Relay for Life 2011

This past Friday our area celebrated Relay for Life. Relay for Life is usually scheduled for the first weekend in May, but due to the rising floodwaters in our area we had to postpone it until the river dropped. Josh's work always picks really cute themes for their booth for Relay for Life and this year was no exception. If you follow the show Swamp People, then you'll recognize the following saying...

What is this world coming to? Haha!

Even though we didn't get to Relay until 6:30 it was still incredibly hot! If someone had set up a snowball stand out there, they would have made some serious money. We tried our best to stay cool and enjoy ourselves despite the heat. Relay for Life is such a wonderful event that helps the American Cancer Society and I'm so happy that we get the chance to participate every year. It seems that everyone knows someone who has had cancer or is battling cancer at the moment. Through this event we're able to raise money for the American Cancer Society to help them find a cure for cancer. What a blessed day that is going to be!!

All the booths sell something the night of the relay to help raise additional money for their team. Josh's work was no exception. They sold t-shirts (believe it or not Swamp People is HUGE in our area) and other paraphernalia. They also had a game where you could toss the rings on the alligators nose. Eli and Josh tried their hand at that game for a few minutes, but Eli preferred to just walk around with the rings rather than place them on the alligator's nose. 

They also had a photo area set up where you could put an alligator hat on and take a picture. We all had to do that one!

Eli saw Mr. Cliff, Josh's boss, after we took our pictures and had to give him a big high five. Mr. Cliff is one of the best men I've ever met. He is such an example of Christ in his daily life, and I'm so thankful that Josh is able to work for a man like him. Mr. Cliff is incredibly kind, humble, and always puts others before himself. He's been battling cancer since around the time that Eli was born and we're still continuing to pray for him. He's such a trooper! Eli and I always make sure we visit Mr. Cliff when we go visit Daddy at work. 

The first lap at our event was for the survivors and I always get so emotional watching all these men, women, and children walking around the track. I don't understand why cancer has to happen to so many people, but I do know that God is there with them every step of the way helping them overcome so many challenges they face as they battle this disease. 

Next up was the team lap. Eli and I missed that one because a certain little someone happened to remember a big bouncy slide he saw on our way in and was dying to go play on it. I did make sure to take a picture of Ms. Ouida all dressed up in her alligator hunting gear though :)

While Josh stayed with his work people for the team lap, Eli and I headed back to the bouncy slide. It was only $5 for the entire night so we couldn't pass up a deal like that, especially when all proceeds were going to such a great cause. Eli was the smallest one of the slide, but he had the best time. I really didn't think he'd be able to climb those steps all by himself, but he proved me wrong!

The bigger kids on there were incredibly sweet to Eli. He always had more than one buddy who would help him climb up the steps and then make sure he was settled before he slid. I was thankful for their help! I wouldn't have minded having to go in there with him, but I was happy that I was able to sit on the sidelines, take pictures, and watch my little boy have the time of his life.

There were a couple of times when he didn't slide quite as gracefully as the pictures above show, but even after those tumbles, he got right back up and went back for more. The only thing he stopped for was water. We stayed at the slide for a long time and then went back to find Daddy and walk one lap with him. Isn't our venue beautiful? It just doesn't get any better than the sun setting behind the Mississippi River. What a beautiful sight!

Eli and I went back to the slide two more times that night and each time he got braver and braver. As you will see in the videos below he has no fear at all-this will be a good thing or a bad thing one day, I just can't tell right now :) It was such a great night honoring the loved ones who have battled or who are battling cancer. I'm so proud to be a part of such a caring community!