Monthly Archive: May 2017

A year ago today was when we made our very first journey to St. Jude. We knew almost nothing about the hospital, we had no idea what to expect, we were scared for our daughter but choosing to trust the Lord. My goodness how things change in a year.

You might think looking back on that memory is sad, but the things I remember most were the precious moments of that day. My favorite memory from that day is our pizza picnic on the hotel bed at 11:00 pm because Kayleigh wanted cheesy bread. She was so excited we said yes. So often the little things made her the happiest, and St. Jude was really good at the little things and the big things. I wish we had never needed their services, I wish there had been another way for the Lord to accomplish His plan – a way where our family stayed complete. But even while my heart wishes for it, I know that God’s plan is perfect.

St. Jude will always be close to our hearts. Our special safe haven where we met amazing people and received such attentive care. As we get closer to our first big fundraiser, we are so excited for the opportunity to give back to St. Jude. If you don’t have plans Friday night, come join us at Relay for Life at the Hartselle Civic center. Team Kayleigh will be hosting Kayleigh’s birthday bash. Or make your way to the race and blood drive Saturday morning. You can still register! Online registration is closed, but paper registration is available!

Together we can make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer!

Psalm 127:3
3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Thank you for helping us fight for these precious children and their families!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Waiting for the doors to open that morning at the pediatrician’s office

May the Huntsville St  Jude affiliate

Saying goodby to Brother Duck and Sissy Duck before hitting the road to Memphis

Cheeasy bread in bed? You betcha!!

May 9, 2017

Happy Tuesday Friends!

It’s been a long day around here. We are working to get all the details together for Friday and Saturday. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend!

As I was finally stopping to eat some dinner after 9:00 tonight I realized I had not had my amazing moment today. God has given us an amazing moment every day since Friday, and I’ve decided to keep my eyes open for them. And then Grace walks into the kitchen and hands me her phone. See, tonight there was a chorus concert and we had been invited to attend. Sadly, Tim and I could not go because tonight was Cole’s Boy Scout Bridging Ceremony, but my mom and Grace went for us. Months ago I had been asked for Kayleigh’s favorite song, we usually play the Christian radio station and she had many songs she loved – but there was one pop song that got her moving, “Can’t Stop The Feelin'” by Justin Timberlake. As soon as she started seeing trailers for the movie “Trolls” last summer she was hooked. It played on her iPad, in our car, everywhere. And whenever it came on she started singing and dancing along.

Tonight the chorus sang Kayleigh’s song in her honor, and Grace recorded it for me. As I sat on my kitchen counter, eating a microwaved sandwich, exhausted from a grueling string of days, listening to that song, I found myself smiling and swaying along to the beat. I could almost see Kayleigh in her sunglasses, in the back seat, bouncing in her booster seat. What a perfectly timed “amazing moment.” Isn’t God good?

Philippians 4:19
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

I love that verse. Do you see the part where it says God will supply ALL your needs? It doesn’t say he’ll only provide the big needs, it says ALL. That means He provides even these little “amazing moments” for me – just because He knows my heart needs them this week. What a good, good father we serve!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

I hope you enjoy the show!

https://www.facebook.com/187306011663522/videos/384344405293014/

You know, I said last night that I was going to watch for the amazing things God was going to do each day this week as we lead up to Kayleigh’s birthday. So why is it that His amazing things still take me by surprise?? We humans are such fickle creatures – but thankfully God knows that and still loves us!

Today was one of those insanely crazy, go nonstop, no time to eat, no time to think, try to fit 500 things into 2 slots, kind of days. Grace also had a double header and closing ceremonies for her softball season tonight as well. I got drug on to the field to help hand out trophies and medals tonight, about the time I thought we were done they made one last announcement. A very special family made the most awesome collage of Kayleigh’s last year’s All Star Season and presented it to me on the field tonight.

God’s timing is so amazingly perfect. A beautiful treasure, at just the right moment, designed to remind me how much our girl and our family is loved. Our community, and softball family have been etched into our hearts. We will never forget this love and support.

1 Thessalonians 3:9
9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.

Proverbs 17:17
17 A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

To our special friends, we love you dearly.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

May 7, 2017

I think this will be the week where I just watch for God to do something special each day. The flowers delivered Friday, the necklace with the children’s picture Saturday, and today – there is a beautiful article on the front page of the Decatur Daily Newspaper. Oh how that makes me smile – Kayleigh would have LOVED that.

As she became more well known, and people would stop us in public, I can remember her saying, “Mom, it’s almost like I’m famous!” She didn’t really understand why people were so drawn to her. She would say to me, “Why do they want to know me? I’m not special.” But oh how wrong she was. She was, and still is special, beautiful, inspiring. One of the last interviews she did, I can remember her telling Grace and Cole, “you might get to be on TV, and you might get a little famous, but you’ll never be as famous as me!” Yes indeed, a front page article about her would have made her smile.

How thankful I am that on this hard week, God is blessing us with precious reminders. What an amazing father God is to his children – I am so thankful to be counted as one.

Ephesians 1:4-5
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

I am also so thankful that Kayleigh saw her need for Jesus, and chose to accept Him before she died. There is no greater joy for a parent. Knowing that eternity is on the horizon gives me hope. It also spurs me on to share Jesus with others – because time is so incredibly short.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow​💜

http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/prayers-for-kayleigh-hartselle-family-raises-awareness-of-type-of/article_788c7cf9-83ab-5c52-9490-ba3bdafa32e6.html