We Made Great Strides!

(This huge group is "Team Asher")

Before early November, the disease Cystic Fibrosis could have been said to me and I wouldn’t have been able to grasp it, nor understand what effects it had on people. Now, I do to some extent and that ‘disease’ has a face and name…sweet baby Asher Olimb!

Our lovely friend's, Rachel and Jeremy Olimb have a beautiful baby named Asher who graced our world in October. Quickly after the typical blood tests were complete on Asher (like any baby born in Arizona); he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (a progressive disease that effects the production of mucus in the body). We were all in shock and had a lot of learning and praying to do. The three Arizona Olimb’s are amazing, making huge lifestyle changes/sacrifices, and trusting in God all the way for little Asher’s life. God’s using this to grow them closer to Him and others who are watching!

Today, the city of Tempe hosted a 5k…Great Strides walk to collect money for research. Our Party of Five was eager to join in on a good "cause," joining Rachel and Jeremy’s group, “Team Asher.” Unfortunately, today Nathan has a fever…so it was up to Baylee and me to represent our whole family at Kiwanis Park. We were up for the challenge! We walked side by side with our dearest friends, the Kellers which really helped the time pass.

Team Asher was a huge team full of friends that love the Olimb’s so much and Jeremy designed cool shirts for the team and photo buttons to wear. The row of Team Asher went on forever! Today’s walk consisted of 1,000 walkers, raising lot of money (no total in yet). And Team Asher raised more money than the team's “goal”…well over $7,700 I believe (total not in yet either)! Even the kids on our team got involved having garage sales, bake sales, lemonade stands, and golf ball sales across the valley the week’s prior!

Asher, it was a privilege and blessing to walk in your honor/name. You are going to be a strong, active little boy that will be a total joy to watch grow up. We pray for you and your family often!

We can't wait for next year's walk again!

(Coming through the "finish line," Baylee and Mommy)

(After the event...Baylee and her "friend" Daniel)
(Some of the kids on Team Asher)

Circus Camp!

Girl Scout Camp this weekend was a total blast. We can’t wait to go back! It was held at the “Hilton” of all GS camp facilities, Willow Springs Camp in Prescott. It was deep in the pines and breathtaking. This weekend’s ‘Mom and Me’ theme, was “the circus” and we went up with my childhood dear friend Kimberly and her sweet daughter (Baylee’s great friend) Cassandra. We made many new Brownie friends as well and hope to run into them many more times! I thoroughly enjoyed having special time alone with my dear daughter!

Baylee and Cassandra tie dyed pillow cases on Saturday afternoon and now Baylee can’t sleep on anything else.

We also went on a nice hike as part of our rotation. Here’s Kimberly, her daughter Cassandra, and Baylee leading the pack. We spotted mistletoe too and of course had to kiss under it.

A magician came, amazing us all!

We can’t forget the clown Jo Jo and her face painting skills.

Baylee and Cassandra made SWAPS ("Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.") In a nutshell, it’s a pin you make many times and exchange them for some other design with fellow Brownie sisters. Afterwards, you proudly place them on a bucket hat as a constant reminder of your new found friends. Swaps are a unique way for Girl Scouts to meet each other and promote friendship and a special way to remember a Girl Scout Sister. Baylee’s SWAP was adorable, cotton candy!
Baylee and Cassandra felt so grown up making their own hot cocoa all weekend long!

Since it was a smaller camp, we didn’t share our cabin with anyone else, it was just Cassandra, Kimberly, Baylee, and myself. The girls loved snuggling and reading in each other’s beds. I can’t believe how late they stayed up talking. It reminded Kimberly and me of our childhood. We too were the ones that stayed up the latest at ALL slumber parties, just “catching up”.
We did so much more and will remember our first time at camp forever! It ended on such a neat note…snow!

Leaving a Piece of Me Behind

Baylee and I are going on our 2nd annual weekend away. This year we are going to Girl Scout Camp together in forest of Prescott, AZ (our first camp experience together). Although I am excited to do this, I will miss the "men" (big and little) that I leave behind. In order for them to know they are deeply loved and missed, I've left the "While I'm Away Box" for them to open each day filled with little trinkets of adoration.

If you travel at all, I highly suggest this neat box from Once Upon a Family (the company my cousin and sweet friend April work for).