With Purpose

I went on a bike ride with my Team in Training this weekend and it felt so good to be on the road again. You may remember from my last triathlon that we always dedicate team rides to someone. My team road in memory of Brenan this past Sunday morning. I've already had so many people donate and have surpassed the goal of $2,300. You can track my fundraising at my site here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/amchamp09/eeiler.

A friend of mine, who had met Brenan a couple of times when we went out to the sand dunes for weekend trips, wrote to me recently. She said "It’s tough to make sense of cancer and losing loved ones to it. The only thing I’ve come up with is that maybe God wants to reward certain amazing people by getting them to heaven sooner; however, it’s the hurting people left behind that I can’t quite figure out a theory for??"

I thought for a moment about a theory for the hurting people left behind... and what I came up with is that, maybe, without losing someone we love so much who was such a good human, we wouldn't feel motivated to help the world be a better place. Now that Brenan's good works have to come to an end, we must continue where he left off and those acts are multiplied by all of us. I wrote back to my friend, as I have told you all before, Brenan is the angel hovering over me, pushing me to be a better person. I have his high expectations to live up to. So whether you volunteer your time or money or improve your life by learning a new skill, things that Brenan valued, you are fulfilling his dreams - and that's our job as the hurting people left behind here on Earth.

Project Homeless Connect

So--just a quick note to tell you about a really cool event that I went to yesterday. The United Way has a campaign called "Project Homeless Connect" that gathers service providers in one location, spreads the word to homeless people through churches and fliers, and tries to set people up with services that can get them off the street. It was truly the most inspirational thing to be a part of and I met so many wonderful, interesting people that warmed my heart. The best news is that this event happens once a month--so if you like what you read here, you can volunteer in September.

This month, the event was at my church--Vineyard North Phoenix. The place was crawling with people all day. There were two full meals served, lots of water and gatorade, and all kinds of services including: Department of Economic Security (ACHHS, food stamps, and more), shelters, Vital Records (birth certificates, etc), Social Security, DMV shuttle service, reduced housing information, voicemail service ("Community Voicemail"), showers, haircuts, medical services, clothing bank, backpacks, employment information and job fair listings, resume creating, shoebox ministries, free bus passes and so much more. The best part of all was the smiles on people's faces! It was really touching.

For the event, each guest is assigned a volunteer "guide" who takes them around the many areas and makes them aware of services that might help them. I really liked this part because I got to know a few people in depth. The guests that I toured with found so many amazing benefits! One of the men got medical screening and referred to Healthcare for the Homeless because he probably needs a pacemaker! Also, he was so excited to get connected with shelter services. He kept saying, "I'm just so glad that I have a place to go tonight." Another gentleman had come to get new clothes and a haircut because he is planning to start going on job interviews. I could tell how important this was to him as he picked out the perfect clothes and excitedly talked about the jobs he'd seen posted. Talking with all these people was an amazing experience! Having meals together and truly getting to know people was so interesting.

And above all...I was most interested and moved by the following observation: When looking at people walking around in pairs (guest and guide), it was oftentimes difficult to tell who was actually the "homeless" person. This was especially true after the showers. Everyone here was smiling, talkative, and cheerful. This event breathed so much LIFE into people in unfortunate circumstances. And they all walked away holding their heads high...with clothing, food, and potential services to change those circumstances.

Consider volunteering!
http://www.vsuw.org/volunteer/project-homeless-connect
The next event is: Friday, September 11, 2009--Human Services Campus--1201 W Madison StreetPhoenix, AZ 85007--from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Volunteer for any time slot)
*PS: Some companies have benefits where they will pay you for a day of volunteering. Check to see if your company has this type of program.

And my personal thoughts on homelessness here: I've spent the last 29 years of my life pondering the situation where a person asks for help on the street. Yeah...TV shows, newspapers, and prejudice tell people that they shouldn't give money to these people. Perhaps you worry that they'll buy drugs or alcohol. But you know what I say...who cares! Don't you think that two or three dollars is less important than a person's sense of worth? When you do give someone a few dollars, perhaps you are showing them that people on this earth still care. And just think, your kindness might be a turning point for them. Even if they do use that two dollars to buy alcohol or drugs, maybe they can vow "this is the last time." I think that the value of a person--and taking a stance to show a person that they are noticed--is worth far more than two dollars. Give someone a bit of cash, save yourself the anxiety and self-hatred of turning them away, and make a small difference in one minute of a person's life. And even more importantly...stop and talk to them! I have met some very interesting people this way.

Thanks be to God for all of the blessings in our lives. Jess

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Job update: Lots brewing on the job-front but nothing official yet. Still weighing all my options...including sailing around the world. More to come on all of that stuff.

Summer Coming to a Close

A big "thank you" goes out to Aunt Lavonne and Uncle Fred for a much-needed vacation to Alaska. I think it was exactly what Jess and I needed, just as our summer is coming to a close. I could feel Brenan with us and see him smiling.

We had an adventure planned each day. We did everything from visit an old mining town, to seeing rescued animals at a conservation park, to taking a cruise to see a glacier up close and personal. Lots of fun times and scenic views.

Update

Well, my contract company is all fired up (in the good way) and going to work on this. Best news is that Rick said they could at least keep my insurance going somehow--even at 2 days a week. That was a big relief. Other than that, I'll just see what comes up...maybe something really good.

PS: I found proof that Nancy did all this to me on purpose! (Not like I needed proof but it felt good). I had sent her an email last Friday to pass on information and my tentative schedule. Had she read this email, it would have been very clear to her that I was clueless about the changes that blindsided me today. So, I checked to see when she read it: 2:12 on 8/14, exactly 23 minutes after I sent it. She also saved the 2 attachments to her computer and forwarded it to someone else. Busted! Wickedness proven!

Oh, the joys of adulthood...

So, just when I thought that I was in the clear with the job this year, today turned out to be a big bombshell! The other music therapist in the district met with the Director of Special Services privately, found out all kinds of helpful information, made him agree to give her five days/week this year (instead of 4) and passed on none of this information to me. Just to protect her identity, let's call her Wicked Nancy. (It makes me feel better). The director has made some changes to the program (such as shortening the music time) that already limit the number of hours available for us to work. I, of course, knew none of this since she hadn't passed on this info to me and I hadn't heard it from anyone else. It turned out to be such a time-waster for all of us because I'm sitting there playing "catch up" with an absolutely meaningless tentative schedule (that has taken me at least 5 hours) because nobody has clued me in. In order to give herself five days a week, she had factored almost all of my caseload into her schedule and presented it like that was how it was going to be this year (leaving me with almost no caseload).

Anyhow, I sat there trying to keep my cool, not cry, not yell at her, and maintain some sort of professional dignity as I pretty much fought for my job. Death toll: 0. Broken-hearted:1 (maybe 2). After whipping out my resume, asking to speak with him privately, and making a very strong case for my professional references and effective application of music for educational purposes, he decreased her days to four and gave me two. She still stormed out of there afterward. Go figure. [Perhaps it was the part when I said that he should decide based on our qualifications! But hey, isn't that a fair comment when I am sitting there with 2 bachelors, an almost-completed masters, ridiculous numbers of student teaching hours, and a "teammate" that doesn't pass on necessary information?!?] Unfortunately, he just felt like so much had already been decided and promised (when he told Nancy he'd give her 5 days last year)...I suppose he thought that he was being accomodating by shortening both of our schedules--but I don't understand why he wouldn't have just looked at what was (possibly) best for the district and split it 3 days and 3 days. We've all got mortgages to pay afterall...not just Wicked Nancy (it feels so good to type that name).

So--bottom line is: I am actually looking for a job (if you happen to know of any openings K-So, Nancy, or Cherie). I had left thinking that it might work out to have just the 2 days a week and pick up more shifts at the restaurant or pick up some other day job...only to realize that I can't keep my insurance through my contract company at 2 days/week. My contact company is, of course, also shocked by all of this news today and trying to figure out what to do. They are looking to see if they can supplement the Cartwright job with a couple of days somewhere else. I am looking at additional options such as looking up district job openings and maybe pursuing a placement with the preschool company where I did my student teaching. Also planning to email SKYE tonight and feel that situation out.

Of course, I have been joking for months about just getting a cruiseline job and sailing around the world!!! Anybody want to vote on that? Could be fun, right? Good thing I applied for my passport a few weeks ago!

If anyone has good leads or ideas, give me a call! Jess

Bear attack! ;)

Other than being attacked by a bear, Alaska was pretty cool. We had a great time and I'm sure that there will be many more posts of pictures and stories to come.

Crazy to say but the summer has flown by and I am officially back to work tomorrow. All summer, I've said that I was skeptical that my program would come back (being an amazing--but possibly dispensable--program). I guess that I'm probably the most shocked of all to be able to say that the special ed students at Cartwright will have music therapy again this year! Hooray for that. I'm so glad that budget cuts didn't affect a program that I think is so cool...and makes such a difference for kids. (And I'm especially glad not to be out there looking for a new day job!)

With this news comes apprehension and a sense of anticipated fatigue. I don't know how the summer has come and gone already. I've spent the last week writing dozens of emails and trying to get some sort of tentative schedule to start from. It's been causing some nail-biting moments since the school load has moved around and changed so much this year. However, I do finally have a schedule drafted and will see (cross my fingers) if it will actually work out for all my teachers as their emails roll back in. I am looking forward to seeing the students this week and being back in full swing by next week once all the administration type stuff like scheduling has been hashed out.

Yesterday, I registered for my last semester of my Masters at ASU. I have been waiting to see if they would be offering the three remaining classes during the Fall--or if I would have to wait until the Spring to get all three classes together. Part of me wasn't sure if having a semester off might actually be a good thing but overall, I think it's more important to me to just get it done. Looks like I'll get my wish because ASU decided to offer all three classes this Fall. I happily registered for classes, (un-happily) paid my tuition, and will be set to start my last semester on Aug. 24th. Only 16 more weeks and I'll be finished!

That's it from me. Off to bed. Elisa's been out of town this weekend but I'm sure she'll be writing during the week. More photos etc. to come. -jess-

Alaska update

Hey everyone! Just a quick shout out from us in Alaska! We are having a great time and wish we could stay here in this beautiful place forever. Aunt Lavonne, Uncle Fred, Tamara, Theresa, and Uncle Alan have been entertaining us with so many fun adventures. A few of our highlights so far:

*visiting an old mining village
*going out to dinner for Lavonne and Fred's birthdays (this month)
*tram ride (cable cars) at a fancy ski resort
*trip to Seward and day cruise to see ocean wildlife and glaciers
*visiting a conservation park for rescued animals native to Alaska (moose, reindeer, bears, eagles, owls)
*4-wheeling up to a glacier stream along a fun backroad trail

We've loved the nature and beautiful weather that Alaska has to offer! And here's a few photos so far...

Lots of love from Jess and Elisa!