Summer Camp for Shea

Last year, Suzanne, invited Shea to go to camp with the kids from their church at Redeemed Ranch Camp. Since the day she got home last summer she has been wanting to know when she would be going back to "cowgirl" camp. Shea had a great time. Of course, spending a few days with Aunt Suzy and Jen was a bonus.



So, the time finally came this year to go again. But now she calls it "horse riding" camp. She was especially excited this year because she got to ride the horse by herself since she is 7 years old.

Can you tell she really liked her horse? Only a real cowgirl rides a horse with pink boots and cutoff jeans. Here is our little cowgirl.

Have a blessed day,

Charlene

A Day With Friends

Well, now that the LSU Tigers have won the National Championship I can sit down and update my blog. Oh my goodness, they were making me nervous for a while but they played some ball and won. WOOHOO, GEAUX TIGERS. (Sylvia, I do not need any nasty comments from you about this. LOL)

Anyway, I wanted to show you guys a picture of my friend Connie. Remember from the last post, Connie is the one Kim and I got the BELIEVE bracelet for, the one that is kicking some cancer in the tail? There she is in the middle. Her husband, Tony is standing behind her. I don't know Tony well but from what Connie tells me he is an answer to her prayers. He has stood by her this entire time. So, I may not know him well, but I sure do like him. And there is Shea stuffing her face with oatmeal cookies.

Me, Connie and Kim. Look at that smile on Connie's face, she is smiling all the time.

Kim is probable gonna fuss at me about putting this picture on here because she has her mouth open. Well, what can I say, I post em like I see em.

And one more. Connie has that serious look going on, but it's still a smile.

Shea is still feeding her face. That child eats a lot to be so skinny.

Looks like Shea may have been pulling Grant's hair instead of just giving him bunny ears.

Connie doesn't have to go back to Chicago for 6 weeks, where before she was going back every 21 days. She is sooooo happy and I am sooooo happy for her. I thank the Lord, the Great Physician for his healing hands and I pray she continues to fight that monster until it is completely gone from her body.

When I talked to her Saturday she told me she was "celebrating life". I bet she is!!!!

Have a blessed day,

Charlene

"Shake 4 Jake" 2009

We went to a fund raiser Saturday night for the Jake Owen Raborn Foundation. This was the 3rd annual "Shake 4 Jake". All the money raised goes to the JOR Foundation.
So, here is some background. Jake Raborn was diagnosed June, 2004 with hepatoblastoma. During his treatment, he endured chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, and a bone marrow transplant which he was only the second person in the world to ever receive this type of transplant for that type of cancer. On October 5, 2006, Jake earned his angel wings after a courageous fight. I never had the joy of personally meeting Jake but because of his family I feel like I have know him from the day he was born. Have you ever read the poem about "your dash"? It about how you spend your time between your birth and your death. Jake spent his dash to the fullest. That little boy touched more people in his life than most of us ever will and because of the JOR Foundation he will continue to touch lives.


After Jake went to Heaven, Staci and Don Raborn and other family members were determined to start a foundation in Jake's honor that would help families that had children that are battling pediatric cancer. And by the Grace of God, they were able to begin this foundation and able to begin helping people. During Staci's speech Saturday night, she told about a lady from New York that contacted JOR Foundation because she wanted to take her terminally ill daughter to the circus but didn't have the money. Because of the foundation this mother was able to do something with her daughter that most of us take for granted. That was only one of the many, many families Jake's foundation has helped and will help in the future. Just imagine not being able to take your child to the circus because every last cent you have is going for medical expenses and living expenses. Jake's foundation helps families with such expenses to ease some of the burden they are facing. I can remember when Jake was in Memphis, reading on his website about his daddy, Don, having to go back to West Monroe to work because he had already taken off so many days. I just knew from reading this how it must have broken Don's heart to have to leave Jake and Staci at St. Jude, even if just for a day or two. To find out more about JOR Foundation or to donate go to www.jakesfoundation.org.




They had tee-shirts for sale. This is the front of this year's shirt; "PEACE, LOVE, BELIEVE; Big miracles in small bodies".

The girls had a great time. Me, Kim, Lori, Melissa and Brittney. And the guys. Do you think they had fun? Why do I have such a hard time trying to take a picture of the guys? Picture #1:and picture #2: yes, still misbehaving. Third time's the charm; well, close enough I guess. Tommy, Keith, Grant and Jeremy. There was a silent auction with lots of items, anything from a motorized ice chest (which I really wanted), beautiful paintings, clothes, weekend get-aways, and of course some LSU, ULM, and Tech stuff and more.There was a good turn out. A lot of people came out to support the foundation. Jake's favorite color was green, can you see all the green banners, shirts, table centerpieces?

Each table was decorated with something Jake enjoyed. He loved Sponge Bob.

And the Nascar table. Each of the tables also had little notes about Jake and that particular theme. There were also "hairplanes", and Dora, and M&Ms, and LSU Tigers. Some of the tables were also decorated honoring some of the children the foundation has helped in the past year.

Well, I did get a picture of the shrimp but for some reason I didn't get a picture of any of the other food. I guess I was busy eating and wasn't thinking about pictures. There was boiled shrimp, fish, pasta, meat pies, crab salad, fried green beans, roast beef, and so much more I can't remember it all. Hold on to your seats here people; I was so full I didn't, yep I said didn't even go to the desert table. I did walk by and look but just couldn't find the room for it.
Our Claiborne Parish crew:

Me and Grant Brittney and JeremyKimmyKeith and MelissaLori and Tommy
After the meal, there was a live auction while people continued to eat and place their bids at the silent auction. Some of the items were a Drew Brees autographed football and some tickets to a Saints game, a weeks stay at a condo in Fort Morgan, AL, a guided alligator hunt, a four-wheeler, a guided duck hunting vacation (Drakes 4 Jake) and several other things. Really nice items. I got something at the silent auction. I was so excited, it was a necklace, a pair of earrings, handmade note cards, and two beautiful paintings. One of the painting had "believe" written on it and the other had a pair of angel wings with the words "we don't remember days, we remember moments" written on it.

Then the band got cranked up. This same band was here last year and they are g-r-e-a-t. My kind of music, the stuff I can (and will) dance to. You could even understand every word they were singing. Do you remember those days? The name of the band is Fly By Radio. Look who I found, it's Jake's aunt, Mo and Mrs. Kaufman. Mrs. Kaufman's son and husband always run in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. She stopped and helped us do some cheering at the last marathon. Lori, Tommy and Melissa were shaking it up on the dance floor. Kim and I got BELIEVE bracelets at Jake's store. I also bought one for our friend Connie, who apparently, is kicking some cancer in the tail. When she was diagnosed the news was not good. But after some very aggressive treatments in Chicago, all the cancer is gone except for a tumor that now is only the size of a pinhead on her liver. It appears the tumor is continuing to shrink. PRAISE GOD!!! I also got a surprise box and look what I found inside. A pair of earring made by Mo and those precious little girls belong to her and her husband, Todd.Staci and Don welcoming the band on the stage, or this may have been just before they sang with the band, which by the way I have a video of.

More pictures of the band. Look them up online at www.flybyradio.com. They have added pictures from the night on their website.

Mo with her green high heeled shoes. Looking good Mo!!Don with his drum sticks. Not sure if this was made before or after he played the drums. Just another little Jake Owen Raborn Foundation reminder. and another.

Staci after she and Don sang with the band.

And the band says goodnight. Kim with the lead singer.
Jake's mama and daddy. They are all about "Paying it Forward".

Staci telling everybody bye and thank you. This picture of Staci cracked me up so I just had to include it. Don with his Fly By Radio stickers. I wish I would have gotten one of those.

And Jake's favorite Aunt Mo. Last year it was just Melissa and I, this year we had 9 people with us, so at this rate I figure we should have a big crowd from Homer next year. I hope all of you get the opportunity to go to the foundation website and check it out and consider donating. It is a wonderful cause and it is run by wonderful people. If you ever have the chance to meet Jake's family I know you will end up falling in love with them just like I did.

Always BELIEVING,

Charlene

Welcome to the World, Anna

We have a new baby in the family. Grant's cousin Shelly and her husband Scott now have a baby girl.

-

Here she is, Anna Elise Malsam. Born June 9, 2009. 7 pounds, 10 ounces, 20 inches long.

She was 4 days old when these pictures were taken. She is such a beautiful baby.

I think she favors her big brother, Garrett.

I only got these two pictures and Shea took them for me. I was busy holding the baby and I didn't want to put her down. Know what I mean?

Welcome, Baby Anna,

Charlene