Relay for Life Wrap-Up

Thank you so much for your support as I participated in the West Shelby County Relay for Life. It was an amazing event, filled with emotion. I walked in honor of my Mom, who has been cancer free for several years now, and in memory of a precious little girl, Cassidy, who our church family just lost in March. A story was done on the Schuttingas, and in the photo with it, you'll see me holding Elijah in the middle of the background behind the Schuttingas.

If you've never joined a Walk for Life, I highly recommend it. It was a beautiful occasion to focus on life, and how valuable it it - worth fighting for. Your financial support was so helpful, and I exceeded my goal of personally raising $200. More than 300 walkers participated in the event. A total of 34 teams raised over $60,000. Our Shelby Crossings team raised the most money at this Relay also! I appreciate your gift so very much.

http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/news/2009/may/14/family-walks-memory-daughter-sister/

Relay for Life

I was so excited to be able to participate in a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society this weekend. Our church had a team who did the Relay for Life, and numerous other friends came out to support us. Our Shelby Crossings team raised the most of all teams there, and because some great guys spent the night and walked while the rest of us were home with our kiddos, we also were recognized with the most folks still on the track at 5 a.m.! I walked in honor of my Mom, who has been cancer free now for a couple of years, and in memory of precious Cassidy. She was the youngest ever survivor in past years at this same walk, and it was very sad to be there without her last night. She has inspired and motivated so many through her short 4 years on earth. A song sung at her memorial service that summed up her life was "This Little Light of Mine." The children participating with our group all received shirts with this on it. It was amazingly touching, and I'm so thankful I was able to do a little raise funds for research for this awful disease. Seeing the children especially, just enjoy life last night, was a great reminder to live every moment we have. Thank you to all you who supported me financially, and prayed for this event! (You can click on the collage to see the photos better. The kids all have their Cassi shirts on).

Cassidy

Our precious church and faith family lost a sweet princess today. Please pray for the Schuttinga family - Scott, Karen, and 5 year old Caleb. Their daughter and sister, Cassidy, has fought cancer since her diagnosis at 11 weeks old. She was finally relieved of her struggle this morning just after 1 a.m.



While we grieve and are at a loss to grasp how a family survives pain of this sort, we are comforted to know her family trusts Jesus to carry them through. They have been such a remarkable example of faith throughout her four years on earth, and it is an honor to have shared moments with their amazing daughter.


Just a few weeks ago, we joined together to celebrate her birthday and life. It was more like a pink and purple princess/superhero festival in nature, with volunteers and folks giving to make the event more fun than any birthday ever. With clowns, face-painting, crafts, music, a princess throne, photographers, cotton candy, inflatables, and tons of folks, we thanked God for the gift of Cassi's life and celebrated big time. I'm so grateful to have been able to witness the joy of her darling face. As great as that was, I can't imagine the party going on in heaven today, as she rejoices over a new, perfect body, with no pain, no medicine, no headaches, no feeling "gucky," no weeks in the hospital or confinement....Praise God for the comfort that does give us who will miss her smile so much.



Please lift her family in prayer as they adjust to life without her, and especially for Caleb, who is so young to have lost his sister and best playmate.

Please pray for Cassi

Please pray for the Schuttinga family. Cassidy and her family are dear friends of ours at church. Cassi will be 4 years old this month, and she has fought with cancer almost constantly, since she was diagnosed at 11 weeks old. This darling little girl is brave and full of life, even as she battles daily. Please pray for their continued peace and patience, since barring a miracle, they are preparing for this final stage of the journey. You can read Cassi's story here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cassidy