Finding Light amid Loss
The following article was written by Sammi Wendling of the Lake Geneva Regional News on May 17, 2017
FONTANA — As a faith-filled child, Avery McCarthy loved God and focused her life on finding ways to help people feel less alone or afraid. Those who knew her said she adored telling others about Jesus.
Avery Step You Take: Memorial 5K Run/1.5 mile Walk in Delavan, WI
REGISTER TODAY BY CLICKING THE FOLLOWING LINK –https://www.active.com/delavan-wi/running/distance-running-races/avery-step-you-take-2014
REGISTER AFTER MAY 23rd WILL NOT INCLUDE EVENT SHIRTS! The deadline to guarantee a t-shirt with registration was May 23rd. (T-shirts will not be available to those who register after the deadline.) There may be a possibility of extra shirts available at the time of the event, but there is no guarantee.
Read More “Avery Step You Take: Memorial 5K Run/1.5 mile Walk in Delavan, WI”
All The World’s a Stage
Avery made her theatrical debut when she was about a year old. She played in a scene with Jacey Powers during a production of Little Women. Jacey carried her out on her hip and set her down on the stage if she got squirmy. Avery was completely unfazed by the lights and the audience.
The 19 Days
I celebrated Avery’s last birthday ever on October 5, 2012. Except I didn’t know it was her last. Our last. Nineteen days later, on October 24, 2012, Avery died instantly as a result of a single car accident. And it truly was an accident. Speeding was not a factor. Cell phone use or texting was not a factor. Drugs or alcohol was not a factor.
It just happened. In a matter of seconds a precious life was lost, and the world as we knew it became forever changed.
YOUTH ACT!
AVERYday Ministries is excited to announce the creation of YOUTH ACT!
ACT! stands for AveryDay Compassion Team and is a program designed to showcase the talents, leadership and compassion of our county’s youth. Open to children in grades 5 through 12, YOUTH ACT! will run concurrently with the September to June school year beginning in September 2013.
To Haiti, with All Our Love
Nothing made me more proud of Avery than her desire and will to help others. She was especially insistent in her desire to help the people of Haiti. She would talk often – and to anyone who would listen – about the need to continue efforts to support the people of Haiti. She had plans to serve on mission trips in Haiti and to someday work in an orphanage in Haiti. She also tried to convince us to adopt two girls from Haiti. Which would require us to purchase bunk beds. She had it all planned.
Happiness is a Good Book
Avery loved to read. She devoured library books. They meant everything to her. One of our favorite things to do was to read the same book at the same time and talk about what we thought of each section as we went along. It was our own private Mother-Daughter Book Club. I will forever treasure those moments.
Avery was in 5th Grade at Delavan Christian School at the time of her death. It just seemed fitting to pledge to donate 5 new books for the school library each year.
UPCOMING EVENT: May 11, 2013 Run2Riches
Please join me this Saturday, May 11th, at 10:00am for an incredible journey….
I’ll be walking in our local RUN TO RICHES 10k (6 miles) in Avery’s honor. According to the Run to Riches website, this event was organized “to pay tribute to those who once walked among us by bringing people together for a morning of exercise, reflection, community, and charity.”
Averyday Ministries: Because of Avery
My beautiful daughter, Avery Johanna McCarthy, 11, was a smiling, energetic 5th grader at Delavan Christian School (DCS).
On Wednesday, October 24, 2012, Avery passed away as a result of a single car accident. Her older sister, Jadrian (17, and a Senior at Elkhorn High School) was driving. Jadrian had picked Avery up after school to take her to her gymnastics practice with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater GymHawks, one of Avery’s many passions. On their way home from practice, driving to the Delavan Christian Reformed Church’s girls’ youth group, GEMS, Jadrian lost control of the car. Avery was killed instantly. Our hearts instantly shattered.