2008 Already Flyin' By!

Can't believe we're already in February! I wanted to share some pics that were taken over Christmas and New Year's. Family and friends are so important, and the holidays are a great time to reconnect and celebrate God's many blessings.

Christmas in Oakes, ND before Dad & Mom took off for Idaho
in preparation for my brother's baby

Gabriell & Carson lovin' they're gifts from Grandpa & Grandma

Little Camden was hammin' it up!

Sid & Deena visiting Chicago as Sidney presented at a Slavic studies conference

Marci & Toby hosted New Year's with plenty of great food and fun games!

Taylor, Sid, and Matt were playas versus...


...the playa haytas Kat, Marci & Deena

After New Year's, I was off to the Blackbaud Professional Services Conference
at the Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina


One of my friends/co-workers/mentors, Naomi Harding. This conference was packed full of learning, connecting and fun times with fellow Blackbaudians.


If only it were as warm as the picture leads you to believe. Turned out to be one of the coldest weeks this area had experienced in quite a while!


Flew to Nampa, ID to celebrate with Jonathan & Amy and the newest addition to our family, Kaiser Russell born December 26.


He made the funniest faces!

Yep, I'm a proud uncle once again!

May you experience God's best this year. With one month past, are you living each day to it's fullest? Time seems to slip by so quickly, and I have been challenged to make the most of each moment. May we find joy in all of life!

Festival of Lights

Heather & Me at the Pier

Senior pic pose with Chicago backdrop


I'm so hungry, I don't care what they put on my dog!



Chicago's much colder than I anticipated



Where the cool kids sit at the parade



Fireworks Spectacular

Fireworks Spectacular

Fireworks Spectacular 2

Fireworks Spectacular 3

Fireworks Spectacular 4

Grand Finale


Heather elated with all the pyrotechnics!


I'm about to take off with all this caffeine!

Family Time in Fargo

Survived my first week as an educational consultant! Last week, I was in Fargo, ND teaching a handful of clients from nearby non-profits. It was a great place to start being so close to family. Got to share a meal with many different members of my support team. Thank you to all who made a special trip to visit with me - it was a great encouragement!

The week in Fargo has built my confidence so that I am more comfortable teaching this week in Indy. After getting home Saturday afternoon from Fargo, I threw in a couple loads of laundry, had a fast night's sleep, worshiped at Park Community (not too far from my apt at Moody Bible Institute) and was off to pick up my rental car from O'Hare.

Several road re-corrections, and I was on my way to Indianapolis for another week of training. Have another small group of clients which is comforting as I am just kicking off this whole classroom gig. More comfortable this week; God is definitely providing strength and wisdom along with a great dose of peace to this anxious soul. Thank you to all who have lifted me up in prayer.

Speaking of prayer, I have an offer on the house, and they want to close in ten days - woo hoo! This is a huge answer to prayer. I continue to pray that all will go well with inspections and closing tasks. If everything goes according to plan, I'll close before the next mtg pymt is due - another praise!

Oh yes, and for you that have asked for me to post pics of my apt, here ya go:

Trained And Ready To Go?

Finished up my second co-lead class today! The more I teach, the more comfortable and confident I'm becoming. And of course, God's grace has made all the difference during these growing pains.

I'll miss my new-found friends in Charleston, all those at Blackbaud HQ and Seacoast Church (Lauren, Ash, Ryan, and Todd - that's you!). My fellow blackbaudians, you'll be receiving many emails/calls asking for your advice, so don't worry.


I'll be headed to Chicago tomorrow to be welcomed by stacks of cardboard boxes in my apartment. I'm looking forward to unpacking and getting everything in it's place - if you know me well, you know how organized I like my life to be. And, I can't wait to take a trip to IKEA; my going-away gift from my KC friends is burning a hole in my pocket (don't worry Brady and Kreis, I'll use it responsibly :).


Speaking of the Braatzes, can't wait to visit the new addition to "our" family, Darby Nicole. I'll be there in a week!


See ya soon,


Kyle

Worship at the Seacoast

Well after a stressful several days of mock training, I was able to look past the pressures of the learning curve toward the hope that God has called me to. After missing church two weeks in a row, I joined the congregation at Seacoast Community Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC for their unFiltered service. With rockin' worship and an inspirational message, I was reminded of the hope and vision God has lead me to in this job: to break out and travel across the country helping people learn how to use software to increase their effectiveness in fundraising.



This afternoon, I grabbed my materials to review and headed to Folly Beach. The sun and waves washed away the worries and calmed my spirit. I'm looking forward to the day when I'll be able to lead a class with ease, but I know that it will take some extra work and time before that day will come. So in the mean time, keep me in prayers!



For those of you in KC, I should be pulling through around October 9th - 13th. Hope we can get together then, you know we'll have a good time then. Those of you in ND, I will be leading a class in Fargo October 15-19th. Please let me know if you'd be able to visit one of those evenings!

Love and peace,

Kyle

CHS to ATL to MCI to OHD to MCI to ATL to CHS

Have had a whirlwind of a weekend. Flew into KC for a friend's wedding Friday night, packed up my belongings into a Ford Expedition, drove to Chicago with Heather Attig to move into my apt Saturday, returned to KC 4 am Sunday morning and am currently in Atlanta on my way back to Charleston!

Needless to say, I'm a bit exhausted. But, it was great to see my friends/coworkers from MNU and had a blast with Heather on our road trip to/from Chicago (especially the high-rise view from my apt and the deep-dish tastes at Giordano's).

Looking forward to doing mock training this week at Blackbaud in preparation for co-leading next week and teaching on my own in a couple weeks!

Miss you all,

Kyle

Down In Low Country

Just got back from a crab feast at A.W. Shuck's in downtown Charleston. Enjoyed me some seafood while I took in the local college football rivals South Carolina vs. Georgia.

This week has been full of new policies and procedures, people to meet, and places to eat. Training has gone well (really, it's been more HR orientation so far). Lots of friendly people to work with. I'll be observing a trainer this week, doing mock training next, and co-leading the following.

The weather here is great! Not to humid, in the upper 80's, perfect for a nap poolside after walking all morning through the downtown farmer's market and Plaza-esque Market Street.

I look forward to a lighting fast visit as I pass through KC to take my load of stuff to Chicago. Love and miss you all!

Kyle