I’m logging back in with a little more confidence, clarity, and a heart that grew several sizes.

Before anything else, thank you, cousins.

To our Open Horizon fam, thank you for carrying our work forward with such care. While I was away, you didn’t just steward our mission (as our partners give life to our vision)—you also cared for me. So many of you welcomed a mostly new team with generosity, patience, and kindness. Beyond the work, you checked in with texts, phone calls, thoughtful notes, and surprise goodies for both me and Baby Thunder. Those gestures mattered more than you know, and they reminded me that community isn’t just something we fund or talk about—it’s something we practice.

And speaking of little Mr. Thunder...

Mr. T is growing beautifully into a super handsome, curious, and surprisingly thoughtful little human. (The surprising part is that he lets us sleep pretty decently). He already loves books (which makes my heart very happy). He’s still negotiating his relationship with tummy time, but we’re making progress. He’s accidentally rolling over now, and every time he does, we celebrate like he just won an Olympic gold metal, so he’ll know he accomplished something worth repeating.

He’s discovered that he has a very big voice and has been experimenting with new sounds, pitches, and dramatic pauses. I suspect he’s preparing for keynote speaking engagements or the opera—or perhaps simply practice for informing us that diaper service is overdue.

He also recently noticed the dogs. Watching everyone figure each other out has been one of my favorite parts of these last few weeks. Our pups have been incredibly respectful as Thunder becomes more aware of the world and the beings who share it with him.

These months have changed me.

Parenthood hasn’t simply added another role to my life, it has reshaped how I see people. I’m reminded daily that everyone is someone’s baby. Every person I meet was once held, comforted, celebrated for their first roll, first laugh, first brave attempt at something new. There is something profoundly grounding about remembering that.

At the same time, watching a tiny human learn reminds me that growth never really ends. We are all still becoming. We are all capable of approaching challenges with a beginner’s mind—a humble “baby approach” filled with curiosity, resilience, experimentation, and grace for not getting it right the first time.

That is the perspective I hope to bring back with me as I return to leading Open Horizon.

So, I’ll ask for a little patience as I find my rhythm again. Leaving this sacred season at home with my new little human is bittersweet. I’ll be catching up on four months of conversations, reconnecting with partners, and settling back into the inspiring work we do together.

I’ll be easy with myself, and I hope our community will be too- let us continue to center love and abundance.

Thank you for making it possible for me to take this time fully. Thank you for loving our family so well. Thank you for reminding me that the strongest organizations are built not only on strategy and vision, but also on relationships, generosity, and genuine care for one another.

I’m grateful. Major appreciation to our Open Horizon team for nourishing our organization during my leave and especially to Tina Cruz-Hubbard for leading as Acting ED.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to resist the urge to applaud every successful email sent the way we’ve been applauding every successful tummy-time attempt at home.

Written by D’Lynn Jacobs, Open Horizon Executive Director