Monday, May 9, 2011

Overwhelming Love, Unending Generosity, Indescribable Joy

My cup overflows with blessings. 
-Psalm 23:5

Face of Faith-Emma Kait

The words just don't seem big enough, the descriptions in print seem inadequate when we try to sum up the truly amazing and love filled day that was the Bald is Beautiful BBQ and Walk a Thon benefit for Emma Kait.  

It was as if God gathered all his workers that had any tie to our family...or who knew about Emma's story...or who just heard from friends about the event and put them all in one place at one time. We were witnessing the support we have felt from the very beginning of her diagnosis in the flesh, giving us hugs, wiping our tears, sharing smiles and love and grace to us.  

Emma's first glimpse at the celebration-just released from the hospital 30 minutes prior to the event. 


I would be remiss to not mention at the very start of this post, the incredible and selfless friends I have in Amy Donovan and Jen Russell.  They are two women and moms and wives who gave their time, talents and energy to make this event what is was for us. Thank you ladies. You are true friends.  The hours they put in are too many to understand.  If you attended the event, then you experienced the organization first hand. Everything they both planned allowed the day to run perfectly.  They both have busy lives themselves and they gave to us and loved us through this celebration.  

Amy Donovan
Jen Russell



Then there was the volunteer effort and donations, for without each individual pitching in to help, the day would not have been what is was.  How do we name them all???  I fear I will forget some or not even realize what people did, so will you allow us a blanket THANK YOU volunteers!!!! OK....to name a few.....Newcastle Lions Club, Bridgett Farren of Del Oro High School, Clubhouse Cupcakes, Veronica, Mack and Company, Ned Longthorn, Blood Source, Dave and Chriss Johansen of Fantanstical Prints, Lori Sardella of Foster's Freeze, Susan Wozniak and Taco Bell, Ginger Brenning and Burger King,  Dawn Patterson of Funky Fish Designs, Shelly Rabe,  the seven most awesome head shavers on the planet, Garrett Norton DJ and announcer extraordinaire,  Bill and Amy Donovan, Jen and Adam Russell, countless other friends and family.  
Clubhouse Cupcakes girls

Then there was the friends and families and kids and acquaintances and strangers who ate, bought T-shirts, bracelets, cupcakes, bid and purchased auction items and raffle tickets, sponsored or got sponsored to walk, shaved heads, donated just because you wanted to help.  The LOVE IN ACTION was truly inspiring and truly a blessing.  

Jon's mom, Cathy and Great Gramps and Granny Franny


And then, how do we explain how miraculously helpful and generous the funds raised that day are to us as a family?  We would like you all to know that we are humbled at the thought of those hard earned dollars to each of you.  This has not been a easy time financially for anyone in the last few years.  We know that very well.  You opened your pocketbooks as opening your hearts and gave to our family to help us in a very difficult year ahead as well as the future for Emma Kait.  We would like you to know that we are conscientiously using those funds for immediate support in gas money (we drive the 65 mile round trip to Sacramento 1-2 times every week) and special individual needs for Emma right now for her treatment and health.  We want you to celebrate that you are also helping in making a safe and clean environment at our home for her.  Chemotherapy and the resulting immune compromise makes this a vital and life saving modification to our home.  Those funds are helping to finish a bathroom for her needs and an area that keeps the dust and dirt down that comes in the door.  We have had a close knit group of friends that have given significantly financially and lent the sweat equity on this, but some of the funds raised will go towards helping to finish that project. We also plan to put away some of the money for future needs for Emma Kait that we don't even realize at this point in her treatment.  There are many questions ahead for her both physically, emotionally and mentally and we want to be able to allow her the services and support she needs as she grows.  Know that ALL money raised and given that day is going directly to support this little girl.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

Forever family friends the Lemans


Then there were the faces.  Each image captured that day both in our memories and by talented photographers that have shared their photos with us, are a treasure.  Some faces we see every day, some occasionally and some we have not seen in over 20 years.  Some faces were strangers to us in appearance, but not strangers in the cause for that day.  In each face was compassion, support, concern, celebration, cheering, hard work, and most of all love.  Where would we be without each other?  I have heard from several of you, that the day effected you tremendously.  We pray that by experiencing the true power and joy that comes from using your talents and coming together for a cause bigger than yourselves can help to inspire all of us to give of ourselves more freely.  This time, the Stanphill Family was on the receiving end of this blessing, but each one of you, might one day experience the need for help, and or hear the cry for help from someone.  Let us be there for one another, like you were there for us last Sunday.  It is what humans are made for.  Community and love...such a beautiful and powerful thing. 

Jaime, Emily, Shelly, John, Kim, Sarah, Aubrie


Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
-1 John 4:7

70 Bald is Beautiful heads
Some fun stats from the day....
  • 650 dinner reservations
  • Over 800 people attended
  • 70 people in the photo who shaved their heads with Emma (several had to leave early)
  • 5 other brave women shaved their head (Amy, Rendi, Angela, Sophie and Jordan)
  • Many young kids walked almost 5 miles (or more) in one hour
  • Almost 200 T-shirts sold
  • Almost 100 Emma Kait support bracelets sold
  • All 100 pink Face of Faith bracelets sold
  • Over 30 bone marrow screenings collected
It's all amazing!  It's all worth celebrating!  It's all to help one little girl survive the most difficult year in her life!  It's all LOVE.

Simply and not profoundly enough, we thank you.


Stanphill Family May 1, 2011


Jon, Rebecca, Joseph, Emma Kait and Benjamin Stanphill




Here are only some of the amazing faces of faith.


Steve
Amy

Isaiah
Nate

Jason
John



Rendi
Tyson


Grandpa Mike
Scott


Bob
Robb


Mike
Rich


Jacob
Rendi and Emma



Sprouse Family


 To see more amazing images from other photographers that were at the Bald is Beautiful BBQ you can go to:

Studio KYK (thanks Monica!!)

CR Photography (thanks Charlotte!!)

5 comments:

  1. Just beautiful!! At a time when we feel such a loss of community and compassion it was beautiful to see that it is just a myth. Community and compassion is alive and well and I could not be more thankful!!

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  2. None of my words are big enough. How do I describe so many kinds of love? It was beautiful in every way. It was triumphant.

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  3. WOW! What an amazing turn out. I'm so bummed that we missed it.
    There was a lot of love that day for Emma & your family:)

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  4. I still can't get over that beautiful day! My family and I Enjoyed every part of It. We were thankful to be apart of something so special for Emma and her family. She is a truly a gift from God and there is not a day that goes by that Emma and her family are not in our thoughts and prayers.

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  5. i nearly feel i was there in person after reading your perfect words and seeing these amazing pictures. please know that i was there in my heart...all day long.
    praising God with you for His overwhelming generosity, love, mercy and grace.

    ReplyDelete

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