I've been trying to come here since Monday night to update you on the elves, and just haven't been able to find the words. I am absolutely amazed at how this whole elf thing has taken on a life of it's own. By mid-day Sunday, including the elves that Host an Elf had donated themselves, close to 200 elves had been donated to kids with cancer!!!!!!!!!!!! The orders continue to come in. Sunday night I headed to Atlanta to help deliver some of them to Scottish Rite. It was a quick trip, but I'm so glad I went!! We delivered some to kids we ran into in the clinic and then we made a couple of stops over at the hospital. We left a huge load for the child life specialists to share with other kids. I was able to meet Lori and Gregg (from Host an Elf) and Lori's parents. They presented CURE Childhood Cancer with a check for $1200!!! In 6 days, that's how much money was raised w/ Catie's elves!!
I am still amazed when I think about how all this started w/ a hope for a discount on a bulk order and an e-mail. I know they e-mail is still circulating and we are so grateful to all of you who passed it on. To think that these elves are creating new memories for kids who are fighting and their families AND that money has gone to CURE for research... Tre' and I really are just blown away. I really can't find the words to explain how it helps us through this first Christmas without Catie. To say that this project is "fitting" as a remembrance of her is an understatement. Those of you who have followed us for a long time will remember Catie's mischievous streak and her love of her elf. I can still see her face when she discovered her elf in the flour that morning last Christmas... and that brings a smile. So, this year, she lives on in a different way... we'll find a bit of her in the elf stories we hear from our friends and in the memories we know are being made... we'll find a bit more of her in the money raised for CURE to help kids like her... and we'll always, always find a huge chunk of her in our hearts. We will miss her, but we will be grateful for the time we had. Thanks to Host an Elf, to all of you who spread the word, and to all of you who bought and donated elves! You've made a difference in the lives of some really great kids this Christmas and in the life of this family and we are ever so grateful.
6 comments:
Jenny,
Your strength continues to be amazing to me. I am sometimes amazed at how touched and affected I am by your story considering I have never even met you. I don't know if you even realize what a testimony you are to people. I know that you would much rather have traveled a road that would have been easier, but God has taken your tragedy and loss and has allowed it to make an impact on the lives of people that you will never know. I am so glad Katie's elves are spreading their joy.
Go Catie, that girl still shines! What a story, she must be so very proud of what her Momma has started in her memory. Happy Holidays!
Jenny,
I ordered my elf yesterday. My daughter is so excited. We can't wait to see all the things we can do with her. I had left you a comment about stories of all the mischief they get into, but then found it on the website when I went to order it. So, thanks so much for letting us know about the elves. We'll share stories later on. Have a blessed Christmas!!
Wendy in Winder, GA
I ordered our elf last night, and I am so excited! I can hardly wait- this is going to be such a fun tradition. I mentioned to the kids last night at supper that we might get to host an elf for a while before Christmas, and they were so excited! It was the first thing they asked me this morning, and they asked if only I would be able to see the elf. I know my oldest will be a little disappointed when he sees it is a stuffed doll, but I have a feeling his disappointment will go away by the next morning when he sees what mischief he has done. I'm going to convince him that no way would I have made that mess - so the elf really must come to life at night! And my other ones are little enough to totally be caught up in the magic of it all. I'm already dreaming of all the fun things our elf will do, and I appreciate you sharing it with us so much! And the fact that I can help out childhood cancer research is amazing! Praying for you both and remembering Catie this season as well - of course, we will be telling our kids about Catie as we tell them about the elf! I'm so glad this has helped you both with this first holiday, and I'm glad this will help keep Catie's memory alive!
Love,
Alayna Brooks
We received our elf two days ago this morning Kris had left a message for my girls on their bathroom mirror my daughter Katelyn said to me "mommy look at what that silly little elf did". I started to tear up beacuse I knew that was the exact same words your Catie said to you. How your story has touched so many families is just amazing to me. God Bless you!!!
Hello Jenny,
I adore that video of Izzy, it's amazing how fast she moves for such a little one!! The story of how Catie loved the elf and the mess he made was very funny and moving, dear little sweetie girl, I'm so glad she had such fun with it. I would like to buy an elf or two but I live in France, is it possible? Could you please find out and mention it in one of your entries, I will look out for it?
The hymn is beautiful, very moving too, I love it.
Wishing your family a blessed Christmas, a happy new year. You will think of Catie of course, I pray you will remember all the good times you had and that the bad memories will gradually fade until you just remember the good.
Love to your family,
from Angela
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