game day...

Fall means football and Saturdays mean game days!

This past Saturday we were able to go to the Village football game, now this used to be something we did a lot and last year we were unable to go, but this year...it's a new activity. Camryn and Wyatt both were very excited to go and wore their "Custer 7" t-shirts in honor of their friend K who is the quarterback. We have known K for quite a while so the kids were thrilled to get to go see him in action along with the other Crusaders.



Saturday was Teacher/Staff Appreciation Night at the game and each Senior chose a teacher or staff member that has impacted their lives while at Village to run on the field with them...I was beyond honored that our friend K chose me. I taught K in 7th grade and continued to "keep track" of him if you will...plus, he means a lot to our kids. So, it was an honor to run on the field with K and be a part of his Senior season...We Love You K and we are SO proud of you!



Camryn and Wyatt LOVED the sights and sounds of the game. Camryn's favorite part? The cheerleaders and thanks to our best friend T she got a front row seat to cheerleaders and their stunts and cheers, she was in awe. She especially loved getting to hang out with one of our favorite Leonard girls M...boy, was that a treat for Camryn! As the game went on Camryn made up her own cheer and performed it for us on the field...it was quite a cheer.:) Yep, a little Crusader we have on our hands.



Wyatt meanwhile wanted to play tackle on the sidelines and wanted so badly to get his hands on a ball. He was amazed at the big boys and enjoyed running around with one of his best friends E and also going to see the cheerleaders. Many thanks to T for letting them have front row access and to K for allowing us to enjoy the game from the field.



We had such fun...really we did. In fact Camryn is getting to go to the Dance Clinic hosted by the Dance Team and perform on Saturday night. She is beyond thrilled...as I'm sure you can imagine! Wyatt is just excited to go to the game and see his buddy K and watch the Crusaders win!

I must admit that it felt good to be back in my element, chatting with students and being around my Village world. It felt so great to have Jason, Camryn and Wyatt there as well...after all, if all goes as planned maybe next year we'll truly be a Crusader family, with both kids there. We'll see. But for now we'll enjoy our Saturday nights under the lights and cheer on the boys and watch the girls and just savor the moments.

Future Crusaders...

quote of the day...

Okay, really this just might be the quote of the year...or really the past almost 5 years.

"We feel we deserve to have God explain why, but that's not how it works. He doesn't have to." ~ Francis Chan

As I have been wrestling for almost five years with that very question of "WHY?" and today when I casually read the above quote on a friend's facebook status it hit me right in my heart...

God doesn't have to explain why to me...because if I believe in WHO he is, my Savior. Then I know above all that he is good...

I will not pretend to like the past almost five years, but I will love my Lord and trust, believe and hope.

Some days it is easier than others...

proud...

To say I am proud of our little girl would be an understatement. Camryn never ceases to amaze me and again today she made me so incredibly proud.

Camryn and I headed down to clinic...I won't lie I was a bit nervous and just a tad stressed. Jason has taken Camryn in the past, mostly because I was working part - time and I did not have any personal time off. So...now that I'm back full - time and have personal time we've decided to take turns.

We saw B at clinic and she was pleased that Camryn was doing so well. Later we saw Dr.S who confirmed that Camryn looked great and was doing well. We got through the clinic appointment super fast which was nice.

We headed down to the lab for Camryn's blood draw. Quite frankly both Camryn and I were dreading it...

As we walked in the lab Camryn turned and said, "Mommy, I'm going to be brave."

And brave she was...not a tear shed! She watched the whole deal and did great. Again, Camryn never ceases to amaze me!

Later B called and Camryn's labs looks great! We are so thankful.

So proud of you Cam...so proud!

four years old...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WYATT!




We are amazed daily by you and the gift that you daily remind us of...God's great love for us. You are a treasure, full of life, spunk, attitude and just all the round the best boy ever! You have brought us much joy, happiness and hope. We cannot believe you are four and yet we cannot imagine life without you.

We LOVE you Wy Boy!

light the night...

This year we are participating in the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. We are walking in honor of our survivor Camryn and her donor Wyatt...and for all the other children and adults battling a disease that takes far too many lives. In fact our lives this past year was doubly impacted by leukemia when my Aunt Frankie passed away after a nine month battle with the disease.

We are excited to participate and walk in the evening while carrying our red balloons in support and Camryn carrying her white balloon as a survivor and this year we will carry a gold balloon in honor of my Aunt. Yes, we believe that a cure can be found...and that with more testing drugs can be found to aid in the fight.

If you'd like to support our team here's our link:

http://pages.lightthenight.org/los/SClarita10/TeamMikels

And if you'd like to "watch" Camryn's journey click below. It's a bit long, but trying to capture an almost 5 year journey was quite a task...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thank you friends in blog world and in real life for your constant support for our Dynamic Duo...we are beyond blessed.

We walk...
For HOPE!

this 'n that...

So I've been a little behind in posting...but here is a little this 'n that...

* Well, the first week of school is done...wow, am I exhausted! It is taking me awhile to get back into the routine of working full-time and balancing work, home and most importantly family. I fell asleep on the couch every night...super tired. I'm hoping soon my body will adjust and I won't feel like crashing at 8:00 every night.

* I also started walking this week...really been needing some time to myself, to think, pray, and just be. So I figured what better way than to walk and mix the physical activity with some alone time. It's been really nice and refreshing...I'm enjoying it, hopeful to develop a new healthy habit!

* We are gearing up around here for Wyatt's FOURTH birthday! Tomorrow is his birthday party and he is very excited! Tuesday is his actual birthday...a day full of hope and promise. We sure do love our little guy Wy!

* It's official Camryn starts school on Tuesday! WooHoo! She is very excited, although again a little nervous. We had hoped that Camryn would be able to have the one of the teachers she had last year, but unfortunately that is not the case. So we'll begin the journey of a new teacher...which is a little normal. Most kids move from teacher year to year, so like them Camryn will too! We talked to her about it today and she took the news great, but is just really looking forward to school starting! We are very excited...First Grade here she comes!

* Light the Night 2010...we will be walking this year in the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society's annual walk. I will be posting all our info this week and invite you to support our team. Plus, I've been working on a montage that tells Cam's story...it's taken me awhile. Walking through almost 5 years of memories is a lot to sift through, but it's done...so I'll post it very soon!

* And of course we enjoying the most wonderful time of the year in the Mikels house...Football Season! Yep, cheerin' for the Trojans and all our other favorites is a Saturday tradition. Sure is fun watching Camryn make up cheers as she watches her new favorite Trojan, Matt Barkley! ;)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend...

Remembering today...9.11.01. Remembering those that lost loved ones, those who are daily putting their lives in harms way to protect our freedoms...we will never forget.

aware...

Were you aware that today marks 15 months since this little girl received the gift of a lifetime?



What a gift these past 15 months have been, truly not a day goes by that I don't consider the gift.

And can you believe that in a little over a week this little guy will be FOUR?



I will admit that I am struggling with the idea that he will be FOUR, yep I'm in denial...just a little bit.

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And were you aware that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month???

And I bet you can guess why that matters to us...



I will be posting very soon how you can help children just like this little girl who pretty much is my hero.

Childhood Cancer...two words that should never be put side by side, never should be uttered in the same breath. And yet they are...

Too many times. Too many children. Too many stories. Too many good-byes. Too many...