May 21 2013

$1000 Giveaway

Hi Friends, We are still here!! Our family has been a bit busy in the last 5 weeks since the end of the Spille’s trip to Disney World. We are very happy to announce we have added two sweet girls into our family through the beautiful brokenness that is adoption. The girls are adjusting incredibly well so far and we are loving being a family of six!! We are learning new routines, likes and dislikes, rules, and a lot of time management. It really has been awesome and we are so excited to watch these two treasures grow!

As we take the summer to work on some ministry strategies and planning, we would like to begin the summer with a BANG!! Over the next couple of weeks, we would like to raise $1000 to literally GIVE AWAY to one of our FANS on our Facebook Page! Since the mission for Faith Like A Child, Inc. is to help families with sick children, the heart of this giveaway will be to give this money to a family facing a difficult diagnosis with one of their children.

So, in the spirit of raising money again, we have a few more THANK YOU gifts for those who donate. We may not be able to do this every time we raise money, but since we have these gifts on hand now, we thought we’d share the love!! For every $5 you donate to Faith Like A Child, Inc., you will have one chance to receive one of the following gifts:

God’s Got This T-Shirt:

Ken Davis: Under the Influence 2-CD Set

Signed Hardback Copy of Good Grief! by Erica McNeal

Signed Hardback Copy of 20,000 Days and Counting by Robert D. Smith

Gift Certificate for Darin Crofton Photography (local to Tampa, FL)

We will place a new fundraiser meter on the side bar to share the progress and are planning to begin the giveaway on June 17th!! Thank you in advance to everyone who will participate in this whole process. We are looking forward to seeing how God will bring HOPE to others, as families share their own experiences facing difficult times.

To watch this giveaway unfold, please join us here on Facebook!!

Apr 18 2013

Excited to Meet Jesus

The other day I stared at the computer screen reading her words, “Archie and I had to do what no parent should ever have to do. We made final arrangements for Silas and chose a burial spot.” And my heart ached. As tears fell and fell, I thought about the day we went to identify our daughter before her cremation. It is the most gut-wrenching, heart-aching, cannot-believe-this-is-actually-happening experience one could go through.

Jessica and I went to the same church together growing up. If you had told me as giggly little girls who thought boys had cooties that 25 years later we’d both be where we are today, I would have shook my head in Peter Pan defiance and said, “I don’t want to grow up!” Or, at least can we get a pause button for awhile?

Jessica’s son Silas has been battling a very aggressive form of liver cancer and is now getting ready to meet Jesus. Their family signed Hospice Papers just the other day and are now taking in every moment, every giggle, every word, and every breath Silas has, treasuring each one as a gift. They do not know when the moment will come when Silas will draw his last breath here on Earth and receive his new body in Heaven. All they know is it will be soon.

What is both precious and heart-wrenching, is to read about how he is not afraid to die, he is just excited to meet Jesus face to face. On the one hand, I have no idea how you process your child saying that to you, and yet I wish we could all see death like that. In his sweet little mind he fully understands, as only a child can, the difficult to grasp words of Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21.

A few days ago Silas asked his mama to tell people to paint their nails gold in support of people who are fighting childhood cancer. And then Silas’ Facebook Page began to BLOW UP with all shades of Gold. A day later Jessica posted this, “Thank you everyone for painting your nails gold! I have to tell you something though. I told Silas how many people were painting their nails gold for him and he said “NO not for me! They have to paint their nails gold for the other kids with childhood cancer, because I’m not going to have cancer soon when I get my new body!”

Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people are painting their nails gold right now in support of Childhood Cancer, all because a sweet little boy who is about to meet Jesus is thinking of others and their battle with Childhood Cancer. Silas, we have been praying for you for about a year now and are so inspired by your sweet child-like faith, your precious innocence, and your heart for Jesus.

If you have a few minutes today, please go over to Praying For Silas on Facebook. Check out his journey, the faith of his family, and please pray God will give them the peace only HE can provide.

Apr 18 2013

Disney World Family Challenges

If you have read The Staycation Jar, you know of our LOVE for Love Projects. We like to incorporate some way of serving others when we go on vacations, staycations, or even weekends around town. As the Disney Trip for the Spille’s got close, Jordyn began to think through some ideas of how their family could serve each other AND others while they were here.

Here are the challenges we came up with together. I hope they inspire you to add something like this to your next Vacation or Staycation too:

Family Challenge Monday

Jeff and Jo: Use these cards to write a separate love letter to each of your children and one to each other. These letters will need to be done by Wednesday night and we will let you know when to hand them out.

Family Challenge Monday

Jenna, Jacob, Joshua and Joslyn: Use these cards to write a separate letter to each of your parents. Let them know what you appreciate about them and why you are so glad they are your mom or dad. These letters will need to be done by Wednesday night and we will tell you when to give them to your parents.

Family Challenge: Tuesday

Have each person secretly draw the name of another family member. Rules: At some point during the day, purchase something for (about) $5 from your own money for your family member that will make him or her smile. As you are in the store thinking of what to get for your family member, pray for him or her. Also, at some point today, go out of your way to do something nice for him or her.

Family Challenge: Wednesday

Use these notepads and sticky notes to write thank you notes for different Cast Members today. For instance, you could write a note saying, “Thank you for cleaning this bathroom!” and leave it in the bathrooms inside the park. Or, leave a sweet note for the person who has been cleaning your room this week.

Family Challenge: Thursday

Jeff, find a time early today to give your letter to your boys and have the birds and the bees conversation with them. HA! Just kidding. No really, the birds and the bees are important to know about…

Family Challenge: Thursday

Johanna, bring your letters to your girls with you over to The Contemporary Resort. Before dinner, head over to The Butterfly Garden and give your letters to your beautiful ladies.

Family Challenge: Thursday

Joshua and Jacob – Bring your letters to your dad with you on your adventures today!

Family Challenge: Thursday

Jenna and Joslyn – Bring your letters to your mom with you to dinner tonight!!

Family Challenge: Friday

In the afternoon, break up into two groups: Mom and Sons, and Dad and Daughters and have an afternoon snack together. During this snack time, Jeff, exchange letters with your girls and Johanna, exchange letters with your boys.

Also, Jeff and Jo: At your special dinner tonight, exchange the letters you wrote for each other and gross people out by making out at the dinner table.

Family Challenge: Saturday

Hand out these stickers and tattoos to the boys and girls you see at the Park today. Also, find out what four different families are celebrating on their trip to Disney World..

Family Challenge: Sunday

Have some family circle time. Have each person share their favorite part of their week, and their favorite memory. End your circle time praying with and for each other.

If you want some more ideas of Love Projects or ways to be intentional with your family, check out The Staycation Jar only available on Amazon. All proceeds are continuing to go to Faith Like A Child in support of families going through crises with their children.

Apr 11 2013

Where Was God?

Many people tend to question God’s goodness and holiness when tragedy strikes, especially when tragedy strikes a child. We often hear people ask, “Where was God while this was happening?”

Well, let me take a few moments and SHOW you where He was….

He was HERE: Jenna pre-cancer diagnosis.

AND HERE: When Cancer was dark and scary.

AND HERE: (Left scan shows Jenna’s original, non-operable brain tumor right about the time her family was told she may not survive this cancer. Right scan is after 6 rounds of chemo!)

AND HERE: As Jenna began chemo and the nausea kicked in, she made this painting. She decided to donate it to a local church to help them raise money for their Youth Group Missions Trip.

AND HERE: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self,the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

AND HERE: Jenna’s painting of how she felt after going through chemo and radiation therapy. While Jenna had every intention of, and at one point said she needed to keep this painting for herself, she felt God impress on her heart to use this painting to raise money for another family. This painting raised $587.41 for a family whose son had just passed away. Then, the woman who won the painting GAVE IT BACK TO JENNA with the promise from Jenna that she’d never let it go.

AND HERE: After both chemo and radiation therapy, NO evidence of CANCER!! How beautiful is this scan?

AND HERE: One happy, beautiful, CANCER FREE 15 year old girl!!

He was right there with every single step, every breath, every chemo drip, every shred of hope, every day of radiation, nausea, and exhaustion, every paint brush stroke, and in every moment of Jenna’s increased faith in HIM. HE WAS THERE walking with her, carrying her, holding her, comforting her, and loving her as only HE could.

And as Johanna (Jenna’s mom) added on God’s Got This!, “If Jenna didn’t get the results we all prayed to receive, God would have still be with us all. We all would have still praised Him. He is with us all, during every moment in this broken world. This world is not fair, but He is with us just the same.”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

THANK YOU for following Jenna’s story, for praying for her, for loving a family many of you may never meet this side of Heaven, for donating money or items to help send her family on a much-needed getaway, for sharing how Jenna’s story has touched your lives, for pleading on behalf of this precious girl and her family who adores her, for sharing her story and seeking prayers and support, and for watching God unfold HIS beautiful story of redemption through Jenna’s life.

Know Jenna’s story does not end here, it is JUST beginning. And our family cannot WAIT to see what God will do in and through her life!!!

Apr 11 2013

Jordyn’s Favorites

Hi friends, This is Jordyn.

Will you please pray for my friend Jenna? She is going back to the doctor today to find out if she still has brain cancer. She is a little nervous. Nervous means being a little scared, but trying to be brave.

Last week we went to Disney World with them for three days. I was a little nervous meeting them at first, but found out we could be friends. Then, I was very excited to meet Jenna in human and Joslyn started tickling me. We went to the hotel, opened up Easter Baskets, and went to Magic Kingdom to go on a few rides until Jenna was feeling tired and we went back to the hotel.

On the second day, we went to the Hollywood Studios. We got to see the NEW Disney Junior with Jenna. The new one was Mickey Mouse, Doc McStuffins, Sophia, Jake and the Neverland Pirates. We took Jenna and her brothers and sister to a car place to eat, where we ate in A CAR. I had a knife in one hand and a fork in one hand and I kept saying, “Where’s my dinner?” It was so cool. And then we did a Scavenger Hunt and the girls WON because we went in the right direction. But, I accidentally told the boys where something was because I was pointing when they were looking. When everyone got tired, we went back to the hotel.

Then on the third day, we went to Animal Kingdom. That’s where we saw Nemo the Musical and the Lion King Show. My favorite part about the Lion King Show was watching the monkeys, seeing all the animals, and playing the game. We were in the Warthog Section which I think they are disgusting because they stink, but the lady singing was called “The Gift”! I thought that was cool because the lady was “the gift” and I gave this gift to Jenna. OH!!! And so funny!!! Mr. Jeff had to go up on stage and pretend to be a warthog. We also went on the Yeti ride and everyone got to hear my daddy scream like a little girl. It was SO funny! He made everyone laugh!

I LOVED spending time with Jenna and her family. I even cried when we had to leave (she actually cried for most of the 1.5 hour drive home) and I still miss them right now. I loved their big hearts and the whole family was so much fun. I hope they had a safe trip home.

I love you, Love Jordyn

Apr 10 2013

Easter Basket Love

Many people have been asking what was in the Easter Baskets, and since a lot of these items were donated by friends from our church, we thought we’d do our shout-out today to all of our friends who donated money or items to put these baskets together. THANK YOU so much friends!!! These baskets were a big hit!

Candy (of course) – However, Jordyn created a list asking what their “Favorites” were and sent them out to each of the Spille siblings. Then, she made sure their favorite candy was in each of their Easter Baskets.

$50 cash hidden in one of the Easter Eggs… the look on Jenna’s face was completely priceless (see below for a picture in that moment).

Glow Sticks that could be made into necklaces.

A Ginormous lollipop in each of the siblings baskets.

Disney World Celebrating Buttons

Personalized Photo Albums made by a friend from our church

In Jeff and Jo’s basket, there were also some journals and a devotional from our Pastor and his wife, card games for the family, sanitizing soap, and some lotion.

T-Shirts – The girls had matching shirts in different colors, the boys had Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, and then Jeff and Johanna had matching Mickey/Minnie Beach-esque shirts. There is actually a really fun story here, as all four of the kids shirts were DONATED by one of The Disney Store’s in Florida. When it came time to put the baskets together, we were running low on funds because the Disney Dining Plan had been misquoted by $600!!! When I asked Jordyn what she wanted to do, she said she wanted to go to The Disney Store and ask if they could donate T-shirts for her. So, we went!

Jordyn shared what she was doing to one of the Managers, who got a little teary-eyed as Jordyn spoke. This manager shared how she had a son who also had brain cancer years ago and survived because of surgery, chemo, and radiation. Her son is still here today, but his cancer changed them all forever. So, as you can see, what Jordyn was sharing was very close to her heart. At the time, Jordyn was only thinking of getting T-shirts for the siblings, so the manager asked Jordyn to pick out four T-shirts. She went through the store with Jordyn, helping her with sizing, colors, and characters. It was precious. She then told Jordyn she’d see what magic she could make happen, and together as team members, they raised money to purchase the shirts for the Spille’s! How amazing is that???

We had an awesome time putting these Easter Baskets together and appreciate each family and organization who helped make this happen. Please check back tomorrow for a note from our CEO on what she loved about accomplishing her very first major Love Project!!

Apr 9 2013

Thankful for Cancer

WOW!! We had a BLAST sending the Spille Family to Disney World last week. I truly do not think Jordyn could have chosen a better family to give this gift to. Over the next couple of weeks, we will post pictures of their trip, and give you a bird’s eye view of what happened. My hope is to include stories from the Spille Family as well!! And, each day, we will give a shout out to a person, family, or organization who helped make this entire trip possible. We could not have done it without the efforts of SO many people.

So, to start you off… check out this gorgeous place…

This is The Old Key West Resort at Walt Disney World. Our Pastor invited our daughter up on stage one Sunday morning to share what she wanted to do for Jenna. Within minutes after the services, a family came to us wanting to donate their Disney Vacation Club membership week for 2013 to the Spille Family. We were totally blown away by their generosity. So, the Spille’s stayed in a 2 bedroom suite, complete with living room, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and laundry room and the biggest jetted tub that isn’t a jacuzzi, I’ve ever seen.

Here was Jeff and Jo’s room, complete with the Easter Baskets Jordyn made for them:

The kids all stayed here (and also received Easter Baskets):

Check out this awesome tub (complete with bath salts, soaps, and shower gel given by our Pastor and his wife, and the Spa Kit for the Girls Day):

And, we stocked their fridge with a bunch of fruit, cereal, granola bars, drinks, and breakfast items.

As Jenna and I walked down the lane in the Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre one night, I told her, “Here is another reason to be thankful for our experiences with cancer!” Without both of us having cancer, our families likely would not have crossed paths. However, it is because I am a cancer survivor, a mutual friend of ours (THANK YOU KIM!) shared Jenna’s story with me, asked how best she could love this family, and asked us to be praying.

Many days I am not thankful for cancer and how it tears families apart. I do not always feel thanks when I am undergoing PET scans, radiation therapy, blood tests, or chemo. But, today… and all of last week, I saw what Satan intended for destruction, God used to bring two families who were complete strangers to become family!

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