More Than a Statistic

"Every 4 minutes a person is diagnosed with a blood cancer."

You hear things like that all the time. It's an easy thing to understand.

Until you really think about it. . .every 4 minutes a person receives devastating news . . .every 4 minutes family members are scared for their loved one's future. . .every 4 minutes life changes.

On March 26, 2008, we experienced what "every 4 minutes" felt like. I will never forget sitting at the stop light at Edmonds and 3040. My sister received the phone call with the voice saying "They think Jordan has Leukemia."

In that minute, my life changed. And I'm not a parent or even a relative. I am simply Jordan's fan.

I delight in her intelligence, her wit, her outlook in life and her cuteness doesn't hurt either. This was how I felt long before March 26, 2008.

In two years, I have been so impressed by Jordan. And I'm still a big fan. My plan is to continue to be a Jordan fan for a very long time. Because when you're only 5, there's still a lot more cheering to do. . .first days of school, losing teeth, dance recitals, school plays, solos, 100s on spelling tests, graduations . . . so much more cheering.

My heart breaks when I consider "every 4 minutes." Because I remember what that phone call felt like. And to be honest "every 4 minutes" is too much. The feeling is still so real two years later, I can not imagine not being involved in the Leukemia and Lymphoma society in some capacity. This disease must stop.

There's another part of that statistic. . .and I hate this part. . . "every 10 minutes someone loses their battle."

I'm grateful that I can tell you that I have no story of a personal experience. But "every 10 minutes" must be so much more painful than "every 4 minutes." My heart breaks for any family, friend, or fan that know firsthand how that half of the statistic feels.

In July, Jordan finishes her treatment and I must admit that there's fear involved with that. Life will continue and I don't want to forget the desperation that began 2 years ago. Because even though my "every 4 minutes" happened approximately 1,051,200 minutes ago, statistically there's a chance that someone else's journey has just begun.

Random Pics I

I've been trying really hard to take pictures of our more day-to-day going-ons...just trying to capture the moments that comprise our lives.  Here's round one--it's not highly exciting but it is our lives.

We ate at Kincaid's last weekend in Fort Worth with Aubrey.  Kincaid's has good old-fashioned greasy burgers and fries.  Not something we eat every day or that we should eat every day, but it's really, really good stuff.  Let's be thankful we don't have a Kincaid's near us! Mental note: next time share an order of fries...one order is big enough!

We ate dinner last week with some of our favorite kids at Chik-fil-a.  (It seems like we eat alot, doesn't it?) It was a crazy evening, but the best part was probably watching Jadyn dig into her dish of Ice Dream. She loved it! 

As we were driving home from practice last week, we saw that there was a Chocolate Festival in downtown Grapevine. After paying a admission fee, we could choose 10 booths from which to get a chocolate goodie.  It was hard to choose but we got some amazing treats! My personal favorite was a flourless, lavender-infused chocolate cake with a mousse type-thing on top. Yummy!

Celina saw this restaurant in Arlington the other day. It was a bit whole-in-the-wall-ish, but Papi thought we should check it out.  Why? Because Papi has called me Danielita my whole life and very rarely do you see anything even remotely resembling my name on anything...let alone a restaurant. We ended up eating there and had a pretty decent batch of fajitas.  Go Danielita's!

Yes, that is people with microphones with Britney Spears. Team in Training practice last week was rock 'n roll themed in honor of the 1st Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Marathon. Pictured is our amazing Coach Sue and super Mentor Ken. Apparently no one can resist taking a picture with a Britney cut-out!

So, there you go...a slice of life! Enjoy warm with a scoop of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream.

American Idol Top 12

The first week on the big stage! Despite the gruesome theme of "Rolling Stones," I was way excited! But then I was bummed. . .

My sister/roommate/fellow Idol enthusiast was in Orlando during this week for work. She normally has this event during the last week of the semi-finals which is traumatic because normally someone goes home that Snae likes. But being gone the first week on the big stage, was a nightmare.

My lone comfort was that I got to watch the Tuesday night episode with my friends, Leslie and Bryan which was a pleasant surprise. See that day, they were supposed to be moving back overseas but it looks like they will be here through the remainder of the AI season (or until their baby is born. . .whichever way you view it.)

Many surprises through the night. . . 
1. The song "Wild Horses". . .see I know that song from the movie, "Camp." I even own the soundtrack. But I had no idea that it was a Rolling Stone song. I learn something new every week.
2. Lacey was a PK. Which resulted me in saying, "She doesn't sound like a church singer, she sounds like a bar singer."
3. Snae's fav, Lee, didn't suck. See her fav always goes home when she's gone. I was so happy when I thought he did good. But his dumb jock face when he's not singing has got to go. At least pretend you have a brain.

My favs: Lee, Casey, and Crystal
Contestants that I can't stand: Siobhan and Aaron
I voted for Tim. I'm so obsessed with him. He wasn't good and if he was my friend I would have adamantly said no to a regae version of a Rolling Stones song. BAD IDEA! Let me think how to say this. . .I really like Tim and I think he's adorable. . .but not like I want to make out with him. Comprende?

Snae and I texted to each other from contestant 6 on. . .then came Wednesday night. I watched it with mom and grandma in Wichita Falls. The first results show I've watched without the DVR. Torture! Lee got through (sigh of relief) and then TIM WAS IN THE BOTTOM THREE.

This lead to my head slamming into my grandma's couch. I was hoping for Paige over Lacey to go but I'm happy she made it to the Top 12. One more week and Tim is on the tour. :)

Snae comes back this evening and her expectation was that this blog be written by her return. I'm going to let her introduce the game.

I remember. . .

. . .being at the State Fair and knowing so clearly that I wanted to be a teacher.
. . .telling my boss that I was giving my nine month notice and just wanting to be in a classroom. My sister made me my personalized teacher sign and I hung it in my cubicle. I helped fill in for many pregnant women's maternity leave during that time.
. . . going through the terror that was Region XI's alternative certification program. Not sleeping. . .running around. . .that long, long online class. It was a nightmare.
. . .passing my Social Studies 4-8 test. Being on the phone with Snae and being so surprised that it said "Pass" that Snae couldn't tell what had happened. Surprise rarely happens when you're a habitual planner.
. . .being a "stupid girl" and getting distracted. There goes a school year. No regrets.
. . .the confusion. I had no idea what my next step would be. The teaching idea seemed far off. Mom and dad sat in my living room and asked me to give it a try. I said yes feeling so unsure.
. . .starting student teaching. Before school duty. . .after school choir. . .observations. . .learning so much. . .loving 100 6th graders. . .don't forget the failures too. . .all necessary. I learned that I was born to be a teacher. . .at least until I can work for National Parks at Harry Truman's house. :)
. . . last day student teaching . . .after a brief meeting with the principal, and a scribble of "CVasquez", I was recommended for certification. Survival
. . . taking another test. New test strategy, whenever I start feeling completely distracted, I sing "That's Just the Way We Roll." until I'm ready to focus. By the way, "Pass!"
. . .subbing and being scared that loving teaching was a fluke reserved for 6th graders at a particular school. After being so sure of older kids, I exclusively taught Kindergarten and First Grade the first three weeks. Loved all the different experiences. Now when people ask what I want to teach, I smile and say only God can choose.
. . .on a fluke of checking online, I saw my certificate. Mom and dad in the living room and Snae in Florida. Papi said "We finally jumped through all the hoops."
. . .calling Snae in Florida and telling her the celebration was yet to come. Signing up to take my EC-6 test. Let's open the door for all those fun grades.

The future dreams. . .
. . .passing the EC-6 test.
. . .signing a teaching contract.
. . .not sleeping before the first day of school.
. . .not sleeping the first year.

To be continued. . .

American Idol Top12 Thoughts

Can you believe that we're already to the American Idol Top 12?! Well, for those of you who are keeping score (like us) of the nine people that Celina and I had in common on our list, eight made it to the Top 12.  Only Haeley Vaughn didn't make it (not really sad about that, but it does ruin our almost perfect nine-we-have-in-common record). Of the other four people who made it to the Top 12, only one was on one of our diverging lists. Unfortunately (for me) that one person, Katie Stevens was on Celina's list.  So, I lost the first round of the American Idol Game. The three people that made the Top 12 who neither of us expected were: Aaron Kelly (the child), Paige Miles (always forget she's there) and Siobhan Magnus (Who knew?).

Looking forward to seeing how all these unique (and not-so-unique) voices take on the Rolling Stones next week.  I'm going out of town so I'll have to rely on Celina's expertise in telling me who did well. I am concerned for Lee Dewyze, though. You see every time I go out of town during American Idol, someone I like goes home.  I like him the most right now, so I'm afraid he's going home. But surely the resident rock guy can sing the Stones, right?  I hope so.

American Idol Top 20

Tonight four people left Idol, but only two were important...the two on our lists. First, Michelle Delamor went home. She was one of the last two people on my personal list. (Who thought it was a good idea to let her sing CREED?!)  I have only one person left on my list.  All my hopes to win this contest lie in Todrick Hall.  It's not looking good.  Is it bad to even consider voting for Todrick just because he's the last one on my list?  That's something to think about...

The second person who went home was little Haeley Vaughn. Honestly, we didn't really like her, but from her first week, we thought she would make the top 12. Who knew she could butcher Miley Cyrus the way she did? We're not really sad about losing Haeley, especially since she was on both our lists!

As for the boys who were eliminated, neither one made either of our lists, so we weren't expecting much out of them anyway. Is that bad to say?

Daniela's Final Score after second elimination: 9 out of 12 still on my list. (VOTE FOR TODRICK!)
Celina's Final Score after second elimination 10 out of 12 still on her list.