Tonight we were at a local restaurant with all of the committee members celebrating the preliminary totals from the fundraising event this weekend, Emma's Bayou Bash. Despite the rain, cold, and gusty winds, I would say we did well...in excess of $51,000!! Emma's Hugs and Batten Disease Support and Research Association will be able to help tons of people! Oh, and in case you didn't hear, Saturday at Emma's Bayou Bash, Emma's Hugs gave a $5,000 check to a local 13 year old girl fighting bone cancer. She is so brave! Please pray for Ashley.
So, we're getting ready to leave the restaurant when I see a former student. I've seen her a time or two or three or more over the past few years, as she worked at one of my favorite stores, Old Navy. She has seen me with my kiddos...all of them. The past year or so though, she hasn't seen me with Emma. Tonight I didn't have any of our little dolls with us. So after a quick hug, hello, and how are you, she is walking away and gives me a wave and, "three kids, right?" (It was always funny for her to see me with my crew since I didn't have any kids when I taught.) I struggled to shake my head yes, but wanted to tell her, "come back because I need to share with you the story of my beautiful little girl, Emma. She came and left all too quickly, and I miss her terribly and want to you to know her too." I didn't have time to say all of that, so a nod was all she got. I got a pain in my heart in return, no fault of my student, but pain nonetheless. Have I mentioned I hate Batten Disease?
I love Emma.