(thanks Steve Smoot for putting this video together)
On Monday April 20th 2015 an amazing team of wonderful people put on a benefit concert for Ashlee. The main goal was to show Ashlee how many love and support her, and to also raise money for her treatments and wellness.
My cousin Jason Hewlett is one of the best corporate entertainers in the business and volunteered his talents in efforts to raise money for Ash. Along with Lindsay Hadley and her team, and Anything for a friend they put together an amazing night. The show sold out and over 1000 people were there. So many people donated time, money, baskets, and an array of items that were auctioned off. It is hard to put into words how wonderful both Ashlee and I felt. To see so many people gathered on her behalf was so powerful.
When we got home that night Ash said she felt bad that she maybe only was able to see 30% of the people that were there. I told her that no one expected her to be able to see everyone, and that fact that she was't able to connect with everyone was a sign that it it was a very successful night.
For those of you that we did not get to thank, and hug, we love you all so much and are so greatful for everything you have done, and do for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those that know us know how much we value our family, friends, and relationships. We feel so blessed to have the support we do. Ash occasionally says she doesn't feel deserving of the all the things people do for us...it is still hard to be on the recieveing end all the time, but it is also very inspiring and heart warming. In our lives we have never seen a community, friends, and family all join together for one person. We both feel so blessed and humbled.
As far as Ash's health goes, we kind of feel like she has been in a holding pattern. Her last Chemo treatment was in Mid March, and she has to start back up on May 6th. Her lung test came back negative for infection, but that doesn't really tell us a whole lot about what is going on, it just rules out an infection. They will watch and wait. We pray it isn't anything. After another 2-3 rounds of chemo the Dr's will do another scan and then assess from there.
As I write this post we are celebrating our 10th anniversary today. We can hardly believe it has been 10 years. I feel like my greatest accomplishment is being lucky enough to have been married to Ashlee for the last 10 years. We have 3 beautiful children that we are so proud of, and bring us so much joy. We love the life we have built...but I think the thing we are most proud of, is we really enjoy spending time together. In the face paced life we live in it is so hard to find the time to really enjoy your spouse. I was telling a friend, that Ashlee's cancer is the hardest challenge we have faced but the one thing is has given us is almost a perfect perspective on our marriage. We have spent almost 1/3 or our lives together, and we have so much faith and hope that we will be able to grow old together and celebrate our 50th anniversary.
