Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2006. Mattie was celebrating his fourth birthday. That was the first year we did not host a party at home. Instead, we chose Riverbend Nature Center. The kids had a wonderful time going on a nature walk with a naturalist, doing a dig in the sandbox for plastic dinosaurs, and having a meet and greet with various animals like turtles and snakes. Peter snapped this photo of us as I was encouraging Mattie to blow out the candles.
Quote of the day: We do not "get over" a death. We learn to carry the grief and integrate the loss in our lives. In our hearts, we carry those who have died. We grieve and we love. We remember. ~ Nathalie Himmelrich
The past two days it has been over 80 degrees in Northern Virginia. The humidity is back in full force and it feels more like summer than spring. But I have refused to turn on the air conditioning. Instead, I had the windows open. However, when I woke up this morning, I literally felt like I couldn't move and could pass out from the heat. Thankfully Peter insisted on turning on the air conditioning and within ten minutes I felt like I could get myself together to face another day.
My lifetime friend Karen jokes with me. She says I should record what I do in any given day, probably because my schedule is impossible on a good day. Yet I have done this day in and day out since November of 2021! I admit there are times that I am so overwhelmed and tired, that I get snappy. As I would love to be able to take a break, go on a trip, or even have a conversation with someone without worrying about bathroom runs and other needs!
It was another day of chaos here. We had the plumber, the exterminator, the landscaper, and my dad's physical therapist here. All at the same time, naturally. How I think I can get anything done, is a riot, and you think by now I would accept this fact. But I am persistent and while all of these people were here, I was sending emails to companies, asking for sponsorships for the Walk. Asking for money is not something I was trained to do and it doesn't come naturally to me. However, I had to move passed my comfort zone in order to raise money for our cause. I have learned so much about non-profit work and myself over these last 14 years. Of course my driving force is and will always be Mattie. So not unlike an aggressive mom caring and protecting her small child, I provide the same level of focus, attention, and thoughtful advocacy toward Mattie's Foundation, my second baby!
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