Barn Party

Tonight we slipped on our rubber boots and headed out for a Barn Party. It was to commemorate a very special 8th grade girl named Julianna, who goes to our church. Three years ago Julianna was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, discovered after sudden illness. The disease left her kidneys functioning at just 50% and had to be treated with chemotherapy. She was told she'd need a transplant. Three years later she is recovering great, not needing that transplant and being honored by Make-A-Wish. Julianna is an outdoor and animal lover, so her wish was for the organization to build her a barn, corral and pasture full of animals. Tonight we toured her barn, met her goats and bunnies and reminisced with her family about the blessings and hardships of the past few years. The year Julianna was diagnosed, she was pulled out of school. To keep her from falling too far behind, she would come to my house twice a week for math and science lessons. I have a special place in my heart for Julianna and enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate health and wishes come true with her.