The Halloween Wheelchair

This Halloween kicked off the holiday season with compassion.

I don't know if it's possible to have writers block, when all a person does is type out updates every week or two, but I've had it ;-) I know the story I want to tell, but I've told one's like it before, and don't really have a new angle :-) So I'll just tell you I guess.

Halloween day was an emotional rollercoaster!...

Bittersweet

It started with mixed emotions, volunteering at Max's preschool party. SO much fun to have another one in preschool and spend time with him there. SO sad that it's the last one. And trying SO hard to drink every moment in.

Fear

I thought I was pregnant and had to take a test to calm myself down. I've never been so afraid to look at something in my whole life. And I was QUITE relieved. Even though I'm sad that Max is our last "typical" child. There's NO way that we could, or should, ever have any more.


Thankfully, THIS is our only baby ;-)

Heartbreak

Max, Sophie and I, got all dressed up in our costumes and headed over to the elementary school to cheer Sarah at the Halloween parade. But I had forgot about early out Wednesday's (which frankly will never make sense to me) and pulled into an empty parking lot :-( We were all dressed up with nowhere to go :-( I've NEVER missed a Halloween parade. I cried that afternoon (probably didn't help that I hadn't had any night nurse all week ;-) But still, I was SO sad. Michael is in middle school now, and didn't have a parade. Sarah's only got one left after this. They're growing so fast and I can't slow it down.

Gratefulness

As I got ready for the evening, my feelings of gratefulness began to heal my sad heart from missing the parade. I was thinking about how the holiday's last year were so special, because we didn't think Sophia would be here for another season. We're so glad that she is still here. That her light gets to shine on our holiday season again. My feelings of gratefulness for our miracle, began to melt away my earlier sorrow and anxiety.

Shock... Awe... and Overwhelmed with Kindness

Next I was gearing up for Halloween night. Max was the perfect Charlie Brown and Sophia the perfect Snoopy. 

I was a dragonfly, which I think might be my yearly costume to honor Sophie ;-) I was getting super excited to take "the littles" (Max and Sophie) around our neighborhood. Plus I like passing out the candy too .... it always makes me feel so grown up ;-)

Then came the expected knock at the door. It wasn't my year for Halloween and I was happy knowing it was Curtis and Mari bringing over the kids for trick or treating. I hadn't had a chance to see Michael or Sarah's costumes yet. 

When I opened the door I saw something strange. A gift so compassionate that my brain would not understand. There was Curtis and Mari ... and all 6 of the children in their blended family. In the middle of them ... a tiny wheelchair. 

I've never seen one so small. I just kept saying "Guys! What IS this?!".  They wouldn't answer me, just smiled and kept pushing it toward the door. My heart knew, but my brain wouldn't believe it. Is this to borrow for trick or treating ..... or to .....keep? 

When my mind finally accepted that it was a gift, I began to cry and hug them ;-) I called Jason who was pulling in. We were so grateful, we just didn't even know what to say. 

Michael, Sarah, and their dad had got a used wheelchair and worked to make it right for Sophie. 

Jason and I talked for days about what a touching gift it was. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season (and a great ending to a roller-coaster of a day for me ;-) Sophia is so lucky to be loved by so many people. And we are so lucky to receive acts of pure kindness from the people around us. And to feel the love of Christ, given by others, in our lives.

So, just another reminder from me, that relationships can change if you let them. The relationship between Michael and Sarah's four parents, was the first one that Sophia healed, and continues to affect. But it wasn't, and won't be the last :-) Love that little angel. We hope she stays for many more years. To teach us all through her love ;-)

The rest of Halloween night went as we have come to expect. It was too cold for Sophie to do more than half a block so Jason and Grandpa Chad took her home. Max had an absolute blast. We knocked on 40 doors in our neighborhood, as we had previously counted on our walks, and as I had promised him ;-)

 It got dark while we were out and we had forgot to turn on our porch light. So Jason missed out on probably half of the trick or treaters, sorry! 😝 and we ended with Max tripping and hitting his head on the road! 

Those who know us well, would joke that that sounds like a typical night for us! Happy Belated Halloween everyone! We hope yours was as good as ours ;-)