Encore: Valentine's Elf?

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 2007
Here is one of the nominees from February 2007. Some traditions die hard. The Valentine's Elf lives on and has made appearances in various US locations as well as overseas. However, I still haven't decided on a costume.


What might a Valentine's elf look like? I'm taking suggestions, because I think I'm going to wear a costume next year while I deliver v-day gifts to single women. This year, at one of the offices I visited a co-worker of one of the delivery reciepients said, "She's back. The Valentine's elf comes every year." Imagine an office full of people working and the Valeninte's elf walks in. Just so you know, I refuse to wear an adult diaper like cupid. I don't think that is an appropriate v-day elf costume. What's your vision of the Valentine's elf? I'd love to hear about it.

This year I couldn't afford flowers, so instead I delivered conversational hearts. I found some that were written in Spanish. Cool! I had a great time keeping my tradition as the holiday delivery person. I'm already looking forward to it next year. What's great is that many of the women have come to anticipate it. One single mom said, "I woke up this morning and wondered if you'd show up." Of course! I love that she anticipated it. It gives her something to look forward to, rather than think about what she is missing out on. At another office where I visited a single gal whose never been married, but would really like to be I found her empty desk so I left a note and the gift. As I was leaving I saw her in the hall talking with a co-worker. I said, "I left something on your desk." She walked off with a smile and a pep in her step. The co-worker told me they were just talking about how much she hates this holiday because it makes her feel lonely. What timing!

I hope you know how special you are, even if you don't have a special someone to recognize it.

Encore: My favorite place on earth

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 2007
Here is one of the nominees from January 2007. India remained my passion. Kenyon and I continued dating. I was a full-blown PhD student -  I kindly refer to those years as "self-imposed torture."


I decided on this recent trip to India that Light of Love Children's home is my favorite place on earth. I love the people. I love the climate. It is said that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, but its not - the happiest place is with the children in Tuni.

On this trip I taught the 400+ children to say "I love you" in American sign language. It was overwhelming to receive that message in return. It was great to walk to the campus and be able to tell children up close or from a distance, "I love you." On my first trip a few years ago the children were uncomfortable receiving hugs, now hugs and kisses are the norm and we have progressed to saying these precious words.

I am part of a very large family in India. To some I am "sister," to some I am "mommy," to all I am "friend." What an amazing gift to be part of such a large and loving family!

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!