Living Beyond Age 37

Guest post by Alicia from Experiencing Our Homeschool.  

I am 37 years old.

In most families, other milestones like “sweet 16” and “over the hill 50” are important markers.  But in our family, the number 37 never leaves the forefront of our mind.

The median predicted age of survival for those with Cystic Fibrosis is 37.

My 5 year old daughter, Samantha’s median age life expectancy is the age I am right now.

My cousin died of Cystic Fibrosis at 2 months old. In the span of one generation, research has come so far that the life expectancy is now 37. As wonderful as that is, I know what 37 years feels like and I do not feel like I am at the end of my life. In many ways, it is just beginning.

When Samantha reaches age 37, I want her to feel the same way!

From now on, when you hear the number 37, I want you to remember Samantha who spends hours a day taking medicines and doing treatments so that she can extend her life little by little. You can help her and the 30,000 other Americans with this disease by giving to our Great Strides fundraiser!

In a little twist to our Great Strides fundraising and in honor of the age 37, I am asking that you donate $37. Obviously, we will accept any dollar amount, but as a reminder of this age and what it means to Samantha’s life, I am asking for a specific number this year!

This money will go towards finding new medicines and new treatments that improve each CFer’s daily life and extend this median life expectancy. Do you have $37? It will not be wasted!

To donate right now, click on the following link:

LIVING BEYOND AGE 37

Grateful for anything you contribute,
Alicia (Dan, Timothy, and Samantha!)

Stephanie here... 

Alicia's story has given me a whole new perspective on turning 37 this year!  If you are a parent, over 37, attended Ouachita Baptist University (like Alicia and I did), are a military family like Alicia and Dan, or just feel moved to help fund research for Samantha, I hope you will contribute to their campaign.  Thanks!!!

Do you know someone with Cystic Fibrosis?

Xtreme Sledding :: Family Fun Friday

January 2011 came with its own theme - SNOW!  From the day after Christmas into February, Rhode Island experienced weekly snowfall.  Sometimes twice a week!

In the beginning we shoveled the driveway as a family, threw a few snowballs, and made a snowman.  But once snow has thawed and refrozen a few times it makes a pretty lethal snowball.

So what's a family to do when the backyard looks like this:

And the front yard looks like this:

And the driveway looks like this:

Well, you use those walls of snow for Xtreme sledding!!

And Momma just prays no one gets hurt!!!


What's the craziest thing you've done in the snow?

Happy 6th Birthday, Ben!!

Happy birthday, Ben!!

Today you are 6 years old.  I can't believe you are getting so big!!

This year brought a lot of exciting things to your life:

• you started kindergarten at home.  You have enjoyed studying birds, bats and insects in science.  Your love for animals continues to grow.
• you learned to read!!  Reading still takes effort for you but it's getting easier as you practice each day.  You often go into the living room to work on phonics because you can't focus with Will talking in the kitchen.
• you spend half of your classes at co-op with Will and the 6-9 year olds.  You usually like science, art, and p.e.  But drama and language arts/Bible are NEVER favorites.
• you have become quite the class clown in our Flying Creatures science class.  I knew you would thrive in that class, which is why I volunteered to teach it.

• you decided you don't care for peanut butter and honey sandwiches but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are still favorites.
• you have become more adventurous in eating.  Home made chicken noodle soup, meatloaf, chicken pot pie are recent meals you've eaten.  It helps to have dessert afterward as a bribe.
• you are a fantastic big brother!!  You love to carry Sam around and wrestle with him, although he doesn't always appreciate the attention.  You usually help Sam climb inside the indoor playground at Burger King.
• Legos are now your favorite toy.  You still play with Thomas the Tank Engine and Lincoln Logs but not nearly as much as Legos.
• You met your cousins Joshua, Daniel and Susanna for the first time this year.  We rented a huge cabin in Tennessee together.  You four big boys slept in one bed together.
• You visited Washington, DC for the first time.  The pigeons impressed you more than anything else.
• You draw very well and your handwriting is impressive for kindergarten.
• You still share a room with Will and most days get along.  One of these days you are going to realize you are stronger than he is.
• you learned to wink and curl your tongue.

I love you and am SO glad God placed you in our family!!  You always make me smile.

Love,
Momma

You might enjoy:
Benjamin turns THREE?! How did that happen?! (2008)
Happy Birthday Ben! (2010)