Catholic Charities Spokane Blog

Catholic Charities Family Services Center

I’m in the middle of a race.  That’s not something that you often hear from a woman who is pregnant – but this is an unusual race.  My competition is Catholic Charities.  At the same time that my body is working to grow a brand new baby inside of me, Catholic Charities is working to build a new facility: the Catholic Charities Family Services Center.

 Both “projects” have been underway for quite some time.  I will admit that the agency got a head start, but that project requires more people and materials.  And while it’s easy to see the progress being made on the building whenever you drive by, it’s not as easy for me to determine just how much bigger baby is getting, even as my waistline expands.

Both projects are rapidly approaching our completion dates.  When I think of my upcoming due date I am filled with excitement and some anxiety.  Childbirth is a somewhat daunting task that I can read about and see on video.  But until experiencing it first-hand, it is still a foreign concept.  Becoming a parent will be a transition for me.  No longer are my needs and desires my top priority.  I have to consider the needs of a little person who will be depending on me.  My newly expanded family will experience growing pains as we learn to adjust to sleep patterns and feeding times.  At the same time, I know there will be extreme joy in being a parent and watching the development of my baby girl as she grows into her own personality. 

Thinking of moving the diverse group of Catholic Charities programs and staff members into one location also fills me with excitement and anxiety.  The opportunity to collaborate between programs and share resources to better meet the needs of our clients is very exciting.  Yet I do wonder if I’ll need to wait in line to microwave my lunch or use the copy machine.  I’m sure that “business as usual” will adjust for each of us as we are rubbing elbows with many more staff.  The Catholic Charities family will also experience growing pains as we adapt to new security measures and shared spaces.  Yet there will also be the joy in having a newly renovated office space, being able to ask questions directly to staff in another program without driving across town, and creating opportunities for clients to meet multiple needs all in one facility.

So as I pack a box or feel the baby kick, I realize what a thrilling time this is.  There are so many things to look forward to and be excited about being a part of.  And I will keep comparing the construction timeline to my own due date to see where both projects stand.  Construction is notorious for delays – so I’m sure that I’m gaining on their progress.  I may still win this race yet!