Our family is so grateful to the community of McAlester Oklahoma for the book drive this spring. We were presented with a large quantity of fabulous books by Heather Horton, our friend and a pre-school teacher at Jefferson in McAlester. We appreciate you!
Also, I would like to thank the Cannant family for the great books. It was great to see you all.
I express my sincere thanks to my brother and sister-in-law who always make me feel loved and cared for. The books are great. Thanks also to Cherry and the Scholtens for your contributions and continued support. Chris and Jay, Derrick had a great time and is so pleased to have been able to have the golf tourney in Mt. Home this year. You were both wonderful hosts and I know a great time was had by all.
Mom and Dad, just know that every moment and every effort behind the scenes and by our sides means the world. We couldn’t ask for a more supportive set of parents. I am just in awe of your love and constant ability to stand by us!
Angela, you have been a truly amazing friend and I thank you for keeping me afloat! You have single handedly helped me maintain my connections to McAlester. I know how much work went in to planning and pulling off that party. Thank you so much!
Angie and Emory, thanks for opening up your home to us and all the crowd. The party was a huge success and we felt so loved and remembered! You guys are the best.  Ren, you went above and beyond buying everyone’s dinner at Chef Billy’s.  We love that place.  I miss you!

We got a wonderful shipment of great books from our friends, the Sealy’s. They currently reside in Washington, D.C. but will be moving to Alabama soon!! They were our next door neighbors in McAlester. They have 3 girls and the older 2 were some of Cameron’s first friends! She loved playing with you two!
I want to thank Emma Cate Adams from Franklin, TN. So good to see you guys and thanks for the load of books. Looking forward to seeing you guys next week when I visit Carrie.
My best friend had a little baby girl last month and I get to go meet Ms. Chloe Grace in about 10 days. Can’t wait to see the little angel!
We recently made some new friends, the Hapgoods and the Wagstaffs, here in Fayetteville. They dropped a parcel of books on the doorstep a couple of weeks back. They knocked and ran! It was so funny. Thanks, guys.
Also, some relatives have contributed great books in the past month. I received a nice batch from my cousin Jill. I am so happy for Jill in her new upcoming role in life. Also, my Aunt Dottie, who teaches 2nd grade. Thanks for the Scholastic order! That is a great way to donate books.
Another 2nd grade teacher that I haven’t met but who heard about us from her relative (and our friend) also did a Scholastic order to donate books. Her name is Bette Winegar. We really appreciate you doing that for us in honor of your daughter’s birthday.
I am looking forward to a trip to McAlester next month and gathering the books from their annual book drive. That is spearheaded by our friend Heather Horton. She teaches preschool at Jefferson Elementary.
We received 2, $100 dontations to the Cameron Averitt Bobbitt Memorial Fund. These were from our dear friends Lee and Jennifer Johnson, and Mike and Rebecca Swan. These parents all know about challenges and pain, and we truly appreciate you remembering us and Cameron.

I sit here tonight with a feeling of appreciation toward all the people who remember Cameron and make an effort to let us know that.  It is so easy to get busy and forget to make those jestures that help others know we care.  So many of our friends and loved ones always make that effort.  I often get so absorbed in my own little world filled with family, work, and that huge elephant– grief.  It still stifles me and prevents me from being able to step outside myself and just love and care for others the way I used to.

I am appreciative of all of you, my loved ones.  Know that.  And know that every effort you make to support Cameron’s book club or memorial fund makes a world of difference.  You help children and that is phenomenal.  But also just as important, you help us.  You encourage us to go on and live another day.  We know that we are loved, and we are lifted up just a little higher.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and feel some of that love reciprocrated upon you and you continue on your journey.  With God’s love and peace,

Susan

We have been so blessed lately with the reciept of several loads of books. Our friend, Scott Harris, at Game On Promotions in Fayetteville got his co-workers to collect books in February. Yesterday Derrick and I went over and picked them up. There were so many nice children’ books that we can now pass on to others!
Little Jack Baldwin of Springdale collected quite a few books at his 3rd birthday party. What a wonderful little boy to forfeit gifts for himself to donate books for children who need them more. Thank you so much!
Also, thanks to my patients Rylee Youngblood and Kaitlyn Clifton who drive in from Oklahoma just to see me. You guys make my day. Thank you for bringing me books today. I appreciate you always remembering Cameron!
Derrick packaged up 5 parcels of books today with all these generous donations. These went to St. Francis House in Springdale, Benton Co. Women’s Shelter, Family Network in Springdale, Kids First in Fort Smith and Peace at Home Family Shelter in Fayetteville. These lucky children appreciate your donations. We feel so blessed to be able to make these book donations in memory of our precious daughter. Your generosity makes our mission possible. With love, The Bobbitts

Dear Heart, do you remember me? We used to be so close. You let me down, but hold me up. You keep me from feeling, yet hurt inside of me. How can I cling to you, yet feel so completely detached? I feel you beating, and know you’re there. I would love to just…feel. I am not the same. I don’t know how to know myself. I search for passion. I want to experience life. And yet I am so scared and guarded, because there is such pain just beneath the surface. Protect me as you must, but don’t vanish completely.

Thanks To Jennifer Dean Boudreaux and her Louisiana book club ladies for a bundle of great children’s books. It is great that you guys celebrate books together and that you joined in on this great cause. We will put these books in the hands of some needy young readers!

Also, thanks to Denise Roark from my book club here in Fayetteville. She donated some great books as well. We are all part of the legacy of reading. Bookclubs are amazing!!

We had a great celebration for Cameron’s Heaven Day.  On Sunday, a crowd of about 40 met at her gravesite in North Little Rock, AR.  We hugged and cried and laughed.  My dad delivered a message of hope and reminded us that we would all see Cameron again one day.  We launched 3 dozen pink and purple balloons.  They made their way to the sky.

Then we gathered at the home of Darren and Jennifer Bobbitt.  The kids played  and we shared pizza and cake.  We were surrounded by family and friends who love us and wanted to help us remember Cameron. 

Several people gave us books including Carrie Wingert, Mary Beth Benafield, Susan Gill, Ashley Phelps, Kathy James, Jennifer Bobbitt and Kathryn French.  We got some really beautiful books, including some in Spanish!  Cameron would be so proud.

On Monday, our family set out to delivery books to some clinics in Little Rock.  First we went to Arkansas Allergy and Asthma Clinic.  Dr. Missy Graham accepted numerous books on behalf of her patients.  We got to meet several of the staff and take some pictures.

Next we headed over to Little Rock Pediatric Clinic.  We met up with our friends Dr. Chad Rogers and Dr. Cheryl Ahart.  The executive director of Arkansas Reach Out and Read was there to greet us.  We donated a basket full of great books.  We took lots of pictures and I was even able to read to the kids in the waiting room.  It was so sweet.

Finally, we went to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.  We donated books to their child life department.  They help hospitalized children with painful procedures, provided teaching, and have several classrooms and playrooms.  The hospital has had a real facelift since I was last there.  It looks beautiful.  We know these books will be put to good use!

It was inspirational, emotional, happy-sad, and exhausting.  I felt we paid quite a tribute to Cameron and hope that she was smiling down on us from above.  Cameron, three years is just too long for a mother to have to miss her baby.  I don’t know how long I will have to wait to see your beautiful face again.  But I love you dearly and hold you in my heart at all times.  We will never forget you, even for a moment-  my sweet, amazing angel!

P.S.  we will post the pictures soon!

I am so thankful for the loving friends and family God has given me. I am surrounded with support and people keep reminding me that I am loved. It helps, it really does.

I want to say a special thanks to JAB. You are always there for me and I can talk to you so easily. You have become like a real sister to me, and I have come to count on you. Know that I love you and appreciate you.
Also, Mom– you are awesome. I have the best mother ever and I love you so much. Thanks for all you have ever done and continue to do for me, for us. Cameron knew she had the best gr-Ann ma!!!!

I just want to remind you mamas to hold your babies. They don’t stay little long enough. Tonight I cradled my 22 month old in my arms and watched her fall asleep. We sat in front of the Hope Tree. She is my little Carington Hope– proof that life goes on after tragedy.

I met some new friends on my 3 day, 60 mile walk in Dallas.  Pam Dewey actually works for Hit Home Entertainment.  They own Barney!!  She sent me a box of about 70 Barney books as well as some beautiful Angelina Ballerina book marks.  I am already putting them to good use at the clinic and Derrick has mailed some shipments to some shelters.

I also received a box of books from some old friends– Greg and Amy Whorton from Hot Springs.  Their book club collected books for us.  We got some really great ones– chapter books that can be for older kids.

Our latest donations have gone out to Cherished Heart Beat in Heber Springs, River Valley Shelter for Battered Women and Children,  and Children’s Emergency Shelter– Fort Smith.  I have also taken a replenishment to the Children’s Clinic at Willow Creek.  I have moved to a new building and needed some new books for my patients.  If anyone ever runs across books in Spanish, I would love to have some.  Gracias!!