Handling Changes Life Throws Her Way

My Gess is such a trooper.  I know I don't have to tell you that but this week was truly a testament to her courage and character.  Today I was supposed to be leaving on a mission trip.  I was really excited about it and planned on sharing my experience here.  I also wanted to share how involved Gess was, even though she was staying home. 

I was to be working at homeless shelter in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  For the past 19 years our association has participated in this trip and I really thought this year was my year to go.  So last Sunday we had our orientation out of town.  It was about an hour away.  At that meeting we were to deliver the care packages our church had made for those who were homeless.  We also had an amazing woman in our church spend the year making bed mats for the homeless out of recycled plastic bags.  You can see both the care package and a bed mat in the picture below.



Gess and my husband accompanied me on this trip.  It turned out to be quite the adventure.  First we had a flat tire, but thankfully it happened right in front of a convenient store so we pulled into the parking lot.  It was miserably cold and the ground was still full of ice and snow from our recent storm.  My poor hubby began to change the tire in the cold and it took awhile because a lug nut got stuck.  We found a gentleman who had a tool that finally got it loose.  He was so nice that even let us keep it!  We were happy to finally be on our way again thinking maybe I wouldn't be too late to the meeting after all.  Then the car wouldn't start.  It took finding another good Samaritan who not only had to give us a jump but help clean our terminals to get us on the road.  Since we were now on a donut we had to drive slowly.

Gess kept asking what was wrong but ultimately handled it very well.  After all, she had her horsey with her.  You remember him, the one I just told you about that helped Gess in good times and in bad.  Well we finally made it to the meeting and broke into our groups.  Gess sat and listened intently and didn't cause any disturbance.  After that we loaded the trailer with all the clothes, care packages and bed mats that needed to be shipped.  Now our stuff was crammed in the back seat with Gess because we had to empty the trunk to get to the tire.  With the help of many of the youth we got our car, among others, unloaded and onto the trailer.  Gess was helpful too, taking her share of packages and putting them on the trailer.  She loves giving and helping.  I was so blessed to watch her.

We stopped for dinner and then decided to make the drive home on the donut.  It was a long day but we were so glad to be home.  When Gess was ready for bed she asked for Horsey.  He was no where to be found.  We gave her Clifford for the time being and she managed to rest well in spite of not having Horsey.  While I didn't tell her then I realized that Horsey probably got put on that trailer headed to the homeless shelter.  That is the only thing I could think of.  She had probably set him on top of a box that had care packages in it.  There was no where else to lay him but on the floor.  Either that or she dropped him on the ground when she got out.  Either way he was gone for good.

The next evening Gess asked for Horsey again and so we very gently told her that Horsey was probably on his way to Texas to the homeless shelter.  She looked at us for a moment and then said "Oh, he's in Texas" with this um, what do I do now tone to it. We told her how Horsey might now make some other child as happy as he made her and that seemed to help.  So what to do about sleeping tonight?  We simply had Gess pick another stuffed animal to replace him, after all she has tons.

She chose Mr. Wolfie.  He actually has a history with her too though she never took to him like she did Horsey, until now.  My husband bought Mr. Wolfie for her when she was a new born and had to stay in the NICU her first 5 1/2 weeks on this earth.  Here she is a few months later laying with him in her bed.


As she got older she didn't take to him much though played with him every now and then, especially if Horsey needed a friend.  Well here she is with Mr. Wolfie now.  She even took him to class the other day.



Now why did I end up not going on that trip?  The cold and flu season hit our family pretty hard this week.  My mom has been under the weather all week and goes to the doctor today.  My Gess now has bronchitis and I am fighting something myself.  Thankfully Gess is finding Mr. Wolfie as comforting as Horsey used to be.  I just pray that someone finds him and whoever does is as blessed by him as she was and feels the love that was a part of his life.


It has been a really eventful week with some highs and lows.  I pray for our health and for people all over who are suffering through this terrible flu season.  I also want to ask prayers for those attending the mission trip and those they will have the opportunity to share the gifts that were give and especially the message of the gospel.  May the Lord do a mighty work through that ministry.  It certainly has touched our family even though I never got to go.



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