Heart Walk is Almost Here

Our first annual Keep the Beat heart walk is almost here and we are SOOO excited!  I can't explain how much it means to both of us that so many people have signed up to walk with us and also donated to the It's My Heart Foundation.  The love and thoughtfulness that so many have shown us is unbelievable.  It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it!!  We surpassed our goal of $10,000 and in doing so we will be in a VIP tent the day of the walk.  They are making a banner for us that also includes our Monster Trucks and Tutus logo.  Awesome!!  Darrell and I are looking forward to seeing so many family and friends and for us to be wearing our shirts together!  This walk is for are two precious kiddos, and a few other heart friends that we have met along the way!  See you there (pictures from the walk to follow)

Just a reminder:

Registration starts at 8:30

Opening Ceremony at 9:30 

Walk starts at 10:00

Caderader--Date night with Mom

Addi-with Daddy at the Hospital for a checkup

Cade saying, "Can you see her getting into my cars?!?!"

Heart Walk Update

We are getting SO excited for our first heart walk to honor Cade and Addi.  I just wanted to remind everyone who would like to walk with us (we would LOVE to have you) to please register online at Keep the Beat.  It doesn't cost anything to register, we just want to make sure you are "officially" signed up.  We are looking forward to having as many family and friends with us on February 9th.  Please register under our team name "Monster Trucks and Tutus." 

With that said, it is unbelievable how much money has been donated to our team!  It's crazy!!  We have had to keep raising our goal.  So, our final goal is $10,000 and we are really close to reaching it.  If you would like to donate to our team, we would really appreciate it!!  Click here to donate.

Also, I'm hoping that the shirts we had made will be in this week.  Darrell and I are so happy with how they turned out.  We will get them delivered as soon as possible!

We can't say thank you enough for all of the love and support that you have shown our family through the last couple of years!  Love y'all!

Our First Heart Walk

We are doing our very first heart walk in honor of Cade and Addi and we are SO excited!  While we were at Texas Children's we learned about the "It's My Heart" foundation.  It’s My Heart is a non-profit organization created to provide support to and advocate for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects (CHD).  It is for families who have children with congenital heart disease.  We thought this would be the perfect organization for our first walk.

We have created our own team "Monster Trucks and Tutus" (two of our angels' favorite things) and are really looking forward to the event.  You may donate towards our team here.  Or even better, we would love to have you walk with us.  If you need more info you can click on the link "Keep the Beat Walk".

Keep the Beat Walk

When:  February 9, 2013

Check In Time:  8:00-9:30

Where:  900 Bagby Street
           Houston, Texas

Darrell and I have also had the help from some wonderful artists at our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.  The money that we make from the shirt, we are giving to a family who is currently waiting for a heart for their precious child.  This is something that is really special to us and we would love to help a family who is praying and hoping for a life saving heart transplant.  If you would like to order a shirt please email me at scarpenter0104@yahoo.com.  The shirts will be white with a color design.  The shirts are $15 for child sizes (S-L) and $20 for adult sizes (S-3XL).  I need to have your order by January 13th because we have to have the complete order turned in on January 14th.
 

Again, Darrell and I are truly blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love and care about us! Thank you in advance for supporting our team and a sweet family!

The front of the shirt

The back of the shirt (birthday months)





9 Years and Counting

Today Darrell and I celebrate our 9th anniversary! The time has flown by. It seems so cliche to say, but it really has! We have been through SO much and I'm glad that we have each other. Our marriage has grown in so many ways...and I love doing life with him! Happy Anniversary!

Small Moments

It is crazy to me how at random times I will have vivid memories of small moments with Cade and Addi. Don't get me wrong, I think about them ALL of the time...but from time to time I have these moments when I remember every detail of a memory as if it just happened. Tonight I drove through McDonalds for dinner and as I pulled away from the drive thru I remembered a time when Cade was in the back seat and asked me if I could hand him his French fries. Then he said to me in his cute matter of fact voice, "I know Mom, I can't have my toy until I finish eating." I have gone through that McDonalds at least a 100 times since he's been gone, and that was the first time I remembered a specific moment so vividly from one of our visits there. I absolutely love it when I have these small moments! They ALWAYS make me smile...it really is all about the small things in life!!

Man I miss that kid!! Look how silly he is! Not matching pjs, too short shirt (appropriate length didn't matter to him), wearing his daddy's shoes, AND that precious smile!!

Christmas 2012

This year is by far, the most difficult and most emotional Christmas we've ever had.  I would be lying if I said that I was SO excited for Christmas this year.  The extreme opposite is true.  I am ready, and have been for the last several weeks, for this season to be over.  Many, many, many tears have been shed.  I LOVE Christmas and everything it stands for, but I wish we could have skipped it this year.  God has blessed us with an amazing family and together we will celebrate Christmas with Cade and Addi close to our hearts. 

Christmas 2010

 

 

Absolutely LOVE this picture of Cade and Addi!

Our Christmas is different this year, and not in a way that we would like it to be.  This year Darrell and I will wake up to silence.  Cade will not be running through our door with excitment ready to see what Santa has brought him.  We will not hear sweet Addi through the monitor letting us know that she is ready to get up.  Instead, we will wake up and remember the few Christmases that we DID have with our precious children.  We had three with only Cade, one with only Addi, and only ONE with both of them here.  I've said it a million times that our children brought so much joy to our lives.  That's what we'll be smiling about this year!  How can we not smile when we think of the two of them spending Christmas together again, and in Heaven!  They will never spend another Christmas apart!

Christmas at the cemetery

 

 

 

When I think about the story of Christmas and all that Jesus has done for us, my heart swells with emotion.  The amount of love that he has for us is overwhelming to think about.  Because of him we are loved, forgiven, and saved!  He is the one who we look to in our time of joy, sadness, and need....and he is ALWAYS there.  It is truly because of him that Darrell and I continue to live our lives in a way that honors him and brings him glory.  We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year!

Thankful

This time of year usually makes me so happy. I can't lie, this year is tough! I thought I was going to get through it without being SO emotional, but I guess I thought wrong. I miss my kids...I miss them A LOT! This is the first holiday season in seven years that Darrell and I won't wake up to any kids waking us up to get the festivities started. I miss that...the noise of laughter and playing. I won't have any helpers in the kitchen with me this year...it really hurts my heart, literally.

When Addi passed away, I remember lying in bed when a sweet friend, another heart mom, sent me a text with a song that she said helped her get through losing her brother. I listened to it and just cried and cried. The words were perfect..."I am restless." What a perfect description of the mixture of emotions I feel. The feeling of want-I want to see their precious faces and cover them with hugs and kisses. I want to hear their voices. The feeling of longing-I long to be with them. The feeling of laughter-I laugh when I see pictures and videos of them being so silly and just being themselves. And the feeling of love-I love those two kiddos more than I can explain. I love that I can remember all of those hugs, kisses, laughs, and "I love you's"!

I am restless this season, but I am still thankful for the life that God gave me. I am thankful for His grace because I sure need it. I am thankful that I have an unbelievable husband who loves me and is ALWAYS there. I am thankful for Cade and Addi. They brought me so much joy and happiness in their short time here. I'm thankful for our families who have been by our sides from the beginning. I'm thankful for our sweet friends who have showered us with kindness. I'm thankful for doctors and nurses who did everything they could to keep Addi here. I'm thankful for prayers that have come from SO many people. And I'm thankful for the plans that God has in store for our family!

Happy Thanksgiving!


Here are the words to the song. I listen to it regularly!

"Restless"

You dwell in the songs that we are singing,
Rising to the Heavens, rising to Your heart, Your heart.
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between our frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heart

And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
Oh God, I wanna rest in You

Oh, speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me, whisper in the dark, the dark.
'Cause I know You're more than my salvation
Without you I am hopeless, tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart
You are the keeper of my heart

And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless

'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh
I wanna rest in You

Still my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry

Still my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry

And I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, let me rest in You
And I am restless, so restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh God
Let me rest in You.


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