Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer Days and Giving Back

Well, we have kicked summer off in our house in a new way. We are all healthy and hospital free. I have found a new enjoyment of working in the yard and I am even trying my hand at a small veggie garden. ViviAnne and Cooper are getting to the ages that they can be outside with me and be trusted to not dart into the street or wander off and they love looking at the tomato and pepper plants too!! Now that I've explained to ViviAnne to not pick the pretty yellow flowers off of the tomato plants. :) So between the yard work, the thunder storms and the pool we are having a pretty uneventful summer so far. I'd say the kids are border line bored. But I'm loving it!!! Oh yeah! We are doing play dates too!!! This is a new ground breaking thing for us! Play dates that we can keep AND best of all I do not have anxiety attacks about them!!! BONUS!

ViviAnne has been the honored Girl of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society for a fundraising campaign they do each year. She was on a local television news show and said "Thank you" into the microphone in front of about 200 people at the final event. She is learning to speak to adults at these functions and behave appropriately. Honestly, she does a wonderful job with all the attention at those kind of things. It takes about 30 minutes to get warmed up to the idea of lots of adults talking to her and wanting her picture taken with them but once she gets used to it she is all smiles and high fives and giggles. She really does great! We are trying to teach her that now is our time to give back! To show our love and support to other Cancer Fighters out in the world like people did for us. To teach her that it is not all about her any more. (I'll admit, the later is harder to teach.) But parenting is a marathon, this is something I have to remind myself. She may "get it" one moment and then not the next. Of course, adults are that way too.

OH, she also is getting involved in the American Girl Doll fundraising for Kosair Hospital. It is a group of women and girls who do things all American Girl Doll themed and raise money for the hospital. She went to a day at a horse farm to ride ponies and learn how to groom them and even painted one all while being in the theme of the American Girl Doll, Felecity. She loved it! We will do another event this fall. The money will go to build pods for the NICU at Kosairs. Trying to make the families feel more private while they struggle with their new babies who are struggling.

So, the giving love side of this cancer journey is exciting. I feel a great sense of responsibility to give it all back/pay it all forward! To say thank you to everyone who prays, gave money, sent food and/or cards or just read the blog to check on us. Banding together is what it takes. And many times families don't get that. They either don't live near family or for one reason or another it just doesn't happen. That is another part of LLS and Kosair that many people don't realize. They help the families who are need of help when no one else can. I'm seeing and hearing more and more how the donation dollars make a difference. And I'm finding the deeper understanding of how blessed we really have been. I've known it but now that the clouds are lifting I'm understanding it on a deeper level.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summers!!

Matthew: 25: 34-36, 40
34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' '. . . . 40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.'

3 comments:

Kim said...

So proud of all of you!! You really are paying it back and with such style!! Thankful for a happy and fun summer for everyone!!

Grandma (Kim)

Darren Demers said...

ViviAnne has been the honored Girl of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society for a fundraising campaign they do each year. She was on a local television news show and said "Thank you" into the microphone in front of about 200 people at the final event. She is learning to speak to adults at these functions and behave appropriately. scarf suppliers , ladies wraps and shawls , wholesale shawl suppliers , velvet shawl , new york wholesale , elegant shawl , kashmiri shawls wholesalers , red shawl Honestly, she does a wonderful job with all the attention at those kind of things. It takes about 30 minutes to get warmed up to the idea of lots of adults talking to her and wanting her picture taken with them but once she gets used to it she is all smiles and high fives and giggles. She really does great! We are trying to teach her that now is our time to give back! To show our love and support to other Cancer Fighters out in the world like people did for us. To teach her that it is not all about her any more. (I'll admit, the later is harder to teach.) But parenting is a marathon, this is something I have to remind myself. She may "get it" one moment and then not the next. Of course, adults are that way too.

Darren Demers said...

ViviAnne has been the honored Girl of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society for a fundraising campaign they do each year. She was on a local television news show and said "Thank you" into the microphone in front of about 200 people at the final event. She is learning to speak to adults at these functions and behave appropriately. Honestly, she does a wonderful job with all the attention at those kind of things. lawn cotton suits , pakistani lawn suits for sale , pakistani lawn suits online shopping , lawn suits online , pakistani lawn suits price , pakistani lawn dress , pakistani cotton suits , designer lawn suits online , pakistani lawn suits wholesale , lawn suits sale It takes about 30 minutes to get warmed up to the idea of lots of adults talking to her and wanting her picture taken with them but once she gets used to it she is all smiles and high fives and giggles. She really does great! We are trying to teach her that now is our time to give back! To show our love and support to other Cancer Fighters out in the world like people did for us. To teach her that it is not all about her any more. (I'll admit, the later is harder to teach.) But parenting is a marathon, this is something I have to remind myself. She may "get it" one moment and then not the next. Of course, adults are that way too.