Dear Addie,
Most people have a favorite movie—one that they can watch a hundred times over and never tire of it. Growing up, your favorite was "The Princess and the Frog," while mine, not too much of a surprise for anyone who knows me, is a close tie between "Elf" and "The Grinch." I love all holidays and could take Christmas all day every day 365, but I digress.
Now, much like a favorite movie, there are chapters in our story, Addie, that I don't mind revisiting over and over. This weekend was one of those occasions as we attended "our" 9th Annual Bluebird Ball (we missed the first year ;)
It's a recurring chapter in our story, but one we hold dear because so much remains unknown on this journey. It’s in these chapters that we find hope for a future that is remarkably uncertain.
Chapters Of Hope
Posted: Nov 16, 2023
Dear Addie,
This past weekend I traded my messy bun and non-yogaing yoga pants for a fancy dress and a more put-together appearance as we attended the annual Bluebird ball hosted by 3 Bluebirds Farm, home to your beloved autism camp. It is a beautiful night where we mingle, wine & dine while raising money for a project that holds so much hope for us and many families like ours. It is a night I never wanted to have to need and love so much, but here we are. Grateful.
You see, Addie, when our life story took on the parenting chapters, we never thought there’d be so much left to wonder. We never thought there’d be so much worrying and tears over the unknown that holds so much weight in our thoughts. We never thought we’d stray from the traditional pages of parenting where we raise children to fly the nest and make their own lives, and that's it. We never thought we’d need to rely so heavily on others to help build a suitable, safe nest for some of our baby birds to flock to. We never thought we’d meet so many people holding out for the same hopeful dream, but here we are - One team, one dream in a large-scale capacity, all trying to do our part to help each other make the hope we so disparately cling to reality.
This past weekend was the eighth year that we got a little fancy and helped raise money for the chapters of hope that lie ahead in our story and for so many others like us. We are forever grateful to Erin, the staff, and all the supporters of 3 Bluebirds Farm for not only providing valuable resources for our autism community through camps and social clubs but for continuing to see a bigger vision for our adult community that we hope you’ll one day be part of because every baby bird deserves to fly the nest.
Love you forever and always.
Mom
Addie, this past weekend we attended the 3 Bluebirds Phantom of the Farm Ball. It was a beautiful night filled with hope and a fundraising effort aimed at envisioning what a meaningful life, living as independently as possible could look like for those growing, learning, and thriving within our autism community. I will revisit these Bluebird Ball chapters as often as needed, because they may just have the nest you fly to.
Love,
Mom
*Daddy, Mommy & Big Brother Gabe
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