Hello Out There!

O.k. so I realize that it has been forever and ever since either one of us posted and I apologize. Although to look at it in a more positive manner, medically there isn't really anything to post about, Gavin is doing very well right now. He is getting Zomeda, the bone therapy treatment, once a month and CTs every 2 months right now with the next one scheduled for the week after Labor Day. We actually are going to make it through the entire summer without chemo - praise the Lord!

Summer has been busy since we got back from Arizona. I had about a week to finalize the VBS stuff and catch up on schoolwork. Then VBS week, then Gavin went to Seattle, Drew had drivers ed, and Mackenzie had a camp at Matthews Playhouse.

At the end of that long week we had the incredible 24 Hours of Booty fundraising bike ride in Myers Park. Calling it fantastic by no means can convey how cool an event it was. Thanks to everyone who supported us, riders, donors, and cheering section! It got off to a wild start on Friday night. We had only been riding for about an hour and a half until it started pouring down rain on us. The first hour wasn't too bad, hard steady rain, a little thunder and lightening but not windy or scary. It wasn't until a new stormed bloomed on top of us that we got a little nervous. Now throughout all of this, most of us are huddled under the canopy in Bootyville trying to "ride" the storm out (pun intended!). All of us except for Pat Crosby. He got stuck out on the course when they closed it and ended up hugging a brick post for warmth for a few hours. I won't tell you exactly how Pat described hugging the post, you will have to ask him for that detail! All in all we had 10 people riding - me, Gavin, Terry Knotts, Pat Crosby, Michael Crosby, Teresa Boone, Garry Wallace, Brenda, Chris, and Haydyn Heck, for a total of 868 miles! The Tour de Sharpe team raised over $6300 and all the cyclists together raised over $732,000 towards cancer research. Save the last weekend in July of '08 for the next Booty ride!! I still have a few Tour de Sharpe t-shirts left for $5 each if you are interested in owning one of these fine items of apparel.

Update: Thanks to everyone who immediately started praying for my best friend Dorianne in Ohio. I know it is due to these prayers that she only spent 2 days in ICU and was off the vent after the first day. It is truly a miracle that she is still with us and her quick recovery is definitely due to the power of prayer. She is home and doing pretty well and baby Emily is absolutely fine.

We are headed off soon for another trip, back to Ohio this time to see friends and family. Needless to say I can't hardly wait to see Dorianne and Emily! I promise to try to write sooner rather then later!

Take care and God Bless!
Maria