From Mrs. West

"The Adventure Begins" 
It is 4:13 "Arkansas" time on Friday, June 17th and I have officially set a few new personal records for longest time awake,  longest time sitting in one seat, and longest time hanging over an open body of water as I have been on this plane for nearly eight hours. As I sit in my cozy little seat next to Mrs. Grimes, I am amazed  at how our journey has played out so far. It all started at what seems like days ago (as I have not slept for more than twenty minutes at a time in over 36 hours) when I picked Mrs. Longing up at her house so that we could leave from my house at 3:30 a.m. for the airport.  While sleep was discussed somewhere during the course of the night, it literally flew out the front door when a bird flew into my house through the chimney, knocked itself silly on my daughters bedroom wall and had to be rescued (via a towel being thrown over it) and set free by Mrs. Longing (my hero) somewhere around 11:00. After that excitement, I decided that I should probably finish packing and since I would just have to get up in a couple of hours anyway, a decision to just stay up was made.
 
Once at the airport, check in was a breeze. Although Maddie, The Mad  Scientist, got a few strange looks. It's hard not to stare at that amazing head of hair that Maddie displays. 

Since being on the plan we have seen some amazing sights. We have encountered clouds in the most amazing shapes and colors as the rising sun gave life to the sky.  We have crossed the Guadalupe Mountains, the Edwards Plateau, the San Juan and the Chocolate Mountains. Yes, you read that correctly, the Chocolate Mountains. From the view point of the plane, the mountain tops really did look like little ribbons of chocolate amidst sea of creamy white. We have also viewed humanity in its most sincere way. Mrs. Grimes and I met a mother and daughter who were traveling to "make a wish" come true. The daughter was a sixteen year old who was winning the battle against cancer and feeling strong enough to try surfing tomorrow. As her mother and I visited, her strength was obvious and I was reminded that troubles such as a bird loose in my house are just small pebbles on the road of life.  As I recounted the bird story with her she told me that she had once known a ninety year old Italian woman who said that a bird flying in your house was good luck.  I could't help but smile thinking of the timing. The bird could have flown in my chimney on many previous occasions, or even tonight when no one would have there to set it free. But...it flew in as we where about it embark on the adventure of a life time for our MIS kids. I love how God never ceases to amaze me with his timing and cleverly crafted intertwining of lives.
                Mrs. West

The Things I Learned Today.....

June 17,2011

As I pulled out of the driveway at 3 a.m., I had no idea what the day would hold.  None of us slept last night so we were a little delirious. We have laughed, cried, and talked a whole lot. As we arrived at Carrie's house, she and Terri had encountered a bird. A bird came through her chimney into the house and the two of them had to rescue it and set it free. As we pack up to leave, Carrie stepped in a mud hole as she was shutting the gate at the end of her drive. We had one napkin and a small cup of water. You can imagine the looks of her new hawaiian flip flops. That was just the beginning of our trip. We knew we were in for an adventure and we were ready! 

We arrived at the airport, checked in, said goodbye to Landon, who graciously drove us to the airport, and departed Little Rock, headed to Houston. No problems and we all made it through security....even Maddie, the Mad Scientist! Arriving in Houston on time, we had an hour to spare to get on our next flight. The flight from Houston would be an eight hour flight. Not looking forward to it and getting very sleepy, we waited for the announcement to board the plane. Karen and Terri went ahead of us and then  Carrie and I boarded our plane and found our seats. In just a few minutes, one of the flight attendants came to the seat next to us as we were buckling our seat belts and getting settled in, and introduced herself to a family.  Wow! They must be special to get a personal greeting, I thought, and they were. It was the next introduction that made an impression on my life. Carrie and I met Brianna VanBuren, a 16 year old teenager from Florida. She is battling cancer and is coming to Hawaii with " Make A Wish." Her mother, Joanne, began talking to us and sharing about all this organization had provided for Brianna.  In the last year, Brianna has had many set backs and spent many days in the hospital. Brianna has a boyfriend that just graduated high school and he is on the trip. Brianna's first choice was Japan. However, due to the tsunami's, she had to choose a different location. 

Joanne said that every time Brianna has a set back, she wants to get married because she thinks her life is about to end and she wanted to get married on the beach before she died. Brianna had a plan that her dream of a beach wedding could come true in Hawaii. However, Joanne had another plan. She suggested they just visit Hawaii and Justin, her boyfriend, could come with them....typical mom! Ha! As I sit here and watch Brianna, with her head laid in her mother's lap, I think about how many times we are faced with a tsunami in our own lives. Do we take it and make a hawaiian vacation out of it like Brianna, or do we dwell on the things we have no control of changing? 

Never in a million years did I think I would learn a lesson on a plane headed to Honolulu. The lesson learned was a life lesson, and here it is....Thankfulness. 
I am thankful for my health and not having to struggle daily like Brianna. I am thankful for the  " Make A Wish"  foundation that provides opportunities like this that otherwise wouldn't be possible for children. I am thankful for wonderful parents that take care of me and attend to my needs and wants just like Brianna's mother, in sickness and health. I am thankful for a healthy child that I have been blessed with as a parent. However, I am most thankful for opportunities like this that remind me that it's not all about me. It's so easy to get caught up in my own little world.  I need reminded  often that my purpose as a mom, teacher, wife, and friend,  is to put others before myself. My "wish" for today is that I would remember this day as a reminder to myself to put others first, to look at the glass half full because it could always be worse, and to always look for reasons to be thankful. It's amazing the lessons we can learn 34,000 feet in the air when we can't sleep!!!!!