Community

Brielle's Elementary School put on their Spring Fair this month.  They start with a concert of songs they've learned in music class.  There are several food booths including their famous BBQ chicken.  They end with a parade and each grade walks in the parade with their class. 

Ashton loved the parade... once the candy came. 

Until then, he was a little impatient. =)

I'm a nut for community events. I LOVE them. I feel like it's my community's culture, which, to me, is who we are! And I love seeing everyone and learning more about the people in my community.

I'm on a fundraiser committee for an upcoming community event that I wanted to share about.  I'm helping my sister-in-law raise money for her sister's family.  Her sister's husband, Ryan, is battling adrenal cancer.  Ryan is only 29.  He's in stage 4 after clinical trials, radiation, and chemo.  They have two boys, ages 5 and 3.  I have been so touched to see what our community members are willing to do and give for this family.

Politically, I believe our nation, as a whole, has strayed  from the structure our forefathers intended.  In its infancy, our nation didn't tax for welfare or force people to help those in need.  In those days they didn't have the government decide what was best for millions of strangers to give or receive because... they didn't have to.  The people just helped each other.  The federal government didn't take from one state and give it to another.  The states were allowed to decide how to take care of their own.  And people took care of each other on a personal level out of self proclaimed duty and charity and choice.  While I know it was an inspired system, I know a change in that direction couldn't happen over night.   And frankly, after things you hear about these days, I've wondered if it would be possible to live that way again.

This oportunity to put my community to the test has been a comfort to me.  To know people are still not only willing to take care of one another, but are eager to, is a great comfort.  And it's not just the businesses I've approached, but all the members of the committee are saying they've had an overwhelming response of people offering their services, donating money, spreading the word.

I'm grateful to be part of a community whose culture is not just that they care about their schools, their athletic teams, the cleanliness of their town, their home values, their safety, their lives and their families, but they still care about each other as well. 

All the money in the world can't gaurantee Ryan's life.  We don't know the future.  We hope and we pray for him.  We can do our best to give him every opportunity to fight this.  But if it's God will to take him home, a community can't stop it.  However, a community CAN make sure that if his time comes, his little family won't lose their home and all they have over the cost of medical bills.  And we can make sure their needs are met and that they feel supported and loved.  I know that it is often through us that God shows his love and mercy to his children.  I hope that message is loud and strong.  This family is so loved.

For anyone who hadn't heard of this event yet that would be interested in participating or spreading the word, here is the information:

This fundraiser is a combination event.  The event is June 19th. There is a golf tournament in the morning, a ribeye stake dinner, and a silent auction.  There will also be a raffle for a large gun case, valued at $1,500.  The drawing will take place later this summer at the fair.  If you are interested in sponsoring a hole at the golf tournament, sponsoring a team, being on a team, attending the meal, donating an auction item, buying raffle tickets, or making a donation, please e-mail me for questions (sarahstice@hotmail.com) or  make connections at the web address or phone number below. 

(***This flyer is outdated.  The ribeye meal was originally a lunch at the golf course, but we've had so much response that the golf course cannot accomodate so many people or it will damage their greens.  It is now a dinner rather than a lunch.  And it will be held at Howard's Nursery off of Hwy. 95 at 5:00pm.***)