Isla Edwards Day pt. 1
Isla Edwards Day pt. 1
Where to even begin. December 4th 2021 was without a doubt one of the best days of our entire lives. We kicked off the day at Nederland’s “Christmas on the Avenue” festival working hard to raise money for Isla’s Faith. My mom Michelle sold her gorgeous “Isla’s Kitchen” cookbooks (total hit of course) and my stepdad Brendan sold his Isla’s Faith special edition ROC BBQ Sauce (also a huge hit). The rest of team Isla worked on selling delicious pulled pork sandwiches and other treats.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Butchers Korner from the bottom of my heart for supplying ALL of the pulled pork, buns, and sandwich prepping accessories for our fundraiser. They offered to help without even being asked, and absolutely blew us all away with their generosity and overall wonderful-ness! For anyone reading this, please stop by there soon, enjoy a delicious meal or grab some fresh meat to-go, and thank them for being such an amazing part of our community.
I would also like to thank all of the numerous people and organizations who donated chips and drinks and well! You are such a blessing!
Also the Nederland Parks & Rec dept and Angela Fanette for going above and beyond to make this day so special for Isla!
After a long but awesome day at the festival, it was Isla’s time to shine! She got to meet Santa and go up to the balcony of the Nederland windmill to countdown the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony. During this time, the mayor of Nederland made a very special surprise announcement. In honor of Isla demonstrating strength and resolve against tremendous adversity, he proclaimed that henceforth December 4th, 2021 would be known officially as “Isla Edwards Day”
…Oh my heart.
This little girl has accomplished more at the age of 8 than most people do their entire lives. She is facing a confusing, scary, and completely unfair battle and somehow doing it with more courage, more grace, and more joy than any other human I know could. I see her strength every single day, but for an entire community to come together and acknowledge it too… we’ll there is just no way to describe how uplifting that is for us as a family. It is our saving grace. In this incredibly alienating situation, we do not feel alone. We don’t take that gift for granted.
My heart is overflowing with pride for my daughter who continuously lifts everyone around her up despite her own obstacles she faces daily. She is such an inspiration to so many people and I thank God every single day that I was the person blessed to be chosen as her mother. Isla was chosen to fight this battle because she is the person who can WIN. She is changing lives everyday and shows no sign of slowing down.
“For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”
— Jeremiah 29:11
(This is literally only part ONE of our Isla Day celebration. If you got choked up reading this, you might want to prepare yourself for part two, coming soon…)
Special thanks to Butcher’s Korner, Woodcrest Elementary staff, Angela Fanette, the City of Nederland Parks & Rec Dept., those who donated supplies, and those who bought or sold pre sale tickets. And a HUGE thank you to my family who worked their tails off making sandwiches to feed the masses (looking at you Gran and Aint Brenda!)
