Disney World here we come!

We are leaving in the morning for Jared's wish trip to Disney World! We are all so excited! Jared is so excited but I don't think that he truly realizes what he is about to experience. :) I just pray that we can be healthy and happy and just enjoy ourselves! We are all ready for a break! :)

To Alyssa

To My Sweet Alyssa,

Life is hard for you right now. Your seizures aren't getting any better and you are now having more during the day. If you are standing when one hits, you fall. You are frustrated and sad. But, you are incredibly strong and brave. Stronger and braver than you think!

Last Friday was a tough day for both of us. You were asked by our friends, the Nitz family, to sing a song at their youngest daughter's baptism. You were excited that they had asked you and you practiced that song and had it memorized and it was beautiful! That night, as you started singing, the spirit rushed into that room and your sweet, angelic voice pierced the souls of those listening to you. And then the thing that we both feared, happened. You had a seizure. Half way through your song I saw your arm twitch and then suddenly you were down on the ground. I saw you falling, but even though I was only three feet away, I couldn't get there in time. It happens so quickly. You're standing and then you're on the ground in a split second. Everyone was speechless as I rushed to you and cradled you in my arms. You were devastated, embarrassed, and so sad. You just wanted to go home.

After helping you to the hall the two of us cuddled and cried together. You cried for all of the above reasons, and I cried because I was heartbroken that I couldn't take this burden away from you. I wish so badly that I could make it all go away. I wish that I could be the one with the seizures. But, I am not. For some reason this is a trial that you have to face. But we are not going to let these seizures beat you! You are stronger than they are and even though they may try to beat you down, they are just making you stronger!

You asked me that night in the hall why you had to have a seizure right at that moment. I don't know why, but I believe, without a doubt, there was a reason why. So many people came up to us after the baptism to tell you how beautiful you are. They thanked you for sharing your spirit with them and were so grateful for your willingness to share, knowing that you had to take a risk to do so. One woman told us something that I want you to remember. She said that we are always grateful for people who are willing to share their talents with us, however, when you see someone who has to risk so much to share, it makes the experience that much more poignant and special. No one cared that your seizure happened. They were just so grateful for your willingness to share. And even though you may have only song a part of your song, no one in that room will forget the peace and strength that your sweet spirit brought to that room that night.

I love you so much my sweet daughter. You are so creative, bright, kind, sweet, and full of life. These seizures will not beat you. You are too strong to let them. They will just help you become even stronger, more humble, grateful, compassionate, and full of grace. Never let them stop you from sharing your amazing talents with us, because you have more to share than you realize!