MARCH 25-30, 2006; Trip to Chapel Hill, NC

When Uncle Lance and Aunt Julie, our son and daughter in law, came to TN for Christmas, Hawk was very sick from the radiation treatments and steroids. Hawk hardly moved off the couch during their visit.

Now with Hawk being in very good spirits and having good energy, we wanted to visit Uncle Lance and Aunt Julie. So a trip was taken to Chapel Hill March 25-30, 2006.

There is a NC organization, Smiles for Small Faces, which is very much like Make-A-Wish. Josh Wilkerson, the director, contacted us and offered to plan several activities for Hawk and his family during our visit. These activities make this a very special trip for Hawk and his NC cousins.



After church on Sunday, March 26, Josh picked us up in Chapel Hill for a limo ride to Raleigh. The limo was provided by Prime Time Limousines. This is a picture of (L-R) Aunt Julie, Cousins Kaylee and Riggan, Lindy, Cousin Taylor, April, Mimi and Hawk in the limo. The entire family went to the Exploris Museum and the I-Max Theater.







Then, the family went to Chuck E. Cheese for food and games. Hawk had a lot of fun playing Skee Ball and the video games. He really enjoyed playing air hockey with his cousins.










On Tuesday, March 28, Julie, Mimi, Skyla, Lindy and Pa went with Hawk to Angier to visit (Great) Aunt Francis and Uncle Dick Wells. He enjoyed the fishing in the lake beside their house. Since the fish were not biting, Hawk soon was busy floating pine cones and sticks through the overflow pipes. Then, it was off to see the horses. He had a great time.


On Wednesday, March 29, Josh picked us in the limo again for a ride to Adventure Landing in Raleigh. The family was treated to a meal of pizza. Then, it was off to the go carts racing. The track was closed for a short period for only Hawk's family. Here is a picture of Hawk and Mommy leading the racers. Hawk had a ball in the go carts.

Then Hawk and his cousins went to play put-put on the 18 hole coarse.

Everyone got back together later in the day to play the video and arcade games.









Finally, most of the family got together for a game of laser tag. (L to R) Mommy, Hawk, Skyla, Mimi, Pa, Cousin Josh Ruhl (who got back from Kuwait on Friday, 3/24/06), Riggan, Uncle Lance, April and Taylor. Everyone got to shoot everyone and had a lot of fun.

The family was then taken to a private showing of Special animals by Kim Miller, owner of Action Animals. She showed many of her animals and birds that had been used in movies. The funniest part of the show was when a 13 foot boa was placed on the backs of Lance and Josh. It was a big surprise when Lance suddenly found out that he had the biting end of the snake. What made this even more special was when we learned that Kim had driven from St. Augustine, FL, just for this show for Hawk.

The day was completed by coming back to Lance's and having a wonderful supper of fried fish.

On Thursday morning, March 30, all the cousins got together for an early Easter Egg hunt. Everyone found a lot of eggs. The day was completed by a safe plane ride back to TN and home.

We thank Josh; and all the individuals and their companies that donated their time and facilities blessing our families. You can find more information about Smiles for Little Faces at their web site, by contacting them at smilesforlittlefaces@yahoo.com, or contacting 919-783-4004. May they all be Blessed.

The Lord Blessed Hawk and all of us with a wonderful visit. We give Him praise for this and all Blessings. We also give thanks to all of you for your prayers.