It is truly amazing to see the droves of perfect strangers show up yesterday to love on my sweet Liza and gift her with an afternoon of fun, excitement, and "normalcy." You don't have to drive a Jeep to immediately feel like family in a group of Wrangler fanatics. And family they now are.
Most of the afternoon Liza spent running around with new friends, hoping in Jeeps and going for a spin around the block, and simply being a kid. It brought such joy to me as her mama to see her happy, playful and like herself again, a truly rare moment these days.
We had a really tough morning yesterday leading up to all the fun and Jeep Wrangle'n excitement. So tough that I texted my parents to please come over to our house and help me wrangle the kids. Liza was having fits of anger, frustration, acting out -- throwing toys, slamming doors, yelling "I'm having a hard time here, I did not choose to have brain surgery, I'm fighting for my life." And as a mom I felt totally and completely helpless. It was all I could do not sit there and cry my eyes out. My parents quickly showed up and scooped Finnley and Liza and headed to the park, giving me a few hours of quiet and alone time. It was a tremendous gift and blessing, as about the only "alone" time I have most days is behind the bathroom door, taking as long as I can to breathe, pray, and yes, the obvious, before two little feet come barreling through, asking "mommy what are you doing?"
We survived yesterday by the grace, mercy, love, compassion and understanding of people we had just met, strangers who instantly engaged as if we'd known each other all along. And it was amazing. Unbelievable really. This is not supposed to happen to my family, as we are usually the ones stepping in to take care of others -- neighbors, our staff, customers, and friends. The overwhelming support clearly demonstrates God's hand in every step of our journey thus far, giving me hope, peace and confidence in His provision in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.
Thank you to ALL our new Wrangler friends -- Iron City Wranglers and all the other Wrangler clubs that came out yesterday. We are so blessed to have your love and support as we travel to Boston this week, and are honored to have been in your company yesterday. It was great fun for Liza and Finnley, and brought such joy to my heart seeing my children happy and enjoying the gift of life.
Keep the prayers coming. For Liza -- that she find comfort in God's almighty hand in healing her and carrying her through the days and weeks ahead, that she learns how to express her feelings and emotions in a healthy way, one day at a time and in letting those who love her in to carry the weight of her worries and fears. For Finnley -- that as he adjusts to all the changes brought on his day to day life that he feel just as loved, if not more, than every before. That he learns that feeling frustrated and upset as his days and nights are not what they used to be is okay, normal, and understandable. For me -- a mother -- with a great big God who will move mountains in a journey already won. A mother whose heart breaks at the sight of her baby girl hurting, crying out in fear and anger at "not choosing" the lemons life has thrown at her. A mother who desperately longs for the pain and suffering we are all experiencing to just go away. I know and believe without a doubt that God is the master creator and provider of this journey called 'LIFE' and that He -- and is already - making the impossible possible.
Thank you to everyone who has and is praying for us, loving us from near and far away, carrying some of the burdens in day-to-day life for me and my Dad and our bakery family, and for loving Liza so. We can't thank you enough!
