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Tonight’s news has been a few days in the making. When I posted last night that God works in ways we don’t understand I wasn’t kidding. We’ve been watching God do amazing things to put Kayleigh’s Birthday Bash together and we are so very excited. But evidently God decided to adjust our timing.

On May 13th we will still be having the 5k and Fun Run as well some more fun things at the race site, but the music festival portion, Duck Jam, will be postponed to later in the year. Thankfully the artists are being so gracious to work with us so Johnny can be a part. See below for all the details. As always, we trust God completely. Even though we don’t understand His process on this one, we know he can see everything we can’t and that His plan is better than ours!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:​​​ ​​​​April 18, 2017
Johnny Sandlin’s Duck Jam Announces Major Fundraising Event Will be Rescheduled for a Later Date.

Hartselle, AL – Johnny Sandlin’s Duck Jam originally scheduled for May 13th, 2017 at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Grounds as a music fundraiser for the PFK Foundation,
will be rescheduled to a later date in 2017.

“The re-scheduling of the date is necessary due to a recent accident affecting event producer Johnny Sandlin that will require a recovery period to allow him to re-join planning and production efforts 100%. Johnny wants this event to be the stellar success it was always planned out to be,” states, PFK Foundation heads Tim and ‘Carrow McClendon, “We are looking at a few of the best options for the rescheduled date later in 2017, and are excited that the event will still be able to offer a huge amount of talent, hope and inspiration to everyone participating. In the meantime, our thoughts are with Johnny as he fully recovers and gets back to his normal routine of helping to bring great music to people everywhere. We didn’t want to move forward with everything on May 13th without Johnny being able to be involved and a central part of the event.”

The fundraiser is the biggest event of the year for the PFK Foundation and will be a celebration of young Kayleigh McClendon’s birthday. On her 7th birthday (May 13th, 2016), Kayleigh was diagnosed with terminal DIPG cancer which she fought bravely until her passing on Nov. 15, 2016. The McClendon family has created the PFK Foundation to continue Kayleigh’s fight on behalf of all children similarly afflicted. PFK works closely with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and proceeds will benefit St. Jude’s.

Acclaimed Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductee producer, Johnny Sandlin has thrown his support behind this incredible event resulting in over 30 stellar acts coming together to perform. Sandlin is known for his groundbreaking work in both the Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Macon, GA (Capricorn Records) music scenes and is considered one of the most important producers in crafting the Southern Rock genre of music. He has worked with top acts such as The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Wet Willie, The Marshall Tucker Band, Chuck Leavell, Jerry Reed, Mac Davis, Marie Osmond, Elvin Bishop and The Gatlin Brothers, to name just a few. Johnny’s industry nickname is “The Duck,” and Kayleigh McClendon’s was “Baby Duck.”

The new, rescheduling date for Duck Jam will be announced soon once all reorganization details have been finalized. Continue to watch the PFK website and Facebook pages for additional updates and information.
For more info, contact the PFK Foundation at info@thePFKfoundation.org or check the website http://www.thepfkfoundation.org

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

A new week begins and so much is going on! I will have much to post about tomorrow. To say that God works in mysterious ways doesn’t begin to cover it. Really, God works in ways that leave me saying, “Wait just a minute, that isn’t what I meant!” It is so easy to get bent out of shape when God does things we don’t understand. Or when He answers our prayers in ways we can’t comprehend. What is amazing is watching those things we don’t understand turning into astounding blessings.

I have learned not to question what God is doing, rather I ask Him to show me how to stay on His path. And you know what? When I am patient, He is so gracious to give me glimpses of what He is doing. Over these past 11 months, I have seen God take what should be the most horrific thing a parent can endure and turn it into something beautiful. When I take myself out of the picture and look at the life of my daughter, she was blessed beyond belief. Her 7 years were short, but they were filled with love, laughter, and beauty. Even cancer couldn’t dim her sparkle. And that cancer – while the enemy would like to have crushed us with that hopeless diagnosis, it did just the opposite. It drew our family closer, it changed a town, it created a reason for us to share hope with anyone who would listen. Cancer built a legacy. And Kayleigh, she only had to spend 7 years on this earth to fulfill her mission – and she has been rewarded with heaven. See, if you take me out, the story is beautiful. Kayleigh’s story is complete. Kayleigh is eternally happy!

Of course, when you put me back in the story there is grief. But our family chose to trust the Lord from the beginning, and now we see that God is still using Kayleigh’s story. He is taking our sorrow and using it to encourage others. When I told the Lord “I surrender,” I can promise you – I did not mean like this. But how thankful I am that He allows me to see the good that comes from our grief, and that He never leaves my side.

Deuteronomy 31:8
8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

This was the sign last week. Our neighborhood still has purple bows and purple lights. You can’t know what those silent signs of support mean.

11 months later and still #teamkayleigh

The lights on our street 💜

Happy Easter!

What a wonderful day it has been. Holidays can be hard, but today was actually wonderful. We spent the day with family and relaxing on the river. Watching the kids hunt eggs, fish and play with worms. I got a little crazy and wore a hat to church today. I know Kayleigh would have given me so much grief. It made me smile to wear it knowing she was probably shaking her head from heaven, telling folks about her crazy mama. Often through the day I could see right where Kayleigh would have fit in and hear what she would have been saying.

Rather than make me sad, remembering today made me smile. Perhaps because it’s Easter. Because of what my Savior did on this day, we have hope! Death is only a temporary separation for those of us that believe and accept the gift of salvation from Jesus. How thankful I am for that promise!

Matthew 28:6
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Easter 2017

Easter 2016

It’s the 15th. I will never look at this day of the month the same again. My heart counts the 15th of each passing month. This month the count is five. Five months since Kayleigh went home to heaven. I’ve sat tonight watching videos of my spunky Baby Duck – reminding myself of her voice, expressions and attitude. Good heavens, she was such a pistol! How thankful I am for technology, that I can see and hear her whenever I want to.

Our family is slowly mending, slowly learning to live without her. We miss her, I don’t have the words for just how much. But I do know that I am thankful that my Savior is in control. He watches over us, protects us, and helps mend our hearts.

As I go to sleep this Saturday night, I know I will wake tomorrow to the joy that Jesus is alive. That He triumphed over death, and because of His sacrifice, I have eternity to look forward with my family. What a beautiful and encouraging promise.

Romans 8:39
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am His and He is mine, forever.
‘Carrow💜

11 months ago today we received the diagnosis. It seems like we have been on this journey so much longer than that! Rather than dwelling on sad things tonight, let’s talk about something different. Let’s talk about the race.

The Prayers for Kayleigh 5k and Fun Run will be Saturday, May 13th… Kayleigh’s birthday, and only a month away! Race registration forms have begun to arrive, St. Jude has sent some awesome goodies for us to give out to runners, and PFK has some fun swag that should be arriving any day. It’s so exciting!

So while we are getting pumped up, I was thinking about having a competition between or local schools to see which school could bring in the most race registrations. Here’s the kid count we have so far…

HHS = 0
HJHS = 45
HIS = 1
FEB = 0
CES = 2
BBE = 6

I’ll post at least once a week how the schools are doing, so come on kids get busy!

One more fun fact about the race… do you see the grey sticker below? We are having a limited number of those stickers printed, and the only way you can get one is if to cross the finish line. Not even our family can get one if they don’t run!

We are so excited, things are coming together to make an amazing event!

1 Corinthians 9:
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

Until tomorrow,

‘Carrow💜