Internships...

Well, I think it's safe to say that I am completely buried in internship applications!! I am beginning to feel like this woman here at her desk. :) I am right in the middle of applying for Child Life Internships and I'm beginning to go a little bit crazy. I've been staying up until the wee hours of the morning trying to get cranking on these things, but they are just so clinical and complicated! I've been tempted more than once to raise one hand high above the pile of paperwork and wave the white flag in sweet surrender. My kitchen table is covered with paperwork, resumes, essays and file folders! It's almost like applying to schools all over again... I'm applying across the country hoping that a hospital will take me. It doesn't help that these things are so competitive, but I am entirely trusting in the Lord! Please pray for inspiration, and more importantly... divine intervention! :) 

Happy Birthday Mom!

"A mother is the truest friend we have. When trials, heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when troubles thicken around us, still she will cling to us and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." 

- Washington Irving 

Today is my Mom's Birthday, and I could not be more thankful for her. She is one of the most incredible people I know, and I am so privileged to be able to call her mom. She is beautiful, kind, gracious, patient, generous, interesting, loving, and a real blast! She is one of those people that warms a room with her smile, and she is by far the most selfless person I know. 

Happy Birthday, Mom, and thanks for being you!!! 

Friendship

I have been thinking a lot about friendship lately and how very important it is. Friendship is truly one of the greatest gifts that we can give and receive. Whenever I am feeling down, or just not myself, a conversation with one of my dear friends always picks me right up. True friendship is good for our souls, and it inspires, encourages and loves unconditionally with no bounds. I have been truly blessed with the very best friends in the whole world, and for them I could not be more thankful. My friends mean the world to me, and there are certain soul connections that I could not live without. I don't know what I would do without knowing that I have people in my life that love me unconditionally and are there through thick and thin - through the tears and the side-splitting laughter. There really is nothing like a good laugh that makes you cry and laugh until your stomach hurts! Earlier this week, my mom reconnected with her high school best friend after 22 years. It was so fun to hear her talk on the phone with her, and hear the excitement in her voice as they reminisced and caught up on one another's lives. They laughed all the way through their 2 hour conversation, and it was so special to hear about this friendship and heart connection that is older than I am! This was especially great for me to witness because it gave me hope for the future, and reminded me that when two souls are connected, they are connected for life. Thank you to my friends... each one of you. You are so special to my heart, and for you I am truly grateful. 

2008 Olympics

Okay, so I'm not ashamed to say that I am completely addicted to the Olympics! There is something so amazing about watching our country compete in the greatest sports competition of all time. The Olympics just seem to bring people together too, and I absolutely love that. For two weeks everybody just seems to forget what they are fighting over and sit down and cheer for their country. Whenever the US takes the gold (whether it's in fencing or gymnastics) and I hear our national anthem play, it gives me goosebumps and chills. I absolutely loved watching Michael Phelps crush world record after world record, and Nastia Liuken, and Shawn Johnson take gold and silver in the women's all around gymnastics. I love watching all of the Olympics, but there is something so amazing about watching volleyball! I was glued to the TV today watching the US Men's team beat Serbia in the most exciting game yet! However, two of my heroes have yet to play for the gold... Kerri Walsh and Misty May! You can do it girls, I have complete faith in you! Until then, I'll be glued to the TV! So, here's to a couple more days of US glory and... for these two weeks every four years, I am especially proud to be an American. 

Les Mis at The Hollywood Bowl

This Saturday, I had the privilege of seeing Les Mis in concert at the Hollywood Bowl with my dear friend Mel! It was such a fun night, and it was really neat to be at the Hollywood Bowl. This is such a landmark in our city, and it was just so much fun to be there. Nestled in the Hollywood hills, The Bowl is just so "old hollywood" and there is so much history in that place. One of the best things about it is the fact that you can bring in any kind of food or drink that you want, so we brought in a picnic! We got there early so we could have dinner before the show. It was so cute to see how people do picnics, some went all out with candles and everything! It's also such a great place to people watch, which I love! There were some characters sitting around us which kept us laughing for sure. We had good food, good wine and great company! 

It was so neat to hear the music of Les Mis coupled with the LA Philharmonic. I had never seen the LA Phil before and it was so neat to put their amazing talent with the power of the music from the best musical of our time. I found myself closing my eyes at certain points of the show and just listening to the music. This musical is so incredibly powerful, and it was so great to be reminded of why I love it so much. Every time I listen to the music whether its on stage, or in my CD player, I learn something new. Les Mis is perhaps the only theatre performance that has ever affected me to my absolute core. The play itself is far more than entertainment, it's an experience. I find myself thinking about it for days after, and I think that is a tell tale sign of its power. I think everyone should see the musical at least once in their lives for the amazing life lessons that we take from it. I hope to see it again and again, and until then I'll get the music any way I can! 

Human Kindness

Sometimes it is difficult to believe that human kindness is an inherent quality that we have, and sometimes it can be so all too easy to loose our faith in it when we live in the world that we do. However, today was one of those days that I was so impressed with the kindness that I saw around me... 

I went to the children's hospital today (CHOC) where I volunteer on Sunday afternoons. The hospital can be a difficult place, but this hospital does a great job of treating their patients as kids first and seems to really value their families. With that said, I walked in today (in somewhat of a hurry) and went to clock in. I heard a bunch of commotion in the cafeteria and took a minute to walk by and see what was going on. When I walked in, I saw a sea of people, party decorations, a big birthday cake and the man of the hour...a little boy who was surrounded by all of his friends and family celebrating his 4th birthday. This sight was so heartwarming. It would be so difficult to have to spend your birthday or a holiday in the hospital at any age, and it brought tears to my eyes to see this child's friends, family, and hospital staff together for one common goal... to celebrate this little guy's birthday. Today, he was not a patient, he was a kid surrounded by the people he loves most on a special Sunday afternoon. 

Needless to say, it was a great day at CHOC, but definitely a busy one at that. So, some much needed R & R was required, so I hit the beach with my family for the evening to watch my dad surf and to sit on the beach... so relaxing!! As I was observing, I saw this poor girl loose her surfboard in the water (her leash must have been broken) and this man - a total stranger - swam way far out of his way to grab her board before the surf took it in. Another act of human kindness. Then a few minutes later, this man walks up to us and offers for us to join his family at the fire pit if we were getting cold. Human kindness... maybe it's not so uncommon. It is truly amazing what you see when you are looking for it. I find myself focusing too often on the annoying cashier at the local coffee house, or the angry driver next to me at the stop light. Human kindness often goes unnoticed, but when we take the time to look for it, it truly inspires us to do the same. Here's to human kindness and the hope that it continues to stick around for a while! 

Congrats Archie ~

At the risk of sounding like a twelve year old girl, I wanted to extend my congratulations and support for David Archuleta for his new single that he released on a radio show today! I am so proud of this kid, it's not even funny. For those of you who think that I am a crazed fan, please let me explain. David Archuleta was runner up on American Idol last season and he absolutely held the hearts of America in the palm of his hand. This kid is so precious and has one of the greatest hearts. He captured America with his charm, grace and maturity beyond his years... not to mention a set of pipes that will bring tears to your eyes. I was a fan of his while watching the show (as much as I could be considering the fact that it was a TV show... even a "reality" show leaves you with questions like, "hmmm...I wonder what it is like in REAL life.) Well, that all changed when I was able to get tickets to the American Idol finale and I got to see him LIVE! Needless to say it was an amazing experience and for those of you that know me well, you know that I could not just sit back and watch, I had to be a part of this in some way.... well, let's just say that I met and talked to the Archuleta family for quite some time and his mother even hugged me! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. My mom and I cried through the performance finale and I was just so happy to be there, taking it all in. What an amazing time it was, and I will remember it always.

Congrats David, you have a wonderful career in front of you, and fans like me that are with you the whole way. :) 

For those of you that would like to listen to his new song, I have included a link below for your enjoyment. :) After you get there, hit "click to listen."

http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/davidarchuleta/crush.html