexico sightseeing, we found ourselves zipping up Sandia Mountain Peak via aerial tramway, then trekking up and around the mountains via the South Crest Trail and finally climbing up on top of Kiwanis Cabin, otherwise known as the Fred Flintstone House. The breathtaking view and feeling experienced while standing up there with Dad, nieces, son, & daughter was nothing less than stunningly unforgettable.
Repeat. Needed.  This photo collage is just a peek into all of the excitement I had partying it up on and around my actual birthday. Still coming down from all of the party goodness, I have to admit that shopping, food, and time with my people will never grow old, and neither will I.
 This photo was taken July 26, 2013 just minutes after my step-dad legally adopted me as his daughter at the Sandoval County Courthouse in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Clearly by my genuine smile you can see this was one of the happiest times of my life, one which shall never be forgotten. And since my birth father died within months before this event, I continue to feel blessed knowing I have a physical "Dad" in this world.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
With tonight being the official move-OUT date of the oldest and move-BACK-IN date of the youngest, Half-Empty Nest is the new family status. So I'm calling this a SUCCESS on everyone's part and popping open a bottle of my favorite white wine in celebration of the aforementioned events, because after all of the laundry-doing and box-unpacking today, red wine will just give me a big headache and make me fall asleep before finishing tonight's Netflix repeat of Friends.
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AuthorI am Brenda Swenson and sometimes I blog. Archives
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