So much to be thankful for

We were planning to be in Georgia with my parents and the Chapmans. But on the Thursday before Thanksgiving the call was made that this isn't the right time for travel. While I missed seeing my family and the cousins missed being together, it was the right call. We ended up having a wonderful Thanksgiving at our house with the Gardners. We got an amazingly delicious smoked turkey from Terry Black's, Grant made some sides, and Liz brought over 3 pies (Banana crème, lemon meringue, pumpkin), yams, rolls, and creamed corn. It was all delicious. Liz is an expert baker. We ate at noon on the picnic table in the backyard. It was warm and sunny and then got cooler as the day progressed. Grant made us a fire in the fire pit and we put the Cowboys game on the big screen. It was so relaxing and we stayed that way until about 10:30pm! We, of course, ate leftovers throughout the day. The Gardner's left around 8pm and then Dan and Breah and their kids came over. 

Other fun weekend activities included Grant taking the kids, Nate and Hayden Gardner, and Cadie's friend Eisley to 6 Flags on Friday. I had an afternoon to myself and it was dreamy! On Saturday morning we hosted Liam's 3rd shark-themed birthday party in our backyard, on Sunday we celebrated cousin Eisley's 5th birthday at Preston and Hannah's new house, and the kids decorated our house for Christmas. This was the first year that Cadie and Ranger could do the tree on their own!

Basically, we were outside all weekend and mostly with our sweet neighbors. Much to be thankful for! COVID silver linings include getting to know our neighbors, finding out how much I enjoy working in my sunny home office, and feeling more rested and relaxed.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was much more fun than expected this year. It included a class party at Curtis park with Colton's classmates, UP Pumpkin Day, first time to Yesterland Farm, visits from family, and an awesome back-yard party with smores and Goosebumps the movie. Even though we didn't trick or treat, there was plenty of sugar to go around. 

Hudson and Evelyn came with us to Yesterland Farm and it was SO much fun! The kids were incredibly well behaved, the weather was beautiful, and the haunted corn maze got everyone's blood flowing. I think we need to make it a tradition!

Pumpkin Day is always one of my favorites. The boys and I had fun with some last-minute pumpkins. I think they turned out great! On Halloween night, DD, Big John, Winky, Daniel and Wes stopped by for a bit. Then, we had the Haye Family and lots of neighbors over for a back yard party. So thankful for our backyard, good friends, and great weather.

Hello McKesson

Facebook post, "I started the next professional chapter today as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at McKesson. Their vision of improving care one patient at a time resonates more than ever. I am very excited to be a part of the McKesson Team!"

I was not looking for a change, but a change found me. My friend Dianne Armstrong got a great new opportunity and she called and asked if there was any chance I would consider being her backfill. After lots of prayer and conversations with Grant and my parents, I decided to give it a chance. I wasn't sure about the outcome, but in a year of so much uncertainty, it felt like I at least needed to be open and explore the possibilities. I was impressed with the quality of the people I met during the interview process, the scope of the role, and the good things happening at McKesson.

Off to the next adventure!

****** Official McKesson Announcement ********

Announcement: Erin Walsh, VP, Strategic Initiatives HR Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that Erin Walsh has joined McKesson as VP, Strategic Initiatives, reporting to me. In this role, she will support and drive key strategic initiatives from a people and change perspective using best in practice change management, organization design and program management methods. Erin and the Strategic Initiatives team will also analyze the effectiveness of current change management and organizational design processes, approaches and recommend innovative solutions to support McKesson transformation initiatives, including workforce transformation, transition management, integration with communications, engagement activities and adoption. Megan Henderson, Director, Strategic Initiatives; Hilary Hickey, Director, Strategic Initiatives; Rachel Petty, Director, Strategic Initiatives; Sharon Tehrani, Sr. Manager, Strategic Initiatives; and Paige Whitmire, Sr. Manager, Strategic Initiatives, will report to Erin.  Erin is a seasoned Change Management and Communications professional with 20 years of experience working as a strategic partner, program leader, and change driver. Prior to McKesson, she led Southwest Airlines’ Change Leadership Team. She also held Change Management, Communications and Organizational and Management Development (OMD) positions of increasing responsibility at PepsiCo, and she had a ten-year career with Accenture in management consulting, specializing in system implementations, business process outsourcing, and talent development. She holds Journalism and Business Administration degrees from Baylor University. Erin and her family live in Dallas-Fort Worth, and she will be based in our Las Colinas offices. Erin and her husband, Grant, enjoy traveling, home remodeling, and cheering on their three children in sports and activities. Please join me in welcoming Erin to McKesson and congratulating her on this new role. Emily

JR is double digits!

We celebrated on Jack Ranger's birthday with two football games and a cookie cake with his teammates. The next weekend we had an Epic party at Epic Waters. A few days before his birthday, we asked Ranger if there was anything special he wanted for his birthday and in typical boy fashion, he said, "toilets!" Nice. So... we gave him what he wanted and we decorated the house in a toilet theme! Avery and Shauna had come over for a spend-the-night and Avery was awesome helping us decorate. Ranger agreed it was pretty funny.

We had lunch at DDs and then off to the football game! Big John continues to be an awesome coach. Grant is team manager. Conner, Everest, Hudson, Luke and Maxwell came to Epic Waters and Ranger enjoyed the Dipping Dots ice cream and having his name on the big screen - perks of having an official Epic Waters birthday party. I had purchased the party back in February at the Cowboys & Cowboys Sky Ranch fundraiser and was so glad we got to use it.

Ranger is silly, active, a super fast runner, loves to play with his buddies around the neighborhood, still loves new dog, and likes math better than writing. He got a minky sheet for his bed for his birthday because he still loves soft things. He is so sweet to me and let's me snuggle him every night and scratch his back. He is currently reading all the Diary of a Wimpy Kids books and I have to make him stop reading at night. I can't believe he is 10!

Goodbye Southwest

Facebook post from my last day, "This is my last day at Southwest Airlines. This year has been full of so many unexpected twists and turns. I am excited for my next adventure (stay tuned...), but I am sad today as I say good-bye and leave our wonderful campus. Southwest Airlines has been a harbor for me and I walked into work every day blessed to work with an amazing Team I care about deeply. Thank you to Lori Paschal Winters for taking a chance and hiring me and to the Team who has felt like family for the last four year. I will carry all the things you taught me in my heart - celebrating each other, holding true to your values, how to lead with compassion, and the importance of laughing together. Southwest Airlines, you are truly one-of-a-kind and I will remain a loyal Customer and fan. All my LUV!"

It was an emotional day saying good-bye. I cried driving to campus to pack up the last of my things and again when I said a brief good-bye to my Team on our weekly Teams call. I was so glad that we had planned a happy hour at Terry Blacks. About 15 folks came and it felt like a bit of closure since it is such a strange time to say good-bye. Southwest has been so good to me and our family. Grant says he feels like his wings have been clipped. I do too. There is no place like Southwest.