I am exicted to share that we are just under $1,000 away from our fundraising goal for therapy camp. I can't begin to express the depth of gratitude I have for everyone who has so graciously made this possible for Alexander. No matter what the size of the contribution has been, my heart has been deeply touched. This is so meaningful for me at the moment. Please email me if you are still interested in making a contribution. If you don't need the tax deduction you can feel free to send contributions to me at my home address. My deadline to get all money collected and into the Institute in Florida is June 28th. I am hoping to mail off the final payment the week before to ensure it makes it there on time.
Tomorrow is the last day of school for the boys and they are really looking forward to summer break. They will definitely be busy. Logan has already been active in baseball two evenings a week since mid-May and his team is doing awesome this year! Logan also has made some great plays on the field, pitched a couple innings pretty well, and has already had a couple of nice power hits at his turn to bat. I don't think he's had any strike outs yet. Look out Boston! We're also VERY proud of him as he received the Presidential Award in Outstanding Academic Excellence yesterday. He said only a couple kids in each upper level grade received this award. We're pretty proud of his achievement. We are also grateful for the amazing teachers the boys have had this past school year. Their patience and support is appreciated.
Evan continues to tell me that he is looking forward to being at home with me this summer and that he is especially looking forward to being with me again. He's had lots of hugs for me this week as it's been a week where I've really needed them. He is looking forward to spending a couple days each week at a park here in Bloomington hanging out with other kids and Park & Rec staff. He struggles more with coordination of his motor skills so playing outdoor sports is more of a challenge for him. He is continually looking for more activities to keep himself busy. Every time we drive by the Ice Garden around the corner from our house and sees the sign for skating lessons that start next week he says "that sure sounds like fun!" He loves going to the Bloomington city pool in the summers and is quite the swimmer. I'm sure he will be busy playing with his neighbor friend (who also goes to the same school, same grade) when he is home from day care. Alan doesn't mind the kid coming over as he already was begging Alan to cut our grass-which was great because our kids jumped right into offering help to Alan outside as well! Alan put Evan and the other boys to work cutting brush in our back yard last weekend. Evan was so excited about helping that he kept asking to help on Sunday in the backyard doing more work. He is quite the helper and I appreciate that about him.
Alex is gearing up to go to five days of overnight camp on Trout Lake at Camp Hand in Hand (which is offered by the Autism Society of Minnesota). Last year was his first time up there and we were pleasantly surprised how much fun he had and the quality of staff they have working at the camp. We were especially thrilled that his personal staff at camp was the daughter of a woman who used to work with him in Sunday School when we were still at Wooddale Church. I received a call from his program staff tonight who has been at the camp for several years and it sounds like MANY of the camp staff have been committed to returning to this camp every year. Additionally, Alex's music therapist from the U of M works at this camp providing music and music time at camp which is another big bonus for Alex. He has worked with Alex for a few years now and knows him very well. It was so nice to hear from his camp staff tonight that his music therapist has already shared so many great things about Alex and how fond he is of him. This staffer proceeded to tell me that everyone who works at camp knows and adores Alex. I think that's pretty true of most people who meet him-he's great at showing his best side to others outside his immediate family.
I am hoping to commit a couple nights a week this summer doing things just for me. So if you live by me and want to hang out or go do something together, let me know! My personal life has been on hold for a while with four boys. Most moms are in the habit of putting everyone else's needs ahead of their own. This has been especially true for me. My new friend from church in Stephen's Ministry told me last night that it's going to be her new goal with me to help me make time for myself. She said I need to spend more time right now just focusing on myself. I know this is especially timely as the kids are home from school for the summer and two of them have evening baseball three nights a week. I feel so out of the loop socially since I've had to give up a lot of personal time to my kids, including two children with special needs. I have been out of the workplace for just over twelve years now and I'm already thinking ahead on that as well. The clinic where I've been a patient for over four years and have been volunteering my time for a few months is now hiring. I'm going to apply for one of the positions they are seeking to fill. For me it's not so much about the money as it is the people and being able to give something of my self in a new and slightly different way. We'll see what if anything happens. For now, I need to spend the next few weeks 'recharging' my batteries for Alex's therapy camp at the end of July. Grief is incredibly draining and exhausting emotionally, psychologically, and physically. I am looking forward to continuing my learning in the MNRI technique, adding to the courses I've already been able to take. I am hoping that my foundation of training will not only directly benefit my own children but others as well someday when the timing is right. As I have taken a few classes and become confident in using the techniques with my own children, I have developed a greater passion for the work and want to use it to help bring healing to others.
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