More from Her Baptism...

Photographer: Kara Block

Car Wash & Bake Sale THIS SATURDAY

 This Saturday, August 17th, Team Violet will be washing cars and having a bake sale. You can help by washing cars, letting US wash your car, or passing along this post. The details are listed below:

Where: El Rancho Market
              2886 Mission Dr
             Solvang
Date:    Saturday, Aug 17th
Time:   10:00am-4:00pm

HUGE thanks to Melissa for organizing this fundraiser for Violet and her family!

August 14th Update

Violet's quote of the day...
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

She is having a good morning. Some tummy troubles from Chemo, hasn't wanted to eat much. But still smiling and dancing. Huge hugs, Gillian

August 13th Update

From this morning...

Violet went to sleep to have her lumbar chemo and cath placed. She is such a trooper, mad that she hasn't been able to eat, but still giggling until she fell asleep. Back at the hospital. 

Catch Up: August 8th Update

Got the news today that Violet's counts all look really good! It is bitter sweet since that also means that we will need to return to the Hospital (Monday or Tuesday) for another procedure and intense Chemo. We are choosing to make the best of this weekend, celebrating her big sisters birthday and enjoying life as much as possible. I don't know why this happened to Violet, only that it has made us appreciate the little things, cherish the big ones, and love even harder.
-Gillian

Yum!

Ten things I know to be true (now that I have a child with cancer)...

1.) People are inherently (:involved in the constitution or essential character of something : belonging by nature or habit : intrinsic <risks inherent in the venture>— in·her·ent·ly adverb) GOOD. We are humans with different points of views, morals, beliefs, ideas, but are more alike than different.
2.) Nothing that you thought was a big deal actually was. Like the book says... Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small. Sure there will be a few big things but 99% will actually be the small stuff. Don't worry about it, it's actually not important.
3.) Life is really not as hard as you think it is! See #2. Hard is not your kids doing normal kid stuff, your phone falling in the ocean or toilet, working long hours, etc.
4.) Don't waste your time complaining...
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."-Maya Angelou
5.) Spend way MORE time telling people what is good, great, or amazing about them. Let human flaws go.
6.) Focus on the good, you will be a better person.
7.) Be GRATEFUL, not entitled!
8.) Laugh! A lot. Often. Hard. 99% more than you cry.
9.) Cherish your children. Enjoy them. Build them up. Hug them.
10.) Pray, play, and eat as a family at least once a day.

-Gillian