Just wanted to drop everyone a note and let you know how things are going.  We are still taking one day at a time.  Destiny is doing well, she still asks about Chance about everyday, but she is handling it pretty good.  She thanks it is pretty cool that she gets his toys and gets to play with a lot of his things.  As for Desirae and I, we miss him very much, and I don’t know if that will ever go away.  Desirae has been working on getting things organized to be packed up, anything from toys to books and other odds and ends.  We are preparing things to take back to Duke for the children there.  I don’t know when we are planning on going back down, but it will be sometime over the next couple months.  If you have anything that you would like to send please get in touch with us and we will make the contact to get it together.  I have been in contact and played a lot of golf with Travis Cantrell, it has been good to be able to talk with him.  Desirae has also been in touch with Laura on several occasions as well.  Desirae is also watching one of Destiny’s friends Madison on Fridays.  They are the same age so it is fun to watch them play together.

            We just got back from our hardware show in Las Vegas.  We had a lot of fun, Destiny spent three days with Desirae’s mom and dad and two days with my mom and dad.  We had one of my employees and his wife go with us, Philip and Jamie Bolt.  We left Charlotte, NC on Tuesday morning and arrived out there Tuesday morning.  We went to the Hoover Dam that day, this was really cool.  One Wednesday Desirae and I had planned a helicopter trip into the Grand Canyon, I would have to say this is the best thing we have ever done on a trip.  He flew us around the Hoover Dam and down into the Grand Canyon.  We landed inside the Canyon and had a picnic, this was really cool.  Then we flew back to Las Vegas and down the strip, we had a lot of fun.  On Thursday we had to work the hardware show which took most of the day.  We have some really cool new things coming in, I don’t know if dad will every send me to do another show by myself again.  On Friday we just went visiting the different hotels and then that night Desirae and I had tickets to Celine Dion.  When we arrived to the coliseum we went in and sat down, next to us we had four older guys between the ages of 70-80 and some of their stories were so funny.  Chance was probably laughing because of these guys next to us.  We then met a couple from Sacramento right in front of us and starting talking to them.  They were there on their 23 wedding anniversary.  The more we starting talking they asked if we had kids and we explained our story, come to find out her nephew had died from cancer when he was 2.  God know when to send people at the right time.  Well back to these old guys, most of them were bald and the couple in front of us said I fit right in with them.  When Celine starting singing, some of her songs really touched Desirae and I.  Right when we were getting ready to get upset and cry, Celine would hit a high note and these guys would start hooping and hollering, it was the funniest thing.  Next thing I know I was hooping and hollering.  It was one unbelievable concert and one of the best things that I have every been too in my life.  We really enjoyed it!  Then on Saturday we headed to the airport to head home.  When I walked into the airport 2 ½ hours early, we found out that our plane had been canceled.  This was not good, after waiting in the wrong line four different times; we became the last group to be redirected back to Charlotte.  Two options, stay in Las Vegas in a very, very cheap hotel or catch a plane to San Francisco.  Yeah that is right; go to San Francisco to get to Charlotte, we took that idea.  We got to San Fran about 8:00 on Saturday night.  We left there 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning our time and flew to Charlotte.  This is not the way to sleep, it was very difficult, but at 9:00 a.m. we were sitting in Floyd, VA after a two hour drive from Charlotte, not bad.  We both felt like we had been drug from San Fran all day on Sunday, it was pretty rough.  Today we felt a lot better.  All in all we had a great time, even though we saw a lot of things that I don’t agree with, seeing what God had made in the Grand Canyon and all of the other beautiful sights that we saw made me feel good that God is still in complete control.  He could shut down Las Vegas at anytime, he is just giving everyone time to get their life right, but you never know when that day is coming so hopefully everyone will be ready.  I got some good advice from Hosea Blankenship before I left, he said that he was in Las Vegas one time and that he was able to say that he was more proud to be able to say that he had been there and didn’t gamble than had been there and had gambled.  Satan was eating at me everywhere I went, I enjoy the surprise of seeing if you won or not, like opening a pack of baseball cards, but I took his advice.  I can say that I was there and didn’t gamble, and we had a great time.  I just feel so sorry for a lot of those people and they are so stuck on gambling and are addicted to it. 

            We don’t have a lot planned for the next couple of weeks.  I am going to try to go to Bristol to the race this weekend with my dad and Bradley Vaughn; this will be our first race this year.  We are looking forward to that.  Desirae is getting ready for the Labor Day yard sell at the church, and getting ready to head to Hillsville for the flea market.  Other than that we are taking one day at a time.  I want to thank everyone for the cards that we keep receiving.  We still check the well wishes daily and thank you to the people who keep writing to us.  We have heard a lot of stories here lately on how Chance touched you or your children, if you have more, please share them with us, it helps us through the tough days.  I had a story of one of Chance’s friends, it is a daughter of another employee of mine, she was asked about riding a mean bull.  She said that she wouldn’t care and wouldn’t be scared, that if it killed her she would just get to go play with Chance.  If you have any other stories we would love to hear them, or just hear from you.  Thank you for checking in on us, and the support that you still give each and every day.  We know that we still get prayed for everyday and God is getting us through this, been hard, but it will be OK, Eternity is something to look forward to as long as your life is right.  I have one more thing to share, we have had several other kids with this tumor that have been getting good results, but we have a few that have not and are having tough situations.  If you get a chance please leave these guys a few positive thoughts.  One is on the www.carepages.com website and her name is hazelcamille, and another one is www.emilyhollis.info.  Thank you and I will write again in about 7-10 days.  Hope everyone can make it to the softball tournament this weekend. 

            Love,

            Brian, Desirae, Destiny, and Angel Chance

For everyone that still checks the website and the updates, I just wanted to write and let you know how things are going.  We just got back today from the Great Wolf Lodge.  We headed down there on Thursday, Bradley and Pat Vaughn went with us as well and my mom, aunt, and uncle met us down there too.  It was a lot of memories of when we went with Chance just 4 months ago.  It was fun, but tough at times too.  It makes it some easier when we try to tackle the things we have done with Chance, by having family or friends with us when we go back to these locations.  There is still not a day that goes by that we don’t think about him.  We really miss him and nothing will ever change that.  We still have a promise and I know I will get to see him again and we will be able to play again, but it still doesn’t take away the emptiness that we have in our heart.  Destiny has been a real big help, she is getting so much fun, there are still times that are hard to explain to her what is going on.  I am 30 years old and it is hard for me to understand, I know it is very hard for her. 

            Everything else is getting back to usual days, except without him.  I have been going to work and open gyms with the guys.  We are taking off the month of August so the guys can get back to school and get back on schedule then we will start back up with some open gyms starting in September.  We start practice in November and I am looking forward to getting back into the groove of things.  We have something really cool planned on December 8^th.  It is going to be like Coaches vs. Cancer day in memory of Chance.  Radford’s coach Rick Cormany called me with the idea and he wanted to help out some way and he came up with a real neat idea.  We will have 5 games with 10 different teams playing that day.  We are working out everything else, maybe a silent auction and a lunch/dinner meal at the high school as well.  I think for a good cause, and several good basketball teams playing in it hopefully it will be a good turnout.  There will be more information on the games and everything in future weeks.  I hope that it will grow and become a really neat thing.  I could have had more teams, but I may have to look into maybe two days next year.  A lot of coaches want to help out all they can, which really means a lot to me and like I said before it is for a good cause.  We will try to pack the house that Saturday. 

            Desirae is getting back into everyday things as well.  She is starting to work back on her jewelry and crafts.  She is back into her flowers outside and making everything around the house look great as usual.  We will be heading out of town again next week for a hardware show in Las Vegas; we are looking forward to the trip.  Destiny will not be going with us; we hope to be able to be away from her for a couple of days.  I still want to thank everyone for the cards; they are still rolling in everyday.  Your stories of encouragement have helped us in so many ways.  We still want to keep in touch with everyone, I know this is hard and almost impossible, but if you want to stop by or call feel free to do it anytime, you won’t bother us.  Once again if you see us out come speak to us.  Please keep all the other kids that are still fighting in your prayers, and please keep the Foster’s, Cantrell’s, and us in your prayers as well.  I will continue to update frequently, just not as frequently as before.  I will try to do it once a week.  Thanks again for everything and we still give God all of the praise for all of the blessing and the promise which he has provide us so that we can spend eternity with Chance and our loved ones.

            Love,

            Brian, Desirae, Destiny, Angel Chance

Well, it has been a really long time since I have wrote.  I have found it hard to even look at the web site at times.  We are all doing o.k.  It’s hard at times being a stay at home mom.  My job was to stay and take care of the littles ones. Now, it is only one.  We have good times and bad times, but we keep pushing on.  I miss doing the little crafts Chance liked to do and hearing him and Destiny fight.  I know Chance is better off though and I thank God everyday for healing him.  I just miss him a whole lot, and nothing will ever change that.  Destiny is doing pretty good.  She cries out for bru bru every once in a while.  I continue to tell her that he is with Jesus in the sky and one day we will see him again.  She continues to ask to take balloons to Chance’s grave site.  I kept all the balloons from his funeral and his time in the hospital.  I continue to blow the mylar balloons back up to send to him.  We tie a message on them as we did in the celebration service (funeral).  I write what she has to say to him and she draws him a picture on the note.  I do pretty good dealing with things but I hate to see her miss him.  It continues to break my heart when I can’t take her pain away. I know God knows what is best and we continue to trust in him and ask for his help.  I will continue to praise him in this storm no matter what.  I also thank him everyday for his salvation and his promise to see our loved ones again, for without this promise it would be no hope.

Our friend Angela Meyers (Cody’s mom) came across some poems she put on their web site on how they feel and they are so true.  I just wanted to share these poems with you and let you know how we are doing, everyone keeps asking.  Please continue to pray for us and all the other families that have lost loved ones recently.  Also, please to continue to pray for Mrs. Midkiff, she is a friend of ours that got diagnosed with brain cancer last week and it doesn’t look good.  Pray for her healing and for the family as they deal with the situation.  Pray for all the other children who are sick and suffering, that God would lay his healing hand upon them. Until next time…

                                                Love,

                                                            Desirae, Brian, Destiny and Angel Chance    

My Mommy is a Survivor

Author Unknown

My Mom is a survivor,

or so I’ve heard it said;

But I hear her crying at night

when all others are in bed.

I watch her lay awake at night

and go to hold her hand.

She doesn’t know I’m with her

to help her understand.

But like the sands on the beach

that never wash away…

I watch over my surviving mom,

who thinks of me each day.

She wears a smile for others…

a smile of disguise.

But through Heaven’s door I see

tears flowing from her eyes.

My mom tries to cope with death

to keep my memory alive.

But anyone who knows her knows

it is her way to survive.

As I watch over my surviving mom…

through Heaven’s open door.

I try to tell her that angels

protect me forever more.

But I know that doesn’t help her

or ease the burden she bears.

So if you get a chance, go visit her…

And show her that you care.

For no matter what she says…

no matter what she feels.

My surviving Mom has a broken heart

My Dad is a Survivor

By Kaye Des’Omeaux

My dad is a survivor too…

which is no surprise to me.

He’s always been like a lighthouse

that helps you cross a stormy sea.

But, I walk with my dad each day

to lift him when he’s down.

I wipe the tears he hides from others.

He cries when no one’s around.

I watch him sit up late at night,

with my picture in his hand.

He cries as he tries to grieve alone,

and wishes he could understand.

My dad is like a tower of strength.

He’s the greatest of them all!

But there’s times when he needs to cry…

Please be there when he falls.

Hold his hand or pat his shoulder…

and tell him it’s okay.

Be his strength when he’s sad,

Help him mourn in his own way.

Now, as I watch over my precious dad

from the Heaven’s up above…

I’m so proud that he’s a survivor…

And, I can still feel his love!