BLIND SIDE - Blow me Away

To everyone reading this - if you haven't seen the movie or read the book, then you need to do so immediately. It is that good!

I went with Marissa's 7th grade class to see the movie today. I had heard a bit about it and seen the previews, but nothing could prepare me for the powerful message of this movie. It is first a book - a true story, but since it was the movie that motivated me to write this I will refer to it as the movie.

I don't know why, but I found that I really identified with the mother, Leah Anne Tooley. She reminded me of me from so many different aspects.

First, I thought of how she knew inside Michael's head - she knew how to communicate with him so that he understood. I had to crack up at the spot in the movie where she walks onto the football field and physically grabs players as needed and communicates what Michael needs to do. I could see myself doing this a million times with Devon. Devon was practicially speechless for the first five years of his life. I struggled to understand anything he said or tried to communicate. Then, the more I learned about Asperger's the more I knew how to connect and communicate with him so he could understand me, and I figured out what he was trying to communicate to me. As time went on, Devon developed the ability to communicate and to speak. Now he has no problems expressing himself. I had to chuckle at those seens.

She also did whatever it took to get Michael what he needed. When she realized he needed to drastically improve his grades she got him a tutor to help. I am the same way - let's not complain about a problem - let's try to solve it! From as far back as I can remember I have had this attitude. When Devon was diagnosed with Aspergers we immediately sought answers. We decided to have therapists help us so we could help him - we enrolled him in speech, occupational therapy and made sure the proper provisions were instituted at his school!

Second, Ms. Tooley made decisions and sometimes without consulting anyone else...it was just a prompting she acted on that eventually changed thier lives. I am much the same way. I love to help. I love to volunteer. I love to fight the good fight and I won't give up until I've won. I love the part in the movie where she gets out of the car to talk to Michael (Big Mike at that point) and looks back at her husband. The words her husband says echo in my brain. Mark often thinks, "Oh no, she has another one of her crazy ideas."

Third, we are hosting a foreign exchange student this year. We love it! It is so wonderful to have Jern Jern with us, but it is a change. Before she came we removed "Mommy Headquarters" (my room that no one could bother) so that Jern Jern could have a bedroom. We think of Jern Jern as a permanant member of our family. I have since the day she arrived. I imagine that is how Leah Anne felt about Michael. We even included Jern Jern in our family Christmas picture too!

And last, several years ago Mark and I were involved as leaders in assisting South East Asian refugees in the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area. We loved working with the Asian families, especially since Mark served his mission in Thailand. After knowing the young 12-18 year old girls just a short time, I grew to love them like my own (we were newlyweds when we started in the Dulles Branch). I would have the girls over to help them with homework, or other things. We would help their families by providing transportation as needed. Most of the times these girls and their families lived in "project" housing. Sometimes I'd find myself driving in a part of town (that people tell you not to be in after a certain hour) after that hour. I can't even compute the number of times I've put myself in a potentially dangerous situtation acting on faith and love to get me through.

I don't really know what I am saying other than I admire this lady and her family so much for inviting Michael into their home and giving him a better life. I hope I can live my entire life that way. I have wanted to be a foster mother for several years, but with Devon's needed we felt it best to focus on helping him to the best of our ability and then reaching out to others without a permanant commitment. I'm sure one day that will change and I will again reach out to offer help.

What kind of person would I be if I didn't. There are so many that helped me when I was down and out on my luck. Thank goodness nobody gave up on me, and hopefully I can in turn give to others!