Good evening all!!  I hope you are staying cool during this heat wave.  I sure will be glad when it cools off a little.  It’s summer so I guess we have to expect some heat.  One of the fun things you get do in the summer is go swimming.  The pictures today are from the summer Beau and his friend Katie turned 1.  Jennifer and Parham’s friends had a little girl a month after Beau was born.  Her name is Katie. You have seen her in the birthday and Halloween pictures on Beau’s webpage.  She was riding with Beau in his gator and gave him a kiss.  They had a little party for Katie’s 1^st birthday and Beau, mommy and daddy went.  Beau and Katie had fun playing in the pool with their daddies.  They put Beau and Katie on a float and pulled them around the pool.  You can see from the expression on their faces they were having a ball.  Later they took a ride in Katie’s little red wagon.  It was a fun day and one that will always be remembered in their hearts and in the pictures they took that day.  Deuteronomy 5:16  Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and it may go well with you.  Beau loved his mommy and daddy.  That was so easy to see every time he looked at them.  And, they loved him beyond words.  We are God’s children and he loves us beyond words.  The love a family shares creates an unbreakable bond – a bond that cannot be broken.  He is always there for us just as we as parents are there for our children.  Beau may be in heaven with Jesus but the bond Jennifer and Parham shared with him will never be broken.  God’s love keeps them close in heart and spirit.  Just as his loves keeps us all close to our families and those we love.  It’s so easy to get caught up in just living and getting through each day.  But why don’t you take a few minutes and tell your family how much you love them and how much they mean to you.  Stay cool!!!  Love, Grammy

Good evening all!  I’m sorry it’s been over a week since my last update.  Grammy had internet problems for a few days but I am now back up and running.  If you live and work in Greenville and are out and about as much as I am, then you have seen our little firefighter’s sign about town.   “Will you be a Beau’s Buddy”?  It has two adorable pictures of our Beau Diddley on it as well as the website link.  There is one on Old Tar Road close to my house.  It has been such a joy to be able to see my little fellow every morning on the way to work and again in the afternoons when I come home.  I always wave and holler “hey Beau” every time I go by.  I know the folks in the cars passing by must wonder what in the world I am doing.  There is another one on 10^th Street close to the fire station and one on Stantonsburg.  G-Paw and I were going that way the other day when I spied the sign and I holler LOOK.  G-Paw about had a heart attack.  My driving scares him anyway and that didn’t help.  What started out as idea with Dr. Gibbs is rapidly growing into a wonderful organization.  I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Gibbs recently and he is so enthusiastic about the whole thing.   He has some great ideas as does all the committee members.  I know with God’s blessing this will grow and become a very important organization to the citizen of Greenville and Pitt County.  Please take a moment to check out beausbuddies.com and if you feel so led please make a donation.  No amount is too small.  All the money raised will stay right here in Pitt County.  It’s only fitting that their first fund raiser will be a golf tournament.  Beau loved hitting golf balls in the yard at Ma and Hodgie’s house. And, as you know from past updates, he loved ridding in grand-dad’s golf cart down at the river and would go with all the “guy’s” to play on the nine hole course there.  Daddy was very patient with Beau often carrying him along the way and waiting until he hit his ball.  Two things we know for sure – Beau would have been a golf playing fireman when he grew up.  Stay tune for future updates about the golf tournament.   1 Corinthians 1:4  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus.  Grace is a gift from God.  We don’t have to do anything to receive it – it’s a gift.  It is absolute.  God’s grace was with our familiar during Beau’s journey with neuroblastoma.  By God’s grace we made it thru each day and by God’s grace we continue to meet each day ahead on.  Jennifer and Parham have especially been blessed by God’s grace.  This family has been so blessed by all that God has done thru Beau - our precious blue eyed smiling little Angel.   God continues to use Beau to touch the lives of so many all over the world.  And, Beau will live on thru Beau’s Buddy’s Cancer fund and the little red wagons being used daily on 2 West.  The people around us may change, the weather, the conditions we find our self in – they can and will change with each day but God never changes.  His love and grace never changes.  So, let us take a moment to give thanks for this beautiful day God has given us, let us give thanks for God’s love and grace.  Be sure you wave and give Beau a big hello the next time you pass by one of his signs.  God Bless!  Love, Grammy

Good evening all!  I hope you’ve all had a great week.  The pictures today don’t go with my update.  They are just some precious pictures of Beau Jennifer wanted to share with you.  They were taken last summer during one of his stays on 2 West.  What an adorable smile!!  Jennifer, Julie, Kayla and I had a special afternoon yesterday.  Jennifer prepared six goody baskets and Julie and I made brownies and muffins to go with them.  We hopped in the car and away we went to all six fire stations here in Greenville.  We started out at the one on 10^th street and ended with the one close to Nissan.  We were amazed to find out there was at least one person at each station that had been to the hospital to see Beau or knew of him and knew his story.  We told them all how much the Greenville firefighters meant to Beau and his family and how much we appreciated all they had done for our family and the work they do each day as fire fighters.  It was good to see them all and to spend a few moments talking with them and in some cases sharing fond memories of our little firefighter Beau.  I think they were all surprised to see us and the basket of goodies we had.  They are a very special group of people and are a family of which Beau is now a part of. Jennifer had shared the story of the Code 3 Firefighters and of Beau’s ride to California with them with Fireman Jake.  He in turn emailed it to all the firefighters so they knew all about Beau’s latest adventure.  We told them to save their baskets and we would gather them up and filled them up again and bring them back.  What a special afternoon it turned out to be.  I have another little “firefighter” story to tell you.  As some of you know, I work at ECU and until recently my office was on the first floor in Slay – it used to be a dorm.  One afternoon we heard the fire alarm go off and the next thing we knew here comes two fire trucks and the rescue squad.  I guess they all have to come when an alarm goes off.  Two of the firemen came into the building dressed in their full gear with air tanks and axes in hand.  They went from room to room checking and rechecking.  They could not find a reason for the alarm to be ringing.  It was ringing like crazy but everything indicated it shouldn’t be so they finally reset it and left.  I know it was Beau doing it.  He wanted to see his “buddies” and he knew Grammy had had a bad day and he was letting me know he was there and everything was going to be fine.  It was the second time something like that has happened.  Lorenzo of the Code 3 Firefighters told Jennifer Beau was at the fire station in heaven watching over all the streets here on earth making sure they were all safe and ok.  Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts.  When we go through difficult times, joy can rise up within us through the blessing of companionship.  The companionship of God is our greatest joy and we must make time for God each day.  The companionship of our family friends can bring us much love and joy and make us feel so welcome and loved at the end of a difficult day.  They can make us feel like the most important, loved person in the world!!  And, we all need to have that feeling sometimes.  No matter what we go through the spirit of God is our strength, in all circumstances at all times.  Spend some time with God today then go spend some quality time with your family.  Have a great weekend.  God Bless!!  Love, Grammy

Good evening all.  Last Monday, I told you about Jennifer and Kayla making the trip to Winston-Salem to meet with the Code 3 firefighters.  They had a wonderful time and made some new friends they will cherish forever.  The Code 3 crew has a website  www.code3foracure.com  and on this website   they have a journal page chronicle their journey and visits with the different fire departments.  On their journal page for their June 30 visit with Station #1 in Winston-Salem, they included Beau’s story as well as some pictures of Beau and his firemen, the fire truck with his mural on the back and Beau’s picture sitting in the fire truck.  Below is the story that appears on the website.  The pictures I’m sharing with you today are of cousins, Kayla, Whitney, and David sitting on the Code 3 fire truck, a picture of the Code 3 crew and a picture of Beau’s picture sitting in the fire truck. 

THE STORY OF BEAU STANLEY

When we first arrived at the Winston-Salem Fire Department, Station 1, on June 30, we met a very special individual named Jennifer Stanley. Jennifer lost her beautiful little boy, Beau, last November to cancer. He was two years old. When Beau was in the hospital, his favorite hat he always wore was a little fire helmet. Jennifer feels in her heart that Beau would have been a firefighter if he had had the chance.

The month before he passed away, Beau was able to visit the Greenville Fire Department, and the Firefighters gave him a ride in the fire truck. The day Beau died, the Firefighters from Greenville drove two fire trucks to the hospital, raised their ladder to his window, and two firefighters climbed up the ladder and waved to him. They also brought him his own real fire helmet, making him an honorary Firefighter. At Beau’s funeral, a fire truck led the procession and four Firemen were his pallbearers. On the back of the fire truck hung a canvas mural showing Beau in his fire helmet, waving.

After seeing Code 3 for a Cure on the Today Show on June 22, Jennifer had emailed us expressing her desire to meet us when we arrived in Winston-Salem. And we are so glad she did, thankful for the opportunity to meet such a wonderful person. The Code 3 Crew has now placed a framed picture of Beau on the fire engine so that he has his own honorary seat on the rig.

Throughout our journey, we have been feeling as though an angel has been watching over us. Almost miraculously, we have missed every bad weather spot there has been as we have crossed the nation, and we truly feel in our hearts that Beau has had something to do with that.

Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.  Beau was a ray of sunshine spreading love and joy to all those who came in contact with him.  Even today, God is using him to spread joy and sunshine to so many people all over the US. The Code 3 firefighters have felt as though an angel was watching over them on their journey and now believe it has been Beau keeping watch over them as they traveled across the US.  I don’t doubt that for a moment. When the warehouse downtown was on fire, Kayla and I went to see what was going on.  I told her we would pray for the firemen especially “Beau’s firemen”.  I told her Beau would help watch over them.  She said Grammy Beau isn’t the boss God is boss.  Beau is just a little boss. As Code 3 firefighter Lorenzo Abundiz said to Jennifer, Beau is at the fire station in Heaven keeping watch on the streets here on earth.  I can just imagine a fire station in Heaven and see Beau as the fire chief with a fireman’s hat on asking God to please take care of my “firemen friends”.  I know Beau is keeping an eye on them all.  Not only is Beau an honorary fireman here in Greenville, he now has an honorary seat on the Code 3 fire truck and is on his way to California. His story is on their website and will be read by thousands of people.  God continues to use Beau to spread sunshine, hope, comfort, love and joy to all that know him and come to know him through his website and now thru Code 3’s website.  How awesome is that!!  God Bless!!  Love, Grammy

Good evening all!!  Today I am going to share with you two very special emails.  Last week Jennifer saw a segment on the Today show about some firefighters from California that had driven across the US to New York in a fire truck. They visited several states in the north and were heading south to NC before starting their journey back across the US.  One of the firefighters has had cancer twice and was forced to retire from his job because of it.  He and some friends decided they wanted to bring awareness to cancer, to honor their fellow firefighters who had battled cancer/and or lost their lives to it. Their organization is called Code 3 for a Cure. They were going to visit several cities in NC including Winston-Salem, NC.  They were in Winston today and it was the only time Jennifer could make the trip to see them.  She sent them an email and they immediately answered her.  Below is Jennifer’s and below that is the response from one of the Code 3 support crew members.

Hi, I saw a segment on the Today show about your organization and I just wanted to let you know that I think it is a wonderful thing that you guys are doing.  My little boy passed away from cancer on November 29th, 2007.  He would have been 3 on June 19th of this year.  We have some very special Firemen in our town that made his last months very special and also made his last day here with us on earth very very special.  If you ask anyone what Beau would have been when he grows up, I am sure the first thing out of their mouth would be a Firefighter.  Usually when we arrived at the hospital for chemo or if he was sick, the first thing that the child life specialist would bring him was the Fireman hat from the playroom.  He would wear it all the time.  Thanks to some of the great Firefighters in our community Beau was able to visit the fire station the month before he passed away and was able to take a ride in the fire truck.  The day that Beau passed away 2 fire trucks came to the hospital and one of them raised their ladder to his window and 2 Firefighters climbed up it and waved to him through the window.  They even brought him his own real fire man’s hat.  At Beau's funeral, a fire truck lead the procession to his grave and 4 Firemen were his pallbearers.  Firefighters will always hold a special place in our hearts.  After seeing your segment on the Today show, I could not help but to write and tell how wonderful I think you guys are for doing this.  We live in North Carolina and my Aunt lives very close to Winston Salem, so if your itinerary is right, my plan is to drive to her house next Monday, so hopefully we can come by the fire station that you guys will be at.  Well, I hope that you guys have a safe trip and God Bless you all!  I have attached some pics of Beau.  Thanks!

Dear Jennifer,
 
Thank you for your message.  Along our journey we have been told of your story, and we are deeply touched by it.  Beau is an inspiration of strength and courage for all of us, as are you.  We are very proud to hear how the Firefighters have given him the honor he so deserves. We would like to create a special seat on the fire engine just for Beau.  If you would like to bring a framed picture, we would be honored to do that so that he may join us as an honorary Firefighter on our journey. We look forward to hopefully meeting you in Winston Salem.  We are scheduled to arrive there on June 30 at 4:00 p.m., leaving the next morning at 10:00 a.m.  The location will be Station 1, the Bullard Station, 651 N. Marshall Street, Winston- Salem, NC  27101.
 
With much love and hugs,
 
Peggy Abundiz
On Behalf of the Code 3 Firefighters

Needless to say, when I read these emails I cried. I immediately called my sister and she had just read them and was crying as well.  We could not believe these firefighters from California had already heard about our little firefighter Beau.  How amazing and how awesome was this news. Jennifer and Kayla made the trip to Winston-Salem today.  Jennifer took a picture of Beau with his favorite fireman hat on (from the childlife room on 2West) and put it in a picture frame that had a fire truck on it.  She presented it to the Code 3 crew this afternoon.  Beau’s picture will be secured safely in the seat directly behind the driver and there he will ride with them back to California as an honorary fireman. Jennifer took his “Greenville Firefighter” real hat with her and Kayla wore it while at the fire station.  Auntie Rene and Cousins David and Whitney went with them.  Several TV stations from the Triad area were there to interview the Code 3 crew and they also interviewed Jennifer.  They had a wonderful visit with the Code 3 crew as well as the crew of Station 1.  Two of the firefighters are still on active duty and because of fires in California they had to fly back.  The crew that was left invited Jennifer to go with them for the next two weeks on their journey back to CA.  She told them she would loved to do it but couldn't this year but to keep her in mind next year.  How awesome would that have been if Jennifer could have ridden with Beau to California. The Code 3 crew took pictures and videos.  There was one of the crew at Station 1 in front of one of their fire trucks holding Beau's Greenville Firefighter hat.  They included Jennifer in one of the pictures with the crew at Station 1.  These pictures will return to CA.  What a great afternoon it turned out to be. As it turned out, one of the firefighters at Station 1 in Winston was from Greenville and had attended DH Conley.  All his family members are here in Pitt County.  He knew Parham’s cousin and had gone to school with one of Beau’s firefighters who also attends church with Jennifer and Parham.  It’s truly a small world isn’t it!!  Ruth 1:16 Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.  Life is a journey.  A journey that is sometimes fun and exciting and sometimes scary and uncertain.  The day Beau was born our family started on a journey only we didn’t really know it at the time.  The first year was filled with so many firsts, Beau learning to crawl, then walk, then talk and his 1^st birthday. It was a year filled with so much love and joy.  The second year of this journey was much different.  It was filled with uncertainty, scary moments, many tears and heart aches but at the same time with much joy and love.  God had Beau’s journey planned even before he was conceived.  Beau’s journey is over.  He is now with Jesus in heaven and I am sure he is wearing a red firefighter’s hat today.  I know he was laughing and waving at them all as they stood outside of Station 1 in downtown Winston-Salem.  I know he was excited to see Kayla there wearing his firefighters hat but I’m sure he was telling her “you can only wear if for a few minutes then it’s gotta go back to my house”.  Jennifer and Parham’s journey on Beau’s behalf continues on today as God continues to use Beau to touch the lives of so many people.  Beau’s legacy lives on in the halls of 2 West in the form of 4 red wagons with IV poles.  His legacy lives on with Beau’s Buddies Cancer Fund which will help so many in the years ahead.  I know none of us that stood outside the nursery window three years ago could ever have imagined what an impact this precious blue eyed little boy would end up having on this world.  God sure is an awesome God!!   God Bless!!  Love, Grammy