CHRISTMAS DAY 7 - CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR ADDIE, become part of the story

This evening I had the beautiful opportunity to attend the First Presidency Christmas Devotional with a few friends. And one of the stories shared was that of Ethan Van Leuvens. Ethan was dying of Leukemia, so his entire community rallied together to help him have Christmas early this year - and he died just three days later. I remember seeing this story on the Today Show when it happened in October, and have included a link to that video clip at the bottom of this post.

   It reminded me of another little girl here in Utah that has just one request: Christmas Cards.  Addie Fausett stopped growing when she was age 3, and even now at age 6 only weighs 23 pounds. They can’t diagnose the problem, but one thing they are certain of: Addie doesn’t have much time left. This will likely be Addie’s Last Christmas.

   Because of her health issues, Addie can’t play outside or play with the other kids. And since Addie loves Christmas and loves getting Christmas Cards, her grandparents set a goal: for Addie to get a whole lifetime of Christmas Cards this year. The town of Fountain Green, Utah, is working to help reach this goal by flooding Box 162 with Christmas Cards for Addie.

   So I’m inviting you to help make a very special little girl’s Christmas a little bit brighter, by sending a Christmas Card to Addie:

Addie Fausett, Box 162, Fountain Green, UT 84632

Addie peeking into Box 162
Let's fill it up for her!

   Please send her a card. If you have one, drop it in the mail to her. If you don’t, you can send it through my SendOutCards account – just go to sendoutcards.com/157713; scroll to the bottom and click SEND A CARD. It’s completely free (I’ll even cover the postage).

   As I listened this evening, I was impressed that this whole community helped Ethan – and wished that I could have been part of that great blessing in that darling little boy’s short life. Well, I can be part of sending a card to Addie – and I sent my first card to her this evening as soon as I got home.

   Share this blogpost with your friends, post it on your Facebook - let’s all help make this little Addie’s Christmas just a little brighter. Tonight instead of just reading this story, please become a part of it too.

Ethan’s Story on KSL

Addie’s Story on KSL

Send a FREE Card to Addie

Ethan’s Story on the Today Show

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

   Yes, I did it again – my Big Birthday Bash. This year, about 250 people – it was AMAZING! Great friends, family, food, fun. And I did it because it’s what I do: I Celebrate. I look for opportunities to celebrate life. And despite ups-and-downs, I definitely have a life to be celebrated!

   “Another year older and another year wiser” – I’d say that is definitely true this year. Twice each year I get very introspective: New Years and my Birthday – and fortunately they’re about 6 months apart. I have been thinking back to New Years – because that’s when this last “episode” all began – and I never could have imagined all that happened, and especially not the tragic, heartwrenching ending. I am still deeply wounded and reeling from the heartache, but I am also determined to remember the good times and learn the lessons that are there – and there are plenty of lessons, and I am learning them and sharing them.

   And now it’s time to look forward again too, and make new plans for the new future ahead of me. I am still blessed with amazing friends, whose love and support has been amazing. I am still blessed with an amazing job – which continues to get better and better (and which pays freakishly well). I am still blessed with an amazing family that I cannot imagine my life without. And I am still blessed with the most tremendous ward and ward family.

   So, these past few days I’ve been asked: “What do you want for your birthday?” After thinking about it, here’s my Birthday Wish List:

• Peace – I have knowledge of my Savior’s love for me, and peace in knowing I am blameless before Him.
• Love – If not the love of a husband, then the amazing love of family and friends that surrounds me constantly. 
  
• Hope – Hope for a different but amazing future, filled with success and prosperity, joy and happiness, and knowledge that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.
• Happiness – Despite still having many tear-filled nights, I am also blessed with an abundance of happiness. Happiness in the gospel. Happiness in a life filled with love. Happiness to not let the Sins of others destroy me and to always turn toward the Light.
• Forgiveness – I forgive – not because it was asked for (and probably never will be), but because I refuse to let hurt and anger consume me. I forgive because I deserve a heart that is healed. 

   So I am choosing to live a fabulous life filled with tremendous opportunities—and lots of fun. I have a number of trips coming up. I am embarking on a new “hobby” with SendOutCards, and having a blast with it. My Training Career is doing amazingly well, and new opportunities are appearing in my life constantly.

   It has been a Happy Birthday. It has been a Happy Life. Certainly there are ups-and-downs, but I choose to live a happy life – and I have so many amazing blessings in my life now that the future can only be even better tomorrow than today. And for all of you that bring that amazing gift of Happy-ness into my life, I thank you.

MY GIFT TO YOU:  As I have been so blessed this birthday, I want to give a gift to all of you!

Go to: www.SendOutCards.com/157713 -- then scroll to the bottom and select SEND A CARD. You can send a FREE card to anyone -- and the postage is included!