Hey! I know, I know, it's been awhile. Stop pressuring me, people! It seems like a lot's been going on lately, mostly in the form of nitpicky Christmas prep and driving and stuff...but today I was inspired by an event from work...and since I love lists, here it is:
Top Ten Favourite SAI Memories:
10: Dealing with a cop who responded to a call that a mentally-challenged man had (allegedly) touched a woman's breast in the park.
9: Having my autistic friend become quite upset at the aroma of his own repetitious farting in my car.
8: Trying to protect my roommate from the flirtatious and, occasionally, half-naked men that sometimes grace our house.
7: Seeing my cousin's face light up when I talk to her about our family.
6: Trying hard to make a Smurf puppet out of red corduroy and three black buttons, failing miserably, then being told that I can't sew.
5: Singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" to a sweet little lady the day after a heartbreak in my personal life.
4: Running away from an apartment building with my friend, after learning that one of the renters was calling the cops on us for trying to "break in". (Okay, yeah, so my friend was kind of trying to force his way inside...does that make us criminals?)
3: Dancing with my normally-withdrawn friend for over an hour at the Spring Fling. (Rocking back and forth with a little bit of head-bobbing, and LOTS of smiley eye contact!)
2: Watching my friend ask Bryan, two seconds after they'd met at the Christmas banquet, if he could take him to the bathroom later.
1: Finding out that a home had been found, at the last minute, for a friend who would otherwise have been forced to live in an institution in another city. I cried that day.

Another inspiration for this list is that I celebrated a full year at this incredible job on December 12th...wow! No other job has simultaneously stretched, challenged, and encouraged me so much. Many days I find myself frustrated beyond my own ability to cope, but there is more than enough blessing in each individual to lift me up by the end of each week. It's cliche, but true: these people teach me things about themselves, me, life, love, and God that I could never learn anywhere else, and I'm eternally grateful to each of them.
Okay, I have to stop...I get a lump in my throat every time I think too much about it!