I've got this one.

This has been a crazy couple weeks.  I wish I had time to list all the stuff we've gotten to deal with as a family the last couple weeks but I don't think I have energy left in my fingers to type that much.  

I can sum it up by relating a quick story.  Two nights ago, my youngest daughter was sobbing her eyes out in my arms.  She'd been carrying a  load of worries and fears that are pretty staggering to an average 12 year old kid.  As I let her cry it out, I was reminded of something I heard Crawford Loritz say at a conference some years ago.  He was talking about the times when things are too big, too heavy, too overwhelming to bare.  You know the times--when you can't quite think beyond the moment you're in to even think of the moment coming next.

He talked about how when, at those times, if you listen closely, God is saying, "Move over.  I've got this one." 

Well, my daughter was struggling with things that are so far beyond her control, but being her mother's child, she was desperately trying to force them to be IN her control.  I got to spend a few minutes trying to explain to her what it meant to have a God with bigger, stronger shoulders than ours.  To a kid with a broken heart, it was probably too big of a lesson.  I still struggle with it at 43.  But finally, I just said to her, "Heather, it's ok.  I've got this one."  

I felt her whole body relax against me as she stopped crying.  In that quiet moment, my girl was able to let it go, and give it over.  Before the next moment came, when I knew I'd have to actually do something about it, I got to just 'be' in that perfect place where things were just as they should have been, where the tears stop and faith in something better surrounded us.

I wish I could practice my own lessons, but as they say, those who can, do, and those who can't consult.  Well, ok, maybe that's not exactly what they say.  But for a minute, I got to be a set of big shoulders to a girl who's heart was hurting.  Nope, I don't think I was playing God.  But it was a good place to be anyway, on this side for a change.

Blessings,

Megan

Wow!

Well, in just a few weeks, we have just about met our entire goal for the upcoming walk. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who has sponsored Amanda and supported our team. We've had folks jumping in who she didn't ask, folks contributing way above and beyond what we imagined, and just all-around amazing support in general. We even had a matching gift that made a huge difference as well.

There's still time to participate. We don't mind if we go over our goal! You may want to check if the company you work for has a matching gift program. Those programs may allow you to double your dollar's investment if you contribute to the Epilepsy Foundation in Amanda's name.

You know, when you watch the news or read the paper, or even listen to people in line with you at the grocery store, there are so many things in our world which are just broken. But it amazes me how small that is compared to the goodness of most people. Of course, we hear about the stuff that's not so good because that's what sells.

Yet in just a couple weeks, a little group of people will be sending a kid to Washington DC with a fistful of donations for a cause that matters--and really matters to her. It's so easy to get caught up in the stuff that sticks, the stuff that sells, but what draws us together is the need for light in darkness, for goodness that we can believe in. How cool is it that together we get to go do something real, something valuable, and to teach a kid about goodness and standing up for something that matters?

Thanks again for walking with us. More soon.

Blessings,
Megan

The first step of the Walk--will you join us?

Last night, my wonderful hubby and I helped Amanda complete her website for the upcoming "National Walk for Epilepsy."

Two of the founding members of Team "SHAKE" (Spring Hill Advocacy for Kids with Epilepsy) will be attending, and we are starting to get excited! We are also starting to get sore as we prepare for the walk, but that's another story.

Here's an excerpt from Amanda's website:

"One afternoon, mom was digging through the internet and discovered this walk. I knew right away that I wanted to go, but mom needed some convincing. She hasn't had her walking shoes on for a while!

After some talking about it, we agreed that this shouldn't just be about one walk, but it should be about the walk that we've been making as a family towards understanding what epilepsy is, what it's not, and how we can make the journey a little easier for other people living with it.

SHAKE plans to be a resource to help those coping with fears and challenges as well as the isolation that comes with epilepsy--both for kids and their parents. We think that no one with epilepsy should ever feel like they need to make this journey alone. "

SO. This is where you come in. Will you help? We have just a month to reach a goal of $1,500. Every dollar counts in this walk. We need big gifts, small gifts, any gifts at all. All gifts are tax deductible, of course. If a tax deduction isn't important to you, (like say, if you just exercised a gazillion stock options or something ;-) ) perhaps you'd like to consider partnering with Amanda as she works to cover her personal out of pocket expenses for participating, which are nearly $400. She plans to try to pay the cost herself, but hopes to be able to raise the funds through family and loved ones, instead of trying to do $400 worth of babysitting, pet sitting and chores in a month.

To give, please click on the title at the top of this article.

Or, you can cut and paste
http://www.walkforepilepsy.org/goto/shake into your web browser.

If you prefer to do things the old fashioned way and/or don't want your name on the honor roll, send us a check made payable to "The Epilepsy Foundation," c/o Megan Hawkes, 1721 Shetland Lane, Spring Hill, TN 37174.

Whether you can help financially or not, please pray for us. I should have written that first I know, but maybe by ending with it, I'll leave it in your mind as the most important part of this walk. Please pray for Amanda's health between now and then, for safe travel and that she will make lasting connections with others. We are also praying that she will learn some amazing lessons through this walk, which will encompass just a few of the footsteps of the lifetime journey our family is on.


Blessings,
Megan, Bob, Amanda, Heather and Meghan

PS--if you want to find out more about the National Walk for Epilepsy, visit http://www.walkforepilepsy.org/. Click on 'Find a Team' to the left. Click 'Search for a team' and enter SHAKE. Remember, we only have a month to make our goal. Thanks for letting us share this with you!