I made it to the Circle of Excellence!
The top 10 % sales representatives across the U.S. at AT&T make it to the Circle of Excellence-based on overall performance, customer satisfaction, and sales. And I was one of them in 2008. The managers announced it in my office last month, and it was a real shocker, because every year I think there are others who are so much better than myself at sales. But I’ve made it before, and this year, I made it again! I was one of only two people in my office who met the criteria.
The last time I made it, was 3 years ago, a couple of months before we got Cady. We were able to spend one last trip together as just a couple.
This year, Cady is not quite old enough to spend the night with others, even though she feels comfortable around close friends and family. I would feel so guilty if we got a call at 2am about her crying because she wants to go home. And I’d feel worse if my cell phone was not on at the time.
So, this time, my adult son Daniel, is going with me. I can’t wait. He’s now 25, and I think the last time I did anything carefree like this with him, was probably when we went to Disneyland when he was 8.
The company is putting us up, first class all the way. We’ll be in suites fit for high rollers. Fully loaded breakfasts, seven course dinners, and pocket change. We’ve been told not to tip anyone, because the company has already added a 20% gratuity to their initial reservations. The first night will be spent honoring the Winners...lots of clapping. The next day, Daniel and I chose to do a guided tour down the Black River Canyon for a few hours. The final day will be spent looking at all of what is now Las Vegas.
I’ve never spent the night away from Cady. So, I hope she does well. She’s spending Saturday with her Auntie, and hopefully she’ll lose track of the fact that I’m gone, at least for a minute. I will miss her though.
Scott suggested I take Daniel because of our situation with Cady being too young to leave behind without both of us. It was so sweet of him to forego the trip. He really enjoyed himself last time, and I have to admit, AT&T treats us like royalty while we’re there.

See ya after my long weekend of boozing and gambling in Sin City!

Just thought I’d share them here.
They both move me.
One is giving hope for us now, and one is giving hope for the hereafter.
But both are equally inspirational to me.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a Mommy once again.
Thank you for sending your angels to keep her safe before we became a family, no matter what life threw her way.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for letting me know the giggle of this child. The smiles she gives me every day.
The love she can give me is because of You.
I pray you know this.
Thank you.

Dear First Mother,
Thank you, whoever you are, for choosing life. For the suffering you must have endured. You did not know what her future held as you let her go from your arms, but you must have had hope for her. She is safe. She is happy. She is loved. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making sure she was healthy before you gave birth to her. She is beautiful. She is smart. She is full of life.
The love she can give me is because of you.
I pray you know this.
Thank you.

Dear A-yi Jia Rong,
Thank you, where ever you are for the care you gave her for the first 16 months of her precious life. Thank you for sneaking her food when lunch was finished. Thank you for keeping her warm in the dead of winter. Thank you for writing a journal for her, and the beautiful picture you drew for her when you knew she was going to be matched with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making her believe you loved her with all your heart. Your love for her was evident in your eyes from the pictures we saw of you with her, as she waited for us. It was in your eyes when we met you. It was in your eyes when I turned to look at you - looking at her, knowing it would be the very last time. We owe you so much.
The love she can give me is also largely because of you.
I pray you know this.
Thank you.

Dear Cadence,
I love you. I’m so very happy to have the opportunity to be your Mommy. I hope you can understand the importance of all of those who came before me. Who love you, who’ve cared for you, who’ve kept your life sacred.
It’s been three years, today, since I first held you in my arms. The moment I met you, I knew my life would be changed, but I really had no idea how significant it would be. A new beginning. A new opportunity to love. A new life, for both of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for trusting me to love you. I promise you, I will always give you the best of me. Your love is so pure. You’ve shown me that all things are possible.
The love I feel is because of you.
I pray you know this.
Thank you.

I don’t recall having an imaginary friend as a child. My stuffed animals were kind of real ummm imaginary friends to me, but that was the extent of it. I don’t recall my son or step children having an imaginary friend as children either. Cady has two. Yep. Siblings. Twins.

Around two months ago, Cady took on twin imaginary friends. And as many twins do, these imaginary sibling friends have rhyming names. One night, she announced she was having a sleepover, and these two imaginary friends were staying the night.

The whole concept of imaginary twins makes me feel a bit guilty at times. I can’t help but think that she’s alone. Not that she’s lonely, she’s very happy and we play with her a lot. But alone, in that she does not have a sibling in her age range yet to play with. So,k she’s created a world with not one, but two friends that are imaginary siblings.

Every once in a while, they pop into conversation. It freaks me out a little bit, because she doesn’t know anyone with these names. SO, I have no idea where she came up with the names. And they seem so real to her, but hey, they’re nice enough.

Today I was gardening, and while she played in the sandbox, she mentioned them. When I tried to engage with her about these two invisibles, she quickly told me that they’re HER friends, not mine. And then she proceeded to inform me that I can’t see them, followed by a shake of the head and roll of the eyes.

Cadence has an amazing memory. We’re always looking at each other with astonishment when she comes to us with new quotes from movies she watches, especially when they have songs attached to them.
The other night, she started singing a song from Disney’s Cinderella. You know the one. The song in which Cinderella is trying to find a dress for the ball, and when the step-sisters and step-mother call her downstairs, the mice take it upon themselves to decorate the dress. But, before they do that, they break into song.
Usually it’s difficult to get her to do things on video these days. But, this time she agreed to. I don’t think in all my years, I’ve ever known what those mice are singing until Cady sung it. She even uses a high pitched voice like the mice. Too funny.

And now, without further adue, Cadence’s debut as a mouse on Cinderella.