My Heart...

Thinking about all that our family went through after Josh got sick, can often be an amazing pill to swallow. I have been asked several times if I wish it had never happened. That is also an interesting question to answer. Don't get me wrong, I would never wish for a day that Josh would have been so sick...but do I "regret" it...NO! It was God's plan. Just like lots of different things in life, I didn't understand God's plan at the time, but more and more lately I am seeing it unfold and I am so thrilled with the path God is laying down for my family.

Josh is loving school and while it often presents challenges that could make you want to pull your hair out, I know that he goes to work every morning happy and proud of the person that he as become. Maggie is growing like a weed. She decided to use the potty last night for the first time ever! She was so proud of herself and so were we!!! I am loving my job and just life in general. I feel like I am making a difference in the lives of my students and just happy to be in the building I am in and working at such an awesome "job."

On Friday, Feb. 6th I did something that changed my life in a way that I could have never imagined. As you all know, I am a PE teacher in Hendersonville and love it. I have participated in Jump Rope for Heart events before both while I was in Elementary School and as a teacher at my former schools. I was thrilled when my awesome principal allowed me to do the fund raiser this year here at school. I wasn't sure what to expect...to say that I was nervous, would be an understatement of the year. I just wanted my students to understand why we were doing it and that sometimes in life, it is not all about the prizes. I have an amazing JRFH coordinator that I LOVE. I was researching online some information about my event and came across something that immediately struck my attention. Go Red For Women was hosting an open casting call for women from all walks of life to come on down and tell their story. SERIOUSLY! So I immediately thought...there is no way they will even be close to TN even if I could go. They were coming to Franklin, TN on Feb. 6th, which just happened to be National Wear Red for Women Day!

I immediately got tears in my eyes and knew that I had to do this. PERIOD. There really wasn't anyway around it. My heart was pounding and I was so excited to walk downstairs and tell Josh that I was "going to do it...I have to this!" So...I did. I left school as soon as possible on that Friday and headed straight to Franklin Macy's. The open call was from 4-6 and I had no idea what to expect. Thankfully, my awesome Molly Lolly was there with me by my side, being a bestie...as usual. I had thought about it, prayed about it, had others pray about it, and wrote down my thoughts so at least they were organized. Lyndsey took me to Barnes and Noble one afternoon, which was proved to be so productive! (Thanks Clem!)

So I went, I cried pretty much from the time that I sat down, I made some new friends, and I felt so proud of myself. The interview lady was awesome and by the end of the videotaped interview, the camera man and video runner guy were both teary eyed! They said that it was the best interview of the day. The interview was not exactly what I expected. They had a set of questions they wanted you to answer...pretty basic stuff. I just decided that I was going to be honest and if it worked out for me to tell the true story, then so be it. I felt from the moment that I walked into Macy's that God had his hand in that whole situation.

I was able to tell my story about Josh and how CPR and awareness saved his life. I told how I told my story here at school and teachers here are getting their CPR training soon because of that. I told them that Maggie was absolutely the highlight of our lives and that essentially she saved Josh's life. That she was his angel from day 6. I told them how it didn't matter if my stitches from the C-Section ripped or if I cracked a few of his ribs while performing CPR, he lived. I told them that I didn't think that Josh really started living until after he had gotten sick.

It was an amazing experience and one that I will always carry with me. I don't know what if anything will come of the opportunity, but I am so proud of what I did and for the example that I created for Maggie that day.

All submissions will be available at the end of the month for the public to view and if I am chosen, I will be notified by mail by May 1st. I would be one of the spokeswoman and face of the Go Red For Women Campaign. Imagine how many that would reach! I have turned it over to God. If it is meant to be, it will be. I think it would be one of the most amazing things EVER!