Easter Greetings

Easter... the true account of indescribable love of God for His created is what gives us hope and joy and hearts filled with love. May all we do in and through Chloe's Place be done as an offering of praise for the love and grace we have received.

Wordless Wednesday

Work Group Update

Today our Chloe's Place Foundation Building Team met for most of the day. I am in awe of this group of women who have committed to bring our vision for Chloe's Place to reality. There is so much to do as we have facility, staffing, promotional, legal, volunteer, and collaborative decisions to make and policies to develop. The program component is pretty much intact, thanks to our collaboration with Hope House of Colorado, though we have to tweak it to meet our state regulations and facility restraints.

Today we:

• Prioritized tasks to meet commitments and opportunities for promoting our work in the next few months.
• Focused on refining the content and presentation of our promotional materials.
• Considered the process for expanding our work group
  
• Started work on building our governing board
• Enjoyed lunch and getting to know each other better
  

We are, on one hand, in a holding pattern as we await the decision of the church that is considering housing Chloe's Place. On the other hand, we are preparing to move quickly, trusting that we will get good news about the facility.

We are receiving an increasing number of requests to meet with potential collaborative partners. I'm scheduling into late April, at this point! We are starting to receive requests to speak to groups... very exciting.

One motivation for writing this blog is to express my personal reflections on pursuit of the dream and vision. This week I read a statement by Chuck Swindoll , a pastor/teacher I admire, about his commitment to ministry. It really struck a chord with me. I am taking his words and changing them a bit to express my commitment to leadership in the ministry of Chloe's Place... I am sold out to this work- whether lonely or surrounded by friends, misunderstood or affirmed, exhausted or energized, resented or respected, all alone with my computer or presenting to a crowd, under the gun or relaxed in the sun. God has called me to lead and that's exactly what I must do, like it or not, in season or out of season. For me there are no other acceptable options. The calling to establish Chloe's Place is an incredible joy and privilege!

Wordless Wednesday

Intense Week

This has been an intense week in the life of Chloe's Place.

• Our circle of 'friends' has grown!
  
• We did a walk through, with a builder, at the potential site for our house and office.
  
• An article written by Lisa of Hope House of Colorado and I was published in a newsletter that has national distribution. (to request a copy email us at:chloesplace@chloeinc.org)
  
• We have a place reserved and a date for our first Chloe's Place Brunch... where we will share our story and invite participation from those who have demonstrated interest in becoming involved.
• We are thinking ahead to staff and volunteer training options
• Our work day planned for earlier in the week had to be canceled; we have a new date set.
• The Purpose Prize grant proposal is nearing it's final draft...must be submitted next week!
• I am getting my 'ducks in a row' as I contemplate leaving my position at the hospital to do Chloe's Place full-time. I am seeking balance in stepping out in faith and being fiscally responsible
  

Wordless Wednesday

Seedlings

Earlier this week, I had a dream, in the dream I was pouring water into a pot of dirt. It must have been a glass pot as I could see below the surface of the soil. In awe, I watched, fascinated by the germination process unfolding before my eyes. First, the seeds absorbed the water. Tiny seedlings emerged from dry, wrinkled seeds. The seed coats burst open and seedlings emerged, unfurling and pushing to break through the soil; stretching toward the light.

I forgot about that dream until I was pondering past seasons of work in CHLOE, Inc. Memories of dormant seasons came to mind. I recall those periods being most bewildering. When it seemed we were not growing, my commitment was strong to remain available, faithful, and bold.

" Some seeds need special treatment or conditions of light, temperature, moisture, etc. to germinate. Seed dormancy is very complex, but it protects that living plant material until conditions are right for it to emerge and grow."*

Today, exactly one year after the vision for Chloe's Place began to emerge; I better understand the value of dormant seasons. I believe that our vision was held by special conditions, waiting for the right time to emerge and grow.

The plans for Chloe's place are bursting with life! We are emerging strong and growing well.


*WSU Extension