Yesterday, Kate Gildea, as we know her, (Go Jazz, the music) and Sam Spendlove (Go Jazz, the team) visited Heather and I at Primary Children’s and delivered a binder that blew us away. I only have one word: humbled. 

As you all know, I love the NBA and the Utah Jazz. As a kid (and maybe still a little bit now), I collected basketball cards. I’d put them in binders, organized in sleeves by team or player. I had a blue binder just for my Jazz cards and a red binder just for Michael Jordan. 

Sam and Kate gave me a white binder, with an Aggie blue note on the front. Inside were those nine-sleeve plastic sheets to put your valued basketball cards in. Rather, however, this binder and the sleeves held gift cards, for both practical and selfish purposes, along with $50 bills in slots.

Page after page after page. 

More importantly, though, they included your kind notes and thoughtful words on our behalf. Thank you. And that word: I’m humbled. Truly, those are the only phrases that work. 

I’m humbled by the generosity, knowing how difficult it can be to send money someone’s way. Whether you gave us $5, a $2.65 Chevron gas card, or more – we understand it’s a sacrifice and are in deep gratitude for your decision to help us financially. I’m also humbled by the kindness, knowing there are people praying and thinking about me and my family keeps us positive into each new challenge and day with our baby girl. I’m humbled to tell Navy of the family she’s been adopted into and how many people are cheering for her.

I was never an officer in high school until my senior year when I decided to run for SBO and made it. I’m humbled at how deep and impacting that decision was for me. It helped qualify for me the Ambassador scholarship and has also given me the position I hold at work that I love and cherish. I teach high school English and serve as our student government adviser. After coming back to work following Navy’s birth, I told my officers that doing student government in high school and college (being an Ambassador) prepared me to be the leader my family needs in this trial. Those opportunities taught me to think of other’s needs, spread goodness and positivity, and to work hard no matter the challenge. You guys, then and now, have shaped me to be better. We’ve heard a quote that you don’t know how strong you are until you have no choice but to be strong. Because of all of you and the experiences we had together, I had the strength in a reserve fund for these moments with my family. 

I only applied to USU coming out of high school and knew that was my school since I was 10, but I applied for the BadAssadorShip, hoping for some financial assistance and wanting to remain involved. I’m still humbled I was selected into this Ambassador family and am humbled to feel it’s effect so many years later. I don’t think it’s cliche to say that it changed my life, and I’m grateful you all were a part of that. 

If you read this far, know I love and appreciate you. Heather and I are without words for what a wonderful tender mercy and blessing lies within that white binder and in your friendship. Thank you. Go Aggies.