Leighton is SIX!!!

Oh me!  When did my baby turn 6??  Six years old?  This sweet girl changed my life the day she was born.  And she continues to change the lives of people around her with her sweet nature, loving spirit, and kind heart.  She is my mini-me inside and out and I don't know what I would do without her! 

She decided she wanted her birthday party at home...so her friends could come to her house and play.  And she wanted a gymnastics theme.  We had a dessert table complete with Olympic rings, a balance beam, uneven bars which displayed our leotard and gold medal cookies, a ball pit filled with bubble gum, and a trampoline cake.  Our activities were pin the pony-tail on the gymnast, the balance beam, the trampoline (thank goodness we had the balance beam and small trampoline or we would have invested some serious money in this party), and "hot potato" with a 1st place ribbon.  And we finished with all of the girls playing with the parachute.  Fun times had by all!! :) 

Miracles

Since my kids have been born, I've found I think about life's miracles more and more. The fact that my kids are healthy and on this Earth is a miracle. Have you ever thought about how often we take our health for granted? I try, since learning of my skin cancer, to live each day to the fullest but I have to admit that the "daily" stuff, the mundane, often takes over and I sweat the small stuff. However, there are two people I see on a daily basis that make me smile, remind me that we aren't guaranteed tomorrow, and that miracles still happen. I see Jack walking down the hallway at school and get goose bumps because I know...he's a miracle. I sit in meetings and listen to Debbie talk and I am reminded of how lucky I am to have her here today. She too is a miracle.

For those who read my blog and don't know Debbie's story...let me tell you why she and her son are such miracles. When Jack was 3, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Can you imagine? 3 years old! He had to have a bone marrow transplant and Debbie was the donor. I don't know a Momma who wouldn't take on that hurt for their child. Debbie did exactly what she needed to do to save her son's life. She gave her son marrow on her daughter's first birthday.  So now, on that date, the Boren family celebrates the lives of two of their children.  Jack is now 7 years out of his transplant...a happy, healthy, handsome young man.  But that was just the beginning of the fight for the Boren family.

In 2008, just 3 years after Jack got his all clear test results, Debbie herself was diagnosed with leukemia.  As she fought for her own life, she also called Jack's doctors to ensure his health was not at risk because she was his donor.  They assured her that he was fine.  It was her turn to jump the same hurdle her now 6 year old son was a "survivor" of.  And she did with more grace than I could ever imagine.  She never steered from the fact that she knew God had a plan for her and she was in it.  Through treatments and then a bone marrow transplant herself, she trusted that all would be well.

I am reminded daily of how lucky I am to have Debbie here. To be able to touch her, talk to her, hug her, and just tell her I love her. Debbie, you and your sweet Jack are two of the biggest miracles I've witnessed. It is an honor to call you friend!  Much love Boren family!!!

Jack and Debbie in 2005 when Jack was boy of the year.  Is he not the cutest?

Jack and Debbie now...happy, and healthy!!!  Love you!!