Hardest Thing...

Day 6-What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

I've been through quite a bit in my life so far.  I've overcome many obstacles.  I don't think I would be the person I am today if I had not had the experiences I have had.  Some experiences were quite more intimate than others.  With that being said, I will share my most recent "hardest thing I have experienced."

Three years ago, one of the teachers at my school discovered she had cancer.  She was the most positive person I have ever known.  She went through treatment and missed days from work, but she came back even better than ever.  

This past year, the cancer returned. She didn't want anyone to know.  Not even me as her supervisor. She didn't want all the fuss over her.  The cancer got worse.  She began to slowly deteriorate. It was difficult watching her go through this terrible disease.  She ended up passing on a couple of weeks before Christmas.  

This young woman had just turned 34 years old.  She was a devoted wife and a mother of 3 young children- 6, 4, and 18 months.  She was a kindergarten teacher at my school.  

This was a very difficult time.  The campus is a fairly new campus that just opened about 6 years ago.  Many of the staff are the original staff.  She too was part of the original staff that opened up the school.  There is a bond that forms among people when you open up a new school.  It is something unique, so losing one of our own, was a very sad and difficult thing.  Being at the forefront of this staff and trying to continue leading and keeping the momentum going, staying focused, and keeping the morale strong can be a difficult task. 

Prior to her passing, everyone wanted to help.  Everyone wanted to do something.  Everyone included the community. Everyone wanted to do fundraisers and collect money for the family.  Having to make decisions on what to allow and what not to all while protecting the family, protecting the campus, protecting the district from any harm was hard.  All the while, I was grieving in my own heart.  I lost a teacher.  A young teacher who had a husband and children.  It just broke my heart.  

The experience did put a different perspective on things for me.  Although I've known this, it helped me see even more so that when we think we are suffering or have problems, there is always someone else who just may need a few more prayers than ourselves.  

Faith and a smile

More and more each day I realize that life is quite short and every day is a blessing.  Sometimes when you think you have problems, there is always someone else who may be going through just a bit more than you.  We know this right?

I have a close colleague who is battling a tough fight with cancer.  She continues to keep the fight each day.  This woman has been an inspiration to me.  Not a day goes by without a smile from her. Even when she was at her toughest time, she still smiles and has a tremendous amount of faith.  She still lays in her room with lots of faith in her heart.

I first met my friend almost 6 years ago when she became a teacher at my campus.  She had this energy about her.  She was always smiling, even when she was upset.  She has a loving husband and 3 precious boys.  She found out about her cancer about 3 years ago.  She went through chemo back then.  She suffered quite a bit during that time, however she maintained her faith.  Miraculously, she bounced right back to work and all was well.

Recently, the cancer came back.  Things are not looking the best, but many family and friends are still praying and having faith.  I've always known this woman to be a strong willed faith-filled woman.  I can only admire her for her continuous strength.  

This past Sunday, a benefit was held for her and her family.  They sold bbq plates, concessions, held a concert as well as have raffles and auctions.  Our campus hosted a garage sale.  Many community members along with family and friends came out to support her.  The turnout was overwhelming!  This picture is just some of our campus group who came out to host a garage sale to raise money for the cause.

I didn't write this to be sorrow.  I wrote this to give me a reminder of how precious life is.  How when we think things are tough, they are not.  Last, but not least, I wrote this to capture this moment of a friend who I look up to for her strength, for her faith and for her wonderful smile.