I Heart Faces - Week 19 - “Blurb Photo Book” Contest

I couldn't resist entering this week's contest. With four children, all equally photogenic, I knew I could conjure up the *just right* photo.  Here's my *amateur* entry.

This one is Annie ... my youngest ... who's in love with the camera and never takes a bad picture.  I love how she locks eyes with me behind my lens.




Head on over to I Heart Faces and check out all the other amateur entries.

"I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb andI ♥ Faces web sites."

I Heart Faces - Week 18 - Laughter

Ever heard of I Heart Faces before?  I hadn't either ... until today when I stumbled across an entry that a photographer friend (hi there Stacy) had posted on her blog.  The post intrigued me.  And so I surfed and surfed and thought *Wow, I think I can do this too!*  So here's my first entry for the next I Heart Faces contest.

My Baby ... when she was little ...

All Grown Up

Something is happening ... right before my eyes! My little girl is growing up. Just look at her now!

Just how does that happen?

Frances

God Bless Lucas

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."



Last Friday was a special, special day for Lucas. It was a day filled with warmth, love, kindness, and intense joy.


Weeks before Lucas ended his treatment, his teacher, Mrs. Roberts, sheepishly told us that she wanted to hold a *God Bless Lucas* party to mark the end of his treatment. Sheepishly, I say, because she didn’t want to jinx anything by planning a celebration too soon.

All we were told was that they would be having a special lunch/games day in honour of Lucas.

So when Friday arrived, Lucas went to school, not expecting the outpouring of love that he was met with that day. He was floored! Completely.





Of course, hind sight is 20/20, and Lucas says he *knew* something was going on,
*How come everyone is dressed in orange and I’m not?*
*I saw Thomas making a card with Lucas on it, and he said it was, ummm for his cousin?!?!?!*
*Why did we play soccer baseball so early in the day?*
*How come I only had a snack in my lunch?*
*Why were the lights off when we went to the church basement?*

In his mind, he knew, but as Paul told me, just watching him, you knew he was surprised (I wasn’t there … boohoo … )

The entire Grade Two group (both Mrs. Roberts’ class and Mrs. Tennant’s class) were dressed in orange (the colour for leukemia). After morning recess, the two classes played a game of soccer baseball and then assembled in the church basement for the party. Mrs. Tennant led the two classes over to the basement so that Mrs. Roberts could bring Lucas separately (they made up some excuse about needing to get something from the office).

When they walked into the basement, everyone yelled “Surprise”. Around the room were streamers, balloons, child created cards, a banner that said "God Bless Lucas" signed by all his teachers and the kids and a sea of orange shirts. It was breathtaking, I’m sure. It kinda knocked Lucas off his socks.

They played games and took pictures (thank goodness, since the crazed photographer wasn’t there … boohoo … called into work … boohoo). After that, they ate yummy pizza (one of Lucas’ favourites!)
They also had some cake that was part slab cake and part cupcakes. Lucas opened up gifts and cards, marvelling at all the thoughtfulness that was surrounding him.




The best part of the party was when the kids followed Lucas outside to release some balloons. Lucas released two bundles of multi-coloured balloons to the cheers of his classmates … a symbol of Lucas *letting leukemia go*.

What a tribute to a brave, brave boy.

He was so excited to tell me all about when I arrived … late, I might add. He just couldn’t believe that his whole class would do this all for him.

So double, triple, quadruple, THANK-YOU to Mrs. Roberts for spearheading the celebration. You have been so understanding, so kind, so compassionate, so concerned, so … well everything! We can’t thank you enough.

And to Mrs. Tennant, Mrs. Roberts’ partner in crime … THANK-YOU for doing your part!

To Mrs. Van Heugten, Mrs. Carlone, Mrs. Grondin, Mrs. Renaud, Mrs. D’Agnillo, Mr. Van Heugten … thanks for helping Lucas along the way. Each of you is/was so special in your own way.

To Mrs. Pagliaroli, for supporting our family and helping us to fundraise for various activities that were meaningful to us.

To the kids … all of you and your equally wonderful parents … for wrapping Lucas and our family with unwavering love, incredible concern, and hope for the future.

Everyone’s good wishes are meaningful and we thank you ever so much!!


Frances (and the crew)

A New Day

May 20th --- just another day to mark off on the calendar, right?

Wrong!

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. A new life without the bleeping cancer monster underfoot. A day to celebrate where we have come from and where we are going.

Today we unleashed some balloons with a pill bottle attached. Inside the pill bottle was a note that said:

On May 19th, after 3 years and 4 months, our little boy, Lucas, finally gave the cancer monster a shove out the door ... for good! On that evening he took his very last chemo pill ever. Now it's back to snacks after dinner ... and anything dairy with absolutely no restrictionns! Bring on the pizza and the ice cream, it's time to party!!!!!!!!! Lucas sent this note in empty pill bottles (by balloon) as away to recognize the end of his chemotherapy. If you find this note, please contact us ....

We'd love to know how far they went.