Wonderful Time at the Ohio MPS Family Gathering
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On Saturday over 20 families who have children with MPS, a rare metabolic disorder, gathered together for Evento Italiano to celebrate the children and encourage each other at Northwest Chapel in Dublin, OH. Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) is a genetic lysosomal storage disease caused by the body’s inability to produce specific enzymes. My daughter, Taylor, is affected by the disorder.
For the last 12 years, our family has hosted this annual event to join families travelling this special needs journey together. Families experienced an Italian feast of lasagna, spaghetti, pizza, salad and bread, catered by the awesome Perrine sisters and their baking crew from Richwood, WV (my hometown.) Love and laughter floated around the room as families enjoyed caricature artistry performed by Columbus Caricatures, Italian ice from Giuseppe’s, and professional photography services from J Duncan Photography.
A few rounds of bingo were enjoyed by all with wonderful prizes donated by:
Brian & Amy Scheren- Cap City Diner & Gospel Homemaking
an anonymous donor of gift cards
an anonymous donor of Mary Kay gift baskets
Many thanks to all the volunteers who offered administrative services, cooked and baked, and cleaned up!
HUGE thanks to Northwest Chapel for their enormous generosity in providing the facility and to the National MPS Society for their incredible support!!
This event is one of my favorite days of the year; truly, I’m like a kid at Christmas. To see all the children together in one place is phenomenal and to have the opportunity to bring love and joy to all the families is such a blessing to our family!
To my Taylor girl:
Almost 17 years ago, God gave me the most beautiful, precious gift in the form of your life. While I had my own dreams and plans for you, God’s plan has unfolded day by day as larger and more incredible than my own dreams ever reached. Your beauty is exquisite and your smile infectious. Your love for life and zeal to press on is an example to all who meet you and more. I look forward to the day in Heaven when you can finally tell me all your thoughts of just how crazy your mama was on this earth. Until then, we enjoy each day of life to the fullest and press on to love God and others. I love you. Mom
To view all the photos from the event, click HERE.
I just love how your familie’s love & God’s love for Taylor has trickled down & touched other families. What a true blessing to come together & unite for such a wonderfully blessed day! You seize to amaze me Rachel! God is good 🙂
How precious this day is for all of you who have children with special needs. Thank you for giving us the window into your time with each other. The photo of you and your Taylor girl is beautiful and I believe captures the essence of what we all desire as parents in relation to our children and what you reflect as mother daughter.
Blessings,
Joanne
many blessings to you, Joanne!
How awesome! Looks like everyone had a blast!
for sure! 🙂 Thank you!
What a blessing to hear about your day together and see all the lovely photos of everyone! Your daughter, Taylor, is so precious and I love seeing how God works through the most amazing people and circumstances. He sure shines through you and your family.
Thank you, Lisa!!
Your letter to your daughter captured how all parents feel about their children. Our hopes and dreams for our kids are always led by God’s path for their lives. Sometimes it intersects and sometimes it doesn’t. I truly felt your momma love for Taylor as a mom myself. Thank you for sharing your personal journey daily through your blog.
Many blessings to you, Mary. Thanks for joining in here!!
I love this, Rachel! What a sweet time. Thank you for sharing your special day.
Thanks, Julie! Was a fabulous day!!