Hoping you all received your invitations today! Many thanks to Lisa Frey of Bella Carta Studio for donating her time, talent and resources to create these lovely invites.We hope to sell out...so please send your RSVPs in soon!
Friday, September 30, 2011
The Invitations Are Out!
Hoping you all received your invitations today! Many thanks to Lisa Frey of Bella Carta Studio for donating her time, talent and resources to create these lovely invites.We hope to sell out...so please send your RSVPs in soon!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
He is Faithful!
You may or may not share share my faith, but let me just tell you that, God is good all the time - and all the time, God is good!
I was feeling pretty discouraged today as we seem to be off to a slow start. And then God really came though, as He often does, in the form of an earthly angel. You know who you are, and I can only pray that God will bless you many times over for your generosity. You have touched my heart. Thank you seems so inadequate.
Now let's keep it going folks!!!!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Save the Date
It's confirmed. We have secured a location for the Pasta Dinner. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, November 19th.Invitations to follow.
If you would like to receive a mailed invitation, and have not already done so, please email your address to shawnsue4ever@yahoo.com or post in the comments section.
Celebrating Home
As promised, fundraiser #2 is now available! It's a great time of year to purchase candles or to start thinking about the holidays. They make great gifts for family, teachers, sitters, etc. There are also some other products available in the brochure as well. And 50% of all purchases will go directly to the Gardners.
http://www.celebratinghome.com/fundraising_orderforms.ashx
http://www.celebratinghome.com/fundraising_orderforms.ashx
Orders can be mailed to shawnsue4ever@yahoo.com
Checks can be made out and mailed directly to me at:
Sue Reardon
152 Guinevere Dr
Rochester NY, 14626
Again, much thanks for your support!
Checks can be made out and mailed directly to me at:
Sue Reardon
152 Guinevere Dr
Rochester NY, 14626
Again, much thanks for your support!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Pucker Up!
The Lemonade Stand is open for business!!!
1.) Click on the image below to enlarge.
2.) Print/cut out your Pitcher and/or Glass.
3.) Personalize your Pitcher/Glass with a note of support to the Gardners written over top.
4.) Mail, along with payment, to the address listed.
Thank you so much for your support!!!!
How Can I Help?
Helping is easy! We are creating three different ways in which you can help support The Gardner Family.
1) Celebrating Home Candle & Accessory Sale- This sale will run through mid October and 50% of all sales will go directly towards the Gardners. For family and friends outside Western NY, there will be an online option so you can participate as well.
1) Celebrating Home Candle & Accessory Sale- This sale will run through mid October and 50% of all sales will go directly towards the Gardners. For family and friends outside Western NY, there will be an online option so you can participate as well.
2) Pasta Dinner- Date TBA. We have secured a location as well as numerous donations already. More details to follow.
3) Virtual Lemonade Stand- Many of you may have heard Jodie's famous mantra, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". To honor her ever positive outlook, we are hosting a "Lemonade Sale". You will have the opportunity to purchase glasses or pitchers of lemonade and include a personalized note of support to Brent and Jodie. This also be an event that allows for those residing out of the area to participate.
So be on the lookout for more details on these fun and exciting ways in which you can get involved!
If you have any questions, ideas or are interested in donating food or raffle items for the dinner, please cnontact Sue at shawnsue4ever@yahoo.com
Introduction
Brent and Jodie Gardner knew early in their marriage that they had a special c
alling. Brent and Jodie not only felt compelled to adopt children but they would only consider children with significant special needs. Jodie describes this action not as a choice, but rather the path which they knew was chosen for them. In 2005, Tyler joined the Gardner family. In addition to Down Syndrome, Tyler had other challenges including Hirschsprungs Disease and Klinefelter's Syndrome. But Tyler thrived in the Gardners’ home, and it was of little surprise when Emmalee Ann joined their family just a year later from the same adoption agency. Emma was born premature and had a number of risk factors as well.
In 2006, Brent accepted a position in Rochester, NY and the family moved across the country. The children were adjusting well, Brent was enjoying his new position, and life was very good. In 2007, the Gardners received an unexpected call from their adoption agency. There was a baby boy, born 15 weeks premature and who weighed only 21 ounces. In his first weeks, he had already experienced seizures, a brain bleed and infections. His outlook was bleak, but he deserved a home and the love of a family. After some prayer, and understanding that this baby came with no guarantees, the Gardners quickly agreed to adopt the little boy whose name would later become Nathaniel. And after spending many months in the hospital, Nate also came home to his forever family. But the joy was short lived. On March 2, 2008 the Gardners’ lives would be turned upside down when Tyler was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
In the three years that have passed, the family has experienced more trying times than is possible to list. Tyler is now in remission, but spent 2 long and difficult years receiving treatment. He has had a number of surgeries and infections and it seems he has spent as much time in a hospital as he has at home. Nate is also a survivor and has defied the odds against him, but the road has not been easy. He has also required numerous surgeries and although thriving physically, continues to experience many developmental delays. During this time, Jodie also broke both ankles and was laid up for many months. And unfortunately her ankle healed wrong- twice.
While Tyler was still receiving cancer treatments and Jodie was laid up with her ankles, Brent began experiencing troublesome symptoms. After many months of trying to figure out what was going on, Brent was diagnosed with Behcet’s Disease in November of 2009. Since that time, Brent’s health has steadily declined. Behcet’s is a progressive disease and eventually Brent was forced to quit his job and is now disabled. Over recent months Brent’s health has rapidly deteriorated. He has experienced many bouts with dangerous infections and, more recently, began suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. At this time, Brent is still hospitalized.
As one would imagine, it has been particularly difficult for Jodie: trying to manage the care of three children (two with significant needs) and a very sick spouse. Jodie states, “When we committed ourselves to adopting children with special needs, we never imagined that the responsibility would come to fall on only one of us.”
With both families residing out West, Jodie and Brent have relied mostly on their friends from church and Adoption STAR. And at this time, these friends have all joined forces in effort to raise funds to help offset some of Brent’s medical bills and to help care for their three children.
We are hoping that you too might be willing to help this family who is experiencing such desperate need.
alling. Brent and Jodie not only felt compelled to adopt children but they would only consider children with significant special needs. Jodie describes this action not as a choice, but rather the path which they knew was chosen for them. In 2005, Tyler joined the Gardner family. In addition to Down Syndrome, Tyler had other challenges including Hirschsprungs Disease and Klinefelter's Syndrome. But Tyler thrived in the Gardners’ home, and it was of little surprise when Emmalee Ann joined their family just a year later from the same adoption agency. Emma was born premature and had a number of risk factors as well.
In 2006, Brent accepted a position in Rochester, NY and the family moved across the country. The children were adjusting well, Brent was enjoying his new position, and life was very good. In 2007, the Gardners received an unexpected call from their adoption agency. There was a baby boy, born 15 weeks premature and who weighed only 21 ounces. In his first weeks, he had already experienced seizures, a brain bleed and infections. His outlook was bleak, but he deserved a home and the love of a family. After some prayer, and understanding that this baby came with no guarantees, the Gardners quickly agreed to adopt the little boy whose name would later become Nathaniel. And after spending many months in the hospital, Nate also came home to his forever family. But the joy was short lived. On March 2, 2008 the Gardners’ lives would be turned upside down when Tyler was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
In the three years that have passed, the family has experienced more trying times than is possible to list. Tyler is now in remission, but spent 2 long and difficult years receiving treatment. He has had a number of surgeries and infections and it seems he has spent as much time in a hospital as he has at home. Nate is also a survivor and has defied the odds against him, but the road has not been easy. He has also required numerous surgeries and although thriving physically, continues to experience many developmental delays. During this time, Jodie also broke both ankles and was laid up for many months. And unfortunately her ankle healed wrong- twice.
While Tyler was still receiving cancer treatments and Jodie was laid up with her ankles, Brent began experiencing troublesome symptoms. After many months of trying to figure out what was going on, Brent was diagnosed with Behcet’s Disease in November of 2009. Since that time, Brent’s health has steadily declined. Behcet’s is a progressive disease and eventually Brent was forced to quit his job and is now disabled. Over recent months Brent’s health has rapidly deteriorated. He has experienced many bouts with dangerous infections and, more recently, began suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. At this time, Brent is still hospitalized.
As one would imagine, it has been particularly difficult for Jodie: trying to manage the care of three children (two with significant needs) and a very sick spouse. Jodie states, “When we committed ourselves to adopting children with special needs, we never imagined that the responsibility would come to fall on only one of us.”
With both families residing out West, Jodie and Brent have relied mostly on their friends from church and Adoption STAR. And at this time, these friends have all joined forces in effort to raise funds to help offset some of Brent’s medical bills and to help care for their three children.
We are hoping that you too might be willing to help this family who is experiencing such desperate need.
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