October and November – Angel Party and Fun with Friends

Part one...

During the months of August and September, I became very busy with volunteer work.  Planning had begun for the American Society’s annual Angel Party – a Christmas party that we throw for 230 of Sao Paulo’s disadvantaged children.  As I wrote last year, this is a full day affair, starting off with lunch provided by McDonald’s, shows and games (with lots of great prizes), and a visit from Santa with each child receiving a full bag of goodies, including a backpack, new outfit, shoes, toys, and a sweet treat.  The planning of this party is a huge undertaking – volunteers need to be recruited and assigned jobs, prizes need to be purchased and sorted, donations secured, gift bags organized…the list goes on and on.  It takes a small army to make sure the party goes smoothly, and my main job was to coordinate all of the volunteers – hundreds of emails were exchanged and many hours went into getting everyone scheduled and making sure every job was covered.  It rained all day and night before the party, but on Saturday, we were relieved to see the clouds disappear and the sun came out strong.  This year, Matt and I decided the boys were old enough to help – the three of helped out with sports, and I was so proud to see them interacting with the local children.  The party was a huge success – our hard work had paid off, and seeing the smiles on the kids’ (and volunteers’) faces made it all worth it.  

Kids enjoying games at the Angel Party

 Another big accomplishment came the day after the Angel Party – the kids took the exam to receive their orange belts in Kung Fu.  They were a little less nervous than the first time, as they now knew what to expect; it was after the exam that their nerves got the better of them.  Waiting for the results to be posted was painful, as Ian became more stressed and convinced that he had not passed; it was such a relief the next morning to see that both boys had passed!  

Our new Orange Belts in Kung Fu

 From August to early November, the Angel Party wasn’t the only thing keeping me busy, as I was still acting as volunteer coordinator for the American Society.  It was through this role that I began volunteering regularly at a local children’s home.  Every week, another lady and I visit an “abrigo” – a group foster home – and spend a few hours with the children.  This particular home has several babies, all of whom have been born to drug-addicted mothers, most abandoned at the hospital just after their births, and a few who have been removed from their mothers’ care by social services.  Some of these precious little babies were also born with illnesses, such as toxoplasmosis and syphilis.  There are also older children, from two to seventeen years of age – all there due to abuse or neglect.  One of the young men who lives there is in a wheelchair and is immobile, except for limited use of his hands – he has a bright smile and great personality and loves to talk.  Our time in the home is spent mostly helping with the babies – feeding them, holding and cuddling them, changing them when they are dirty.  The home has a caring staff, but there just aren’t enough hands to care for 23 children (seven of them under the age of two).  We also make sure to give the older kids attention and take toys and games so they can play with something different for a while.  They love to ask us questions about ourselves, if we know any famous people in the U.S., and how to say phrases in English.  Their favorite thing, however, is when Denise (my volunteer buddy) takes out her I-phone or I-pad and lets them listen to music and play games.  I think the kids and staff have come to look forward to our time there – I know that going there every Thursday is the highlight of my week. 

With two of "my" babies

 To be continued...

Patience and Rewards

If I’ve learned anything during our time here in Brazil, it’s the virtue of patience.  From the beginning, while waiting for our Visas to be approved, our Brazilian experience has been a true test of patience.  Guns-N-Roses’ hit song, “Patience”, is running through my head as I type this – no, all the lyrics do not apply, but the key words from the chorus do – “all we need is just a little patience”.  This applies to everything here, it seems – from the slow check-out lines at the grocery store, to waiting for elevators, to the ever-worsening traffic conditions.  I have written before that my yoga classes have really helped me remain sane while living in Sao Paulo – the breathing and relaxation exercises I have learned are employed regularly – they have proven effective in Wal-Mart, as well as during the short commute to my kids’ school.  Matt has required a lot of patience to deal with the challenges he faces at work, and even more with the ever-present concern of what his next job (with Alcoa, or not) will be.  Patience, however, does have its rewards.

   

So much has happened in the many months since I last wrote (6 months ago!) – I will now try to bring this journal up to date.  I should start by saying, “Happy New Year”!  We are three days into 2013, which is very hard to believe – where does time go?!  I believe I’ve asked this question several times throughout my writing.  I find it remarkable that we have now almost come full-circle, and are beginning to plan our return to the U.S. – once again, though, waiting for our Visas (which are about to expire) to be renewed for our final months here.  I think I’ll hit the imaginary rewind button and start back in June and work forward until now…this may take a few days and several pages (which I will break down into sections). 

  

Summer (Winter) Break

After all of our farewells at the beginning of June, we were looking forward to several weeks with family and friends in the U.S.  The kids and I traveled three weeks ahead of Matt; he had to stay behind to work, and joined us later.  It wasn’t entirely by coincidence that we were on the same flight with my friend Nancy and her family.  During our walks and talks, I mentioned to Nancy that we would be flying through Detroit on a Delta flight, and that it would be great if they ended up on our flight.  Since the dates worked out for them, they were able to book the same flight and we traveled together.  It was definitely a bonus to get to put off saying goodbye until the last moment, and it was bittersweet for me to be the first to welcome them “home” once we arrived in Detroit.  I had held it together pretty well until the time Nancy and her sweet husband and kids came around the corner with three carts loaded down with 15 suitcases – knowing the time had come to say goodbye got the tears flowing.  After many hugs, a few more tears, and promises to see one another sometime in the future, the Villeneuves walked through the doors and resumed life in the U.S.

 

The boys and I continued on our trip and arrived in Pittsburgh for a six day stay; we were met at the airport by a smiling Cilissa – it was so good to see her!  Our days in Pittsburgh passed in a blur – I attended a conference for continuing education during the first three days there, and the rest of our time was spent visiting friends and going to various appointments with the dentist, pediatrician, and orthodontist.  The kids were thrilled to be with their friends again – Ian spent a day at Kennywood with his best bud, Alex Cassese, while our Alex spent the afternoon tubing on Conneaut Lake with Tim and Jacob.  One unexpected occurrence was that Alex had an expander placed at the last minute, literally an hour before we left to go to WV – I had only taken him in for a consult, but the orthodontist decided his crowded mouth needed intervention ASAP – from one day to the next he had a mouthful of plastic.  Cilissa had kindly offered to drive us to Huntington, as she was dropping her kids off with their grandparents – we left the orthodontist office and the seven of us packed into her car and were on our way.

Our moms were anxiously awaiting our arrival and were so happy to have their boys with them again – you couldn’t wipe the smiles off of their faces – it felt so good to be “home”!  It is funny how many different places take on the meaning of “home” and give us that sense of comfort.  The summer temperatures were soaring, but that didn’t keep us from enjoying time with our families, sharing meals together, and doing a lot of talking.  We visited Chad and Stephanie’s new house, which was almost finished, and the boys had fun playing with Riley and Sydney.  After a week, the kids and I drove with my mom to Richmond to visit Jennifer and her family; Eric, Jenn, and Amelia were also there – what a sweet reunion that was.  My mom was so happy to have all of her kids and grandchildren under one roof.  Our days together passed quickly – I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my nieces, Amelia and Annika, and my nephew, Luca – they grow and change so much at their young ages.  Ian and Alex had a great time with their cousins, and especially enjoyed a day at Busch Gardens amusement park in Williamsburg.  I happily stayed (feel firmly planted on solid ground) with my mom and the little ones, while the bigger kids (including the adult kids!) took advantage of the thrill rides – the 97 degree heat did not deter them at all.  They rode roller coasters and other rides that I wouldn’t ride even if someone paid me – they definitely get their brave and daredevil ways from someone else!

 Two nights before we were due to leave Richmond and return to WV, a ferocious and unexpected storm moved through the area.  The power at Jen’s went out at about 10:30 that Friday night and came on the next day at about noon.  We later found out that what had occurred was called a “super derecho” – a severe widespread and long-lived wind storm that accompanies rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.  The hurricane-force winds left millions without power, closed down gas stations, and killed many; the states of VA, WV, and OH declared states of emergency.  Mom and I left the following day, fortunately filling our gas tank before leaving Richmond.  West Virginia was one of the harder-hit areas and driving through was a very eerie experience.  It really looked like a ghost town – every exit we took greeted us with traffic lights that weren’t working, empty streets, closed gas stations, and businesses with the lights off and doors closed.  The few stations that were operating had lines of cars up to 4 hours long and were limiting customers to seven gallons each.  There wasn’t a police car in sight, and the highway was dotted with abandoned cars on the shoulders, having run out of gas.

 

It turns out that Jen was very lucky to only have lost power for 12 hours, as many people went without for several days, and in some cases two or more weeks – my parents didn’t have power at their house for 5 days.  By some stroke of luck, John and Deanna were spared the power outage and had air conditioning to help with the stifling heat (the temperatures were over 100 degrees).  Needless to say, the boys and I went where there was light, refrigeration, and A/C.  While still in Brazil, Matt worked and traveled (for work), but made good use of his free time playing tennis and visiting Monte Verde with his friend, John (whose wife and kids were also away).  In this mountain town, a three hour drive from Sao Paulo, they took advantage of the outdoor adventure sports offered in the area and went on an 800 meter zip-line, did some mountain climbing, as well as four-wheeling through the mountains.  Matt arrived in WV on July 6^th – it was nice to be together again, as it was the first time we’d been apart for more than two weeks – despite the fact that we had been busy and enjoying ourselves, the kids and I had missed him.

After spending the weekend in Huntington, we packed our suitcases (again!) and left for our camp on the Greenbrier River.  There aren’t too many places where we feel as peaceful and relaxed as we do at camp – the scenery is beautiful, with the river surrounded by lush green hills; the air is fresh and clean, and the sounds of nature surround and envelop you.  The kids are completely carefree there, splashing in the river, searching for bait, and spending hours with fishing poles in hand patiently waiting for their next catch.  This year, Alex really found the angler within – during one canoe trip with Matt, he managed to hook a citation-worthy musky.  They rowed back to the shore and yelled for everyone to go see his catch – I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such a big and bright smile on his face!  The musky, measuring almost 42 inches and weighing in at 18 pounds, was too big for him to hold up on his own.  After taking several pictures (Matt, Papa John, and Ian also were photographed with this river monster), they loaded the fish into John’s truck and drove into town to the local bait shops for the official measurements and documentation.  Not to be outdone by his little brother, Ian was determined to catch a musky of his own.  The next day, Matt took him out in the canoe, and after spotting another (even bigger) musky, Ian was able to hook it; after reeling it in for about two minutes, the fish broke Ian’s line and took off with bait and hook still in its mouth.  He was disappointed, but isn’t giving up – he can’t wait to go back next summer and try again.  Alex later received a certificate from the WV Division of Natural Resources, and had his picture posted in the bait shop and on their Facebook page, as well as a picture of him with his musky in a local fishing publication.  It certainly was the highlight of his summer!

 After a memorable and relaxing week at camp, it was time to pack for what felt like the hundredth time and return to Huntington for a few more days with family before our return to Brazil.  Several loads of laundry later, the suitcases were packed for our final destination – back to Sao Paulo.  It is always hard to leave the U.S. and our families, but it does feel good to get back to our real home – our own beds, our own space, among our own things.  Upon our return, we caught up with the friends we had missed over the break, and met several of the new families who had arrived and joined our expat community.  The kids enjoyed a few free days before returning to school and a routine.  Soon enough, we were back to daily drop-off and pick-up, homework, kung fu, and volunteering – before we knew it, life was “back to normal” and August and September were gone.

To be continued...        

Celebrations and Farewells

I'm a bit behind in my posts, having started this entry more than two months ago...better late than never!

May has been a roller coaster of activities and emotions, of celebrations and festivities, and now, with the onset of “summer break”, the farewells have begun.  As summer approaches north of the Equator, and Sao Paulo prepares to welcome winter – which has been blissfully hot and sunny – many friends are starting to pack up for good to move on to new adventures, or, in some cases, back to their familiar homes and towns.  We are also preparing to head back for a five-week reprieve from big city living – at least the boys and I, poor Matt will be left alone for 3 weeks before joining us for our last 2 weeks in the States.  Needless to say, we are very excited, anxious, and ready to get back to family and friends, not to mention smooth roads, lighter traffic, and carefree summer days.

We kicked off the month of May with a trip to Penedo and Itatiaia National Park in the state of Rio de Janeiro.  Last year, shortly after arriving in Brazil, we took a trip over the Carnaval holiday that was less-than-glamorous – rain-filled days and muddy roads are the things that stand out most in our memories of that week.  One of the places we had been so excited to visit was Itatiaia, and we were sorely disappointed to only see the museum, as the rain didn’t allow for any exploring.  With a long weekend and no plans, we decided to try again and hope for better weather, this time inviting friends (John and Ann Arends, and their three kids) to join us.  It was a great few days spent talking, eating, watching the kids run and play on the hotel grounds, and checking out the local sights – both in the picturesque Finnish town of Penedo and in the lush rainforest of Itatiaia.  I also had a very “proud mama” moment as I overheard Ian asking a little boy who was quietly observing their game of American football if he’d like to play with them, and proceeded to explain to him the rules and object of the game – all in fluent Portuguese!  Another moment that made me beam with pride was the following week, when both boys took (and passed) their tests to earn yellow belts in Kung Fu – again, their classes and the exam are given in Portuguese, so I felt this was a double accomplishment for them.        

Last month, Matt and I celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary – 15 YEARS!!!  Where does the time go?  We commented to one another that - young kids that we were in 1997 - never in our wildest dreams would we have imagined that we’d be celebrating in Brazil!  A few months before our anniversary, we started discussing what we wanted to do to celebrate, and decided the kids were doing well enough with their Portuguese and comfortable enough with Tania (our helper) that we could go away for a weekend, leaving them home with her.  Tania was thrilled with the idea, as were the boys – they couldn’t wait for Mom and Dad to go away!  After some research, we decided to go to Ilhabela, which very aptly translates into “beautiful island” – an island just 3 ½ hours by car from Sao Paulo.  We felt confident that the kids were going to be fine without us and couldn’t wait to get away for a couple of days – Matt, stressed as ever, was especially excited to have a three-day weekend.  

We left on Friday, May 18^th (a couple of weeks before our actual anniversary) – it was a gorgeous, sunny morning.  After sitting in traffic for almost an hour, we finally made it outside the city limits and drove up the coast, taking in the beautiful views of mountains and the sea.  A short ferry ride took us from the city of Sao Sebastiao over to the island, and we made it to our resort (DPNY Hotel) a little after 1:30pm.  Since it was too early to check in to our room, we had lunch at one of their open-air restaurants, overlooking white sand and a peaceful sea.  Once we were able to get into our room, which was spacious and nicely decorated, complete with a four-poster bed with mosquito netting and a two-person jacuzzi tub with a view of the ocean, we changed and headed out to the beach for a couple of hours of sun and sand.  DPNY, a boutique resort on Praia do Curral, definitely stood up to their claims as being one of the best beach hotels in South America.  We loved the cushioned loungers, tiki huts with beds and sofas, and tee-pees with round mattresses in the sand that were scattered around the resort’s beach area.  We hadn’t expected weather warm enough for bikinis and sunbathing, but we spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking views. 

After breakfast on Saturday, we decided to go for a hike along one of the trails we found on the map provided by the hotel.  The concierge recommended a couple of trails, both of which led to waterfalls – Brazilians love their waterfalls!  We grabbed some waters, and headed out for what we hoped would be a nice long hike through the rainforest.  Once we found the trail, we were a bit disappointed to find that it was only 255 meters long!  So, hike number one was short, but sweet, leading us to a small, but picturesque waterfall, surrounded by the lush vegetation I’ve only seen in Brazil.  On our way back to the car, I noticed the stunning vistas of the sea with the mountains in the background – we stopped for a few minutes to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the beauty.  We then headed to hiking trail number two, where we had to pay R$10 per person for a circuit that took about 7 minutes to complete.  So much for a good long hike!  But, we did take a little tour of the “engenho” – the distillery where they make cachaca – and sampled some of their flavors – so it wasn’t a completely wasted trip.  After our so-called hikes, we opted for more beach time and returned to the resort where we enjoyed sangria and sushi on the beach; later, we each had a one-hour massage to finish off our afternoon of luxurious relaxation. 

By the time Sunday morning arrived, bringing with it another glorious day of sun and warm weather, we were reluctant to leave our paradise, but ready to see the boys (who were having a great time, and judging from our few phone conversations, were not missing us at all).  We stayed on the beach, soaking up a few more rays of sunshine, and finally pulled ourselves away and headed back to Sao Paulo.  When we finally returned to the city, we were greeted by heavy traffic and grey skies - and once we made it home, the boys hardly noticed we were back.  Ian’s only comment was, “I’m glad there’s someone here now who understands English!”  Tania gave us a full report, stating that they were able to communicate perfectly well with one-another and that our boys (especially Ian) speak very good Portuguese.  I’m still amazed at what a long way we’ve all come since arriving 15 months ago – who would have thought we’d be leaving our kids to go away for a weekend?!

The end of the month brought with it Alex’s 9^th birthday, which we celebrated with lunch at his favorite churrascaria, Fogo de Chao, followed by cake at home with friends.  He was thrilled with the simple celebration, content to have his best buddies playing and running around – thankfully, neither of my kids feels deprived by not having the lavish (outlandish) birthday parties that are common among their peers here.  It also was time to bid several friends farewell – it seems as though our community in Casa Grande suffered a mass exodus – one farewell party had seven families as guests of honor, including my sweet friend, Nancy.  For a year, Nancy was my walking partner and was always there to lend a baking item I was missing; we had numerous lunches and trips to the mall together, her kids babysat my kids.  I’ve said before, one common factor among expats is the continuous revolving door – friends leave, and new people arrive as frequently as the seasons change.  Though it is sad to have to say goodbye to people who have come to feel like family, as my friend, Tina, wisely put it, we are happy to have had the chance to know one another, than to not have been touched by those friendships at all.  And, to borrow a quote by Dr. Suess, “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”  So, despite a few tears I’ve shed, I’m definitely smiling and grateful!               

     

What a Difference a Year Makes!

I have just finished reading my entries from our first week living in Sao Paulo, and I had to smile at the memories.  It reinforces my idea that writing about our experience here will serve as a great reminder of this phase of our lives in the future.  No, I haven’t forgotten the hectic stress we dealt with, as we tried to settle into our new life here, but like a mother who eventually forgets about the pains of labor and childbirth, the pain of adjusting to life in Brazil has begun to fade.  In the past year, we have become comfortable with driving all over the city (and beyond), we have learned the language (some better than others), we have learned to eat and prepare typical Brazilian cuisine, we have traveled to many beautiful and interesting places, and above all, we have made many wonderful friends.  We have met a few people who have a difficult time adapting to this city, making their time here very difficult; however, like so many others, we have made a conscious effort to embrace living in this city so far from “home”.

A friend once told me that I live a “charmed life”.  While I am aware of, and very grateful for the many blessings in my life – I give thanks for them every day – I also feel that I am somewhat responsible for the positive things that have come my way……..

…. Two Months later

Apparently, my writing got interrupted sometime in February, and here it is, the end of April.  As I read over the words I was typing, I feel even more strongly about the message I was trying to convey.  Since beginning that entry, we’ve had visits from friends and my parents, and their awe at the way we’ve adapted reaffirms what I feel – that we’ve done a pretty good job of making life in Brazil work for us.  We are officially at the half-way point of our time here, which is really hard to believe, and I’m looking forward to another year (and then some) of broadening our horizons.

I’m not sure I can pick up exactly where I left off, though I know I started the entry after a yoga class.  Yoga has been largely responsible for the calm, centered state of well-being I am experiencing lately.  There are several ladies, from all around the world, who gather twice a week for this class – we come from Australia, Sweden, Canada, India, Colombia, and the U.S.  We have a beautiful (inside and out) Brazilian instructor who comes to our condo, and in recent months, we’ve been having our classes outside beside the pool.  With the glistening water to our left, and the canopy of palm trees to our right – along with the occasional monkey who comes out to spy and the birds calling to one another from the treetops – it is hard not to marvel at the beauty that surrounds us.  While I breathe and hold my downward dog position longer than my arms and legs would like, I try to focus on the good that has come from moving to this city.  Aside from the enriching cultural experience (new language, different pace of life, amazing food), the friends that we have made here are by far the biggest bonus of having come to Brazil.  Unfortunately, as expats, we know none of us is here permanently – though that doesn’t make it easier to say goodbye to one another.  We have seen our friends Rafa and Pilar leave for Mexico City, and have learned that several others (my walking buddy and sweet friend, Nancy among them) will be leaving in June.  We can only hope to meet up again in another part of the world – and thanks to the internet (and facebook) - we’re only a mouse-click away from staying connected. 

 

Seeing how far the kids have come in their adaptation has been remarkable – they still miss home and can’t wait to move back, but they are like any other kid here.  School is going well, though getting Alex to do his homework continues to be a struggle.  Their Portuguese is quite good, though they hate to speak it unless it is absolutely necessary – one evening, Matt took Ian out for sushi and Ian is the one who communicated with the waiter (Matt’s Portuguese has stalled since he never has to use it, nor the time to study).  The boys have also really been enjoying their Kung Fu classes, and are ready to test for their yellow belts – I look at this as a great accomplishment, given that the classes are taught in Portuguese with all Brazilian kids and adults.  They have also enjoyed all of the travel we have been doing – they had a great time in Argentina and marveled at how many relatives we have there, and they loved the visiting the city of Buenos Aires, especially the unbelievable cemetery in Recoleta.  While my parents were here, we took an unforgettable trip to Iguazu Falls – it is impossible to describe the power and beauty of those waterfalls, and the pictures we took, while beautiful, do not do them justice.  It was wonderful to be able to share the experience and make those memories with Nani-Chichi and Papi.

   

Having had visitors here for several weeks took me out of my regular routine, but I wouldn’t trade any of my time with my friends or parents for the world.  It was so great to have my friends, Cilissa, Kim, and Judy here for a few days.  I loved showing them around the city and sharing some of my experience with them – and it was interesting to see Sao Paulo and Brazil, in general, through their eyes.  As with most people who come here for the first time, they were quite impressed with the traffic and motorcycles, but there were also so many other things that I now take as “normal” that had them very intrigued.  My friend, Kim, is convinced I should write a book – about the domestic helpers and how they are still treated as lesser beings by so many Brazilians (think, “The Help”), about the crazy unwritten rules of driving (it’s OK to make a left-hand turn from any lane, you don’t have to stop at stop signs, you can run red lights after dark), about the favelas that are seen all around, etc.  We had a great time in Rio, despite the grey, cloudy skies on our first day – we didn’t even get a good view of the Christ statue – but we had a fantastic time listening to Samba and even dancing a bit at Rio Scenarium that night.  They thoroughly enjoyed caipirinha after caipirinha, and have taken cachaca home with them so they can continue to enjoy them!  They also took advantage of the shopping in Embu, at Legep, and the mall – I believe they took home half of the Havaianas store!  Our time together passed quickly, and I was sad to see them go – but I am so grateful that they took the time out of their busy lives, and left their kids with husbands and grandmas (I’m grateful to them, too!), to come and spend a few days with us.

A few days after the girls left, my parents arrived.  Again, I put on my tour-guide hat and drove them around the city, showing them the places I have gotten to know here.  My dad, who doesn’t like being away from home, likes to be the one in control, and doesn’t know how to relax, actually shocked me by happily going along with the plans I had for them.  I think he had no choice, as he was quite overwhelmed by the magnitude of the city and the chaos of traffic.  I offered to let him drive to a nearby store one day and he politely declined – this is the man who taught me how to drive!  It was nice to see him sitting, reading, and resting – I think it’s the first time in my life I’ve ever spent so much time with him – and the first time I’ve ever seen him kick back and relax (I really didn’t think he had it in him!).  Some things never change, though, and he still does not enjoy shopping – so we left that for after his departure.  Mom and I really enjoyed our time together – we figured out that we hadn’t spent so many days together since before I was out of college.  We talked and ate and drank more coffee than we should have, she accompanied me to Kung Fu, to bazaars, and even for a visit to a Buddhist temple.  And, we shopped!  She helped me choose my dress for an upcoming gala, along with the shoes and earrings to complete the look.  These may not seem like big things, but for me, they were precious moments together – when you live so far from “home”, these are the moments you long for when you don’t have the chance to be together.  In all, Dad stayed for two weeks, and my mom was here for about 25 days – I am thrilled that they finally got to see where we live and what our day-to-day life is like here.  We said goodbye, knowing we’ll see one another in just a couple of months; but, as Ian put it once the elevator doors closed after saying goodbye to his Nani-Chichi, “I miss her already”.

Once Mom left, it was back to business for me.  Since the start of the year, I have taken on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for the Community Action Committee of the American Society (that’s a mouthful to say!).  I am in charge of recruiting and placing volunteers into the various organizations that the American Society supports, as well as organizing volunteers for our two big events of the year.  One of those events, Volunteer Day, was held this past Saturday – it mostly involved countless email exchanges with the many people who signed-up to help and was good practice for the much larger Angel Party that we have coming up in November.  I wrote about the Angel Party a few months ago, and have a feeling that my involvement this year will be one of the biggest challenges I will face during my time here.  I often wonder how I ended up in this role, but realize it all goes back to what I was trying to say when I started this entry (the first time) – some people sit back and wait for things to happen, while others seek opportunities for change.  I have come to realize, that while I do feel many things just happen, I am one of those “seekers”.  So, yes, my life may be charmed, but I have put effort into being where I am – where we are as a family – and I will continue look for opportunities to grow and develop into the person I want to become, and I will continue to count my blessings every day.