A Window...

You know that saying, "When God closes a door, he opens a window?"  I'm beginning to think that's not necessarily true.  Sometimes it's just not that easy.  At some point in life, we are all given a difficult burden to carry.  But I have heard some AMAZING stories lately.  Stories about perseverence, about beating the odds, and about the will to survive.  I think sometimes God closes a door and sticks us in a room with a window that is stuck tight just to see what we will do.  He wants to see if we have the strength to pull ourselves off the floor and break through the window on our own.  After Derek was diagnosed, I wallowed around in my own misery for a good year and a half before I broke through the window.  Something finally "snapped" inside of me.  I was tired of waiting for my life to begin.  I realized that I could either embrace my son the way he is and live life to the fullest, or spend the rest of my life miserable.  I decided to do as much for my son as possible (through therapy) and promote awareness at the same time.  The best way I knew of to do that, was to tell Derek's story through art.  I wanted to be an artist (not just a person who did art in her spare time!!), and I knew that if I didn't do something about it THEN, I never would.  Nobody else was going to do it for me--everything was in my hands. 

It's hard to believe, but my dream is finally coming true.  I told my parents when I was in grade school that I wanted to be an artist.  It's all I have ever wanted to be.  Now, after 9 years of college, and 6 years of WAITING...it is happening.  I have a studio.  I have an etching press.  I have a PROJECT that I care about and can't wait to see come alive!!!!  And almost all of this happened because I decided in March to put my fears behind me and go for my dreams, whether I failed or not.  I have amazing friends, an incredible family, and wonderful neighbors.  Thank you to EVERYONE who supported me along the way...I never could have done any of this without your help.  My studio is ready.  I have paper on the way.  ELLIE THE ETCHING PRESS IS GOING TO HAVE A TRIAL RUN THIS WEEK!!!!!!  :)