The Next Chapter - March 23, 2013

Hey there, hi there and hello there.  Wow, it has been a while and what a start to 2013!  Many happy birthdays and a big congrats to the Flugum Family on their newest addition, baby Gump is awesome!!  Since I last wrote we've had a great Christmas, some fun volunteer activities and o yes, a move to Columbia, South Carolina!
These past holidays were a blast back home.  I think we were able to accomplish 6 Christmas celebrations in 3 days these past holidays, great times with family and friends indeed.  2012 wrapped up pretty amazingly I would have to say, and without further words ... how about a video of the top 10 for '12:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw9boR06qCc&list=UULoF65i50fEbEkDDXtDK1rA&index=2
Welp, our 2013 started off with a bang indeed that included a visit back home to watch some showchoir and basketball action with the bro, you rock Blake!!  Then, we got word that our time in Columbus, Georgia would be coming to a end.  Jenny, Lincoln and I agreed that an offer to move up to Aflac Group in Columbia, South Carolina would be a great new adventure.  While we're excited about the opportunity, it was touch saying farewell to such a great group of friends at Aflac, St. Francis and everywhere in between in the community.
Aflac started off the year great and thanks to a wondermous team, I was afforded a promotional opportunity to become the new Senior Manager of the Process Innovation & Control team as well as the Quality and Research/Resolution teams.  It was indeed bittersweet to bid adieu to a group of people that have become like family over the last four years.  To make it eve more memorable, they made this epic film that will be a great memento to remember everyone for many a year:) http://vimeo.com/60843526 (password = fantacular)
We joined some great friends up at Aflac Group, including a couple of my good pals Eddie and Jason of whom I tenure with this year during Employee Appreciation Week.  These first few weeks at Group have been amazing, especially being able to meet some really great people. I am so fortunate to have a couple leaders on my team that truly know their business and have made it that much easier for me to get engaged in some fun initiatives.  Speaking of fun, we did some minute to win it game action for our Fun Fridays, work hard play hard!!
Jenny also had to say farewell to her friends at St Francis.  Since she is kind of a big deal, it literally took her two weeks to find a new gig which she is pumped about.  Tomorrow she is starting at Palmetto Hospital here in Columbia, a great organization and great leadership which she is looking forward to.
I closed out the volunteer front down in Columbus with some great events.  First off was the YP kickoff meeting in late January.  Then came the Trivia Bee for the Literacy Alliance, which was an absolute blast and fun time.  Then, the week before we left it was the final Live United Youth Camp farewell.  All of these organizations truly made Jenny and I feel like we had a home away from home.  I hope that the time spent over the last five years giving back will continue to be paid forward by some of the most amazing people I have ever met, so many hours on boards and rolling up sleeves truly made an amazing impact on my life, thank you:)  You have inspired me to continue giving back, so I've gotten engaged with the local United Way and got Aflac to approve a campaign to give back, lots more to come!!
All the cards lined up just perfectly too on the house front.  We came up to visit one weekend and found our dream home, for quite the steal!!  Then, nine days after we put our Columbus home on the market, it was under contract and closed this past week.  We moved in to our new house in Lexington, SC the day we drove up and Jenny has been painting ever since ... which looks amazing, even the Tibetan Orange;)
Since we had been here a whole week, we thought it a good idea that we run a half marathon up in Columbia.  Little did we know how many hills this city had, but it was fun to run with Jenny, Kayla and Chunko a whole 13.1 miles in about 2 hours and 7 minutes.  Then Jenny and I signed up for some indoor soccer action we're starting in a couple weeks, pumped!

O yes, then we had some great visitors come on down from the Bridgewater side.  Becca, Deb and Jeff joined the Klein Hotel for a great week of shopping, eating, purchasing random items and a visit to Charleston.  The trip to the port city was a blast, lots of walking and touring the USS Yorktown made for a memorable excursion.  Thanks Bridgewaters for a fun visit, and to all ... we're always open for friendly faces:)
Welp, we have Myrtle Beach next weekend, a visit to Columbus for a wedding, Jenny with a trip back home and much more excitement in the works.  Life's blessings keep on landing upon us and Lincoln continues to enjoy the finer things in life, like a fenced in backyard!
Always,











Nate