Dinner with Mallie

12.19.13

    Backup to last Monday morning: I had woken up and turned on my favorite morning show to wake up to (you're welcome for the shameless plug, WFAA Channel 8) when I heard something interesting. There was a special section announcing a program called "Treasure You" with the theme of "Overcoming." Emmitt Smith's wife, Pat, was on the set that morning and talked about their conference coming up in January where Robin Roberts would come and speak about her challenges with cancer and overcoming her health issues that have plagued her for the last 10 years. I have watched Good Morning America for about the last 15 years of my life, and have watched Robin share her story of faith and grace in the storm twice.
    Pat was on the news that morning requesting that females with stories of "Overcoming" the obstacles in their life write in and share their stories. I don't know how God speaks to you or grabs your attention, but I can tell you that the hair on the back of my neck stood up and I felt like this was important. This was something I was suppose to apply for. I listened as she told that the winner of the little competition was going to be able to share their story of overcoming with the other women who would attend the conference.
     First off, I write much better than I speak in public. I get nervous and sweaty whenever I have to talk in front of large groups unless I consider myself an expert on the topic (i.e. only in job situations where I have been able to become a mini-expert on the technology). I have absolutely no idea what the heck is going to happen with this seminar, but I just knew that it was important for me to hear it that morning, and it would be important for me to apply for it if only out of obedience to what I was feeling God say to me.
      I took a look at the application online and found out I needed letters of reference for my character and also had to provide all of my work information including my manager's name and number. Holy moly. Okay this is legit.

     That night, Mallie and I had decided to meet up for dinner. It was the first time I would see her face-to-face since she had graciously taken pictures for us at the hospital. I was a little nervous, but I was excited to see her because I knew that we were going to be friends and continue my journey together.
      We met up at a local restaurant, and one of the first things she said to me was, "I didn't realize how tall you are!" I'm a comfortable 5'11", and I get that all the time. I had been laying in the hospital bed last time she saw me, so this didn't completely surprise me. We sat and talked for a while about nothing and everything, touching on the subject of Kaitlyn ever now and then and eventually coming around to Mallie's story.
       Mallie was a hope mom, too. She shared with me that she had lost her baby at 12 weeks, and she never didn't even have a sonogram to hold on to. She had been actively shooting for NILMDTS since July of 2012, and she said that Kaitlyn was the 27th baby she had taken pictures for. "I keep ornaments for all of them on my tree. I remember their stories and celebrate their short lives. I know how much pictures would have meant for me and that's why I volunteer to take pictures for others."
       This. Girl. She has one of the biggest hearts I have ever come to know. We continued our small talk and eventually I got around to telling her about the "Treasure You" conference.
       "You have to apply for that, I'll write you a letter of recommendation." she said, without the slightest hesitation. I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped open. I have no idea what God is doing with my application for the conference, but I knew that I needed to be blindly obedient and go with it. I told her I would love for her to write my letter, and I knew it would bring me to tears without even having read it.