The Councills: My life as I knew it

For seven years, I worked for KaBOOM!- a non-profit that works with communities to build safe playspaces. I traveled ALOT- 38 states and 4 Canadian provinces. I racked up many frequent flier miles, hotel points and lost luggage. I went places I would never go on my own and did things (like get really dirty) that I would not have done and although there were some really tough, cold, hot, rainy, snowy, windy days, I would not trade that time of my life. I learned so much and was challenged in so many ways to go outside of my comfort zone. I learned about sump pumps and well point systems, sono tubes and allen keys. I learned to use an auger and "shoot" holes to make sure they are level. I can look at bolts and know if they are 1" or 3/4" just by sight. I also learned the power of doing something as a community. I learned that although many people may not initially volunteer, that if asked directly, they are usually pretty willing to jump in. I learned that people who may not have much by the world's standards, usually give more than the rest of us. I learned what it feels like to be so physically exhausted you don't want to move for days but when you look behind you and see what you accomplished, you will travel to the next city and do it again. Whether there was 50 inches of snow in Calgary or it was 110 degrees in Reno, the job was to build a playground for kids who didn't have one and really, what could be better? I "retired" when we moved to Raleigh last year but all these emotions came flooding back last week when KaBOOM! and The Home Depot teamed up to build a playground on Lane Street in downtown Raleigh. My wonderful friends watched Jack and Madeline and I got to spend the day with my former co-workers, my wonderful husband who help organize the project on the HD end and the great downtown community. It was the perfect playground day!

The site- 8am

Getting started- 9am

Working hard- 10 am

The swings are in!!- Noon

Complete!!- 2:30pm

Clay leading the Home Depot cheer to get the day started

The 115 cubic yards of mulch that was moved by volunteers with tarps and wheelbarrels

The tools

Mixing concrete

Yep, all this was mixed in wheelbarrels!

The folks from Clay's store

A view from the basketball court

The board cutting

Me and Clay

The old Atlanta KaBOOM! office. Erica is now in DC and Jenna works for HD. Erica just got engaged which means that we all three will have married guys who worked at the HD corporate office!!