A Year Already

It's hard to believe that a year has already passed since our precious little girl went to be with our Lord.  Time is a funny thing, the year has gone by quickly, but it seems like she has been gone forever.  This past week has been an emotional one.  I miss Addi more than I can explain.  I look at pictures and watch videos and take in those moments as if they happened yesterday!  I miss waking her up in the morning and her telling me "Bow, shoes, teeth!"  I miss her spilling her goldfish and saying, "Uh oh, uh mess!"  I miss her prancing around EVERYWHERE with Mr. G.  I miss her coming around the corner with every single headband hanging from her arm.  I miss rocking in the chair in the living room with her.  I miss her sleeping with Darrell on that same chair when she didn't feel good.  So many things I miss...this list goes on forever.  What a beautiful, strong little girl we had!  We miss her every day, and we are so glad that God gave her to us...even if it was for such a short amount of time! 

Check Up Doctor Appointment

Watching a movie with Mr. G

Playing on the dishwasher

Hanging out at Ashley's

Being silly

Loves to have stuff hanging from her arms

Playing with her baby

Sweet Girl!

If I'm honest, this week was actually more difficult than I thought it would be.  Darrell and I just spent our first year without either of our children, and what an adjustment that has been.  It is quiet in our house and all routine and structure that once existed is no longer there.  It's funny how when you have kids, it's all about a routine.  Now if we eat at 9:00, we eat at 9:00...no big deal (that would have never happened with the kids here)!  I also find myself looking at the pictures on our walls and dealing with that they are no longer being changed out with new ones.  With all of that said, Darrell and I are happy and continue to LOVE each other, probably even more than we ever have!  Emotional moments come and go and I'm pretty certain they always will...we love our kids and miss them dearly.  We have a strong faith and know that God provides us with the strength we need and we know that He has plans for us!  We are surrounded by wonderful people who continue to pray for us and love us and care for us! 

Saudi Heart Walk

A couple of months ago two of our dear friends, Lindsey and Stephanie, let us know that they wanted to do something for us to honor Cade and Addi.  The two of them, with their husbands (Brooks and Micah), organized a walk on their compound.  They sold shirts and pizza and accepted donations that would go towards our invetro procedure.  The event, we were told, was an awesome experience!  They walked in the evening on the beach and finished up right at sunset (what an amazing view)!  The four of them spent some time at the beach when both Cade and Addi passed away just remembering them, releasing balloons, and just praying for us.  How appropriate that the walk would be held at the same location.

Stephanie and Lindsey registering people

Our sweet friends-Micah, Stephanie, Lindsey, & Brooks

The Perry Family

The Sperling Family

Gavin-One of Cade's buddies

Darrell and I are blessed to have them in our lives and the support from everyone in Saudi has truly touched our hearts!  Thank you so much to everyone for continually praying for us and supporting us from so far away!!

Keep the Beat Heart Walk

We did it!  We finished our first heart walk and what a day it was!!  Thank you SO much to everyone who donated and thank you to everyone who came out to walk with us!  Darrell and I were touched by all of the support that we received for our first annual walk!!  We had so much fun and it was so awesome seeing everyone in their Monster Trucks and Tutus shirts, they were everywhere.  The It's My Heart Foundation was overwhelmed by the number of people on our team and the amount of money we raised.  The photography people had trouble getting ALL of us into one picture.  We raised over $13,418!!  Our team received a personalized banner with our logo and Cade and Addi's name on it.  It was really nice!



Me & Darrell with our award for raising the most money



Our amazing family (minus Jimbo-we missed you)

Giving us the banner

Close up of the banner

It was a bitter sweet day.  It was so amazing to be surrounded by SO many people who were celebrating the life of their child, some who are still here and others who have gone to Heaven.  I think that is what I loved most, that everyone there was walking for a common purpose....they were walking for someone they love!  They were walking for a child who touched their lives in so many ways.

Me with my brother and sister (LOVE this picture)

Me with two of Cade's best friends (LOVE them!)

Me with some of my former students (+ one future student)

Me and my crazy dad!

All of the teachers from my school and their kiddos!  There were also many teachers from Mossman--I diddn't have a picture of them (love y'all too)!

Walkers--Look at all of those "85" shirts

I know I've said this a bazillion times, but we are truly grateful for all of you who have prayed for us and shown us so much love and support!  Darrell and I got in the car after the walk and were just in awe of the number of people who took time out of a Saturday to come and walk in honor of Cade and Addi and to support us!!  It touched our hearts more than you'll ever know.  Thank you, thank you!

Our whole team!  Pretty amazing!!

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!