Happy Thanksgiving

A few new cards...

Just a few more recent cards...I've been back in my craft room making a few this past week while Jason was working. It keeps my mind busy so I don't sit around and think too much. We are still selling them to raise money for FSMA. I had been thinking about putting them on Etsy, but I honestly think the listing cost plus the selling fee would eat away at most of the money I'd make on them. They are doing okay at the consignment store where I have them right now and I'm thankful to be able to put them there. Suzanne has been great about helping us with any of our SMA fundraising events and I can't thank her enough for that.

One year ago...

Things are just going along around here. It is a tough time of year for anyone who has lost a family member, but especially so for those who are missing children. It is hard to walk in a store and see all the Christmas decorations....to think of all that we are missing out on this year. I know the weeks to come are going to some of the most difficult of my life. I am thankful I have a wonderful husband by my side who understands the pain of missing our beautiful boy.

The Unite for the Cure fundraiser wraps up this week, so if you haven't donated and would still like to help, please go to the website and do so. It means the world to us and so many other families. It doesn't have to be a lot of money...any amount will do. Over $70,000 has been raised so far and I hope to see the numbers climb as the month comes to an end. We still have money from my card sales, the Waffle House dinner, and some bake sale money to send in.

If you are a craft person and love to cross-stitch, you might want to get involved with a group called Cole's Quilts. It is a volunteer effort to make quilts for children with SMA or a memory quilt for the angels. Each square has been cross-stitched by a volunteer. They are currently working on one for Eli. MJ and her caregiver Brenda made a square for Eli and I noticed that a volunteer named Rita had made one that is now on his completed square list. It is a great cause and the lady who coordinates it, Linda, has been such a sweetheart in all of her emails. She was originally going to make a quilt out of Eli's clothes but I couldn't part with them right now.

I have to share this morning! Jason and I met with our Congressman this morning about the SMA bill currently in the House. We received an email about 30 minutes after we left that Congressman Poe had signed on to support the bill. How exciting is that??? He was such a nice man and I am thrilled he has agreed to support our cause.

A HUGE thanks to Congressman Poe!

New Fundraiser!

We have another fundraiser starting up! This one is great because everyone across the country can be a part of it! Vicki is a great lady that has donated her time and efforts to several of the things we have already done here locally. She is a lady of many talents, including making amazing candles. She donated a $1 from the sale of each one at the Mom's Night Out event on Friday night. She approached me asking if we'd be interested in hosting a party for Tastefully Simple as another fundraiser. Well, it is now set up and ready to go! She will be donating 15% of her profits from the party to our efforts to find a cure for SMA. All the hostess gifts earned will be raffled off once the party closes out.

If you would like to order, you can visit the website and shop. It will ask you before you finish if your purchase is for for a host/event. You should be able to put my name (Rita Wright in TX) in there and we will get credit! It ships directly to your house a few days after you order it. Just be sure you order early so it will get there in time for the holidays. I already have my eye on a few things for our Christmas Eve appetizer night.

Vicki is an awesome lady who never stops finding ways to help others and I am honored she is doing yet another thing to help our cause.

Recent Happenings

We did one final bake sale last night. We stuck with baking whole loaves and selling just those plus some Amish Friendship Bread starters. I think we were able to raise around $200! Thanks a bunch to the Marnae, Kim, and Sara who helped make yummy goodies for the sale. A big thanks to Suzanne for thinking about us and letting us set up for her mom's night out event! She gave special discounts for people buying from our sale or bringing items for Ronald McDonald House. I'll have to take a picture of the HUGE tub of donations I have to take down there this week!

Just a few more cards I've made this past week. Christmas time is here!

While I was at the bake sale on Friday, one of the other vendors there came over to give me a wonderful massage using her essential oils. We were talking and she had been following our story from around the time Eli was first sick. During our conversation, she told me her sister had lost 3 babies to Werding-Hoffman. That is the older name for SMA Type 1. It was sad to hear of another family who had experienced this loss not once, but three times. Thankfully her sister does have a 13 year old who is healthy.

Tonight came the sad news that we lost another baby in the SMA world. Beautiful Owen lost his battle with this horrible disease. Please keep his family in your thoughts (and prayers if you pray) this week. My heart is broken for them.

Today made 10 months that we have been without our beautiful boy and I miss him more and more every day.