Arts Evangelica

This year Julia has joined a new dance studio-Arts Evangelica. It has been such a blessing to us. They are a ballet company that also teaches jazz and tap. The girls are taught to glorify God with their dance as an act of worship. Every year they put on a classical ballet that has been adapted to make it God-honoring. They also have a discipleship and mentoring program where older dancers are matched with the younger ones and they are also given opportunities to serve in the community.

We have loved every moment so far. All of her teachers are amazing women and such a great influence. Julia has loved ballet, tap, and jazz. They learn the traditional dance discipline as well as worship dance. She also loves that her friend, Hailey, is in some of her classes...

I love the monthly opportunities to observe their classes...

It is an inspiring place to be with beautiful artwork and scripture and praise music and uplifting words pouring from every room.

Julia in Ms. India's ballet class...

Pretending to be falling leaves...

One of the company members performing for the girls...

Thank you Arts Evangelica for giving Julia a place to grow artistically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Vinny's 9th Birthday!!

October 9th was a very special birthday. Our sweet friend Vinny was turning 9. This may seem like something ordinary, but Vinny is anything but ordinary.

In his 9 years he has had cleft lip and palate surgery, open-heart surgery, AND battled rhabdomyosarcoma (an incurable soft tissue cancer) for over half of his young life. He has been on hospice twice and had to be released from their service because God was not done with him yet. He has 3 documented miracles in his medical history that have brought so many to their knees before God. His cancer has relapsed 4 times and he has fought back with more surgeries, chemo, and radiation than any of us could ever imagine. He has reached the lifetime limit for many drugs and treatments. He has a national and international network of friends and supporters. He has inspired incredible acts of service and love in others and has lived his life as a true warrior.

In September, Vinny was admitted to the hospital yet again and took a turn for the worse. The doctors had exhausted their treatment options and sent him home on oxygen and palliative care, anticipating just weeks left at most. But God had another plan. On September 30th Vinny celebrated and hundreds came out to join him and thank God for his amazing life!

The weather could not have been more beautiful. After tremendous rains, the sun shone down in all its glory.

The kids dressed up in their favorite Star Wars gear...

The magician was a huge hit and kept the kids on the edge of their seats!

Big sister, Desi...

The same boy who doctors thought might not make it to the end of September spent over an hour jumping in the bounce house!!! He is truly a miracle and the toughest person I know! He and his girlfriend, Lola...

Julia and Leila (both Wilms' survivors from Brenners')- they are two peas in a pod!

Opening lots of fun surprises- LEGOs!! and money for his trip to Legoland the next week.

 

He was so sweet and gracious for everything he received. Such a good host!

We love you Vinny and are so blessed to celebrate this amazing day with you!! 

You are a little miracle and we thank God for your life!

As I type this, 2012 is coming to a close and Vinny is at home on hospice, surrounded by loved ones. It seems God may be calling him home soon and his perfect healing may be coming. Our hearts break at the thought of not having him here with us, but we are so proud of his tremendous fight and all the lives and hearts he has touched here are on earth. Please pray for our little hero and his family and friends. You can follow his caringbridge here and join his facebook group here. Thanks for your love!

Football Doubleheader

As expected, Carter is loving football season. He moved up to the next age group this year and is playing for the Chargers. Daddy is an assistant coach and both are enjoying the practices and games every week.Last weekend was a washout, so this Saturday was a doubleheader.

Carter doesn't really have a favorite position and loves playing both offense and defense. He was a flag-grabbing machine yesterday. He kept the pressure on Jaxson the entire half.

with tackle after tackle...

He had a few receptions come up just short, but finally connected with the QB...

and took it all the way in for a Touchdown!

In the end they lost the first game by one point and won the second. Great game Chargers! You guys all worked hard and gave great effort.

And Saturday night we enjoyed a great NC State football game on TV. Coach O'Brien has proved yet again that when you need a done right, overnight- call in the Marines. As a USNA graduate a retired Marine, he takes leadership and character very seriously. He brings in Navy Seals and Marines to speak to his players. Apparently the Marine last Friday night made a difference because NC State exhibited tremendous effort, strength under pressure, and teamwork to upset #3 Florida State. Go Pack!!!

CureSearch Walk 2012

This Saturday was our 2nd annual Triad CureSearch Walk. We are passionate about helping to find new, better, and safer treatments for childhood cancer. The only way this is going to happen is through targeted research and that takes funding.With CureSearch, 95% of the funds raised go directly to research. In FY 2012 they are giving $5.5 million dollars directly to research.

We were blessed with a gorgeous day at the park for the event. The kids had fun playing games...

and having their faces painted...

It was such a joy to paint sweet, little Anslee's face! She reminds me so much of Julia when she was in treatment.

Getting ready to kickoff the day...

So many family and friends here to support and honor their cancer warriors...

Dr. McLean is a passionate supported of CureSearch and all the amazing work they are doing for our kids and their support for Brenner's research (and all the other COG hospitals.

Julia always loves a chance to see him and give him a hug...

A moment of silence and song for all our many angels. There will always be too many, too many lives cut short, too many parents without their children, too many siblings alone, too much suffering. For each of them we carry on the battle in search of cures.

Each of the cancer warriors was recognized on stage and received their medal.

Little Joseph stole the show. He had a lot to say and charmed us all.

So proud of all of these kids and the battles they represent!

Then it was time to walk the two miles to honor, remember, and reflect.

Julia shocked us all. She has come so far. The first year she had just had surgery and didn't walk any of it. Last year she walked half of the course and this year she ran!!

We are so thankful for how far she has come. Such a gift! She did the entire course with her little friend Theresa whose brother Robbie recently died from his cancer at the age of 7. It was such a hard day for all of his friends and family. As they walked they talked about the kids they both know who have died. They talked about heaven and they tried to figure out why Julia gets a chance to live and still be here and Robbie had to go to heaven. As moms our hearts broke for both of them having to wrestle with such difficult issues. Our one wish is for a world where kids can just be kids and play with their siblings and friends without death always looming in their hearts and minds. We have to make a difference.

If you would like to help our team raise money for research, the donation link will remain open through the end of November. You can feel confident knowing that your money is making a difference in the lives of children right now. Children who have a very simple wish. They just want a chance at life and growing up. Click here for Team Julia.