I thought I'd introduce you to the friends who started the circle: Steph, Cindy and Connie (L-R in photo). You have already observed through their actions what wonderful people they are--but there is more to their lives than just helping us! If you're interested, you can follow their stories in their personal blogs:
It's All Behind Us Now (Connie's weight loss/food blog!)
I'm so grateful to these three for launching the blog and inviting you to join--and for everyone's good thoughts, prayers and desire to help Kenny and me and the kids. The help that has already been received has been a blessing.
Our life has been defined by a new norm, but in the context of that, today is good. We are stable (although Bethany's having seizures), we have a full refrigerator, and last night we all slept peacefully.
I'll continue to send periodic updates via email that contain the "important" news. But for those who like a peek into the details of the daily flow and ebb, I'll post short updates here, too.
And, true to the intended purpose of the blog, this is where I'll raise the white flag of surrender to the need to ask for specific help. Today - we're all set. THANK YOU!
Nice credit where credit is due indeed. Having such caring friends says a lot about *you*, too, Jen. xoxox mom/wow
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Mom's comments about Jen. Jen & Kenny are wonderful people & falls into "why bad things happen to good people" catagory. Marie Adams
ReplyDeleteJen, thank you! That photo makes me smile broadly!
ReplyDeleteJen - this picture is missing a very important person :) YOU!!!!
ReplyDeleteKenny,
ReplyDeleteI've taken the time to learn more about this site. What a state of the art facility! If others would like a look: http://www.cancercenter.com/western-hospital.cfm
This certainly seems like a supportive, informed, good place for you to place your trust, along with your own wide knowledge. May the Force always be with you. Love, Mom/Diane
"Friends" - I just can't thank you enough for stepping in boldly, creating a place where we can publicly share our love for this family, and streamlining our need to show our love by helping in some way - small or large.
ReplyDeleteJen - From the first time we moved from email to an actual 'meeting' I knew that I loved your family. That's not evidenced in the amount of time we get to spend on the phone yakking, one-one, socially, or in a group, but you've been a real blessing to me -- I think much more than you know.
May I share my own "How I know Jen and Kenny" story?
My daughter Margie is a classmate of Bethany's. While they have different challenges, they compliment one another in that Margie's nature allows her to love people wherever they are.
Margie doesn't require the social cues that the rest of us do in order to acknowledge someone a 'friend' - she just has an absolute knowledge that Bethany is her friend. And if you watch closely, you can tell that Bethany enjoys being in Margie's company as well.
Since Margie already loves to be motherly (she just knows she "has Bethany's back") not a lot of conversation is required between them. It's very interesting to watch their friendship.
Back on topic, we had a dust-up in the classroom last year where we believed that our girls weren't in as positive environment as they were the year prior. Annoyingly, I tracked down as many of the other moms from the classroom as possible.
Jen was the first Special Needs Mom I had met who also worked professionally and shared my struggle (and MomGuilt) with giving our girls the best of opportunities.
She and I know what it is to wrestle the bear of bureaucracy. We also accept that we're lionesses if provoked. (And that's okay)
I like to say we took on Kyrene and won - and that's almost true. We joined together, changed the dynamics, and in the meantime got to be great friends.
Your group speaks of Jen's editorial skills, and that's another thing Jen and I share, We can write well ... er ... expansively.
And we do. I wouldn't want to attempt to take a word count on our exchanges. There are probably two or three emails in my draft folder I haven't had the nerve to send, because they are so personal. But in the last year, I've bravely re-read and re-considered a ton of emails that I've written passionately. Held my breath and hit "send"
At first I held my breath and waited for the response - feeling transparent and vulnerable (and dorky). Jen's the first person I've met who actually reads the whole email, and responds to it thoughtfully.
After awhile I realized I was safe (and while I currently have three emails to jen in my drafts folder *grin*) with Jen, I know it's okay to click "Send"
In plain language, she and I can pound it out on the keyboard, and we're each comfortable with the amount of reading material the other produces (smile)
When I finally met the family last year, I knew that Kenny and my husband Tom were also kindred spirits. I told Jen we needed to hook them up without seeming too obvious about it. They just each have very similar traits.
But we each work. And with the kids (I have three: 21, 13 and 11 - our boys are both 13, our girls both 11 ) and all the demands on our time, we can just never predict when both families will jointly have a 'good day'
I don't know how many folks are subscribed to this blog. But understand that we each intersect with this family in different ways, for different reasons. The overwhelming trait seems to be that Jen and Kenny have associated themselves with folks who truly know how to love, and more importantly - how to extend grace to one another.
I look forward to getting to know you all better as we move forward.
Tracy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your poignant sharing. It gladdens my mother's heart every time I encounter Jen's friends, her "family of choice" as it were. We in the East are with you all in Spirit.
Love, Mom/Grandma Diane
Tracy,
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful posting brought me to tears. As has happened repeatedly since embarking on this journey of support for Jen, Kenny, Daniel & Bethany, I am overwhelmed by the love & grace of the people in their lives. The synergy that happens as we all come together is truly awesome.
Cindy
Tracy, Your post brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my lips. Go ahead and send those draft msgs - now you've got me curious. :) Well, at least yours are in the draft folder; mine are still in my head! As usual, you are one step ahead.
ReplyDeleteNow let me add the best part of the story: Margie and B. will be in the same class again in the coming school year, which will make for more opportunities for us moms to intersect, too!!
I always say how much my friends would like each other, if only they knew each other. I guess it is one of those strange silver linings of our situation that now you ARE getting to meet each other.
Keep pounding those keys, Tracy. :)
Love you Jenn. I truly do. You are in my heart.
ReplyDeleteHey Mom ... as my oldest just moved out and got her own place in the last few weeks ... I want to empathize with you, and tell you something about your daughter.
I've told everyone: God makes 20 year olds so annoying you eventually *want* them to move out. I was kidding. I love her, I miss her. I worry for her.
And yet, you reach a place where you release them to the world knowing -- KNOWING that life will hand them hurt and disappointment and triumphs and blessings and things that looked like sucess but were disappointments; things that looked like tragedies on Day One, but turned out to be blessings after all.
And as a mom, there's just-not-a-danged-thing you can do about it.
In your heart, you resolve yourself to it. We've done our job, our part. If we didn't do our job well at 3, 5, 12 and 15, there's not a thing you can do at 21 (or 28 or 39 or 45) to prevent/fix/heal ANY of it.
You let them go, and just hold on and pray for the best. Am I right?
So Diane - I gotta tell you gal: You did a heck of a job with my Jen. There's no hiding the existence of great parents in the lives of amazing adults.
(PS. I have a lengthy and entertaining story about why I'm convinced I was found in a basket on my family's front porch ... )
Dear Tracy,
ReplyDeleteI've read your post any number of times and have been at a loss for words. However, I know now that "thank you" for supporting the supporters will suffice. We all help sustain each other.
Is there a condensed version of your beginnings as a foundling on your parents' front porch?
Keep writing! Love, MoM/WoW