On October 15th 2013 Katie had her "Katie Can Do... and You Can Too!" Official book launch. It was held at the El Dorado Golf Course in the big white tent. She was so excited for this day and could not wait to sign some books for family and friends. However, we had no idea the amount of people that would show up that night!
We were blown away by the support from not only family and friends but teachers, new friends from her new school, friends from her old school, friends we have not seen in years, friends that drove hours and hours to come to this event!
We were in tears the entire night as it was beyond special! Truly a night to remember for our Katie girl!
Our Family in our Can Do "Create, Adapt, Inspire" shirts.
Katie had only been at her new Elementary school just over a month, and she had so many new friends there supporting her! It was so special!
Friends from the Spina Bifida community and friends who understand life with "extras" but still smile so bright! We so appreciate the endless support from our Spina Bifida family!
A HUGE thanks to Grandma Nancy who helped Katie to not only write and publish the book, but who helped to put on this amazing launch party! She worked so hard to help make this night so special for Katie and us. Thank you Mom/Grandma Nancy! We love you!!!
Before the Launch Party Katie was interviewed by Press Telagram Newspaper reporter, Josh Dulaney who later wrote the most amazing article found here
It was so special to see Katie's adaptive PE teacher, Dr. R who has believed in Katie since day one! She believes in her students and gives them amazing opportunities to thrive despite their disABILITY!
The LINE went on and on! We could not believe it! Friends stood in line for over an hour waiting to have Katie sign their book!
And this is typically the reaction they would get when they would come up to the table! Katie was SO excited to see so many friends and family members!!!
Friends from Carver! These girls have been friends and supporters since Kindergarten! Such sweet girls!
Katie and her idol and dear friend Jennifer Kumiyama. I just adore this picture and this friendship!
We had amazing friends who volunteered their time and talents and made dessert and helped at the dessert table! Here are some friends enjoying that dessert!
My Brother Steve and his sweet family who came to support Katie wearing their Can Do T-Shirts! So sweet!
Katie's sweet friend Abby and her family who are such a dear friends and supporters of Katie.
My friend Kelly and her darling family drove so far to come and support Katie! It was such a treat to see them as it has been YEARS since we have seen one another!!!
A HUGE thank you to Julie from Pics By Presley for photographing the night (on her anniversary)! She and her dear family are huge Katie supporters and we are so thankful for them!
Grandma Diane ordered a bunch of books and had Katie sign them! She and Grandpa Alan came from Redlands to spend the evening with us and were also a huge help at the event! We are so blessed by them!
Two of Katie's very favorite teachers in the entire world! Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Ashcraft! Her fourth and second grade teachers! We adore them both! They both played a huge part in Katie's Can Do attitude! Such amazing teachers!
Dear friends from Carver
Sweet, sweet Great Grandma Joyce who stood in line to have Katie sign her book. We kept telling her we would come to her house or she could come to ours, but she wanted to stand in line and wait like everyone else! Oh how we adore our Grandma Joyce!
Here I am attempting to give a little thank you speech about how it takes a village and how our village was all there that night and how much it meant to us to see so many supporters there. I am not really sure how I got through that little speech, because it was so emotional to look out and see that amazing village who have truly made such a difference in the life of our Katie.
Mrs. Jarzomb. Katie's Kindergarten teacher who has loved and supported Katie since she was five years old! She is such a gift to so many. We sure love our Mrs. Jarzomb!
Kim and her SIX children drove far to come and support Katie. I have not seen Kim in years and when I looked up and saw her and all of her beautiful children, I about lost it! What a special gift it was to see her again. She is a huge example to me and I am forever thankful for her friendship and support. A fun side note: She and her husband were the first people to babysit Katie when she was a newborn. We lived close to one another in Fullerton and they were our dear friends and they told us to go out on a date and they could watch Katie. I remember I wrote a page of instructions out for them and we were only going to be gone a short time! So funny! So thankful for Kim.
Katie and her sweet friend GiGi who also drove far and came to support Katie! We are so thankful for Gigi and her sweet family.....
Jake and Bryant were good friends in high school. Recently they reconnected and we have developed a great friendship with their sweet family! It is special that both our oldest daughters use wheelchairs so we have a lot in common and connect on that level as well. So thankful for their friendship!
Nicole and her sweet littles! Nicole and I were friends at BYU-I and it has been years since I have seen her! Years ago when she found out that Katie would love to have the opportunity to ride an adaptive bike, called a Rifton, she gathered the troops together. Sent emails and collected funds and within a week Katie's adaptive bike was ordered! It was amazing and still so humbling to look back on. I will always cherish that experience. It was because of that experience that we decided to give a portion of the sales during the month of October (disAbility awareness month) to So Cal Trykers. A non profit organization that helps gift adaptive bikes to those who would benifit from them. We were thrilled that So Cal Trykers were also there that night giving the children who use wheelchairs that were there a chance to try out the bikes. We also thank those who came to the book launch and donated to So Cal Trykers as well.
Sally and Goldie are always huge supporters of Katie! So thankful for the Harris family!
The awesome Kline family! So blessed by their support!
So thankful for dear friends and their endless support! These two warrior mothers are two of my greatest examples. So blessed by them!
Faith and Katie! Faith has one arm and Faith has a super CAN DO attitude!!!
Katie and her sweet friend Luzi!
Oh Tyler how we adore you and your family! So thankful for your support and love!
Yay for So Cal Trykers! Make sure to visit their website for more info. if you would like to get involved in helping others to receive adaptive bikes. There are more ways to help if you can't send money, you could help put the bikes together as well. So many ways to help this awesome foundation!
My brother Scott and his sweet family. So thankful for their endless support and love!
I love this SO much! Grandpa Randy giving Katie a hug! Grandpa's are so special!
Katie signing away.
She signed and signed until her hand ached, but she still had a smile.
She says that was one of the best nights of her life.
