When I was seven-years-old, my parents took my younger sister, Holly, and I on our first summer family vacation. The destination was San Antonio, Texas and there are two things I remember well from that trip. I can recall our day at Sea World where I sat in the splash zone to watch the Shamu show and I was disgusted when the salt water from the tank was splashed into my mouth. My smile that had been wide, and apparently agape, faded and I looked up at my dad in horror as he laughed saying, “Then keep your mouth shut!”

The past six weeks were filled with baby snuggles and cries punctuated with the occasional opportunity to sleep. Baby Eilish attended daycare with her sister for the first time on Monday; a bittersweet day for mom. She did great and to tell the truth, I am enjoying spending my days at work with my colleagues and the residents, guests and families of Meadowlark. So ladies and gentleman, I can officially announce…I’m back!

I am wrapping up my fifth week of maternity leave with sweet baby Eilish. When Murphy was born nearly three years ago, I took the same amount of time off, six weeks, but the shock of sleep deprivation, overwhelming new lessons and constant flow of visitors made the time off fly by and end up a complete blur. This time around has been a whole new experience. I was prepared for the sleepless nights and days.

What is that people say...? Oh yes, "All good things must come to an end." A bittersweet expression that holds a disturbing amount of truth. We've reached a point in the year that we must send off another amazing individual who has been a pleasure to work with over the past few months. Our Community Relations intern, Shannon Conover, will complete her internship with us tomorrow, April 28.

The saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but sometimes an apple isn’t enough to ward off illness and it times like those, it’s prudent to have a doctor you trust just a phone call away.

I only have a few more weeks of guiltless pigging out (Baby Duggan will be here soon!), but it’s that time of year to think ahead to our Pig Out for Parkinson’s event! The Pig Out is an annual fundraising and awareness event that benefits the Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program. This year, the Pig Out is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, at Cox Bros. BBQ in Manhattan, Kan.

The Meadowlark Messenger has a new editor  Hether Birchmeier!  Hether started as the Community Relations Assistant Monday, Feb. 6. Since her initial start date, Hether has been learning about Meadowlark, our weekly newsletter and the Meadowlark Volunteer Program. As the Community Relations Assistant, Hether’s main responsibilities include leading the Volunteer Program and coordinating the Messenger creation and production. Hether is originally from Michigan (and is a HUGE University of Michigan fan!), but has lived all over the country and abroad.

You can do what..?

Christmas Carol-sel: Bringing the Pages to Life!

It’s time to get signed up for the 2016 Christmas Carousel, a holiday party for independent living residents and Passport members! This year’s theme is Christmas Carol-sel and during the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 14, you’ll be diving into the classic Charles Dickens’ tale of A Christmas Carol.

Trucks, noise and concrete – oh my!

It seems like we’ve all been living with the noise and inconvenience of the concrete work for a while now, but as I walk from the furthest distance on campus to my office I remind myself that a few weeks of displacement is completely bearable compared to falling forever into a cavernous pot hole! Nonetheless, we are well overdue for a concrete-work update.