Monthly Archives: October 2013

Team Up for Gideon

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So basically my husband’s elementary school is better than any other school in the world. I’m serious. Ever since we found out about Gideon’s diagnosis, they have done one thing after another to help raise awareness and support for our little guy. First they had a Rangers Game Fundraiser (I’m still working on thank yous for that one) and now they are having a “Kiss the Pig” fundraiser.

Yes, I said Kiss the Pig. Let me explain.

One of Kevin’s co-workers, Mrs. Elms, came to us and said that Gideon’s story had touched her heart in a big way and she wanted to do something big in return for Gideon. She had an idea (and friend who owned a pig) and this is what she presented to the Abbett staff and the GISD Superintendent!! Basically every teacher (classroom and specials), office staff, and administration have a pink bucket. The kids bring their loose change and put it in the bucket of the staff member they want to see kiss this real-live pig. Pretty funny huh? Not sure if the teachers think so, but as it turns out, the kids LOVE the idea!

They loved it so much that many of the kids have come up to my husband to tell him that they are walking dogs or babysitting in order to raise money to put in their teacher’s bucket. One little boy is making bracelets and selling them for $0.15 so he can put that money in his teacher’s bucket.

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Doesn’t that just bless your heart????

The sweet teacher who organized this had t-shirts and buttons made to sell as well that say “Team Up for Gideon.” So in addition to the change the kids have brought and t-shirt/button sales, they have already raised a ridiculous amount of money. We won’t know the final total until this coming Monday afternoon at the assembly. From my understanding, one teacher from each grade level, one teacher from specials (crossing my fingers it’s my husband-he’s PE), and one administrator will be kissing this pig.

I CANNOT WAIT!!

This will probably be one of the funniest moments of 2013 for us. I hear my husband is in the lead, which is GREAT because he’s such a germ-a-phobe!!! We don’t even own a pet, that’s how germ-a-phobey he is. Don’t let the smile below fool you. When he got home he said, with a look of disgust, “When I was holding the pig for photos it was squirming all around and I was trying not to touch its teets!”

I was rolling!! And you can tell in the picture he’s trying to so hard not to touch the pigs “teets!” I can only image how long it took him to wash his hands (and the bend of his right arm, where the pigs butt is resting) after this photo was taken. I would venture to guess he scrubbed all the way up to his arm pits!!

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Good looking ham huh? The pig’s cute too. 🙂

But in all seriousness, my husband and I are often times moved to tears by the selfless actions of others. This school truly has “teamed up for Gideon.” But I think there is more going on than just helping out our little boy.

Mrs. Elms nailed it when she said “Gideon is bringing people together.” I think that is what happens in the wake of someone’s storm. We see communities come together all the time just because of what someone else is going through. Many of these kids and parents have never met our little boy, only his dad.

What we are going through as a family has impacted the lives of those around us. Many people have stepped forward to love a family they have never met or maybe only half met. Either way, it just goes to show you that tragedy at it’s core produces a love like no other.

Thank you Abbett Elementary for Teaming up for our sweet Gideon. You’ve done more than just bless us…you’ve taught hundreds of children what it means to unite for something bigger than themselves.

You’re teaching a generation to be selfless.

You’re teaching a generation to care about others.

You’re showing a generation what it means to love! And that’s something our world desperately needs demonstrated.

We are so thankful.

 

Catch

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So last night Laynie decided that she and Gideon needed to go visit their cousins, Addison & Dawson. While we were there Gideon decided to do more big boy stuff!

I hope you will watch this VIDEO of my little man holding himself up.

Pretty awesome, huh?!

Go ahead and watch it again…I’ll wait.

Now granted, he did not get into that position by himself, but just the fact that he could hold his weight like that (and his head) is HUGE!

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I love these shining moments and as cheesy as it may sound, I love how at the end of this video his daddy’s hands are right there to guide him to a safe landing. Isn’t that how we all are with our babies? We are right there to catch them quick if they fall (unless they’re sitting on the bed…lol).

There’s a story that comes to mind about catching our kiddos and my husband will probably kill me for telling it…but I’m going to tell it anyways. So for those of you who may not know, my husband cheered in college…and I don’t mean from the stands. He was a cheerleader and many people know it takes a lot of talent to throw/hold those girls in the air. But because of that, my husband is always bragging; saying things like “Did you see those hands???” when he catches something quick.

That being said, he was completely shocked and shaken when the day finally came where he missed…big.

One fall afternoon Laynie (she was about 2 at the time) was playing on this high platform at the playground. Kevin had stepped on the first step of the latter so he was just high enough to be eye-level with her feet.  She squatted down to kiss her daddy and to everyone’s surprise, she jumped!!… over Kevin’s head, and landed flat on her back. Now let me just clarify, Kevin did a back bend off that latter trying to catch her, which was an impressive attempt…but unfortunately, he missed.

This was totally out of character for her! She knew not to jump until daddy said “ready” but they weren’t even playing “catch me.” Of course that would be the day we walked to the park (with no stroller by the way…Laynie’s big girl idea). So the entire mile home Kevin carried her. I think he was in shock as much as she was. The only words he said to me on the way home were, “Daddy never misses.”

But unfortunately, they do. Mommy’s miss too. And you know what? That’s okay.

There’s only one Father who never misses. He holds us in the palm of his hand. In the video of Gideon holding himself up, you can see daddy’s hands are ready to catch him. But what’s interesting is that our Father’s hands don’t have to be ready, because we’re already in them. Is that as comforting to you as it is to me? Think about it. We never have to ask the Lord to be ready to catch us, because He’s already holding us.

We’ve already been caught.

I love seeing Gideon hold himself up. These brief moments of success totally make my day, and this one could not have come at a better time. It’s a reminder to me, that God’s not done with my little man yet. And I have a feeling there will be several more instances where Gideon is going to need us to be ready to catch him…when he crawls…when he walks. I can’t wait to be there for those moments.

In the meantime we’ll keep celebrating every ounce of progress- catching him all along the way.

Thanks for celebrating with us.

All of Me

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This photo of Gideon and his daddy reminded me of a song called All Of Me by Matt Hammitt. I highly recommend you take a second and listen to it.

But if you don’t have time, here are the lyrics-

Afraid to love, something that could break
Could I move on if you were torn away?
And I’m so close to what I can’t control
I can’t give you half my heart and pray He makes you whole

You’re gonna have all of me
You’re gonna have all of me
‘Cause you’re worth every falling tear
You’re worth facing any fear

You’re gonna know all my love
Even if it’s not enough
Enough to mend our broken hearts
But giving you all of me is where I’ll start

I won’t let sadness steal you from my arms
I won’t let pain keep you from my heart
I’ll trade the fear of all that I could lose
For every moment I’ll share with you

You’re gonna have all of me
You’re gonna have all of me
‘Cause you’re worth every falling tear
You’re worth facing any fear

You’re gonna know all my love
Even if it’s not enough
Enough to mend our broken hearts
But giving you all of me is where I’ll start

Heaven brought you to this moment, it’s too wonderful to speak
You’re worth all of me, you’re worth all of me
So let me recklessly love you even if I bleed
You’re worth all of me, you’re worth all of me

You’re gonna have all of me
You’re gonna have all of me
‘Cause you’re worth every falling tear
You’re worth facing any fear

You’re gonna know all my love
Even if it’s not enough
Enough to mend our broken hearts
But giving you all of me is where I’ll start

You’re gonna have all of me
‘Cause you’re worth every falling tear
You’re worth facing any fear

You’re gonna know all my love
Even if it’s not enough
Enough to mend our broken hearts
But giving you all of me is where I’ll start
Is where I’ll start

I promise there’s a good reason why I’m going to ask you to take 2 minutes and 53 seconds to watch the story behind why Matt Hammitt wrote this song.

Click HERE to watch it.

Pretty powerful, huh? I love this story because I think it accurately reflects how we all feel when we know our hearts will inevitably be broken. If we keep the walls up, then maybe the pain won’t hurt so bad. But like Matt said, it’s hard to build a wall between you and one you love…especially a baby.

His story reminds me of a quote from a book I read by Nancy Guthrie called Holding Onto Hope. She spoke about how she had given a piece of her heart to Hope and when Hope died, she took it with her. When we lose a loved one, we are like an amputee; we have to learn how to function all over again- because a part of us is gone.

Every time I hear this song I cry. Not just because it was written for me and Gideon (seriously though…it could have been); but also because sometimes I imagine Jesus sings it to me-  You’re gonna have all of me. You’re gonna have all of me. Cause you’re worth every fallen tear. You’re worth facing any fear. You’re gonna know all my love…So let me recklessly love you, even if I bleed. You’re worth all of me. You’re worth all of me.  

Have you ever thought about it that way? He did bleed for us!! For me…for you!! He showed us how to love because he did give all of Himself. He knew his heart would be broken, and yet, he still chose to love us anyways.

So that begs the question…

How can I do anything less for my Gideon?

 

My sweet boy, you will have all of me.