It Was a WILD Day

During Fall break I spent most of my time preparing for the dinner and auction.  But it was Fall break after all, so there was mandatory zoo trip on the agenda.  I absolutely adore the Memphis Zoo.  It has been ranked as a nationally acclaimed zoo for many years and I promise it does not fail to meet expectations.  I could honestly go to the zoo once a week.  My kiddos love it, too.

When Erik and I were in college we would often go on the free school day.  The nerd in me was wildly impressed and madly in love with the biology genius who knew every detail about every animal.  I would listen intently as he told me about the Meerkats and random reptiles in the the Herpetarium.  Oh the days!

Now I just enjoy watching the excitement and smiles on my children's faces as we approach the elephants and giraffes.  The seal and sea lion show is always a hit and we can never get enough of the monkeys.  I think these zoo trips are the memories that I will have forever.  To me it seems like a simple way to spend the day but to my children it is a world of adventure and intrigue.  Our day in pictures......

Thankful

Even if the Christmas music is playing in the background, the spirit of Thanksgiving has not been lost on me.  On my Instagram account I have been chronicling my daily thankfulness.  The only problem I am having is choosing one thing a day.  Let me tell you, when you've been through the fire it isn't hard to identify this things that make you happy.

While Lucy was sick, a nice gentleman from our town made this tree for me.  It came with a great story of thankfulness.  I figured this Thanksgiving was a great time to incorporate the tree into our family traditions.  We don't get to sit down every night for dinner (thanks to 5 busy schedules) but when we do we are going to list the things for which we are thankful.  

I love that Jack is thankful for the letter J.  He gets to take his Jeep to school tomorrow for Show and Share.

Sometimes it is just the little things that make us happy.  It could be a friend's smile, the touch of the man (or woman) you love or maybe it's just watching the red and yellow leaves fall across the yard.  Those are the things that mean the most to me.  Those are the things that bring me the most happiness.  These simple pleasures might have slipped past me before but today I am thankful.  Very, very thankful.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!  Psalm 107:1

Boo!

It's hard to believe that another Halloween has come and gone.  This one will go down as the busiest by far.  No matter what, it sure beats the previous 2 years.  This week last year was the last in-patient hospital stay Lucy has had.  Wow!  Two years of our life came to halt one year ago.  Praise God!

Although this year was filled with busy schedules, we still managed to conquer the mandatory Halloween check list; carving pumpkins, picking out costumes, class parties and trick or treating.  It was a week full of celebrating!

2 years ago I had to push Lucy in a stroller around the neighborhood.  Last year she was the cutest octopus in the hospital.  This year, she was just Lucy.  "Running" around with the other kids loving life.  It's pretty hard to complain when you have this kind of perspective.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Are you Weary?

Tonight I did homework with my children, cooked dinner, cleaned the kitchen and sang my baby boy to sleep.  It may not seem like much but It's been almost 2 weeks since I've done that and I have missed it so much.

While the Auction and Dinner was worth every amount of sacrifice, I am glad it is over.  The day after the auction, our school's Headmaster had to unexpectedly resign due to health problems (please keep him in your prayers.)  As a school board member, I've been doing some extra duties around the school to help out.  We've had lots of meetings and its taken me away from home.

I am thankful for what I have termed "body amnesia."  (Is there an official term for this?)  I think God has programmed our bodies with a certain form of amnesia that allows us to be pushed to extreme limits and then forget about how hard it was.  Like childbirth, for example.  If we remembered how hard it was would we really ever have a second child?  Or caring for a new born?  If we remembered how utterly exhausted we were during that time we would ever be willing to do it again.  Stop now and think honestly about your memories of those time.  I bet you can't remember just how bad it was, can you?

I can tell you that I honestly don't remember many details about the first month of Lucy's time in the hospital after her diagnosis.  I was going on multiple days without sleep and it was only by the grace of God that I even put one foot in front of the other.  And while I know I was tired, I don't remember it.  That's how I feel right now about the Dinner and Auction.  I am thankful tonight for my body's amnesia so that I can plan the next one!

This past week was hard with the resignation and then us, as a board, trying to find an Interim.  I know I am opening myself up for criticism.  Well, let me just save some of you the trouble.  "Why would you ever think about agreeing to serve on a school board  when you have so many obligations at home that you constantly talk about."  I won't deny that that is a good question.  The answer, however, is a little complicated.

You see, when we decided to move to our town, we knew that Christian education was something we wanted for our children.  I love the public schools here in town.  They are the schools I attended growing up.  They are the schools where my best friends teach.  Our schools are filled with amazing students and administrators.  Our High School has been wining awards left and right as one of the best in Tennessee.  However, what Erik and I wanted was a Christ centered education, so that is the decision we have made.  It hasn't always been the most popular with others, but it's whats best for our family.

Our school started as a tiny vision of a few people and it has grown by leaps and bounds.  I am so excited about its future and its potential is off the charts.  The only problem is that it takes the work of a lot of volunteers to make it happen.  Erik and I give a lot of time and energy to ensure that the school is a success.  But recently, the school has become so much more to us.  While I know that God will always provide for our needs, right now TCA is the school we NEED, not just want, for Lucy.

With TCA having small class sizes and academic achievement worthy of high accolades, Lucy is thriving.  She is able to get the one on one attention that she needs on a daily basis.  I'm not saying that Jack and Ella aren't important or a part of the equation, I am just acknowledging that when you have a child with special learning needs those priorities often have to be considered fore most.  Lucy has surpassed so many expectations and continues to surprise us on a daily basis.  So, we put a lot of time into the school because it is so important to and for our family.

(No, its not what you think it is.  There are no surprises coming our way)

I continue to be amazed at what God can and will do when we ask Him.  I am amazed how he has worked in our family's life, in the life of our school and in the life of Lucy.  Every day I am reminded that there really is a master plan for us all.  Don't believe that?  Well, that's unfortunate.  I could not imagine walking around every day with no greater purpose in my life.  I think that would be a lonely road to travel.   I find so much comfort in knowing that there is a greater being who holds the keys to my future.  I sang this to Jack tonight, and I find myself humming it throughout the day..." I sing because I'm happy.  I sing because I'm free.  His eye is on the Sparrow.  So I know He watches me."

I will sleep tonight, laying my burdens at His feet because I know he cares.  He is ready to carry them and can certainly handle them better than I ever could.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

It's Been a While

Well Hello! Let me reintroduce myself.  I'm Kate.

The past 2 weeks have been nothing but a blur.  A fun-filled, action packed, sleepless blur.  Our Go Lucy Go Dinner and Auction event was bigger and better than I could have ever imagined.  It far surpassed my expectations.  I am happy to report that we reached our goal of raising $50,000 for the Neuroscience Institute, although I am still waiting on a final number.  We have a few outstanding invoices that I am expecting Monday.  A blog post of thank-yous will follow this week.

I honestly feel as if I have been walking around in a haze this week.  The culmination of a wonderful night has left me honored and very humbled.  Thank you all for supporting our family, LeBonheur Hospital and more importantly, I think you for loving my daughter.  I often still wonder what this was all for.  Cancer, that is.  But on nights like Tuesday, when 250 people were gathered for a common goal, all because of one little girl I am reminded.  Through the suffering of one little girl we are brought together for one unified cause.

Be it a tiny difference, we...YOU....are making a difference.  You may never know what child or family your donation will affect or what life you may change by your contribution of time, but just know; know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it DOES make a difference.

 Tom and Karen, a reporter and photographer from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, put together an amazing story about Lucy.  It ran today in the paper and actually was placed on the front page.  Imagine my surprise to see the story with such prominent placement.  What I loved about today's story is that Tom didn't try to change my words.  He didn't try to play down my words.  He allowed me to tell our family's story with all mentions of Christ in a way that makes me forever grateful.  Thank you, Tom, for allowing me to speak from my heart.  Thank you for capturing a part of our life that changed our family forever.  You can read the story HERE.

 http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/oct/27/girls-struggle-with-cancer-captures-global-for/

(All photos courtesy of Good Golly Photography.  If you attended the even you will be able to access these by next week and purchase them.  I will send out specific instructions.  Thank you Molly!!!!)