Peonies for our favorite nurse

Hello Loved One!

First and foremost I hope that you are doing well and are weathering this pandemic with a calmness, a hopefulness, and maybe even a thankfulness for a slower pace of life and more quiet time with yourself or family.  My day to day agenda has not changed much, still at home with the babies pretty much 24/7 as I have been for the last three and a half years (wouldn't have it any other way:)! Ryan has been home more though and for that I am very thankful!  I am fully aware that I am one of the lucky ones and that this time has not been so forgiving to many.  It's hard for me to even fathom the hardship so many people are facing financially, mentally, and physically.  It's made me feel very small and helpless.  I have been doing my part by staying home but it doesn't seem like quite enough.  I am so grateful for ALL who have continued to work during this time and expose themselves more than most to this harmful virus.  With that being said I feel both fortunate and unfortunate to have my brother Brett fighting on the front lines as an ICU nurse and Covid19 nurse at UNMH.  He has been working full time and in contact with the virus nearly everyday, with minimal protective equipment, since the virus hit New Mexico.  The stories he tells are heartbreaking and unbelievable and have made this thing so much more personal and real.  It's been hard for me to have conversations with him that end with me saying something like "well, hang in there.  stay strong.  be safe.  you're amazing.  you're doing so much for so many people."  I've just been feeling like words havnt been enough.  The other day he told me that he had received a citation for having too many weeds in his front yard! Can you believe that shit?! Makes me sick!  But on a more inspiring note, upon hearing this news, Brett's mail lady began to pull his weeds whenever she had extra time as a "thank you" for all his efforts at the hospital.  Despite what I think pretty much all the time, there are still decent people in the world and random acts of kindness still happen! 

This sparked an idea for how to thank Brett for having the moral fiber to do what he does during this time and all times as a nurse, as a friend, as a son, as a brother.  I'd like to continue the clean up of his front yard and go a step beyond that and have his yard landscaped complete with peony garden :).  Ever since Brett lived in Vienna, his favorite flower has been the Peony and interestingly enough the peony is a symbol of "good fortune".  

This is a special project to me that I hope will not only take a lot of stress off his back but may also give him a sanctuary where he can just sit and feel peace and appreciation.  

ANY contribution will be greatly appreciated! 

With gratitude and all the love,

Amanda Marshall