SUMMER 2008 - The Hiawatha Trail
"Winding through 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles, this 15-mile route crosses the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The Route of the Hiawatha is best known for the long, dark St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel, which burrows for 1.8 miles under the Idaho/Montana state line."
"With an incredible history beginning in 1906 of construction, hardships and calamities, unprecedented electrification, and of carrying passengers and freight from the Northwest to the Midwest, generations of railroaders kept the Milwaukee Road running until it finally went bankrupt in 1977. The last train west of Butte, Montana passed through in 1980. After that the line was abandoned."
Now, I would like to introduce you to our miracle baby. Her nickname is actually "Milagro" which means "miracle" in Spanish.
Our three wonderful girls........
Because of her, I have learned to live in the moment, to accept what is, be grateful for what we have and to rejoice in the gifts God has given us.
(scrapbooking kit is from Julie Jorgensen's Double Fudge")
Everyday Miracles and the Will to Succeed
Life IS what YOU make it!
This story will hopefully inspire you to be the best you can be!
Have you ever met someone who seems to have everything, yet they choose to not use it? The sky seems to always be falling around them and rather than doing something about it, they let the sky fall OR worse yet, they let everyone around them fix the sky so it does not fall on them. This story is quite the opposite. It is a story of will, determination, everyday miracles and a small journey. It is a celebration of stretching your limits and growing to discover what gifts God has given you.
There was a beautiful baby girl with strawberry blonde hair and great big dimples. She was the first born child to a couple who both had successful careers. It wasn't until one day, when the baby was 5 months old, the parents discovered the devastating news about their little baby girl. The baby girl had a massive stroke which affected the language and processing part of her brain, which is on the left side. The doctors had no idea what her outcome would be. They did not know if she would walk, talk or be able function in society.
Years later, she reached elementary school. She knew she was a little different because her wrist was stiff and her hand was all balled up in a fist. She (and her close friends) knew she had a stroke, but really didn't know exactly what that meant. BUT, she was determined to be just like everyone else!
One day, the school had their annual physical fitness jog-a-thon. The little girl came home in tears saying that no one would jog with her because she was too slow. The mom looked at her straight in the eyes and said "it does not matter how fast you go, what matters is that you are doing it! What matters is that you are out there participating with your classmates! Be the best you can be--that is what matters!" The next day during the jog-a-thon, the girl started to cheer on her classmates as they passed her, and soon after, her classmates were cheering her on for being out in the field with them.
A couple years later, the girl came home in tears. "Mommy, I can't do it. I'm not smart like everyone else in my class. School is too hard. I hate it." The mother looked her straight in the eye and said "There are many different types of being smart. Just because someone is book smart does not mean that they are physically smart, visually smart or people smart. Do you remember your little friend and how she would behave if she did not get her way? She was book smart but not very people smart. You, my dear are beautiful and people smart! It is up to YOU to find YOUR gift and talent that God has given YOU." After a long discussion, the girl ended up with a big grin on her face and she really understood what the mom was trying to tell her.
Now, keep in mind, there were several things on a daily basis that this little girl had to overcome. Simple things that most of us would take for granted like tying a shoe or spreading peanut butter on a piece of white bread. Or things like taking the wrapper off a candy bar or slice of cheese. Why was it so challenging? Remember, she only had the use of one hand because the other hand was closed in a fist.
When the daughter was about to be in the fifth grade, she went to the mother and said "mommy, everyone else in my class is riding a bike and they have been doing so since first grade. I really want to ride a bike, too!" The mom looked her straight in the eye and said "okay. This may take a lot of work, but we can do this!"
So, out they went. The bike handle bars had to be adjusted closer to the girl so she could get her right hand around the handle bars. She did this with the help of her left hand, prying the right hand open and gently placing it on the handle bar. The seat was placed so she felt safe with her feet flat on the ground. This is not typically how one would adjust a bike for someone, but she felt safe and in control.
As for the mom, well, she had no idea if her daughter would actually even be able to ride a bike. Her doctors and therapists had no idea, either, because the stroke also affected her balance. But, you never know, unless you try.
They journeyed around the block time after time and the girl became frustrated. "I can't do this." Her right leg was weaker than the left, so trying to coordinate the two with her balance being off was very challenging. Then, her right hand would come off the handle bars and the only way the girl could put her hand back on was to stop, have her left hand pry her right hand open and gently place it back on the handle bars. The mom finally looked her straight in the eye and said "You can do this! It is all in your attitude. If you think you can, you will! If you think you can't, you wont'!"
The next little wabble and fumble the girl gave out the funniest expression. It was a teeth grinding grin. The mom asked "what is that?" and the girl replied "I'm smiling, can't you tell?" The arguing and frustration soon lifted and turned to laughter. Before they knew it, within the next lap around the block, that girl was up and riding her bike!
So, the next time you think the world is weighing heavy on you, just remember, YOU CAN DO IT! It's all in your attitude!
I'm delighted to be sharing my creation with the world. It is not about the money to me, but the connections that I've made along the way. It's a "warm fuzzy feeling" knowing that what you create can make so many people happy and appreciative~just the way the world needs to be!.
I love hearing all the stories of the Card-i-gami's that have been given over the years. It makes me smile and say "mission accomplished".
I would love to hear any of your Card-i-gami stories, design suggestions, etc. After all, this gift is to you to enjoy.....
I created Card-i-gami for several reasons. One being "accounting burn out" - LOL. The most important reason, I wanted to use this talent that God gave me and to share it with the world around me. I love drawing and creating things with my hands. I've been drawing, painting, creating and folding paper ever since I was a little girl. When I was a Senior in High School, I was voted "most talented" and I also found out a classmate did not like me for the longest time because in 3rd grade the teacher always made an example of my "perfectly folded" piece of paper! How funny is that!
Tags: Paper Craft And Papercraft Ideas Printable Craft Projects Gift Bow Card
