Day 21

Can it really be 3 weeks since this started? It feels much longer. Maybe becuase we're trained to look at what's wrong with our life rather than what's good about it. Maybe in the middle of this all, it will feel like this went by in a flash.

1. Had a good time planning our 2007 program with other volunteers. Today we spent the whole morning planning programs for our kid brothers on the inside. Not only did we have good plans we had a lot of fun. Everyone brought food to share and we also traded stories about how fulfilled we are to see changes happen in the guys we take care of and to witness the miracles that happen in their lives. In the group we are all so different (backgrounds, personalities, humor) and the only thing in common we have is this service and strangely enough, we always seem to have a good time together. We're not a lot and this service is far from being the most popular one in the community but I think this year, with these plans, we're up for another year full of pleasant surprises and answered prayers.

2. Yummy lunch. Nothing like Chinese Food after a meeting. Its almost like NBA talk over steak.

3. Got a present. I was thinking of getting a nice key chain last week and just like that, i got a new keychain as a present. It also happened to be one I liked. Now the problem I have is not knowing which keys to put in in... But another thing is that the present came from someone who doesn't have all the means to be giving presents. So I guess when it comes from soneone who really went out of his way to buy it, its more than a nice keychain.

4. Got to hang out with my brother (and planned mom's birthday). Sundays are my busiest days but they are also the best ones and a big reason why they are the best is becuase of the time I spend with my brother. We didn't have this time before and now that we're catching up, it seems like I was missing out on so much in the past. He's not only my brother, he's a buddy-- someone you really like hanging out with. Today we planned our mom's birthday (which is still in June) and we got pretty excited because we plan to have it in a high-end beach resort where we can enjoy quiet family time and the pampered life all in one place. I've been blessed with a family and doubly blessed because I really enjoy being with my family. So if I count how long its been since i was born into this family, I've been blessed 11,434 days.

...caught a good movie too, by the way :)