FFF - got hope?

Hello friends,

The theme for this Favorite Foto Friday is . . .

Pick Your Own Theme!

It was definitely a hard one for me - as I had so many ideas. But since this is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Cure Kids Cancer Challenge is tomorrow - I just had to go with the theme of HOPE!

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month . . . so this is the time to do all we can to raise awareness!

Before Jacob was diagnosed - I thought childhood cancer was something that didn't happen very often. And never did I think it was something that would take the life of one of my own children. But unfortunately - childhood cancer affects thousands of children each year - with 46 new cases being diagnosed every day.

And childhood cancer can affect any child - from newborns to teenagers. There is no known cause . . . no one knows why some children get cancer . . . and no one knows why some children get better and some children don't.

But we do know that cancer is the NUMBER ONE disease killer of our children - taking more lives than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis and diabetes combined! And we do know that 14,000 children are diagnosed each year and sadly 20% of those diagnosed to not survive. That's almost 3000 children who die each year from cancer . . . just way too many.

And most importantly we do know that RESEARCH is the only way to find a CURE! Research is the only HOPE for the 40,000 children currently in treatment for cancer. We have to work together to find a cure . . . to stop this disease from taking more precious, innocent lives like our son!

Jacob never lost HOPE!

The power of HOPE is a beautiful thing. It gives us something to look forward to on our darkest days. It is a light in the darkness. It is the anticipation of good things to come. In the world of childhood cancer, sometimes HOPE is all you have. HOPE for just one more day. HOPE for a CURE!

Tomorrow is the first-ever National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day - designated by Congress to be September 13th.

"Never before in history has the dream of eliminating childhood cancer been so attainable, yet seemed so elusive. We live in a nation where the effectiveness of treatments and technology offer hope to children who dream of a bright future. Each case of childhood cancer is a very personal tragedy that can strike any family with children, at anytime, anywhere. In setting aside September 13th to recognize this battle on cancer, we continue of our efforts to draw attention to the victims of childhood cancer and the great work of the families and organizations who continue the fight.”

Senator Allard from Colorado

How amazing that the Cure Kids Cancer Challenge just happens to fall on the first ever National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. Our family has raised over $3100 so far thanks to all the generous donations made in memory of Jacob. We are so thankful for your support and so excited to see this money going to such a fantastic cause! Thank you so much!

You can still make a donation by clicking here. If you entered the Give-Away, I will be announcing the winner of the Halloween shirt on Monday. Many, many thanks to all of you who contributed to our team. Your donation gives HOPE to so many amazing children fighting cancer today!

Ending with a scripture and a quote that I just love . . .

"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying."

Romans 12:12

"Hope refuses to be submerged. It is powerful. Buoyant. Irrepressible. When life's difficulties weigh us down, hope brings us bobbing back to the surface, giving us something to hold on to and keeping us from going under. Hope is knowing there's a way out, a way through - a way at all. Because Jesus is the way. He is our hope."

Women of Faith

Hanging onto HOPE,