Today marks the 3 month anniversary of Erin Hope's "Homegoing".  What a blessing to know that she is 'healed' and at rest!  The family has been very busy and we apologize for not updating you sooner.  The shock of losing her is lessening along with the increasing weight of reality.  Each day brings new challenges that we must overcome and are reminded that God's grace is sufficient.

 

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family.  Hannah is doing much better and is doing very well in school.  We have our 'old' Hannah back.  Erin Hope's Dad had mentioned to her Mom earlier that he thought he would never be the type to just go to the cemetery and sit.  He proved himself wrong the other day.  He had a depressing day and could not get to the cemetery fast enough.  He spent about 45 minutes sitting on her grave weeping.  Andrew has been playing soccer and is very good at it.  He has been blessed with the natural ability to do well in sports.  He loves soccer, baseball, and football.  He, also, is doing well in school.

 

Recently, we went to the Victory Junction Gang Camp for an open house.  If you remember, that is where Erin Hope was in July and had to leave early because she became very ill.  This is when we found out that she had tumors in her brain.  This camp was started by the Nascar family, the Pettys'.  Two weeks after Erin Hope's passing, we received a phone call from Patty Petty, Kyle Petty's wife.  Kyle is of the famous Nascar racing family, the Pettys.  Richard Petty is his father and Kyle has raced Nascar cars for many years. 

Before Patty got off the phone, Kyle got on and talked to Erin Hope's mom for a while.  We went to the open house hoping we would get to meet them.  Kyle and Patty had lost their son, Adam, a few years ago after he wrecked his Nascar car in time trials.  Victory Junction Gang Camp a realization of his dream.  When we got there we heard where Patty was and got to meet her and visit with her for a while.  Once the word got out that we were at the camp, the staff started buzzing with excitement.  Those that were there this past summer shared with us the enormous impact Erin Hope had made on them in the short 3 days that she was there.  The camp director came to meet us and gave us a personal tour of the place.  You see, Erin Hope was the first camper to get sick and have to leave by ambulance and was the first to pass away.  Kyle Petty was also there that day and was signing autographs for a very long line of people.  Patty had asked one of the counselors to pull Kyle aside so that he could spend some time with us.  But Kyle, the gracious man that he is, wanted to spend more personal time with us. So, we were invited to have a meal with them and Kyle's fan club later that day.  That was really cool!  There was another family there that had lost their child a few weeks after Erin Hope died.  They also shared our experience.  Thanks to Kyle, Patty, Austin, and Montgomery Lee Petty, and to Chris, Carrie, Dr. Space, and other counselors for a fantastic day!  They shared with us that we will always be a part of their family.  You may visit and make donations at www.victoryjunction.org  

 

The very next day, we attended the Make-A-Wish reunion at Paramount's Carowinds theme park.  We were fed and able to enjoy the park for the entire day.  It was good to see some friends that we hadn't seen for a year.  www.wish.org .

 

We also were able to attend a Clay Aiken concert at Carowinds but on an earlier night.  It was great as well and saw many of our friends that loved Erin Hope.  There were about 12 thousand people at that concert.  That means lots of traffic and waiting before and after the concert.  But, it was worth it.

 

Erin Hope's custom made gravestone is finally installed and is absolutely gorgeous!  We think that it looks just like what she would have wanted.  It is solid black granite with color etching of a picture of her with a dolphin with other dolphins in the water, a lighthouse, and seagulls.  Look for pictures coming soon of it and other things.

 

We continue to hear of and receive memorials for Erin Hope.  One of which I cannot share with you just yet, but is very special to us.  Thank you!

 

The family is also planning a trip soon to spend some much needed time alone.  Please continue to pray for us as the holidays become closer.  Christmas was always special to Erin Hope and I know that it will be difficult this year not sharing it with her.

 

As always, we thank you so much for continuing to visit www.erinhope.com and for praying for us.  Please continue to send your friends here.  So far, we have not received distinct direction for the website.  Please pray that it continues to reach others for Christ.  We believe that it won't be long until Jesus Christ comes back for his believers.  Please visit the "Free Stuff" link on this site if you are not sure that you will go to heaven. 

 

Just received a phone call telling us of another Erin who had cancer passed away this morning.  She too, attended Victory Junction the same week that Erin Hope did.  Please pray for her family.

 

God bless you!

 

God is good...ALL the time!!!