Tomorrow, we walk.

Tomorrow, we will walk around the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  We will don our cool TEAM OLIVIA t-shirts and our walking shoes, gather together as a family of people who love our girl, and take a lap.  We will "ooo" and "ahh" at the size of the track and the banks so steep you can barely scale them, all from the vantage point of a race car driver.

We will weave in and out around other groups, all the while looking for signs of autism.  Is that child stimming?  Is that adult in his own world?  Is that a look of autistic anxiety I see on her face?

We will look for badges of honor.  You know, the ones that show you're a parent or a loved one to a child with autism.  Are those gray hairs and dark circles under her eyes from nights with no sleep?  Look at that daddy.  See his face?  He's leading his group, holding his child, proudly showing the world that his baby is different, but not less.  Ah... there's a big brother!  He takes back seat to his sister so often, but the love he has for her is so big, it is tangible.  Do you feel it?

We will look for the villages.  You know, the extended families that step up and do whatever they can.  To help.  To be there.  To share.  To love.  There they go.  Side-by-side, walking together.  They are friends who understand to be quiet, because he can't handle loud noises.  They are aunts and uncles and grandparents and siblings who talk to her, knowing she won't answer, but talking to her anyway.  Because they try to join her in her world.  They pass another family, and their eyes meet.  The smile they share says,  "Hello there, friend.  I know your journey. "  Do you see them?  They get it. 

We will pray that Olivia won't get too over-stimulated.  We will take some pictures to save the memories of the day.  We will savor the atmosphere that will be seeped in all the emotions that come with the journey of autism.

We raised money for this walk.  Autism Speaks funding is vital to providing resources for families, research to gain knowledge about this baffling condition, and hope for all of those whose lives are touched by this mystery. 

But, when we asked our friends and family to support us for the walk, money was only one of the requests.  For while the money is so desperately needed, it isn't the only thing that provides us comfort on this journey.

We asked for others to walk with us.  And those who are able will join us on the track in the morning, specifically to honor our girl.  They will be by our side, as a literal translation to what they do for us figuratively every day when they walk beside us on this journey.

And we asked for prayers.  I believe my God is faithful.  I believe He longs for us to share the desires of our heart as we follow Him.  And there isn't a greater gift we could receive from our friends and family than to know they have lifted us up in prayer to Him.

Life with Olivia is amazing.  Now, to be honest, sometimes I feel like we're trying to climb the steep bank and can't find our footing.  Some moments, we are speeding down the straight stretch, feeling the rush of the wind and enjoying this amazing ride.  Through every moment, we're learning to lean on the only One who can provide peace beyond our understanding.

Whether you are walking with us tomorrow, donating money, praying for us, participating in an Autism Speaks walk in honor of another autism family, or just taking a moment to think about how your life might be touched by our story- I am humbled by your compassion.  Thank you is not sufficient.  I know it isn't by accident that our lives are intertwined.

Today, I'm thanking God for the abundant blessings He has shown to us through Olivia's life.

And tomorrow, we walk.