Nearing the end of two months!

It's been two weeks since I posted and nearly two months since I started my internship at Starlight! The last few weeks have been quite busy. I've worked my normal 8 hr days-40 hr weeks and time has surely flown by.

Honestly, there is not much change to Starlight except that I am learning more and more by the week. There is a LOT of behind-the-scenes work that sometimes gets pushed under the rug, so to speak. Contacting businesses for donations could take one phone call, or twenty. While I haven't done this part of the job, I've heard the stories or seen different people talking on the phone to the same person. On my end of things, families are VERY excited to take part in many, if not all, of the events! Some of the more popular ones are Sporting events like the White Sox, Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and Red Stars (soccer!!). Also the cruise is probably a top event on families wish list. With it less than a month away now, I am getting reservations galore! One day I went into work and there were 30 something voice messages waiting for me! It took me several hours to get through all of them, write down the information, transfer it to the reservation list, and call some families back to confirm numbers or assure them that there call went through. It's kind of fun now though. I get to talk on the phone with families, and then see them later at events. I like the connection of knowing who I am talking to. It's really neat! :)

Some other highlights: I got to take part in my first Great Escape (event for Starlight kids) last Monday (15th). It was decorating Versace (brand name) purses/bags with fabric markers. Although I didn't decorate one, I got to see the creativity of the kids with the theme "friendship". They "practiced" their art on a normal tote bag, and were able to take that one home and then did their finished product on the versace bag that will be sent back to them for a judging contest and also to be put in their stores and possible runway shows!! Seeing the joy on the kids faces, was awe-inspiring... especially when the idea of getting their artwork displayed for others to see. It made them really focus on what they designed and make it their best!

I had the opportunity to eat lunch with a high school friend last week who now lives here in Chicago with his wife. It was nice catching up and seeing where our lives are headed. Connecting with friends and family has been one of the greatest things for me!

I went to Flint the weekend of June 12-15, to be with James' familiy for a graduation party of Jenny, his sister. The next weekend, June 19-21, I went home to Blissfield to see MY family and friends!! Besides a little delay on the Amtrak Friday night, getting home at 2:30 am instead of midnight, I had a really fun time catching up with friends and seeing my family again. Unfortunately, unless there is another time that works, I will not be seeing them until I complete my internship, but time will fly, I am sure.
For now, I am learning to enjoy Chicago and the sights I get to see everyday as I walk around.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Until next time... :-D