I never tire of writing that as my post title. Hope you all, are not sick of seeing it either. By weeks end, we will have hit the half way mark of recipients receiving their iPads. Halfway. 10 out of the 20. In under a month. Mind blowing. Our continued thanks to the our incredible supporters. Both on the emotional and monetary side of it. Both equally important, as the emotionally support sustains us during the daunting days, and instills in us, the knowledge that what we are doing at Mission iPossible, is making a difference in peoples lives. Most significantly, children's lives. Because after all, if our journey here, as in on this Earth, is not to be of service to others, what is the journey actually all about? It is all about the connections we are making, the relationships we are forging and the kindness and goodness we are bestowing upon one another.
As for the monetary side of things. Definitely a necessary evil. Got to have it to reach the end goal. So again, asking everyone to spread the word, give if you can and we at Mission iPossible continued to be humbled by the generosity of all of you. Now onto iSam:
If you've ever had to live with a degenerative disc issue, or other kinds of chronic back pain, you know how much of a problem this can be.
It strikes without warning, like the Ninja, and never when you expect it. People always say to you 'Hey don't lift that, you'll hurt your back!' But you chuckle and know that you never hurt your back when you lift stuff, because you are READY for it. You get into the proper posture, you prepare yourself, you align our legs.
Back? Secure.
No, instead you throw out your discs when when you sneeze, or when you casually go to pick up a bar of soap in the shower, or when you round the corner of the downstairs hallway in JUST the wrong way.
Then ZING...that oh-too-familiar pain starts sizzling up your spinal column and into your arms and legs, and you know that you and it are going to need to make nice because the two of you will be playing cards, sipping drinks and doing all sort of intimate things together for at least a week. Maybe more.
So my pain had me up late last night, and I was still stressing very much over the iPad2 that we had sent out of the country, the one to cerealgirl007-Cereal World, the one that, according to FedEx, had not landed yet. We had sent two out, and one was accounted for, but this one? What was holding it up?
I went to my computer to check the FedEx tracking number again after midnight, but I checked my e-mail first. And when these photos started downloading, the pain melted away, as it always does during these...these amazing and wonderful moments. These moments that, every single time, make my eyes fill with tears of joy.
They are PRECIOUS, which is the exact word I used when I wrote to Sam's Mom to tell her I got the photos and how relieved I was that Sam's iPad2 had been received. I had earlier asked about using his first name, a request I have sent to all of the parents though not all have yet responded and one has (for personal and perfectly legitimate reasons) said no, and she said it was OK to change the Codename from cerealgirl007 - Cereal World to iSam.
She also had this to say about Sam and his first experiences with the iPad2, which had arrived already, even though FedEx had NOT updated their online number.
'He spent most of the day talking to Tom the cat, printing and drawing (Yay!) and making stories. I am absolutely astounded at how much effort he's put in to expressing himself - it seems to be just the tool we've needed..,. and I've only installed a few apps so far! Seeing how he's so much more attentive to his fine motor skills already, and is starting to take care to speak more clearly (yes, in just a few hours) I can't wait to see the changes that come as we start to use it more over time.'
Obviously the the artist side of me is thrilled to know about the drawing part, but what jumps out at me about what she wrote are two things...'in a matter of hours' and 'just the tool we've needed'. Both of these phrases I have heard, in some way or another, not just from the three parents who have written in, but from OTHER parents I have spoken to about their children using an iPad2 for communication and learning.
It's important to keep both of those things in mind as we move forward in this, because we'll be coming back to that again and again and again.
She thanked us obviously, and a lot, but I don't want to dwell on that by re-printing that, because I have to be honest with you, it is really not necessary. I'm not blowing smoke when I tell you that the expressions of gratitude are wonderful, and they are appreciated certainly, but those photos are like a glass of water to a person who has just stepped off the surface of the sun.
PRECIOUS. PERFECT. WONDERFUL.
And remember...we do have a Facebook page that holds the photos of this event, and I would love to add photos of Sam, Luke, Christopher and all the other iKids to it. New photos, as they grow, as they learn, and any thoughts you want to share as well.
These pictures, these moments, these experiences...are nourishment for the soul.
We should all dine together often!
PEACE.
-Ken
On behalf of:
The Mission: iPossible! Group
As for the monetary side of things. Definitely a necessary evil. Got to have it to reach the end goal. So again, asking everyone to spread the word, give if you can and we at Mission iPossible continued to be humbled by the generosity of all of you. Now onto iSam:
iSam
If you've ever had to live with a degenerative disc issue, or other kinds of chronic back pain, you know how much of a problem this can be.
It strikes without warning, like the Ninja, and never when you expect it. People always say to you 'Hey don't lift that, you'll hurt your back!' But you chuckle and know that you never hurt your back when you lift stuff, because you are READY for it. You get into the proper posture, you prepare yourself, you align our legs.
Back? Secure.
No, instead you throw out your discs when when you sneeze, or when you casually go to pick up a bar of soap in the shower, or when you round the corner of the downstairs hallway in JUST the wrong way.
Then ZING...that oh-too-familiar pain starts sizzling up your spinal column and into your arms and legs, and you know that you and it are going to need to make nice because the two of you will be playing cards, sipping drinks and doing all sort of intimate things together for at least a week. Maybe more.
So my pain had me up late last night, and I was still stressing very much over the iPad2 that we had sent out of the country, the one to cerealgirl007-Cereal World, the one that, according to FedEx, had not landed yet. We had sent two out, and one was accounted for, but this one? What was holding it up?
I went to my computer to check the FedEx tracking number again after midnight, but I checked my e-mail first. And when these photos started downloading, the pain melted away, as it always does during these...these amazing and wonderful moments. These moments that, every single time, make my eyes fill with tears of joy.
They are PRECIOUS, which is the exact word I used when I wrote to Sam's Mom to tell her I got the photos and how relieved I was that Sam's iPad2 had been received. I had earlier asked about using his first name, a request I have sent to all of the parents though not all have yet responded and one has (for personal and perfectly legitimate reasons) said no, and she said it was OK to change the Codename from cerealgirl007 - Cereal World to iSam.
She also had this to say about Sam and his first experiences with the iPad2, which had arrived already, even though FedEx had NOT updated their online number.
'He spent most of the day talking to Tom the cat, printing and drawing (Yay!) and making stories. I am absolutely astounded at how much effort he's put in to expressing himself - it seems to be just the tool we've needed..,. and I've only installed a few apps so far! Seeing how he's so much more attentive to his fine motor skills already, and is starting to take care to speak more clearly (yes, in just a few hours) I can't wait to see the changes that come as we start to use it more over time.'
Obviously the the artist side of me is thrilled to know about the drawing part, but what jumps out at me about what she wrote are two things...'in a matter of hours' and 'just the tool we've needed'. Both of these phrases I have heard, in some way or another, not just from the three parents who have written in, but from OTHER parents I have spoken to about their children using an iPad2 for communication and learning.
It's important to keep both of those things in mind as we move forward in this, because we'll be coming back to that again and again and again.
She thanked us obviously, and a lot, but I don't want to dwell on that by re-printing that, because I have to be honest with you, it is really not necessary. I'm not blowing smoke when I tell you that the expressions of gratitude are wonderful, and they are appreciated certainly, but those photos are like a glass of water to a person who has just stepped off the surface of the sun.
PRECIOUS. PERFECT. WONDERFUL.
And remember...we do have a Facebook page that holds the photos of this event, and I would love to add photos of Sam, Luke, Christopher and all the other iKids to it. New photos, as they grow, as they learn, and any thoughts you want to share as well.
These pictures, these moments, these experiences...are nourishment for the soul.
We should all dine together often!
PEACE.
-Ken
On behalf of:
The Mission: iPossible! Group
5 comments:
just incredible news! One more child has been given such an incredible gift. Keep up the good work!!!
Yay Sam!
Brooke
www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
Sweet, sweet, sweet!
So happy to hear the iPad finally arrived. This is definitely what your iMission is all about. Another happy ending to a long, twisted road. Love it. Love the pictures of Sam loving his iPad.
You guys are doing amazing things. I love Sam's smiles!
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