CARTI FESTIVAL OF TREES FANCY FUN

This year, with our friends' new job at CARTI, we decided it would make a great time to get involved with some of their special events during this week, the Festival of Trees.  Truthfully, I've long wanted John to be able to go to the Sugar Plum Ball with some/all of our girls, but the dates have never worked out before.  This year, he was able to take all three girls who were over the moon excited about a special night out.

I let them pick their dresses from Amazon, and they came complete with a hoop petticoat.  😂 But, they looked adorable and felt so special.

The event had some highs and lows.  At one point, they had to evacuate due to a fire alarm, and Lily was wailing that they were going to die.  🙄 Obviously.

After 20 minutes, they were allowed back inside.  And though the fire alarm did go off again, they did not have to evacuate a second time and got to enjoy all the fun of dancing and eating and partying with friends.  It will be a cherished memory for them.  Bella led the conga line like the little extravert that she is, while Lily and Violet enjoyed dancing and seeing friends.

Last night, John and I headed out to Tux N' Trees, and I loved the opportunity to get super dressed up.

It was a beautiful event with decorated trees, a silent auction, a delicious dinner and some fun dancing.  We also got to hear the story of a current cancer patient who reminded me so very much of my father.  This man has terminal brain cancer and has four (relatively young) kids.  His humor and persona are compelling, but his love for the Lord and testimony for him were the most moving parts.  We were honored to sit with he and his wife at dinner and blown away by the way they are handling this hard road so graciously and in a way that is so honoring to the Lord.  It was a visceral reminder of how fleeting this life truly is.

Thanks, CARTI, for putting on excellent events this week and more importantly, for providing so many tremendous resources and care for your patients!