I Will Rise!

After a sleepless night and a lot on my mind, I got up early this morning to share with you all a piece of my heart.

I recently returned from a business trip and as I made my way through the airport, I passed one of those little book stores along my way to my boarding gate. Before I even walked through the door, a best seller book caught my eye and I didn't even have a chance to look at anything else as this book captured me and drew me in like nothing I have ever experienced before. I knew this was the book I was supposed to read, for some reason and for a great reason at that. The book titled, "Heaven is Real" by Eben Alexander wasn't what caught my eye...but a little butterfly in the corner certainly did.

Needless to say, I smiled and grabbed that book quickly as if it were the last one on the shelf, purchased it and started reading it right away. I am not going to glorify over and over how this book just perfectly caught my attention or how I happened to finish this book exactly at the moment my final flight's wheels touched ground back at my home airport...but I guess I just did.

This book wasn't a book that proved Heaven is real for me as I know this already, but I truly believe it was Kayleigh reminding me that she's my little Angel waiting to carry me through the threshold on butterfly wings when it is my turn to rise. I guess I should also share the fact that this book found its way to me just days before the anniversary celebration of when Kayleigh made her incredible journey to Heaven herself.

Talk about such a blessing and a gift from above in a time of need and reassurance.

"Kayleigh...you are Amazing in so many ways. After reading this book you threw into my life, I have never felt your presence more than ever since the day I kissed you goodbye. I had a very important choice this morning. I could be sad and depressed that I no longer have you in my arms or I could rejoice in knowing that you are perfectly happy and looking down on me from above in Heaven in God's Home that continues to prove true to even those who would never believe. I chose to rejoice and as the words spoken in the book...you said I am Love...I am Cherished...there is nothing that I have to fear and that I could do no wrong. You eased my heart this week and helped me in only ways you and I know. I am smiling from ear to ear right now sweetheart...because I know you're there watching and waiting. I love you so very much!"

Happy Heavenly Anniversary My Sweet Butterfly!

Emma Dean Wood - Classs Speech on Kayleigh

Over the past year, Emma has been working hard to come up with a speech for her school. It is a yearly competition where the winner of each class gets to share their speech in front of the whole school.

Emma decided to put a speech together about Kayleigh and share how her life has been changed by our sweet little Angel. Unfortunately Emma's speech was not chosen to move on to the next round, but we are all so very proud of her for her hard work and dedication. She is definitely #1 in our book and we are so grateful to have Emma in our life.

Please enjoy Emma...



Thank you for everything Emma! You are very inspiring :)

Merry Christmas Kayleigh

Kayleigh,

You are 3 years old this Christmas and if you were here, I would probably be watching you impatiently sit at the top of the stairs, waiting for the go ahead to come down and open your presents from Santa. I can hear your soft whimper as you pout, "Is it time Daddy?"

I can imagine how my overprotective self would come running up the stairs to pick you up so you didn't fall down the steps in a mad dash. A glimmer of excitement would come across your face, turning off the trickles of tears, knowing it was time to see what was waiting for her by the Christmas tree.

I would set your squirming little body down and with a brief pause of a moment, your eyes would be wider than ever before. A smile builds upon your face and before I could say, "Go ahead," you bolt to the biggest gift hiding behind the Christmas tree. What would it be??? A rocking horse like her Daddy had when he was little or her first red and white tricycle? Knowing how spoiled she would be, she'd probably get both.

While watching you open your gifts and cover the whole downstairs completely with pink and brown wrapping paper, I would sit in amazement at how lucky I am to have the most adorable little girl. I wouldn't have to open a single gift because my gift is opening her own.

Kayleigh, you are the best present I could ever receive. You have given me the gift of love and have taught me the gift of giving. Your heart is bigger than anything in this world and you continue to give faith, hope and love to everyone who knows you. You have taught me and so many others to give from your heart, whether it is Christmas or not. You're such a blessing and I am beyond grateful and proud to be your Daddy.

Days continue to pass on and instead of crying my eyes out that you are no longer here, it just reminds me that I am one more Christmas closer to holding you in my arms again.

We all love and miss you so much sugar bear!

Merry Christmas,

Daddy

2011 Heart Walk

This year's American Heart Association Heart Walk was a great success and it goes without saying that Kayleigh again shined down on many hearts to make this all possible.

As a proud father of the amazing life Kayleigh lived, I wanted to continue sharing her legacy with more and more people by donating my services free to help educate others to live a healthier lifestyle through fitness.

For 8 weeks, I met with some of the most amazing people and delivered not only a great work out, but had some incredible people in the fitness industry share their knowledge to make the best out of every class. We learned new exercises, nutrition, yoga, thai chi, Juice Plus, goal setting and had motivational speakers come in to share their experience with heart disease and how fitness has changed their lives.

This group of people not only came together week after week to get fit, but helped motivate each other in more ways than I could ever imagine. We topped the Fit Camp off with our yearly Heart Walk where we all walked together to help raise money for a great cause.

I am beyond blessed to have met some phenomenal people and I look forward to next year where we can all do it again.

Thank you Kayleigh for the inspiration you have given me to help others and I wish you were here to have met my new friends. Thank you for watching over us all.

Best wishes,

Adam Freeman
www.AdamFreemanPT.blogspot.com

Need Your Support!

Hello Everyone...I need your support. I am blessed to announce that I have been named to the Executive Leadership Team for the American Heart Association for the Cape Fear Region. Feeling the urge to do extra to continue being a great father for Kayleigh, I've wanted to get involved anyway I can with different sorts of organizations and this journey has started with the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association.

Beyond this amazing designation, I wanted to give my services through my job to help others live a healthier lifestyle and being a personal trainer, it has given me the opportunity to do such that. I have decided to give my services for FREE to those who are local and would like to get involved with my Heart Healthy Fit Camp. It is a program for all ages and all fitness levels. I am not making a single dime on this program and all it takes to participate is a $50.00 donation to the American Heart Association.

Now I know a lot of you who have followed Kayleigh's journey are not local to participate in my program, but there is definitely a way you can help our team succeed in this years Cape Fear Heart Walk. In Kayleigh's name, I am asking for donations to help support a great cause. You don't have to donate a lot, but a little bit will add up.

We all know Kayleigh's heart condition (Pulmonary Hypertension) was one of the leading causes for her under development which landed her as one of the smallest to ever undergo open heart surgery, but the technology of today was the reason Aimee and I were able to spend over 10 months with our sweet daughter. That was the biggest blessing to us and we would love to give that blessing and more to other families out there.

Please click on the link below or the link in the top left toolbar to help give to a great cause. We greatly appreciate it more than ever.



Thank you so very much!