STAND UP TO CANCER!

The Stand Up To Cancer Campaign is SO great!!! I love how SO many people have been getting involved. It just goes to show how many lives cancer effects. It's a beautiful thing when people join in together for a good cause. It gives me an overwhelming feeling of hope and reaffirms this crazy world has SO much good in it. This morning as I was getting ready for work the Just Stand Up music video to benefit the Stand Up to Cancer campaign came on. Ashanti, Beyonce, Fergie, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Mary J. Blige, Sherly Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood all got together to record this song. SO great! Every time I saw one of the Stand Up To Cancer commercials I kept making a note to go to the website and donate. This morning I finally did. I created a team too, I'll e-mail out an invite. When you open the e-mail you better be prepared to STAND UP! ;-)
http://www.standup2cancer.org/

Family & Treats!

My Aunt Nancy, Cousin Erica, her husband Ryan and their little one Sam came into town. Richie and Chrislynn drove down with the kids so we could all spend time together. I was able to spend some one on one time with lil' Richie and Sophia on Saturday which was SO great! Sunday morning lil 'Richie found some candy corn in my room. Which he called corn beans and thought they were mmmmm mmm yummy. I love how he would take little bites of them! It was so great spending time with family and I was able to have an older brother Richie heart to heart which I always very much appreciate. ;) I LOVE these guys SO much!

Richie's dance has no title!

I was cleaning out my SanDisk the other day and came across some videos I took of little Richie when Richie and Chrislynn were in the hospital for Sophia's arrival. This little guy has been dancing since I met him. He cracks me up because he has SO much rhythm and changes his moves and facial expressions to fit the genre of music he is dancing too. When my friend Aruni and I go out dancing we always do a little shout out for Little Richie (she was able to see his moves when we were in the back of Richie and Chrislynn's car and he was sitting next to us in his car seat) and attempt to do some of his moves!
So, to borrow a few words from Harry Belafonte:

My nephew's name is Richie. I tell you friends I adore him!
When he dances oh, brother,
he's a hurricane in all kinds of weather.
You can talk about cha-cha, tango, waltz or the rhumba.
Richie's dance has no title.
Richie he's a sensation, the reason for aviation.
And you've got to watch it.
When he wind up he bottom, he go like a rocket.
Richie dances calypso. Left to right is the tempo.
And when he gets the sensation,
he go up in the air come down in slow motion.
Jump in the line rock your body in time!

Enjoy his dancing videos! I also threw one of him talking to Papa on the phone. He is SO cute!! I can't believe how much he has grown since then.

"Good times never seemed so good!" ;-)

Yesterday was such a random, crazy, busy day but I won the firm's baseball tickets for the night (Nationals vs. New York Mets!) and at the very end of the day (thanks for being willing to go SO late to the game John!!), I was able to meet up with a really good friend from home, John Jacob. Which was SO wonderful. He was just in town for a few days, so it was a treat to be able to see him. There is something about good friends from home that just make you feel like "good times never seemed so good"! John Jacob is SO great!!! He's got a beautiful family and is moving along incredibly with school and his career! John I wish you all the best and am so thankful for your perspective on things! Since you didn't get to hear it at the game, I'm adding "Sweet Caroline" with this post.

Beauty & Symmetry

I successfully completed the BLS for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED) Program this past Saturday! It was such a great class! After the class I drove up to Catoctin Mountain Park with some close friends to stay at Camp Greentop (which is right next to Camp David). My churches "Singles Ward"(members of the L.D.S. Church are organized into congregations that meet together frequently for spiritual and social enrichment. Large congregations are called wards. Each ward is presided over by a bishop, assisted by two counselors.) has an annual Singles Retreat at Camp Greentop. This was my 3rd time at the Retreat. I wasn't going to go but friends talked me into going. I'm SO glad I went. It was just want I needed: fresh air, time with some amazing girlfriends and a much needed spiritual refill!
We also had church on Sunday up at camp. It was so great to be sitting with everyone in the middle of nature!

Our Ward's Stake President (most geographic areas where the Church is organized are divided into stakes. The term stake comes from the prophet Isaiah, who prophesied that the latter-day Church would be like a tent, held secure by stakes (Isaiah 33:20; 54:2). There are usually 5 to 12 wards and branches in a stake. Each stake is presided over by a stake president, assisted by two counselors. Stake presidents report to and receive direction from the Presidency of the Seventy or the Area Presidency.) came up on Sunday and gave an amazing talk. He spoke of how we can cultivate the sacred in our lives, having beauty and symmetry and the power of sacrifice. How losing ourselves in the service of others has a power we don't understand. I very much appreciated his talk and wish I could put into words the overwhelming feeling of the spirit that I felt as he spoke. I'm SO glad that I went to the Retreat!

So Saturday night was the annual "Skit Night" at the Retreat. It's usually pretty cheesy and sometimes a little long to sit through but it is also surprisingly entertaining. My good friend Jackie made sure it was "entertaining". She's so... BAD! ;-) I love these girls SO much!!!

Lipstick Jungle

I LOVE this! I can't believe how much Tina Faye and Sarah Palin look alike!

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

"IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, THE PENTAGON MEMORIAL HONORS THE 184 PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST AT THE PENTAGON AND ON AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 77, THEIR FAMILIES, AND ALL THOSE WHO SACRIFICE SO THAT WE MAY LIVE IN FREEDOM."
Yesterday was the Dedication of the Pentagon Memorial. At 7PM they opened it up to the public. A friend and I went later in the night. It is a beautiful memorial. I can not put into words the feeling of hollowed ground that is there. There are so many places in this area that have made me feel this way. I feel a greater attachment to the grounds at the Pentagon.I remember September 11, 2001, waking up early in the morning and going to a hospital in Rupert or Minico to get CPR and First Aid certified (I ended up not re-certificating my CPR, and now on Saturday I have my CPR for the Health Care Professional certification. I found it ironic that it's so close to the same time 7 years ago). When I got back home I remember mom sitting in front of the little TV that was near the kitchen, it seemed so unbelievable and everything seemed to be in slow motion. I was leaving to Virginia in just a few days, and I remember thinking, I'm not going, I need to be near my family. When I flew into Virginia it was late and it wasn't until a few days that we drove past the Pentagon. There was a enormous American flag that covered the damage to the wall that was hit. I remember the flag giving me goose bumps. It was so beautiful. The flag is now hanging in the Smithsonian. It still gives me the same goose bumps when I see it. I'm in love with this country and everything it stands for. This nation was blessed by God. How thankful I am for our founding fathers who were God fearing men.
Even though children don't stand up every morning and recite it together in class anymore, I did and still quietly hear it in my mind when I see an American Flag and my heart feels so full.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
God Bless the Families of those 184 people who lost their lives at the Pentagon and on Flight 77, and God Speed to the men and women who sacrifice so much for us and our country.

Let's just hope we can finally get the gardener to trim those Bushes at the White House and remember what the hands that built America worked so hard for.

I did a quick search on my e-mail to see if there was a memory on September 11th, 2001. I found this one that was sent to me on October, 2, 2001. The subject was: Ya you got there. Oh, how I miss my these guys so very much.
Dear Sissy,

It's after school right now and I'm here in dad's office (same
routine) What a boring schedule! I bet you're glad you're
not sitting here with me, feeling bored. Did you get to see Virginia
today? I bet it's so beautiful there. Certainly not yucky
and dry like here. I love you so, so much and missed you today when you
were not around. Aubrey kept asking, "Where's
Sissy"? Keep intouch, I surely will.

Love, Mom

Ah girl freind, Dad says hi. Still crazy as ever. Glad you got their
safe.Let us now whats going on. Take one day at a time.
I can't beleive you have already seen the DC temple.

Love,Dad.



Hi Sis. I love you. I hope your having a nice time. I hope you are
thinking about us. Smile for a dial.
Oh I just charted.

Love, Anson

Candy, I jaju (incase you forgot she said I love you).

Love Aubrey

Happy Birthday with Happy People

the 7th was my birthday but the festivities started on the 6th. ;-)
During our TORNADO WATCH here in Alexandria my cute friend Feli invited me over for a yummy breakfast and then we went to get mani's and pedi's. I started getting worried with the scary rains and winds but then around 4:00PM the sun came out and you would have never thought the weather had been so yucky. Which was perfect because we had dinner reservations at 5:30PM. Sushi Taro is one of my favorite places. The food is GREAT and you can sit Japanese style on the floor with no shoes! ;-) We then gathered at the apartment, Michelle made the most amazing itty bitty desserts and we played games (which I had SO SO wanted to do for my birthday!!!) then headed to Nick's for some Country dancing!! It was such a fun birthday celebration! I have such incredible, happy friends and love them all so very very much. I also was given the cutest birthday gifts! I always want to cry when people sing me the Happy Birthday song. I usually do a good job with holding back my tears but wasn't able to this time. I was so embarrassed. But, so very thankful for good friends, love and life. My heart was so full I couldn't hold the tears back. The next morning Radik and Vasya took me hiking at Great Falls and then to a birthday dinner. I went to the restroom and when I came back there was a birthday dessert for me and the two of them sang me happy birthday (They had asked me earlier when we were hiking where I wanted to eat. I said any where that would sing me happy birthday. Well the place wouldn't, so they made sure to sing instead.) then when it was time for them to go back to NYC, Radik surprised me by staying an extra day!!!! I also had some wonderful phone calls & texts from friends and family that meant so much to me! The following day, I also got a great birthday package from my Mom and fam! LOVE MY BIRTHDAY and LOVE LOVE the Happy People in my life!

Labor Day Weekend

My cute Friend Jackie as always , organized a BBQ with neighbors and friends to get to know each other. Radik and Jackie started a dance party in the kitchen. ;-) The below picture is one we took of all the ladies a the BBQ. The second group picture was suppose to be the "sexy" picture of the ladies. Not everyone really posed for it but Lilly and Jackie of course did and the neighbors, Sam and Roslyn, on the right did too. ;-) I thought they were SO CUTE!