Care's Corner
  • Welcome To Care's Corner
  • About the Author
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Photos

how to fill a well: 101

9/7/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
As I mentioned in my last entry, I was headed off to ‘fill my well’. And that my friends, is exactly what happened. But I found that before you can fill a well that is empty (aka: a body that was a bit ragged, had given and over-driven, and run somewhat ‘dry’)  that you have to get rid of the sludge at the bottom of the well before you can fill the well with fresh water.

For me, it was coming to the end of myself. On the trip to WA/OR/CA,  I found myself surrounded in places and with people who were pouring into me – from the folks who have helped launch the book, to family friends, college buddies, church friends, new and old friends at Joni and Friends in Agoura, CA International Disabilty Center, and even former babysitters.  I was flabbergasted  at the Relay For Life in Battle Ground, WA when the Hero of Hope for Great Northwest Region 2009-10, Marilyn Hash,  who is MY Hero of Hope and  adopted ‘mom’ for over 36 years and her daughter Shelly (also a former babysitter for us!)  had driven 4 hours in over 90 degree weather just to surprise me as I spoke at the Survivor’s Luncheon.  Jenne Henderson, (you read about her and her family on pg 47 in my book!) spent an AWESOME (but HOT) day with me at Relay. We hadn’t seen each other in 30 years. I will NEVER complain about pitching a tent for Relay For Life in 20-30 degree weather again! Battle Ground: 97 degrees (110 on the track) is one HOT Relay For Life…guess I’m just a true Alaskan, eh?! Then there was the day Joni Eareckson Tada and I went to record a radio spot – the sound board blew for the first time in 15 years! Did someone say Care was in the house?!  So we did it the ‘old-fashioned way – Joni’s wheelchair facing one way, my wheeling chair facing the other and a hand held recorder in between us!
Everywhere I went the sun followed, (Northwesterners thanking me for bringing it with me – it rained in Alaska every day I was gone!!)  It was sunny and warm – even at Tillamook and Rockaway Beach Joni and Friends Twin Rock/So. Oregon Family Retreat. And THAT’s where the ‘sludge’ removal began. For the first 3 days I was ‘leadership’ – helping to train and be a support to the short term missionaries who would serve the families affected by disability coming to camp. These volunteers would literally be the hands and feet for families who needed respite, who needed a break, who needed to be loved.  Hmmm….wonder why I got to teach the Intellectual/Developmentally Delayed Section? By the third group I WAS a total example of someone who was intellectually impaired as my neurological flavors kicked in and Yoda Speak took over with all the noise and overstimulation. Call it hands on training?  After my last session of training, I OFFICIALLY became a camper. Me….who had been to the very first Family Retreat on the Oregon Coast in 1991. Me… who had ended my career at Joni and Friends staff as Asst. Director of Family Retreats. What a different perspective.
The transition from leadership to camper was harder than I thought. But there was no mistake that this life lesson was taking place right near where our family had vacationed when I was little….around the age my dad gave me my life verse of Matthew 6:33-34. (See pg 124 of the book!). Once more I could hear my dad’s voice as I sat alone on the warm sand looking out to Twin Rocks you see at the top of the page. “Care: Seek FIRST and FOREMOST, ALL that God has for you, and be OBEDIENT to do them..and things will always work out. Just take it one day at a time.”
My “one day’s at a time” have changed. My life has changed. It is time to truly ‘rest’ and relinquish, and get my grimey hands off the one thing I had been clinging on to: my overly independent spirit and my “I can do it MYSELF, thank you kindly!”  As I humbly unclinched my fist, I accepted, truly,  that I can’t and won’t be able to do many of the things I could before, and am willing to accept (and ask for!) a helping hand. 
As I became a camper – someone who is affected by a disabilty, God paired me with a short term missionary, Vicky,  who didn’t put on her application that she had worked as a teacher in the Bush in Alaska and her hubby was a commercial fisherman at one time out of Ketchican….(do I hear anyone say “Godcidence”?!)
Vicky was patient and let me ‘toxic dump’ as I transitioned from leadership of sorts, to lead differently – adaptively …one day at a time. No two days in my physical life are the same.  I never know ‘who’ or ‘what’ I will wake up to.  Sure, I may not “look” disabled – and I sure don’t ACT disabled, but I am neurologically, orthopedically and medically impaired and I’m finally ‘owning’ it.  I know…don’t all  faint at once!! SOME of us are slow learners (or hard headed!!)
So the sludge is removed,  and it’s good to be home with my dear hubby. He surprised me with magnetic car signs of “Care’s Corner” and PAINTING (YES!! for the first time in 35 years I don’t have white walls!). It is called “Stolen Kiss” and adds just the right accent to the rest of the white walls. And he canned away – salsa, salmon, beets, corn, spinich, potoatos and more, getting us ready for winter. I’ve delighting in returning to photos of camp and Relay,  amazing gardens at Beth/Mike’s and Francie’s  (and floating in Francie’s pool in 100 degree sun for 2 1/2 hours (how do YOU spell “this side of Heaven!!) and a BBQ and s’moring (no…no ‘human s’mores!)  with dear friends new and old from Joni and Friends.
Thanks for taking time to share this journey with me – you all mean more than you can possibly know.  As I celebrate the joy of another birthday this week, I owe it to each and every one of you as you have loved me, helped me and most of all, put up with me…one day at a time.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

    Categories​

    All
    Courage
    Don't Wimp Out
    Drunk Driver
    Heart
    Inspiration
    Shoulder
    Summer
    Surgery
    Update

    Author

    Care Tuk is a nationally known speaker, educator, and retreat/workshop leader. She has been a school, hospital, and home health occupational therapist for more than 30 years. She has been named as a Top Business Woman in America and recognized for her work with youth, disability outreach and awareness, and the American Cancer Society. 

    Care lives in Alaska with her husband Bill. 
    Their family live nearby.

    RSS Feed

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Consulting Solutions Group
  • Welcome To Care's Corner
  • About the Author
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Photos