You know you’re from Ada if your life has been touched by such an incredible, courageous and generous woman as Dr. Usha Fountain. I hope she wont be too angry with me for doing this publicly, but here goes: Several years ago, my brother was half a world away at college in Australia when he met a most wonderful woman and realized how much richer his life would be if only she would agree to become a permanent part of it. To do so meant leaving her family behind and relocating to the USA - and with a close-knit extended family such as hers, that was asking a lot. My life has taken me half-way across the country from my own family, but I’ve always been just a short flight or a full day’s drive away and still I’ve had my own difficulties with just that distance. I can’t imagine the courage required to take that leap, to make that commitment and to venture not just into a new family but into a completely new world so far from home. Not only has she blessed my brother with love, laughter and too much good food (!), she has blessed our family and our world with Nathan. Dr. Usha Fountain is an educator at ECU, helping to bring new generations of teachers and school counselors to our school systems. She and Pat have hosted both college and high-school exchange program participants in their home, and work to ensure that foreign students attending ECU get the most from every opportunity there. We’ve had the privilege of including students from Japan, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Ivory Coast, Panama and many other nations in our family gatherings – each expanding our knowledge of the world in ways that so few families ever get to experience. So today, Usha - in honor of your birthday and your recently celebrated wedding anniversary, I’d like to say that the gift you are to our family is immeasurable. You are one of the most courageous and incredible women I’ve ever known and I know that I speak on behalf of our entire family (and many in the community there) when I say that we are so glad that you chose to take the journey that has brought you to us, and how privileged we know that we are to have you in our lives.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 21:06:19 +0000
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