continued.
i told myself i would wrap up all my lose ends on the blog before 2014. so here goes...
waking up the morning knowing you're about to step foot into the nation's capitol and ask them to support you...just a little ol' me from the midwest is almost the most intimating thing i've done. but through out the whole process, i try to put things in some sort of perspective that makes some sort of sense. just something.
that morning, while we got dressed and ready to go, i could definitely feel my heart beat a little fast than normal and little butterflies surrounded my insides while crazy thoughts ran through my head.
i remember just telling myself to be honest, sincere, and just share our story. for those that know me, know that is often times hard for to speak about things especially when I'm not 100% positive that i actually know that I'm saying. so this was tough. what we would be talking about would be personal and important and directly effect my parents and i.
we met the rest of the members who would be lobbying on the lobby of our hotel room. we immediately ran into a mother and friend who we had met in june at the neda kc walk. always nice to see familiar faces in such an unfamiliar place.
i laugh now because as we stood in the lobby of our hotel, we watched outside as it poured. hard. our first appointment was at 11:30 and we'd have enough time to catch a bus. of course it would be raining.
we caught a bus alright. and they dropped us off at the wrong building which meant in order for my parents and i to make our 11:30...we had to walk. in the pouring rain. without umbrellas. or coats.
.and we did. we persevered. for brandon.
as we walked a good half mile, i remember looking over at my dad walking besides and he was soaking wet..so wet in fact there were rain drops dripping off the end of his nose. i like to imagine brandon sitting in heaven watching us three gallivanting around an unknown city to lobby for HIM while he watches it rain and pour on his. i'm sure he had a nice laugh.
we finally made it to our first appointment 30 minutes late and of course, their office happened to be participating in the government shutdown occurring at the same time so no one was in their office anyways. typical.
we met with our other two appointments and i couldnt have been more excited about how they turned out. we got two agreements for our support on the caucus and bill coming and they were so sincere and friendly.
in one of our meetings, my dad just started talking and everyone just looked. at that moment, i was so proud of us three and the work we were doing.
it was that moment i realized my parents & i have two choices to continue living in our lives. we can sit, sulk and pity ourselves for the tremendous loss we have endured OR we can choose to change it, leave brandon's name as a legacy and help others.
while changing it hasn't been the easiest road, it certainly is the most rewarding.
thursday evening, we had a reception with other families and friends affected by eating disorders. it was a wonderful experience to be with others who had lived the same or close experience we had.
on friday, we spent the day in seminars and learning more than i could have ever imagined about eating disorders.
i feel so blessed that we had the opportunity to be apart of the conference and will hold on to the experience for years to come. i am curious to learn more and network with others....i think my career path may somewhere along the road..lead me back.
for now, we embrace what we have learned, fill our hearts with the change for others, and walk each step of the journey for brandon. always.
{i encourage you to be passionate. about anything. and pursue it.}
you have the power to change.
