Sold out!

Mike's cousin Brent recently contacted me about running in the Rebecca Run www.rebeccarun.com Unfourtunately Brent and his wife Rhonda won't be able to run because the event is SOLD OUT! The Rebecca Run is a fundraiser for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada. 95% of their profits go toward research. While Brent seemed rather disappointed I am thrilled. This is the first year that the run has sold out. I didn't even know such a thing was possible. I have always just assumed that those types of events will take as many people as they can get. While SMA continues to be a term that many people have never heard of perhaps word is finally spreading. If anyone wants to meet some inspiring kids go to the website and then click on honorees. It will remind you why we need a cure sooner than later.

I am currently working on a fundraiser for the first weekend in October (in honour of Georgie's birthday). If anyone has any great venue ideas that would hold a couple hundred people, have tall enough ceilings for a bouncer and is reasonably priced please contact me. I am currently emailing community centres but many people seem to be on holidays at the moment.

Thank you so much Brent and Rhonda. We are blessed to be surrounded by people like you.

3 more sleep to Vegas! Can you tell I'm excited?!

Love to you all,

Kristen

Living

Yesterday, I did something that I never do. I sat down and watched t.v. for two whole hours during the middle of the day. Obviously I ended up watching the Michael Jackson memorial. Despite his questionable choices and actions he was a brilliant song writer and entertainer who brought millions of people together breaking all kinds of barriers along the way. One of the speakers made reference to the fact that Michael made every single one of his dreams come true. I find that idea amazing. What kind of life would we all have to lead to make every single one of our dreams come true? How many of us are afraid to even make choices that would make one of our dreams come true?

I have many dreams and surprisingly since Georgia died instead of having them disappear I feel more optimistic about them than ever. Some of them are simple dreams others more complex. Some of them are dreams I can share with the world and others I will keep to myself. I attribute most of this to the idea that I don't fear failure anymore (except to possibly fail Georgia). I have also come to understand that there is very little in this life that I can actually control. Most of us are fooling ourselves when we think that we have taken the wheel.

So, when will these dreams come true? I don't know and for the most part I'm not sure that I care. They will all happen in their own time. At this point, the only way that I feel like I could fail Georgie would be to stop dreaming and stop living. Earlier this evening one of my friend's told me that she was so pleased at the way Mike and I have continued 'living', 'truly living'. That is the nicest comment somebody could give me because it reminds me that I have taken one of the lessons Georgie taught me and am practicing it every day.

4 sleeps to Vegas!!

Love to you all,

Kristen

Changes

Today Georgia would have been nine months old. It's actually very hard for me to imagine. Because she never really met many of the physical milestones I can't really picture her pulling herself up and cruising around furniture like her sisters did. In some ways I am grateful for this. Being able to visualize it would only make it that much harder. My neighbor's little girl (almost 2) was trying to sing 'Baby Beluga' this afternoon. I helped her with the lyrics as it was one of the songs that I always sang to Georgia. Surprisingly, I did it with a smile on my face and no tears because there is nothing as cute as a child first learning to sing. Thanks for the fun time Avery!

The girls and I went out to the cemetary too where Calla and Maya ran around like a couple of crazies. They always have to go see if there are any geese or ducks on the pond and Calla likes jumping from marker to marker. She asked me if it was okay and I said yes. Most of the people buried under those markers were quite old and I think that they'd get a kick over some beautiful little girls taking joy in their final resting place. The friendship bracelet is still there Krista.

Changes continue to happen around and within us. Our days around here are full and happy for the most part. I find it hard to feel depressed in the summertime, especially in a city where it's winter for half of the year. Sometimes I feel guilty about finding so much joy in my life even though I know that this is the way Georgie would want it. I've noticed over the last week that I am interacting with the girls on a new/old level. I have gone back to actually 'playing' with them and not just going through the motions. Calla told me at dinner time tonight that playing at the park with me this afternoon was her favorite part of the day. : )

I don't cringe when I see people at the gym anymore. Most people seem to respect my privacy especially while I'm running. Thank you! I am also considering going back to work in the fall. For those of you that don't know I am an elementary school teacher. I have been subbing since Calla was born, between maternity leaves of couse. I think that I will sub again in the fall. The flexibility can't be beat. It will also help me pay for my fun bus trip down to Minneapolis in October. It's all about the shopping of course. : )

On the treadmill tonight I was thinking about what Georgie would say as we, her family, moved forward. As I left the gym I was greeted by a giant rainbow. I will take that as affirmation that she wants us to continue finding joy in our lives as we continually change.

Happy Birthday Angel! We miss you so much!

Love to you all,

Kristen

PS Go check out www.gwendolynstrong.com and see a 104 year old great grandfather hold his great granddaugher for the first time. You will be moved!