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| Dad and his grandson, our Joseph learning to swim- age 3 |
The dream of a honoring my dad comes true today.....
It kind of sat back in the closet of my mind for a long time, probably a couple of years since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I wanted to honor him in some way, but didn't know how or what exactly that would look like. Last year TO THE DAY (June 27th) I finally asked my daddy how he felt about a scholarship program to help kids and families learn to swim who could not afford swim lessons.
His response? "Hey, I like that. I'd like to be a part of that. I'd like to write a check, but I don't have my check book."
I looked at him and told him as I had many times in the past, "Dad I have your checkbook. I'm helping you keep track of your finances and bills."
His eyes got really big and wide with a smile, "YOU do??" and there was that joking personality of the daddy I'd always known, tainted by Alzheimer's disease, but still very much there. He was having a "good day" on June 27th, 2012. He was happy, so happy, and smiling. He had more clarity of mind that day than in days past.
That clarity of mind was such a gift that day. It was enough of a blessing to me to know that if my daddy had not had Alzheimer's we could have continued our discussion about this subject and dreamed together.
I would have much preferred it this way of course!
We were sitting in my mom's room this particular afternoon, when I asked him about the Aquatics scholarship program. Mom was so sick and it was an incredibly sad week for us as a family. The moment my daddy walked into Mom's room that day, the gloom and sadness disappeared in those moments with his liveliness, joy, and love. I'll never forget that. Alzheimer's was protecting him from realizing just how sick his bride truly was. It was evident to all of us and everyone around her, but him. He knew she was not feeling well, but did not realize the severity of the situation. He sat and held her hand for a long time.
So I'm sitting here writing with some mixed emotions. I am remembering parts of one of the saddest weeks of my entire life last year and yet those incredibly happy moments I had with dad.
I am thinking it is amazing how that conversation turned into what is happening today! How this entire dream to honor dad has come alive, taken off, and come true for the kids of today.
This is where we are:
The Joe Poston Scholarship Program has been established for the next 5 years.
The funds from Dad's gift to the YMCA of Greater Charlotte will be split equally between two branches: Dowd in Uptown and Stratford-Richardson
What is taking place today is the Dowd piece.
Westerly Hills Academy is a Charlotte Mecklenburg School. During the summer months it partners with First Presbyterian Church for a summer enrichment program. Kids are identified who need extra help with math or reading skills and the camp provides instruction and academic enrichment for those kids during the summer morning hours. Then, in the afternoon there are field trips and activities for the 1st-4th graders. There are 60 kids in this camp.
There is an interesting detail I learned in the winter, when my brother and I were speaking at the Dowd YMCA's board meeting to tell about the gift Dad had made and to tell some of his "Y Story". Westerly Hills Academy Camp director had called the Y asking if they could partner with them on anything for their afternoons with the kids. They were looking for some kind of sports or athletic type activity.
The YMCA responded something like this: "We actually can help you with that request. We just received a generous donation from someone a few days ago and it is for aquatics. Would you be interested in aquatics?" This phone call was made the same week my brother and I sat down with the financial development people at the YMCA of Greater CLT and I made the donation on Dad's behalf.
Wow! Wow!
Do you see how this just took off? God is so amazingly wonderful! There was a need of the camp children and the means of provision were there waiting literally right when they needed it!
Now today, those 60 children from Westerly Hills summer enrichment program will be receiving 4 free swim lessons the month of July! In addition to that, they will receive a towel, goggles, swim cap and bag because many families might not have the financial means to purchase those extra items which are nice for the kids to have when learning to swim.
I am so excited!! This piece of the scholarship will take place every summer starting today, through 2018.
I am going to go to Dowd this afternoon with the boys to meet the director of the camp.
I've asked the Y for photos, because I want to document this for our family. So hopefully I'll be able to post some photos later of the swim lessons.
The aquatics director is very excited! She said it might be nice to have the Dowd "shaken up" a bit in a good way with children coming. Dowd is an adult facility. It is not a family YMCA. So not a lot of kids around the pool area most of the time, except for swim lessons.
So we're going to shake the Dowd up a bit today! I say, "Ok!" Dad would probably say, "Let's do it!!" He would be on the pool floor cheering them on, talking with the instructors, watching it ALL! Then a thought came to me and I changed my mind on that thought. Dad would be "in" the pool too, with the kids. He'd probably prefer to "be" one of the instructors if he were still alive and in good health.
I do not know how this gift will affect lives, but it is in God's hands. It is His gift really. I am praying that kids who were afraid of the water will conquer that fear. I am praying too that because the kids will learn some basic skills this time around that they will want more instruction, that they will learn enough to be safer in the water and it will prevent a drowning one day. Perhaps a parent who has been terrified of the water and had a bad experience will be inspired by their own children and the staff at the YMCA and will be willing to try swimming again so they can get in the pool with their kids. Maybe they will think it's not too late for them to learn to swim either. So many hopes and dreams....
I don't really know where this is all headed for the lives of the kids, but it is a door that is open. An opportunity given. I'm trusting God for the rest.
Make a big splash Westerly Hills Academy! Make a big splash for my dad!
Most importantly make a big splash for yourself!
You can do it! You are unique and special and can do tremendous things!
More to come soon!
