Tracy Lawrence Concert and Pasadena Rodeo

Y'all know we don't often go to public events because of Mike's PTSD.  When we do go, we avoid the crowds, and the Pasadena Rodeo and Tracy Lawrence concert were no exception.  

Even though we stuck to the edge of the crowd we had a great time.

For the concert, we stayed in the stands while everyone else went down to the rodeo floor.  I'm OK with this because I know how hard it is for Mike to even go to something with this many people.  

See all the empty stands, we're on the opposite side and it was just as empty.  It was a great concert and the meet and greet was AWESOME!  But, I wish I could have danced on the floor with Mike.  We dance well together, but there were just too many people down there for his comfort.  

One of my goals (after we get his PTSD service dog) is to take James to a theme park...even if it's Six Flags, I would just love for him to have an enjoyable day.  Right now, we don't even think about all that because of the anxiety that Mike feels even thinking about going to a crowded place.  My goal is to get plans finalized before the end of the year for a Service dog for Mike, but we can't do that without help.  Please, forward my blog to friends, post it on twitter, Facebook, any social media will help get the word out.  Mike is one Veteran that would benefit greatly from a Service Dog.  We're getting desperate here! LOL

DisneyLand is going to have to wait...

DH (Mike) and I decided earlier this year to save for DisneyLand for Monster.  Now, it's going to have to wait.  We've been put in touch with a company that provides PTSD service dogs and we're trying to get one for Mike.  We talked to his doctor today about it and his doctor thinks it's a great idea because Mike's PTSD is so bad.  Sooooo, the little bit that we had saved for DisneyLand is now in a fund for Mike's Service Dog, and we're trying to raise the money for just the down payment.  The total cost of the dog is estimated at $30K (no exact figure yet until we sign the contract with the down payment.)  So, I've set up a gofundme.com page.  And, we're going to try to raise the money for his dog.  In the coming days, I will also be posting my purses online to sell.  Anyone that knows me knows that my purse collection means a lot to me, and I will be selling all but a couple of them...like the one that has my name on it.  All of this money will go towards the fund for his dog.  

We can save next year to go to DisneyLand with Monster, and since he will be 5 instead of 4, it may be better.  Not to mention, I think DH was procrastinating on DisneyLand because of the crowds, and with a service dog, there's still the anxiety, but it might be less, and I know he was willing to face all that anxiety for Monster...DH would walk through fire for his son and so would I.  I've always believed that everything happens for a reason, and we just don't know those reasons.  We're given the trials that we have because God knows we can handle them, not because we think we can handle them. 

DH has also agreed that anyone that donates at least $10 can get a photo signed by both of us of either him and his new dog, or us as a family.