A Different Kind of Race

This time last year Mark and Anna were trained for and ran the Kentucky Derby mini-Marathon together. A year later they are in a different kind of race, fighting an aggressive brain tumor.  Mark (age 33) was diagnosed days following Christmas 2012. Mark is a St. X and U of L graduate and Anna is a Texas Tech graduate who moved to Louisville to graduate with a Masters in Biblical Counseling from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (and to meet Mark).  They have been married 4 years and are wonderful parents to a beautiful, energetic 3 year old daughter, a precious 1 year old foster son they are in process of adopting, and a newborn son, who came into the world on February 15th, 2013 -- not long after Mark’s diagnosis. Mark’s medical team in Louisville does not have the tools necessary remove the tumor so he is going to the University of California San Francisco for surgery in mid-April to remove the tumor.

Susan Ward (Mark's cousin) is dedicating her Derby Festival mini-Marathon race to Mark to help raise funds to offset the burden of his medical expenses. Below are two ways so you can help, too. Support Susan's run by making a donation. Every little bit raised will help--- 

• Online: There is a Donation option on the right side of this website. Click the button and make a donation to GronotteFund@gmail.com.  At the bottom of the Paypal screen select both: personal and gift options so NO fees will be incurred!  100% of the donation will go to Mark’s medical expenses.  
• Checks: Make it out to the Mark Gronotte Donation Fund and mail it to c/o Susan Ward, 10610 Taylor Farm Court, Prospect, KY 40059.  

In addition to the race, you are invited to attend a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Friday, April 26, from 6-10pm at Susan and David Ward’s Home (see above address).  There is no charge for dinner. Give what you can.  Feel free to bring friends and children!  All money donated will be given to the Gronotte Fund! RSVP to Susan Ward :: susangriffinward@yahoo.com :: 502-802-0667 or Rebecca Gronotte :: coralou23@yahoo.com :: at 502-802-8112.

***I have been asked about the difference between donating here and donating on Caring Bridge's site.  Caring Bridge offers a great service, allowing friends and family to keep up on medical updates online. All donations given to Caring Bridge's Website are used for their operational expenses.  His People Pray blog is run by Anna's sister who is blogger and able to service this website at NO cost.  ALL donations given through this site are used solely to offset the medical expenses incurred by Mark Gronotte!

Garage Sale Results

The Garage Sale was bigger than we ever could have imagined!

We had some serious early birds and from 7am until 4pm this was the street--

It was SUPER COLD, but thankfully not a drop of rain!

There was far too much to display on the tables so shoppers made themselves at home on the ground and did some serious digging for treasures!

We were blessed with lots of sweet, sweet friends that helped run the garage sale. 

Ali and a friend spent at least an hour pricing the items before they realized that even if they spent an entire week pricing there would still be tons left to do.  We opted to go the route of telling shoppers the price when they asked.  Never could we have made it without so many awesome helpers.

With exception to a few breaks to show off the 'worm' dance move and play a little playmobile, the kids were all about helping with the garage sale and bake sale!

And at the end of the day when we counted the money brought in from garage sale proceeds and donations of sweet sweet friends...we were totally amazed that God raised $4500 for Anna and Mark!  Doesn't that totally rock!

 Matthew 6:26 -- God is watching over Anna & Mark with such lovingkindness!

A HUGE thanks to all who helped this garage sale become a huge success.  It wouldn't have been possible without the awesome donations for the garage sale, the generous monetary donations, and the unbelievable gift of time to all who labored long and hard throughout the huge sale!

Garage Sale Countdown

Sometimes God tells you to do something and it's a little messy, but in the end He gets a whole lot of glory! Like this garage sale that my sister offered to host as a fundraiser for Mark's medical expenses. Throughout the process, her home totally looked like the home of a hoarder (such a servant, right).

For two weeks she collected donations around the clock from over forty super generous families.

And then the day before the BIG DAY arrived....the day to get all that stuff on the curb ready to make some big money!

Mark and Anna's nieces and nephews in Texas were a huge help!

Friends and neighbors helped a ton, too!

Each of us must have carried at least one hundred arm loads out of Ali's house...amazing how generous our friends were!

 That little table found a good home (I bought it and love it).

Even the youngest little guys carried loads!

And smiled the entire time because they were happy to play a small part in getting their super fun (silly) and strong (black belt) Uncle Mark healthy again!!!

Garage sale pictures and more updates coming soon...

Holding My World

I chatted with my mom this morning.  Her and dad were on the way to get ingredients to make spaghetti -- their grand kids' request.  Oakley is an awesome little eater -- but he'll stick to milk!  Anna and Mark are doing well -- tired, of course, but good.  Trusting that through the power of Jesus' sacrifice, they can lean on their God who...

'Will never forget all of His goodness and all of His promises!  He's holding my world in His hands!'

Update:  The yard sale will be in Fort Worth on March 2nd.

• Donate in Fort Worth: text or call Ali.
• Donate in Dallas: text or call April.
• Donate in McKinney: text or call Aimee.

Yard Sale Donations

Please clean out your closets, kids rooms, kitchen, playroom, attic, and garage to raise funds for Mark and Anna!  We'd love to accept your donations Friday, February 22nd and Saturday, February 23rd ...we'll price them and get them ready to go for the sale.  Text or call Ali to set up a drop off time.  We'd love you to donate any items you are no longer needing.  We're also accepting baked items (cupcakes, cookies, Little Debbie snacks) water bottles or can sodas that we can sell at the garage sale.

Feel free to come and work the yard sale with us or stop by just to visit and shop!  The Fundraiser Yard Sale will be Saturday, March 2nd 8 am - 5 pm.  SPREAD THE WORD!!!!