I Hope You Dance

While I'm sure around day 3 or 4, my kids will start wondering when I'm going to come home, I know that everyone will survive without me.  Everyone will be missed but I hope that someday they will look back and understand what this adventure was all about. 

The best explanation for me and the hope I have for my kids was best written by Tia Sillers.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance...I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's work makin'

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance...I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along.

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder

where those years have gone.

I hope you dance...I hope you dance

I hope you dance

A new family in the making...

In early August we learned that we would be assigned to Malatya, Turkey.  While we have shared numerous conference calls over the past 2 months, I look forward to meeting and working with everyone in person.  Everyone that has participated in the CSC program says the network of friends/colleges gained through this experience is so rewarding.  Here is the make up of my team:

Seung Hoon Lee - Korea
Caroline Fiset - Canada
Sheng Chen - China
Li Cai (Charlie) - China
Pallavi Devalapurkar - India
Madeline Vega - Texas, USA
Kristi Dick - Minnesota, USA
Rob Barker - Australia
Nithya Mohan - India
Ricardo Jucioli Struckel Filho - Brazil
Tom Burke - Texas, USA
Khushbu Aggarwal - India
Lysset Hernandez Mellado - Mexico
Julie Coco - Australia

Burning the midnight oil...

Well, this is not unfamiliar territory for me to be up until wee hours of the morning cramming for the next big thing.  It seems my brain doesn't kick into high gear until I'm closing in on the ninth hour.  Maybe that's my excuse for my usual procrastination!?  I find myself to be somewhat of a planner (don't laugh, I just plan a little ;) ).  While I can "go with the flow" I like to have things planned out.  I'm kind of feeling right now that my Turkey plan is a mess!  My belongings are in piles around the house, papers about Turkey are stacked in numerous piles, the list of to dos are numerous and growing!  The things that are accomplished:  Passport in hand, shots completed, Skype installed and configured and tunes loaded on my mp3 player....ah, sounds like I'm ready for the getaway!  One would think I'd learn when to call it enough and keep things in better balance.  I'm beginning to believe that although often exhausting, I enjoy the frenzy and the self imposed pressure...after all, I usually get myself into these situations on my own.  Being busy with meaningful work, boosts my adrenalin and keeps me happy.  Very rarely do I have down time but when I do, I can barely keep my eyes open...right now, I am looking forward to 10 hours of down time in the plane...to recharge for my Turkish adventure!  Seeing that it took me over six months to plan our family vacation to Disney World last year, it's hopeless to think I'd have fully planned for Turkey and later Italy in 2 short months!  I'm gonna have to resort to going with the flow...

Success

I have had the following poem posted in my office for years.  It has been adapted from an original verse by Bessie Anderson Stanley.  I have always hoped to be successful...the poem highlights that success for me is not a point in time nor an award or a status, it is a reputation that must be built throughout life.  I've often wondered how I can touch the world in a deeper way.  Being selected as part of the CSC is an honor and a privilege.  While I know the experience will be awesome, I wonder what more is yet to come as I work to succeed.  This is a journey along the way... 

To laugh often and much,
To win the respect of intelligent people
And the affection of children...
To leave the world a bit better…
To know even one life had breathed easier
Because you had lived,
This is to have succeeded.