A Big Finish

October 15th has come and gone, but memories of the successful Lottes of Love Benefit 5k and 1 Mile races lives on! A big thanks to Raquel Corral who stepped in last minute to photograph some highlights of the race, and to all of the volunteers who came and helped it run smoothly. We are so thankful for all the runners who braved the chilly morning (over 150 of you!), and the extra donations that were made.



With race registrations and extra donations, over $4,300 was brought in for the race! This brings the total raised since July to over $11,700! The generosity of strangers, friends, family, and local businesses has been overwhelming, and the entire Lottes of Love crew has been blessed to be a part of it all.

A Spooktacular Night of Fun!

Please accept my apologies for it taking so long to get an update on here.  Having the race a week after Bunco meant that there was not much time to breathe or blog in betwixt or between.  The race is over  (you all won't believe how much money we raised in total to help with Charlotte's medical costs....but that is a secret that I'm going to wait to reveal with the race post so keep checking back in).

Now onto friends, treats, costumes, dice, fun and prizes!

A shout out of Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers we had who came to help with decorating, set-up, registration, and clean-up.  No way we could have done all of this without your willingness to serve and pitch in where needed.

Another shout-out of thanks to all the businesses and individuals who generously donated prizes. You can learn more by clicking on the Prize Donor's tab at the top of the blog.

 

Our sincere thanks go out to these grocers for donating goods for the Bunco Spooktacular and to the individuals who brought candy for table treats.  With another special thank you to those who donated prizes for this event. Everyone went away with something they liked.  They made it happen and everyone had a great time!

Maceys bakery:  160 yummy baked goods (apple fritters, pumpkin donuts, Pumpkin/choc chip muffins, apple and cherry turnovers)  --I think I'm getting hungry again :)

Lee's Market Place:  $25 gift card to use towards table treats

Smiths Market Place:  2 bags of 'Child's Play' Halloween candy and 1 large bag of salt water taffy

Fresh Market:  Ten 2-liter bottles of pop

We Hope to See you Tomorrow Morning!

UPDATE:  Online Registration is now closed.  Please come to Thomas Edison Charter School in Nibley tomorrow morning to register.  Pre-race registration begins at 8:00 a.m.


Tomorrow?  What's Tomorrow? you say. . .  Didn't you just see us last week at Bunco?

Well I'm glad you asked.  We did have an incredibly Spooktacular time at the Bunco party last Thursday night (a blog post about that will be up soon).   Tomorrow is the day for the 5k and 1 Mile runs.  This is our last big event that we have planned for Lottes of Love!  Online registration will end tonight at 5, after that you can still register tomorrow morning.  Be sure to check out the Race tab at the top of the page for more details.

Race, Run, Walk...PRIZES!!!!!!

Can't wait to see you all on October 15th for the 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run!  Don't delay registration!

Oh and a fun plug!  Do you remember that we have many businesses who have generously donated PRIZES for race day?  (check out the Sponsor and Prize Donor tabs at the top of the page)  Amazing prizes!  A brand new treadmill, several gym memberships, hotel and bed and breakfast stays, just to mention a few of the big ones (and we have lots of other prizes too).  Everyone who registers is automatically entered in a drawing for the prizes.  You will be able to buy additional prize tickets on race day, as well.   

If you are wondering how you can help we really need to spread the word!   

Tell your friends, coworkers and neighbors!  

We are dedicated to ensuring that all the money from events goes towards Charlotte's medical bills, that means we don't have an advertising budget and are relying on you to be our word of mouth advertisements.  We know that  we can succeed in helping the Gardner family with your help and support.

Local Author supports Lottes of Love

UPDATE:  Have a Kindle or a Nook?  Great news!  Daniel will be donating 20% of any electronic book purchases to Lottes of Love!  Would make an awesome CHRISTMAS surprise!  Don't ya think? 


A local author, Daniel Coleman, learned about Lottes of Love while discussing an upcoming assembly he will be holding at Thomas Edison Charter School. He offered to lend his support to our efforts and will be donating 10% of his sales to Lottes of Love.  You can order his books on Amazon or Barnes and Noble (just email us a copy of your receipt to lottesoflove@gmail.com and he will donate 10% of your purchase price to Lottes of Love) or stop by the Fall Festival this Friday night at Thomas Edison Charter School 5-8 pm to complete an order form.  Contact us with any questions.  Here's a little bit more about Daniel and his books.

Daniel Coleman spends his time back and forth between two worlds – the fantastic world of Writing where happy endings are common, and the very real- life world of Firefighting where the outcomes are as varied as the emergencies.

A small farming town in northern Utah is his home, where he resides with his wife and 3 kids.  If you know where to look, you can see him at his kids’ bus stop in a variety of costumes when he’s not at the fire station.  Over the course of the school year he plans to prove there are few lengths he won’t go to in order to embarrass his kids. (Check the blog on his website for pictures.)    http://dcolemanbooks.com/ 

Daniel has also agreed to remain after the assembly on November 22nd to sign his books; Jabberwocky and Hatter read about the events and characters that shape Wonderland long before the arrival of Alice.  

Additionally you will have a chance to win one of his books which he has graciously offered to donate as a prize for the 5k and 1 Mile Run's on October 15th.

Difficult Times

In late September of 2008, I found myself in a very difficult time. I was struggling with incredible feelings of bitterness and anger toward someone close to me. I was disappointed with their choices. Whenever we were around one another, it seemed that all we did was fight. I felt that I couldn’t continue my relationship with this person any longer.

On a Saturday near the end of the month, I spent the day painting walls in my house. A recent interaction with this person had left me angry and upset and I was trying to vent my negative feelings in work. As it neared evening, I began to get hungry and I realized that I hadn’t eaten all day. As I began to put together something to eat, I saw a flyer announcing the General Relief Society session of General Conference. It was due to start soon and dinner would be provided afterward. I was wrestling with feelings of frustration and anger. I was sure that it would be of no value to me to attend the meeting. I felt that my personal situation was far too complicated for anyone to understand, let alone provide any words of advice or comfort. Yet, a small thought came into my head, that because of my lack of meals for the day, I had technically been fasting. Perhaps, if I could soften my heart and pray for guidance, the Lord may have a message for me.

I quickly got ready, left the kids with my husband, and headed to the stake center. I was late and felt uncomfortable walking in. I hadn’t had much time to get ready. I felt frumpy and out of place. All around me were lovely sisters dressed in their best, sitting happily with friends. I sat alone in the back with paint caked on my hands and under my fingernails, a hastily donned dress, hair in a ponytail and very little makeup. I wanted to leave, but again came the prompting to stay and pray. I stayed. I struggled with my feelings of unhappiness and despair and prayed forlornly for an answer to my difficult situation. Only occasionally did I hear any of the talks and none of it seemed to touch me.

As the end of the session neared, I began to give up hope that I would hear a message directed to me. Maybe the Lord hadn’t heard my prayers; maybe I was too selfish and insignificant to hope for an answer from the Lord. Perhaps I was hopeless. Why would the Lord care about me? The despair I was feeling seemed insurmountable and I knew I couldn’t overcome it alone. I prayed yet again. Yet, this time my prayers were subtly different. In my despair, I had gained a measure of humility. In my anger toward this person, I also harbored pride. I felt wronged by this person and I was certain that the burden of responsibility to mend our troubles lay entirely upon their shoulders. I wanted the Lord to fix them.

As I thought I was giving up hope, I also began to give up my anger and negative feelings. Without these negative feelings burdening me, I softened my heart and another thought came to me. Maybe I wouldn’t hear a message directed specifically to me. But perhaps, if I were to let go of all the selfish and negative thoughts I was holding onto, I could still hear something of worth.

Near the end of the session, Elder Uchtdorf stood to speak. His talk was entitled, “Happiness, Your Heritage.” Near the beginning of his talk, he spoke of gratitude, “grateful to be here, grateful for your talents, compassion, and service. Most of all, I am grateful for who you are: treasured daughters of our Heavenly Father with infinite worth.”

Still feeling somewhat peevish, my first thought was, “What talents do I have, how could Heavenly Father possibly treasure me?’ Immediately after, the thought came to me, “You can be improve the little things around you, you can be compassionate, you can provide service to others.” And suddenly I knew. This was the talk meant for me. The Lord wasn’t going to tell me how he was going to fix this other person; he was going to tell me what I needed to do. I felt a strong impression that the answer I was looking for in relation to my woes was, “Not right now. Right now, I have work for you.”

Elder Uchtdorf went on to talk about how we could learn to partake of God’s happiness by creating and being compassionate. He pointed out that our creations may not be readily visible or masterpieces destined for a museum. Our creations could be a smile, a laugh, a family memory, and all the actions of our daily life that “improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.” This was something that I could definitely improve in my life.

He went on to talk about the importance of compassion and our responsibility as disciples of Christ to have compassion and to serve those around us. Once again, this was an area I could improve in. I realized that compassion and service are talents and, moreover, talents I needed to improve upon.

“Not right now. Right now, I have work for you.” I realized that I was looking at my situation incorrectly. I wanted justice for the wrongs I felt I had been dealt. I wanted this other person to be punished for the hurt I felt. But, in His infinite compassion, the Lord knew what I needed. I needed to realize that I couldn’t change the other party involved, but I could change myself. I could quit focusing on my indignation and anger and all the other negative feelings I felt so justified in immersing myself. I could let go of that selfishness and use my experiences to feel more compassion for others. I could use all the energy I was spending on my antagonism to serve others.

Two weeks later was the rest of General Conference. I was astounded at how many of the talks seemed to carry a message of overcoming trials. The next summer, I attended Education Week at BYU-Idaho where I attended many classes on doing hard things and overcoming the challenges we face. My ever-loving and omniscient Father understood me far better than I knew myself. He understood my weaknesses and, being aware of the challenges life would bring, needed me to allow Him to make me strong. The Lord gives us a powerful promise in Ether 12:27: “And if men come unto me I will show them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

I can’t tell you that I now qualify for sainthood because of my amazing persistence in following through on the things I learned. Obviously the Lord is still endeavoring to teach me! Some of my enduring faults are laziness and fear. More often than I would like, my efforts to be compassionate and of service are hampered by these flaws. However, as I strive to follow the promptings of the Spirit and push past my fear, I have gained a greater happiness and understanding of those around me. With that understanding, I have a greater love. Most of all, I have more peace and harmony in my relationship with this person I was struggling with.

I am so grateful for the challenges the Lord has given me that I might have more empathy and understanding of the challenges we all face. In facing challenges, my first instinct is to focus my energy on the pain and suffering that I am enduring and wallow in self-pity. Surely, my trials are more than I can bear! However, thanks to the guidance of a loving Heavenly Father, in the last few years, I have come to realize how selfish that attitude is. All of us here on Earth struggle with pain, hardships, and trials that oftentimes seem impossible to overcome. The energy I want to spend on self-pity is much better used in empathy and service. And when I increase my talents for compassion and service, my energy is returned to me tenfold in strength. President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls.”

"Happiness, Your Heritage" can be found here. Other talks I found especially pertinent are here, here, and here.

By: Charlotte Gardner

The "Blonde Runner" joins Lottes of Love

Please welcome Lottes of Love’s newest sponsor, Lora Erickson aka the “Blonde Runner."

Lora is a USATF certified running coach and personal trainer. She has been running for 26 years and coaching for 15. Her enthusiasm about running is contagious!
Lora was highly recruited out of high school by schools like Stanford, Yale, BYU and University of Utah. She accepted a scholarship to the ‘U’ and started off as a distance runner, then transferred to Utah State University where she earned the title of Big West All Conference Runner. She graduated USU with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Education with duel minors in Nutrition and Chemistry.
She is the owner of Blonde Runner Health LLC and the founder/organizer of the Northern Utah Triathletes (a USAT sanctioned club), Team Blonde Runner and the South Davis Road Runners in Davis County. Lora is also the race director and founder of two annual charity events: The Race for Infant and Pregnancy Loss and Save Your Skin 10K and 2 mile awareness walk. Lora is also a busy mom of four and enjoys spending time with her three boys and little girl.
She teaches the American Heart Association weight loss class as well as cooking/nutrition classes, and fitness boot camps. Lora is enthusiastic about health and approaches everything; from helping people lose weight, to training for races, to life in general with a ‘can do’ attitude.

She is a mother, an entrepreneur, trainer, coach, race director, running and triathlon club organizer, weight loss specialist and a friend. We are so pleased to have Lora on our team of sponsors. Thank you Lora for your support!




For more information on Lora Erickson and what she offers go to http://blonderunner.com/.

An example of patience

The following post is written by Jill Williams a mother of two beautiful princesses and a handsome prince and they all have smiles that will melt your heart.  She and Charlotte have spent many hours running together in preparation for one race or another.  Jill is also the organizer of the 5k and 1 mile Fun Run which will be held October 15th in Cache Valley.

Tonight I stopped by Charlotte's house to drop off some dinner. I found her sitting at the kitchen counter with her youngest son, helping him with homework. He looked frustrated. I know she has a cold right now, and she looked tired. But patient. That's one thing about Charlotte that's always impressed me. She is so patient. She never lets things rattle her.

I've witnessed her boys climbing like monkeys all over the playground, making me bite my nails with nervousness as I worry they may fall. Charlotte keeps her cool, and assures me boys will be boys and I will soon see now that I have my own little baby boy.

I've seen Charlotte at 4:30 am as we boarded a bus the morning of the Bear Lake Marathon. I had been training for it for 6 months, and was anxious about the miles ahead, worrying over the weather, if I was overdressed, if I was underdressed (I would have been if Charlotte hadn't let me borrow an extra jacket she had brought along, just in case), if I had enough water in my water belt to last me between aid stations, if I was trained enough, and many other things. Charlotte had been training for the half marathon, but since it was filled up decided to sign up for the marathon instead. Although she hadn't been training for it, she kept her cool, knowing she could finish, and just her presence calmed my nerves.

Now I've seen my dear friend Charlotte learn she has cancer, calmly explain her situation to medical personnel over and over again, humbly accept meals and financial assistance from friends, family, and strangers, and continue to uplift everyone with her beautiful smile and sweet spirit. And she patiently waits to discover what the Lord has planned for her, trusting him with infinite faithfulness. I am so thankful to have Charlotte as such an example of patience in my life.

Why I am helping with Lottes of Love

This guest post is written by Cynthia Mikesell. She is a mother of 3 boys, two of whom attend Thomas Edison Charter School where Charlotte taught before her diagnosis. She has a degree in Educational Interpreting for the Deaf and has worked in that field for over 10 years. Currently she is a stay at home mom who is dedicating herself to helping with the organization of events for Lottes of Love.

 

I've been thinking of the post Charlotte wrote last week about her experiences at the Cancer Treatment Center while receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  Then this morning while I was doing some housework with the radio blaring there were two separate songs played in the time it took me to clean the bathroom that were about receiving a cancer diagnosis and living every moment like it was your last.  And I realized that being diagnosed with cancer is becoming so prevalent in our society that most of us know at least 1 person who either has just received a diagnosis, is fighting it or is in remission.  I know that I can think of over a dozen friends, neighbors, teachers, or family members who are either fighting or have lost their battle with cancer.  I'm sure you can too. . .  That's when I start to feel overwhelmed.  

Cancer is big. Cancer is scary.  When I start to focus on how big and how scary it is I start to feel helpless.  Nothing I can do will heal the bodies of any of the individuals Char has met at her treatments or the people the music stars are singing about.  That thought both frightens and saddens me.  So what can I do?

I've started to feel that giving to some foundation who is doing research is all well and good and maybe the easy way out to feel like I'm doing something or have done something. In the past I've supported the American Cancer Society, the Pink Ribbon Campaign, and the Huntsman Cancer Center.  But I've learned through Charlotte's journey that most of those foundations aren't really designed to help those who are diagnosed. They are researching and doing clinical trials but the patients still have to find a way to pay the astronomical costs associated with the experimental medications. Which makes me start to feel helpless again. When I give to the big research foundations most of my money is going to researchers and scientists. 

I agree that what they are doing is important work. It is necessary work. I hope and pray that one day they find a cure. However, more must be done to care for financial needs of  those who suffer from this devastating disease now. To get the treatment they need as early after diagnosis as possible. The science and technology exists to save a lot of lives, but the access to it is guarded by massive expenses that many (especially those without medical insurance) simply do not have the resources to overcome on their own. Had Charlotte been able to have surgery within a few weeks of her diagnosis, before the cancer began to spread to her lymphatic system, her chances to beat this disease would have significantly increased and the treatment needed to save her life would have been less complex. I don’t have statistics on how many people won’t survive their fight against cancer because they lack the monetary resources to get the treatment that could very well save their lives. But that number should be zero.

Don’t stop donating to cancer research foundations—they do important work! But next time you hear that someone has been diagnosed with cancer, remember that they will likely need much more than your prayers and well wishes to beat it. Their successful fight against cancer may require your time, talents and whatever funds you can give. I can't fix Cancer. I can't make a difference in the lives of everyone diagnosed with cancer who lives in Cache Valley. For today I want to be able to help someone, just one person in a way that makes a difference in their battle against cancer. For me that person is Charlotte.

Art: by Charlotte

Near the beginning of August, I was fortunate to spend the weekend with my family at the farmstead where my mother grew up. My aunt owns the property and was generous enough to allow us to stay.

It happened to be a full moon that weekend and on Saturday, I walked to the upper house with my parents to watch the moon come up over the Tetons. It just so happened that moonrise coincided with sunset and the sunset that night was a brilliant red. As we reached the upper house, we could turn east and see the tranquil moon rise up from behind the majestic Tetons. It was a lovely pale golden while the sky was a soft blue with a few clouds. To the west were the Sawtooth Mountains silhouetted against the radiant red sky. Both views were dazzling and an astounding contrast. For me, it was a reminder of how lucky we are to live in such an amazing world. It also seemed to be an apt depiction of our lives. Our lives are often full of similar contrasts. Like the fiery sunset, we have challenges in our lives. They can seem frightening and ominous yet they hold such beauty in the lessons we learn in overcoming them. Meanwhile, like the peaceful moonrise, we always have the peace and comfort of the love of our Heavenly Father. What a gift the Lord has given us!

I have thought back to that view many times in the last several weeks. It has brought me such peace and comfort. Unfortunately, none of us thought to bring a camera so I can't share any pictures. But not to worry! I spent many hours recreating the scene in another medium. I hope you will appreciate them.

My son says I should apply for the art teacher's job at his school if the current teacher ever quits.

Spreading the Love!

Thanks everyone for all your efforts to get the word out about our wonderful friend Charlotte, her battle with cancer and Lottes of Love!

 Because of you, someone nominated Cynthia and  the Lottes of Love blog on the ‘Do the right thing’ segment on Good Things Utah last week.

Check it out here.

.

Keep up the great work of spreading the love 
and  helping us help Charlotte.   
Together we can beat this!

Good Day Utah, for "Do the right thing", September 2, 2011

Can't Run the Race but want to help?

If you are unable to run the races, we still have plenty of opportunities for you to help! 

Here's how:

1. Sponsor the race! We are going to have an AWESOME prize table at the race and do a random drawing of the participants. We need a lot of prizes! We'll take anything from hair bows to camp stoves. If you don't have anything that you'd like to donate, a local sporting goods store will allow us to purchasing things at their cost, so cash donations are also welcome. Click here to see what sponsors receive! http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/07/sponsor-lottes-of-love.html
2. Volunteer! We need a lot of volunteers before (both the morning of the race and days leading up to), during, and after the race. Please contact me if you are available to help.  jmlwilliams@yahoo.com
3. Chip In! You can find the "Chip In" button on the right side of blog, http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com/. These donations go directly towards paying for Charlotte's medical expenses.
4. Spread the word! Please share this event and the blog, http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com/, with all your friends!
5. If you're just not into running, check out another upcoming event, Spooktacular Bunco! http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com/p/bunco.html

A new Sponsor!

Lottes of Love is excited to welcome Flexpak as a sponsor. 

Flexpak is the employer of Charlotte's husband, Les.  They are the first sponsor to offer a matching donation for any of their employers who make any donation to Lottes of Love.  Check out their website to learn more about who they are as a company (and if you have any packaging needs I'm sure they can set you up).  Their website is http://flexpak.net

Don't forget to check out our Sponsor's Tab to see the other companies who are supporting Charlotte and the Lottes of Love events.  It is because of great businesses like Flexpak that donate money to help us cover the costs of advertising, printing, venue rental, etc.  that allow us to make certain that 100% of your donations goes directly to Charlotte's medical costs.  

These businesses are truly AWESOME!

Pool Party Fun!

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the Pool Party!  

Here are a few pictures of all the fun that was being had!  

We had around 360 people who came to swim 

with us and support Charlotte!  

We want to thank each one of you!

Pool Party is Tonight!

DONT FORGET TO BUY YOUR 

TICKETS NOW! 

We are limited to 200 people. Thus the presales. Order here on the blog, then print off your paypal receipt and bring it to the pool tonight to exchange for your silicone wristband. 

Or come see us at Thomas Edison Charter School today from 2:15-3:00 we'll be by the front office selling passes and handing out silicone wrist bands. 

 Hope to see you there and we all really appreciate your help in supporting our efforts to help with Charlotte's cancer related medical bills.

8/16/11

So I suppose I should do a post here every now and then. I think I like to spend more time thinking about what to write as opposed to actually writing anything. It also seems as if some of my fingers are faster than others so I am transposing a lot of letters! I have a post in my head about when I found out I had cancer but I haven't been able to sit down and start writing it. And if I keep putting it off, I may never write at all. So I thought I would talk about today.

Today I had chemo for the 3rd time. It's always a little humbling. The first time I went, I didn't really talk to anyone. I think I was somewhat overwhelmed. It was the first day with both the radiation and chemo. But my mom went with me (have I mentioned how awesome my mom is?) and she talked to one of the ladies when the Benedryl knocked me out. This lady has cancer in her bowels. She has one daughter in high school and several older children. She is tall and athletic looking. She always brings these healthy snacks. She had a sandwich today with sprouts on it and offered to share without a moment's hesitation. Her daughter came with her today and her son came to visit also. She is on a maintenance program after finishing her regular chemo treatment.

Last week, I sat next to a lady who had breast cancer and it is now in her lymph nodes, lungs and bones. She is this beautiful older lady who looks like she could be your favorite grandma. This is her second time through chemo treatments.

Another lady has pancreatic cancer and the chemo isn't helping very much. She is small and petite with a fiesty attitude. She crochets these beautiful afghan as she sits through her treatment. Her daughter usually sits with her for most of the time. She ordered a wheelchair because she is losing some of the function in her legs.

Today I sat next to a man who has brain cancer. He is wiry and tough looking. He always wears these motor cycle T-shirts and looks like he could beat anything. He has a dry, self-deprecating sense of humor. He found out about year ago when he got an MRI for really bad headaches. They did surgery and removed the tumor but then discovered there was one more in the center of his brain and two other small ones. They told him they could operate on those but it would most likely leave him in a condition of needing to be put in a nursing home. So he did 45 radiation treatments and now does chemo every two weeks. Every time he gets back to feeling normal, he goes in for another round of chemo. His doctor told him that he probably wouldn't survive past last June. He's lost most of his appetite. He's says he's lost 40 pounds but the tumors haven't grown and he's still kicking!

These people are dealing with way more than I am. It's so hard to listen to their stories. I only have 28 radiation treatments and 6 doses of chemo. I look around and see these beautiful people and wonder why they have to deal with all of this. I just wish I could take it all away or trade places with them.

Charlotte

My daughter, Charlotte

Verla Hall, Charlotte's mother is the author of this post.  Verla lives in Wendell, Idaho with her husband John.  They are the parents of nine children who have all grown and begun families of their own.

Charlotte Elaine is our fifth child and first daughter. We decided to name her Charlotte, after her Welsh great grandmother, Charlotte Morris; and Elaine, after her English great grandmother, Elaine Hobbs. The baby books say that the name, Charlotte, means “strong woman.”  The name, Elaine, means “bright light”. We didn’t know at the time how well the names would fit our beautiful daughter.

As Charlotte grew, she began to show her strength of character and her willingness to work hard at any job that needed to be done. She worked with her brothers to milk our small herd of dairy cows morning and evening. One summer she painted the entire outside of our two-story house by herself. Several years ago, she decided to tile the kitchen and bathroom of her home in Logan. She had never laid tile before, but she studied the job out, asked questions, and worked hard to lay each piece of tile perfectly. Then she laid wood flooring in her living room. The floors are a delightful addition to her home.

Charlotte lights up the lives of those around her. A number of years ago, just before Charlotte left to move to Logan, she decided to put a black rinse on her hair. It was supposed to wash out after a couple of shampoos. It never did. As her hair grew, her blond roots formed a golden “halo” above the dark hair. Her husband, Les, says he fell in love with Charlotte because he had never before met anyone who had an actual physical halo.

Charlotte’s spiritual halo shows as she teaches those around her. Each day when she returned home from Kindergarten, she would sit down with her younger brother and teach him everything that she had learned that day. She taught him so well that he learned to read before he entered Kindergarten. She loves to read long stories to her two small boys. For Charlotte, the biggest disappointment in her battle with cancer is that she will not be able to be with her Special Education students at Thomas Edison Charter School this fall.

When Charlotte was a toddler, her grandmother worked at the JC Penney store in Rexburg, Idaho. Her grandmother often walked by the rack of cute little girl clothes and wished that she could afford to buy them for her granddaughter. Then the Teton Dam broke, and water rolled through the streets and buildings of Rexburg. The weight of the water collapsed the floor of the store and all the merchandise washed into the basement.

When the clean up began, the manager of the store allowed the employees to salvage what they desired of the ruined merchandise. Grandma knew exactly where to find the little girls’ clothing. She waded through the rubble and dug through the mud until she found what she wanted. She took the clothing home, washed it, and packaged it up to send to Charlotte. Her grandmother found something beautiful in the midst of a disaster, and used it to bless the life of her granddaughter.

Charlotte is so grateful for the kindness and generosity of her friends and neighbors. With tears in her eyes, she talks about her dream of getting well so that she can help others as she has been helped. Like her grandmother, as Charlotte wades through the calamity of cancer, she is looking for something beautiful that she can use to bless the lives of others.

Charlotte is truly a strong woman and a bright light to all.

By Verla Hall

Mrs.Gardner

The following post was written by Trina. She has worked with Charlotte at Thomas Edison Charter School in the Special Education Department. The two of them have also successfully run the last 4 book fairs for the school. She has been instrumental in planning and organizing all of the events for Lotte's of Love fundraising and has put everything together for the Pool Party.

I HATE MATH! Just hearing the word Math males me cringe and get uncomfortable. Charlotte on the other hand LOVES Math! We worked together at Thomas Edison Charter School in the Special Ed Department. She taught 2 different classes of Middle School and Junior High Math. There were several times when I would be in her classroom preparing other lessons while she taught and I would have to giggle at her excitement over a concept she was teaching. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone talk about Math with such Joy. I know, it sounds odd. But she truly loves Math and she excels at helping others understand it.

She and I were talking the other day about how we ended up as teachers. It was never planned for her. In fact, she changed her major in school because she DIDN’T want to teach. Then she came to Thomas Edison and started volunteering in the classrooms, which evolved into substituting. She was so good with the students that they offered her a position in the Special Ed. Suddenly she was a teacher and a darn good one! I think that Char has found her calling. She has so much patience and really cares for the kids. I think one of the hardest things for her with this battle with cancer, is knowing that she has to take a year off from teaching. I’m sure in her mind, she feels that the cancer has won in a way because it takes her away from what she loves. But what Char doesn’t realize is that this Cancer battle is her chance to teach SO many others!

I know that in the 6 months since she found out she had cancer, her friends and family have learned many lessons from Charlotte. Her patience with the billing and medical run around she was put through, he courage when facing surgery, her overall positive attitude about EVERYTHING. She is one of the most positive people I know. I feel so blessed to have become her friend and feel that she is an anchor for so many people. It is about time that the rest of us get a chance to serve her for once instead of the other way around.

I don’t have ANY pics of Charlotte teaching. So I figured I’d give you dum dum dum daaaaaa

My running Partner

 The following post is written by Jill Williams a mother of two beautiful princesses and a handsome prince and they all have smiles that will melt your heart.  She is also the organizer of the 5k and 1 mile Fun Run which will be held October 15th in Cache Valley.

Jill and Charlotte running in the Blacksmith Fork Freedom Run 2010

Like Charlotte, I’m a runner. But I wouldn’t be half the runner I am if it wasn’t for Char. She’s helped me train for 2 half marathons and a full marathon, and I always look forward to running with her. Her pace is steady, and she pushes me, especially on hills, which seem to be her favorite type of terrain. I hope Charlotte gets well soon. I want my running partner back!

Just like her running, Charlotte is steady in her friendships. She doesn’t get overly excited about situations that some of us tend to blow out of proportion. She helps people to focus on the important things in life, to climb that next hill, achieve that next goal. And by example, she teaches us how critical it is to support each other through the trying times in life. The large group of friends organizing all these benefits for her do it because we know she would do the same for any of us if we were in that situation.

We have Lottes of Love for Charlotte!

Jill

We invite all of her family, friends, neighbors, and members of the Cache Valley community to attend a Lottes of Love Benefit 5k/1M on October 15, where proceeds will go towards helping Charlotte with her medical expenses. The races will start and end at Thomas Edison Charter School (where Charlotte works in the Special Education department) in Nibley, Utah.

Prizes will be given to the top 3 places in each race, as well as through a random drawing for all participants. Entry fee for the 5k is $25 and all entrants will receive a t-shirt, and start time for the race will be 9 am. The cost of the 1 mile is $10 without a t-shirt or $15 with a t-shirt, and families can register for $40 (families registration does not include t-shirts, but t-shirts may be purchased by registrants for $5 each), and start time is 10 am. Parents who want to run in the 5k may also assist their children with the 1 mile run at no additional cost. All entry fees will increase by $5 on October 1.

Click here for more information about the 5k and Fun Run and for information about how to register. 

Download Registration Form here

I remember the day we met.....

The following is a guest post written by Karen Kelly. She is a mother of five beautiful children and has been instrumental in the organization of benefit events for Lotte's of Love, including making many of the yummy treats at the bake sale table during the Yard Sale we held in early July.

I remember the day we met.....

Photo by Karen Kelly

My husband and I and our three kids had just moved into a Blackhawk Condo. Boxes were everywhere. We knew no one. There was a knock at the door one afternoon. I was confused at who it could be. I opened the door to a woman about my age. She apologized for bothering me and said they had just returned from camping and she was wondering if I had some milk she could borrow for her 18 month old little boy. She told me they lived just through the parking lot from us. She told me her name was Charlotte. And we have been friends ever since.

She has been there for me in every aspect of my life. When I feel my world is crashing down around me. Her arms are there to hold me up. When great things come about for myself or my family, her smile is there to cheer me on. We are often asked if we are sisters and I want to wrap my arms around her and yell, "Yes!" because she is that close to my heart.

Charlotte is strong. Strong body. Strong and clear mind. Strong values. Strong feelings for what she is passionate about. Strong in the face of adversity, from many angles. Strong, raw love for her family, especially her two young sons. Strong faith. When I am with her I pull from her strength. Whether we are playing at the park or on a late night shopping trip. She makes me strive to be better, hold on for longer and trust that the Lord will pick up the rest. I find peace in her testimony and love listening to her speak of the things she knows are true.

I can't believe she has cancer. I just can't grasp it. Not Charlotte!! When I look at her I think, "No. Please, no." I am still in denial some days. Then she talks of the treatments she will need and the side effects and I am sick to my stomach. A quiet acceptance comes over me. And I know it is real. She does have cancer. It's very serious. I could lose her. And I don't think I can handle that right now. Not ever. We are supposed to grow old together and go on Cruises when we are in our sixties. (Well, not a Cruise. We both get motion sickness.) But a mountain retreat somewhere.......

All my love and sincerity,

Karen

Sponsor Lotte's of Love!

We are working hard to make sure that all of the money donated to Lotte's of Love goes to help Charlotte pay for her ongoing cancer related medical expenses and treatments.  One way that you can help us do this is to become  a sponsor either as a business or an individual.

Based on your interest, there are several levels of sponsorship available, each having their own unique
benefits to suit your needs. All types of contributions are welcome including donations of goods or
services in helping to support Lotte's of Love.

By becoming a sponsor of Lotte's of Love today, you can realize these many great benefits:

• Exposure of your brand/business at our events and in our advertisements
• Recognition for supporting a community member in need and building goodwill in the community
• Additional exposure to your business through sponsor links at http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com

There a few ways to do this:

Gold Level

$1000+

• Recognition in largest format on T-shirts and event programs
• Recognition of your Sponsorship in our radio ads and newspaper announcements
• Your Banner displayed at our events*
• Sponsor Link at http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com

Silver Level

$500-$999

• Name or Logo in medium font on T-Shirts and event programs
• Your Banner displayed at our events*
• Sponsor Link at http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com

Bronze

$100-$499

• Name or Logo in small font on T-Shirts and event programs
• Sponsor Link at http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com 

Friends

$25-$99

• Recognition on http://lottesoflove.blogspot.com
• Name listed on event programs

*You or your company must provide a Banner for us to display

Send an email to lottesoflove@gmail.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor