Sweet Connections.

Ever since January 7th, 2008 our lives have been packed with sweet connections. We've met some amazing people in the most random encounters, and have met even MORE people through those initial relationships. In our almost 3 months of being here, I am amazed at how many people we've met and are already doing real life with!

This week my world was interrupted by two specific and unlikely connections. Both came in email form.

The first was an email from my spanish teacher from high school who I haven't talked to since my freshman year in 1996. She sent me an awesome email telling me she remembered me from her class...she wanted to know if I still played guitar, and shared some encouraging thoughts she had about the year I was in her class. If you know anything about me, then you know that I absolutely LOVED my teachers in high school. I wasn't always the best student...but in spite of getting suspended for fighting, and ditching classes to hang out with friends...my teachers were great friends of mine. I was so honored and encouraged to receive an email from one of my teachers this week!!

The second sweet connection came last night. Steve and I came home from our small group leader training at about 9PM. After we got settled and ready for bed, I checked my email and in my inbox was one from "Dawn". My jaw just dropped the entire time I read her email. Here is a small portion of what I read:

"Hi Lauren, My name is Dawn and I live in El Cajon CA. Not too long ago I was doing some research on Pfeiffer Syndrome. I found the blog made for/about your son Riley. I then went on to read your blog, so inspiring. I find myself checking your blog every few days to read your new posts. I wish we would of had a chance to meet when you lived back here. My son is 2.5 yrs old, he was born at Kaiser. We were told when he was 7 weeks old by Dr. Vaux that our son has Crouzon Syndrome. We went to LA for his surgery at 6 mths old, Dr. Kawamoto, Dr. Wexler, and Dr. Cahan..."

Dawn went on to tell me about her son's story. I've had numerous people email me to share their children's variations of the same defects Riley has, but I was blown away at all of the similarities in our son's situations. Not only was her son diagnosed with the same syndrome as Riley, but he was seen by the same pediatricians, specialists...he had the same surgery, they live in the same neighborhood as we did...etc. I seriously think our kids medical records might be identical!! Amazing! Here was the first paragraph of my response to her:

"Hi Dawn! Wow! I really don’t know what to say...I’m just so surprised, encouraged, amazed and really blown away at all of the “coincidences” in our situations...and by the fact we had the same team of doctors...and by the fact I lived in El Cajon, and that we’re still trying to figure out the Pfieffer/Crouzon stuff out too. That’s just crazy, and I don’t think a coincidence at all...more like some kind of encouragement from God!"

This morning I woke up to pray and I couldn't help but to try to figure out the reason Dawn's email landed in my inbox yesterday. Maybe as a reminder to get Riley set up with a medical team here...maybe as another resource, maybe as a new friend, or maybe God just wanted to blow my mind yesterday and remind me of his undeniable presence in my life. He did that for sure!!

I truly believe that life is enhanced by connections and community. I hope my desire to know more people never changes. And I hope God might make my life a sweet connection to the people around me and to the people I don't even know yet!