Keep Your Eyes and Your Heart Open!

Love comes to you when you least expect it. At my last visit with my epilepsy specialist, I noticed a flyer for the Denver "Strides for Epilepsy" event. I came home and looked it up. The Epilepsy Colorado foundation has a walk/run event to benefit epilepsy every year. I immediately signed up and formed my team, "Jammin' For Jen". I emailed the information to all of my friends and family. This was a huge step for me. I have had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I am an epileptic. It has been a tough year and a half, and I still had this tinge of hope that it would all just go away. (My last hospital stay woke me up from that dream!) I wasn't expecting a huge response to my email, I was sending it more as a step for myself, to let the people in my life know that I am planning on standing up for people who suffer just like I do. I got an incredible response. My friends and family donated over $1300.00 to my team! Wow! Talk about an overwhelming surprise. My eyes and my heart were both opened to the people who love me and care about what we have been through this past year.
Then, on the day of the event, (mid-June, I might add), a huge rain storm was upon us. I was certain that nobody would be coming out into the downpour on a Sunday morning to walk around the park. But again, I was proved wrong. 20 of my friends and family showed up to walk in my honor. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of knowing those people were there for ME, because they care about ME. It was completely overwhelming. As the walk began, I looked up at the dark sky raining down on us and said "Please, Lord, just give us a little break!". My request was granted. The rain let up just long enough for us to finish the 5K walk. After the walk was over, it started pouring again, only harder than before! These beautiful friends of mine who came out with their kids bundled up and smiles on their faces did it out of pure love for me. Imagine if I had neglected to form a team. Imagine if I hadn't emailed the information to everyone, out of embarrassment or denial of my situation. Love comes when you least expect it. My heart was overflowing on Sunday, simply because I had the courage to open it up to the possibility of something good.
Continue to Ascend and Live. You never know what is waiting around the corner for you...