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Showing posts from 2011

Never Forget

A Month is Rarely Just a Month

So today marks one month since I moved to DC from my beloved NYC. I've progressed a lot, smiled a lot, and dare I say, even cried a lot. Friendships have been tried and tested, new friendships have blossomed, and acquaintances have been made. All of the makings of a good time, right? But here I sit, one month into the three months I alloted myself to get on my feet, and I have just accepted an offer of employment. Taking the leap of faith was difficult, but my friends, it has paid off! This new opportunity is a definite jump for my career and is replete with growth potential. I am so excited to take on social work in DC and rock it out! Woot! I know that as we lean on what we know to be right and take those leaps of faith, we will be rewarded. Much of the difficulties in this transition have been in areas I never expected. But as I tried to focus on the good around me, I saw beauties that I never expected as well. Here's to new friends and tried and true frien

Giving Up What We Love Most...

I posted this picture a few years ago, but it seems to be apropos for my thoughts of late. I have been studying a lot about priorities and the importance of setting aside love of self, love of others and love of things; giving up what we have, to get what we ultimately want. I guess it is up to all of us to determine our own "ultimate prize" and to do what we can, even all we can, to achieve that...and being willing to see our weaknesses, even in the ares where we thought we were strong. I am learning, and not always in the easiest ways, that when we keep our eyes on the ultimate prize and let go of all else around us, what we are hoping to gain will come to us. And often, just the very act of showing our willingness to "give up what we love most," is all that is necessary. Just the willingness. What a beautiful thing.

Fun and Frightful Journey of Life

I saw this picture and it really spoke to me. It made me wonder...if this were a snap shot of life, which kid would I be? Would I be scared to death and cringing with fear, eyes closed? Would I be the previous but with eyes wide open? Or perhaps I might be one with a wide smile looking forward with excitement. I think I have been all of them at different times in life and within each trial of my journey. May we all be able to experience life with our eyes wide open, a smile upon our faces, excitement abounding, and taking it head on...even in the frightful portions of our journey. And may we realize that we chose this roller coaster and have the duty to continue to choose the path we know to be right. Come what may and love it!

A True Test of Friendship

"It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship." Henry Ward Beecher I am grateful to have friends who love me enough to help me grow...friends that are there to weather the storm.

End of an Era

Two years as roommates, three years in nyc, two years of foster care work in Brooklyn, and countless struggles and blessings later.....It's the end of an era. Blogging about the transition rather than simply stating it's over may help me settle the idea in my heart. It's hard to believe that I no longer live in nyc. Almost harder to believe that I know live in DC. It's natural to have difficulties when all of your time has been caught in a whirl wind......work, work, work has been my life. I am turning over a leaf and making myself part of the equation....which is difficult and strange all at once. I am still too close to the whole thing to see my new adventure developing but I have made it to the stage where reality has set in. I am here, nyc is there, and such is life. Our last picture as roommates. Saying goodbye I almost lost it...all the love came flooding forward. It was the end of an era. We had a great run, Jules! I guess it's time for us both to ta

Life

So I am all moved to the DC area and I am doing my best to settle in. Moving from NYC to suburbia has not been the easiest adjustment but I am doing my best and counting my blessings.

Fourth of July in NYC

My last Independence Day in NYC was wonderful! My friend Victor invited me and a few friends to view the Macy's show from a rooftop 50 floors up. We could see all of the barges on the river and the show was spectacular. Thanks Victor! Great way to end my time here in NYC. I'm headed for California to visit my family then DC here I come.

And the day came.....

Yesterday I said goodbye to my job as a New York foster care worker. It was bittersweet in ways I never expected. Saying goodbye to my clients was more difficult than I expected it to be. Many of these kids have caused sleepless nights and endless stress in my life....and they are the ones I had the hardest time saying goodbye to. I know they will be in good hands, but for two years, they have been in my heart. I have advocated for them, done my best to teach them, tried my hardest to help them see how special they are, ensured that they were well cared for. I have been a teacher, a friend and yes, at times, even a mom. As I worked to serve them, I am left with the feeling that they actually served me. I was taught more patience and persistence and given more capacity to love even when the object of my affection was driving me crazy sometimes. It's interesting how things turn out.

Make A Wish

My wish for quite sometime has been that I would find excitement again. It looks like that wish has been granted. I gave my 30 day notice at work and I am moving to DC. I could not be more excited! My time in nyc has been amazing....everything I hoped it would be. I got an incomparable education at Columbia, lived in an amazing apartment in the heart of Midtown, made wonderful friends, and worked my bootie off for clients in Brooklyn. What more could a person ask for?! But here's to the next chapter of my life. Woot woot! I have special friends in DC and I am making new connections each day with the help of many friends. Thanks, guys! I can hardly wait to see what the future holds as I work to become that rock star social worker I know I was meant to be!!

Light in the Storm

I saw this and it really made me think about my struggles over the last year. What has been my light in the storm? At times it has been the fact that I knew I was in the position I was supposed to be in. Other times it was the knowledge that God wouldn't bring me this far just to have me fail. To be truthful, there were many times I couldn't see the light at all. During these times it was most important to keep moving forward and not be swayed by the waves of the sea. I haven't always accomplished this with grace and dignity, but perhaps that will be one of the blessings that will come from working in an environment wherein every person I serve is in crisis to varying degrees. Let's hope! And many thanks to my friends for your love and encouragement. I could not have weathered this storm without you!

Making Due With What You've Got

This little girl in the picture always wanted a horse. She wasn't able to get one. She decided to train her cow to jump hurdles with her. Such a perfect example of making due with what you've got. This girl not only "makes due," she excels! What a great example to me. I have been learning and growing a lot the past 7 months. Much to share.....but it has been far too long since I posted so i thought I would send a blog post into the world and see if any one of my friends are still reading. Love you guys! Going to be making an effort to blog more often. Wish me luck!

Endings and Beginnings

Just a few updates on how I said goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011. Wow! 2011!!! Crazy! Julie took me for a surprise adventure for my Christmas gift. We rode the train out to Milburn, New Jersey....I had no idea why. Turns out she was taking me to see Les Miserables. It was incredible!!! I have the best roommate! I had the chance to go home for Christmas and although my California really let me down by raining the whole time, I still had fun with family. One on my friends from Mongolia just happened to be in town when I was there.....I got to meet her wonderful son Christopher and her husband Keith. Chimge and I haven't seen each other for nearly 10 years when we were missionaries together. It was wonderful to visit! Then for New Years Eve, David came up from DC. It's tradition now to ring in the New Year in Times Square. It's such a blessing that the crowds line up right by my apartment. We only have to run out in the cold 15 minutes before the ball drops and