January 24, 2011: I better get my sunscreen...

Heaveno!

...because tomorrow night, I head to Egypt.

Yeah, I know, where the heaven did THAT come from?

I guess this is how these things sometimes work.  God says, "JUMP!" and I say, "[groan] How far?"

He says, "TO EGYPT!"

I say, "Uh, wow.  Okay."

Now, you may be wondering what a nice boy like me is doing heading to Egypt tomorrow seemingly out of nowhere.  Good question!  I'll tell ya...

I am accompanying a good friend at his request.

So, I guess you could say, "Let it be said that I will travel the ends of this earth to fund this cure."

Mind you, I was planning on staying off the continent of Africa this lifetime.  Seriously.  Not even the World Cup could get me there.  However, to have the opportunity to vacation with this crew for a week and really connect with them and their spouses, well, you just can't plan such good fortune.

God has a plan.

I leave the Egypt tour early before their 4 day boat cruise down the Nile to be back in time to turn around and head back to Minnesota for a wonderful 5 day reunion with all our friends to witness the wedding of one of Bella's main nurses, Renee.  We will also be in meetings with Dr. Wagner and Tolar, the Minnesota Medical Foundation, PUCK, and Children's Cancer Research Center - essentially the adoptive parents of PUCK (we use their tax ID number and they help us with SO MUCH to get going). Ali, Ang and I leave for Minnesota next Thursday.  I return from Egypt next Tuesday.  Don't call on Wednesday, I'll be doing laundry and working in the office!

I want to take this opportunity to not only thank my friend Joe for this once in a lifetime opportunity, but I also want to say to you all how lucky I am to be married to Angelique.  Her power is only matched by her flexibility.  She is willing to see other people's vision, even if it isn't her own, as valuable.  If it wasn't for her support, this trip wouldn't happen.  Thank you, honey.  You are beyond amazing, and I am beyond blessed to be your hubby.

Now, do I have fear?

Yup.

Am I nervous?

Overwhelmed is more like it.

AM I SCARED?

Yes.  I.  am.

I'm going anyway.

How are any of us ever going to get anywhere new if we're not willing to try something new?  Do you really think that I would be able to manifest $3 million by using the same thinking and action that got me this far in life financially?  (Hint - I haven't made or raised a tenth of this number before)  Are there others out there that have already done this?  Yup.  Shouldn't I go learn it from THEM?  Yup.

I know better than to reinvent the wheel.  People raise millions upon millions a year for medical research.  I am not special or different or better than anyone else.  I am just REALLY, REALLY CLEAR about the result I will produce and why.  Think about it.  The best results you've achieved in any area of your life were a sum of the same traits.  Clarity and purpose.  Then, you ACTED.  Without action, we're all just sitting around a coffee shop pontificating.

I don't even think I am nearly the key piece of the chain to have this cure become real.  To me, it is the docs.  There are thousands of people who can provide the funding, but only a handful that can do the research.  Without the research, we have nothing.  More of us can contribute to the funding than to the research.  That's why it's up to us to do our part, and them to do their part.

I'm going to Egypt and I am coming back with a plan.  My plan, however, is just a plan.  It is just a piece of the pie.  The skin cells are growing in these kids, but that is only a piece of the pie.  There is much more to learn.  I'm just the one with the megaphone at this brief moment at the world party to cure EB.  There are so many more who have already done so much more, and will continue to do so.  I just know that when I die, and I appear before Bella, I'll be able to say with a clear conscience, "Hi honey, I did everything I could to make it better."

Know what the BEST part will be?

When she says, "Yeah, daddy,  I know you did.  I love you.  Now come here and give me that hug you've been waiting to give me!"

Wish me luck, and send love and strength and support to Ang while I'm gone.  If you are local and wanna cook a mild casserole, email Ang at Angelique@thedivineplanet.com and ask her what she'd like.  That would be most appreciated!  Ang and Ali have been going back and forth with "that stomach thing" that is out there.

Thank you for your support of us all.

God night.