Wednesday, February 15, 2006

FEBRUARY 15, 2006; MORE AWESOME NEWS

What a day this has been. The Lord has been so good to Hawk and his family through the generous actions of so many individuals in our community.

At 2 PM, there was a school assembly of Watertown Elementary School ("WES"). Ms Anita Christian and Cheryl Ellison, the Principal and Assistant Principal respectively of WES, notified Hawk, Lindy and the entire assembly of WES that the Silent Auction and Benefit Concert held February 4 had raised over $36, 800. Ms Anita thanked all the students for all their efforts helping raise the funds. She praised them for all their efforts on Hawk's behalf.

WES Music Teacher Marilyn Willoughby then led the fourth, fifth and sixth grade students in Hawk's song, one written specially for Hawk. The performance was wonderful.

We can not fully and truly express our appreciation for all the people that attended the concert, donated items and the individuals that bought them. Also, to all the individuals that just donated money for Hawk.

At 3:45 PM; Hawk, Skyla and Lindy went to Hawk's New Home. As reported in this blog earlier, volunteers had worked on Saturday, 2/11/06, to clean out the trash; remove all the flooring and old wall paper; and bead board that had been used to cover the kitchen cabinets and some of the den and master bedroom walls. Work had started on refurishing the house after the family left for Hawk's Make A Wish trip to Florida on Tuesday, 2/7/06. Volunteers had worked days, nights and the weekend to complete the work. The family had not been allowed to visit the house until today since being there on Monday, 2/6/06. A full report will be prepared later this week with before and after pictures . There will be articles in the local newspapers this week and Channel 5 News will have a report on their Thursday 6 PM news of the Extreme Home Makeover-Wilson County Style. The makeover has been wonderful. There is still work to be done and there are plans to complete this work. But, you can not believe the work that has been completed in only 9 days. It is totally amazing what this wonderful group of individuals have completed. It has shown me that I have so much to do to be more involved in my community and the ones in need.

I want to share with you just a few of the actions that have touched us so much in the last few weeks as follows:

A) I came into the Learning Center one day to pick up the kids. Ms. Kelly, Skyla's teacher, had one of the large Tootsie Roll tubes that had been given to her from a high school student. She did not know who the student was. A slot had been cut in the top of the tube to be able to deposit money in it. It was a small piggy bank. Ms. Kelly explained that there was $4.91 in change in the tube. The funds were mainly in pennies, nickels, and dimes. It is apparent to us that the student had been saving the money over an extended period. We can imagine that this student had been saving for something special. Instead, the student had donated these funds to Hawk. We just wish that we could give this student a hug. We do know that the Lord has Blessed him for his Love for one of God's little ones.

B) During the Silent Auction held at Watertown 2/4/06, Barbara (Mimi) bought a few pictures for Hawk's New Home. When she was paying for the items, a lady handed her a certificate for an oil change. The lady had been the successful bidder for the item and she wanted Lindy to have it. This was very generous but then she explained that this was the most expensive oil change she had ever bought, she had paid $400 for it. Praise the Lord!!!!

C) We flew Southwest Airlines to Florida for Hawk's Make A Wish trip. About an hour into the flight, one of the stewardesses came by and handed me a note that she said she had found in the aisle at the back of the plane. On the outside of the folded note, it was penned "Make A Wish tomorrow--Enjoy Orlando--Please open". On the inside, it was penned "Please accept a ittle gift to make this trip a little better. My Prayers are with your son and your family. God Bless. PS. Have a great time". There was a $100 bill folded inside. We asked the stewardess for the name of the donator. She simply said that she had found it in the middle of aisle. We sent a note back stating "Thanks so very much. May you be blessed as we are being blessed by your generosity". No announcement had been made. Mimi had her Make A Wish T-shirt on and the person had noticed it and acted.

D) Mimi and I took the kids to eat at Cracker Barrel after Hawk's visit to his new home this afternoon. A lady recognized Hawk as we were waiting for a table. She asked him about tractors. He said that he drove Pa's John Deere tractor. She bought him a book about JD tractors at the counter. It is wonderful how people just reach out to Hawk and make him happy.

A half box of tissues have been used writing this update. Please continue to keep Hawk in your prayers for a miracle. His fate is now totally in the Lord's Hands. It will be our prayer that you and yours are Blessed as we are being Blessed by you.

We have also be Blessed to learn that Mike (Papa) Smith's prostrate cancer has not spread. Surgery in the future should be able to remove the cancer. Details will be discussed with the Dr. on Thursday, 2/16/06. Thanks for your prayers on his and his family's behave.

Love,

Pa

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

FEBRUARY 14, 2006; PRAYERS ANSWERED FOR HAWK TO ENJOY HIS MAKE A WISH TRIP TO FLORIDA

All of our prayers were answered for Hawk to be able to enjoy his Make A Wish trip to Florida. Hawk had a lot of energy and was always ready to do more, even if the adults were dragging. Each morning he woke up early with the question of "What are we going to do today?" I will be writing about the trip in a very days. I thought that I would have time in Florida to be able to write each day. Was I ever wrong.

We got back home about 8:30 PM Monday night, 2/13/06. We thank the Lord for a wonderful trip that made Hawk so happy.

Tuesday morning I called Gayle Hooper, Director of the Learning Center and the primary mover of the Extreme Home Make Over, about what I needed to do with "Hawk's New Home". I was ready to get my hands dirty and do some work. She politely informed me that neither Lindy nor any of the family were allowed to be at the house until Wednesday evening at 5 PM. Carpet was being laid today and a number of volunteers were going to work on the house this evening to be have it as finished as possible before we saw it. We have honored her request, even though it has almost killed us.

SPECIAL REQUEST: I met a lady at breakfast at Give Kids the World on Monday, 2/13/06. She informed me that her daughter also had the same brain stem tumor as Hawk. She had been diagnosed with the cancer in March of 2005. Her daughter was doing well after almost a year. I got her email address but I misplaced it in the process of packing and traveling back to TN. My email address is mcpeaktn@aol.com. I would appreciate an email if you read this email. I'm anxious to exchange information.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

FEBRUARY 5, 2006; "AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME" NEWS



What do you think this group of individuals are smiling about? It was Wednesday, 2/1/06, and it was Hawk's last radiation treatment. This is the "A" team that were with Hawk through his 30 days of radiation. Starting at the left top, the individuals in clockwise order are Matt, Mona, Daphine, Lindy, Hawk (full of laughter), Trish and Pa (who is always talking). This group of people were terrific and really helped Hawk and his family. AWESOME

Thursday, 2/2/06, Hawk and I were in town getting our hair cut. We received a call from Jo Clemons Smith from the Lebanon radio station WANT FM 99. MJ was on the air till 11 AM and they wanted to do a live interview with Hawk. We drove to the station, arriving about 10:30. MJ interpreted her broadcast immediately and spent the rest of her program talking to Hawk and getting out information on the benefit concert and silent auction. AWESOME.

Thursday night, 2/2/06, was very special for Hawk. We told Hawk that we were going to Demo's in Murfreesboro with Henry, his best family from the Learning Center, and Henry's family to celebrate the radiation treatments being completed. (Henry's parents, Deana & Derek Elwell had donated the 300 picture frames that had been sold for financial support for Hawk.) This was true. BUT, we were also there to celebrate the granting of Hawk's Make-a Wish. We were joined by Victoria Thoman, Wish Grantor, and her husband, Charlie. Hawk was going to Disney 2/7-13/06. Hawk was so excited. He had not expected to be able to go till mid March. He will be staying at Give Kids The World Village, a non-profit resort built to create Magical memories for special kids. We are expecting wonderful memories to be created for Hawk. AWESOME

The silent auction and benefit concert held Friday night, 2/3/06, at Watertown High School ("WHS") was a wonderful success. The doors opened at 6 PM for the silent auction and the concert started at 7 PM. We got there about 6 PM and had a hard time finding a place to park. The place was packed. When the concert started, it was to standing room only. Hawk and Lindy were introduced to the attendees by Anita Christian and Cheryl Ellsion, Watertown Elementary School Principal and Asst. Principal respectively. On Hawk's behalf, we want to thank all the individuals/businesses that donated so generously and the individuals that bought the items. Watertown and Wilson County have the best people in the world. The performers were wonderful. Jason Meadows, who placed second in the Nashville Star contest last year was the feature performer; with support performances by Carolina Rain and Hillary Scott; and local entertainers Timmy and Ramsey Goolsby, Doug Collins and Chance West. Ms. Marilyn Willoughly, the Music Teacher at Watertown Elementary School directed several songs by the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. A special song was written for Hawk and performed by all three grades. Hawk and Skyla had a wonderful time. By the end of the night, they were both on the gym floor with other kids playing during the live performances. We want to give a special thanks to Ms. Anita, Cheryl, Marilyn and to the many, many volunteers that did some much work to make this event as special as it was. We also want to give a very special thanks to all the individuals that gave the family hugs and told us of the prayers that are being offered to God for a miracle. (Note: The Lebanon Democrat had an article on the event in the Saturday 2/4/06, edition and the Wilson Post had individuals there taking pictures and doing interviews which will probably be in their Wednesday, 2/8/06, edition. Please refer to the papers or their web sites for the articles that tell a better story than I can write. AWESOME.

In the last update, 1/31/06, you were informed of the small miracle of us being able to buy a house close to us that Lindy is going to be able to refinance and own. We also shared that the house was in need of a lot of fixing up. I had shared the good news information of finding the house and its condition with Gayle Hooper, Director of the Learning Center ("LC") on Monday. When I returned to the LC Tuesday to pick up Skyla, I was met by Gayle; Jo Ann Vastola, the Learning Center's Sec.; and a group of the teachers and parents of students. They were so excited. They had talked to their husbands, their families, their friends, businesses, etc., and had plans to fix up Hawk's New Home-"Extreme Home Makeover", Wilson County style. They have contacted businesses and already found sponsors that donated some items for the entire make over. Sherwin Williams on North Cumberland donated all the paint, brushes, rollers, drop cloths. Designer Carpets on West Main donated all the carpet and vinyl floor coverings. Vulcan had donated two loads of gravel for the driveway. They had already started a list of skilled craftsman of various trades and many more individuals that just wanted to work on the house.

On Saturday morning, 2/4/06, the work started. It was cold and snowy outside, but very warm on the inside. There were 11 people there to work, including two small angels Hallie Vastola and Shelby Fox. By the end of the day, all the old flooring had been removed from the entire house; all the trash was cleared out (no small task), the old wall paper removed, and the kitchen stove and refrig. spotlessly cleaned. The Lord is active in Wilson County in the generosity of so many people. Awesome

On behalf of Hawk and his family, may I say again in closing that we are living in a very special place. The love, support and especially the prayers are from the heart of a very special community. It is some wonderful to know you and have your hugs of support. May the Lord Bless as you are Blessing us. AWESOME

We also learned Friday that Papa, Mike Smith, has prostrate cancer. Bone scan and Cat scan testes will be performed this week to learn how the cancer has spread. Please keep him in your prayers along with Hawk. Thanks.