The beautiful Olivia is doing it again! Despite the fact her mother was told at birth that she probably would never walk, she's been training with her "Christi Runs" and she will again do a run to raise money for a wonderful organization that was started because of Christi. Please consider supporting Olvia and donating to a wonderful organization started and sponsored by a fabulous pediatric oncology nurse. Thanks everyone for your loving consideration! Go, Olivia! You are amazing!

From Olivia:

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! The time where I get to tell you that I am preparing for this year’s Christi Thomas Memorial Run for Kids Cancer Crusade. This year the race will take place on Sunday, September 25th.
2011 marks the 5th year I’ll be running in Christi’s memory. Five years. Five years is a very long time. And while I wish I didn’t have a reason to run every year, while I wish Christi could share her own story with you, in the absence of that possibility, I am here to once again, share with you the brilliant wonder that is my dear friend, Christi Thomas.

I was amazed by Christi from the moment I met her. She was 5 years old at the time and unbelievably brave, as all children grow to be when faced with cancer. Despite her young age, Christi was incredibly wise and completely selfless. She took care of the other children in the hospital and was often more concerned about their pain than her own. She always visited her friends and brought them gifts when she went in for treatment. Her love and kindness brought them much needed smiles. Christi was a ray of sunshine in the pediatric cancer wing. From the beginning, Christi inspired me to be a better person—to give more, to love more, to laugh more, to believe more. She still does.

I adored Christi’s love of books and learning. I remember thinking it was amazing that there was someone else out there that loved learning as much as I did. (Even though, Christi was much, much smarter!) Christi is with me every time I enter a library and every time I miss my stop on the bus because I am so engrossed in my book. (This happens more than I care to admit. It seems I have a problem.)
Most especially, Christi is with me on my morning “Christi run”. Some of you have asked me what a “Christi run” is. Simply, it’s how I refer to my 4:30am run. I used to just do a plain old run in the morning until I realized it was much more fun to picture Christi running beside me. At 4:30am, I need some motivation and inspiration to get up when my alarm goes off. Saying, “I need to get up for my Christi run” provides just that! And then, once a year, I participate in a race in Christi’s memory to raise money for Kids Cancer Crusade. And, perhaps most importantly, to have another moment to share Christi with you. Christi deserves to be remembered and this world still needs her wonder shared among us.

Thank you for all of your support and love and kindness over the years. If you could donate again this year, it would be appreciated. Together, we’ll keep Christi’s legacy alive and support the great work of Kids Cancer Crusade. Thank you!

To donate: http://active.com/donate/christirun2011
To learn more about KCC: http://kidscancercrusade.org/

Horse Show Fun

Despite horrific heat on Sunday, we all had an absolutely fantastic time at Shayla's first horse show of the summer. This was the toughest competition she's ever faced. It was a Tri State show so her divisions/classes were huge. We were so proud of her. It was an absoutely wonderful day!
(Pictures: Ali, Shayla's fabulous horse trainer, puts final touches on Shayla.)

English: Photo by our sweet friend, Jill! THANKS, Jill!
My dad's sister came to watch Shayla ride, too sweet aunt Mary!
Shayla relaxes back at the camper with her Nee Nee

Competing with Dusty (I told her if she gains just one pound I will not be able to zip those chaps on her anymore. They fit perfectly, but it was really pushing it getting them zipped. YIKES!)

Getting a "leg up" from dad (Shayla's stable boy - lol!)

Showmanship Competition (I'm always bias by the girls who were white hats. I think there's nothing better and I got one for Shayla this year. And the white hat nearly stayed white too, wish I could say that for the cuffs. Not quite sure how I'm going to get them cleaned before next week. I just returned home from the dry cleaners who would not touch any of her horse stuff, yikes!

English Competition, interesting picture I thought. (Thanks, Jill!)

I love her smile! Go, Shayla! Looking good, Dusty!

4H Judging Time

What a treat to run into both Theresa and Kaylyn (Christi's great friends) at judging today. They were some of the 4H assistants and I am thrilled I got to chat with them. I'm sure Christi was smiling down from Heaven! May God richly bless those amazing, loving and wonderful young ladies! They will always be so very special to us. (And check out their heights! Wow, would Christi be so tall now?!)

Today Shayla finished the last of her 4H Judging. There were about 23 in her Sewing Division and about 40 in her Scrapbook Division. Regardless of what the judges decide, she's first place in my book!


I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the gorgeous "casual and girl" (her description) blue sundress she made with her amazing 4H advisor (Melody) and my mother. She was interviewed and judged for that last Saturday.

Shayla said the judge loved how she did her seams, but said she should have pressed her zipper better and that the ruffles aren't quite even. She also said she should have pulled out the basting better. Shayla said, "I was afraid if I pulled the wrong string the entire bottom of my dress would fall off, mom!" LOL! Love that gal! So proud of her! So glad we have a seamstress in our home!


This year's scrapbook is not as large as last year's, but she has over 20 pages and they are all fabulous. I will have a wonderful keepsake when she goes off to college!


Scrapbook Interview / Judging

Thanks to the beautiful Grant family for this awesome Christmas gift! Shayla loved this scrapbook! She added her name with mailbox letters and glued flowers to "bling up" the cover. And the flowers brought a lot of humor. It was like she was a flower girl in a wedding. They kept falling off and she kept pushing them back on. She was trying to keep them from the judge by slowly sliding her hand up to the table where they dropped and smashing them in her hand so the judge wouldn't realize her flowers were all falling. What a hoot! Then when the judge told her to leave her book so she could show the other judge and to go sit down disaster really struck (LOL)! As they opened and closed the book AGAIN, more flowers fell off. It was so funny! Then Shayla was dismissed. As she was walking back to me the petals were again falling off. We laughed so hard once we were in the car! She decided it was pretty but definitely not her best scrapbooking idea ever! LOL!

Now that these elective projects are over she can solely focus on her Equestrian Events. She's been working most every day with Dusty and her horse trainer. She cannot wait for the Fair Week to begin. Our deepest thanks to all of the wonderful and kind 4H Advisors and Volunteers! They make amazing things happen for families and we are so very grateful! Here's wishing you and yours a fabulous week! ENJOY!

Testing

Wondering if I can post this pic and text from my Droid. Shay is enjoying camping with cousins. So nice to hug my sis today.

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