Heartbreak

Dear Life,

How do you mend a broken heart and a broken spirit?  How do you help someone understand that there is hope when they feel hopeless?  How do you show love to someone who feels unloveable?  How do you show someone that they have worth when they look in the mirror and see nothing?

Someone dear to my heart is struggling with these emotions, struggling while awake and struggling while asleep.  There is no rest, there is no relief.  There is only a pervasive heaviness like a weighted blanket on a hot summer day.  Nightmares at night.  Wakes up to paralyzing fear.  Nightmares during the day.  

This heart that is so loving, so giving, so genuine, and is now broken.   A heart that is so delicate,  has now turned into finely spun glass, and is now breaking into slivers all over. 

This quiet, gentle spirit, amazing old soul, has fractured and is no longer whole.

On the outside no one can tell.
No one sees.
But the turmoil on the inside rages on while awake and while sleeping.
There is no rest.

Only heartbreak.

The Sheckler Foundation Gala

Dear Life,

A few years ago we met this girl.   We call her Peach.  

You know.
She's the girl behind the magic shoes.
The shoes that make kids strong when they are going through hard things.
The shoes that give kids the ability to talk about something when there is nothing else to talk about.
The girl that teaches KINDNESS matters.
Peach's Neet Feet.

She told us about Ryan Sheckler.
A year and a half ago I didn't know who Ryan Sheckler was. 
Ok....I'm old. 
Whatever.
Keep in mind that two  and a half years ago was the first time I set foot in a skatepark. 
Like ever.
And it was with a bunch of people in wheelchairs with Life Rolls On.
At that point all I knew was the skate park was an amazing way for Kumaka to level the playing field....he was already on wheels after all.
I discovered that the able bodied skaters were pretty cool, that most of them thought that Kumaka was pretty awesome for trying stuff and they were all super cool about giving him a helping hand when he needed it.

(Who knew I would end up becoming a skate mom???) 

Peach entered an initiative called "Be The Change" that is hosted by The Sheckler Foundation. 

"In 2012, we launched our “Be the Change” initiative. This web-based program allows our supporters to nominate the areas where they want to see change occur in the lives of children and injured action sports athletes. Then our entire network can vote for the cause they’d not only like to see win, but will support. We love that our supporters now have a voice and a platform that help guide our fundraising and giving. The Sheckler Foundation will come along side the winner giving them a $10,000 grant and help make their plans a reality!"  

Peach invited some of her crew to the Sheckler "Skate For A Cause" event where she was awarded the "Be The Change" grant of $10,000.

It was a great day of skating, game playing, and meeting new people.  That was the first day we met Ryan Sheckler.  The next day, we were lucky enough to go to his compound to watch a few Peach kiddos receive their magic Peach's Neet Feet shoes and since there were skate ramps there,  SKATE.  

 Ryan gave Kumaka a hand up and a tip on how to go down this pretty steep ramp.  Kumaka had a blast and it was so fun to hang out with Ryan and some of his "Board"members.  But it was even cooler to see people making a difference....people being KIND.  What amazing examples to our son.  To this day these people keep in touch with us.  

To be honest, we didn't really think we would see Ryan and his family again.  I mean...he's famous and pretty busy! But I learned something about this family, about this foundation.  They don't meet you, take you in, and then never see you again.  Once you are in their circle, you are a part of the Sheckler Foundation Family.  And it's a pretty amazing family.  This year, at the Skate for a Cause event, The Sheckler Foundation did something pretty amazing and allowed an exhibition of WCMX skating prior to the pro skating that was done.  Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham,  Mathew FloHawke Hawkins, Quinn Waitley, Riley Phelps, and Kumaka were invited to skate for half an hour (Also pictured is Box Wheelchair rep and mentor Troy McQuirk) and it was pretty cool to show others that adaptive athletes can rock a skate park.

What a great day that was!  

A few months later, Kumaka and a few of the kids he has met through the Sheckler Foundation were invited to the inaugural Sheckler Foundation Gala prior to the yearly Golf Tournament that is their huge fundraiser.  Kumaka was very honored and excited to get dressed up and greet the guests as they arrived. 

 Prior to dinner,  a few people that were touched by the Sheckler Foundation spoke.  There were no dry eyes in the house.  As I listened to the stories, I realized that although Ryan Sheckler is a very busy young man, traveling all over for his sport, his endorsements, etc.   he takes time out of all of that to let his community know that he cares.  When it matters, he is there.  This young man, this foundation, doesn't stop at writing checks.  They truly care about people.  About community.  About family.   

On Instagram you will always find an encouraging note when someone is going through a hospital visit, a cancer scan, or just a birthday celebration.  Small details matter.  People matter. We have been truly blessed to know amazing people changing the world.  Ryan Sheckler and his Foundation  show us that he embodies the "Be the Change" movement he shares with the world.  Check out his foundation....and ask how you can Be the Change in your world!

LROhana Magic

Dear Life,

What makes a FAMILY?
The traditional definition of family are parents who love, care for and provide for their children. 
This definition is important and essential.
But there is another version of family that I want to talk about today.
There is a family built from community.  
A community that came about because one young man was injured doing what he loved the most. 
Jesse Billauer was 17 years old and headed towards becoming a pro surfer when he hit a sand bar surfing.
He became paralyzed instantly and his life changed.
He decided that becoming a paraplegic wasn't going to stop him from continuing to enjoy life and that was how 
LIFE ROLLS ON began.
For the last four years, Kumaka has been blessed to participate in "They Will Surf Again" events in Huntington Beach and La Jolla California 
as well as tear it up at the Venice skate park at the "They Will Skate Again" events.  
Kumaka has learned so much from participating in these events.
He has become more independent, more willing to try things, knowing that he is ABLE to.



At the "They Will Skate Again" Event in Venice, California 2015 after landing his first rail attempt 










But he also has a very special relationship with Jesse and Sam and all of the volunteers that have helped him over the years.  






Jesse Billauer and Kumaka at "They Will Skate Again" 2015





This year his daddy couldn't come to the La Jolla event.
That was the first time his daddy couldn't be out surfing with him.
He literally cried for two days.
He didn't want to go.
He didn't want to surf.
I had to promise him that I wouldn't make him surf without his daddy.
The day came and all of Kumaka's friends were so excited to surf.
But he wasn't.  He was sad.

Sam Billauer, Jesse's beautiful and amazing wife talked to Kumaka a few times trying to change his mind.  (By the way....she is putting out fires all day to keep the whole day running smoothly....so the fact that she spent time on Kumaka to try to get him to surf shows how much she loves these kids)





Sam Billauer and Kumaka at "They Will Surf Again" La Jolla, California 2015

Later on, Cory, Kumaka's fearless Red Team captain, the man who has surfed with Kumaka every single time he's surfed took a few minutes to talk to him.  
He got him in the water to swim and then all of a sudden Kumaka was ready to surf. 


 Photo Cred: John Jefferson

Party Wave in La Jolla, California



Photo Cred: John Jefferson
Kumaka had the best time surfing with two of his friends.
Cory's son even surfed with Kumaka towards the end of the session.
After Kumaka was done, he told me how happy he was he surfed and wanted to go out again.  

Photo Cred: John Jefferson

The incredible Cory and Kumaka after surfing.

That is Life Rolls On Magic. 



These amazing people take their whole day out to help create magic.


This year, Kumaka's sister Sofi surfed for the first time. 
In Huntington Beach, our hometown, our sweet Bulgarian princess SURFED.
It was an amazing and beautiful experience.
When we watched that magical moment, we remembered where she came from.  
We remembered her first three years of life.

Three years in a crib. 
Never leaving it.
Looking at white walls.
No mommy or daddy to take care of her or love her.
No family.
She was free.....free 
from that past as she was held up by Cory.


He sat her in front of him on the surfboard because she can't lay on her stomach happily.
The minute he took off on a wave, she squealed with delight and her smile lit up the ocean.  

Photo Cred: Jerry Jaramillo

I'm sure God was looking down on that miracle moment and 
smiled.
She caught four waves that day.

Our little Bulgarian princess is now a mermaid. 

Photo Cred: Anthony Manliguez

From the orphanage in Bulgaria to the OCEAN in California.

That is Life Rolls On Magic.

That is LROhana 

{Ohana means Family in Hawaiian}

From the Jensen Ohana to the Billauer Family and all of the LRO volunteers and sponsors....thank you for an amazing year and thank you for making MAGIC.

Photo Cred: Anthony Manliguez

and a Bulgarian Princess