Two songs were played that fateful Tuesday that brought me back from the brink. Hallelujah Anyhow by Joe Pace and this song, Who can satisfy by Alvin Slaughter. Thank you, Dillon. Even in death, you are still a blessing to me.

As many of you know, I love nonprofits. Now that I have finished my Master of Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University, I feel even more prepared to combine life experience with classroom learning to make an impact.

That is part of the reason why I am packing up and heading to DC this weekend.

I have a passion for youth and education and plan on putting that into action soon. Be on the lookout for updates, advice, tips on what to do (and what not to do) in the near future. Here's to changing the world! Cheers!

Events as of late have been reminding me of my own mortality. More and more I am becoming aware of that dash. You know the one. The dash between your birth year and your death year. Its become ever-present and intrusive like the blinking cursor on my computer screen.

The words repeat as the cursor blinks. Life. Is. So. Short.

This wake up call is both a blessing and a curse. It keeps me on task and working toward some great achievement yet it saddens me to think the end is nearer each day. Use the time you have wisely; love hard, laugh often, hate never.

The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to leave this world better in some way because you have lived. If you succeed at that, your dash has had meaning.

Verse 1
God is my protection.
God is my all in all.
God is my guide and direction.
God is my all in all.

Verse 2
God is my joy in time of sorrow.
God is my all in all.
God is my today and tomorrow.
God is my all in all.

Chorus
God is the joy and the strength of my life,
He moves all pain, misery, and strife.
He promised to keep me, never to leave me.
He's never ever come short of His word.

I've got to fast and pray, stay in His narrow way,
I've got to keep my life clean everyday;
I want to go with Him when He comes back,
I've come too far and I'll never turn back.

God is (8x),
God is my all in all.

I haven't forgotten about you! I am looking forward to finishing school and getting back on a schedule of working, blogging, pontificating and strategizing, you'll see.

MlleMitchell suggested I write about my money saving venture as I have now been dubbed the Coupon Queen. That's my new name and I like it.

There's nothing better than seeing the bottom of your receipt read:
Ahh. :-) Be on the look out. For now, here's a taste. Could you use 2 free CFL - Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs?

Happy Friday!
Thought of the day - here's my favorite poem.

Success

To laugh often and much
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

~sometimes attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson

So much to say. :-D

Well, for starters...I'm engaged now! In true M + T fashion, he proposed right before we ate lunch, said he couldn't wait. Yup, the Mr. popped the question on Good Friday (making it Great Friday) and of course, I said yes! The details have yet to be determined but that will be the next step. For now, we are enjoying the beauty of this phase walking around smiling and what not. :-)

Lots of wonderful things are on the horizon. I'll keep you posted as day breaks.

~The Future Mrs. (crazy, huh?)

To top it all off, I have one week and one day of classes left then one month after that I am moving back to DC. Can't wait!