April Recap || Job and Trip to Illinois

 Unfortunately, I am so behind on my blogs I have to think back of what I have done the past two months. April was consumed mostly by planning and hosting the invasive species conference for the UP where conservationists from all over the UP, down state and even some international organizations attended. It was a 3 day event for me with set up and arriving on time to prepare before the event. The first day, I had to give a speech on what tools we use to keep track of progress in grant activities and how we use those tools for training etc. Then the second day, I got to interview a panel of native plant professionals who have plant nurseries dedicated to restoring native genotypes here in the UP. I started a blog for work and that is a huge contributing factor to why I haven't done this on my own time for a bit because now it does kind of feel like work. All in all, praise God, there were NO complications during the entire conference and yours truly was in charge of the tech which is way out of my wheelhouse. 

Right after the conference, turkey season opened for Michigan. I went a bunch of times and actually got closer to getting a bird than ever before. But things just didn't work out for me this year and that's okay- I think I was more preoccupied with another wonderful thing I will mention in the next blog. 

We went to Illinois to see my family after the conference and took Beaux along with us. He doesn't do too well on long car rides but I hope he will get better at it. He- and all of us- had a lovely time enjoying the nice weather and spending time with family. He got to explore my old stomping grounds- Lincoln's New Salem- and play with my parents dog whom you may remember, Cooper. My best friend, Nicole, had a great idea to go axe throwing so we ended the trip on a super fun note. I am forever grateful to have such a welcome place and people to come back to. 

My bible verse for this blog is somethings that could be my life verse. "This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promises gives me life." -Psalm 119:50. Did I feel afflicted speaking in front of so many conservation professionals- yes of course! But, I trusted God when I prayed for help during the speech. In fact as I was giving my first speech I started rambling and to me it was just awful. I tried to get back on track and it was so hard to do. After I got done I was ashamed because it felt like I embarrassed myself, my boss and the audience. I asked my superiors how I did and they loved it! I told them to be honest and they said they were being and were very proud of me. I decided that I was expecting God to make me say the perfect things- but instead God had them hear the perfect things even if I didn't say them. Just trust God, he really takes care of things!

-Nichole🌿