Okay SOAR! Sisters and Supporters, we’ve got one more SOAR! Recipient to introduce you too! Meet Lindsay Baumgartner from Silverdale, Washington! Before I go on, can I just make a comment about the image below? Lindsay and I both live in the great Pacific Northwest, and if you compare the color of light in all three SOAR! Recipient photos…you can see the blue hues in our Northwest light. Isn’t it crazy how the color of light changes depending on where you are in this world?! I know…major tangent. Back to our focus…
Meet the beautiful Lindsay Baumgartner. She is a force to be reckoned with.
Lindsay’s video entry was #242. I sat down and watched Lindsay’s video, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Lindsay’s story took our breath away. How one family survives such trauma…wait…after meeting her family the word isn’t “survives” but better said this way…How one family becomes closer, stronger, and more intimate from such a traumatic experience…is a true testament to the resilience of Lindsay and her family. If you haven’t seen Lindsay’s SOAR! video entry, you must…but first grab a box of Kleenex and consider yourself warned. The very end gets me every time!
What I remember most about Lindsay is her sheer strength. This gal is not a wimp. She is a straight shooter—a tough cookie wrapped in beautiful femininity. She and Kyle told me how Lindsay would purposefully not baby or enable Kyle in his healing process. If he wanted something, he needed to figure out how to use the paralyzed right side of HIS BODY, and get it. And I just think to myself, “That is amazing. To not crumble under so much pain and unknowns and fight for your husband with tough love—this is a woman I want to know better. This is a woman who can teach me something…lots of things.” And so it is without question that I feel so incredibly honored to have her representing all of you as one of the SOAR! Recipients.
Lindsay’s blog posts will be Thursdays on the upcoming SOAR! blog. Here is her first post of the year!
Beginning Thoughts, by Lindsay Baumgartner
In this New Year I feel like I need to be 100% genuine and honest. So (deep breath)…. with that I must confess, this is my first ever Blog!! I have read many, and thought about writing one, but that is as far as it has gone. So here it goes!!
Who would have thought that this is what God had in store for me in 2010!! This week has been a test of Faith and an incredible show of Love from my Lord and Savior. I must tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you for taking this Leap of Faith and submitting a video. For putting yourself out there for all to see, and saying “I am worthy”. I have been inspired by all the love and support that has poured out from what Me Ra and Brian have created here!! How blessed are each one of us to have had the opportunity to cross paths and dream!!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
Like many of you, last week began with anticipation and excitement. I was anxious to find out, and nervous all at the same time. I prayed that God would give me peace and take away the stress and anxiety. With that prayer he gave me an incredible sense of calmness. I realized that whatever the outcome might be, I would be okay! My Dad called to see if I had received any news. I told him “I think it’s a no Dad”. My Dad preceded to tell me, “You never know honey, Me Ra might show up on your doorstep tomorrow.” I laughed my tail off not realizing he was absolutely correct!!
So when I received a strange phone call from my husband on the morning I received the news, I thought little of it. My husband called me at home and asked the brilliant question, “Where are you?” To which I answered, “I will give you one guess, HOME!!” I laughed at how silly a question it was. Little did I know he was playing detective for one Me Ra Koh.
I was drying my hair, getting ready to pick up my kids from school, when the phone rang again. I strongly contemplated not answering but something urged me to pick up the phone. I picked up the phone, and to my utter shock it was Me Ra!!! To say I was in shock was an understatement, I was floored. I quickly sat down and told Me Ra everything I had planned on doing that day, how goofy!! I am sure I sounded like a blundering fool. Me Ra explained a video guy would be coming by the house in roughly two hours. Panic struck, you are all thinking it, was my house video ready!! Nope, but who cared at this point I was SOARING!!
I got off the phone, took a deep breath and called my husband. The call to my husband was full of mostly unintelligible comments and tons of screaming. I began making calls and arranging for my husband, parents, nephew, in-laws, and grandparent in-laws to be there to support me when the video guy came. I picked up my kids, and started the task of readying my house. What a great distraction!! To say that I was bursting with excitement was an understatement. I am sure there was a Cheshire like smile eerily plastered on my face.
My family arrived, and we waited for the video guy to arrive. Sitting in the living room, I heard from someone in the group that there was a group of people walking up the street. I got up and looked out the window in utter disbelief at what I saw. A beautiful little girl was walking up my driveway carrying a pink package with a brown ribbon. I recognized instantly that the beauty was none other than Pascaline with Blaze, Brian, and of course Me Ra in tow. I was so worried about how I needed to act. Ok, confession number 2 of the New Year. I am not an actress or even close to it. I was terrified I would not look surprised enough, and would thus disappoint all of you that saw the video. I can honestly say that seeing Me Ra, Brian, and the kid’s walk up to my house was a complete shock and thrill. The next 2 hours were something I will cherish all the days of my life.
My time since that extraordinary call has been a blur. It has been a surreal experience – one that I never anticipated. I spent my time waiting for the announcement following all of your threads and comments. Your hope and support for one another was inspiring. I was anxious and nervous for all of you, as if I was still waiting. I too was where you were, I dreamt the same dream. I told every person that saw my video and told me how much I deserved this that there were 262 other women that deserved it just as much.
I spent my Friday reading comments, and waiting for the announcement. I prayed for Me Ra and Brian on such a hectic day, and I prayed for each and every one of you. We took our kids out to dinner and a movie and returned home eager to see the video. We kept our kids up later then usual and finally decided to put them to bed – they had waited long enough!
Together, just my husband and I, watched the journey Me Ra and Brian took just like the rest of you. We watched and discovered who the other winners were, and I cried out of happiness for them. Then with one eye open and volume turned down, we saw the arrival and start of my journey. With humble hearts we read the comments that poured in, and I felt proud to have been able to stand with you and say “I Can Soar”!!
I hope and pray that Me Ra, Brian, and the kids have been able to take a deep breath and relax, they so deserve it!! For anyone that has not had the pleasure of meeting Me Ra, Brian, Pascaline, and Blaze…. you are missing out. They were some of the most charming and genuine people I have ever met. You could not help but feel at ease within moments of meeting them. If I had received nothing else, the blessing of meeting these amazing people would have been worth its weight in gold!! Thank you Me Ra and Brian for being the amazing people God has intended you to be, I am both humbled and inspired!!
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Lindsay, thank you so much for everything you wrote. If you were nervous to meet us, you must not have known how nervous we were to meet YOU! We watched your video a dozen times and cried EVERY time. Your husband’s perseverance and your unending commitment and love to him makes you heroes in our home. As the kids said, “Mama, they are real life heroes!” With great excitement, I welcome you to a year of focusing on you, your spirit, your heart, your desires and dreams, and your story.
Will you all help me welcome Lindsay Baumgartner from Silverdale, WA!
xoxo,
Me Ra
Linday!!
Like so many other people, I’m sure…my mother in law and I watched your video so many times and just bawled at your family’s strength and determination. You ARE real life heroes! I loved reading this. It’s a FANTASTIC first blog! I totally related to your feelings and know exactly what you mean about watching with one eye open! 😉
I am so ready to meet such strength in person. Congratulations, Linday–You are amazing!!!!
Lindsay,
I watched your video several times with my children and it was an important message to share with them…tenacity, appreciation, grace and an ability to appreciate what God has given you.
May your journey this year be all that you are seeking.
Lindsay,
Couldn’t wait to read your post this morning. Beautiful words. You are an amazing woman and I am so glad to be following your photo footsteps this year.
I didn’t realize you were so close by. All the best to you …
Natalia — Seattle
Lindsay – CONGRATULATIONS!
I am excited for you and eager to watch your journey. When someone gives so much of themselves to others, as you have, it is that much more wonderful to see them get a chance to SOAR. Wishing you and your famly strength, health, and happiness n this new year.
All the best,
Bekah
Lindsay, this is a wonderful first blog post and a great description of your experience that I relate to so well. I am preparing myself for some straight-shooting tough love as I get to know you on this journey. Really… there are so many people in my life that tell me what I want to hear, and that’s not always what I need to hear. And ‘somehow’ I believe you will be different. 🙂 Congratulations again, you deserve this SO much and I can’t wait to meet you.
i sit here with tears in my eyes at your beauty and strength. i wish you the most magical time on this journey of SOARING. i can’t imagine a more deserving person for this gift that you have received from me ra koh.
and hope you don’t mind that i’m sharing your video on my blog too–as a reminder to cherish each and every day and never forget to be grateful for simply being alive.
all the best,
deb
what a story!!!! welcome lindsay!
Lindsay Congrats!
I love how you wrote this about MeRa, Brian, & the kids: They were some of the most charming and genuine people I have ever met. How true is that! I just love them. I went to her Seattle workshop last June and got to meet them.
I cannot wait to watch you soar. I am so excited for you.
I’ve been looking foward to your blog all week! Thank you for again sharing yourself so openly- what strength and courage! My prayers will be with you often and I can’t wait to learn alondside of you this year! I know this isn’t the best venue to say this but I must share with someone… I’ve been wondering how much learning I would be able to do this year with you all… no dslr you see… but… my wonderful husband just told me that he has found a way to get a camera in the next month or two!!!! I’m sharing this because I’m sure you can share in my excitement!! Prasie God- when He closes one door He opens another! Absolutly can’t wait to take this journey with you!!
Congratulations Lindsay! I’m really looking forward to reading about your SOAR! adventures. Your strength is incredibly inspiring and your honesty is comforting.
Okay SOAR! sisters who are not recipients: are you going to play along? How many of you said that even if you were not chosen that you were going to keep moving toward your dream? I hope you will join me and share your thoughts and photos as we follow these three amazing ladies. Here is my blog post of my beginning thoughts: http://laughlovecreate.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/beginning-thoughts/
What an absolute inspiration! Congratulations! So excited to follow your journey. 🙂
Lindsay, I’m crying now!! Your story is amazing…but it’s not even a story, it’s real, and you lived through it and now look at where you are!! You are such an inspiration. I am so excited to get to know you more through SOAR! ~Lora
ps* Your husband is so sweet for buying the camera and giving you so much encouragement, and now to hold your hand through this process. I’m so happy to hear of his recovery also. Blessings to you both!
Lindsay,
I remember watching your video for the first time – and like Me Ra, it was the ending that got me – “We Made It!” – what that spoke about your strength and tenacity and view of life!…I was floored. It is no surprise that you ground yourself in knowing that we are all part of something greater and I am simply ecstatic that you are one of the 3 recipients and that this year will include you focusing on YOU!
It has been a complete pleasure to meet you and Jennifer and Linda in this way and to be part of this AMAZING community.
With much love and support,
Lisa
Lindsay, I am so thrilled you were chosen to SOAR! You did a great job at your very first blog! In the video not only was your story of the accident touching, but it was the reaction of you and your family that was the most touching. You have given so much time and energy to just keeping your family together and healthy. It will be great to see you have fun, enjoy and pursue something for yourself this year. And when you figure out how to get rid of the greylight (as I call it) in photos that are taken in Washington let me know. I thought it was just my photos that had a blue cast to them, good to know Mera’s do too.
You have been a great example of strength and perseverance and may God keep his blessing on your family.
Natalie-Gig Harbor, WA
Can I please hug you??? I just watched your video for the first time and am bawling like a baby. So much so that my 3 year old is looking at me weird. =)
I admire your courage, your strength and your determination. Your world is open to anything you want it to be.
God bless you and your family and thank you for adding inspiration to my day.
Oh, man…you’ve got me crying again and I didn’t even watch your video this time. Honestly , I didn’t see your video until after the announcement and I cried…wait, sobbed maybe. What an amazing testimony of love you have! Love for each other, love for God and God’s love for you…LOVELY! After seeing your video I was so glad you won…so happy to see what great things are going to happen to you this year.
LIndsey, My hopes and prayers for you are that you can open, blossom and bloom for a little bit before the soaring. It looks as though you’ve soared in your abilities all your life, but now you can soar from the inside & receive the attention that is meant for you.
I am so excited that your paths have crossed. I think anyone who watches your video rejoices that ‘you’re back!’
(I also love that song! My husband wants to go to her concert and does a pretty funny impression of the yelling part of the song! So incredibly fitting for your video.)
A sincere thank you for letting us come on your journey. Much love, Pamela
Welcome Lindsay! Don’t we serve an amazing and incredible God? This is going to be an amazing year for you and I’m blessed that we get to be a small part of it.
Me Ra, I just want to say Thank You to you too, for all the times you pushed through your sensitivities, doubt, fear for this project. Big things take such big courage, or at least putting one foot in front of the other. Thanks for teaching us all how to be transparent and how to revive. It is huge…
so thrilled for all that is ahead for YOU! Lindsay, congratulations & much love …
Crying again…Congratulations Lindsay, you are such an inspiration and I look forward to watching you SOAR!
So nice to hear from you Lindsay, your video was one if not the most striking to me, I kept thinking what if that happened to me, I know I would not be a strong, no way I would so I admire you for that. and thanks for sharing your feeling on your video day because I must say you did not look surprised at all and know I know why 🙂
It will be great to watch your journey and new path~ God Bless you and your beautiful family
Just watched second half of your video again and makes me cry every time too- the We are back is so inspiring and so joyous and hopeful, I am so glad you won Lindsay~
OMG! Lindsay you and all your family are real Heroes!!!
I didn’t see this video before, but now I watched and I cried – for everything your family had to go through, for the miracles, for strength.
I am so happy for you, that you got this scholarship!!!! You SOAR!!!!
I just wanted to congratulate you. Your story is inspirational and encouraging and I’m looking forward to watching you SOAR!
Beautiful words, beautiful inspiration, beautiful lady. I love how you opened up by explaining the source of your strength and dedication to your Saviour. Glad to meet you Sister! I am very happy for you because we are going to watch as you lift off on a fabulous journey and SOAR! Blessings to you and your family.
With one “wing” around your family and one “wing” touching the clouds, it will be a joy and an honor to watch you take flight throughout the coming year, Lindsay!! Wonderfully down to earth beginning thoughts. Congratulations!
Lindsay,
You are truly an amazing woman and I am so happy you have the chance to follow your dreams. Good luck to you and I cannot wait to follow your journey!
(Hugs)
Congratulations LIndsay! From the first time I saw your video, I prayed that you would be one of the recipients!!! Great job on your first blog! You are amazing and Brian & MeRa will be so proud and blessed to SOAR with you!!!!
Your strength and faith in God is inspirational! Looking forward to following your journey!
Lovely first blog, Lindsay. I watched your video for the first time today…what an incredible story. You are so very deserving and strong. I wish you all the best on your journey.
What a gal! Best of luck to you Lindsay! So excited to watch you SOAR!
What a wonderful testament to our Lord Lindsay! You have already brought Him glory – I’m looking forward to seeing what else He has in store for you through this opportunity 🙂
I kept thinking “tenacity” while I watched your video and read your post today! You go girl!!
Me Ra & Brian, you couldn’t have picked three more wonderful deserving women. I’m inspired and motivated already, so in a way I’ve won too 🙂 Thank you and God Bless!
Hard to believe that was your first blog post EVER!
You and your family are gritty, powerful survivors! You go get’em, Lindsay!
Everyone,
I just read every single one of your messages out loud to my husband in the car, LUCKY HIM. A captive audience…I love it!! We are on our way out of town to visit friends and it will be a long drive, but I am flying high with all of your kind words. I laughed, and cried. I am so inspired and so touched by you ladies. I will do all that I can to share as much of myself as possible, you are all winners along with me so i just pray I do you justice.
Many hugs!!
Lindsay Baumgartner
P.S. The Sony camera is awesome!! What an awesome company to follow the dreams and support the dreams of others!! If anyone is in need of an SLR, it is a pure joy to work with.
Congratulations Robin Fuehre, a new SLR!! Praise the Lord in deed!!
And Michelle I am sorry I made you cry so much your three you old was giving you the eye!! I laughed my tail off when I read that. Been there…done that!! Priceless!!
Lindsay,
You have such a touching story! I wish you nothing but the best on this soar journey! You are deserving and what a strong woman you are. Enjoy that SONY camera of yours and great first blog post. I look forward to watching your journey this year.
Congratulations Linsdsay! A fellow Washingtonian! I’m so proud. Anyway, first of all… I pride myself on not being emotional but your video… when your voice broke I couldn’t help but cry for you and your family. God is Good! And secondly, for someone who has NEVER blogged before you did a STELLAR job! Can’t wait to follow you on your journey. Congratulations!
I am so excited that you won Lindsay! Your courage and strength in the face of adversity/uncertainty is such a great lesson for all of us! Can’t wait to watch your photography business blossom over the next year! You have so much to teach all of us 🙂
Congratulations Lindsay. God is good (all the time). What an amazing journey God has had you on and that you would share that with each of us to encourage us on our journies. I will be eagerly awaiting how He will use you in so many people’s lives this year. To God be the glory!!!! You go girl!!!
Lindsay- what a touching, amazing, powerful video. God has truly blessed you and your family. This scholarship was meant for you. I’m actually glad you won instead of me. you totally deserve this, i can see that you have gained an amazing testimony of God through your trials and this scholarship is the best way to share that testimony with us and i look forward to watching you learn and grow throughout the coming year. thank you for being strong. i dont know if i could have been that strong! this really goes to show that with God ANYTHING is possible!! good luck!!!
Lindsay, with all that’s on your side and such determination and strength you truly seem to need little else. Certainly not Soar to find happiness. I mean that as a great compliment so I hope it comes across that way.
It will be a pleasure to watch and read your journey through your new experiences and growth. See you soon!
Lindsay- congratulations. I hope this year brings you all you wish for and more.
Lindsay,
You have it in you to inspire, touch and move people. You truly do. Hoping this year is filled with beauty and growth for you.
Much love,
Freida
I’m not sure if I can even type my little note to you through my blurry eyes. I just watched your video for the very first time, my heart is pounding out of my chest and the tears are rolling down my face. These tears are tears of gratitude to the Lord for giving you and your family the strength, courage and ability to survive all you have been through. His Grace and Mercy is evident in your life and through your words and photographs. I am OVERJOYED to see you and your family SOAR! to new horizons that He alone has chosen you for.
Love and Blessings-
Kimberlyn
Lindsay!!
I worked for 4 years as a Rehab Assistant in the Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab Department for Good Sam in Puyallup. Not much is stronger than the wife of a man who has sustained a TBI. I am in awe of how much you must be responsible for, the level of patience, and how much families must learn and accept about the realities of TBI. I worked in a home setting with individuals and assisted with activities of daily living and watched and celebrated each bit of progress, each new compensatory system being practiced and learned. I have an incredible amount of respect for what your family has endured, and as such, have a hard time imagining a person more worthwhile of an opportunity like this. I am SO incredibly happy for you…it gives me chills. BRAVO Me Ra & Brian!!! BRAVO!!!
Dear LIndsay –
I wanted to add my congratulations and best wishes to you and your family. I just saw your video for the first time tonight and am so moved by what a wonderful and determined young wife and mother you are. I wish you all the best this year…it is obvious that you are someone worthy of this opportunity and someone we can all grow and soar with on your journey..
I am so happy for you!
Sending hugs to you, your husband and all your loved ones who have helped you through this difficult time..You are going to have an awesome year!
Dear Lindsay,
Congratulations! I am so happy for you, and wish you all the best with SOAR and
everything else you do! I finally had time today to read your welcome post, awesome job!
And what an incredible story of strength and love. Hugs to you and your family.
You seem like an amazing woman, you deserve to be lifted up and to SOAR!! 🙂
Congratulations, Lindsay! Not only is your journey remarkable, you have the beautiful ability to express the the stripped down truth of a moment and an experience through both your words and your photography. Beautiful.
Lindsay,
You were meant to write and share your stories!! I love hearing about your awesome experience of finding out you were one of the three. That was so cute and fun! Thank you so much for sharing! I know I’m not alone in saying that your stories of strength and hope are moving. I love your photography and I love hearing, really feeling, what photography has done for you.
As I said to Linda and Jennifer, “Although you feel a tremendous responsibility to help us, please remember that we are all here to help you too. All of our journeys will be a little different, as they should. However, you still have a community of girls here who understand and honor your dreams. We also share the expectation of highs and lows on the road to learning, growth, and creating a whole new life for ourselves. So proud of you! So happy for you! Have fun” 🙂
Lindsay-
WOW!! What can I say that hasn’t already been said- but Praise the Lord for this awesome opportunity and all the tremendous support from so many!! I know that you will be blessed and that many others will be blessed by your experiences and the perspective you share through your genuine honesty and transparency. I am excited to watch you SOAR and cheer you on!!! Remember that the Lord is always by your side empowering you to meet what ever challenge you face, big or small, and that… God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him… There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.. (1 John 4:16b,18a). Have a special weekend and know that I am praying for you and Kyle!
XXOO
Your big sis-
Wow, Lindsay what a story! Thank goodness all is well now and you’re SOARING with your camera! I look forward to seeing more of your work.
I am so touched by Lindsay’s story.. and so inspired.. thank you for sharing it!!!!
I had the rare and wonderful opportunity to be with Lindsay this weekend in the “Ignite the Flame: Wise Feminine Power and Big Fun” with Fay Freed and Karen Buckley, the SOAR! biz consultants. What a miraculous story I just read.
And… being with Lindsay, watching her step into her feminine power and wisdom this weekend was a true joy. She has an inner light that lights up the room! I’m honored to get to know her even better now.
And Lindsay, you go, gal! Love, Teri
Good goin Lindsay! That was a very humbling story. I had never seen the pictures of Kyle before that must have been so scary. Great pictures!