#SeattleStrong

2015 was very memorable indeed.

Heart failure, one week in Spokane, ambulance ride, a month in Seattle, ICU, PICC lines, McDonald House, heart surgery, meeting Russell Wilson etc... And that was just memories from this Spring. 

When I arrived in Seattle, with heart failure, expecting a heart transplant, making my new home in ICU, I was told Russell Wilson visited patients at Children's hospital every Tuesday. However he was in his off season the time I was there. I was not expecting to see him, let alone meet him. 

You see pre-Seattle, pre-heart failure, I was not a Seahawk fan. I know...BOOO!!!! 

Even my preschoolers I taught at the time would shake their heads at me in disbelief or walk away from conversations with me when they realized I was not on their level. 

Like I said I arrived in ICU and Max asked one of the nurses if Russel Wilson would come visit. I looked at Max and asked my Mom... gulp.

Who's Russell Wilson? 

(Not my finest moment.)

That is when they told us he was away and only visited a certain section at Children's that I was not in. 

Nice try Max.

I moved from ICU to recovery. And that is where the unbelievable happened. 

I had just taken my pain medicine, I was ready for a nap. My family was going to go back to the McDonald house while I slept. And that is when their was a knock on the door. 

A lady walked through the door and asked if I wanted a visitor. I was tired and asked back, who is it?

Ahem... Russell Wilson. 

Boy howdy! 

"Yeah!" I don't know who said it first, Max or me... 

Here comes this famous person into my room and I don't know what to say. He was such a gentleman! Is such a gentleman. He shook each person in my family's hand and asked us what our names were and repeated them. Even Sr. Jordan Rose. :) 

I was probably drooling as he hugged me. <3 He gave me an autograph and wrote Romans 12 as well as a Seahawk superbowl yearbook. He then took our his phone and asked the lady who introduced him to take the photo. Max found a scrap piece of paper and asked him to sign it. He then announced after Russell left that he is never washing his hand. Don't worry we made him wash his hand. 

Before Dad could even share what just happened with friends and family, I was already on instagram with Russell Wilson. 

But I don't mean to boast about meeting him. I mean to share with the world what a beautiful man he is. Interpret that anyway you'd like. ;) He has a huge heart and a gentle way about him. He humbles me with his way of being. 

Needless to say, I am a Seahawk fan now!

Because Russell Wilson was asked to come to my room by my loveable nurses back at ICU, the kids on my recovery floor also got visits from Russell. The floor he never goes to. Thank you Lord! Thank you for bringing joy through this wonderful man. 

Thank you Russell Wilson for taking time to visit me and other children in the hospital.

Thank you for answering God's call by giving of yourself for the joy of others. 

Thank you for being the kind hearted man you are. 

God bless you.

#SEATTLE STRONG! 

Romans 12

Dedicated Service

12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this [c]world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [d]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy,[f]according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if [g]service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with [h]liberality; he who [i]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Bedevoted to one another in brotherly love; [j]give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the [k]saints, [l]practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute [m]you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but [n]associate with the lowly.Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. [o]Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [p]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.