Make-a-Wish Star Raising

The end of August Erin received an invitation to visit the Make-a-Wish "Wishing Place" to raise her star.  I am finally getting around to posting the pictures of Erin's star raising.  It was such an emotional time for me.  I felt so much joy knowing Erin was through with cancer and raising her star was a signal that we are completely through with cancer (we always pray that she'll stay in remission).

Erin at the Wishing Place with Renee and Cris.

Make-a-Wish hangs up each wish child's picture with their wish.

First, we went outside to the wishing pond and each of the kids were given a special token to throw into the pond and make a wish on. 

Erin throwing her token into the wishing pond.

Our family in the Make-a-Wish gardens.

Then we went upstairs in the Wishing Place and looked around and remembered what it was like to be there the first time to have Erin make her wish.

The kids outside the Wishing Tower.

Erin putting her key into the Wishing Tower door.  I have such vivid memories of being inside the Wishing Tower the first time.  Erin's wish process was such a magical experience.

Erin was given a purple star to color.

She drew her name on it and decorated it. 

I wrote her name on it too.

Our family just before the star raising.

Getting her star ready to go up.

This is one of my most FAVORITE pictures.

A video of Erin raising her star.

Looking up to see her star.

Each wish child gets to raise a star up to the ceiling of the Wishing Place.

There were so many stars, it's beautiful to think of the hope many families have received from Make-a-Wish.

We had cake!

 Erin's wish granters put together a book of Erin's princess party.  She worships this book!  It's been 3 months since she received the book and she still looks at it regularly.  Just the other day I caught her writing her name on one of the pages.  :)

Finally, every wish child has a scrapbook page at Make-a-Wish. 

This is Erin's page.

We are so thankful for the Make-a-Wish organization.  It was last December when we found out that Erin was accepted as a wish child.  During Erin's treatments we used to wish and hope so much that she would be accepted by Make-a-Wish.  We needed something to look forward to during that very difficult time.  I don't think it is possible to show how much we have loved our experience with Make-a-Wish.  They gave us so much hope, they gave us memories we will NEVER forget, and they gave us laughter and joy at a time when we mostly wanted to cry.

Thank you Make-a-Wish and all of their volunteers who give their time to make wishes come true!