Impact

Last night marked my brother Matt's last sermon as freshman youth counselor for the Salt Company (TSC), a Christian ministry for ISU students. He talked about the struggle of leaving one's like-minded peers and maintaining one's values despite the struggle of adverse pressures. It was an appropriate message for the end of the school year.

After the message, Matt's colleague stood on stage and spoke for a moment about the impact my brother has had on his life during his few years of service at TSC. On a whim, Matt's colleague asked those who also felt their lives had been positively affected to stand up so Matt could see that his efforts have been worth any sacrifices he made.

About 400 people - ISU students, alumni, and adults - stood up.

I remember discussing with my former colleagues the "sacrifice" my brother made to work as the freshman group leader at TSC. Matt graduated in 2002 with honors in the mechanical engineering program at ISU and was offered jobs that would financially compensate him three-fold in relation to what he would accept for his position at TSC. Those with whom I discussed this "sacrifice" thought Matt was foolish to turn down the kind of compensation offered to him. It was hard to explain to them the rewards he would reap - I knew, and Matt knew, he would be blessed.

Matt is leaving TSC to design machinery for Caterpillar in Aurora, Ill. He's excited to make such a great change - socially and financially. A lot of us have to work many years for the kind of money he's going to make, but how many of us know that we've been used to positively impact the lives of so many.

I know I've positively impacted the life of at least one person - Madeleine Lola, my daughter. And with that, God has satisfied me. Matt impacted the lives of 400 people - and those were just the people who attended last night.

God truly blesses us - He takes care of us. Sometimes we get discouraged when we don't have the stuff other people have. Sometimes we get discouraged when we have worked so hard and have so little to show for our efforts. But then someone tells us they've been touched by a smile or a kind word - to me, that's worth the world.

Whaddya Know?

Last night was an educational experience shared by Madeleine and myself.

First of all, Maddie invited me to attend her first annual Awana awards ceremony, where all the children would be recognized for participating at the very least. However, most kids were recognized for more - attendance, number of workbooks finished, merits earned, memorization, etc. After the ceremony, she came to me with her little certificates and ribbons and said that she wanted to earn all the awards next year when she moves up from "Cubbies" to "Sparkies". In essence, she's beginning to learn that hard work pays off. She's also learning that attendance is important, not only in recognition, but that more can be accomplished while you are in the appropriate setting.

On our way to the car I saw Tom, a former colleague, and his wife who were attending the ceremony to see their first-grade son receive accolades for participation. As we were all bringing each other up to date on our lives and recent accomplishments, Tom's wife Celeste told me that she writes for a local magazine and is looking for a local non-profit organization to feature. My job is to work like mad to get our organization's trinity (name, logo, slogan) out into the community so that our incoming financial gifts, as well as the number of fundraiser participants, will increase. So the lesson learned... no, reinforced is that it's not necessarily what you know, it's who you know. And that is why I'm raising my child to be the selfless, empathetic, responsible, fun-loving, social-butterfly she is.

Number 3. Madeleine apparently decided to divert from her normal Disney Channel routine, watching "Extreme Makeover" instead. I think it's a terrible show. Plain awful. They are flat-out promoting vanity as a priority - a "you're not going to make it in this world unless the audience thinks you're beautiful" mentality. Maddie came to me and told me that I should get a nose job. When I asked why, she told me I'd be "better". First of all, my nose is perfect. I'm not just saying that because I think I'm the snazziest chick around - my nose is perfect. Second, this makeover show, within one hour, made my daughter think that what we are isn't good enough - that we could simply pay to look "better". I am pissed! However, I am partially to blame for not monitoring her TV time (so I guess this is two lessons in one).

On a lighter note, Madeleine learned this morning that brushing one's teeth does not mean that one must also soak one's shirt with water and/or spit. It was interesting to me that this lesson was the most difficult to convey. Maybe I need to have a ceremony one a week to award her for mornings she doesn't slop-up her clothes. Positive reinforcement works when used appropriately. After all, allowance has been the key to keeping a clean room thus far. Two dollars a week goes a long way, baby.

Religion

The Magnificent Medeleine has invited her grandparents and me to attend her Awanas awards ceremony this evening. She's gone to Awanas every Wednesday night since November and it's probably one of her most cherished activities. The kids learn the United States Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, and Bible verses.

As any mom would be, I'm very proud of Madeleine's accomplishments. I will be clapping and shouting, embarrassing everyone who knows me, as my wonderful daughter ascends the stairs to the stage to receive her awards.

I have the BEST kid in the world!

And the Survey Says...

Yesterday I received a "radio ratings" package from Arbitron Ratings. It consists of a personal 7-day radio ratings "diary", an instruction guide and a crisp one dollar bill.

This is what they want me to record in my "diary":
Time: "Write the time you start listening ("listening" is any time you can hear a radio - whether you choose the station or not) and the time you stop."
Station: "Write the call letters, dial setting or station name. Mark AM or FM."
Place: "Mark where you listen: at home. in a car, at work, other."

Then there's a 27-question survey. Basically, I'm telling the researchers that I am a 26 year old female Republican and I like beer.

My favorite part is the compensation. Remember that crisp dollar bill I mentioned? Yup - that's what they sent me. There's absolutely no guarantee that I'll participate in the survey, but I get the dollar anyway. Sa-WEET!

I want to work for Arbitron. I want to be the gental hand that slips a crisp dollar bill into millions of mailboxes every year. I want to tweak the results of the surveys according to my own wants and needs. I want to control the nation's marketing efforts. I want to become Dogbert.

Little Sister

My youngest sibling, Annette, will turn 21 tomorrow.

It seems like just yesterday she had posters of that short kid from "Home Improvement" plastered all over her bedroom wall. Tomorrow... she'll be plastered.

I love you, kid. Happy Birthday!

Good Times...

I made a little trip into the Linn Co. courthouse this morning to pay off a small fine I incurred a couple weeks ago. I disobeyed the law when I failed to stop "completely" at a stop sign. I'm being totally honest when I say that I stopped, letting the spedometer needle drop to zero, before I proceeded. One must apparently keep one's car still at a stop sign long enough to sing Don McLean's "American Pie"... and interpret the verses.

Maybe that's a slight exaggeration; but I ask, "Where were these guys when my whole friggin' car was stolen?" I'm still bitter.

Madeleine the Magnificent

Madeleine is my daughter of 5 years. She is my joy.

She is a smaller, blonder, more girlish version of her father. She has a second-to-none vocabulary and a sincere love of Christ. The light in Madeleine's eyes reveals an innocence that brings me back to earth when I'm caught up in a hopeless pursuit of trivial gain.

I love my child - a gift from God.

I will talk about Madeleine often - she's full of good material.

I'd like to offically welcome myself to my blog, "Don't just stand there and shout it..."

I'm almost embarrassed to say that my blog's title is derived from Depeche Mode lyrics - almost embarrassed. The full lyric is, "Don't just stand there and shout it, do something about it." Good advice no matter who put it to music.

I'll write more when I have something to say.