Bob the Builder Award: It Won't Happen To Me

Great Kansas City Chapter

For those of you who don't know, our church friend's lost their 17-year old daughter Megan in a wreckless teen driving accident in December and they are painfully making their way towards the new definition of their everyday life.

They have met a group from Georgia that has a non-profit group called "It Won't Happen To Me" that specializes is educating teens about making smart driving decisions.

Did you know that THE NUMBER ONE cause of teen deaths from ages 15-19 years is wreckless teen driving. It isn't what you think. It isn't all about drugs or alcohol. Actually, less than 25% of these accidents involve drugs or alcohol. The other 75% are related to speed, inexperience, and distracted (ie texting) driving. In Megan's case, she was a passenger of a car driven by another youth who was "hill jumping/hopping", something I have learned is quite common here in the hilliness of Missouri.

Lori and Tom, Megan's parents, have decided to do something in their new life that they haven't done before. They have started a chapter of this group here for the Kansas City area, the FIRST chapter outside the Atlanta area in the entire United States. Groundbreakers. Advocates. Brave....those are words you could use to describe this work. Don't say it to Lori. She is sick of hearing how brave she is.

These parents feel like this is a way they can make sense of Megan's death. Her death has led them to a place where they can help educate and make aware other kids whose deaths can be prevented. They feel her spirit in this work. They feel God's spirit leading them. They have asked me to come along and help. It is my priviledge to do so.

This Friday night from 6-9pm we will have our coming out party (first public appearance) at the Smithville Town Square for a safety fair. Stop by. Get a Dum-Dum sucker. See our banner we spent 16 man hours making. :)

Free up your morning on Saturday September 19th at 10 am for our first fundraiser...."In Memory Of..." The monies we are using to get started is Megan's savings that she was saving for her senior trip...it isn't much and we need more to get the program going. That is why we are having a fundraiser. It is all tax deducatable--any donation that we receive. Save the date. More information forthcoming.

If you want to read more, go to the http://www.itwonthappentome.org/ web site. Drive carefully.

Go Val Go!

See Val drive Bobert's scooter

See Val smile.

Go Val Go!

(Thanks Bobert)

My Meaningful Mantra I learned at the Water Park

I had a tough one yesterday...lounging by the poolside at the local water park.

As I noticed I was amishly dressed in my modest one piece, with body parts that

are "all natural" and perhaps one of the only adults there without

a tattoo, I took the opportunity to catch up on some light

"chick magazine" reading I have been behind on for three months.

The view from my lap

The boy and his buddy

One chick magazine offered up an article about developing your

own power tool called a Mantra. I have heard of them, spoken in reference

of life coaching. It is a phrase, slogan, word or something that means

something to you, deep to your core. That when you hear it,

you feel strong and alive. You can do anything.

So, I started to think what was my all-powerful mantra?
Was it "I should drive this Sandwich truck"?

Nah, I prefer no onions on my sandwiches.

Perhaps it is this phrase...which if you know me...

it definately could be right up my alley.

But I know what it is. I have it hanging in my kitchen. Above the sink.

"She believed she could, so she did."

Bob the Builder Award: Harold Hepfer: bellringer extraordinaire

Harold Hepfer is a bell ringer during the holidays for the Salvation Army.

In 2008, he raised $26,590 in his bell-ringer bucket. He VOLUNTEERED as a bell ringer six days a week, 8-10 hours a day from November 7th to December 24th. Holy hannah.

His kettle alone represents over 20% of the total amount raised here in our area of KC.

Insert pity party here

Let me take a break from the UK report to insert a little moan of sad here.

I have no reason to complain. I know it. But I want to and then I will be done. "Done" as I say.

We spent a leisurely (yeah, right) morning at the children's hospital yesterday for the boy. Not in the ER. This was scheduled fun. It is now the plan that the boy will NOT be going back to school in the fall. Not full time. Not part time. Just one hour a day.

It is called "Graduated Re-entry." Like a space shuttle or something.

The goal is to get him in full time by January. Which to a mother who has been dealing with very sick people (including my drunken slurry, seizurey self (by the way, figured out I have a six hour window if I forget my medication before that fun starts up again---figured that out the hard way) for the last three years, January sounds like eternity. I wanted to cry.

However, who has time to cry with all the labors that lay before us...that would just be wasted energy and make my exhaustion that much more pronounced....I am too buzy to cry anyway.

So, the good news to this little saga is that we are not in a school change and they know our history. The great news is that things are looking up. Sort of.

I just found a list that I have been keeping, and guess what. It took 29 separate visits with doctors to get his diagnosis. See, sometimes good things do come to those who wait (and work!).

More cheery posting later. :)

"Done."