Thank you to everyone who came out to Copa Wine Bar yesterday, to help support Rowan in his fundraising efforts for Kidd's Kids again this year. What an amazing time we had again this year!
Thank you to Rowan and Ian (with a little help from Brian:) for setting up the lemonade stand and tables...
Thank you to Jeff Bridges for making all the food!
They even made Rowan french fries and yucca fries, with his own unique, Angie created, "Rowan Sauce" to dip it in.
I made the Italian Cream Cakes for dessert:)
Rowan made and signed all of the artwork and photographs...
Brian and Rowan ran the raffle and silent auction, and made all of the special announcements throughout the day...
But the pictures I will cherish the most are the ones of Rowan with all of the special visitors, family and friends alike, who stopped by to help him with this endeavor. Some he knew well, some were blasts from the past. and others he met for the very first time. Either way, he was overjoyed and overwhelmed by the love he felt. You could see it in his smile, and a few times, he even got tears in his eyes.
We are grateful to every single person who came out to support this cause, and believe me, I wish I had gotten photos of every single one of you with Rowan. But to those of you whom have never ever even met him before, who have been following his story recently, many from sweet Jalene's page... thank you for taking the time to come out to meet him in person. It really touched my heart, and his. You may think that you just came because you wanted to meet him, but you know what... in turn, you blessed us as well, by allowing us to meet you, to see your beautiful smiles, and to witness God at work. Everything happens for a reason, and we are so happy you came into our lives:)
(Check out the little one in the green...those dimples, all the way up to his eyes...my word!)
One extra, extra special visitor was Rowan's sweet friend, Charlotte. She is in the middle of her own battle, but her and her priceless family always show up to give their support... whether it be Rowan's Shrek Jr. play, to bring cereal to the hospital for the food drive, or this weekend to help him raise money for Kidd's Kids. For all of that, we are blown away, and forever grateful!
And if you ever wonder what the beauty of friendship looks like...it's in these smiles.
These two just exude faith, hope and love...and those eyes...oh, those eyes:)
Despite all they both go through medically, physically and emotionally, they always beam for us when they get together and our cameras come out:)
Another special visitor surprised Rowan big time!
Rowan loves the Beattles, so she gave him The Yellow Submarine DVD:)
And she and her amazing friends recently raised money for him doing a karaoke night...
Thank you Esmie, and everyone else who participated in the 'Cosplay Karaoke For A Cause' night for Rowan. You blew him away!
Rowan's friend James also showed up to support him. He started "Focal Point", a charitable organization that will be bringing art therapy to kids battling Cancer, or chronic illnesses. His intent is that they will provide digital DSLR cameras, paint supplies, and other art supplies to these children, and then mentor them in using them to learn the craft. James himself gave Rowan the very first camera and was inspired to help him, so he can see the world through Rowan's eyes.
Later the same day, Rowan changed into his Focal Point t-shirt and went out to show James the same support at SA's Summer Art Fest, where Rowan continued to meet special folks and form new friendships. He even traded some signed work from these artists for signed pictures of himself. (Hahaha...only Rowan could do that)
Thank you James, for what you've done for Rowan and for what we know you are going to do for many, many, more struggling children.
Now, one final humongous thank you to our dear friends, Angie and Jeff Bridges, for opening the doors of Copa Wine Bar once again, for the 3rd Annual Rowan's Smokehouse and Lemonade Stand, benefiting Kidd's Kids. Also, to Angie for sharing and promoting the event, and Jeff for staying up all night smoking the meat. We love you dearly, and cannot thank you enough for supporting Rowan, and helping him raise funds for his favorite charity. It couldn't happen without you!
Now, I have received lots of texts and emails asking if it's too late to help, or if you can still get one of Rowan's signed photographs or signed pieces of art.
It is not too late!
If you are interested in either of these items from Rowan, and would like to make a donation to Kidd's Kids in exchange for it, please mail a check (made out to Kidd's Kids) or message me for Paypal information. The address to mail donations is Attn: Rowan Windham 420 River Chase Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78132. If you want specific colors in your painting, include that information and Rowan will make a new one just for you.
Rowan will be presenting his donation check to members of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning / Kidd's Kids Crew and Staff on July 11th in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Chuck and Mindi Hartzog's Annual Kidd's Kids Golf Tournament. So please try to get your "Kidd's Kids" checks in the mail to Rowan this week! He really wants to be able to present them with a nice big, total check, complete with your donations. Don't forget to include your return address, tell us if you would like a signed photo of Rowan, an original painting, or a print of one of the most requested paintings...
The one where the heart showed up in the middle of the cross:
The one Rowan says is the face of Jalene :)
The one Rowan called "The archway to Heaven", where he says Chrissie is riding her horse Navidad under the arch, and the light of Jesus and Jalene are shining down:)
And finally, the one Rowan said is "a broken heart, but where the cross is trying to bring it back together".
These are the only four that we made extra color copy prints of, since so many people wanted them. All others are original paintings.
Message me if you have any questions or special requests. We look forward to presenting a really big donation check to Kidd's Kids on the 11th, with your help:) Thank you!
