Support a fabulous woman; win some cool shiz.

During the time that I’ve been blogging and utilizing social media networking sites, I’ve virtually met quite a lot of people.  Many of them have impacted me in some profound way without even realizing it.  I’ve been hurt a few times, moved to laughter as well as tears, and been inspired and humbled.

I’ve made some wicked good friends. I’ve been reminded of how many amazing people exist out there, if only you look… kind, caring, generous people.  The sort of folks you love to see in the world.

If you’ve ever seen Piper, you’ll know that she shines like the sun and you can’t miss her.

And then you can’t stop yourself from doing a double-take and a triple-take.  And when you get to know her, you realize that her beauty starts from the inside and radiates outward.  She’s one of those people.

She’s had some rough freaking times lately.  Heartache of serious proportions.  A car on fire and ruined.  Hey, Universe? GIVE HER A BREAK, ALREADY.

A group of her friends online want to help her.  She needs funds for a new car, and to pick herself up and move on with her two sweet boys.  So a giveaway of sorts has been thrown together by several of us and Adam was awesome enough to get it organized and posted on his site.

Basically, you donate $10 to the pot to help Piper back to her feet, and you get a chance at winning a prize. The Grand Prize is an 8GB Ipod Touch, but there are several others.

I donated handmade paper as one of the items:

You can head over to Adam’s Post to see the specifics and the rest of the items you could win.  Please make your $10 donation and stay tuned! (And if you’d like to donate an item, he has instructions on how to do so there, as well.)

Help us get the word out by sharing this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, and wherever else you can.

Let’s pick her up, guys.  Let’s each be one more of those people we love to see in the world.

Also, washing dishes is so last year.

The past couple of weeks has been a blur.

Kind of a purple blur, if you know what I mean.  If you don’t, well.  I don’t have words eloquent enough to explain it to you.  She does, though.

As the days pass I’m learning lessons about love, loss, friendship, and allowing myself to just let go and be led (by what, I’m not entirely sure – my heart, mind, conscience, Brigade of Righteous Gnomes?) to do what seems right.

Not waiting for a permission slip to do good, or a forgiveness for past good that should have been done elsewhere, but was not.  Not overly worried about my rightful place or whatever.  Just letting myself be led by whatever the heck the thingie is that’s leading me.

Wow, that is so clearly stated!

So much of my life I’ve looked back over my shoulder half the time and the other half, I’ve spent worrying about every little detail of what I should be doing.

Just doing that living and growing thing for now.  Feeling maybe too much and acting perhaps with too much emotion. (Which is really not unlike me at all, anyway. Big Ball of Emotions, FTW!)

I tend to quite regularly rely on a personal shtick of humorous complaining.

Lately, nothing I want to complain about seems worth the energy by the time the breath hits my lips.

Energy is much better spent elsewhere.

And I am so not talking about the laundry.

And so lately, I’ve: Listed Walks, Walked in Maddie’s Honor, Pressed Pretty Purple Paper, Talked to Mah Beloved Crackah Beeshes, Held My Loved Ones Closer.

Clean/Unwrinkled clothing is SO overrated.

(And just for the record so are mopped floors.)

In her honor.

Last night, I saw @mamaspohr’s tweets, and found out that she was at the hospital with Maddie.  I visited Heather’s site and sent her my love.  I was worried, but I was sure Maddie would be taken care of and would recover.

I was wrong about that.  Last night, Heather and Mike Spohr lost their sweet daughter Madeline Alice.

I am choked for words.  But I have plenty of tears.

John and I took a moment out of our morning to pray for Heather and Mike.  We believe Maddie is with God now, but we understand that this is not going to be an easy time for her parents, family, and friends.

It’s not an easy time.  I am heartbroken for this family.

Heather & Mike: we are thinking of you, and sending you all of our love, support, strength, and prayers.

In Madeline’s memory, please support the March of Dimes, which helped the Spohrs during Heather’s pregnancy and Maddie’s hospitalization after premature birth.

You can go here to donate in her memory: Maddie’s March of Dimes Page

UPDATE: If you’d like to do even more, please consider donating to help Heather & Mike with the services at this Paypal account: formaddie@hotmomreviews.com

UPDATE 2: We want to get as many people as possible involved in joining their local March of Dimes walks, coming up, in honor of Maddie. How many of you are willing to walk for Maddie soon? Speak up! We’ll start putting up information on teams that are gathering.
So far there’s this in the Cincinnati area: Sadness in the Blogoshpere

NASHVILLE AREA: If you are in this area, and would like to join our walk team: The Nashville March of Dimes Walk is on April 19th. I’ll be posting more as I get things in order. If it’s at all possible, go ahead and mark your calendars to walk with us.