A Child's Prayer

I WROTE THIS 2 DAYS AGO...
Today is our last day of Andy´s chemotherapy of this cycle.  After this we have to get a shot, some labs, and finally a doctor's appointment.  We will know the day of the appointment if the cancer has spread to his brain. We are praying hard and we can’t wait to know.

I had a rough weekend.  My wonderful parents left and went back to Mexico.  They were here for two weeks and they helped us so, so much with everything.  I feel so blessed to have them in our lives.  They totally took the roll as the parents for our kids.  They took David to school, Mia to the park, played with them, and everything else. They also helped us a lot financially, and I can’t thank them enough for all of their help.  My kids miss them so much, too!  I always take my mom to the airport, but this time I couldn't.  But, I am sure they know how much I love them and miss them.

Even though it was a bad weekend, it was an amazing weekend.  We felt the love of so many people that I can't explain it with words.  This cancer thing has not taken anything away from us, on the other hand, it has given us a lot.

 

One of my friends from our church put together a garage sale.  She organized everything last minute.  Tons of people donated items for the sale and also donated baked goodies. Tons of people from our church helped her the day of the sale.  It was huge!  They had a sign with our family picture on it, and Andy´s story, it was amazing. All of our friends stopped by and helped, too.  Stacey Reed, another friend, told me that people got there saying I want a cookie, and paid with a 20 dollar bill and donated the change.  Other people just went and donated money.

That day we had to get Andy's MRI, so on our way home, Andy said he wanted to stop by the sale.  What an amazing experience!  I was in the car still, and my tears kept coming down.  It was such a great moment!  My tears were not sad tears, I was so happy, and so grateful with Heavenly Father.  He answered my prayers when he told me that he was going to provide the way for us to be okay, and I trust him.

Andy didn't get down out of the car, but I know my guy.  And, even though he does not cry like me, I know he felt the same way as I did.  We love you guys!  We are so thankful for everything that you are doing for us and we can´t wait to be back on our feet and give back to you!  I know we will.

One more thing that happened to me.  I got home from the cancer center and two big baskets were by my doorstep.  My kids were so excited because they saw that the basket had chocolate and candy.  But it had more than that. I used to work at Boulder Creek Elementary School, I was a teacher's AID for the Amaneceur preschool.  I worked there just about two months, and I loved it.  I love those kids and I miss them already.  So, the teachers put together this basket, they sent me gift cards, they gave me books to read while I am here with Andy, lotion, sleepers, candy, chocolate, magazines and more.  But one of my favorite ones was a little book that my preschool kids made for me.  They colored pictures and made me a little book.  Isn't that so sweet?!  It brought tears to my eyes.  That’s right, I cry a lot! LOL!  Someone said one day in a Relief Society class, that crying is a talent.  Not everyone can cry like this, so I must be very talented! LOL!

My friend Rickelle put together a donation page, and people have been donating money.  We are so overwhelmed with our friends and family response.  Also, people that we don’t know have helped and donated money, especially tons of photographers.

And another awesome thing is, David has the best  kindergarten teacher ever.  She has become a good friend of mine.  It was thanks to her that I got that job at the preschool.  She is such a sweet person and we love her! She just put together a charity lunch.  She got a restaurant to donate food, and she is organizing everything.  This lunch will be at our neighborhood park, and she is going to be selling the tickets, so make sure to contact her to get yours.  I am excited, it is going to be fun… *Liz Valenzuela 480-2020643

I also went to church this Sunday.  It was the fist time in almost 8 years that I went to church without Andy and 2 kids.  I admire my friend Suzanne that does this every Sunday, I really didn't have a chance to catch that much this Sunday, but one of the things that made me feel the spirit so strong was when my friend’s daughter and husband sang a hymn called, a  Child's Prayer. Autumn’s dad is in the ICU, we became good friends but we can’t really see each other since she is in the hospital with her dad and I am at the Cancer center with Andy.  But we get to text each other every day and she has helped our family a lot, too.  Anyway, when Natalie her daughter sang that song it went straight to my heart…

Heavenly Father are you really there?

And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer?


Some say that heaven is far away,


But I feel it close around me as I pray.

Heavenly Father, I remember now


Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:


"Suffer the children to come to me."


Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.



Pray, he is there;


Speak, he is list'ning.


You are his child;


His love now surrounds you.


He hears your prayer;


He loves the children.


Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav'n.

People ask me what are you guys going to do, what’s the plan, are you selling the house? And the answer is I DON’T KNOW! I  am living one day at the time.  Everyday I fix one thing, another day I pay others, and another day things just happen and bless our lives.  So, I don’t know what are we going to do, I just know that everything is going to be okay, and I am sure of that.