Happy Thanksgiving from Mom-Blog!

Hi everyone, just checking in to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m feeling so good about this year and I spent my blessedly late morning in bed list giving thanks to God for a long list and praying for a few in need.

One of the things I realized this year is how much I have.  Even when Chris lost his job, and I later got 2 paycuts, it still was incredibly better than most people have it.  Did you know that if you have one house and 2 jobs you are richer than 95% of the planet?

I finally got that message this year and learned to be grateful for my house rather than grumbling (although I do slip from time to time).  My property and home in a third world country would house more than 100 people, and I know it.

Recently, I posted about Reece’s Rainbow, an organization that touches my heart because it tries to help children with Down sydrome who have no families to get adopted.

Can you imagine, having no family when you need heart surgery?  No family to provide you early intervention that could literally change your life for the better?  No family to hold you and comfort you when things suck?

I can’t.

So if you are grateful for that roof over your head, that computer you now have access to, the food in your belly, and anything else you have that others don’t – even if it’s substantially less than what you had in the past, please check out my friend CJ’s site.

CJ has a heart bigger than anyone I know, really.  She loves children with Down syndrome so much that adopting a child of her own was not enough.  She is trying to raise funds for Melissa, and to quote CJ,

“Melissa is the T21 Traveling Afghan Angel and it’s our job to help her get adopted. Yes, that means you.”

There are many ways to help: donation funds OR items,sponsors, spreading the word, prayer, or of course, considering adoption.

And IF you are near Appleton, WI, please try to attend her fundraiser:

When: December 16, 2009 6pm to 8pm

Where: Harmony Cafe:
233 E. College Avenue
Appleton, Wisconsin 54911
That’s it. I’m grateful for my family, my home, for the world we live in that a special needs child does not have to be locked away for life, and that you and me can do that for special kids around the world. I’m thankful for my friends, my home, my work.  I’m thankful for CJ, who inspires me to DO MORE.

And I’m so very thankful for you, dear readers!  Mom Blog maybe would not be here anymore if it were not for you, but I love you all and I’m so honored you are here!

love, peace & happy thanksgiving, even if you don’t celebrate!

g

Monday Helper: Help the Flege Family & Snag Some Great Items!

My friend CJ, of the amazing Traveling Afghan Project, is hosting a raffle to benefit the Flege Family.  The husband/dad, Mike  or Stacy (he goes by both names) just had open heart surgery and has no disability or vacation at his job.  (Don’t we all know the feeling of losing that job and getting one of lesser value in some way to replace…)

CJ is holding an online raffle with some fabulous stuff, now through Friday, so hurry over and bid on what you like! There are 25 items up for bid.  (Well, done CJ, I’m hiring you!)  Oh, and did I mention that one of their 3 beautiful children is enhanced, just like Amelia, with that extra chromosone? Check it out:

Flege Family Auction

Don’t miss it and go ahead and spread the word.  Visit the site and let CJ know if you do…she’ll enter you in the raffle!

Happy 09-09-09! Make a Difference-Give to Stop Child Sex Slavery

As I suffer through Day 2 without Girly Girl, I have a wonderful way to celebrate 9/9/09.  This is a special day in some cultures…why not make it special by helping kids in trouble?

The B2F Project advocates to STOP child sex slavery. They are aiming to reach 9000 donations today (9/9/09). Click below to donate…and good news. They take Paypal!  Surely $9 can come out of your blog profits, right?

Sunday Helper: Help a family in need

In my web travels this week, I stumbled across a post about a family who’s entire house burned down.  Now one was hurt, but I still can’t imagine the pain of losing your home.  They have 3 small children.  If you feel moved by their story and the pictures of their devastation, consider donating or if you are local to St. George, Utah, lend a helping hand to this family in need. They also have a Facebook page set up to help the family.

If you can’t, take a moment of your time and say a prayer for them, and a prayer of gratitude for the dwelling over your own head. ‘Nuf said!

Sunday Helper: Help Out a Camp for Special Kids

Hi everyone!  You know, of course, that my heart is for special needs kids and I get a huge thrill when I see learning disabled and physically challenged kids in schools, pools, theme parks – places where years ago, they wouldn’t have been allowed.

This week, I’d like to give you a chance to help out kids get to a special camp.  In Washington State, some summer camps were closed due to a scare from H1N1, and all other accessible camps were full.  The camper’s families and volunteers got together to organize their own accessible camps for children with neuromuscular diseases.  (Way to go, parents & volunteers!!)

The donation site is http://www.firstgiving.com/camppromisewest

Watch the video onYouTube explaining what we’ve gone through until this point at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDy9rusGE0c

Their goal by Monday will be $14,000 and our overall goal is $18,000.

Read the press release:

MORE THAN $10,000 RAISED IN A MONTH FOR EMERGENCY NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE CAMP

August 6, 2009-— In less than four weeks, Camp Promise-West, organized by local volunteers and families, raised more than $10,000, put down a deposit on a camp, recruited more than 22 volunteers, and 29 campers to enjoy 7 days of activities, also planned within the last month.

When the national Muscular Dystrophy Association office canceled all summer camps due to cases of H1N1 in three of their early sessions of camp, many Western Washington campers and their families were disappointed. With the sudden lack of accessible camps for children with neuromuscular diseases and a lack of space in the camps that were accessible, many campers were left with no alternative options.

So a group of parents, volunteers, and campers decided to run a camp themselves. In just over a week, counselors and campers will move in to Camp Stand By Me, a fully-accessible Easter Seals camp in Vaughn, Washington. This week will include pontoon boat rides, adaptive archery, and visits from Jet City Improv, the Reptile Man, and local Harley riders. Campers will come from as far as Eastern Washington and counselors will come from Washington, Portland, Chicago, Cleveland, and Atlanta to provide one-on-one care for these kids.

More than $7,000 is needed to fund camp. Tax-deductible donations can be made at http://www.firstgiving.com/camppromisewest. Any interested campers should email camppromisewest@gmail.com or call 773.844.7545.

Sunday Helper: Action for Autism and The Fresh Air Fund

Hi everyone!  This morning I’m recuperating from a HUGE party (which I will blog about, OK, April and Anna??)

First up is Action for Autism.  You all know that I’m passionate about Autism since my daughter has it. Michael Buckholtz recently went on a hunger strike for autism. Michael, who was diagnosed with high-functioning Asperger’s Syndrome and OCD in his 40’s, and is a former , is founder of AACF, Inc, The Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. He also wrote a book called, “Autism Is My Universe…So How ‘Bout We “Not” Call It A Disability!”

Two things I felt right away about Michael: he is passionate about using his experiences to help children with autism (and their parents!), and he is passionate about taking the stigma out of autism.  Go, Michael!!  His organization helps “reduce the financial burden on families coping with autism so they can focus attention seeking the necessary assistance for their autistic loved one“.

You can donate via Paypal or make an enquiry here.

Second up is the Fresh Air Fund.  I know I helped out this group a few month’s back, but I wanted to help out again for two reasons:

1. My family is going on a vacation we desperately need.  We’ve scrimped and saved and finagled, because it’s been a difficult and we need time away from therapy, computers, work, obligations and house keeping!  I can’t imagine how much that need would be increased if I were an inner-city kid stuck home all summer long.  The Fresh Air Fund helps kids who otherwise can’t get out and have some fun.
2. The Fresh Air Fund is running a donation special: From now until June 30th, any gift given will be matched dollar for dollar.  So if you’re looking for another worthy cause for your tithe and want to help a generation of future American adults, you can feel good knowing that your very offer got doubled.

Sunday Helper: Support the “Boob” Fund and Help Breast Cancer Victims

Happy Mother’s Day!  Today’s Sunday Helper supports a man on a mission to help breast cancer victims and their families and to give his wife an amazing Mother’s Day Gift.  Here is a message from Dude to Dad:

My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with my wife and chose to have the baby rather than start chemo.  She died one year later, the day after Mother’s Day.

This Mother’s Day will be my wife’s first (my daughter is 5 weeks  old!) and I want to honor Amy’s mom.  Just watch the video and spread  it around.  If you can’t give to the cause, I just want as many people  as possible to hear her story!

About the Boob Fund: The first $15,000 will go to the Susan G. Komen fund and the second $15,000 will be used to set up a fund that I’m calling Mrs Dude’s Boob Fund, which will help families affected by cancer. The thought would be that these resources could be used for everything from hotel costs for families staying near hospitals to scholarships for children in families struggling with the costs of health care. There are millions of dollars rightfully being spent on important research, but there are also families dealing with the stress of this disease that could use the help right now. That’s where Mrs. Dude’s Boob Fund comes in.

You can watch the video here: www.theboobfund.com.  I encourage you to visit Mr. Dude’s sites and find out how you can support the fund.  Go to the Boob Fund and grab a banner for your site, donate, and promote.

As for me, I’m posting this on Saturday, because after all, even Mom Blog needs a day off

Sunday Helper: Lehigh Valley Event

In today’s Sunder Helper, I’m requesting help for a local event

On Sunday, May 3rd, 4-6pm EST at the Charles Chrin Community Center in Palmer Township, Jen Fortner is doing a Yoga fundraiser.  All proceeds will benefit her mom’s group, Morning for Mothers (non-profit) as well as Relay for Life which is June 19th & 20th.   Jen also just held an Open Tumble (children’s gymnastics class) strictly to benefit Relay for Life which earned $175.  Go Jen!!

Dream Houses, and other Albatrosses

This weekend we took a trip to one of the NUMEROUS local builders and looked at a house. We have been doing this since we moved in, primarily, I guess, because we bought this house site unseen, and if we had seen it and some of the other models, we might have made a different decision. Needless to say, we will be prepared should we EVER rebuild.

ANYWAY, this was the “elite” section for this particular builder and they threw in the kitchen sink. The homes were lovely, but we had wanted to see the bigger model and on Saturday we went.

I could see by the look in Chris’ eye that he agreed with me: Of all the models we’ve been seeing, THIS one was our dream house.

Now, it’s not an option to build right now, so I didn’t know what to do with this information. I just keep picturing it in my mind, seeing Amelia immediately getting comfortable on the kitchen island and all that. But I’ve been listening too a lot of Joel Osteen and working hard on making my dreams come true, so I thought, Why not? Yes, I prayed for the house. I know it’s nuts so I threw in how it would be an offering and we’d open our home so people who had no one to spend the holidays with could spend it with us (assuming Chris get on board, of course).

But OF COURSE spirituality is not about THINGS, and I’ve been following this wonderful Eckhart Tolle course on Oprah.com and I KNOW I need to let go of things I want, but 2 things happened while pursuing the “dream home”:

1. the line of thought about opening our home – why do we need to wait? We have a nice sized home now. Of course, we’d need to be involved with something (like, oh, I don’t know, a CHURCH) to allow us to be in contact with others. Besides, we spend most holidays alone now anyway and I hate it.

2. we discussed our present home situation and dissatisfaction with our current builders, esp in terms of poor customer service, with the dream home builder rep. She, to her credit, said, “Well, maybe you don’t like your home because of your poor experience with the builder. I have a similar situation with my home, and all my friends too just love my home.” HM. There was the reminder: maybe I’d love this house more if I forget my bad experiences and thought about investing time, money and construction to make it my dream home.

Then, I heard Suze Orman on Oprah this week. I only watched about 15 minutes of it, but many things occured to me. Even if we COULD build a new home, should we? Shouldn’t we just spend the next 5 years eliminating debt, building nest eggs, and making a sizable emergency fund? Shouldn’t we just dump our old house first (and soon)?

We are blessed beyond measure. Due to some things happening in the economy, believe it or not, my husband’s company is doing very well. This is EXTREME blessing because guess where he worked a few years ago? If you said “Bear Stearns”, you’d be right. And he had the sense to sell his stock immediately (dummy me would have made him keep it). My company is growing too.

You want more blessing? Not only do we have nearly the best plot in the community, our side of the street doesn’t have runoff or cracked foundation issues like the other side. I have a great university nearby. I have amazing resources in this county for my kids.

There are no accidents. We ARE blessed beyond measure. If I don’t get a bigger house ever, who cares? Gives the kids something to strive for as they grow. And if I DO get it, then how awesome, let’s share. peace out people…

Note: wrote more at my Art Remarkable blog on my writing dream, check it out.

Doing the Oprah Thing

Ok, in addition to the mystery about the title, I’m sure you’re
wondering where I’ve been. Frankly, I have *finally* decided to
move this blog to Wordpress, and if you know anything about EE that is
no easy feat – not if I want to keep the comments intact which I
do. Since I am a developer/designer with a coding blog, I thought it would be a great thing to implement on my own.

In the meanwhile, I’ve been giving A LOT of thought about charity and
watching the diferent Oprah shows about how to give. It’s REALLY
moved me, and I’ve been thinking about this heavily the last few days
looking for a sign.

Picked up yesterday’s mail to find out that one of the kids from our
old church is going to Africa to server as a missionary for about a
month. It’s a pretty costly trip.

So, how do I pay it forward? Well, I thought if you were
interested in helping out this boy get to Africa, you could contact me
(ginabad at gmail dot com) and perhaps we could help. This
missionary trip is to an orphanage that is being built in Swaziland,
which has over 120,000 orphans.

Can you imagine???

It has the highest amount of AIDS in the world. Average heads
of households are 11 years old. Chances of living to 35 for the
average teenager? 1 in 10.

This IS a tax deductible donation. Reading the letter and seeing
the compassion this 14 year old has for people in such poverty really
moved. Again, contact me for more data. This boy’s dad and my
hubby played softball together so we can get the skinny on all the
details.

If you can’t donate offer up some prayer for this trip.

OK, enough. Back to real life.

That I’m blessed to have – kids that will very likely grow old, be
educated, have a good chance at not getting a terminal disease, be
taken care of if hubby and I are gone, and not see
death-despair-destruction every day. And have loving parents and
a larger family that will teach them about the Lord.

Be thankful for what you got!

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