The Opening Story…

An Overview of My Story

2 Timothy 2

~ education ma/abs

With deep gratitude to those who pioneered the way, I earned a unique, experiential learning degree from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington: holding a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) from the Leadership Institute of Seattle (LIOS), in the Managing and Consulting track, where I am grateful for learning to think in whole systems.  This education is useful in the field of Organization Development (OD).  

OD Consultants learn and train in a broad skillset, the best in my opinion becoming seers with an an intense, pin-pointedness for the tiniest detail that hides in an unseen realm -- but reveals so much of the heart and stuck outcomes.

In fact, what's intrinsically key in this field of work is what is operating in the heart -- and who can know it?  A keen, watchful eye is needed to sense and see clearly the whole system at play: form and function -- task and process. 

The OD skillset includes: consulting, managing, leadership development, mentoring, coaching -- life coaching as the buzz is now -- training, teaching, facilitating groups, mediating for conflict resolution, relational communication skills training, authority alignment and decision making, appreciative inquiry, behavioral testing, the role of emotion as well as many other aspects of human development in organizations.

ABS is the core understandings versus as one of my teachers called out much:  "the flavor of the month" coaching, consulting, and testing.  Organizations often decentralize and then centralize .... searching for the answer but never getting to the root functioning producing the outcomes. I love the ABS field because we can actually influence what is REALLY happening!

Hence, my personal emphasis focuses upon, and engages in, specifically HOW emotion is driving behavior in any system -- aware or unaware -- and, essentially, becomes the wave that connects unseen roots to seen fruit: essentially the governing system in the individual leading a home, group, church, organization, or business. 

I realized the need for this work in the many service positions I held throughout the years: employee relations representative, event planner, assistant, hotel concierge, banquet server, tourguide, journalist, waitress, teller, journalist, hostess, and yes, ... as a person in churches.

1 Peter 2

~ faith

For me, I began to see the roots of the above education were interestingly very similar to the seed of Biblical principles and believing we worship in Spirit and Truth.  What seemed like a pinnacle in education and experience, became for me a return with the LORD and just a stepping stone along my path -- ultimately, a catalyst for my passion to reveal and reconcile the principles of design to the original Designer: the Great I AM, whom I have known since I was age 8.  

I now seek to find ways to generously credit Elohim, whom I see as offering the most amazing love story: the Father sending His son Jesus (in Hebrew Yahshua HaMachiach), who comes to redeem us, His segulah (special treasure), back to His Kingdom of the Beloved in His order of Isaiah 61 -- offering beauty for ashes of our lives ... our homes via the Holy Spirit.  

So my research, experience, interests, and passion now funnel together in a cohesive, practical, come-alongside offering of service and consulting to help others rise up to meet His joyful Royal Standard!   At my core, I am a trainer and teacher who delights in equipping and finding colorful, fun models and show pieces to convey paradigm shifting, life-giving principles for practical gains in all organizations.

Titus

~ the story of our home

Married 25-years to my amazing husband Brad, we now have three adult children. I laid down my newly-begun career in Employee Relations and OD before our first child was even born -- later, however, to my delightful surprise, I realized that along the way I had seeded not only into the investment of our family but also into my calling.

I intimately began to understand the needed development for this dynamic organization we call .... Home and Church! 

It's a deep-dive paradigm shift for "home" to be seen as a homology in the same waters as organization development. We forget -- or curiously omit home and church, for some reason -- to apply OD principles to it ... or perhaps just simply Biblical principles understood well in the design of our Creator.  This shift to restore the design of "home" from the family table to the boardroom table necessitates governing well from the heart... something for which we need a pure language.  

So while I consult all organizations, "home" is my niche love because I see it affecting SO much.  Many sadly now cannot feel the lovable place of home it has been so marred.  I believe this particular organization IS the prototype for kingdoms: building families…communities…and the nations.

Deuteronomy 6:7, Proverbs 22:6

~ homeschooling

A significant personal shift for home management/governance began for us in 2009 when my husband and I decided in California to begin homeschooling our children, and we moved to the Greater Denver Colorado area.  Suddenly, my role as wife and mom expanded.

With no OD consultants to call upon in this new arena ... we began.  And that is how this consulting practice really birthed.  Out of the sheer gracious hand of Elohim instilling a finishing work in me to begin....a new offering in the OD field for home ... and the larger home of churches.

Galatians 5 & 6

~ fruit of application

So that you know the refining was tested -- or proven -- we moved 9 times before our eldest graduated high school, handling two house floods and the threat of a wildfire in the midst.

In addition to the above, we governed through many -- and much -- house designing and renovating; several dear losses; baseball schedules; multiple job losses; family leadership & relationships; and spiritual maturation. These became a wealth of topical resources that are our joy to share for encouragement. All to say, that our lives had challenges, but we were able to communicate well, listen at the heart level, and preserve relationship.  Our life turns created only more treasure in our own application of this consulting work and journey with the LORD. 

All the pruning and attending to our hearts produced the fruit of all three kids possessing rich, loving and purposeful relationships with the LORD, us, and each other while hearing His voice directly in their own life to step into governing and service.  

Our son is pursuing Constitutional Law and mentoring young adults along the way while serving in the political process, and our two younger daughters are young professionals of universities' Interior Design & Honors programs, the eldest having graduating May 2024 and the younger graduating May of 2026 with the addition of a French major. Both also influence the political process. The three of them delighted in back packing Europe together for 40-days last summer deepening their relationship.

Psalm 37:4

~ essential extras

In consulting, I love to couple the whimsical from my theatrical and dance background with deep purpose.  The core theme in my work with  home is the love of the "table" in all its facets.  Probably, when all is understood, the best digestible whole-design description of my work ... might well be summed up as a hand-maiden for the Keeper of the Wardrobe readying all as Table Setters for the LORD. 

I deeply value the finesse of hospitality ... as it so reveals the condition of our hearts.  My favorite times at the table remain the break thru, "ah-ha" moments that reveal, celebrate, and facilitate purposes of the King of all kings!

We are living in an important time to see, hear, and speak in the call to rise, dress, and come to the table, where so much abundant life exists in what is yet to be designed together in order to become prepared for our King!  We have much before us in finishing to begin.  May all the glory  and honor be to Him!

~ erin