Hi Friends,
Paige has the incredible opportunity to become the one of the new faces of Giggles and Coo’s (a DeLand baby boutique).
Please take a moment and vote for Paige (she is number 18!!!!)!
Please visit Giggles and Coos Website

and vote for 18 in the baby girl section!

You are only allowed to vote one time per email address, per category.

Feel free to pass this along! Thanks for your support!

Payton had her first day of first grade a week ago. She started a day late and missed a day due to lovely Faye. She was very upset but quickly got over it. When I picked her up on her first day she got in the car and told me she had a best friend. I asked what her name is and she said she forgot. Monday when I picked her up she said she had computer class and went on the interstate (internet). Today she gave me a torn piece of paper towel with a phone number in a children’s writing and asked me to call it. She didn’t even remember the name. She’s loving it! For those of you that don’t know she is now at St. Barnabas. We found out in the end of July that Geneva Academy had closed. It was such a surprise and very sad. We pray that St. Barnabas is just was wonderful and great as Geneva was to us.

Payton turns 6 tomorrow. Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating her birthday at the ship at the hospital. It will be her first birthday without her brother – I wonder if she’ll think about that.

We were driving the other day and had to pick up some cups to take a sample of Paige’s poo. Payton asked if she was going to die. I asked why she thought that and she said because Parker had “D” and he died. Wow – so hard to explain – because that’s true. I said to her that Paige has had this for 8 months and if she had cancer we would have known by now (of course 2nd guessing myself). I asked if she thought a lot that Paige would die and she said yes. I told her not to worry about that and she said but then she would be without a brother and sister. I asked if she worried that she would die – again, yes. Then mommy and daddy would have to get married again – because that’s how you have more children – or you can adopt some….those were her comments….I never knew she was stressing about those things, but am so grateful that she is now talking about them.

We found out that an offer that we put in on a house – that we love – was accepted. We are supposed to close the week between Sept 12-19. Please keep this process in your prayers. Pray that every goes smoothly. Pray that our short sale that we had in Ft. Myers does not effect us. Pray for the paperwork to go through quickly. Please pray for the entire process.

Also, keep in your prayers our upcoming meeting for the planning of our 2nd annual Parker’s Pals Auction. I’m so excited that we are getting an early start. Pray that they right folks will attend and that we will get a lot accomplished.

Thank you to our far-away friend who sent us the book “Is God to Blame”. Sorry I haven’t personally contacted you – but your letter meant a lot to us. I was going to start reading it and couldn’t find it. Well, Aaron decided he was going to read it and hasn’t shared yet. Thank you so much for thinking of us and sharing the book.

Pray for our hearts tomorrow as we celebrate Payton’s special day.

…oh how I wish I was saying in 9 months we’re having a baby – hah!…but my heart breaks in saying it has been 9 months we’ve been without Parker. As I sat in church today I felt very emotional. The past did talk about those that may have gone before us (we were doing communion) and something else about death. Then there was a beautiful song that describe the death of Jesus – very descriptive…his last breath…which made me reflect on Parker’s last breath.

Aaron and I joined the church today (Stetson Baptist). As Jeff was introducing us he told the congregation that Payton was going into 1st grade and Paige was in the nursery…I kept waiting to hear Parker’s name – but what could be said? As we were shaking hands with other members one in particular came up, shared words with me and that’s when I lost it. It actually felt good to finally release the tears – especially with this particular person..then the next few folks that I hugged were also special to me. When I got in the car I got a text from my friend saying that she was praying for me and thinking of Parker today…that’s when I realized that today was the 17th (which explains why I’ve been on the brink of tears all day). It’s funny thought because I knew that yesterday was the 16th (it would have been my cousin’s 32nd birthday).

Another frustrating, hmmm…maybe that’s not the right word..crazy, maybe…all the talk of cancer. Folks locally, relatives, commercials, billboards, it’s everywhere! The most recent and touching one has been the story of the gymnast Oksana. Watching the Olympics they did a segment on her and I thought it was just because of her age 33..then it talked about her child. The story began to unfold about her son…who had leukemia. She was from Russia – but they didn’t have a bed for him so she called her friend (now her coach) in Germany who took them in. Aaron just knew he had cancer. My first reaction was that could be me (I’m a gymnast at heart..and 32). I should be there telling my story – of success with Parker making it through his treatment. Then I became unselfish and realized what a special thing for this lady. What an amazing opportunity and story…at the end we were cheering her on.

***Be sure to check out parkerspals.org and the Lemonade Stand Article. Your child can get a free stand and raise money for Parker’s Pals at the same time!