Call for Bloggers to Unite and Help Out

I know I'm not usually a late night blogger, but this post is really, really important to me... so I had to get the message out right away.

I have a cousin Lexi, whom is almost like a daughter to me - except I skipped the whole labor pains part.  But I did teach her to crawl and walk... and recently I've taught her the great art of coffee drinking.  She's a freshman at the University of Tampa, so coffee is a must, right?

Click Here for Lexi R. Holland's Relay for Life Website

Anyhoo, Lexi has recently taken on the responsibility to be the Captain for her Relay for Life team.  For Lexi, this is a personal mission... I want to see her exceed her wildest expectations because she's just that special.  So this is why I'm sharing with you, and asking you to help me knock her socks off!

This past year Lexi's world has been turn upside down, inside out and then shaken up just to make sure her eyes were crossed because of Cancer.  Not only did she lose her Grandpa to cancer, her Step-Dad Bill has also been fighting a rigorous fight, not once complaining or looking sour.  Rather every single day he along with my Aunt Monica focus on the positive things they are blessed with, obey all the doctors orders and pray for God to show them the path they are supposed to travel down.

So while Bill is still going through his treatments, Lexi embraced the University of Tampa's Relay for Life event as a personal mission!  I know so many of us have been touch by cancer.  It's a really, really oppressive disease that would be incredible to be able to understand better and find the way to treat or even cure.

If you would like to help Lexi raise funds to continue the research that Relay for Life supports, would you please consider making a donation to Lexi's team?  I'll put the link to her personal website at the bottom of this post!  If you make a donation in honor of a loved one, I'll shed tears with you.  It really means so much that you'd be willing to share the memory.  Love is all there is!

(C) Life Photography by MaryBeth

Lexi, I'm so very proud of you for making this your personal mission.  Your constant optimism and happiness despite all the challenges is commendable!  I love you so very much! XOXO

A message Lexi sent me:  

"Hope never dies, but someday, cancer will. You guys have seen me deal with Bill's cancer through the best and worst of times, and you guided me into something better, some path that led me to participating in this event, and for that I would like to thank you. When everything else feels empty, hope and love prevail. Thank you guys!

Thank you for reading this, and I hope you know that you are making a huge difference . Hope is in the air. Let the helping hands unite! I love you all! You guys mean the world to me :)" ~Lexi Holland

Here's the link to Lexi's personal website:  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11FL?px=20311794&pg=personal&fr_id=29610

I appreciate you spending your time right here in my little corner of the Blog-o-sphere. It means the world to me!  Thank you so very much for any help you can give Lexi and her Relay for Life team!

{Peace, Love & Hugs!}

Lexi & I circa 1994-ish

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

With a 1 & 2 year old... the perfect family picture is always original!

It's official - Christmas week is HERE!!!! YEAH!  I just love Christmas time... the singing, the laughter, the outpouring of love and time with family, all while counting my many, many blessings.  Yesterday we celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family.  Our theme this year was Christmas in Hawaii... and it was AWESOME!  While it was frigid cold (remember, I'm in WI) we still sported bermuda shorts, sundresses and pareos!  No coconut bras were used in this event however... 14 degrees and not even the coconuts can hide that! ;)

I personally will be finishing up an ornament for my grandma (yes the grandma who I saw yesterday for our family Christmas) and immediately Priority Shipping it to her (she's also in WI) so she has something to open on Christmas Eve.  A special beaded, one-of-a-kind gift from Dawn... awwwwww, you can awwww with me, I know you want to!

Amateur photography at it's best!

So as we finish up those last minute projects for gifts, I urge you to celebrate the true reason for the season!  Merry CHRISTMAS!

{Hugs!}
~Dawn

I Think my Super Powers took a Vacation

At least I found that out when I tried to walk through a wall this morning and the wall didn't move... I'd show you a picture of the toe as proof, but I'll spare you the gross details.  The Reader's Digest Version is that I'm pretty sure this little piggy is broken, I'm limping along like a bad hair day and I have no appetite (so you know we must be experiencing a blue moon.)

Click the photos to enlarge them.

But I do have a really touching message to share with you.  Yesterday I went with my fiance's family to visit Valley of the Kings which is an animal sanctuary for exotic animals in Sharon, WI.  What moved me so much is that all of the animals that live there now all have a story of rough beginnings.  I love animals of all shapes and sizes, but I tell you, even I know that a cute little lion cub will grow up to be a full fledged lion and is not going to fit comfortable in my home as a house pet... but some people don't make such educated decisions.

Valley of the Kings operates on donations alone.  They only open for tours for members only and limiting visitation to Sat. & Sundays.  It's not a zoo and they aren't "showy" with the animals, some of them came from circuses.  When they could no longer perform, the circus was going to put the lions and tigers down.  V.O.T.K. does everything in their power to not let that happen.  It provides a safe shelter for those abused, neglected or aging exotic animals until their quality of life is no longer good.

They have dozens of lions and tigers - including the tiger that was the mascot on mobile cards - you might remember the saying "Put a tiger in your tank..." yup, he's 23 now and living a very comfortable life in his indoor/outdoor pen.

I was so touched by all the animals and their stories.  But even more moved by all of the volunteers that make VOTK possible.  From high school students to adults and even aging adults everybody commits so much time and love to helping these animals have a wonderful "new beginning."

With as much time as everyone puts in, that doesn't leave time to do "marketing" or "advertising" so I wanted to do my part - small or large as it reaches - to introduce you to this amazing organization and encourage you to visit their website and offer a donation if you can.  http://www.votk.org

I was emotionally moved by several of the animals, but the most amazing story is about a blind horse.  This horse was actually brought to the sanctuary to be euthanized and used as food for the tigers and lions.  However, other than not being able to see, she was in beautiful shape.  The volunteer vet on staff, saw the problems her "non-working" eyes were causing with infection and matter and opted to remove them.  Since the surgery, she has blossomed into the most loving creature.  She has 2 donkeys that share an indoor/outdoor pen with her and they guide her in and out of the barn so she has no problems negotiating the doorway or the gates.  She runs a full force and is absolutely beautiful.  I look forward to visiting again and help to support their amazing mission. 

This visit and feeling the spirit and the energy these animals exude just filled me with gratitude.  You can feel how greatful they are to have such a loving home now.  You can see how they play together now in each of their various enclosures and you know they haven't always been so fortunate.  It was a visit that I'll never forget and look forward to returning to lend a helping hand soon.