A Grace-Filled Bake Sale

Over and over again, Kyle and I continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community and beyond.  And this weekend's "Grace-Filled Bake Sale" was no different.

These awesome volunteers put together a "Grace-Filled Bake Sale!"

Several months ago, my friend, Dana Guinn, e-mailed to say she and her mom and mother-in-law were interested in hosting a bake sale for Grace.  I thought it was a great idea for a fundraiser and to help raise awareness for INAD.

They decided to host the bake sale on Easter weekend in front of Dollar General. With a flyer all set to go, the bake sale was set for Saturday, April 4.  The flyer, with a darling picture of our family was sent home with Grace's preschool friends and distributed to many of the area churches.  And of course, we put an ad in the paper!

Lois gave Grace a new purple stuffed bear to snuggle.

As the day grew closer, people would stop us to tell us what they were making, and we were humbled that so many people wanted to participate.

Someone really liked her new bear!

I didn't get to go at the start because Grace was still asleep, but mom and dad went and said there was a huge crowd and six tables full of donated homemade baked goods.  People were buying things almost as fast as they were putting them out.

Grace loved seeing everyone at the bake sale.

Grace finally woke up around 9:30, and we headed to Dollar General to buy some sweet treats.  When we got there, we were so surprised to see they only had a table and a half of items left (but still plenty to choose from).  Dana's mother-in-law gave Grace a stuffed purple teddy bear, which she immediately snuggled, as well as a hand decorated purple and white teddy bear cake, which was almost too pretty to eat. Another shopper brought a special Easter Bunny basket of cupcakes to donate, and then bought it back to give to Grace.  

Dana and Hazel came to see Grace at the bake sale!

Grace and I stayed at the bake sale about 45 minutes or so, and really enjoyed visiting with everyone. We feel so blessed that so many people love our little Grace and take such good care of her!

Cousin Stef came ALL the way from Philadelphia for the bake sale!

But the icing on the cake so to speak, was a text message from Dana later that afternoon. She texted to tell me that bake sale made . . . wait for it, $2,000. Our community is just amazing.  And you continue to prove that over and over and over again.  

Grace couldn't wait to eat her teddy bear cake!

So, from the very bottom of our hearts, we offer our thanks to everyone who participated or helped at the bake sale in any way.  Thanks for joining our "Grace-Filled Journey."

MLH

I Believe . . .

I think most parents have grand and totally irrational dreams for their children when they are born, or even before they make their grand entrance into the world. Astronaut. President. Sports editor at a small town newspaper. Whatever.

I was no different with Grace. From the moment we learned that our newborn would be a girl, I had Grace penciled into the starting lineup for the 2031 United States Women’s World Cup team. Position usually varied. I leaned toward goalie since Uncle Daniel volunteered his services as her keeper coach, but I thought she might be more suited for the field since I wasn’t sure she had the combination of insanity and stupidity that it takes to be a successful goalkeeper.

Cheering for Team USA!

The coolest thing about my grand and totally irrational dream was that Grace seemed to buy into it. The aforementioned Uncle Daniel got her a soccer ball just after she was born and it was one of her favorite toys. I remember several days of sitting on the couch with Grace on my lap, soccer ball on hers, and the two of us watching English Premier League games.

At about a year old, Grace would cruise the ottoman in our living room and we’d play soccer, kicking the ball back and forth while she giggled the whole time. Of course I’d give play-by-play, with Grace either scoring the game winning goal or a diving save to clinch the cup for the U.S.A.

 

Our favorite princess is ready for the game!

And then the walking slowed, then more or less stopped. Grace and I would still play ball, mostly catch while she sat on the couch giggling the whole time. We still play ball and it’s one of my favorite things to do with Grace.

With Grace’s INAD diagnosis in November, the dream that she would play for the USWNT became even more irrational than before. That doesn’t mean that the dream is gone. It’s just a little more farfetched knowing what may be coming up for my little girl.

The diagnosis also made Mary and I want to give Grace as many experiences as possible and for a long time the 2015 World Cup was on our radar. But when they announced that the USWNT was going to play in St. Louis on April 4, our focus shifted to closer to home.

Daddy's favorite girls!

We got eight tickets to the game the day they went on sale, four for Mary, Grace, myself and a Herschelman sibling to be named later, and four for Travis and Carrie Matthews and their crew, C.J., Claire, and one-year-old Cody, who required a lap instead of a ticket. Over the next few months, I constantly looked forward to the game. The only thing that got me down was that nobody sells a USWNT jersey in size 4-T, but we found a cute ‘Merica outfit for Grace and all was right in the world.

After covering an egg hunt in Donnellson and a bake sale for the princess, we made our way down to St. Louis. Usually things that you are anticipating this much somehow fall short, but the game met all of my expectations and then some. The game itself was awesome, with the U.S. winning 4-0 and scoring three goals smack dab in front of our seats just above the bullpen, but the best part was experiencing it with Mary, Grace and my sister Mikaela, who joined us for the game.

Aunt Mikaela got to come to the soccer game too!

I’m not sure how much Grace actually saw of the game (she doesn’t like sunshine much), but she loved being there. She laughed and smiled the entire time and having her sit on my lap for the most part of the first half may have been the best part my year.

There is something about United States Soccer that is inspiring. I think it’s the thought of them representing a whole country. Regardless of religion or race or sexual orientation, the members of the men’s and women’s national teams come together with one common goal, to win the World Cup.

Currently the most popular chant amongst the U.S. fan section is “I Believe That We Will Win” which builds to a crescendo and never ceases to give me goose bumps. It exemplifies the spirit of the national teams and of many Americans. It doesn’t matter what is standing in our way, we believe that we will win.

This girl LOVES her daddy!

 And that applies to Grace too, whether she’s on the roster for the 2031 World Cup or not.

I believe that we will find a treatment and a cure for INAD.

I believe that Grace will get better.

I believe that we will win.

KRH

Keeping the Faith

We had to say goodbye to a friend today.  And it was hard.  Somehow, saying goodbye is always hard.

Nine-year-old Faith Marie Hartzell of Litchfield lost her earthly battle this week after fighting not one, but two rounds of cancer.  And although we know Faith is in a better place with no suffering, it's still hard not to see her smiling face.  Or at least pictures of it.

Grace is wearing her "Fight with Faith" shirt at the candlelight vigil this week.

You see, I only actually met Faith in person a handful of times.  But it was my honor and privilege to get to share her story over and over again with our readers in the newspaper.  Writing this week's front page story about her death was one of the hardest things I've ever written.

But in getting to know Faith, I also got to meet one of the strongest women I've ever met in my life, her mom, Stacy.  

Stacy was friends with another friend of mine, who put me in touch with her when I needed information about Faith's benefits or fun things she got to do, like throwing out a first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game.  In fact, for a long time, I've never actually met Stacy, only have contacted her through Facebook and text messages.  But somehow, we've always had a special connection.

Grace was only a baby when Faith was first diagnosed with cancer in 2011, with no signs of her INAD diagnosis.  Throughout Faith's battles with cancer, her mom kept all her supporters up-to-date through a Facebook page, called "Keeping the Faith." You should check it out sometime.  The things this little girl and her mother have endured are heart-wrenching, but yet they always found a way to remain positive and "keep the Faith," a true inspiration to thousands following their story all over the country.

When we found out about Grace's diagnosis and its grim prognosis, we gradually told a few close friends and family members.  And Kyle kept asking me if I had told Stacy and her husband, Eric.  Eric has also been one of Grace's best buds, as they used to share breakfast together when Kyle would bring her to the Litchfield Police Department to pick up the weekly news.  

I couldn't bring myself to tell them.  Somehow, of everyone that we told, I just couldn't bring myself to add to what they were already going through each and every day.  

The day Kyle's column came out in the paper, Stacy was one of the very first people to text me, and this is what it said. "With tears streaming down my face, I want you to know I am here if you ever need an ear! She is the most beautiful little girl, and if anyone can defy the odds, she can! We will pray for her and your beautiful family! And we will be keeping the Faith!"

I couldn't help by cry when I read her text.  Here was someone with so much already on her plate, and such an inspiration to me as a mom, offering to help me with anything.  But that's just the way she is.

In the past few weeks, we would text just a little about news items for the paper, like where to send cards to Faith or how she was doing.  And Stacy always offered to help me if there was anything I needed.  Even today, when we went through the line at visitation, I gave her a hug, and she smiled at me, and said, "if there's ever anything you need, we are here to help."

I'm sad that Grace and Faith never had the chance to meet in person.  I know Grace would have loved Faith's brightly colored hair or would have loved listening to music with her.  And Faith would have loved Grace's smile and laughter.  

They never got to meet, but I am blessed to have the chance to have met Stacy, someone I consider a true friend, and an inspiration. Someone who knows how to keep the Faith, even in the darkest times.  Faith's earthly battle may be done, but she will forever live on in the hearts of an entire community she inspired with love.

Stacy sent me this photo one day where she is wearing purple bracelets for Faith and Grace.

And just remember, we are ALWAYS and FOREVER "Keeping the Faith on this Grace-Filled Journey."

MLH