a very special saturday

 

I’ve been putting this post off because I want it to be perfect.  I want to capture all my thoughts and feelings in a glass jar for you to experience with me. 

 

But I just don’t think it’s possible. 

 

I’m not a skilled enough writer.  But more so because some things are just too precious to be fully expressed.  So instead, I’ll just share little snippets of special moments and keep the rest marinating in my sappy soul.

 

The Variety Club hosts a special day for special families twice a year at a very special place which Trevy likes to call “Elmo’s World” but you might know as Sesame Place.

We’ve been invited to attend in the past but for one reason or another it just never worked out. 

Until this year.

And the best part is…

 

some really amazing and beautiful friends were coming to join us!

 

Sophie and her mommy

Emma and her mommy

and

Ryan and his mommy

 

Four IS kiddos and their families together.  Talk about making sappy flow!  I choked back tears more than once.

We got to the park before the others.  Cause we’re all a little crazy in our family and wake up at the crack of dawn when we go to sleep excited about the next day!  So when Elaine called to say she and Emma’s mommy were at the gate waiting for us…I couldn’t wait to see them.  It’s funny, though.  Thoughts that flit through hearts n’ heads.  I wondered what if I didn’t recognize them in person?  And we should have told each other what we wearing.  Then when I saw them – I thought how could I ever have thought that!  Of course I’d know them!  That was the first time I choked back tears.

 

I choked back tears when we hugged each other tight.  Like we’ve been friends forever.  Sometimes hugs say more than words ever could. 

 

I choked back tears when I squatted down to say “hi” to the two cutie pie little girls in their strollers.

I choked back tears when I snapped this shot.  Elaine and I say Sophie and Trevy are gonna get married someday!  And told her this is the engagement photo…

I choked back tears during the first show we saw together.  Three little IS buddies all in a row.  So beautiful.  So cute.  So miraculous…each of them.

I choked back tears when Emma lifted her hands to groove with the music.

 

And laughed every time her mommy had to run after her!  I’m allowed to laugh…because not too long ago – that was me!  And still is on many an occasion!

I choked back tears when Sophie put her little hand in mine to let me take her up the BIG slide.

 

Although (I didn’t even tell you this, E!) about half way up the steps I remembered that I’m terrified of heights!  My knees were knockin’ the whole way up!  And poor Sophie’s little hand was getting’ the squeeze of it’s life.  She didn’t seem to mind though.  And then up at the tippy top, when she said she didn’t want to do the slide…

 

I choked back tears as she let me hug her.  And she played with my hair like she does her mommy’s.  Sheesh…I’m choking back tears now just remembering.  There are moments that are just so special.  Hugging Sophie and being hugged back til’ it was her turn down the slide was one of those moments.

 

I choked back tears when Bristel declared Sophie her BFF.

 

If you could have seen them together…oh my cuteness…the two of them!

 

One of my fave moments was when a little boy tried to cut in line in front of Sophie and Bristel pushed him back in place letting him know that Sophie was there first!  And when Sophie was trying to cut in line…the way Bristel pulled her back again!  Just precious.

 

Bristel says she and Sophie were just made for each other.

 

(I stole the pic above of Bri and Sophie riding together from Elaine!)

I choked back tears when I hugged Ryan and his mommy for the first time.  Beautiful  Beautiful people.

I choked back tears when Toby shared during the long ride home how meeting Ryan gave him so much hope for Trevy.  He’s still talking about how amazing Ryan was! 

It’s hard to describe how special that Sesame Place visit was.

 

Seeing all these kiddos together.  Hugging their mommies. 

 

All of us share a common bond of living through IS and brain surgery journeys.  Sophie and Trevy even had the same hemisphere removed by the same surgical team!

 

I think it will always be one of those memories.  The kind that fills my heart up and squeezes until the sappy comes out.

 

Love you guys!

 

…danielle