Rainbows in the Storm

Lately I have been on a quest to create joy and normalcy in our chaotic lives. It is not easy to maintain a sense of normalcy when you have a kid with cancer. Life revolves around doctor appointments, sick days, well days, grumpy days, bad immunity numbers...You have to just go with the flow. I want to be happy, or at least I want to try. I started running and that helped a lot. I started sewing and that helped even more. I threw myself into the garden and creating an Outdoor School for the girls for this summer and that helped a little more. Sometimes when you cannot change the cards you are dealt you just need to reshuffle them and create a new order. So far our new order is making a happier Mommy and energetic kids.

This weekend Emma's auction wrapped up. I went into it hoping to do as well as Arielle and I did last year but honestly my expectations were low. I fully anticipated a flop. Not because we were not prepared, not because we did not have an awesome admin team...just because lately that seems to be the theme. Flop. Well it didn't! In the middle of our storm rainbows appeared everywhere. When the sun refused to shine dozens of women rushed to bring their own sun to us and the result was rainbows, so many rainbows.

Although the amazing amount of money we raised cannot buy Emma's way out of her cancer or chemo treatments it can pay for gas, food, living expense increases, babysitting so Mommy can catch a break, busy work for long car rides / hospital days and peace of mind for Mommy and Daddy that if a bill falls through the large insurance coverage cracks we have the funds to cover it. To give you an idea, last year we raised $1k and that was seriously impressive considering Arielle did almost the entire thing by herself! (she is a rock star). This year we did much better! What an immense blessing! When I told Emma that we had all this help now our little giver asked if we could get a present for her friend. What a pure heart! The answer was, "Yes! Of course we can!" What is the present? In three months from now we will run a similar auction for another warrior who needs help. So stay tuned for round two and if you know a child fighting a chronic illness in need of financial help let us know!

To the admin ladies, I cannot thank you enough for your time and energy in this auction. It would not have been possible to run this solely on the brain power I have left! It means so much to us that you took time to brainstorm, work the page, contact donors, organize addresses and so much more. We love you!

To all the donors, our hearts are full of the love you shared by you offering your handmade goods and treasures. We are so greateful for your giving hearts!

To the bidders, this helps us more than you may ever know. A part of the financial burden is lifted and for the first time in a long time I feel like I can breathe!