Like No Time Has Passed - ALS Walk 2012

The Walk to Defeat ALS 2012 was September 15. 

So we prepared by doing a little fundraising but had a decent start after working hard on the garage sale in April. But we were all so incredibly blessed by family and friends who participated at the walk and also helped support the walk with donations and prayer. Thank you soooo much.

Trying to get Cameron to play the games. 

But one thing that I did not do was prepare emotionally for the walk. And just like last year when it had only been 6 months since Dad had passed, all the emotions of losing dad, his battle with ALS all came back.

Our wonderful team - Strangers on Tractors

Mom, Shannon, Erin, David, Allison, Hannah, Daniel, Cameron, Daniel's parents & sister: Dave, LaRena, & Lisa, David's parents: Mike & Karen, and great friends from Butler: Tyler & Corinne and Amber & her son Mando.

All the emotions came to the front of my mind: missing him every day and especially the special times like holidays, birthdays, harvest, little baby milestones. Thinking about all that my mom misses, Jim misses, my sisters miss, Cameron misses with dad gone.

                Corinne playing with Hannah.                           Cameron cuddling with Erin.

How wonderful of a man dad was and how he is still in us. And I do think of how much easier things would be if he were still here. 

And I felt like I could not be in a good mood. I did not want to be there or be with other people. I just wanted to hold Cameron and Daniel and be surrounded my immediate family and just talk and cry about how much we miss Dad.

But we walked even though we hurt inside. We walked to show love to my dad, to give support to others who are suffering through this disease, and to fund research to end ALS. We walk because God is good. And I trust in Him and His purpose.

I am so blessed that I had my dad in my life as long as I did. To have such a wonderful earthly father to love me, guide me, teach me.

All the "Strangers on Tractors" with the sign to celebrate dad.

And so glad that my dad continues to live on in all of us. I miss him so much but must continue to give thanks to God for who my dad was, a great and wonderful godly man.

And cherish my family - my fabulous and giving twin sister and her amazing husband and little girl.

Cherish my incredibly strong and selfless mom and wise and patient oldest sister Shannon

Cherish my intuitive, caring, and amazing sister Erin as well as my incredible husband Daniel who serves and loves me so well and my crazy, energetic and just incredible son Cameron. 

I am so blessed.

Hangin with the Hippies - Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival 2012

 Last year, we tried Bluegrass with Cameron after the ALS walk and it was a disaster. Cameron did not want to sit still or entertain himself so we could enjoy some music. So we paid $70 just to be there for 2 hours (before the storm hit) and we did not get to listen to any music because we walked around trying to entertain Cameron. So this year, we did it differently. We all took off Friday and Daniel's parents watched Cameron so we could spend the day at Bluegrass. (And I missed Cameron a lot so I compensated by taking tons of pictures of cutie Hannah.)

 And in Kansas, you never know what the weather will be. But this year even though it was a little chilly, it was great weather for Bluegrass.

 We all had at least 2 layers of clothing (I had 3). But it was great cuddling weather especially with Hannah.

So we all took turns cuddling Hannah. And even Daniel and Hannah cuddled. :)

 She is so adorable. And teacher Erin had her highlighter out to clearly mark what shows she wants to see. 

 Cuddled and completely passed out on Erin

 And of course at Bluegrass, we get great food and what a variety of options - BBQ, hamburgers, pork burgers :), gyros, chinese, pizza, and of course desserts like cobbler and funnel cake :)

 Hannah & her mommy taking naps together

 Hannah just waking up and our first show (or at least partial show) with Andy May on Stage 3.

 Then of course, John McCutcheon. He's amazing. And we only cried once at the end when he ended with "The Great Storm is Over" which dad picked out for his funeral. But it was good to cry all together as a family. 

But we had cutie Hannah to keep us smiling :)

 Then we headed to Stage 1 to save our place and then went and looked at all the crafts, etc. Normally, the ground between the grandstands and the stage is full of people, but with rain on Thursday, it made it a little difficult so only a few braved the mud. But most Bluegrass attendees are not discouraged by a little rain or whatever else could come their way. They are Bluegrass fans to the core and look forward to this all year. So rain, shine, storm, flood, 100s or 50s do not discourage this amazing experience.

 So we watched Dan Cary & Thunderation which is Irish music and then the Finger Style Winners.

 Then we watched Driven which was more gospel and they have a set of twins in their band which makes me like them all the more :)

 And then we watched the Greencards which are always great.

 Hannah enjoyed some yummy cobbler

 and Daniel and I shared a funnel cake (which I seriously ate 2/3 of it myself and then woke up in the middle of the night not feeling very good)

 David got to meet up with us late afternoon and of course we were very glad to have him with us. 

 Daniel and I went over to Stage 2 to watch The Steel Wheels. And I loved them.  Then back to Stage 1 for John McCutcheon again.

 Hannah was ready for bed and so were we. 

So we got one family picture in before Daniel and I headed back to Andover/Wichita to pick up Cameron and go home to sleep so we'd be ready the next morning for the ALS walk.