Saturday, June 28, 2008

balloons for Emily!!

2008 Ambassadors... our friends

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Summer notes and sadness


It is with great sadness that Madi and I share news of her dear friend, Emily Barger's passing.
Emily represented TN as ambassador in the Champions Across America event this March. Her family, Brian, Misty, Blair and Meagan are in our thoughts and prayers. We ask our friends and family to embrace them and lift them up in prayer as their beautiful angel, Emily, greets God in Heaven.

On the day and time of her funeral, we will ask ALL our friends to join us in sending a balloon into the sky. The interment ceremony at the cemetery will begin at 3 PM on Friday....


On the card that is attached to the string..

In Honor of my friend...
Emily Barger- Knoxville Tennessee
Children's Miracle Network
Champion Across America 2008
RIP June 24,2008

On the back....

Sign your child's name... state... and the day date and time...
Will the person who finds this balloon honor my friend and make a
donation to your local Children's Hospital.

----------------------------

Also, we leave on Tuesday, July 1st for Pittsburgh, PA.
Madi will have procedures and pre-op the 2nd and 3rd and surgery on July 7th. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

We will keep you updated here on her condition.

Love,
Rhonda and Madi

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Kinney Drugs Miracle Dinner

Kinney Drugs Miracle Dinner
Photos will be uploaded later but I MUST get this out to everyone.

First, my sincerest thanks to Ashley Adams, Alexandra Davis, Izzy Marsala and Miss Madi for performing "If No One Will Listen" last evening. It was certainly one of the greatest highlights of my career.

Second, I wish you all could have been there. After Goose Gossage spoke, they surprised the 500 plus attendees by having the girls come out in costume. Cindy Bufalini (who, with words alone, made me cry) introduced them.

The crowd grew quiet, the dance began, the girls were In The Zone. End of dance-- pause of silence and then...a ROAR of applause. Everyone jumped to their feet and a LONG standing ovation began. Goose stood up, grabbed Madi and lifted her to his shoulder. The crowd went NUTS and the ovation continued for about three minutes.

GOOSE bumps--- get it?? Ha.

I want to thank Stacy from Kinney Drugs for making this an evening that NONE of the dancers (and especially a glowing Madi) will EVER forget.
For Jocelyn, who makes wishes come true every day, a great hug of thanks...

and to Madi "our miracle" thanks...just for being YOU!

-Rhonda

Monday, June 16, 2008

Madi's chorus concert




...and who is the loudest singing Angel of all???

Monday, June 02, 2008

June looks great

Madi kicks bootie at THRIVE

SO, we went to this regional dance comp. this weekend and Lil Miss Thing had quite the time...
She performed her clog dance solo to The Shake with about 100 contestants in her category...
She got a platinum scoring (highest level), first in her category, third place Grand Champion AND was named "Miss PreTeen Thrive"...
She was also chosen as Most Photogenic and Most Spirited. The last award was given in recognition of her friendliness backstage and in the dressing rooms with other studio members by VERIZON. The award?? OMG a pink blackberry. Of course, the actual PLAN would cost extra so she has a very impressive play phone as of now
A modern piece choreographed re: her surgery journey and how her friends from the dance studio perceive she is treated entitled "If No One Will Listen" also won platinum, first in category and second place Grand Champion and I received a choreography award for the piece (which I quickly recognized as the dancers' journey...NOT my work).
Anywayzzzz, it was great to see her hard work and sheer determination pay off.
For Madi, the kicker was that the event was hosted by BENJI from So You Think You Can Dance fame and she got her pic with him and "hung" with him backstage. (I will post those pics later!)
A long but satisfying weekend!
Did I mention I am soooooooooooooo proud???