Just wanted to post again about our exciting opportunity coming up!  The Duke Children's Classic, a fundraiser for the children's hospital, is this week-end. Rebecca and I have both been asked to participate.

There will be a golf tournement, "Putting with the Stars", over the week-end.  I'm not sure if we'll try to go by this or not.  On Saturday, there will also be a luncheon for the wives and friends of the golfers.  We've been invited to attend this.  There will be "boutique" shops and a speaker as well as a lunch.  I'm not the main speaker, though I am speaking (briefly). I've been asked to share our story.   (At times I wonder how you can be brief about something that consumed your life for months.  I will though!)

I've thought through some of what I want to share - and couldn't get through it without tearing up. I was kind of surprised at the emotion just recalling the first half of Eliana's life. I don't think that is all bad though, getting emotional.  It was a very hard time.  I need to spend more time thinking and praying about what I want to share. At this point, I'm planning on sharing some of what I did in one of my blog entries called "I Didn't Know". (Can find it if anyone wants to read it - I think it was in Dec.) I don't have a lot of time, but want to share something that helps people understand and appreciate what it is like to have a child with life-threatening medical needs.  I think sometimes it helps to put a face with difficulties.  I hope that it will help people to understand or appreciate. 

Just today I was reading a forward in a book about a little girl with DS and a heart condition. She also had surgery, but it did not go as well as it did for Eliana. It made me again thankful that there were no complications for her. It also made me pray for this family for whom the outcome was so very different.  It was 20 years ago, but it does still happen today.  It reminded me too of how very frightening it was to have this looming over us for months.  I also was thankful for the Mom that used this difficulty in her life to make things better - not only for her daughter - but for others following behind her.  I want to do this too.  I want to be an encouragment. 

The other part of this is that Rebecca and Eliana will be going with me.  Rebecca was asked to make a bracelet for EACH woman in attendance - 125 of them!  She has been working soooo hard for the last month and a half! Hours and hours of time beading.  She will also have a shop there to sell bracelets (and a few necklaces).  She is hoping to raise another $5000 this year to donate. I'm not sure where she is right now, but hopefully we can update soon.

We would love your prayers. Prayers for whatever it is that God wants me to share. I'm sure He has words for me - and I do want to glorify Him. Prayers for our time there and the people that we will be talking with.

We are both very excited about going. We are thrilled to have been asked to participate.  I've enjoyed the opportunities we have had thus far and hope that there will be more in the future.  Rebecca even has a new dress. I wish I had thought ahead to look for one too. 

Thanks for sharing in our excitement!

Love,

Leslie