This week amidst all the craziness I was overwhelmed with the kindness of others and my cup became overflowing with gratefulness, thankfulness, and I was just in complete awe, to the point of tears, of how selfless others can be in big and small ways.
Part 1:
On Tuesday there was absolutely nothing I could do or Boyd could do, to make Baby Boyd happy. He basically cried and screamed all day. We didn't know it at the time, but he had an ear infection on top of already having bronchitis. Tuesday is a work day for Boyd so I wake him up between 10 and 11 in the morning and then by 3 in the afternoon he is heading out the door for work. I figured once Baby Boyd and I left the house in the car he would get happier or at least fall asleep.....wrong! To make a long story short I had a meltdown and my Mom helped the only way she could. She contacted the one lady she knows that lives up here that she met in passing at church. I know Lisa too, but we just talk to each other in passing, so I figured she would just shoot me a message on facebook to check up on me.
When I was finally on my way home from town, my phone rang. It was Lisa and she was calling to check on me and make sure I was ok. She made me promise to call her whether I needed to take a shower or if I needed a break, basically for anything! She told me that since my mom is so far away, and she has a daughter close to my age that also lives on the east coast, that she would just be my Alaska Mom. : ) Before we got off the phone she made me promise again that I would call her day or night if I needed anything. She made it very clear that she is here for me and willing to help in whatver way she can.
It might not seem like a big deal from the outside looking in, but it was. Sometimes it is hard to be so far away from everything you are familiar with. If we lived in North Carolina it would be so easy to get a break or ask for help, but that is not the case. This woman was nice enough to call me, an almost stranger, and extend her hand. Afterwards I was so overwhelmed by her sweet words and was touched that she had called. It was such a blessing to know that there are people in Alaska that are willing to extend their help without thinking twice about it. I am so grateful for this woman, because she could have so very easily brushed my mom's message off, but she took the time to pick up the phone, call, and check on me. : )
Part 2:
A few weeks ago I became friends with Lauren Marie Graham on facebook. Afterwards I found out that this is a page for a beautiful little angel. Lauren had Bohring-Opitz Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disease. Lauren was 20 months old when she passed away. Lauren's family received help from an Alaska non-profit organization called HOPE Community Resources. Hope goes into homes and helps families keep their sweet babies at home, here in Alaska, where they belong and can be loved. Not until last night did I know that before HOPE came along many children with disabilities or illnesses had to be placed in foster care, or move out of state to get the help they needed. Could you imagine if you had a precious child and you had to place them with another family so that they could get the help that they needed? I know I could not! So then Laurens' mom, Dana, kept posting status updates on the silent auction fundraiser they were doing for HOPE in memory of Lauren.
I continued for at least 2 weeks seeing status updates, and thinking to myself that I wanted to get involved. Finally I sent Dana a message on facebook and asked her what I could do to help. She emailed back and said that if I wanted to, I could come to the silent auction and take pictures for her, so that she would be able to remember everything about it. I immediately found a baby sitter!
There were over 200 items donated to the auction, beautiful flowers, and not to mention all kinds of delicious food! There were also a number of people that donated their time to be there and help with making the event possible. Throughout the night I was overwhelmed and astonished at the graciousness of people. Many people there, to include myself, did not know Lauren or her family, but knew that maybe, by donating what they could, whether that be their time or money, that something amazing would come of this. Something amazing did come of it and it was all in honor of an amazing little girl with an amazing, loving family who care enough to "pay it forward." There were so many people that came up to Dana last night and said " I don't know you, but HOPE helps our family. Thank you for what you are doing" It was astonishing to see all of these people come together for such a wonderful cause. Words cannot describe the feelings that I felt while standing there watching the home videos of Lauren with her family, and the way people gave to the organization that helped her stay that way for as long as possible. It was so uplifting and touching to see how passionate the Graham's are for HOPE Community Resources and how their passion for helping others overflows to those ALL around them.
I am pretty sure while driving home from Anchorage, listening to my K-Love radio : ), I cried most of the way. I think of my life and how fortunate I am. Right now in my life we are not experiencing any type of heartache or pain. While I was in my car I heard a song that said:
"We gotta do better than this 'cause we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this 'cause we only got
One life that we've been given
A little love, a little kindness
A little light in this time of darkness
It'll be what makes us different
It'll be what makes us human"
After I heard this it made me realize how I have just been living inside a bubble and that I need to, and I am going to do better. I am going to get involved and hopefully I will make a difference in someones life the way these ladies have done for me this week. One of many things I took away from the fundraiser was something that I heard Dana say. She said " If anything I hope when people go home that they squeeze their kids a little tighter." When I finally did get home, that is exactly what I did. I sat and held my sweet baby boy and thanked God that he is healthy and he is here in my arms looking up at me. I am so thankful that Dana's love for her daughter greatens the love I have for my son. No one is promised tomorrow and it makes you stop and be thankful for what you have today.
You can click here to read more of Lauren's story. On May 7th HOPE Community Resources is having their 42nd Annual Walk & Roll for Hope which I will be attending! To read more about HOPE Community Resources, register to walk, or to make a donation Click Here.
