Rising to the occasion

When something heartbreaking or difficult happens to someone I know I often struggle to think of a truly meaningful way to help. That’s why I’ve been so impressed with the ingenuity of some of our friends. On Day One, there were the “first responders” who brought pajamas, tooth brushes, contact lens solution, shampoo, hair brushes, and even underwear before I had even realized we were without them.

In the days that followed, we saw these examples of the resourcefulness and creativity of our friends:

• A former manager of mine created a Shutterfly account called Augustson Rebuild and drafted instructions we can send to family and friends on how to upload photos.
• A college friend contacted St. Olaf and requested replacement copies of the yearbooks from our days “on the Hill.”
• A neighbor re-ordered Annika’s school portraits and delivered them with dinner.
• A team of neighbors prescreened a list of rental properties for us so that we could focus on the best options.
• A high school classmate used Facebook to organize and collect donations of clothing and toys.
• Close friends delivered photos and mementos from our friendships over the years.
  

I could go on and on, but the point is that these great people have inspired me to find new ways to rise to the occasion when I am looking for a way to help others. Thanks all!