Challenges

Being a part of the "blogging world" has brought so much into my life.

Friendships are made with people from all over the world as experiences are shared...and stories are told.

I am especially moved by the bravery and compassion out there as everyday people share their struggles and challenges with such grace and determination.

One very special lady, JeanMac, from A Mountain Too High writes with such love as she watches her husband go through the stages of Alzheimer's.

Her warmth and devotion to this life partner of hers is pretty incredible. I know that it can't be an easy journey for her, but she handles it all with such grace....and, even a bit of gentle humor. She is such an amazing woman...even though if you asked her, she would probably say that she is just doing what anyone would do. I disagree. Reading her blog every day continues to remind me not to sweat the small stuff in life...and to continually count my many blessings....in that so many people are dealing with some really big stuff....

Another family facing a challenge, can be found in this young woman's journal . Alan Henley, a nationally-known aerobatic pilot, who lives here in Birmingham with is wife and two young children, was recently injured in a freak accident. He was outside playing with his kids on a chin up bar...the bar gave way...and Alan fell back...breaking his neck and cutting his head. He now lies in a hospital bed hooked up to a variety of machines with a 98-99% percent chance of facing a future paralyzed from the chest down with limited mobility in his arms.

The irony of this strapping man, who has delighted folks at air shows with his breathtaking, heart-stopping, aerobatic stunts (his "team" is pictured above)...ending up with a life-changing injury while outside in his own backyard simply playing with his young children.

This story just tugs at my heartstrings as I read his wife's brave and honest daily accounts of dealing with this tragedy and trying to make sense of it all. They are a very religious family, and are using their strong faith to sustain them right now. My prayers go out to them every day.

I could go on and on about the challenges that I read about in "blogland".

They all reconfirm within me the indomitable spirit that most people have deep inside...and, that when you take away all of our outer trappings...and, you stop looking for the "differences" among us.....we are pretty much the same....just going through our lives dealing with our challenges and facing them in the best way that we can.....

...some, just a little more than others...