Miles for Melanie.. and Faith

SOOOOOOOOOO.. I was gonna do this post like, last Saturday, but here it is on Wednesday. Oh well. Anyways, Saturday I ran a 5k for a friend of mine, Melanie, and it was a little bit in memory of Faith. I finished with a time of 32 minutes, and it was a lot of fun.
Tay is home and doing well =) Hallelujah!
Ok, now, I don't know if I've posted this before.. but I have something exciting to tell y'alls. I am going to be recording a CD in the near future!! Yes! My own CD! More info later =)
Love ya!

Erika

Photo Contest

Goooooooooood gosh..... heyo!
I just wanted to let you all know that I got 2nd in a photo contest at the Children's Medical Center in DC!!! I was so excited! =) Here is the photo:

Fun Weekend =)

Crazy good weekend here. So, Friday night I took Caroline out to her yearly birthday dinner, we went to Pizzza Pie Cafe and it was so much fun. After we watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid at my house. The movie wasn't like I expected it to be but it was okay. Not one I'd watch again though. I didn't really like it but it was kind of cute to see once. Anyways, then she spent the night at my house and we stayed up until like one in the morning seriously on the floor laughing. Oh it was so fun. The next morning my grandma came over and we cleaned the house for my mom to pay her back for dinner. For some reason Caroline stuck around and we made lunch for my family. After that my grandma left Caroline and I went to the Bean Museum and then we walked over to the Wilkinson's Center to go bowling. When we were just outside of the Wilkinson's Center, we ran into Brit! She was a crisis counselor at the school when Kat died, so I got to know her pretty well. I showed her my poetry and we had a lot of fun together. Anyways, until July of this year I hadn't seen her since the summer of 5th grade. Then, on the 3rd of July, Vivian and I were at the Freedom Festival in downtown Provo getting dinner when I ran into Brit there. Weird, I know! I was so excited to see her! Anyways, I only got to see her really quickly and then we left to go to Stadium of Fire. But that's not the point. The point is I haven't seen her in forever and there she was in the weirdest place again! Ha, ha, I was so happy to see her. She's a really good friend of mine and I've missed her a ton. She gives the best hugs!
Any who, then we went bowling and had a fabulous time, walked home, and then Caroline went home after that. It was wayyy fun!
Today I got sick. My sinus infection came back so if I start fainting again in school y'all will know why. I hope it doesn't get as bad as it did last time.
Today, as you might know, is the Taylor Love Triathlon! I was so sad I missed it this year, last year it was in the summer so we were able to go. Not this year. Anyways, I heard it went really well and it was a lot of fun and raised a ton of money. Yay!
Also, I got a Youtube account, and I'm debating whether to start posting cover videos up on it or not. You tell me. Think I should? Be honest.
Hope you have all had a beautiful weekend!
Well, I'm out, I smell brownies in the other room, I better go check that out. Love you!

Erika

Happy day =)

Heyo my little blog followers =) Good afternoon! Happy almost Friday!! Remember a few days ago when I said forgive me if I don't post for a month.. yeah.. well, I would assume you would already know to ignore that. Ha, ha.

Now, I have some super exciting news! I got an essay I wrote published today. Yes, another! EEEPPPP!! I'm so excited. This is one I wrote about Faith. I will have to post it here as soon as I can.. don't have too much time right now or I would!

Anyways, also, this guy who works for my dad is gonna let me use his recording studio or something to do my own cover CD! Whoo hoo =) I'm so excited.. more info later if you'd like to hear some of my stuff!

Also, I know on my "Buzz" post on Gmail I said I would start updating more on Taylor as much as I could.. ignore that for a little while. I promise I will start updating more, and her mom also said she would try to get on top of the blog, (Craaazzzzzy life!) so be watching! I don't promise how often though... ;)

Anyways, I am off to my voice lesson! Love you! Big hugs to all!!

Erika

Blahhh...

Oh heck. I'm 110% worn out from this week already, and it's just the beginning! Ahhh!! How am I going to survive until November with this CRAAZZZY schedule! EEEP! :P

I hope your week is going a whole lot better than mine. You know when you build up enough and then you just can't take anything anymore? That's kind of how I'm feeling these days. I miss Faith. I miss Noelle. I miss Annie. I miss Ava. I miss Bro Babb. I miss LoRee. I miss Jeanee. I miss Jessica. I miss Audrey. And freak, I miss Critter.

In happy news, I finally decided I would post that poem that like 4 people have emailed me asking to put up. So, here you go little people! This is a poem I wrote about my angel and my hero, my Vivian girl. It's not my best but.. you asked...


She's so much more than an angel, so much more than a friend
She's someone there to pick me up when I'm on my knees again
She's my comfort and my home when I feel I'm drowning in my fears

And she always had a hand to help me wipe away my tears

She always does so much for me, and I can't understand why
Every kind thing she says gives me a reason to try
When I feel like I've lost my battle, she reminds me I've still won the war
She gives me strength to stand up again and face the trials of this world

If angles walk among us, I think that I've found mine
She goes above and beyond for a girl not worth her love, her trust, her time
I cant figure out why she loves with with all shes ever had
Why she's always there for me to talk to when I am sad

I would say that I've been blessed, but I feel so much more
I cant believe that she's my special friend, she's all I could ever ask for
She's the first one I thank God for in my prayers at night
And I hope that His most loving angels will keep her in their sight


So, that's about it for tonight. I have homework I must go do :P Oh! Speaking of which.. remember that "6" page "essay" I told you about? Oh... well.. it got a little longer today. We're talking ten pages. TEN!!! T-E-N!! Can you believe it? I sure can't. I've never written this much about anything or anyone. Wow. =)

Love you all!

Erika

Missing my little Faith..

So, here I had this really amazing dream last night... I was watching my Katelyn just pace around in Heaven.. like she was waiting for something. She started running somewhere so I followed her. I kept shouting her name but she couldn't hear me. I followed her for a while, and I kept seeing people I knew just... doing stuff.. I don't know. Anyways, Critter went into this... tunnel thing and when I saw her again on the other end I saw her and Faith embraced in the biggest hug I've ever seen. Then Kat took her by the hand and took her over to Jesus where He welcomed her with a big smile and a hug, and then Critter took her off somewhere and started showing her around. It was so sweet! I hope that Critter did welcome Faith into her arms. Hope she took her out to lunch the first day she came home. ;)
Anyways, I'm kind of missing her, but I thought that was really cool.
Love you forever Faith!! Xoxoxo!!

Now, as for those poems I said I'd post... be patient with me! I will get them soon enough ;)

Love you guys!

Erika

;P

Good morning! Wow! Saturday at last! I've been soo busy this week, most days I haven't been getting home from school until anytime between 6-8 at night each day now. I now have rehearsal for our school play everyday after school until 5 or 5:30ish, by the time we get home it's usually closer to 6, if we go home. Mondays I have guitar lessons until 6:30, Thursdays I have voice lessons until 6. Crazy! By the time I get all my homework done and and the other stuff I have to do, I usually get to sit back and breathe around 9 or so at night. Then it's off to bed for the next day. Crazzyy!!

But I have some exciting news =) First off, Tay has been home for over a week now! Fantastic, I know. I'm so excited for her. I got to talk to her for the first time is almost a month last night. I sang her a song I've been learning on my guitar for quite a while - You Give me Love by Faith Hill. She absolutely loved it =) it was great to hear the smile in her voice as she thanked me. Tay is doing well and everything is going great.

Second, I got a better part in the play. I am now doing a quintet. For those of you who don't know musical terms, I'm singing a song with five other people. But... it has its downside. I have to dress up like a lobster. Yes, you heard me right, a lobster. Laugh all you want, at least I have a part! ;)

Also, I've been writing like crazy these last few days. What started out as an innocent poem turned into a 6 page essay on my hero, Vivian. And it's not even stopping at 6 pages, I'm still going. =) Also I have a few new poems I will post here soon.

As for Faith, she passed away the other day. The cancer took a hold of her body and brought her back home to God. It's hard loosing someone you look at as closer than a friend, almost a sister, that you love with all you have, but I know she's strong and healthy on the other side with all the other angels. I hope Katelyn found her and welcomed her with a big hug from me =)

3rd week of school over, I'm loving the whole middle school thing. I have tons of new friends and I love all my classes and teachers. It's so fun.

The Stand Up 2 Cancer Benefit Concert/Telethon was last night. It went well, they raised a bunch and some of it went to the Children's Cancer Research Center in DC, where Tay spent a few days this summer.

Anyways, forgive me if I don't update for like a month because my life is gonna start getting extra crazy. Love you all!!

Erika

Hello September!

September is one of my favorite months. Why? It's National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. LOTS of events coming and going this month, for Faith and Taylor. Taylor has a Triathlon in Herndon (VA) coming up on the 19th, her annual Splash 'n Dash for Taylor Love was yesterday, and her Barrettes for Taylor fundraiser is underway once again! As for Faith, there will be a 5k for her (or in honor of her..) on the 18th just outside of Washington DC (Usually, Faith's run is held outside of SLC but since Faith has been receiving treatment at the Children's National Medical Center in DC the run will be held there instead.), and they will be starting a fundraiser for her in the near future (more info on that asap).
To start off September on the right foot, Taylor went home 2 days ago! Hallelujahs! It's so amazing to see a little girl everyone thought would die before she was two years old coming home after such a long battle this summer and in the years past. She will still be going back to the hospital twice a week, more if needed, but at least she's not there 24/7. She is so excited to be home, as well as the rest of her family. =)

September also brought around a few good things for me. I just got another poem published, yay! This one is extra special because it is one I wrote for Vivian, and she means so much to me. I am super excited. I will post the poem later =) It's not one of my best, but at least it's published.
I also made the cast for the school play, Alice in Wonderland! I am kind of just an extra (my part is a "wonderland creature"), but at least I am in it. There were only like 4 seventh graders that got in the play, so I feel pretty good. To even get a callback is a huge compliment.

Yesterday was the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. Lots of fun! =) Just my dad and I went. We had a great time. We spent most of the afternoon there, it was fantastic. Their performers are so talented!

If y'all get a moment, I would love for you to go check out my friend's Youtube page. She is an amazing singer and I think you'd like her if you took a look at some of her videos. Please go to http://www.youtube.com/user/hollycheerbb22 and check her out. Thanks!

Now, as for the fundraiser for Taylor, we are selling handmade barrettes. 1 for 3$, 2 for 5$. They are really pretty and come in almost every color. If you are interested, please contact me. If you would like more information, go to Taylorlove.org and go to the "Fundraisers" drop down menu and select "Barrettes for Taylor". Your support is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

Erika