Thoughts

This is never easy.  No matter how many trips we go on and how much work goes into each year's trip, it's never easy to sit down and try to assemble all my thoughts regarding Ace & TJ's Grin Kids.  As I sit and reflect on our almost 9 "Years of Magic", I keep coming back to one word, one question...HOW?

How do you explain to a child why you are crying as you watch them laugh?  How do you explain what you've seen when you see the world come alive in a child's eyes like never before?  We cry out of happiness, happiness at seeing the unadulterated joy they feel as they see Disney for the first time.  We cry because their parents cry while watching their children do something that they never thought would be possible in their situation.  How can you share the emotions of hearing a parent tell you that you have given their child the gift of a lifetime, a gift that they will not only remember forever but a gift that will change their lives forever?  How?

How do you share the feeling of hearing a parent tell you that their child is more responsive than ever?  How do you explain the love you see these families share?  How do you share the emotions when a parent tells you that their child just stood alone for the first time while at Disney or was able to follow the eyes of a character?  The doctors said it would never happen.  It happened at Disney.  How do you explain that?

How do you explain the pride you feel when that plane lands and the kids depart and take their lifelong memories and you sit alone in your car, headed home, exhausted but exhilarated at knowing that we did it again?  We worked all year and somehow, by the grace of God, we pulled it off again.  How do you explain that little smile of pride that crosses your lips?

Most importantly, how do you explain to someone that thousands of people, most of whom you'll never meet, have given their time and money to share in your ideas and events because they care enough about kids they'll probably never meet to want to make their dreams a reality?  How do you explain that kind of love and loyalty? 

How do you do all this?

You can't.  You just say thank you.  Thank you to the families for joining our family for a once in a lifetime vacation.  Thank you for allowing us to see what love is all about.  Thank you for reminding us what's truly important.  Thank you for being a Grin Kid. 

Thank you to the sponsors, companies, civic organizations, clubs, etc. who constantly remember Grin Kids and help us raise this money every year through their efforts.

And thank you to you, the Ace and TJ Radio Family.  Thank you for having the heart that you have and for being the people you are to understand our dream and always be there for us to make this dream a reality every year.  Without you there would be no Ace & TJ Show much less Ace & TJ's Grin Kids.  Thank you will never be enough but it's all I have. 

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you and may God bless you all.