Today

Thank you so much for your visits, your emails and facebook comments.
I am still processing all that has gone on here in the last few weeks or so. It is difficult to wrap my brain around death in and of itself, let alone the death of a child. Last thanksgiving when my grandmother passed away, we were somewhat prepared, as you are when an old person passes. You watch them lose their teeth, their hearing, their appetite. You have listened to their stories: hopefully, you know that they lived their life well and if you believe, as I do, that they will see their loved ones again, you rejoice in that for them. My grandmother had buried 2 husbands and a baby, siblings, cousins, and even a great grandchild. She had much to look forward to in passing away from this earthly existence.

But a child? It is so hard to comprehend.
I cannot get past the fact that Adam, a cancer patient, is only one boy in a sea of boys and girls. The hard lump in my gut will not wane at this thought.

In my daughter's class is a sweet boy who has battled a brain tumor since he was 18 months old. I have been praying for protection of his little spirit when he hears of the death of his friend Adam.

For the past 10 months, I have been following the story of a little girl named Kate McRae. Some of you may know of her. As a digital scrapper, I found Kate through some of the many designers and bloggers who were circulating her story at the time of her diagnosis with a brain tumor when she was 5. You can read Kate's story on her website. My daughter and Kate would be in the same class, so her story caught my attention right away. But the thing that has really grabbed my attention is the faith of her parents. I cannot imagine how, but they are able to praise God through each and every step. They suffer, they cry, they get angry, yes; but all with the hope of eternity in their sights. I have never witnessed faith like that. They are truly amazing and humble people who ask nothing more than your prayers for their daughter. Kate's dad is a pastor in Phoenix who also keeps a blog here. If there ever was a thing called hope, I have found it here.

So, on this day, when we will attend the visitation of our young friend, who fought so bravely right until the end, I am thinking of Kate and all the other kids who have cancer. I am thinking of my own son, Adam's teammate who will attend with us. Their team will stand together and wear their jerseys in memory of Adam; an army of little souls who are too young to know such tragedy.

I'll be honest: I'm not yet for sure where all this leads. Life goes on as it must, but I hope that we can take something positive away. I hope that one day we will look back and remember the day when we could not help these kids...knowing that a cure has been found and that children are free to live as children should, playing and laughing and learning without the shadow of cancer lurking.