Jesse's Girls Run for ALS

As many of you know, Christina, Emily and I started the team "Jesse's Girls" to participate in Betty's Run for ALS. As the word spread, we had many people sign up to walk/run with us and to contribute to our fundraising goal of $10,000.

We ended up with over 60 people participating with us and raising over $13,000 as a team! Special thanks to the Three Sisters and the Beaulieu Family for your added fundraising efforts!

My dad was one of several people with ALS who participated in the walk. He was so strong and I was so proud of him! There was quite a cheer and a few tears when he came across the finish line. Around 50 other friends and family participated in the walk with him. I along with 10 others braved the 8km run and were encouraged and cheered on by our fellow walkers.

Our team, the sea of lime green, was easy to spot thanks to Don Taniguchi. His firm LTNS Accounting, sponsored team t-shirts for the events. You could spot anyone from a mile away!

It was a great day! We look forward to raising more money next year and having more people come out and participate with us!

THANK YOU to everyone who was a part of it!

Walk With Us

Since my dad's diagnosis on May 5, 2008, our phone has been ringing off the hook with supportive and loving people wanting to know how he is doing. I thought an online blog to keep people updated on his status would be more efficient and a bit easier on my mom, dad and Emily!

For those of you just tuning in, my dad, Jesse Morales, was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He first started noticing a loss of strength in his hands last January. After several visits to the family doctor, a neurologist and an ALS Specialist, we found the reason for it. We were told that the average lifespan after diagnosis is 3-5 years. Naturally, we were shocked and saddened by this news, but in the midst of this tragedy, God has still shown himself faithful.

When my dad first shared the news with me, he said, "Steph, get into the Word!" He shared with me a passage out of Luke 18, the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Here is an excerpt from it:

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up . . . . . . . And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

I find that we seem to seek God more desperately immediately following a crisis. As time passes, we tend to adjust and accept the reality of situations. I pray that this is not my attitude and that I will continue to ask for healing until the day I see it.

I hope that you will join my family in lifting my dad up to the Lord in prayer every time you think of him!