Encore: I think I'm in love

In the coming weeks, I will be re-posting some of my favorite posts from the past six years on this blog. Yes, I have had this blog for nearly SIX years! I have revisited some of these posts lately. It is interesting to me how much life has changed. For those who are new around here, it will give you a glimpse of the journey. I am calling this series "Encore." If you'd like, you can vote on your favorites.


Best of 2006
Here is one of the nominees from July 2006. Just as everything was shifting...Kenyon enters. 



I don't think I've ever been in love before (sad, but true); but, if love makes you feel like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound, if you think about the person all the time, if you want to spend EVERY minute of your day with them, if you enjoy time with them even if you are doing nothing in particular, if you long to see them when you are apart, if you can't imagine what life was like before they arrived - if that is what love is like then I am definitely in love. I've only known Kenyon for a short time (a matter of weeks), but I love him. He is an amazing man. Yesterday he decided to cook dinner for me. The condition of my kitchen is embarrassing. I have two pans; a sauce pan and an omelet pan. I have no food - frozen dinners and E-Z Mac, yes...anything of substance, nope. I did have four month old milk in the fridge (I can't believe I just admitted that to the world. Disgusting!). He took an inventory of what I had then made dinner for us. After dinner he cleaned the dishes and the kitchen. He also proceeded to fix my food disposal. It hasn't worked for a couple weeks but I hadn't done anything about it. He can cook and is handy?! I think I'm going to hang on to this one. I leave to India on Friday. I'm looking forward to the trip and seeing the children at Light of Love, but I am going to miss him terribly. He is going to pick me up from the airport when I return - I can hardly wait to see him again and I haven't even left yet. I feel like a giddy teenager and I'm nearly 30, what's up with that?! New to me.

Encore: a word on change...

In the coming weeks, I will be re-posting some of my favorite posts from the past six years on this blog. Yes, I have had this blog for nearly SIX years! I have revisited some of these posts lately. It is interesting to me how much life has changed. For those who are new around here, it will give you a glimpse of the journey. I am calling this series "Encore." If you'd like, you can vote on your favorites.


Best of 2006
Here is one of the nominees from July 2006. My sense of security was shifting. I was leaving steady employment (and paycheck) to begin a PhD program. Thus prompting (the first) downsizing of my life. My close friends were relocating. I had no idea what the future would hold and I was struggling with massive amounts of change. I had loved the old life and didn't like the uncertainty of the unknown.


I don't mean the kind of change that jingles in your pocket, no, I mean life altering change. Change that rocks your world, moves your comfort zone, and makes you want to curl up in the fetal position and suck your thumb. I always thought I was good with change. In business, I like change. I don't want to stay in one place too long. I want to be cutting edge and a leader. I've learned recently that in my personal life I like stability and comfort. My personal life is changing. Some of it by choices I've made, some of it totally out of my control. It has caused me to reevaluate my opinion of change and have empathy for those who are not as comfortable with corporate change as I am. Below are some interesting quotes on change:

"Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up."
— James Belasco and Ralph Stayer, Flight of the Buffalo (1994)

"Change has a bad reputation in our society. But it isn't all bad — not by any means. In fact, change is necessary in life — to keep us moving ... to keep us growing ... to keep us interested . ... Imagine life without change. It would be static ... boring ... dull."
— Dr. Dennis O'Grady in Bottom Line - Personal

"Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
—John F. Kennedy

Common theme? Change can be a good thing - though painful at times.

What changes am I experiencing? Lots and lots of life-altering change. I am in the midst of a career change. I will go from full-time working professional in a job I really enjoy, to the unknown status of full-time student. I will change jobs. I'll be working on a grant for the department to earn my financial aid, as well as have a part-time employer to make ends meet. As a result, I have been downsizing my life for approximately 8 months; new home, new car, new budget. My friends are moving. I often referred to a close group of friends as the three W's - Whincop's, Warren's and William's families. The Williams family have gone to Virginia near Washington D.C. Since they've gone I no longer have Tuesday night family night. The Warren's are building a home in North Kansas City. It is a longer drive and a part of the city I rarely visit. I am helping them move in to an apartment this weekend. I currently work with Elaine, the change in job and the move will likely mean we will see less of each other. In approximately two weeks the Whincop family will reside in China. They have a contract on their house and have made all the arrangements to relocate. I already feel the loss of their friendship. I don't like any of these changes. If I had a magic wand, life would have remained the same. But, I don't have a magic wand or a jeannie in a bottle. Rather, I have to learn to adjust. Yuck! I have to believe the hope found in the above quotes; maybe, just maybe, change can make room for new possibilities, growth, and a brighter future. Maybe?

Encore: Amazing Race

In the coming weeks, I will be re-posting some of my favorite posts from the past six years on this blog. Yes, I have had this blog for nearly SIX years! I have revisited some of these posts lately. It is interesting to me how much life has changed. For those who are new around here, it will give you a glimpse of the journey. I am calling this series "Encore." If you'd like, you can vote on your favorites.


Best of 2006
Here is one of the nominees from April 2006. This reminds me that although some things change, many stay the same. Amazing Race is still my favorite show. I still don't have regular access to television. And, despite the fact that she lives half the world away, Fiona is still one of my Besties.


One of my favorite TV shows is the Amazing Race. It combines two of my favorite things; competition and travel! Granted, I haven't watched the show regularly in over a year - why? Because for some time I didn't even own a television. I now own a nice television, given to me as a gift. However, I don't get any reception on it and I'm too cheap to pay for cable. It's great for watching DVD's. Smile!

Fiona and I have talked about being competitors on the Amazing Race for years. One problem - she's not an American citizen and the show requires a US Passport. Bummer!

Today we did the next best thing. A group of friends got together and did an all out scavenger hunt in KC. We visited parks and tourists spots. We had to eat a cup of jello. We played frisbee golf. We climbed countless hills and stairs. We wrote (and performed) cheers, songs and stories. We shopped at a Goodwill. We fed ducks. We drove fast. We got lost. We did not win. However, I was voted "most competitive" on my team - shocking I'm sure. It was a great event. I give special props to the group who coordinated the event. It was truly an amazing race! We ended the evening with a BBQ and good company.

Enjoy the pic...the visor was purchased for $0.25 each at the thrift store. It was our team uniform. Our name was 3 girls and a guy. Fun does not do the experience justice! You have got to join us next year!

Encore: visit to India

In the coming weeks, I will be re-posting some of my favorite posts from the past six years on this blog. Yes, I have had this blog for nearly SIX years! I have revisited some of these posts lately. It is interesting to me how much life has changed. For those who are new around here, it will give you a glimpse of the journey. I am calling this series "Encore." If you'd like, you can vote on your favorites.


Best of 2006
Here is one of the nominees from March 2006. I had a day job at the University of Kansas, but my passion was India. All of my free time, vacation time, and dollars were invested in this passion. Who knew where this would ultimately lead? ONLY God! Premdas is still my hero and inspiration.

I just returned from another adventure in South India. We visited approximately 10 water projects...eight in one day. These borewells will supply clean drinking water for thousands! We visited the Light of Love Children's home - my new home away from home. This visit was too short, but it was nice because the children knew my name, I knew some of their names and there was familiarity with the people and place. We also participated in two housing projects; one in a tsunami area and one that had been devastated by fire, both reach the poorest of the poor. My purpose this time was to transport medical supplies. I took as much as would fit in the space allowed by the airlines. I arrived home yesterday, I received an email this morning from a volunteer in Tuni who said they have put the bandages to good use already. I was glad to hear it.

I will return to India in June. The purpose of that trip is to scope out a new location for a second orphanage. I will also transport additional medical supplies and school supplies for the children. Their academic year starts in July.

I want to share with you one of the most memorable stories from my trip. The picture of the girl above is Varalaxmi. She is 19 years old. She was married at 16 - not uncommon in that part of the world. What she did not know is that her husband had AIDS. In their first week of marriage he had a fever. That is when she discovered the truth. She is already a widow. They have a two year old son. She is infected with HIV. She has asked Dr. Prem Das to take her child in to the Light of Love Children's home in the new academic year. Her parents want her to remarry because they don't want the responsibility of caring for her. She wants to spend her last days near her son, and has asked to also work at the home as long as she is able. Prem Das has agreed. He has done this before on more than one occasion. Prem Das asked me to be part of the intake interview while I was there. Her story was heartwrenching. I took this picture during her telling of that story. It captured emotion I cannot convey.

Please pray for the work that is being done in India. Please pray for these people in desperate situations. Please pray that I will be faithful and diligent in my work with them. There is so much need that at times it is hard to believe one person can make a difference, then I look to Prem Das example and the thousands of people he has helped - I know then it is worth the effort. 

Encore: an inspiring love story

In the coming weeks, I will be re-posting some of my favorite posts from the past six years on this blog. Yes, I have had this blog for nearly SIX years! I have revisited some of these posts lately. It is interesting to me how much life has changed. For those who are new around here, it will give you a glimpse of the journey. I am calling this series "Encore." If you'd like, you can vote on your favorites.


Best of 2006
Here is one of the nominees from January 2006. I was single and living in Kansas City at the time. Days before writing this post I had attended the funeral of a 27 year old newlywed.

There is a couple at my church that demonstrated love in ways I cannot comprehend. He was in his mid-twenties when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer. They had their first date after he started the chemo treatments. In October 2005 they were married. The cancer took him in January 2006. I attended the funeral two weeks ago today.

I don't understand why he had to die at 27 - that is too young. He bravely fought the cancer. Inspite of everything, he remained transparent and honest. I can't remember a time that I asked him how he was doing and he didn't reply with a genuine answer. I don't understand how either of them had the courage to love, knowing it may only be for a short time. Though I don't understand it, I find their story inspiring.

Below is an excerpt from his eulogy:

Cancer is not kind to the person who suffers from it, but there are some things it can’t do. It cannot…

• Cripple love.
• Shatter hope.
• Corrode faith.
• Eat away peace.
• Destroy confidence.
• Kill friendship.
• Shut out memories.
• Silence courage.
• Invade the soul.
• Reduce eternal life.
• Lessen the power of the resurrection.

I aspire to posess just a portion of their trust in God and their love for each other.