Lani needs something too...

Earlier in the year, we were reminded on how fragile our lives are.  In a weird way we talked about those days as some of the best days of our lives.  The night after AJ's surgery was one of the best nights of my life; Lani and Hock were exhausted from the past 24-36 hours, and they needed to sleep.  I got to spend the night holding this sweet little boy and I prayed...prayed may not be a strong enough word, I pleaded and begged for this sweet child.  I spoke with my Heavenly Father, on and off for the full night...it was one of the most celestial nights of my life.  If you all remember, there was a chance that AJ was never going to speak again.  Very early the next morning, AJ woke up and asked "Mamma?  I just lost it.  Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of AJ. 

A couple of months ago, Dixie asked me what I was doing for my Season of Service gift.  I told her it was easy because I had Lani.  Alaska Airlines has a program that they will pay a non profit organization for the hours we do service in the community.  I was going to do that and donate it to the Ronald McDonald house.  That when Dixie told me that wasn't enough.  I paraphrase: AJ was a big part of Lani's life, but even though that has shaped who Lani is, Lani is still her own person.  As is the case most often, one of my kids taught me to see things deeper.

So for AJ: I served in my community and Alaska Air donated to the Ronald McDonald house in Jacksonville, were we stayed for many hard, but priceless days.

Now I needed to focus on Lani.  I found a non-profit in the state of Alaska, it's called Priceless Alaska.  It focuses on helping victims of human trafficking.  This is not only a problem in third world countries, it happens here in the US.  Their motto is Redefine Worth.  They had a fundraiser this season, a festival of trees at a mall.  I volunteered their first day, I helped with set up and manned one of the booths.  I am also setting up a class for Alaska Airlines agents, to help them better identify what we can do to help stop this crime at our airport.  I don't want to get too much in the details of this great organization or what is does to help others, as it is very rated "R".  Just know, there are some people that don't have the confidence and self-worth that we take for granted.  But because of our strength in who we are and the gift of the gospel, we can help others be stronger and know that there is a Heavenly Father and a Savoir who love them very much and can help them though their deep trials.