Unbelievable.

I've struggled for two days now to come up with the words to describe all these emotions I am experiencing.  I just don't know how.

I drove to work this morning and saw someone (who I am not familiar with) jogging on the side of the road.  She was wearing my Deak's bright red "Run for Hope" shirt, the once unknown Chromosome 18 Logo large and white for all to see and hopefully learn about on her back, and the floodgates opened again.

What a miracle.

I felt very, very strongly while pregnant with Deak that his purpose in coming to this world was to "Bring Faith."  I moved forward running at times only on hope, that my son's purpose would allow him the opportunity to live and teach others what his little spirit was (and is still) trying to teach me. On Saturday morning, the purpose of my son's journey became actualized. 

The sea of red shirts running and walking, united together in spirit and time, all in honor of my son and his life purpose, was the fulfillment of a promise made from my Maker to me during my darkest days. 

Hope has prevailed.

 My husband and I discussed last night how this Run turned into something so much more than the initial fundraising thought I had six months ago.  Raising funds for research is clearly important and necessary, but even more so, we wanted every single person to leave Saturday morning filled with inspiration.  We wanted to do our best to demonstrate the power and strength of our Deak's message of hope. 

My gratitude to those who came, whether in spirit or in person, is unspeakable.  People have continued to donate generously even today, two days after the race. 

My heart will just never be the same. 

To those Spirit Runners who could not attend, I wanted to share a little piece of the morning.  Thankfully one of our friends and awesome race participants, was thoughtful enough to capture my most favorite moment on video.

I don't think a "Thank you" can get any better than that.

With love,

Jenny, Blair, Abby and Deak

You have forever changed us, for the better.

Until next year...

*I will post final $ numbers, once I get them organized*

The Night/Morning Before.

This is why I did it.

That smile.

Those eyes.

The two little arms that wrap around me tightly each morning as I pull him from his crib.

I am super emotional.

This boy has been here five years.

Five.Whole.Years.

I love what this event has not only created in terms of funding for research, but what is has changed inside my heart.

Thank you - from the most sincere place "thanks" can come from.

My deepest wish is that all of you will leave tomorrow morning with a little taste of the most awesome medicine I've ever found.

Hope.

Love,

Jenny

Race Packet Pick-Up

Just a reminder...

If you would like to pick up your race packets (bib, t-shirt etc.) before the morning of the race, they will be available at my home Thursday Night from 6-8 pm and Friday Night from 6-8 pm.  My address is located under the Race Information tab located at the top of this website.

I have had people pull together and save me this week. There has been so much to do, and I've needed help.  My dad has ran around all over the valley, running errands during the day that I cannot get to.  My mom folded and put together over 200 packets. My husband ran more errands, and quite literally "ran" the race route to help quiet my compulsive need to check the distance 567 times. Many others, in many ways have rallied and supported and given me strength to finish this week and create an event that I hope will be memorable enough that most of you will want to come back again next year:) 

I am so excited.

Beyond words excited.

Thank you for making this dream come true for me and my beautiful boy.

Participation List

Seriously? Saturday?

I am going a little bit crazy, but it's the most amazing kind of crazy I've ever felt. My hope is that all of you will feel of my sincerity and love when you walk or race with us Saturday. Whether it be, wearing shoes, or in "Spirit,"  I just want to do you and my boy justice.

A few people have asked me if I have received their registrations via our online system, and in a very few cases, I have not.  Overall, I have LOVED Runnercard and believe their online registration system has ran very smoothly.  There have been a couple occasions where people have not received confirmation numbers, or for some reason their card was not working properly within the system.  I've decided, for clarification purposes, to attach a list of all runners I have registered (NOT including any Mail-In Spirit Runner Registrations).  This list was updated Sunday, May 8th at 8:25 pm.  Anyone who registered after that will not be shown on this list.

So, if you have any questions, please click here.

Also, please do not hesitate to call or email.

Thank you.

Love,

Jenny

PS: My participant goal has been surpassed! Hooray! I am excited to see how high it will become...
Remember, even if you cannot make it, we would love to have you join us in Spirit.  Click here for details.

A Mother.

Before I found out about Deak, I experienced four days of the "normal" nesting rituals that inevitably ensue upon hearing the words, "It's a boy/girl." 

I shopped.

I ordered a little onesie with an embroidered applique that read, "Mommy's Little Slugger" among other things I deemed absolutely necessary.

Those packages were carefully put away by my sister, unopened, inside the closet of the room we had stopped preparing for our Deak when the doctors told us he would not live.  I couldn't bear to even look at them.

The weekend of Mother's Day 2006, something inside of my husband must have told him, this little guy we were hoping for was going to make it.  He snuck my daughter, Abby, away and together they picked up the paint we had chosen for our boy's room.  Together, they painted. 

The project they so thoughtfully dug themselves into obviously signified more than just a colorful nursery for our Deak to come home to.

They were paint strokes strengthened by a hope we were learning to hold to onto.  It was an acknowledgement that we were going to do this; love this boy with all we had to give.

It was hope that this boy the world told us would not live, would. 

That his purpose would carry him home with us, at least long enough to sleep inside the room we had spent hours creating and dreaming for him.

I had Deak, unexpectedly, the very next day.

May 15, 2006

My most favorite Mother's Day gift ever.

*November 2007*

*Christmas Eve 2010*

There is still time to register.  Online registration will stay open until Friday at 5:00 pm. 

Day of Race Registration will be available this Saturday May 14th, from 7:00-7:30 am.

Goodness.

I believe in the goodness of ones' soul.  I've brought it up through this website before, and I'll continue to state it until I no longer can. 

People are just good; I will always believe that.

This race has turned into more than just the "little 5k" I had planned on.

It's big (to me, big).

Way bigger than I had envisioned for this first year, newbie race director's trial run.

The more I wet my toes with the opportunity for funding this could provide to my son and his Chromosome 18 buddies, the deeper I want to swim.  I'm afraid fundraising is my new drug of choice.

Good people, without being asked, have spread the word, acquired sponsors and donated their personal time and resources to helping my boy.  These good people feed my soul.  Good people like our long-time family friend, Rick Tuckett, with West Coast Engraving.  I got a phone call earlier this week from my Dad letting me know that Rick had generously offered to pay for ALL the shirts for this event. All of them. He has donated his time, designed the graphics, and put up with my compulsive need for control.  And, now...he is doing all that for FREE.

Amazing. He does fantastic work, all of our signs, medals, and shirts have been designed and ordered through this awesome company.

Our friends, whose daughters cheer with Abby and my sister Maddi, have also been amazing. Diane, on her own time, found a sponsor (Ken Garff West Valley Chrysler Jeep Dodge) to pay for the entire Viewmont High Cheerleading Team (18+) to participate.  This is worth several hundred dollars. 

Unbelievable.

As I sat in the car, driving to pick Deak up from preschool today I let myself feel how amazing this thing I call "hope" is; the infinite power it holds.  I felt the sun finally shining through my windshield, and held back my joyful tears.  I consciously thought, "Man, I am so glad I am choosing happiness today."

 My hope sits in the back of my car and leaves blond little curly cues all over the black fabric on his carseat. Your hope may be found elsewhere. 

Where ever it is, give yourself a second to feel it today...it's worth it.

*Candid shot taken during Deak's 18 month old photo shoot.*

(I kinda wish my skin still looked like that...;)
Reminder: Registration Fees increase after this weekend...click here to register now.

Perspective.

We've had a rough weekend

A very unexpected flooding incident inside our home was definitely not the most welcome kind of news.

Crisis tends to follow our little family around, lingering on our foot-tails and entering at the most inopportune moments.

But, we have learned to handle crisis and look at situations with the proper perspective; thanks to Deak.

After the initial news and ensuing anger and sadness, my husband and I gathered ourselves together and quietly understood that although this is a stressor, it is not important, and we will be okay.  I think we even laughed:)

My thoughts kept turning to Deak...all night as we waited for disaster clean up to arrive and help us clean our mess. I needed him. When we returned home, I got him out of his crib and held him close to my chest as he held on tightly in return.

One hug, and I was okay. 

Perspective through Deak's eyes is an undeniable blessing. I often want to say to people who are hurting, "Please. Come over. Spend a few minutes with my boy, I promise it will help."

How lucky am I to get that every day?

Less than two weeks until race day.  Unbelievable.  I know I overly state this, but I am so immensely grateful for the support and love.  Your generosity and Deak's hugs have carried me through a tough couple of days.  I am so excited to see you all there, and so overwhelmed with emotion.  If you haven't, register quickly, as the fee increases to $35 after May 7th.

Click here for a direct link to the online system.

And, remember to stop by and give Deak a hug May 14th...I promise, it will heal you too.

*Picture taken the first night he crawled...it still makes me cry:)