Gideon's Feet

Well friends, it’s been a while since I wrote…as usual, but rest assured we are always working and growing here at Gideon’s Feet . God is using this venture to teach me and the board so many things. Here’s the latest.

Our family and the families at Providence school have been walking with a sweet young teacher named Anne as she carried a trisomy 13 baby. Trisomy 13 is an extremely rare chromosomal abnormality. When it is present, if the baby makes it to term, and survives the process of birth they likely live  only hours. On, May 13th Ava Elizabeth was born and was snuggled and adored by her mom and dad for the few hours of her life here before she passed on to life eternal. If you’d like to read about some truly amazing faith Anne has blogged at babyublog.com.  Now, Anne is a Christian so if that’s not you….I’d encourage reading it either way. Her grace, honesty and strength will blow your mind.

Now, what does this have to do with Gideon’s Feet moving forward and helping people in the arts community? Well, this…It has renewed my purpose and re-centered my focus. As I have had the honor to email with Anne over the last few months and to walk with her a bit it has brought back all of Gideon with such immediacy. It has reminded me how great a need for help can be.  I’m told that Anne said,  “I don’t know how I’m going to even begin to process this pain”…..OH MY do I relate. I said to Brian while I was still in the hospital that I didn’t know how to do this…his response “You’re already doing it” I tell you this to tell you that going back to that moment has reminded me how much what we’re doing is needed and that though I often don’t know how to do this….I AM doing it! We are seeing God bring the people and ideas that we need to grow and do a better and more efficient job. We have Martin Mussey (like his fb page here https://www.facebook.com/2MCoaching !) who is our new business coach…y’all…what an answer to prayer. We have fun new  events in the works, we have Amy Stevenson giving donations from Mama’s Party on a fairly regular basis and we were just able to give a flat-out grant at the end of April. This is the second hardest thing I’ve ever done this helping thing. And honestly, I have tried to quit more than once, but God says no every time and He sends encouragement and help….so we want to do the same. Send and be encouragement and help. We will stand with you until you can walk forward again.

NOW….here’s the thing…God made us to be in relationship and community so..we cannot do this alone. We need YOU! I hope you will all continue to walk with us and help us help. I’m looking forward to having a really fun event in the fall…and I hope you will all attend and bring friends! Our parties are fun y’all AND it’s good karma…so win /win right?  For a daily dose of inspiration, like us on FB. We’re posting cool words and updates regularly.

Thank you for standing with us as we stand with others. We are growing every day!

APG

Well…my endeavor to blog more frequently has not gone well BUT here I am anyway. Brian and Simon and I are in Toronto at the moment and I am working on getting our Christmas concert together. It’s on Dec 9th this year so save the date. We’ll be back at the lovely Baker Theatre at the Dallas Children’s Theatre. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a full house this year? Bring your friends! Come at 630 for treats and auction and stay for the concert at 730…don’t worry we know it’s a school night so we won’t go late. Family friendly and $10 minimum donation.  This year we have Scott Eckert, James Williams, Rick Starkweather, Alex Ross, Jenay Puckett, Amy Stevenson, Jodi Crawford Wright, me and some wonderful young singers too. If you came to Penny Banks Dew’s Mama’s Party you know that you will not want to miss these amazing young ladies.

SO…It’s hard to keep this thing going from afar AND do shows AND take care of the boys but I am learning every day how to do better. I also know that this is what God has called us to do so I am just trying to go HIS speed and not mine. For those that know me…you know that is hard. I am kind of up tempo and slow and steady can be challenging for me. I feel so grateful for all God is teaching me thru this endeavor. It truly is a blessing and a privilege to be working with such wonderful people to do good stuff for other wonderful people.

I hope you guys continue to let us know how we can serve and help those in need in our community. I am so pleased that people are starting to know that we are here and we get things done.

Please keep Sally Soldo and her husband John in your prayers and they struggle with his health. Also, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lynnmetrik to keep up with and encourage Lynn Metrik as she fights Pancreatic Cancer .Please let us know how we can continue to walk with you all thru the tough times.

APG

Well,  I am so bad at keeping up with all of this, but I will endeavor to do better. There has been so much happening in the last couple of weeks and the DFW theatre community has been broken hearted with loss. Last Wednesday 8 year old daughter of Penny Dew, DTC Costumer, succumbed to an as yet unidentified medical condition that required several surgeries that her little body just could not recover from. Today, our dear friend and help recipient, Ryan Roach,  passed after a massive stroke.  As a good friend of ours was told after the devastating loss of his child….you’ll keep walking, but you’ll always walk with a limp. And that’s us DFW….after the losses this last year or two…we’re walking…but we are definitely limping.

Penny and her family are dear, positive, loving and fun folks. If you have ever worked with Penny, you know how wonderful she is.  On Aug 19th we’ll be teaming up with super supporter Amy Stevenson at Mama’s Party to love on The Dew family. PLEASE come and let’s support her family as they pick up the pieces and begin the long road ahead. They need us to walk with them now. Let’s make sure they have no worries about meeting their earthly needs and that Penny can take all the time she needs away for she and her sons to hold one another close.  $5 minimum donation at the door.

On Aug 26th We’ll be teaming up for Mama’s Party again to celebrate sweet Ryan Roach and help his family. Ryan was a dear,  dear friend and a wonderful, sweet man. The DFW community has been rocked by his passing. Ryan was warm, funny, loving and a little mischievous. His laugh was unparalleled and his hugs made everything seem brighter. His talent and his heart will be sorely missed. Ryan’s family will need our help to defray the costs of his sudden illness and passing. Let’s do the only thing we can …remember Ryan and take pressure off his loved ones left behind.

Both of these events will have info posted here and on Facebook. Also,  there are links to go fund me pages for both families posted on our facebook page as well so that if you want to help but cannot attend you can donate there. As always, we’re happy to take donations by mail and our cc server should be back up within a week….shoot me an email if you would like to donate this way.  Make check payable to Gideon’s Feet Inc and put the name of the recipient in the memo line. Address is PO BOX 472648 Garland TX 75047-2648

In other news, On August 25th Gideon’s Feet and DFW Actors give back are joining forces to raise money for Gideon’s Feet’s aid to artists in need and DFW Actors Give Back ‘s 2013 beneficiary the  Children’s Cancer fund. DFW Actor’s has chosen CCF as their beneficiary this year to honor Libby Serber, daughter of local actress and awesome gal Cara Serber, who kicked the crap out of Wilms disease this last year.  We’ll be having a fab and fun  Karaoke Party in the Gables Room at the Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman St, from 6pm to 10 pm. It’s  $10 at the door plus any other tax deductible donation you’d like to make for these two great organizations!  Join us for snacks, beverages and fun! Check out the event page on the Gideon’s Feet Facebook page and let us know we’ll see you there. Also, check back for info about special guests and cool prizes!!

SO if you’re keeping count…that’s three events in about a week….wow. Earlier this evening I was thinking about all that needs to be done and how much need there is. I started to get overwhelmed. I started to think…how will there be enough to go around? SO much loss and so much need!! Then Simon and I were reading before bed in his Story Bible…now I know not all of you believe what I do…that’s cool… just go with me for a minute. We are reading about Elisha the profit. There is a story in II Kings about a widow who was so poor she was starving and  in such debt that her sons were going to be sold into slavery to pay it. Elisha asked her what she had…she said a little olive oil in a jar. He told her to borrow as many containers from her neighbors as she could and then pour olive oil from her jar into all the other containers. She did as she was told and she filled so many containers that she sold the oil to and not only paid the debt but had money left to live on. Wow…I was reminded that, no, if I’m doing it in and of myself there isn’t enough to go around…BUT when GOD is moving He makes enough, I also see that God used this woman’s neighbors to help…and that’s important too. We have to be willing to be used as the hands and feet of God. Please be used and help as you can. If you cannot….let us know how we can serve you. You guys  if God can use a little olive oil so mightily….how much more can He use good and willing hearts and hands willing to help

love

APG

WOW!!! SO I have not been blogging as you know…but I think I have a few minutes to get some things put down! Simon keeps us running, and we love every minute. As we are getting accustomed to our family being one more I should be able to keep up here a bit better.

SO…We have had a busy few weeks in Gideon’s Feet world. We’ve done two grants, had a Karaoke party for us and Legacy Cottage and on Monday March 25 we have a joint event with Amy Stevenson and Mama’s Party to help yet another ailing DFW friend, Matthew Butler.  We are definitely growing and that is exciting…and a little scary. I’m learning so many new skills and getting new information on how to run this thing everyday. God has provided a fantastic lawyer, and three wonderful accountants. Our good Friend Stephanie Felton, who keeps me from pulling out my hair with papers and Steve Howard and Tom Turner of Turner, Vedrenne & Howard, CPAs. They are all a gift from God and they don’t get too frustrated when I look at them like they are speaking Martian.

I am so honored to be in service to this community and I see God growing us at just the right pace with just the right timing. We are starting to be able to grant some…which is awesome. As we have more support from the community on a more consistent basis we can begin to do that more and more. We have lots of exciting ideas for future events and for places for us to help.  And Listen guys….our events are FUN! Ask someone who has attended!! We always have a ball and it’s guilt free since it’s all for charity! SO…check us out on FB to keep up with the day-to-day goings on and I’ll try my best to keep up here. Please keep letting us know about needs in our world and we’ll do our best to mobilize help.

All the info for Monday is on FB and I’ll be putting on our event page here ASAP!!!

Well! It’s been a long time since I wrote, and I will only have a minute as Baby Simon will be wanting to eat any time now. Just wanted to drop a line and update you on the goings on! We’ll be having our 2nd annual Christmas Concert on Dec 10th at the Dallas Children’s Theatre…silent auction, wine and sweets at 630 and concert at 730. I know it’s a school night, so we won’t keep you out too late, and don’t worry about a sitter….it’s family friendly. Check out our event on the Gideon’s Feet FB page and RSVP YES so we have enough sweets for you.

SO…though I’ve been out of touch we have not been idle! We just raised about $4000 for our friends Jeff Kinman and Adam Wright. Jeff has been ill for quite sometime and is unable to work.This leaves the guys really struggling.  THANK YOU to Amy Stevenson and the DFW community for rallying to help these guys. That makes me so proud to know all of you and keeps this sleepy new mom walking forward with excitement. I hope you will all send up prayers for Jeff. He is such a special guy and he and Adam could really use our spiritual support in addition to the temporal help that you all provided.

Well, the baby is ready for my attention so I’ll sign off with a thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and continues to. Thank you to everyone who has a heart for artists and wants to help us share the love of God thru our service! See you in December and bring all your friends!

Simon Noble Gonzales arrived today, 3 weeks before Ashley’s due date (as planned), weighing in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measuring 20″ long.  He is beautiful!  He is perfect!

All went as planned and the joy  is indescribable.  More to come soon.

Hey folks!

Well…gonna blog a little differently today. I am posting a youtube clip sent to me by my friend and GFEET Bord Member JoAnn. This is from a Lutheran youth conference, so hence it’s Lutheran centered, but every time this woman says Lutheran I heard follower of the true Christ.If you have a narrow view of what a true lover of God looks like…this chick will blow it away. I relate to her in so many ways and I know many of my friends in the biz will too…..even more than I do.  I know some of our Gideon’s Feet supporters are not Christians, and that is totally fine. All are welcome here to help and be helped….that’s kind of the whole point.  I hope you will listen to her speak and hear so much of my heart. Gideon’s Feet wants to meet the physical needs of my people – artists -because God calls us to clothe the naked and feed the hungry, and in doing so help  people see the immense love God has for them thru our small acts of service.  Enjoy Nadia Bolz-Weber…..

http://youtu.be/kM9Y5S3UYi8

Love

Ashley

founder – Gideon’s Feet

Hey folks! Well….I am huge and waddling more every day, and I could not be more thrilled to be doing it.

SO sorry it has been so long. I have some issues with pregnancy carpal tunnel so being on the computer is VERY limited. Therefore, this will be brief. I am learning a lot about receiving help as of late, and I want to thank all who have let us help them and all who will. It is really hard to let yourself receive. I for one am always MUCH more comfortable being the helper rather than the helpee, but it is so good to have to be still and remember that we all need help and nobody makes it thru life alone. There is always a helping hand somewhere, even when we don’t see it.

I am also learning that I cannot do everything that I want to do all at once.God knows the pace He wants this to go…and I have to make peace with that.  To that end, I have had to postpone our summer “Shower Divas” event until a later date. IT WILL HAPPEN! Just will have to be once I can walk and be online for more that 10 minutes at a time. We will likely be having some dinner fundraisers over the next couple of months that require a little less heroic effort from the immobile pregnant lady AND we WILL be having our second annual Christmas Concert and the Dallas Children’s Theatre in early Dec. We already have some great ideas for new fun stuff and we’ll bring back some favorites from last year. If you were not able to join us before, you will want to ask those who did how much fun we had.

Lastly, I want to thank everybody who came out to help the Cheatwood/Daves family. I do have pictures of our super cool event taken by a photographer at Justin Yoder Photography and as soon as I figure out how…or Brian does….I will have them up for your viewing pleasure.  It was such a special night with great food from Spotlight catering  and great performances from some of Vicki’s nearest and dearest. We were able to raise about $2500 for the family, and I think that’s not too shabby for our first time out.  Paul J Williams was the perfect host and The MAC were amazingly generous to us.

SO….that’s where we are. I hope to be in touch again sooner rather than later, but with the arrival of Gideon’s little brother being  approximately 8 weeks away…hopefully he will wait that long….well…who knows! We anticipate our 501c3 status coming thru soon (it will be retroactive so feel free to donate 🙂 and that will allow us to really get rolling. Thanks for hanging in with us guys. I’ll have more Christmas Concert info soon and am already getting excited!!

Ashley

Founder

Hey there.

Well, there is lots and lots going on in DFW.

First of all, check the events page for information about our next event on April 29th. We are very excited to be able to stage an event to help Vicki Caroline Cheatwood and her sons Ethan and Caleb. Read their story on our events page and join us to help support them!

Second, Our friend Walter Lemmons has begun his chemo and seems to be tolerating it well. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. He is not in need of physical help at the moment, but we’re checking on him often. Feel free to do the same and please let me know if you know of a need that we can help meet.

Third, one of our local actresses Cara Statham Serber and her family need our prayers and support. Cara’s 6 year old daughter Libby was diagnosed with a Wilm’s tumor on her kidney and last week had the tumor and kidney removed. This morning she had open heart surgery to remove portions of the tumor that broke off last week and traveled to her heart. The surgery was successful, but she is now upgraded to stage 4 cancer. This means longer and more aggressive chemo and radiation. This family will need our prayers and thoughts for many months to come, and we’ll be on the lookout for ways to help them in the temporal as well, You can follow her story  at caringbridge.org. You then enter her name, libbyserber,  on the visit tab and follow the prompts. I will also try to keep GF followers updated here.

Finally, we all know how devastating the weather was to Lancaster and Forney. Wanted to let you guys know that there is an easy way to volunteer to help these devastated communities. One of our goals at Gideon’s Feet is to provide service opportunities and encourage all of us to get out there and help! SO…if you are able the Volunteer Center of North Texas can put you to work!

www.vcnt.org

I just want to leave you with a couple of thoughts. As I was going thru my week, I began to have some panic about my current gestating project. This is no surprise, given our history, but this was a full-scale freak out. I called my mom and cried, and I checked baby’s heartbeat with my doppler, and I went to a devotional book called The Daily Light.  I know that many of you have beliefs that differ from mine, but I hope you will still find the words that stuck with me as encouraging as I did.

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” Isa 40:29.  I was so encouraged that I don’t have to have “it” all in and of myself. It also occurs to me that it applies here at Gideon’s Feet as well. I am not strong or special, but having this call put on my heart is, and therefore special things are getting done!

And to that end “Arise and Begin Working!”  1 Chron 22:16

Hey everybody…so sorry it’s been so long, but lots and lots  has been happening. Some good and some definitely not.
Let’s start with the good. Most of you know, but just to make it official..Gideon’s baby brother or sister is on the way. We’re thrilled, and terrified, and so glad for the opportunity to feel all of it. Baby G2 is expected in the fall and your prayers for peace and a healthy baby are so appreciated. It means that my mobility will be somewhat restricted, but I am still working hard on getting things moving here. There is much to do as you will see.
Now the Bad. This last week we set the date for a fundraiser for Vicki Cheatwood and Mark Daves. Vicki is a playwright here in DFW and we were all set to assist in medical bills to help with Mark’s battle with cancer. Sadly, Mark passed the same day our date was announced on facebook. He leaves behind his wife Vicki, his 15 year old twins, Ethan and Caleb, and a host of other family and friends who loved him. Folks, this family will still need and get our help. Please keep an eye open for what you can do to participate. I am just awaiting the family’s word on what is most needed and would be most healing. Please, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks and months…and beyond. Grieving is the hardest work there is, and they’ll be working at it long after we’ve all moved forward…so let’s try to keep them in our hearts for as long as we can.
Sadly, we have more bad news. Walter Lemmons announced this week that he has stage 3 esophageal cancer. Anyone who has ever performed at the Patty Granville Arts Center knows Walter from his work in the building. I have known him since I was a teenager. Folks, we’re gonna help Walter too. Just waiting to see where that help needs to fall as he undergoes Chemo and radiation and later…surgery to repair his damaged esophagus. HIs first need is a hospital bed or something like it for his home. He is currently sleeping in a chair to accommodate his need to sleep propped up. If anyone has one, knows somebody who does, or a way to get one, please message me and let me know how I can facilitate getting it to him.
So guys…we have people climbing the mountains and it’s time for us to climb with them and for them when needed. Thank you for the amazing things that we’re going to do and thank you for helping be the hands of God to the world.
Ashley