First time for everything...

 Well just under 2 weeks ago I sent an email to a FB group I belong to (Help Raise Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness) and told Dustin (the group admin) I had TBI awareness bracelets (and 100 Oak Leaf Stickers) again this year ....
Last year I received about 200 emails over the entire year and made my goal of a new country to send a bracelet to (that would be Russia) -- so to say I am just in awe and overwhelmed at the response this year is an understatement!
My last actual count of requests were 375 emails PLUS messages on FB and I have had many MANY more since then!
I have tried to keep everything as organized as possible by returning an email to all sent to me, along with a note to the sender that I am working on getting bracelets to everyone who emailed so some numbers of bracelets just wasnt going to be possible. I also wrote each mailing address in a notebook so as to keep track of where to send bracelets (and praying to not miss anyone!)
I have a few things to add to each envelope that I still need to do, along with addressing each envelope and putting our return address too. For the frist time ever in this awareness journey,  I have asked for a bit of help from people who live in our area but so far there is no solid help.
It looks like this could be a slow process and I pray for understanding and patience from everyone.
I will try to keep the blog up to date on the progress and on my goal (so far so good!).


I am going to ask for prayer for a few things (if you wouldn't mind):
1. Help in getting this next step done in a timely manner
2. Making sure I get bracelets/stickers out to everyone who has asked for one (or a few)
3. I also have a request that I will not put on here but God does know (well of course since He knows everything) but just that if it is needed that it comes to fruition.

Email...

After yesterday presentation I had a few people come up and talk to me and ask for contact information. I honestly thot that they were just 'being nice'. But this morning when i checked my emails I found this email in my inbox. It was a shock and I have to admit it brought me to tears. 
Dennis and I are not sure where GOd is taking us on this journey now -- a shift to the right on the path or a continued direction that we are already going... but we will pray about this email and the offers that are in it and that were offered when I spoke to Becky after the presentation. 
Thank you Becky for the email and for the thotful help and blessings you have mentioned.




Jodi,
I just wanted you to know that I thought you did a great job with your presentation today. As I mentioned I lost my oldest son almost 6 years ago in a home accident so I can sympathize with you in a way that many cannot. I have always said that I wish that he hadn't died even if he were brain damaged because at least I could still see him and hold him. Most people think that Im crazy to think that because in their opinion "Ethan" wouldn't be "Ethan" anymore. I think that you are amazing in your ability to see Sam as the same kid he always was. You do this in a non-delusional way, seeing the changes but doing everything in your power to treat him like any other 16 year old. I think makes you an amazing Mom. I too have the guilty feelings when it comes to the way I am with my other children and am a self admitted "helecopter" parent. In our life experience how could we not be? I am however concerned that you are going to burn out. As a fellow farm wife I understand the demands it puts on a family and it is for this reason that I want to help you and your cause. I would do anything to have my child back and since I can't I want a chance to help families who did get the second chance to get the resources and info needed as well as help other families from suffering the same fate. I find there is little help in Manitoba for any tragities involving children and felt very alone in grief and still do during my hard times.

I will understand if you feel this is a journey you need to make alone and will part by just congratulating you on a job well done. You have touched me in a way that I could never fully explain and I thank you for that.

Becky 

New Address

Yes, I have moved the blog! I was not happy with what I could do at our  'old' place and I like the way that WordPress gives me more options! (just what I need!)

Well I am soooooooooooo happy to announce that our house in Neepawa is SOLD! YAY! Thank you God for sending the right people to buy our home at the time You felt was best! (I am in that hindsight frame of mind right now... ☺) So in a way the new address is for more than the blog!

Tonight we are off to another TBI meeting. This is the one in Brandon that Sam likes, but the real reason for us going is so I can share the information on the TBI Conference in April. We will take Sam to these meetings once in a while but due to distance and the fact that we feel that he will get more out of the Dauphin group once he gets more comfortable with them we will go to the Dauphin meetings more regular.

I have busy, busy again last week getting things in order for what I need to do to help with the  awareness for the conference. I have a few people in mind to talk to and see about things, I have many posters made to put up, brochures to hand out and people to talk too! I can't wait til Thursday when I am going to town to do this! (i have spoken to most of these people already ... but just getting out and face to face spreading the word of TBI awareness... thrilling.

I sent out my emails this morning too, to teachers about Sam's weekly school work and so far no replies to the email.  I was told by the school division to send the emails to the teachers, that they would reply fairly quickly. I know it is only Monday afternoon but I sent out emails last Monday and really only got one reply. I put a read receipt on the emails and very few of them have come back either\(or an acknowledgement that they read the email!!!)... So I will wait and see this week, then I will go to the next step (not too sure what all that is right now tho)