A few weeks ago, I was at the UPS store right up the street from my house mailing some jewelry that I gave away during a recent facebook contest. As I was standing in line, this woman walked into the store with her cute little daughter and mentioned that she was picking up some flyers she had printed. Penny at the UPS store commented to the woman about how cute the little girl was on the flyer. I glanced over, saw the beautiful little girl, and smiled. The woman told Penny that she would leave a few flyers at the store for anyone that was interested. I ran and got some groceries next door, and then kept thinking about that flyer. I have no clue what made me continue to think about it, but as soon as I was done putting my groceries in the car, I went back into the UPS store and grabbed one. It read:
"Kate's Crusade. Silent Auction and Fundraiser"
If you catch me at the UPS store or running errands any other day, I'm usually pretty oblivious to my surroundings. Oprah could walk through the door and I would have no idea. I don't remember details and I certainly couldn't tell you what the person looked like or said to me when I picked up my drycleaning tonight. I have no clue why I have such a vivid recollection of that day in the UPS store.
When I came home, I immediately went to the website on the flyer, www.katescrusade.com, which led me to Kate's website, www.prayforkate.com and her Caring Bridge site. A little girl battling brain cancer. I recognized the picture of Kate from my friend Dawn's blog who had recently posted her picture with a prayer request after the family found out her cancer had resurfaced.
I literally spent the next couple hours reading Kate's story with tears streaming down my face. Ok, they were gushing out of my eyes, not even close to a little "stream" of tears. Something about this beautiful little girl stole my heart. I began searching for a phone number or email address from the websites. I found email addresses for both parents and sent them both emails. I realized after reading the updates that they were traveling to Houston the next day to start a new round of treatment for Kate. They didn't have time for me. I submitted my information on the Kate's Crusade Website. I was impatient (I know, no surprise there). I finally called the UPS store and talked to Penny. I knew she couldn't give me the woman's name or contact information but I begged her to at least send an email to the woman who placed the order for the flyers and give her my information. I made her repeat my information back to me. Twice. Within an hour I had an email from a woman named Janette.
I told Janette that I wanted to help and would do anything I could, both personally and with my Stella & Dot business, donating my sales commission, whatever I could do to help this family. She told me more about Kate's Crusade on Saturday and asked if I wanted to donate anything for the silent auction. A couple days later, I dropped off a necklace and S&D gift certificate for the auction. It was the least I could do in such a short amount of time. I asked her about doing an event after Kate's Crusade was finished and she gave my information to their event planner. I can't wait to help this family even more.
You think your world is small? Janette lives less than a mile from me, on the same street, just on the other side of the main road. We've walked by her house several times when we take the dogs for a walk. And Kate? She attends the elementary school that I can see from our bedroom window upstairs. Funny little world we live in, isn't it?
So that brings me to tonight. Janette posted a link to pictures from Kate's Crusade on Facebook and I just sat at my computer and watched the pictures roll by.... I sat at my computer for over 30 minutes, watching them replay over and over again. You know those times where you don't even realize time has gone by? It was one of those moments. I thought that writing would help put my thoughts into words, but even now, there is no way to describe the emotion and power of those pictures from Elizabeth Fiore Photography. The entire community came together for sweet Kate McRae and her family. I absolutely love this community. While a lot of the people at the event know Kate and her family personally, there were so many others who only know of her story, like me.
Life is truly incredible. We always seem to try to intentionally cross paths with people... whether it's trying to meet our future spouse, a celebrity crush, or just someone we really want to meet. Why is that? Why do we try so hard sometimes? I realized that when you let go of the control, things will happen how they're supposed to happen, and it's usually when you least expect it. Unintentionally crossing paths with someone really makes you put life into perspective. Why on earth did I become so obsessive about making sure I got a hold of that woman at the UPS store?? People come in and out of our lives all the time. When it occurs without intention, it makes you truly appreciate the reasons why and allows you to build and regain faith in just letting things happen they way they're meant to happen.
