JOY only the Lord can Bring

Kristin Here:
Ben and Bailey WILL post later today for those who want to hear from them.

However first I want to share something with you all. Through my work with Bailey, Ben and Daxter as well as the rest of their family, I have cried many tears. Tears with them as the reality of Daxter's condition sank in, tears as they started a difficult journey fighting this Cancer, tears of sadness when Daxter got so sick, tears of joy when he got better. I have also cried many tears on my own for so many reasons I can't even list them. I cried tears of joy when we counted the money after the dinner, and cried tears of joy with Debbie when we revealed the amount to her. I cried all the way back to Wichita that night because I was just simply Amazed by the love and support of hundreds of people that day. However, most of all I cried tears of Joy, of thankfulness because I serve a Mighty God, a God who loves me, and who loves this family. I cried because I had Joy that only the Lord can bring.
This week, I had another moment where I was simply overwhelmed with tears. They were not tears of sadness but tears of Joy. A moment of pure joy, joy in the Lord. A moment of thankfulness that brings  you to  your knees. I then had the oppurtunity to share this moment with Ben and Bailey and join with them in the tears and joy of the Lord. Let me explain what happened:

Since the beginning, I have done countless hours of research online and on the phone looking for support for this family. When they started talking Sloan-Kettering, I knew we were facing a HUGE challenge fiancially to get them there. I prayed and asked God to make a way because if Daxter needed to be in NY for treatment, then that is where he would go no matter what. My research led me to several foundations that I will be talking about over the next few weeks.
However, this moment of Joy was brought to me and the Rosewics's by a foundation that I would like to introduce to you:

Meet Devin Laubi:
Devin was born to Andrew and Robin Laubi on August 23, 1996, a perfectly healthy baby boy. He lived his whole life in the small town of Westport, MA. His community and family enjoyed watching hi grow, learn and explore his new world. Deven emulated his big brother Reid, especially in sports, which he excelled in at an early age. Devin's energetic, adventurous, playful nature endeared him to everyone. Being smart, funny, precocious...yet innocent, kept everyone entertained. HIs younger sister, Audra adored him, always wanting to be by his side, the best of friends. Devin was diagnosed on Valentine's day, 2003, at six years old with an agressive brain tumor, called medulloblastoma. The family was initially told his survival rate was 70%, which ocntinued to plummet to 40%, 25% then 3%. Unfortunately 3% was accurate. Devin slipped into a coma on Easter and succumbed to his disease on April 24, 2003.
People were very generous during his battle with this disease. Trying to put a smile on a child's face, if only for a moment to let him forget his intense pain. He would ask why people were giving him so many things. His family would explain that they just wanted Devin to be happy. One day, Devin replied that he wished he had something to give back to all these people, so here is....

his foundation....

Devin Laubi Foundation was establesed in 2004 to honor the memory of Devin. In his own, words he wished he had something to give back. Giving back to those that suffer especially children, seemed to be the best gift he or his parents could offer. There are too many large organizations strictly benefiting research, his parents wanted to directly benefit fmilies of childrne suffering through cancer treatments offered in this country.

My moment of Joy in the Lord, and the moment of joy I shared with Ben and Bailey occured when I opened a simple white envelope containing a letter, the information I shared with you today, and a check for Ben and Bailey and the praying for Daxter fund. I cried tears of joy because that check was substantial enough to get Ben and Bailey to New York by airline!

I didn't cry because of the money though, I didn't cry because they would be able to go to NY, I cried simply because I was AMAZED by the love of the Lord. I prayed and asked God to help get Ben and Bailey to NY and he answerd my prayers with one little envelope. I cried because of the generous, loving, kind, compassionate parents of a little boy that I will remember for the rest of my life, a little boy named Devin. I cried for the loss of such a sweet little boy and for his parents. I was brought to my knees the day I opened that letter, and through my tears I praised God and thanked him. The joy I felt that day, is only Joy that can be felt in the LORD.

Even more so...it was a moment that Ben and Bailey could see first hand the power of the Lord, and the hope they can continue to have in him.

So to you, Robin Laubi and to you Andrew Laubi, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for "giving back" to Daxter and his family. I can begin to describe the impact you have had on this family. From Ben, Bailey, Daxter and myself, we can't thank you enough for loving them so much. We can't thank you enough for taking such a devastating time in your own lives and turning it around so that Daxter can get to NY for treatment. The joy you brought to myself and this family through this support, can only be described as Joy the Lord Brings.

Robin, Adrew, Reid and Audra and the rest of Devins' family, we want you to know that you will be in our prayers and your foundation will be in our prayers daily. We know God will bless you all deeply through your work.

So, tears of joy in the Lord this week! Yes, this doesn't cover everything Ben, Bailey and Daxter will need and we will still have to keep working at fundraising but the gift from Devin, has dramatically changed the picture of NY for the Rosewicz family and for that we are grateful to the Laubi's and to the Lord.

You can visit the Devin Laubi foundation at www.mydevin.org.

In him always,
Kristin