Relay for Life 2012

Friday, May 4th, our area held its annual Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society. This is a huge event in our area, and everyone in the community comes out to show their support for this incredible cause.

Josh's bank always has a great theme and this year it was a medieval theme. Their motto was "Protect the Kingdom from Cancer." They made their booth look like a medieval castle and even had some of their employees dress up in medieval clothes.

While we were waiting for the event to get started, Eli and I headed over to where the Deputy Sherriffs were to look at their horses. We were just going to look at the horses, but one of the Deptuty Sherriffs saw us near the pen and offered to let Eli inside for a closer look. Eli went right to him and had no problem whatsoever getting close to those horses.

Then I was surprised when the Sherriff put Eli on top of the saddle and told him to hold on. Eli was so happy, but a little nervous at first. He was holding on to that saddle horn so tightly!

By the time he got halfway around the pen, he was feeling much more comfortable and started to sit up straight in the saddle. He loved riding that horse! After his ride was over, he wanted to go see all the other horses and ride those, too! I'm glad he got to have another fun life experience :)

We walked back to the booth, but the event still hadn't officially started. Sarah, one of Josh's friends little girl, showed us her special Ariel balloon girl and told us where we could get one for Eli. She said the Balloon Man could make anything you wanted. Eli, of course, wanted Spiderman. I don't really know where his love for Spiderman came from because he hasn't seen the first cartoon about him, but he definitely loves him. 

Luckily for us, we got to the balloon man before people really knew what he was doing so we didn't have to wait that long in line. Later on that night, Spiderman had to have a repair job on his legs and the line was backed up about 3 booths. This guy really did his part raising funds for Relay for Life.

Eli paid complete attention to the balloon man while he made him a Spiderman. He didn't move!

It took maybe 3-5 minutes and then he was finished. We had a Spiderman!

To say Eli was excited would be an understatement :) He LOVED his Spiderman balloon.

We made it back to the booth just in time to watch the Survivor's make their special lap around the track. These are some of the most incredible people I've ever met. Most of them are fighting or have fought a battle with cancer, but they are still some of the most positive and upbeat people ever. 

Josh's boss and friend, Cliff, is a perfect example. You will not meet a better man that Mr. Cliff. Josh has such great admiration and respect for this man. He has been battling cancer ever since 2008 and that smile has been on his face the entire time. He is precious to our family and to so many others in the community. When he rounded the corner of the track and saw all his bank family waiting for him and cheering him on, he raised his hands in the air and smiled the biggest smile. He has so many people that love him and are praying for him.

After the survivors made their lap, it was time for the Caregiver's Lap. Mr. Cliff's wife, Mrs. Debra, and  one of their daughters, Jessie, made the lap with Mr. Cliff. They have both been there to take care of Mr. Cliff and to help him during his battle with cancer. I loved the fact that Mr. Cliff and Mrs. Debra never let go of each other's hands. The love they have for each other just emanates from them. 

After the Caregiver's Lap, it was time for the Team Lap. All of Josh's friends and co-workers got behind their banner to walk for this lap. They're a great group of people that feel more like family than coworkers.

After the Team Lap, we all settled down to rest for a little bit. We ate some food, talked to some friends, and waited for the special ceremony where they lit the luminaries in honor of all those that lost their battle with cancer.

Eli saw several little boys with light up swords so he asked if he could get one too. I love events like Relay for Life because all of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society, so everything you buy is a donation to this incredible organization. Plus, Eli LOVED his light up sword. He and Reve's little boys, Drew and Scott, played for about a solid hour with their swords.

It finally came time to light the luminaries for the special ceremony and we got a great surprise. This year the American Cancer Society made a special sky lantern for teams to light and send off into the sky. Imagine that scene from Tangled where you see all the lanterns in the sky...that's what our view looked like! It was incredible!

Reve's boys, Drew and Scott, lit a special lantern for their daddy who battled cancer.

Eli loved lighting the lanterns too. It really was a special and memorable time for everyone.

Lighting those lanterns and seeing them floating away in the sky was such a vivid reminder of the many people whose lives have been touched by cancer. I pray that one day very soon someone will find a cure for this horrible disease, but until then, if you are one of those who are fighting, please know that there are thousands of people that are praying for you. We pray for God's healing, for his peace, and for his comfort to take over your life. You are not alone in your fight; God is right there with you. Please know that you are all in our prayers...

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!