Hearts Full of Gratitude

Coming Out of the Woodwork

I have often wondered if the friendships that I have made throughout my life are meaningful or frivolous. Not because the friends that I have are frivolous but because I have not put enough effort into cultivating those relationships. We've all experienced it. You make a friend, spend some good times together and have some very meaningful conversations over a period of time, then you are distanced from one another either physically or circumstantially. Ten years down the road you think of this person and wonder if you should get in touch with them. Do they even remember you? Were you meaningful to them? Did you have something of value to offer them at the time? Was it enough that they still think of you and wonder how you're doing? Maybe it is just me that thinks of those things but it happens quite often. Or at least it used to....

Ever since we found out that Archer was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, we have received an overwhelming amount of support. I've mentioned this before and it may seem like it is just a typical way for me to express myself. It isn't. I don't get overwhelmed. That is something of which I am actually very proud. Or at least I used to be....

The reason I say it is "overwhelming" is...well, because it is. People have done so much for us lately and continue to ask what more can be done. You would think that people eventually run out of steam from service but I can tell you, they don't. At least not the people that we know. We really wish that we could list off everything that has been done for us and everyone that has done it. However, that would take me an incredibly long time and, for the sake of anonymity, I will refrain.

Fundraisers

There have been a lot of people who have organized and conducted fundraisers for little Archer. My family collecting money at a mountain man rendezvous, a friend setting up a GoFundMe account, cousins organizing a 5K, quilt raffle, bake sale, yard sale and donating all profits for a day from their tire/lube shop, another friend designing and selling t-shirts, and even a BYU Entrepreneurship group who saw Archer's picture on GoFundMe.

There are also still fundraisers that have been organized that haven't happened yet, including a quilt raffle (it is currently ongoing) at Jaker's Pumpkin Patch in Springville tomorrow night and Monday and a LuLaRoe skirt/dress party on November 8. 

Acts of Service

This could get hairy. There have been so many acts of service that I will never be able to list them all so I will have to generalize a bit. We have had a bunch of meals provided, rides to and from the hospital, babysitting, gifts of all sorts, a secret admirer that drops things off at Aubrey's parent's house, donations galore, people bringing us weeks worth of frozen meals and groceries, people reaching out to express their love and support and countless prayers on our behalf.

The Mushy Stuff

Aubrey and I have shown a lot of emotion lately, no matter how much we have tried to hide it. We have shed many tears. Tears of sadness, tears of fear, tears of joy, tears of gratitude and tears of love. Love for all of you. Love for you because you have taken your turns, carrying us on your backs though this dark forest of an unknown future. We could not do this without you. We love you all dearly and we pray for you constantly, as you pray for us. Words cannot begin to describe how grateful we are to you and how much your love and support mean to us, though I hope this gives you a sliver of an idea. Thank you!