But especially to Scott, who has always been the our rock, but especially through the challenges we’ve faced this year.  When I am frantic and full of worry, his strength comforts and calms me – I am the worry wart and scheduler, always trying to be prepared and planning weeks ahead of myself – Scott is the laid back, one-day-at-a-time, what-day-is-it-today?, never worried kind of guy.  Extreme individually yet balanced together, we make a great pair.  He is an awesome Dad…  loving yet firm, who always lets his kids know how much they are loved and that there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them.  Laughter is the best medicine in Scott’s book, and he makes sure that the kids and our home is full of it!

We couldn’t be blessed with a better man in our lives…  WE LOVE YOU!!

On Father’s Day, Scott and I planned to spend our morning volunteering for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s First Annual Half Marathon.  Scott was getting over a cold, so my mom was happy to take his place.  When Maddie heard what we were volunteering for, she begged and pleaded to be there with us even after hearing that we’d have to wake up at 3am Sunday morning to be in Waikiki by 4:30am.  We went to her cousin Kellee’s graduation party the night before.  They have a house on the water and she and Trevor were lucky enough to drive their boat through the canal.  Hopefully Maddie’s driving skills will improve – a lot- before she becomes old enough to drive! At 9pm that night, she reminded me that it was time to leave since we had to wake up early.  Hey, isn’t that my job? To our surprise, Maddie was up before me and had not changed her mind – she was determined to come with us.  After meeting about 10 other volunteers at aid station #1 (right across Niketown in Waikiki) that morning, Maddie starting lining up hundreds of cups as we filled them with cold water.  At about 5:20, we saw a glimpse of the first runners, but by that time, Maddie was pooped and just wanted to watch from her wheelchair on the sidelines.  A few hundred runners later, she stood up to pass me cups of water and the next thing I knew, she was lined up right alongside us trying to hold the water up high enough with all her might for the runners herself!  I wish I had taken a pic, but will try to get one from The Leukemia Society.  Although it was a very tiring morning for her and a bad mood took over at times, Maddie wanted so much to be a part of this and “give back” to this cause that indirectly helps her.  We will definitely volunteer for this event again next year!