As the Days Go By - December 7, 2006

Here is one of those random blogs where I ramble on . . .

I made it into the adoption pool. I got my license from DCFS (because I am adopting a kid from another state). What does the pool mean? I submitted a "Dear Birthparent" letter, where I have one page to talk about myself and try to convince potential birthparents to pick my file to look at. Yikes! I have a hard enough time not using run-on sentences when I speak. Then if they pick my file, they can review it and determine if I am the one they want to raise their child. Could be a day, could be a year from now when I get a kid. But I have that license, which says my home is fit for a child and that I meet all parenting standards set by DCFS. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had to do that before bringing a child into the world? Maybe child abuse would disappear . . . but, then again, you have to have a license to drive a car (and people are still lousy drivers).

I have had three trials in a row this week. One was over money and assets and finessing settlement language. Boring and mind-numbing and I wanted to strangle everyone. Yesterday was a custody trial. My client was seeking sole custody. I actually felt bad cross-examining the other party (I made her cry on the witness stand), but ultimately, my job is argue for the best interests of the child, not the party losing custody. Today's trial - whether a house is worth $200K or $250K. Waste of time and money, but in family law, people lose all sense of rationality. It's my job as a lawyer to keep that sense of rationality going.

This past Saturday, I received unexpected news. Our Associate Pastor called me, while he was away at a youth ministry convention, to let me know personally that he had accepted a Senior Pastor position at another church. Ouch! This Pastor is the reason I joined the church I am at (well, the community of this church is why, but he is the conduit). I was also confused - he apparently wanted to call a select group of people and confidentially tell them first. Why me? I guess even in my short time there, I managed to make an impact. Now, I could be selfish and say that I am angry and sad at him for leaving (and I am - because that is a normal reaction). However, I am glad. I am glad that he was called to service for another church (God is always speaking). I am glad that he found a role that suits his talents. I am glad that others will get to experience the Cheese Song. I am glad that God led me to this church to meet this man. I wish only the best for him, and I fully expect that as he reads this, he knows that we will be singing more songs again soon (did I mention that I have a song about bologna?) I leave this topic with this quote: "Greatness is not measured by how many people celebrate your presence, but by how many people mourn your absence."

Music. I couldn't imagine a day in my life without music. In fact, I would probably make music out of anything if I didn't have a radio around and my voice was hoarse. I have been singing more and more. Cantatas, karaoke, community chorales, you name it. I bought a new instrument, a djembe, which I have been banging on after work. Great for just having fun and making noise. I even, with trepidation, have restarted my music theory lessons. No, I don't plan on becoming a composer, but I am so weird, I even love to learn about music. Music is probably one of the most difficult languages ever written by man, and the most powerful. When aliens come to visit (watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind), music will likely be the best way to communicate, trust me.

So that is my mad ramblings for this week. Oh wait, we had a snowstorm last Thursday. And all those morons with licenses to drive proved once again that having a license to do something doesn't make you good at it.