Fantasma la Storia

Geez. Blogging must not be my thing.

All is well in the Fantasma family. Keeping busy with our little business, little church, and little girl. Not much going on besides all that!

Our biggest thing right now is plugging through photography and design work. It has been such a blessing that things have picked up. It has really helped our family financially to have a bit more steady income. If anyone needs Christmas cards, let us know!! We are excited to offer custom cards again this year. Postcards are a great way to save money on postage and still have an awesome greeting for your friends and family! If you want to keep up to date with our most recent stuff check us out on the Fantasma Imagery fan page or visit our website at www.fantasmaimagery.com

Our church, the Avenue, has been going through a sermon series lately called "When Life Dumps On You". It has been amazing going through the life of Job and how his sufferings relate to ours...and even more how his reactions and attitudes to suffering relate to ours. You should check it out at www.walktheavenue.com.

Sweet little Elliana is awesome too. She is now almost 14 months old and I can't believe it. I keep having these flashback moments where I see her sleeping in her little swing or laying propped up on pillows smiling at her Daddy. Now she's just walking around telling us all about everything she sees. I'm amazed at how many words she says...and how well I can understand her. She has developed this gentle, quiet personality, loving to just sit on the couch and read quietly with her stuffed animals even if a big ruckus is going on around her. She's just a little tiny thing too, at only the 10th percentile for height and weight at her age. I think that just adds to her dainty cuteness. I think she's the cutest thing to ever grace this earth, but I'm not biased at all.

Yesterday Brian and I returned from a whirlwind trip to St. Louis with a bunch of friends for a benefit run/walk for colon cancer...which was super fun despite the horrible cold wind and rain...which turned to snow on the way home of course. For those of you who don't know our awesome friends Mike and Danielle Burgess, whom I have mentioned many times in this blog, Danielle was diagnosed with colon cancer when she was 17 and has since triumphed over it and is now a survivor of over 8 years. We are not big into athletics so when we decided to do this thing it was totally in support of Danielle, and for a fun relaxing weekend away. God likes to surprise you with new outlooks on things though when you are not expecting it.

One of the major things that I got out of this trip is how truly incredible Mike and Danielle are. For starters, Danielle is quite possibly the strongest woman I know. She has been through so much in her lifetime and to have the amazing personality and outlook on life that she has is inspiring. She is that gal who, even though she is going through a tough time herself, asks how your day is going and how she can pray for you. During the walk I saw many people who were walking in memory of someone who had passed away from colon cancer. Since we weren't around when she was actually sick, it's easy to take advantage of the fact that she is a miracle. If it hadn't been for God's sovereignty and creating her for the purpose of..how do you say...awesomeness!...we wouldn't have had the opportunity to be blessed by her. It is overwhelming. At one point after the race when we were all standing around in the pouring rain I had to go give her a huge hug just out of pure joy that I have gotten to know her and be her friend. I'm proud of who she is, that I can be her friend, and that she is handling the crazy life that has been handed to her with such grace. I couldn't imagine life without her.
Then there is Mikey. Anyone can look at him and see that he is a fun guy. He's enthusiastic about life and always the life of the party. There is so much more behind that. Yesterday, Mike finished the run before Danielle did. He ran across the finish line soaking wet and freezing cold, put his arms up in victory, and then immediately turned back into the crowd to finish the race with his beautiful bride. He could have stood with us to be shielded from the wind by an umbrella and rested after that long run..but no..he wanted to offer her encouragement, push her to be the best she could be, and be by her side when she finished. When I think about the strength that he has had to have it amazes me. He sat by her side watching her recover from this horrible sickness, but I have never heard him utter a word of complaint. Just imagine being a young man in his late teens whose girlfriend was just diagnosed with cancer. There are a lot of boys that would have run away at the prospect of having to deal with that at such a young age. Not Mike. Any bystander can tell that he loves that woman beyond what he can even know. If she is uncomfortable or in pain he is always always immediately trying to make her more comfortable, putting his own needs on the back burner until she is taken care of. What a guy.

Brian and I have been blessed beyond measure to be friends with two such incredible people. Their love for each other and zeal to live life to the fullest has not only made our life more exciting but more rewarding. Over the past couple years we have enjoyed being involved in the Avenue with them, partying, playing fun games, going on mini-trips, and just hanging out with them and chatting the night away. This year won't be all fun and games, with Danielle needing to have more of her colon removed due to more polyps developing, but we'll be right by their side. They are as good as a part of our family and I wouldn't have it any other way.