A Re-Visiting and Charity

Last week I posted about repressing any happy feelings for fear that they would bring on something bad--a jinx if you will.  Putting my innermost fears out there for anyone on the world wide web to see really made me realize that it was time to do something about them.  I am not a "sweep things under the rug and hope they go away" kind of girl.  So, I have made a list of things to work on, in order to give myself permission to be happy again.  Will it work?  *Katie Shrugs*  But it's worth a try!  I thought I would share my list, in case anyone else feels like doing some personal improvement along with me : )

1. God hasn't given us the spirit of fear.  He tells us this in II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  God loves us, and has gotten us this far.  He will still love us if something else goes wrong, and he will still keep us going in spite of it.  He doesn't want us to live in fear--and if the Bible says that God didn't give us this fear, than that means only one person did.  I decided that I will NOT give Satan that kind of power over me.  I WON 'T live in fear just because the devil whispers in my ear that I better not be happy.

2. It takes a village.  My family has not gotten this far alone.  We have a wonderful family, and wonderful friends.  We also have a wonderful church family.  How could we have come this far without them?  They have prayed for us time and again (and I mean this very honestly when I say this is the #1 thing I want people to do for us.  God can save these children like no chemo treatment ever can).  These folks have been with us through our toughest times, and I am sure in the fact that they will be here for us in the future.  If you are trying to fight for your life all alone, then you need to seriously re-think your strategy.

3. Trials will come regardless.  This is a key point, in my thinking.  Do I really think that just because I don't let myself enjoy all the happy things in life that no more bad things will ever happen to my family?  That's ridiculous!  Bad things will still come--that's just part of life.  So I need to enjoy the mountaintops while they're here.  And I intend to (at least to try!).

So that's my two cents.  I hope it helps someone : )

And now for my charity highlight.  In a few weeks we will be traveling to Walt Disney World via the Make A Wish Foundation and Give Kids The World.  So, I thought I'd tell you a little about them.  The Make A Wish Foundation began in 1980 when a police officer made a young cancer patient's wish come true--he became a police officer for a day.  The patient passed away two days later.  Today they are the largest wish granting organization in the world!

Who Are They:   Make A Wish Foundation

Their Mission Statement: We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

How To Donate: Visit their website here.  There are numerous ways to help, including donating money, volunteering, or donating items.  You can also adopt a wish, meaning you can sponsor a child's wish.  I know of one family who's wish sponsor ran a horse farm.  The child's wish was to have a horse of her own, and her wish sponsor simply donated a horse.


We will be going to Walt Disney World.  When wish children visit Disney World they stay at Give Kids The World.  You can learn more about them here. 

Who They Are:  Give Kids The World

Their Story:
The story of Give Kids The World begins with a little girl with a wish and the desire of one man to make that wish come true.
The little girl's name was Amy. Amy had leukemia and one wish - to visit the theme parks in Orlando. To facilitate Amy's wish, the request of a complimentary stay was made to a respected hotelier. As he had done many times before, the hotelier gladly obliged and Amy's wish was that much closer to being realized. Sadly, the remainder of Amy's travel plans took too long to arrange and her wish was never granted; Amy had passed away. Time simply ran out.
This unfulfilled wish inspired a man, the hotelier, to make a vow that no child in need would ever be failed again. That man was Henri Landwirth and his desire to ensure that Amy's story would never repeat itself is where the story of Give Kids The World begins.

Their Mission: Give Kids The World is a non-profit organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.

How To Donate: Donations can be made by visiting their website.  You can also sign up to volunteer.