Well, it's finally past. The First Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction for the Maria Ann Hsiao Memorial Foundation is over. The long days and nites are over. No more getting home at 3:00a.m and going to sleep at 4:00 and waking up to go to work at 7:30 to repeat the process. Going into it, I was fully aware of the consequences and what the event would entail. I guess I just wasn't anticipating the nites to be THAT late. It turned out ok though. I know we could've had alot more people and spread the word to more people who weren't fully aware of the foundation, but I was generally pleased overall with the outcome of things. I was/am so appreciative of all the people who came to help and support us in our first big event. It definitely was a learning experience. I have many things to contemplate and think through and it is somewhat of struggle to keep the emotional and professional aspect of things balanced, but I have many people supporting me through it. Through the week, I kept telling myself, that I wouldn't cry-or at least, I'd hold it all in. Watching the presentation, seeing her face up there, and seeing the kids that we visited, it just reminded me again of why we formed a foundation in the first place. And while the room was dimly lit and no one was around me, I told myself not to cry, but it leaked. While I was sure no one saw me since I was standing in back, I got a comforting hug. When going to the different schools, visiting the kids and seeing them respond to what we ask them to do, drawing/painting out their dreams, it brings a smile to my face and I'm reminded why we're here as a foundation. It really is a fulfilling feeling. I pray that it never goes away, because when it does, that's when some serious questions will need to be evaluated.

So why am I still up at 2:30 a.m. when I'm so tired? I can't sleep. The nitemares have returned, but not nitely. Just enough for me to be scared to sleep. II Cor.12:9 And I need to sleep, desperately. I'm so tired and worn out, I'm really dragging my feet and I feel ill. My eyes are twitching, my head hurts, I feel like I'm getting sick, and I can't eat. ::sigh::

There's an ok picture of the board members on Christine's xanga. I'm glad it's rather dark....you can't really see how awful I actually look.