We Will Never Forget

I remember the phone waking me up very early that morning. It was my mom. She said to turn on the T.V. I asked her what channel? She said it didn't matter it was on every channel. She said we were under attack. A plane had hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I wasn't prepared for what I saw when I turn on the television.
I watched in disbelief as the WTC burned and I listened to the news anchors. I kept thinking it wasn't real. It had to be a horrible movie. I couldn't stop thinking of all the people on the plane that had crashed into the building and how terrified the people in the building must be. I was in shock and couldn't have imagined there was so much more horror to come.
I think I began to cry when I saw the second plane hit. Continuing to watch everything unfold, I think I was so overwhelmed I went a bit numb. I began to wonder how people were going to get out of the buildings. I felt scared, helpless and shocked by what I was witnessing.
Then the first building came down. I dropped to my knees and cried out loud to God to have mercy. I was overtaken by emotion. I felt absolute horror in my heart. I cried and began to pray for all the people in the buildings and the rescuers on the ground below them.
I will never forget that day. It is etched in my mind forever. Its a part of me like its a part of every American. All of us were touched by this tragic event. I prayed for those who lost someone on 9/11/01 this morning and they will not be far from my mind throughout the day.

Labor Day Miracle

I lay in bed on Friday night, tossing and turning, with a heart full of doubt in God. In my turmoil, I cried out to God to "show up." Those were my exact thoughts...no specific request, only a simple desperate plea.
I woke up early Saturday morning to find a post on Facebook that a dear friend of mine's son, Chet, had been hit by a car. He was alive but in ICU at the hospital. I immediately called out of work and headed across town to the hospital.
I was very upset and scared. As I drove the 30 minutes to the hospital, the realization that he could have been killed made its way into my mind. It cut my heart to the core. Its one of those things you cannot wrap your mind around. Wonderings of how he survived began swirling around in my head.
When I saw Chet so many emotions flowed through me. I felt tears filling my eyes as I looked at him on the bed. He was covered in road rashes, cuts, and dried blood. He was wearing a neck brace and had a tube coming from his chest. As shocking as this was, it was more unbelievable that he was breathing on his own and asking for something to eat.
His mom told me he was hit by a minivan going 55mph while he was crossing the street. His lung collapsed and was re inflated. He had a broken pelvis, a small hole in his bladder, shattered ribs, fractured knee cap, and a concussion. His brain scan showed no damage and he had no spinal injuries. I was dumbfounded. He should have had massive head injuries and be on a ventilator but they said he would make a full recovery and be fine.
My mind began to entertain the idea that this was a miracle. An outright, undeniable miracle of God. The prayer for God to "show up" that I had said the night before floated into my mind. I couldn't deny that God HAD shown up, reached His hand down and protected Chet from certain death or devastating injuries.

Giggle Friends

I am the assistant teacher for a special needs class called Giggle Friends. It is a class for motor skill development through play and gymnastics. We have six kids in our class right now and all are autistic. They are all under the age of five. Their autism ranges on the spectrum. This is the first time I have worked with autistic children and it affected me deeply.
The parents come into the gym with their child to help. We have much free play time on the equipment along with some structured activities. We ring bells, sing songs, play with the parachute, balls, bubbles and introduce basic gymnastics skills. We also have a "Now-Then" picture board to help the kids follow the structure of the class.
Some of the kids are non-verbal, have sensory issues, and are over stimulated easily. Melt downs are frequent. One non-verbal child yells the whole time and we don't know why. He is inconsolable. One child has to have her hand held the entire time because she continually runs herself into the glass wall. One child screams if anyone, sometimes even mom, touches her. Its a strange atmosphere. But, in the midst of the chaos, there are sudden smiles too. Swinging on the rings with Dad brings laughter, hanging on the bar causes squeals of delight and music creates freedom to dance.
I see parent's faces etched with exhaustion and incredible love for their children. I admire and applaud them. I see that they are happy to have a safe place for their kids to be accepted and free from judgement. I see comrade with other parents who understand everything and there is no need to explain. I feel that I am a part of giving these families a place to be free from the pressures they face day after day.
After class was over I had to take a break alone and cry. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I didn't feel sorry for these parents and children. I felt such admiration for the parent's courage, stamina, patience and love. I felt anger that there are not more programs and opportunities for their children. I felt compassion and empathy. I also felt fear for my friend's children and even my future child because we don't really know what causes autism. So many thoughts and emotions only tears could express. I couldn't make sense of all of them, but I did realize that I want to be a part of making a difference for these families, even if its only an hour gymnastics class once a week.
If we all gave, in our own way, what kind of impact could we make?

10 Good Things...

1. China Best now delivers to my house. Mmm, mmm, delicious!

2. I've lost weight! I can almost fit back into my favorite jeans! :)

3. I've made a new friend. They asked me to go out to eat with them sometime. Nice!

4. I can now successfully navigate through the computer system at work and know the right answers to most customer's questions. Its about time!

5. I managed to put some money in savings this month. Not much, but some is better than none!

6. Even though my Grandma's dementia is getting worse, she still remembers my name and that I'm her granddaughter...

7. I haven't had a major migraine in months.

8. I'm sleeping soundly through the night. No insomnia and no nightmares...Thanks unisom sleep melts!

9. I saw a rainbow on the way home from work the other day. It gave me hope...

10. I've noticed that I'm singing and dancing to songs on the radio in the car during my long drive to work. I haven't done this in a long time...It feels pretty good!