I should be flattered???

Well just as I start to get excited that the school year is wrapping up and my job will slow down for the summer, all kinds of craziness begins.

On Wednesday one of the deans at my place of employement asked me to come to her office to talk to her. I must admit, it made me a little nervous because I had no idea what she wanted to talk to me about. It felt almost like getting called to the principal's office! She stared off by telling me that the conversation was off the record. Then she explained that the main secretary in her side of the building is leaving in the summer and with the current hiring freeze they will only be allowed to post within the university. So she wanted to know if I would even be interested in applying. Now this job entails working from 8-5 everyday and working directly with the students and faculty doing all kinds of really lame stuff. In my current job I work from 7:30-4 and get to leave early pretty much every Friday because I end up at least a half hour of overtime each week (today I get to leave at 2:15). And in my current position I rarely have to associate with the professors (note: lawyers as professors equals a whole lot of obnoxious, pompous behavior) and the law students. And my bosses are so laid back and wonderful to work for. Needless to say, I very promptly responded with "No thanks, I love my job"! I guess I should be flattered that they thought of me for the position, but there is no way that I would ever want to work over in that side of the building.

Another "flattering" experience happened yesterday. I was put on a university committee in December when a girl left after having her baby. This committee does an annual conference for all university administrative and staff employees each year (meaning a lot of people). By coming in in December, I was thrown into my assignment about halfway through it and had to figure a lot of things out as I went. Thankfully the conference was great and everything worked out. But I decided that for this next year I would ask to be put on one of the easy sub-committees (making the handouts or being in charge of the luncheon). When I submitted my request I was informed that they were actually sending me a letter asking me to be one of 2 vice-chairs on the committee. Really, why me??? I of course accepted, because I just can't say no. My boss said that I must have done too good of a job. I told him that I tried not to! The one good thing is that this will look good on my resume for graduate school!

Speaking of graduate school, I will be sending in my application for the Executive Masters of Public Administration program next week (hopefully). This will mean that if I get in, in addition to working full-time I will also be going to school at night for 3 years and doing all this other "extra-curricular" stuff! But the program is specifically for people who are working full-time so they understand our time contraints. Anyway, any positive, good luck vibes you want to send my way will be greatly appreciated!

So I just realized that this blog is just a lot of complaining! Sorry about that. On a happy note, I only have 10 more minutes of work and the sun is shining today and melting all the snow outside! I love you sunshine!

"I have been changed for good"

{Paul, his wife Lynette, and litte Eden}

Monday night I had the opportunity to attend one of the most amazing concerts I have ever attended. What made it amazing wasn't just the great performers (although they are some of my favorites: Peter Breinholt, Colors, Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, David Tolk, and Steve Sharp Nelson)but it was amazing because of who and what it was for. (For more pictures of the concert check out my sister's post.)

The concert was titled "Living for Eden". It was a benefit concert for Paul Cardall who has had congenital heart disease since he was born and last August he had heart failure. He is now on the list for a heart transplant and has been on it for over 200 days. He is 35 years old and is married with a little 3 year old daughter Eden. Paul Cardall is an amazing pianist also and all these performers came together and donated their time and talents to raise money to help the Cardall family offset some of the medical costs they are and will be experiencing with the heart transplant. To learn more about Paul's journey, his blog is http://mytricuspidatresia.blogspot.com/.

Just prior to the start of the concert Paul walked in carrying a portable oxygen tank and looking very tired but also very happy. I was just amazed that he was there.

The performers all did a wonderful job. During the concert they talked about a little girl who just died last month from complications from a heart transplant. Gracie was only 11 months old and Paul met her at Primary Children's Medical Center. They showed some clips of her while performing and it just made me so sad to see the pictures of her short life with her family, but it was also inspiring because for one so young, she was smiling so much in the pictures and videos they showed.

And then as the concert was coming to an end Peter Brienholt invited Paul and his family to come up on the stage to say a few words. Peter had said that they had been hoping he would be able to do this, but they just weren't sure until right before if his health would allow him to. As Paul and Lynette were talking (and Eden was running around dancing) I was so inspired by their love for each other and also their gratitude and humility for all the people who took part in the event and all the people who came to the concert. Then after a few minutes of talking Paul told us that he wanted to play a song on the piano. He hasn't played any concerts since August and has actually only written one song since then. This was the song that he played. It was a song that he wrote for little Gracie. It was such a beautiful song. Kimberlie recorded it.

Prior to the concert I knew who Paul Cardall was and I have a couple of his cds, but I mostly went because I wanted to see the performers. But by the end of the evening, the only thing that really stood out was the life that Paul lives and hopefully the long life that he has left to live. Because of my experiences last night, I truly have been "changed for good".