Gartner Fundraiser

GARTNER FUNDRAISER 

& SPAGHETTI DINNER

      

Saturday, August 14, 2010

               

Solon Recreation Center                            

35000 Portz Parkway

 

Side Boards open at 6pm    Silent Auction 

✜ To Help defray Medical Costs ✜ 

Dinner served at 7pm  Tickets $25

         

Sincere thanks for all the Generous Support from Family & Friends, and all who contribute to make this a successful event. And to YOU, for your continuing Love & Prayers.

 

PLEASE PrePurchase Tickets, by August 1st 

Pam DiNardo   

9896 Creekside Way 

Streetsboro, OH 44241 

440-487-8002 

Will send tickets upon payment 

To Donate Items for Silent Auction 

Nancy Finelli   440-724-8511 

 

 

✜ Two years ago, Bill Gartner was diagnosed with 

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and 

most aggressive type of primary brain tumor 

Chrissy's Hope

During a recent sermon, Chrissy listened as this story was told, BELIEVING that God can heal and even raise the dead/dying back to LIFE...imagining this for her dad!!

Matthew 9:18-26  A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."

Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

 When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.

Dad and the Derby

Contained in this post is a letter I sent to Churchill Downs.  Although my dad was not able to accompany me to this year's Derby, you'll discover a BIT & BRIDLE about his background and belief.

March 2010

Dear Mr. Carstanjen,  

My name is Maryann and I wanted to compliment your willingness to share Churchill Downs Inc, with viewers on the program, “Undercover Boss”.  As a small business owner, I appreciate learning to grow my business by any means available, even entertainment.  Your courage to be ‘uncovered’ is commendable!

The reason for this letter is twofold, as the experience not only provided wisdom to guide your business into the future, it has also reconnected you with the people foundational for any great organization.  You seemed truly appreciative of the stories of dedicated employees, so I wanted to share a story from a Customer of Churchill Downs:

My stepfather, Bill Gartner was a horse trainer in his early life, growing up in Cleveland, Ohio.  After marrying my mom, life went on, and he worked up to 3 jobs at times, before starting his own home remodeling business.  He raised all 4 of us kids to be hardworking, respectful of God and others, and generous in giving of ourselves—time, talent and tithes.  We are truly blessed to have a very close and loving family, which now includes 4 spouses and 8 grandchildren.

In June of 2008 we were all shocked to discover that my dad had a brain tumor.  Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic diagnosed him with Glio Blastoma, the most aggressive form of cancer, with a prognosis of only a few months to a year to live!  My dad’s indomitable Faith kicked into full stride and he came through aggressive chemo and radiation treatments with his usual strength and determination.  His courage touched many lives as he maintained a quality of life that allowed he and my mom to spend treasured time together, to golf with friends, and work.  We were even able to visit our favorite vacation spot on Hilton Head Island last summer—the whole family in tow—Celebrating the gift of 1 year of LIFE!

 Last month, doctors discovered a new tumor, in another area of his brain, during a routine check up.  This one is inoperable, though, so another round of aggressive treatments are underway—to be completed by the end of April.

 Our connection with your organization is this—

My own, hardworking husband has been sacrificing and saving at a second job to provide a memorable 40^th Birthday, this May, for me—2 tickets to the Kentucky Derby!!  It’s a treat for an accessory designer and former hat shop owner.  As I considered which girlfriend I would bring, my thoughts turned immediately to my dad.  The new prognosis of a couple months to a year seems far more tangible this time around.  I knew he would appreciate this adventure far more than anyone else!!  I believe our stay at this year’s Kentucky Derby will be an opportunity to have one Great Father/Daughter bonding time and the memorable experience will be a wonderful story for him to share with family and friends—bringing comfort and Joy to the precious, passing months of Life.  With tears in his eyes, he said the Derby was something he had always wanted to experience, since those early days of training horses!!

 Thank you for sharing your story and taking time to listen to ours.  May God Bless your Life and Work as you lead Churchill Downs, Inc., on behalf of all who enjoy and appreciate its long tradition of Excellence and Excitement!

 We’ll be seeing you, “the first Saturday in May",

 Most sincerely yours,

 Maryann Wohlwend

 

                                                                                                                                                        

Sadie's Encouraging Word from God

Isaiah 38  Hezekiah's Illness

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,  "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:  "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.  And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

" 'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:  I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.' " So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.

A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

I said, "In the prime of my life 
       must I go through the gates of death  
       and be robbed of the rest of my years?"

 I said, "I will not again see the LORD, 
       the LORD, in the land of the living; 
       no longer will I look on mankind, 
       or be with those who now dwell in this world. 

 Like a shepherd's tent my house 
       has been pulled down and taken from me. 
       Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, 
       and he has cut me off from the loom; 
       day and night you made an end of me.

 I waited patiently till dawn, 
       but like a lion he broke all my bones; 
       day and night you made an end of me.

  I cried like a swift or thrush, 
       I moaned like a mourning dove. 
       My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. 
       I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"

 But what can I say? 
       He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. 
       I will walk humbly all my years 
       because of this anguish of my soul.

 Lord, by such things men live; 
       and my spirit finds life in them too. 
       You restored me to health 
       and let me live.

 Surely it was for my benefit 
       that I suffered such anguish. 
       In your love you kept me 
       from the pit of destruction; 
       you have put all my sins 
       behind your back.

 For the grave cannot praise you, 
       death cannot sing your praise; 
       those who go down to the pit 
       cannot hope for your faithfulness.

 The living, the living—they praise you, 
       as I am doing today; 
       fathers tell their children 
       about your faithfulness.

 The LORD will save me, 
       and we will sing with stringed instruments 
       all the days of our lives 
       in the temple of the LORD.

Lynn's Prayer for her Brother

Psalm 30  psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. of David

 I will exalt you, O LORD, 
       for you lifted me out of the depths 
       and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

 O LORD my God, I called to you for help 
       and you healed me.

 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; 
       you spared me from going down into the pit.

 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; 
       praise his holy name.

 For his anger lasts only a moment, 
       but his favor lasts a lifetime; 
       weeping may remain for a night, 
       but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 When I felt secure, I said, 
       "I will never be shaken."

 O LORD, when you favored me, 
       you made my mountain stand firm; 
       but when you hid your face, 
       I was dismayed.

 To you, O LORD, I called; 
       to the Lord I cried for mercy:

 "What gain is there in my destruction,  
       in my going down into the pit? 
       Will the dust praise you? 
       Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; 
       O LORD, be my help."

 You turned my wailing into dancing; 
       you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. 

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

AMEN

Hilton Head 2009

Summer of 2009 marked another Gartner Family vacation to Hilton Head Island, our favorite destination in 30+ years!  The Island traffic has increased since that first visit in the wood-paneled station wagon, of 6-to our own caravan of 5 SUVs and the next generation, of 17!

From Billy & Teddy tormenting us girls in the back of the station wagon, while baiting drivers behind us with plastic army men tied to string, scraping on the pavement out the back window...to Chrissy & I as teens, getting our base tan-complete with seatbelt marks-through the sun roof, changing seats in the little blue Saturn WHILE driving along 77!  

No one seems to take photos of the REALLY memorable moments.  

We had our system of communicating to dad when we needed a break-flashing the brights-which he ignored to "make good time"...such was the savage Life before cell phones.  But, this holiday was truly a Celebration of Life!!  The Blessed extra year God gave our dad, who never missed a beat:  golfing, going out to eat, and getting sand on his feet (which he does not enjoy) yet sacrificing all for the Love of his wife and sharing it all with our whole family in tow, at least one more time... a Heart Memory no photo could ever capture on film!!      

A very special THANK YOU to our dear friends, the Tremont Family (Karen, my precious 2nd Grade teacher at St.Rita's) who, first, invited us to use their condo on HHI--introducing us to a home away from home that would become our Happy Heritage!

God Bless all our Family & Friends,

Maryann