Service Recap--Part I

April 20, 2009

The Moveable Feast Bake Sale Update:  That's right not only did the Carmen, Michelle, and Lara take their show on the road to Bryan when The Woodlands Earth Day Festival was cancelled,  but after the Mary Branch Carnival ended, they took the remaining items to the College Station WalMart and kept selling until almost 6:00.  For their efforts (and the efforts of many, many bakers), Lunch for Life is over $2200 richer.  I also owe special thanks to Jenniffer (I spelled that right!  2 ns and 2 fs) Pope and the entire staff at Branch and the PTO, plus Eric Saenz and the management of the CS WalMart.  I'm not keeping precise count, but I think my thank you note count is hovering towards the four digit range.

For any of you with experience, you know that the path we are walking on is getting more difficult rather than easier.  We are following your example and treating ourselves like you are treating us, with kindness and gentleness.   As part of the process of healing we drove into Houston last night to pick up Davis for a few days between the end of classes and final exams.  Even though we didn't actually go to Texas Children's (Davis's dorm is about three blocks away), we had a difficult time re-walking those old paths.

This post is mostly to help me archive the details of Erin's memorial service.  I have decided to break the recap into three parts, so that I can have easy reference to them later.  In this installment I include Ted Foote's message and the bulletin cover.

“Going Forward”

Scriptures:   

James 2:14-18

        II Corinthians 9:6-8; 12:8-9

        Mark 12:28c-31

 

(OPENING)  This is an “open letter” to Erin’s classmates.  If it makes sense to them, the time of these words being spoken will have been quality time.  If it makes sense to those of us who are older than her classmates, that’s “icing on the cake.”

 

In one important way, I cannot tell you why Erin has died.  I know that a disease developed in her body; and I know that the medicine and treatment, after some years, could not effectively fight the disease for her body’s health.

Erin’s parents have said they do not think it’s helpful for us to spend a lot of time asking “Why?”  I agree with them.  It is o.k. to ask God, “Why?” but God may not give good or satisfactory answers to “Why?”  A man named Job is the major character in a book in the Bible where his children, probably older than Erin, died.  He asked God, “Why?” and God was willing to hear his question, but God did not answer the “why” part.  Instead God wanted to talk about life and God’s relationship with people and the world.

Science can give us a medical and biological answer about Erin’s disease, but God doesn’t give much of an answer.  People often try to tell each other “why” when something bad happens, but our answers really are not God’s answers.  That means we can talk among ourselves about “why?”, but the Bible offers other (and, we can say) healthier possibilities.

One possibility is the “going forward” possibility.  That was Erin’s choice.

She was made that way.  Her only gear was a forward gear.  Her model left the factory and drove for eleven years with no reverse gear.

Her mom and dad have said she was not so much a “noun” like “girl,” “student,” “friend,” “soccer player,” etc.  She was not so much an adjective like “energetic,” “inspiring,” “caring,” “witty,” etc.  She was more an action verb:  Go. Do. Study. Visit. Play. Research. Make. Persuade. Love.

It is o.k. to say, “I’m very sad because Erin only got to live eleven years.”  When we say that, it’s true.  And it’s easier to think, “It’s not fair for Erin to have only eleven years and for me to have a bunch more.”  It’s not fair, but I think that’s not what Erin would want us getting hung up on.  Our sadness is real.  Erin’s life now lives in God’s life.  We cannot see that with our eyes.  Yet living in God’s life, she lives as an influence in our lives as she has been our friend and has influenced us so powerfully.

I said “going forward” was Erin’s choice for living.  True, she did not seem to have a “reverse” gear.  “Going forward,” though, means more than the opposite of going in reverse.  “Going forward,” in the last two years, has been a phrase used by many adults in government and business.  They start sentences with it, saying, “Going forward, here’s the way we will work.”  Or they end sentences with it, saying, “Here’s the way we will work going forward.”

Erin had her own way of going forward.  On fun days and hard days she was a “doer going forward.”  Going forward, we will miss her.  We are truly sad.  We are also more alive going forward because Erin has showed us her own way of going forward. 

Once upon a time, a person asked Jesus how best to live life.  Jesus answered him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Erin believed in going forward the way Jesus taught.

Sometimes you see some letters:  “WWJD?”  I think Erin would be the first to tell you and me, “Don’t live your life asking, ‘WWED?’ (What Would Erin Do?)  Maybe even don’t ask ‘WWJD?’ because Jesus doesn’t live exactly in our time the way he lived in Palestine two thousand years ago; but going forward, as you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, always ask, ‘WCID?’ (What Can I Do? -- as Jesus taught and as Erin and other faithful persons have shown me?).”  There will be plenty for you to do going forward in terms of action verbs; and nothing you can or will do is more important than loving God and self and neighbor as Jesus taught with his own life for God’s people.

So, if going forward, your life is connected to God’s love for people and connected to God’s love for this whole world, then you will honor Erin’s life among us, you will honor God’s loving through her life, and you will honor God’s loving through your life.

You may have noticed the picture on the bulletin cover (reproduced below).  In that picture, people are serving God with their talents.  (At the bottom left of the picture, Erin’s face and her dogs, Willie and Teddie, are added by a “photo-shop” technique.)  Both before Erin’s face is added and after her face is added, the picture means that all of God’s people have good, holy gifts to offer with their lives.  Erin did.  Going forward, God helps you and me and others to offer our gifts in life as well, when we are 11 years old, and 21, 31, 41, 51, 81, 91 years old.

Offering gifts through our lives, going forward in God’s love:  Let’s do it!

-- All honor and praise be to God.

Bake Sale?

April 18, 2009

2:00 p.m. update:  If you missed a trip to Mary Branch, you can still score some baked goods.  Tori Saenz's dad, Eric, okayed a move to the front of the College Station WalMart for the unsold tasty treats.  Thanks everyone!

Okay.  This is sort of a convoluted story, but . . . for our local readers, a window of opportunity will open and close today.  The Southwest chapter of the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (these are really awesome folks!!!) had planned a bake sale to raise money for Lunch for Life at the Earth Day Festival in The Woodlands today.  Even more incredibly, they planned to donate all the proceeds to Lunch for Life in Erin's memory.

The rain god had another plan.

Organizers cancelled the festival about 5:00 yesterday evening. . .after all the bakers had baked goodies--tasty and perishable goodies.

By a quarter to six, they had made an alternative plan.

Erin's old elementary school, Mary Branch, has their annual carnival today--indoors!  The bake sale will go on as planned, in Bryan instead of at The Woodlands.

If you have a hankering for baked goods (individually wrapped and whole cakes and pies, mostly organic in the spirit of Earth Day) stop by the Mary Branch Elementary Spring Carnival at 2040 W. Villa Maria between 10:00 and 2:00.  This is a wonderful use of a rainy Saturday.  And think about it.  You have probably already eaten all the chocolate bunny ears in your house.  It's time to replenish your stock of tasty treats.

Tributes--Part IV

April 17, 2009

A look at the weather radar for Texas shows heavy rains in our area for the next 30 hours or so.  I'm glad it didn't rain last week, as I needed the sun and all the flowers and trees leafing out to remind me of the promise of spring.  If you, like me, are stuck inside today or tomorrow, you may be interested in perusing some of these website tributes to Erin that appeared in the last week.

Will Lacey:  Erin

Max:  Erin

Teamsam:  Erin Buenger

Rivervision:  Erin Buenger

Rivervision:  Erin Buenger, One Amazing Chicka

She Became a Butterfly:  RIP Angel Erin

HansJourney:  Erin

HansJourney:  Going Forward

One Safe Place:  Erin

Tony Pannone:  Erin

A Patient Heart:  What Do You Say?  What Do You Do?

Deqlan Ross Higgins:  Angel Erin

Living in a Silent World:  Surgery

Pocketful of Sunshine: something to inspire you...

Super Ryan:  Surprise, Shock, and Dismay

Riley's Journey:  Stupid Cancer

Goodnight, Mom:  Another Angel

Support for Christi Thomas:  Angel Erin

How Can I Keep From Singing?  Erin

Colby Ash

Laura Stiles a Gentle Spirit: Tears Falling in NJ for Erin 

Tributes--Part III

April 16, 2009

And so we start another day.  The grassroots tributes below bring us much comfort.  The Dear Erin video was created by an extremely talented young woman that Erin went to school with at Jane Long Middle School, Emma Raleigh, who took quotes from classmates about Erin and combined them with photos from this website and set them to music.  

On Tuesday evening, my boyfriend Garrett DeAtley, a second grader at Erin's old elementary school, called me when I was out walking Willie and Teddy.  He invited me to come to his baseball game on Wednesday.  The Rattlers usually wear burgundy and black, but you can see from the team shot below that they switched out for the evening.  What a handsome group, and their inner beauty (handsomeness) is as bold and radiant as their outer selves.

Tributes--Part II

April 15, 2009

My mother spotted this Monday as we were leaving for the church. This morning on my Willie/Teddy walk, the same bird followed us along our path from about the half mile mark to about the three-quarters mile point.


Though not unheard of, these birds don't ordinarily hang out around here. I felt honored to be temporarily part of The Red-Headed League.

Anyway, after such a nice and lengthy newspaper piece about Erin last Saturday, I was stunned to see that The Eagle Editorial Board chose her as the subject of their Sunday editorial (on Easter Sunday, no less).

Erin Buenger had a zest for living life fully

Eagle Editorial Board

Erin Buenger spent her 11 years living life to the fullest. She had what most likely was a fatal illness, yet that didn't dampen her enthusiasm for life, her eagerness to try new things and, most importantly, her great love of people.

Erin lost her seven-year battle with neuroblastoma on Thursday, but she leaves behind a host of people who loved her and a community that will miss her.

Many people faced with a disease for which there is no known cure would shut themselves off from people, would wallow in their illness, but not Erin. She attacked life with a zest that was exhilarating and contagious. She played on a competitive soccer team. She rode horses. She took fencing lessons.

With one terrible exception, Erin was a normal school girl -- the way she wanted to be treated. A bright student, she was active in the Inquiry Academy for gifted and talented students at Jane Long Middle School. She made the honor role every six weeks and never earned less than a 96 on her report card. She was treasurer of the student council.

Erin was determined to beat the disease. She twice traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and, really, anyone who would listen to her. She talked with U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards and garnered his support for a bill that would commit $150 million in federal money to finding a cure for neuroblastoma and other cancers. Her father said Edwards in turn convinced several other members of the House to vote for the measure, which finally passed the Congress and was signed into law by President George W. Bush last July. Now, the harder part is making sure the measure gets funded.

In addition to getting Edwards' support, she made him a special friend, one who called on her at home and who visited her only two weeks before her death.

Erin had that ability. She could connect and make friends with people of any age. She didn't ant people to be sad.

And she worked hard to raise money to fund research on neuroblastoma. She made lanyards for ID badges and sold them, raising some $2,000 for cancer research. She worked on a cookbook -- Erin Cook's -- using recipes she developed herself in the hospital. When it is available, proceeds from the book will go to research.

Some of us go through life never creating a ripple, leaving no legacy. Not Erin Buenger, though. She packed a lot in 11 years and this community is better because she lived among us.

I may eventually get a savable copy of the television news story that also aired on Sunday, but for now I can send you to this link (sorry, in advance, for the commerical that comes before the story):

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/42886757.html

Ashlea Sigman of KBTX News came out to the house on Sunday afternoon before the visitation/party/celebration to work on the story. I worried because she had forty-five minutes of tape that she had to edit down to 90 seconds (I told her I sympathized with the problem of needing to express Erin as a haiku, when she really was an epic poem). By the time this aired she had talked her boss into more than double the air time she had originally been given. I'm glad some of you who live out of town can catch a glimpse of Erin's bedroom. Just a glance shows the many directions her interests spread.

Tributes--Part I

April 14, 2009

When I woke up this morning, both my arms were still asleep, numb and tingly. My rising panic gave way to relief when I finally realized I didn't have some terrible disease. I was just hugged out. Between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon, I dispensed more than 1,000 individual hugs (and a few groups hugs). Here is the first of several installments of tributes to Erin's life. This piece, masterfully written by Robert Borden, appeared in the paper last Saturday. Thank you, Robert. Thank you also to Robert's mother, Shirley Borden, who corresponded with Erin regularly, and who recognized in Erin a kindred spirit. I'm reproducing it with the archive photo that ran with the story. This picture always made Erin laugh, because Dave McDermand had to take so many shots to get us to look serious. Erin always claimed it was the only time the three of us ever looked serious simultaneously.

11-year-old kept bright outlook on life despite burden of cancer

By ROBERT C. BORDEN
robert.borden@theeagle.com

Eagle photo/Dave McDermand

Erin Buenger, 11, died Thursday, seven years after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. Her parents, Vickie and Walter, say she embraced life to the fullest.

Erin Buenger was a girl with a big heart and a terrible disease. She also had a courage that put the rest of us to shame.

The 11-year-old Bryan girl died peacefully Thursday morning, seven years after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor in young children that begins in nerve tissue and spreads.

The disease is a heavy burden for a child to bear, but Erin refused to let it get her down, friends and family said. She fought the disease, not just for herself, but for other children with the disease and other forms of cancer.

She took the battle to the halls of Congress, where she lobbied U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards to support the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2006. It was the first of two trips to Washington, D.C., that she made to lobby for support of the bill. The Waco Democrat readily signed on to the measure and, in the process, became good friends with Erin and her family.

When making her second trip to the nation's capital, Erin told an Eagle reporter, "When I was in the hospital, [treatment] took forever, forever, forever, forever to work. I think if we could get more money, then [treatments] would work faster and I could have more free time."

Walter Buenger, Erin's father, said Edwards remained in close touch with his daughter, spending a Sunday afternoon with the family in the middle of last fall's election season, even going out to eat with the family. Erin still had a flower-bedecked "Welcome Chet" sign that she made for his visit on the wall in her bedroom. Edwards last visited Erin about two weeks ago.

"She always lit up when she was with him and he lit up when he was with her," Walter Buenger said.

When she was in fifth grade at Mary Branch Elementary School in Bryan, Erin asked Edwards to be her "visual aid" in a presentation she was making to her fellow students on how laws are made. He readily agreed and sat on stage for more than an hour while she made her presentation, referring to the representative as "my helper, Chet."

On Friday, Edwards said in a statement: "I first met Erin when she came to Washington with her mother to lobby for medical research for children with rare diseases. From the moment I met her, Erin stole my heart with her courage and positive outlook on life. In listening to her talk about the joys of everyday life, one would never know she had ever had a bad day."

He said Erin had more courage than anyone he has met, and "to have been her friend was one of the greatest joys in my life."

"Erin showed me the purity of her heart when, despite her own fight against cancer, she sent me an e-mail every day for three weeks and three gallons of Blue Bell Ice Cream when I had minor larynx surgery. Some children are just so special that I have to believe God wants them back to make heaven a better place."

Despite being diagnosed with neuroblastoma when she was 5, Erin never let it get her down. Her parents remember her remarkable ability to connect with people of all ages.

"She liked meeting people and had the ability to make a deep connection with people, treating them like a special friend," her mother, Vickie Buenger, said.

"She was not a cancer patient. She was a person who had cancer," Vickie Buenger said. "She appreciated all the experiences that opened up for her. You could not find a more complete embracer of opportunities to be involved."

Throughout her school years, Erin insisted she be treated like any other student. She had a passion for soccer, playing on a competitive soccer team and she rode horses. As a sixth grader, she was in the Inquiry Academy at Jane Long Middle School, where she competed in UIL contests and served as treasurer of the student council. Her mother said that, despite prolonged absences from school, Erin was on the honor role every six weeks and never brought home a grade lower than a 96 on a report card.

Two weeks ago, Erin had two works of art on exhibit at the Bryan Art Fest at Bryan High School. Since January, she had made some $2,000 stringing lanyards to hold ID badges, selling them to raise money for neuroblastoma research.

She completed work on a cookbook to be called Erin Cooks, with proceeds also going to research when it is published. Some of the recipes she developed while in the hospital for treatment.

At the time of her death, she was working on a fused glass art project with several older women at Bryan's First Presbyterian Church.

In late February, when her class took a school bus trip to Houston to see an exhibit called Body Works, Erin insisted on going, saying it was nice to travel to Houston and not have to visit a doctor or clinic.

Walter Buenger said his daughter's approach to life was "full-tilt."

"If there was a project to be done, she'd say, 'Let's do it.' If there was fun to be had, she'd say, 'Let's have it.' If there was schoolwork do be done, she'd say, 'Let's give it our best,'" he said. "If there was a treatment to be taken, she'd say, ' Let's take it' and then move on."

Vickie Buenger said some people would use adjectives such as smart or witty or kind to describe her daughter; others might add nouns such as good student or good soccer player.

"I think of her in action verbs," she said. "If she was going to read, you'd better have plenty of books on hand. If she was going to play, she was going to play really hard. If she was going to work, she was going to work really hard. Everything has to do with action verbs."

After her daughter's death Thursday, Vickie Buenger logged on to Erin's laptop computer. There, she found a list of things Erin was looking forward to doing, including learning how to fence, how to cook fondue and how to make a pot of tea.

Even at her sickest, Erin Buenger always believed she was going to get better, and it was hard for those around her not to believe the same thing, her father said.

"She had a remarkable ability to see the best in every situation, to be happy, with a quick sense of humor. She could see that everything wasn't always about her," he said.

Services for Erin

Erin Buenger's family will host a "party/celebration/visitation" in honor and memory of Erin from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Carter Creek Parkway in Bryan. There will be a slideshow of photos from Erin's life, her favorite songs will be played and there will be a chance for people to share special memories.

Visitors are asked to wear bright colors to the event, because Erin "had no prejudice against any color, as long as it was bright and eye-catching."

At 2 p.m. Monday there will be a memorial service for Erin, also at the church.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to Erin's Let's Do It Fund at the First Presbyterian Church to fund children and youth activities at the church or to Lunch for Life/Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation at www.nbhope.org.

Arrangements and Such

April 10, 2009

I have added a photo at the bottom of this entry from the Aggie vs OSU soccer match on Friday night.

Walter, Davis, and I are leaning heavily on all of our dear, dear friends today. Thanks to each of you who are lifting our burden and reminding us of what is really important.

For those of you looking for information about arrangements:

We will have a party/celebration/visitation in honor and memory of Erin's life on

Sunday Evening

April 12

from 6 to 8 p.m.

at the

Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Bryan

(1100 Carter Creek Parkway)

Everyone is welcome to stop by, relax, exchange Erin stories, listen to her favorite tunes, and join us in remembering her through photos and memorabilia.

Her memorial service will be held on

Monday Afternoon

April 13

at 2:00 p.m.

at the

First Presbyterian Church of Bryan

(1100 Carter Creek Parkway)

In lieu of flowers, if you wish, you may make a donation to Erin's Let's Do It Fund at the First Presbyterian Church to fund children and youth activities at the church or to Lunch for Life/Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation.

Visitors to either event are encouraged to dress with an eye for color. Erin held no prejudice against any color, as long is it was bright and eye-catching.

******************

At the beginning of the game on Friday night, the Aggies and the Cowgirls observed a minute of silence in Erin's honor. Erin's team joined these two fine collegiate squads in the middle of the field. As you can see (click the image to enlarge), the Aggies wore their green tornadoes again and both teams wore green ribbons for Erin.

Erin Buenger

April 9, 2009

Erin died gently this morning at about 8:30. I can't say that she ever ignored her cancer, but rather she lived large with it for 82 months. Walter and I will let you know what happens next, when we figure it out.

A Surprise Visit from KM

April 7, 2009

Special request: Davis turns 21 on Saturday. Leave a birthday greeting for him on The Davis Report, send him an e-mail (cdb1@rice.edu), or if you are more of a paper-kind-of person, drop a note in the mail:

Will Rice College
6330 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77005

Erin's first grade teacher, Christy Hanson came over after school yesterday. I tiptoed next door (where Kitty Muffin lives) and snuck her into our house for the photo op below. Two questions probably pop to mind: Why does Erin's cat live next door? And why does a visit Miss Hanson merit a visit by the cat to Chez Willie and Teddy? KM lives next door because Walter doesn't care for cats in his house (and I suppose neither do Teddy, Willie, nor Luke). She came for a visit because Miss Hanson fostered her before she became Erin's.


Erin has had a little (big?) run in with gastritis today (talk about a problem that none of us needed). I've got to tell you, cancer is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. No details to ruin your day, but I am currently thankful that my sofa has dark, rich colors.

No Hospital Time Today!

April 4, 2009

I meant to start this update at 4:44 this afternoon (04/04, 4:44), but Erin and I got caught up with Cathy and Katie Locket and the lanyards, and I just didn't get it done.

I had a couple of complaints that I left you hanging after April Fool's Day. We spent a vast majority of the day at the hospital on Thursday (11:00-10:00) and only a small portion of the day on Friday (11:00-3:30) at St. Joseph's hospital getting transfusions. Erin's hemoglobin had slipped so low that we had to take extreme precautions in pumping her back up (very, very slowly) so that we didn't put undue strain on her heart and lungs. We also pumped in some platelets so she could have a little dental work done next week. Erin managed to keep a very good spirit about the whole affair, thanks in large part to the many friends who stopped by to play games (Quiddler, Set, Scrabble, Boggle, and something else that has a funny name that I can't remember. . .something like Kanoodle). I don't know whether I mentioned that we flew through the second book of the Septimus Heap series (Flyte) earlier this week, and have started the third book Physic.

We celebrated on Friday evening with the Ross's and Elaine and Ian, playing Taboo, eating Gina's take out and generally having a time that said, "thank goodness we are at home on a beautiful evening with the whole family and our dear friends doing the things we love."



I wish Erin's health wasn't so delicate right now. Instead of getting an immediate bounce from her transfusions, we have to wait for all the fluids to settle and the bloating to go away. Erin moved rather slowly today, relatively happy, but less comfortable than I would prefer.

We need to thank everyone for all the love and support we are getting these days, not to mention a load of gifts, cards, and treasures. Thanks to everyone for keeping us in the forefront! We really appreciate it.

You're Kidding

April 2, 2009

I talked to Erin's local doctor yesterday and really thought he would pause a moment then say "April Fools" after he told me that Erin's hemoglobin was "5."  Instead, he said, "Let's get her crossed and typed today and transfuse her tomorrow."

Despite having half as much oxygen carrying capacity as a normal person, Erin was certain she didn't need to stay home and conserve her energy last night.  Instead, we went to the church for the last session of the School for Christian Living (Spanish for Walter and me, fused glass jewelry for Erin).

I have to say that my life has gotten a lot simpler since my friend and savior Elaine arrived in from Australia.  Not only have I missed her every day since she left town in early December, so just seeing her was terrific, but she stepped right in as our family scheduler (without even pausing to see if she was going to have jet lag or not).  The days have run much more smoothly, and Elaine doesn't seem to mind running interference on the phone for me when Erin would prefer a back rub or game of card instead of listen to me yammer.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know about Erin's plans.  When we get up and going today, we'll head to St. Joseph's for packed red blood cells.  I think it will take most of the day.  We will probably replay the plan on Friday, but instead get platelets (remember they were transfusable last week, but we watched them instead of doing anything about them).  Well, they went in the right direction (now up to 25,000) which takes Erin out of danger  and is not officially transfusable, BUT she needs a little dental work to free a stuck baby tooth, so that the adult tooth can come in right, so we'll probably add a bag of platelets in on Friday, just for fun.  Call Elaine (229-9667) if you want to experience the fun with us.  She can set you up.

Fart Est

March 30, 2009

I made you wait today because something needed my attention. End-of-month bills. Including the last tuition installment of the academic year for Davis (Yes, I am smiling and planning what I will do with next month's cushion). It also took me some considerable amount of time to upload the disk of photos from yesterday's big event at the Lady Aggie soccer match into the slide show you see to the left bar. I'm not entirely through yet, but I'm tired of waiting so I will add shots as they become available.

Erin had a rather big weekend. We rolled into Friday with a visit from our dear, sweet Uncle Dave and Aunt Norma. Then the Wunneburgers and Ms. Radencic came by and Wii'd and bead'd. Aunt Kat rounded out the crew.


On Saturday we got the board games going: both Apples to Apples and Taboo.


And I guess I need to explain the title of the post. When my sisters and I were little, my mom would distract us in the car by having us play a game where we would look for road signs that had interesting, hmm, potential for a game we would play. It required switching the first letters of the words in the sign, so that Speed Limit becomes Leed Spimit. Can you guess what a Fart Est is?

That's right. The various schools in Bryan's district had their annual Art Fest. Erin had two pencil drawing displayed (I think Ms. Morris had hoped to put in Erin's perspective drawing, but sadly it remains in the studio, unfinished).


Sunday we got to entertain our favorite Congressman, Chet Edwards, who came to town to watch the Aggies play baseball (yeah 6-5 over Kansas).

We all wish we could have joined all our friends and Erin Fans in the Lady Aggies win over TCU. I can not help but get choked up over how much trouble everyone went to to honor Erin. The Aggies have never worn something other than their official uniform in a game. And the TCU team added to the spirit of the game by adding green laces to their shoes. Thanks to everyone involved, from the planners to the fans to those of you in far-flung places who wore green in solidarity! Special thanks to Lisa V. who originated the scheme, to Coach G. who made it possible, to the Barretts who organized the fund drive for Lunch for Life, and to Terri G. who took all the fab photos! You can view some other great action shots of the Lady Aggies at play at this link.




Most of you may want a little Erin health information. The biggest news to report is that Erin finally got over the nasty virus and started eating again about a week ago. You can see that she is still exceptionally thin, but she's has really picked up the pace and eats three (small) meals every day plus snacks. We will check counts tomorrow and see where we stand there. Otherwise, the last six days have been a steady improvement in spirit, energy, and activity.

Green Tornados

On Sunday, March 29, at 2:30 at the Lady Aggie Soccer Complex, the Aggies have an exhibition soccer game against TCU. Erin's soccer team, the Mystic '97 are going to be the ball girls. Both the Aggies and the Mystic will be wearing green tornado socks in honor of Erin, whose favorite color is green.

If you love good soccer (even in the off season), if you love to support the Aggies, if you love to wear green, if you want to be an Erin fan, put on your green and go to the soccer complex on Sunday. Look for other Aggie fans wearing green. Someone will be there to take your group picture.

In other Erin news:

We got the Wii going last night, and Sam and Tori from the Mystic '97 came over to test it out and to contribute to the lanyard effort. Davis and Erin's cousin Mark even jumped in to cow ride, pop bubbles, and shoot nine ball. Davis had come home to borrow one of the cars for a while, so we really had a full and happy house.

We finished The Last Treasure this morning and Erin recommends it highly. By the last fifty pages we were racing through it, not even pausing and doing little chores between chapters. This afternoon we got the beading going again (Heidi, if you are reading, Erin is holding the lanyard she made for you.)

Now there is a hot scrabble game going. Believe it or not, Erin started this game by emptying her whole tray and using all her tiles (for non-scrabble fans that gets you a fifty point bonus, plus your letters) on her first turn: D-I-G-N-I-T-Y. Coincidentally, she started our last game together the same way, using all her tiles to spell N-O-T-A-B-L-E.

Thank You

March 24, 2009

I realized when I was answering e-mails today that it borders on the bizarre when I write: "Erin has had a pretty good day and is eating a little soup right now. It's a pitifully small amount but better than nothing." I'd rather report that she was scarfing down ribeye like a tiger cub, but she's not. Some days she doesn't eat anything.

I look at Erin and see a weak child, but I don't really compare her mentally to the strapping fireball that was running around here just weeks ago. We are really in the moment. We finished The Amber Spyglass yesterday and started The Last Treasure first thing this morning. She is watching America's Funniest Video right now, which explains why I'm at the computer (1. I don't get much out of AFV; and 2. Erin does so my tether to her is a bit longer for the moment.). We spotted a hawk feeding in the field across the road from the house yesterday and watched her for over a minute with the binoculars.

Here's a photo from last Thursday:


Here are a couple of images from the weekend that I grabbed off my niece's facebook (I guess that's why they are small). Please don't notice that Erin is wearing the same shirt. George and Carmella sent it to her from Oxford, and she refused to take it off for days and days. The second shot is what we see from our back porch every evening.

Anyway, we appreciate the waves of comments and e-mails that have flowed in. We may not respond immediately (though I promise we read and re-read them all hungrily). Thank you.

Reading, Beading, and Weeding

March 22, 2009

We made it to Washington-on-the-Brazos last Wednesday for perhaps the most perfect day of the spring. Erin fed the hogs and Jackson used old-fashioned tools to carve a wooden spoon. The oxen population had tripled since our last visit and now Erin is friends with Bud and Abe (the old guys), Skinny and Shorty (the four-year-olds), and Tex and Tippy (the babies). Thursday was even better. Jimmie Homburg brought the fused-glass jewelry making stuff out to the house since there was no School for Christian Living this Wednesday (spring break), and we caught Clayton Sue on her way back from Corpus to Fort Worth. The girls made jewelry and lanyards and because they can multi-task (something I can't do) also watched the DVD of The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Unfortunately things screeched to a halt on Friday. I think Erin must have some tumor progression on her skull (no, I can't actually see bumps or anything) but she has a very persistent headache and dizziness when she sits up. Being vertically challenged really limits what you can do. These days we spend most of our time reading out loud to Erin (she is an enthusiastic listener). We also had the great luxury of having Walter's sisters and nieces in, so it was an entire lanyardfest weekend. Erin appreciates people hanging out and chatting (and working. She is really a bit of a task master, approving designs and making sure everyone has something to do.). Walter and I have also gotten a little yard work done, especially outside Erin's window where she can appreciate the spring flowers and the many cardinals and other songbirds that congregate by the front yard feeder.

I wish there was something that each of you could do to help Erin feel better. If you are around and want to read, bead, or weed you can. Otherwise, prayers work wonders.