Taking a Stab

The other day my boss calls me and asks me if I could "take a stab" at a project for her. Of course, I said "yes" because I don't think I have ever said "no" to my boss, ever--or in fact, to any boss, ever. I am just not wired that way. She then tells me as part of our contract renewal for our foster care and preventive services programs they would like to apply to start a Special Medical and Developmental Preventive Program and she wants me to write the proposal, this week. Yikes.

Initially, I was overwhelmed and in fact about five minutes after I sat down to start to write decided that I needed a nap first. Which I took yesterday, but I have been going strong all day today and am having the best time writing a program from the ground up. We are proposing to serve 100 kids in the Bronx and East Harlem with a staff of about 20 workers and I can be as creative as I want. Its basically a program that is intended to serve families who are at risk of their children going into foster care. To be eligible for the program either the parent of the child has to have a chronic or terminal illness, mental retardation or developmental disability or other special medical need.

If you have ideas for a program pass them on and better yet, if you have an idea for a program name pass that on too.

Everyday

Everyday life is creeping up on me and of late I am just loving it. Lovin' each detail just wash over me. I've always loved summers because it doesn't even matter if your routine has changed at all but life slows down. The longer days allow for more time to just be and do. My girls are filling up my hours and I can't seem to get enough of their company. It doesn't last forever and there are those moments, hours and sometimes even full days where it is all too much, too trying, but then on a dime,

you walk in to check on a sleeping baby and see this face

you stop for a roadside potty break and witness this wistful look in a windy field,

you return to the car to see this gummy grip through a dusty window,

you experience in tandem laughing,

your neice dresses your baby like this,

you hold a wiggly one on a warm beach for what feels like forever,

you experience a "frist" and then suddenly, suddenly, suddenly motherhood
becomes joyful again.

SYTYCD Kayla and Kupono

One more reason that I looooove SYTYCD. This dance is so intense and really portrays addiction intimately. I thought Kupono was being a little dramatic until I actually watched the dance, now I am cutting him some slack. Incredible.

MJ 1958-2009

I was just checking blogs and feeling put out that no one seems to update their blogs anymore. Since I don't have that nifty app that tells me when everyone has updated their blog I have to laboriously check them one by one, one by one--disappointment upon disappointment. I was feeling pretty put out when I realized some of you may be put out too when clicking on my blog and finding the same old posts time after time. To appease the blog stalkers out there, this ones for you.

Part of the problem with blogging is finding things to blog about. Several blog ideas have popped into my head lately ranging from the prototypical posts--tribute to Dave on Father's Day (sorry babe, just didn't feel like it although you are a really good dad) and nostalgia from six, count 'em, six years of marriage--to reflective posts--memories of my youngest brother's cancer as a child (prompted by reading My Sister's Keeper) and my month with Jenna (my cute 11-year-old niece) who has reminded me of how amazing and carefree the time between childhood and teenage years can be. 

But today, I just can't get my mind off of Michael Jackson's death. I have always liked MJ (not the dangling baby, my best friend is a monkey or questionable sleep overs MJ, but the amazing music, dance and unbeatable performance MJ) and to date he gave the best concert I have ever been to. 

In honor of the MJ we know and love here are my Top Five MJ Moments:

1. Sixth grade--I purchase my first poster. MJ dressed in a yellow cardigan to match my yellow room. MJ technically becomes my first kiss as my friends and I would kiss him good night before going to sleep. Good times.

2. Freshman year, BYU-Hawaii--I have my first really good laugh at a Relief Society Lesson gone Bad (no pun intended) when the instructor plays Man in the Mirror when trying to drive home the principle of repentance.

3. Study Abroad--September 20, 1993, Tel Aviv, Israel. I see MJ in concert, stage center first row, me and 7000 of my closest friends jam are packed under the stars to see the King on his Dangerous tour. For any of you who have not been to an MJ concert, MJ appears out of nowhere and holds some iconic pose, perfectly still for what seems like five solid minutes, amidst fog and pyrotechnics while the crowd goes wild--WILD. Finally, with unbelievable speed, he breaks the pose and starts to dance. You can't get better than that.

4. Mission, Lyon, France--One of our investigators, Tina, throws a party for the missionaries and invites all her friends. At the party, the friends want to know how Americans dance. All the missionaries are a bit sheepish, except for one 110-pound Elder Barrett Morgan, who volunteers to dance, but first requests a hat as a prop. Tina can only locate a funeral pill box hat complete with a veil. Bay gives a perfect imitation of some classic MJ moves and then as his piece de resistance tips his head, pulls the hat over his face and expertly flings it to the side. The hat flies from his hand out Tina's 16th story apartment building window. 

5. Junior Year, BYU-Provo--my roommate Lianne comes home from a heart wrenching breakup in tears and asks solemnly, "Do you think God can speak to someone through Michael Jackson?". She then explains that post breakup she is driving home and feeling absolutely alone and starts to pray that God will be with her. A few moments later she turns on the radio and hears You're Not Alone.

And there are so many more stories and memories. Dave and Barrett, don't think I forgot about Central Park, NYC 2003 the best phone conversation ever. I'll miss you MJ you are part of the soundtrack of my life.