Wow, it is the last month of 2006. It got here fast! We have been SLOWLY decorating. Our fake tree is up. It has lights but no ornaments yet. Scott has put some lights outside. The last two days and nights got cold (56 for a high yesterday and low 30's at night), but we won't see snow. I've lived in AZ 8 1/2 years now (Scott has lived here 8 years) and I do have to admit, I wish there was some snow here in Phoenix so I could make a snowman and a wall out of snow with the kids. I have memories of making them with my sister growing up in Wisconsin and snow angels....it is fun to make snow angels. It was fun to go sledding. Instead, we are outside flying kites, swinging and sliding on the playground, and playing soccer in the front yard. We even planted a few flowers a couple of weeks ago. We have made our home here, now, but maybe we'll make a way to see snow once a year in the future. If you have snow, maybe you can email Asher and Alexa some photos so they can see what snow is.

Oh, and I wanted to mention, that the owner of Elemental Scraps emailed me and said, "We are going to be doing a kit for Christmas to raise funds to gift the little sweeties in our community who are not healthy during this holiday season. We would like to add Asher to the list of kids who will receive something from the digi ladies." So many generous designers out there! I did respond and mentioned that Sara Carling adopted Asher and his sisters for Christmas. I would like to see other kiddos struggling with illness get some extra love this Christmas, so I declined the offer to have Asher added to the list. However, I wanted to mention this, so you can be on the lookout for Elemental Scraps' Christmas benefit kit and if you can, please help some other kids that are battling an illness this holiday season. God bless!

During all of this, lonliness has been a overwhelming emotion in me, along with the sadness, fear, anger, hope, love, and everything in between. I find that I give everything I have in me to Asher (and to Alexa and Aubree)....I don't even have enough left in me to give to Scott or my mom or my sisters or my friends. I know right now I am doing everything I can to focus on what I must, my children, and I know you all understand. I hope for days in the future where I can return an ounce of what you all have given to my family and me.

Through all the pain of Asher's diagnosis and treatment, people have touched our lives in ways that you can't know unless you have been through something like this. The love and prayers....emails, cards, and toys....the emotional support, a place to vent (here in this blog) and know I'll get an encouraging note in return....supporting our walk for the National Brain Tumor Foundation....fundraising to help pay for hospital bills.... It means a lot to me knowing that what I share in this blog means I share my son with you. I have heard some people have stopped reading the blog because they cry too much, but I have also received a few notes saying Asher is an inspiration. I love that Asher can touch lives, all over the world. Some day, I know Asher is going to understand what it means to reach out to others from the example you have shown to him. You are all an inspiration. I am so thankful to you, for being here with us during this difficult journey.

Anyway, enough with the emotional outpouring and on to two thank yous that I wanted to make public:

I want to say THANK YOU, here, to each of the moms in my AZ moms group (AMU) who are planning to share a dish for a Thanksgiving feast for us. We aren't sure if Asher will be back in the hospital or still at home, but my friends are already planning the meal and will bring it to us whereever we may be. We are so lucky to have you as supporters, and as you know, we have a lot to be thankful for this year! THANK YOU for thinking of us and including us in your Thanksgiving!

I also want to say THANK YOU, to Sara Carling and her Creative Team. Sara is an amazing digital designer, designing kits for digital scrapbookers at Scrapbookgraphics. She and her team have adopted Asher for Christmas! So generous of her!! Her 2006 Christmas Kit is called "Share in the Season" ("share" is an anagram of "Asher") and is beautiful!! Check out these layouts using the "Share in the Season" kit. THANK YOU, again, Sara! I know many new people will be praying for Asher this holiday season.