Family, Faith and Friendship - I had a weekend of all three. Lucky me!

I had the good fortune of spending three days with Scully. If you’ve read my book, you know her. She sat with me in the snow on the night of the accident. She sat next to me in my hospital room and as I recovered both in South Bend and in San Diego. She later stood next to me at both of our weddings - and then again next to me as I became Godmother to her first daughter. You could put her in all three catagories in my life: family, faith and friendship.

This weekend, I was blessed to meet some of those who are important in her life: Friends who are like family. Friends from the Peace Corps, and one friend - a swimmer - from her childhood. A friend who is like a sister to her. We spent many hours together, sharing our lives - past and present - and sharing with her friends the story that we share: the story of the accident and our recoveries.

I also spoke at the U.S. Swim School Association spring workshop. These dedicated members devote their lives to teaching children to swim - to saving lives on a daily basis. Drowning prevention is essential; and teaching our children to be water safe is our duty as parents. The Swim School Association performs miracles daily - and gives their students (and their families) a true gift. To find a swim school near you, please visit: www.usswimschools.org

To continue with the blessings of family, faith and friendship, on Friday, my sister gave birth to her second child - a boy, named after our grandfather. Again, another example of family and faith in miracles surround our lives. Children are the ultimate blessings. I was fortunate to be able to visit her, and I know with in the next 12 months, she will have my little nephew in the pool, teaching him to swim and to be safe in the water. Perhaps at a swim school.