Happy Birthday Dean-o!

Dear Dean,

When you were born, we had tears of joy in our eyes. You rounded out and completed our little family. That first year, despite the challenges of learning how to live with CF, you continuously made us smile and warmed our hearts. Over the past two years you have taught us immeasurable things, namely how to accept your challenges, even when you don't understand them and especially when you can't comprehend that they won't end. 

We're learning again how influential we are in your life and we love how you throw our lines back at us and remind us how "ridiklis" something is. 

We are reminded how great and unconditional love truly is and how fast kids grow up. We love how you run up to greet us when you wake up or when we come in the door. 

Probably one of the most important lessons you continue to teach us is that it's important to plan for the future but focusing on living in the moment and enjoying each other's company is what makes life special. 

We're blessed with you and we know it so even though you've asked for dad sizes clothes for your birthday, we're hoping you'll be ok with "ninja back turtle" Legos because we are loving you more and more every day and we're not ready for you to be big yet. We know you're not a baby anymore (especially because you keep telling us) but you'll forever be our baby.  

Love you so much budsers. 

To help continue adding tomorrow's, consider a birthday donation to our Great Strides event http://bit.ly/1iNZdyr

'We're never gonna stop"

Our little boy is about to turn 4. He loves Legos, loves to dance, is the most sincere hugger you’ll ever meet and his goal in life is to just be a dad because “dads don’t have to do tweatments every day.”  We can’t bring ourselves to tell him that because of CF, that may not happen so we’re stepping it up this year, we’re never gonna stop and we’re doing what we can so he CAN reach this goal.  It breaks our hearts to hear him say and wonder when he’ll be a dad. He even wants us to buy him dad-sized clothes when he turns 4! 

Borrowing the words from a favorite song by Hillsong United “we are ready at the line looking out to all that’s ahead.  We are running, chasing after all that you are, cause all that you are is all that we want now. We are running…”  for our little man.  Every stride is taken in Faith, with a belief in our God and a belief that we can make a difference, that we will help fund a cure.  A difference in not just the 70,000 people who have CF, but a difference for all of the families affected by CF.  So we come to challenge you further to look beyond ourselves to your Love.  Look beyond yourself and continue helping us make a difference.  Commit to join, to continue, to push up beyond what we can do in this fight. 

We’re never gonna stop.  In lieu of our Chillin’ & Grillin’ this year, we’re placing emphasis on recruiting and building up a superhero force for Dean.  As the song continues…we are looking out to all that is ahead.  We’re never gonna stop.  We would love for you to sign up and join us at the starting line for one our upcoming events:

March 30: Team EPD at the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K

May 4: Team EPD at the Palos Half Marathon (Team Lead Tim Malone)
May 17: Illinois Great Strides 5K walk, Centennial Park, Orland Park
August 16: Team CF at the CF Cycle for Life
November 9: CF Climb for Life (Team Lead Candy Johnson)

Some family and friends already have committed to leading an event near them and we’re forever thankful! 

Great Strides 5K, Dubuque, Iowa (Team Lead Jill Gansemer)

Great Strides 5K, Cary, North Carolina (Team Lead Amy Kelley)
Great Strides 5K, New Canaan, Connecticut (Team Lead Team Woodring)
Great Strides 5K, Nevada (Team Lead Kalena Theissen)
Great Strides 5K, Palm Springs, California (Team Lead Dorothy Yudice)

Or you can simply donate.  Whatever your choice, we truly thank you for giving Dean (and us) more tomorrows.  Email, text, call, fb with any questions and don’t forget to watch Dean’s 2014 video and like us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/eatpraydean.

Share our video and our plea with anyone who is willing to pray, run, bike, climb or make a tax-deductible donation.  With gratitude,

Jim & Erin

Quick Links:

Register for the Orland Park May 17th Walk
Donate
Dean's 2014 Video
Email us
www.eatpraydean.com