My Fuel

I read something on a blog recently that made me think, this is so me... this is so so me!

"I sacrifice sleep. I sacrifice work, against my better judgment sometimes, because I need to spend time with friends. It fuels me." 

I do. I take long lunches sometimes just to catch up. I stay late at supper club and go to bed an hour later than normal to be with my girls. And as hard as it is to only see my family for a couple hours at night after work, I sacrifice them as well when old friends come to town, or my Italy friends want to get together.

Getting off of Facebook a few months ago was a pretty big deal for me. I think it was a bigger deal leading up to it than it was after the fact. Because I survived, yes. Do I always know the latest and greatest news...no. But I don't miss it. Because my friends... My tried and true friends remain in contact with me in other ways. Now I'm not hating on facebook, because I'm a huge advocate. I just needed a break to focus on more important things than what a girl I had one class with in college was eating for dinner that night.

Now back to my point. I want to thank my friends, basically anyone in my life who has taken time out of their own schedules to go out to dinner, to stop by and visit, to call, email or even just to text to check in and see how things are going. I have one friend that I haven't seen in months because she now has 3 kids under 2, but we have the best and longest texting conversations. I have friends that I've never met before who have children in the same situation as Hunter, and I have connected with these mothers like I will never connect with any of my other life long friends. There's just something about a friend who knows what you're going through... you want to grab on to them as tightly as possible and never ever let go.

I know when Hunter was going through his surgery, I emailed Landon's mom at least 50 times about different things. And when she responded, she elaborated on every single thing I asked about. What a selfless kind of friend. Eventually we even met for lunch one day because she only lives an hour away, and it was so awesome. It felt like family.

When Blair and I went to St. Louis for the Usher Coalition conference, Sophia and her mom and dad met us for dinner. What an amazing experience. We sat there and shared stories, shared struggles, and shared success stories. But the hearing loss, what brought us together, is so much deeper than a special needs child. It's people in this world who want to help and want to meet and want to just be there for you.

When the founder of Eye on Jacob and I met back in October, we had something even deeper. When she was telling her story of why she started the foundation, she looked at me said I can just see the pain in your eyes, and I feel that pain for you. I feel the burning desire that you have to do something about this and be part of a cure.

And when I met Jennifer Lentz, the researcher from LSU. She said of all the things in her life that lead her to where she is today, that she knows finding a cure for Usher 1C is what she is here on this earth to do. And I just started crying at the table. It was music to my ears, and when we left the restaurant, I said I am pretty sure you are going to be our saving grace, and I am going to do whatever it takes to help you get there.

This past year has been a lot of firsts for me. Meeting new people, expanding my comfort zone, and just learning more about myself and what keeps me going in a positive direction, while eliminating the negative.

I had my 10 year class reunion Thanksgiving weekend, and a majority of the girls there are ones that I have stayed in touch with over the years. And then there were some whom I have stayed somewhat in contact with but not very often, but still came up to ask how we were doing since Hunter got his ears.
There really are thoughtful people in this world. The ones who aren't there to just tell you the magnificent things they have going on in their lives, but the ones who are truly interested in yours.

I have sorority sisters that I haven't seen since we graduated, and they send me the most thoughtful emails and messages. (one thing I miss about facebook). But I wasn't always one to reach out before, I was always too hesitant wondering if they would think it would be weird to say Hi, I hope all is well. But as much as I love hearing from others, I know they appreciate it just as much.

So thank you to my friends, the old, the new, and all those inbetween. My email buddies, and my texting ones. My work peeps who get my day in and day out stories. And my family... I know I can't pick my family, but God couldn't have picked a better family for me!