What a day

Today I had a closure ceremony for one of my programs called, Tiempo de Oro- The Golden Years. It is a prevention and treatment program for older adults experiencing depression and isolation. It has been a federally funded research program for six years now. The funded ended this year as it was only a research grant. We have been in a total of six communities and served hundreds of older adults. It really has been my favorite program thus far that I have ever worked with. While we have received funding for the program in a new community we had to say good bye to these six communities.
The event was not planned as it should have been as I have been overwhelmed with other projects like a national training conference I facilitated and hosted last week but never the less it was a beautiful day. So the sound didn't work and the video stopped midway and of course our timing was all wrong. So the entertainment was not there on time. Oh, and of course everyone showed up a half an hour early which meant we couldn't complete our practice run thru of the event. But what a day it was!
My most favorite part was the fact that Stefani was there to join in the day's festivities. She helped so much from running and getting us breakfast to handling the lights. She was an awesome help! My second favorite part was seeing all the seniors that could still get up and walk (and some that couldn't) get up and dance throughout the room while the Mariachi played. They sang off tune and danced as much as there legs would allow and it brought tears to my eyes.
The reason I love this program is described in it's name, The Golden Years. Many people look to older age with fear and trepidation but what I have learned is that souls are like Gold, there value only grows with age. Our older adult years are to be met with joy, as we carry the wisdom of all our past years with us. It is our time to pass our memories and wisdom to those around us, our children, grandchildren and even young social workers like myself.
The women and men that I have worked with in this program hug and kiss me like a daughter. They always wear there Sunday best while while sharing there stories of yesterday. Most of our seniors are former field workers who marched with Cesar Chavez. There hands are weathered as are their faces from being in the sun for so many years. Their souls are also weathered. Our seniors, first generation immigrants, have long since been forgotten by there families. I know this sounds harsh but the gap that grows between generations as culture is lost and not passed down can be immense. The Golden Years program has one rule, You Are Family. The reason for this being for many of our seniors this is the only family they have left. The mailman is their son, the checkout lady at the grocery store there daughter, their neighbor, there sister and there comadre their mother.
I was blessed in many ways to be part of this family and it has encouraged me to not fear aging and welcome my wrinkles as symbols of wisdom. I have watched them face illness, death, loneliness and depression with courage and faith. Faith you might ask? Yes, since it is a culturally adaptive program it was founded on the principles of spirituality and God. All of the counselors are believers and use faith as the healing tool. I guess you might say we fooled the government, I like to believe that maybe they got it right this time.

Our day opened today with a prayer amongst the staff . So while I was stressing out and running around like a mad woman, being stern with my staff (as Stefi called it) I knew God was present. The very fact that I was able to stand in front of 150 people and speak was a miracle. And while Tiempo de Oro may be the only family for many of our seniors I was able to look over and see my family, Stefi, supporting me every step of the way!

What a day!

3 years

Today Robby and I are celebrating our three year anniversary. God is good! I though I would share some of my insights on the subject. Here goes:

Lesson #1- Your lessons in marriage may not translate into the marriages of others and visa versa.

Lesson#2- Justifiable anger is best left to the more qualified.

Lesson #3- Check your expectations at the door.

Lesson#4- God's grace becomes more real every day.

Best Friend

I couldn't be more excited to be auntie to three beautiful girls and two very handsome boys! Boys, you might ask...my bestie that I have know since birth (or at least we claim that to be true!) has two beautiful boys and is now starting the adoption journey. I just can't hold in my excitement for her. My brother and sister's journey has been so beautiful and I am still in awe that I have three beautiful nieces. I hear their stories and I am struck by God's goodness. I know that God not only chose for these three beautiful girls as blessing to Sean and Cate but also as blessings to each and every family member. And now, I get to walk every step of the way with my best friend and her family of two. I will be there to share in the glory of expanding her family to three children. She is an amazing mother, wife and friend. We have shared in every stage of life together and I feel as if it couldn't get any better. But it does. God is good!

Maxwell

For all you Urban Hang Suite lovers...Maxwell is in concert pending the release of his new album.

For Sale

Two Dogs For SALE. Will bark at 4:30 am for food. Will bark at 6:00 am for more food. Will not come or sit. Will use the bathroom mat as a toilet. Will use new area rug as a toilet. After an hour spent cleaning the area rug, will use area rug again as toilet. Love chewing shoes, especially brands such as prada and gucci. Will run around house on a panty raid. For SALE for $.05 each.

Ok, so some days you need a bit of humor to get you through. The dogs are actually at Grandma and Grandpa's this weekend spending some quality time with there new cousin parsnip while am trying to seek some balance. Over the past two weeks work has consumed me. My shortest day yet, including Saturdays and Sundays, has been a 15 hour work day. I love my work but I also love being a wife, a daughter, a grandaughter, sister, auntie and best friend. Balance is something I crave. I have yet to realize how to be a career woman, a family woman and a friend. I see other women in my life and somehow they seem to have figured it out. But that is the catch, one shouldn't look to others before looking to God.

So this weekend I will continue working preparing for the week ahead hoping that next month will slow down. But today I am grateful that the house is quiet and my husband is making me laugh. I am greatful that when Robby walked in the house at 8:30 pm I was able to put my work computer away for the night and eat a homemade piece of strawberry pie (very exciting when dinner consisted of cheetos and beef jerkey). Grateful when in the past week meals consisted of microwave dinners every night, McDonalds for breakfast and Jack in the Box for lunch (salad of course to balance the egg mcmuffin).

May sound like I am complaining but quite the opposite, just seeking some insight from others that might experience/d the same. But please don't mention the words character building. The words that resinate in my heart right now are balance, patience, wisdom and most of all, boundries. Boundries so that I have something left at the end of the day for those that most need it.

One last note. Years ago I developed a friendship at work that has lasted more than many others. She is woman of God. Her love language is acts of service. She has spent days moving box after box, listening the groans, moans and well, quite honestly the many fights that happen in the desperation and exhaustion of moving. She opened her home at 3:00 am to host a garage sale for us. She has met me countless times at 10 pm to take the dogs on a 5 mile walk. She has been a faithful, encouraging, accepting and honest friend. She has been a sister to me for 5 years now. She never fails. On monday of this week we met up to catch up on life and I had been at work since 4 am and still had work to do when I met her at 5:3o pm. She sat with me inside Paradise Bakery with a migrane and helped me sort out over 200 pages of statistics. The love that she shares is beautiful.