October 6 -

As much as I love Vietnam, I'm anxious to get home for a visit! I've booked my flight out of Saigon for Oct 20th and I'll come back 2 months later. I've started a list of all the food I want to eat and it's getting longer each day! Today I came up with thinly sliced provolone and salami on cracked wheat bread with spicy mustard! That, and a home made glass of wine will make me VERY happy!

In the meantime, I'm getting ready to be out for two months. Leaving notes for someone to take my place, last minute shopping for the kids, getting the petty cash lined up so things don't fall through the cracks. Seems like every time we turn around, there's another project here or more kids there. Just today I found out that 3 kids whom we recently got reunited with their family will be going BACK to the orphanage. Seems it's just too much for the parents to handle...

My days are still a blessing - light office work, brainstorming with volunteers on how to make the kid's lives better and my most favorite - playing with the kids whenever I can. I'm happy that I'm coming back for Christmas - that in itself will be a gift for me. I've really learned to appreciate such small things in life - a 35 cent cup of coffee (who needs a $4 Macchiato anymore), really cool pair of jeans for $18 - wait till you see them, families earning $350 a month and living just fine.

I've always loved kids - everyone knows that about me. I never thought I could combine my love of kids with my natural ability of organizing and leadership. It's a perfect match in some ways! I'm committed to working here for a year (Dec 2008 - 2009). I've created a proposal for an income that I'll send to prospective donors who feel management skills help a non profit run more effectively - (call me if you're one of those people!).

Otherwise, my next task is to get myself back in shape - regular workouts again, and to create something big for myself for 2009. There are lots of options: running my own company, expanding this company, building a foster home, finding someone to share my crazy ideas with!! It's all possible - I just need to create it! I think I've been afraid of failing at any one of these ideas so I've been playing small lately. Doing the easy stuff, the stuff I already can do well. A friend recently reminded me that I'm up for bigger things!! (Thanks Cory!)

So, stay tuned - the rest of this year and next year should be a wild ride. I'm looking forward to it!