Walk With me on Our Journey: Telling My Story From My Heart! A true story of resiliency, hope, and promise! The beginning of our journey started here!

Dear Family of Love,

I promised I would tell you my story from my heart! I'm going to share with you a part of my life from Kindergarten to 5th grade. This time frame holds quite a bit of meaning and has the seeds that have led up to this present moment. No, I'm not starting with "Once upon a time!" I was born with learning disabilities and small motor and coordination deficiencies. I attended Adam school Kindergarten in 1965-1966 where I would discover on my own or through God's gentle tap on my shoulder that something was wrong in the way that I was learning. You see my brain was too fast for my coordination and other glitches. I told Mrs. Biddle my kindergarten teacher that I was having trouble and she set up an assessment of my deficiencies. This led me to a whole new team of experts and a medical team. I saw Dr. Botts the school psychologist diagnosed the learning disabilities. Dr. Barry my new pediatrician diagnosed me with my neurological glitches. Dr. Purcell my new ophthalmologist diagnosed me as farsighted and having an astigmatism. This team recommended that I change schools and attend Robert D. Cook Elementary School on Cook Street for special education. In the Fall of 1966 my mother and I had our first meeting with Mrs. Elda Garcia my special education teacher for two years. I was in EH (Educationally Handicapped) Classes for almost 4 years. I learned how to write via the use of clay in a box and a Bic pen. I had bad coordination so I had to dictate stories to Mrs. Garcia. Month by month I grew in strength and slowly I learned how to compensate and conquer my glitches. In Year 2 of EH I was in both a regular Second Grade class with Mrs. Schneider and EH with Mrs. Garcia. I was in hopes that I would be able to stay in regular classes in year three but, I had to wait a little longer. This was also the time where for 3 years I was in ballet to help my small motor and coordination problems. I was a Magic Pebble, Spanish Dancer, and a Circus Performer. I can remember all the itchy tulle costumes. In Year three I was first in Mrs. Kishyama's class. She was a survivor of the Japanese Internment Camp Manzanar. When the classes got too large I was moved into Mrs. Sorenson's class and had Spelling with Mrs. Votaw. While in Mrs. Sorenson's class I met my childhood friend Heather Watson who for at least a little while was on the same level academically as I was. We remained friends for a few years. In Year 4 I started out in Mrs. Shartzer's class then one day I was called into the office by Mary Lundgren Cook's secretary. I can still smell the Bactine she used on skinned knees. Mr. Day the principal who was also my next door neighbor gave me the news that I was longing to hear! I had completed special ed and was on my way to a 4th grade class down the hall from where I was and into Mr. Wiley's class. I can still remember going back to get my things and then being escorted to my new class and a whole new beginning. At about the same time I began to take piano lessons from Ms. Patricia J. Boyd until 1981. Here is where I'd like to share my memories that I shared on Facebook it may be repetitive but I think you'll get the drift: Hint-Think Genesis!
Remembering Cook Street school, the school where I was in special ed and was mainstreamed in 4th grade.Yes, folks I was bullied but I learned resiliency. I remember being in 4th grade and being in the Christmas Play called "Why the Chimes Rang" I played the little old lady and Then in the Christmas Operetta in 5th grade when I was at Cook Street School's choir. Amazing for a dyslexic and learning disabled person. I want to thank Sean Landers for being a part of helping me become resilient. Cook had a magic and specialness all its own. Where in our downtown area could someone be learning disabled become part of a family that was made up of a melting post of cultures, possibly undocumented farm workers, special needs children, a principal named Mr. Day who lived next door to me, Mrs. Garcia who got me on the road to mainstreaming, Mrs. Schneider who helped me learn to be in both special ed and regular classes. Mrs. Kishyama who was an amazing woman who survived the Japanese Internment camps at Manzanar. Mr. Wiley who was my first regular 4th grade teacher. Dona Wilson who was my 5th grade teacher who would be my final teacher at Cook before I went back to Adam School? The neighborhood where Cook Street School was near two important hubs of my life. St. Peter's Episcopal Church down the block and Miss Patricia Boyd's Piano Studio on Broadway. I would walk from my early morning piano lessons to school. I guess that's where I became a good pedestrian. I can still smell the incinerator. We sometimes call downtown the Holy Hub and I believe this is true. Miracles happened. Life long connections made, and if I hadn't been there I wouldn't be the person you see today. Cook made me love and care for all people and be an early worry wart. My mother kept telling me not to worry about other people and worry about myself. Guess what? It never worked! That is the Miracle that God brought into my life at Cook Street school.God's plan that I attend Cook school wasn't any accident! That's were the roots of calling you family members and you my Dear Family of Love took root. and opened my heat to a radical and inclusive love for all. Cook is no longer a school but, has become our main Fire Station. I told this story twice to remember when in Genesis, there were two Creation stories, I'm also writing this at the time when God walked in the Garden at the time of the evening breeze. I feel like today that I'm brand new and as feel happy, glistening, and hopeful. Thank you for letting me share! I love you!

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Not everything was always sweetness and light back then, but today I feel like God has healed memories that used to make me feel outcast, invisible, and not at all loved or worthy. Well dear family of Love (God) that has changed. I have changed ! I have been transformed into what you see now. I finally feel Holy and whole. If God can change me and make me feel wholly whole God can do it for you! Believe, trust, and open your heart to all that God has planning for you. Won't you give it a try? This is the day the Lord Has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!

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God we pray that we may tell our stories from the heart and see them as our stories of resiliency, hope, and promise. The promise from you that you'll never leave us or forsake us and that we trust in your plans for us even when we are at the lowest of the low, too young to see the big picture, and yes God even when we live with self-doubt, uncertainty, and feeling invisible. Help us always to live in an Advent time of joyful expectation, peace and stillness in our hearts, loving You, ourselves and our family members, and be bearers of hope and light to your fragile and broken world.

God we pray this night for all the people who are being held hostage in Sydney and for their safety.

God we pray that peace may prevail and that we may become and be your peacemakers.

God we pray for all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit. May we offer our help and lovingly respond to their needs.

God we pray for all who are out in the cold tonight. We pray for their safety and that they may find shelter away from the cold. We remember all of our family members who are the least of these.

God we pray that we all may have forgiving hearts this season and become united with our estranged family members.

God we pray for all the war torn and disease prone areas of the world that there may be peace, healing, and unity.

God we pray for an end to torture, violence, abuse, and terror. We remember this day the Victims who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary, Columbine, Paducah, Virginia Tech, Isla Vista, The Many universities, Schools, shopping malls, movie theaters, and play grounds that haven't been named. We pray for those who continue to mourn. Let there not be one more and that there will be ways of assessing the many mentally ill family members who are led to do these terrible acts.

God we pray for our vulnerable family members who are in need of love, comfort, and compassion.

God we pray for refugees, prisoners, captives, victims of violence, human trafficking, and most especially our indigenous family members who keep having their lands and livelihoods taken away.

God we pray that we may be good at practicing conservation in Your Cathedral of life.

God we offer our prayers for ourselves and on behalf of our Family Members of Love remembering_________

God we pray that we may speak truth to power, let justice roll down, do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you O God as we become the voices of the voiceless.

We lift up these our prayers in the Name of Your Son Jesus the Christ, our redeemer, healer, reconciler, brother, and friend. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you! May you feel God's loving, joyful, hope-filled, and peaceful presence dwelling within you this night and always! Tomorrow is You Matter Monday!
I give thanks to God for you this night and always!

Love, peace, hope, joy, and God's Blessings,

Sara