ICVC

Today I will be at Maryville Treatment Center to speak at their ICVC (Inmate Crime Victims Class). These are a series of classes for inmates to hear the other side of the crime and how they have affected the lives of the victims. I will be telling our story and will also be talking about how this crime has effected our everyday lives. So, strength is needed again today as hopefully Abby can touch more lives.

I hope our story makes the inmates think about their crimes in a different light. I hope they can feel compassion and not just be concerned about the effect on their own lives. I will let everyone know tomorrow how it goes.

Precious Child

I am going to direct you to another site today to listen to a beautiful song titled "Precious Child."

http://www.karentaylorgood.com/free_mp3_downloads.html

Here are the lyrics to the song~
"PRECIOUS CHILD"
Words and Music by Karen Taylor-Good

In my dreams, you are alive and well
Precious child, precious child
In my mind, I see you clear as a bell
Precious child, precious child

In my soul, there is a hole
That can never be filled
But in my heart, there is hope
'Cause you are with me still

In my heart, you live on
Always there never gone
Precious child, you left too soon
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart

In my plans, I was the first to leave
Precious child, precious child
But in this world, I was left here to grieve
Precious child, my precious child

In my soul, there is a hole
That can never be filled
But in my heart there is hope
And you are with me still

In my heart you live on
Always there, never gone
Precious child, you left too soon,
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart

God knows I want to hold you,
See you, touch you
And maybe there's a heaven
And someday I will again
Please know you are not forgotten until then

In my heart you live on
Always there never gone
Precious child, you left too soon
Tho' it may be true that we're apart
You will live forever... in my heart

Parade Prep

It's time to start getting ready for the Homecoming Parade! We are planning on having a prep day on Sunday, October 4th starting at 2:00. We will be getting the gifts ready to pass out to the kids and working on float ideas for this year's theme. I am also starting to compile an order for pink or grey sweatshirts and black or grey embroidered zip up fleeces. Get your sizes to me if you are wanting one of these before the parade.

Newspaper Stories

I wanted to share the links to the Maryville Daily Forum's articles on the docudrama on Tuesday. They provide more details about the program that I did.

http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/news/education/x1699593829/SUDDENLY-PERMANENT



http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/news/x593048861/SUDDENLY-PERMANENT

Also a BIG thank you to those of you that helped show your support through prayers and by being there on Tuesday. I think we made a difference.

Northwest TShirt Quilt Raffle

The quilt is complete! (But don't stop bringing in those shirts. If this is a success, they will make another one.) And here it is ~

It measures 79x96, basically a full size quilt. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 and can be purchased at the following locations ~

Sew For Fun

Consumers Oil Company

Farmers Supply

Kiss My Grits Cafe

Clipper Ship

or, as always, find a board member and they can help you out.

The drawing will be held at the last Northwest home game on November 7th.

Docudrama

Six area schools attended the docudrama.

While I was not there for the beginning, I did see some of the mock accident outside. The accident occurred while the driver was under the influence of alcohol and texting. No one was wearing seat belts. There were five people in the car. Here rescue workers work to free a young lady trapped under the car.

Here the driver is given a sobriety test. LifeNet leaves with an injured passenger. The passenger trapped didn't survive. The coroner pronounced her and the hearse came to take her away.Inside, students had to walk past a closed casket and a table full of pictures and memorabilia of the student that didn't survive. The students were then led into one of the two movie theatres being used. A movie was shown by the Highway Patrol that showed accident scenes, interviewed families and officers, and talked about road safety (buckling up, obeying speed limits, etc). Following the movie, Sgt Lyons spoke about an accident he worked. Then it was my turn to speak. There were tears from both me and students in the audience as I talked and played a slide show. I then left and went to speak in the other room. I know there were other speakers, including Pastor Paul McKim, and family members of two young men that lost their lives in an accident.

I sincerely hope that my words and tears create a lasting impression on some of these lives. Our pain is real and is a daily battle. If my speech saves just one life, it was worth every second of my uncomfortableness as I spoke.

Strength

Today I ask for prayers ~ prayers for strength as I attempt another first in this journey. Today I will be speaking at the docudrama for area wide high school sophmores. This is where a mock accident is recreated, showing the effects of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. This will be my first time telling our story in public. I have spoken many times at many different places about the Foundation, but this will be different. This will be about how a driver with alcohol in his system tore our family apart and changed our lives forever (and no, this is not a bash the other driver speech. His name will not be mentioned in my speech until I say the fact of him being sentenced and that is it. It is my side of the story, from my vantage point and I did not know who they other driver was until later). My goal for the speech is simple ~ make an impact on just one life. Yes, I hope to touch more than just one, but one is a great place to start and I will build from there. I want our story to make the students there think before they climb into that vehicle, whether they are the driver or the passenger. So, prayers for strength today please.