So it looks like I have a good reason to keep this blog open. Not that there hasn't been any events to constitute blogging in the last 4 months or so, I just haven't had the time (or the patience, really) to record them. Let's be honest: there's always blog-worthy news in daniland.
Of course the most exciting news was the addition of Madelyn Grace McCue into my world. She was born on September 1st at 1:03 am. My mom and I remained in the hospital until about 10pm before being convinced that nothing would be happening for a while. Well that little munchkin surprised us all!! She is the most precious thing I've ever seen and I only love her more with each passing day. A couple weeks ago we celebrated her christening. The gown my grandmother made for her was gorgeous and she managed to keep it clean. I can't take credit for those genes, but I might be responsible for her inability to cease crying throughout the ENTIRE ceremony. The girl just wanted to eat!
maddie and her dressmaker
I've also taken a a few vacations in the last months. The first was my 2nd annual trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with my camp peeps. We had picture perfect weather for the entire week and I spent my days running along the beach, boogey boarding, eating great food and mingling with even greater folk. What more could a girl ask for??
me and paula with our personalized boogey boards
My second trip was a weekend getaway to Kansas City, MO. I know; random. But I went to visit Cara, a child life partner in Team South Africa. She arranged a wonderful weekend for us. Her friends were incredibly welcoming and excited to meet me. In between board games, art, touring, delicious food and site seeing, we relived those wonderful memories from Cape Town. Leaving MO was almost like leaving Cape Town all over again! Shame.
me cara and her friend dana at kansas city's annual water fire event
Asside from my classes, a few good books and few hours of work I haven't had much else to keep me busy....that is, until Halloween weekend. It was then that I learned that Caroline's position as Child Life Program Director was not yet filled. Suddenly an idea came into my head, "why don't I do it?!!" to which I immediately replied, "uh, because you have school..and a brand new neice and a plan and it's just crazy to up an move to another CONTINENT for a year."
I spent the following week pondering and contemplating and making lists and considering hypotheticals and talking on the phone and emailing with the staff in SA. It was exactly a week later that a familiar voice spoke up in my head, "Of course you are going to take this job! What on earth could you possibly be debating. This is a dead issue and the answer is undoubtedly, 'GO FOR IT'" So I went for it.
The staff at Connect 1-2-3 were beside themselves with joy...and so was I. It was in the following weeks that I truly realized this was, indeed, my destiny. Everything about felt right and filled me to the brim with happiness. Any thoughts and reminders of South Africa would result in a ridiculous grin spreading across my face. My future was (and still is) more clear than it has ever been. Sister Sara and Caroline have been amazing recievers of my excitement. It is most certainly a good thing that there is a massive ocean separating us because the excitement would surely be the end of one another. Sara offered to pick me up at the airport which stopped me dead in my tracks. Not only is that a sweet jester, but she drove me TO the airport when I left Cape Town. What a wonderful circle.
Today I have confirmed my flight into Cape Town for January 7th, 2009. I will arrive on January 8th at 11:25 Cape Town time (that's 4:25am US time). Sara has offered to "fetch" me from the airport, which is just so sweet. She drove me TO the airport when I left Cape Town so its only appropriate she be the first familiar face upon my arrival. She has also arranged for me to join her to see Freshly Ground at Kirstenbosch that weekend. I am incredibly excited by this as I've been avidly listening to their music and have become a huge fan. So much excitement...so much to do...stay tuned!
Of course the most exciting news was the addition of Madelyn Grace McCue into my world. She was born on September 1st at 1:03 am. My mom and I remained in the hospital until about 10pm before being convinced that nothing would be happening for a while. Well that little munchkin surprised us all!! She is the most precious thing I've ever seen and I only love her more with each passing day. A couple weeks ago we celebrated her christening. The gown my grandmother made for her was gorgeous and she managed to keep it clean. I can't take credit for those genes, but I might be responsible for her inability to cease crying throughout the ENTIRE ceremony. The girl just wanted to eat!