JOHN and COLLEEN - Alpine CA



 

I have come to understand, admire, love, and appreciate the brotherhood that exists within the fire family.  There is a bond that ties us together.  The ones who risk their lives daily in their commitment to provide protection to those they serve.  The ones who send those brave souls to work every day with the fearful anticipation of that dreaded call on the phone or knock at the door by two sheriffs. The children who dress up in their daddy's fire gear and dream of the day when they too are 10 feet tall and save the world in a yellow jacket and helmet.  This is the fire family...the family to which we belong and where we turn for comfort, strength, and support. 

We will never forget 9/11/2001, the day that lives in infamy in our country; the day we experienced unprecedented loss in our homeland; the day we said goodbye to 343 heroes from our fire family who died serving others amidst the chaos of a terrorist attack; the day that our country stood still. 

Just as 6/30/2013 has become a day that changed the course of my life, many lives were upended when tragedy struck the World Trade Center and those families will never be the same.

Today we met up with a beautiful couple, John and Colleen, in Alpine CA.  They moved to California from New York and shared with us how the tragedy on 9/11 impacted their lives so deeply that they have never been the same.  Likewise, it prompted them starting a foundation for the purpose of blessing the lives of those affected by tragic loss. 



Tate, Juliann, Shiloh, Ryder, Colleen, Choice, and John

John humbly shared with me how blessed he has been in his life and how grateful he is to be able to give back where he can.  The fire service is an area that hits home with them as their son is a firefighter in a neighboring city.  For that reason, John and Colleen made the donation to the families of the 19 hotshots in the name of the Santee Fire Department. 



Tate, John, and Juliann

John and Tate

Shiloh, Colleen, Ryder, and John

John and Colleen are parents of two grown children, both recently married.  Their children, and future grandchildren, are so lucky to have them.  They are warm, welcoming, and playful.  John played a game with the kids that would have kept them content all evening.  Shiloh lit up with excitement to be with him the same way she does when she is playing with her Grandpa back in Arizona.

John, Shiloh, and Ryder

John and Shiloh



John and Shiloh

John and Shiloh

John and Shiloh

 

Choice too was fascinated by John's wonderful sense of humor and wit.  When he could make his way past Shiloh, he took his turn playing with him and enjoying "Grandpa time". 

John, Choice, and Shiloh

John and Choice

John and Choice

Shiloh, Ryder, Choice, John, and Tate

Colleen was delightful and immediately her inner mother hen came out.  She brought out games for the kids, gave them cookies, played outside with them, and was even a great sport when Choice locked her out of the house. :-/ 
 

Colleen and Ryder

Choice and Tate

Ryder took to her immediately.  He could sense her sweet disposition and clung to the comfort that radiated from her tender nature.  Colleen sweetly entertained Ryder and allowed him to be her little buddy for the evening.

Colleen and Ryder

Colleen and Ryder

Shiloh, Colleen, Ryder, and Tate

Colleen scooped up Tate and embraced him as she and John opened their thank you cards and looked at the Be Better Bands we brought them and the Spread The Better t-shirts. 

Tate, Colleen, and Ryder

Shiloh, Colleen, Ryder, and John

 

It was a pleasure to share the Be Better message with them as they are great examples of embodying what it means to better yourself and strengthen others around you.  They reached out when we were in the darkest and most scary moment of our lives and they buoyed us up.  Asking nothing in return, and for no other reason than they felt compelled to do something and they remember the sting of tragic loss that had affected them years ago.

 

Colleen, Ryder, and John

No matter how, when, or why something connects us to another human being, it is part of a divine plan.  It is a true gift to celebrate the goodness of others and learn from the wisdom they've acquired throughout their lives.  John and Colleen made a lasting impression on our lives today and have inspired me to Be Better and to look for opportunities to serve those who may experience future loss.  They've set a glorious example of turning a terrible situation into a growing experience.

 



Tate, Juliann, Shiloh, Choice, Colleen, and John





Our family is not the first family affected by tragic loss, and unfortunately we will not be the last.  The strength will come in those moments as we rely on the goodness of the human heart and use compassion to reach out and assist those whom we do not know and may never meet.  It is our duty as citizens of a country where others fight for our freedom, it is our responsibility as human beings on this planet, and it is our opportunity to do for others what we would have them do for us in our time of need.  To John and Colleen, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and following your heart when prompted to reach out and serve.  We love you, we admire you, we thank you.  God bless.