Day 88 - September 11 - A Day of Remembering
Many of you today will wake to the grisly scenes played out seven years ago in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania being re-broadcast on all the news stations. Each of us were touched by the events of 2001, and none of us remains unchanged. Today is a day of remembering, and our hearts and prayers go out to those that still feel the pain of September 11th.
But not all remembering is painful and somber. Looking back over the last 88 days, there are many things worth remembering, because in those memories we see the attributes of God being lived out among us. Each of us at ConnorWatch, from Eric and Cherié, and Connor himself, to the thousands that travel with us by name and anonymously have been touched by the events of the last 88 days, and none of us remains unchanged.
I particularly want to call out one special memory, that of Laura Slagle of Fresno, whose role in ConnorWatch suddenly changed last week. Laura was the eyes, ears, and hands of ConnorWatch while the Williamsons were camped out at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. She selflessly volunteered for an oft thankless position to gather the background information we needed to assess how best to help the Williamsons while they spent 3 months away from home. She often made more than one trip a day to the hospital to see how we could help, staying in the background and letting the other visitors minister to Eric and his family.
All that changed last week when Connor moved to Valley, and the sudden release from her responsibilities must come as both a relief and a letdown. In all the excitement of moving to Valley, I wanted to make sure that she was remembered, since her day is now substantially changed.
Well done, Laura! Thank you. These words are an inadequate memorial to the work you did and the help you were. We will not forget that you were a part of this.
Of course, when saying thanks, there are many, many others who have been an important part of ConnorWatch and an inspiration to all of us. It would be ambitious of me to think that I could name them all without omitting someone special, so, for now, a general thank you has to do. But there a few that carry the lion's share of making ConnorWatch work.
Keep Mel, Kim, and Jenann in your prayers as they continue to carry on with the daily responsibilities of bringing Connor, Eric, and Cherié before you each day through ConnorWatch.
Brad
Michigan
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posted by Brad Williamson @ 6:37 AM
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10 Comments:
And Thank-you brothers' Williamsons for your time & service to inform us all how best to pray & support the family. Blessings!
And Brad. Thank you more than I can say. Love you, bro.
Brad,
Thank you to you and the team for keeping ConnorWatch up and running. We have been so grateful for the news on Connor. But this site has done so much more than deliver news...it has ministered to our family, and so many others, in a mighty way. It made us pause from our ridiculously busy lives and reflect on who God really is where He really belongs in our lives.
Eric,
You may never know in this lifetime how much your testimony and that of your family has really-and I mean REALLY-changed people. You have been clay in the hands of the supreme potter...our "Good" God. (borrowing Connor's G word) Thank you for allowing us to be observers as you, Cherié, Joélle and Connor have beed molded in His hands. In that, our family has been brought closer to being a reflection of His image.
I remember in the days following September 11, 2001 a phrase heard across our country was "We will never forget." And we haven't. Taking a cue from that phrase, I want you and your family to know that "We will never give up." We continue to pray that God will grant you the desire of your heart...healing for Connor. And until then, we pray for your strength and that these verses from Isaiah 40 will be evident in your life.
"...The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Is. 40:28-31
Blessings to you today and we are keeping the faith,
Sherri (for the Duarte family)
I also want to say thank you to your WHOLE family as you all have done a good job of sharing your life, and trauma with us. It has been an honor to travel this road with you. You all have been such an example of how to bond together in time of need. I am sure there are many to thank, but know we all have done it with love for you. We should be doing it not to be recognized, but because this is what God calls us to do.
Our "G" word for today is Global....He is every where ALL the time.
Morgan Hill Family
PS. Thank you for the directions to Connor. We did get a bit lost.....oops and never made it.
Sherri...
Very well said. If it's ok with you, I'll just change my last name to Duarte for the day so I can say, "You speak for me, as well." You've encapsulated my thoughts and feelings perfectly, and I simply couldn't have said it any better.
And to Laura, thank you for all that you have done. I'm glad we got a chance to meet at the hospital. If we never meet again here on earth, at least I know your face so I can look for you in Heaven and give you a big hug! :)
And to Connor, Joelle, Cherie and Eric...I'm praying for you today, throughout today, with every remembrance of you.
Love,
Jenann
Thank you Brad for your tribute to Laura S. I too want to thank her. She was always 'behind the scenes' quietly doing what she does best, research, phone calls, organization, and even opening up her home for granny to sleep in. And yes, she came everyday, and sometimes twice a day, to help. She and Don also gave many of us lifts to and from the airport, so...
THANK YOU LAURA, AND DON, YOU ARE A BLESSING TO ALL OF US!!!!
Jenann,
You are welcome to join our family any time. You can even bring Lee along. :)
Sherri
I know Laura on many levels and in all of them, she is truly a remarkable woman. Her heart is huge, her patience is long lasting and her loyalty is secure. She is an incredible asset as a friend!
(I met Cherie and Eric at the hospital while my son was there for surgery on a broken leg, and Laura took a break from the Williamsons and came down and supported me and my son as only she knows how....)
Sherri - All I can say is that there's a whole lot of iron filings to be cleaned up (wherever they land - I'm not sure!), with more to come in the future, I'm sure!
And Thanks! :-)
Lee
Bob said G for gratitude - for God's amazing grace and love. Also gratitude for Brad for always keeping us posted so we can continue to pray for the needs of Conner and the family. Brad, God has given you a great gift of knowing how to communicate. Prayers always for all of you.
Bob in Chanhassen MN.
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