~TODAY IS THE DAY...PUNKY'S DAY ~

Ok,a quick little post this morning to ask for prayersfrom you and graces from God.

Today is the day that we visit the Institute for Punky. Please keep us in your thoughts today and over the next three days as we try to develope the appropriate program for her. May The Holy Spirit descend upon all of us there and give us the guidance we need. Continued prayers for our family, as well as prayers for the teachers at the Institute, are greatly appreciated.

Please pray for my husband as well to understand that this is God's work being done and to praise Him and thank Him for giving us this opportunity. Pray for Him to come back to God's loving arms and to his family.

Our God is an awesome God and through Him ALL things are possible. I thank Him and all of you for making this day possible.

Until Next Time, May His Angels Keep You Safe~
+JMJ+

~DONATION UPDATE~

I have updated the donation meter on my sidebar. The goal at the top includes the initial visit($1250.00), and the follow up visits for the next two years($850.00 each visit, times 3 visits each year ($5100.00). The donations raised thus far will be able to cover the initial visit, and the first follow up visit and then some towards the second follow up visit.

I have many fundraisers planned these next few months to raise money for future follow up visits as well as any therapy tools we may need to teach the program at home. This may include balance balls and or boards, special writing instruments etc. etc. etc. I also have to purchase a camcorder to video my daughter doing the therapy treatment at home. The institute will view the video at follow up visits to see where the treatment needs to be changed to help the progress. HMMMM... Anyone have a camcorder they would like to donate?

One fundraiser happening now is a 50/50 drawing. It is already at about $200.00. It ends Saturday nite with the winner getting half. Also, I have a few donation cans at places here that will collect some change to add to the fund.

Beginning next Friday, I will be doing Friday Sticky Bun Day. I have a couple of places that have said I can come in every Friday to take orders from their employees for YUMMY Sticky Buns. On Fridays, I will take orders for the buns. Then the following Friday, they will be delivered and I will take orders for the following Friday, and the cycle will continue each week. The homemade Cinnamon Sticky Buns will come in packages of 6 and be drizzled with a delicious glaze. Wouldn't it be so fun to take home Yummy Sticky Buns for Saturday morning? OOOH, can someone make me some now?

In March, there will be a CUT-A-THON. My mom owns a hair salon and she and her employees are donating there time one Sunday afternoon to cut hair for 6 hours. Last time they did this for a fellow employee's Cancer Treatment Fund, they raised about $800.00. So, that looks hopeful for my daughter. So, if you are in the area and need a haircut... March 14th, 12:00-6:00, $10.00 haircut day. There is also a yard sale/bake sale planned for late March.

I still have yet to talk to the Father at out parish, but in May we hope to take orders from the parishioners for Mother's Day Corsages. We plan to order flowers and ferns from a local florist and then assemble them the Saturday before Mother's Day. Pick up or delivery will be that afternoon so all the mothers can look beautiful for Sunday Mass.

In June we hope to hold 2 car washes in a lot downtown. I have helped with fundraising car washes before and in one afternoon, we made about $300.00 dollars. Hopefully we will able to do as well for my daughter.

As you can see... lots has been planned over the last week to raise the funds needed for Punkys treatment. Thanks once again for all of your support even in prayers. It is ALL appreciated.

Bless You All~

Until Next Time, May His Angels Keep You Safe~
+JMJ+

~AUCTION FOR PUNKY~

I wanted to thank a good friend, who has so thoughtfully put an auction fundraiser together for Punky. She is donating all proceeds from this auction to Punky's AMAZING GRACE & CO. fund. Up for bids, from her own design, is an adorable, handmade St. Therese Doll. She has made quite a few of these dolls,(different saints as well), for her own children. She has given some away as gifts. Now, I am honored that she has made one to benefit my little girl. Today is the last day to bid (closing time is 5:00pm PT). So... if you have not checked it out yet, head on over to AMY'S and check it out. Thank you, Amy for giving your time to make this doll and also for donating the proceeds to Punky's Therapy Fund.

Thank you EVERYONE, for all of your prayers and donations. I am so grateful for your generosity.

May God reward you all abundantly~

Until Next Time, May His Angels Keep You Safe~
+JMJ+

I AM SO BLESSED

As you can see in my sidebar, the Donation Meter for AMAZING GRACE & CO. has EXPLODED!!! The cost for the initial appointment for my daughter has been met. Any future donations will be applied to the follow up appointments which will be every 4months for two years. I still have a long way to go to raise the $5,100 I will need for those appointments. However, God has shown me that He will provide me with what I need. He does answer prayers. He IS an awesome God.

I have no words that can express the gratefulness I have for all of your help. I have a peace in my heart that I can now possibly make my daughters life better and I have hope for her future because of you.

So, whether you supported me financially or spiritually... THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. You have made a difference in my daughter's life as well as mine.

May God Richly Reward You for Your Generosity

Until Next Time, May His Angels Keep You Safe~
+JMJ+

AMAZING GRACE & CO.

My mommy calls me Punky and my middle name is Grace. With God's Amazing Grace I have overcome many obstacles in my life. So, my mommy thought a good name for my therapy fund could be Amazing Grace & CO. I am 7 yrs old and I have Aspergers Syndrome, a form of Autism. My brain does not work the way it is supposed to. I want to get help to teach my brain to work better. Will you help me?
It is hard for me to do things because my brain does not work right. I do not run, skip or hop. I do not play on the swings or ride a bike. I do not color or draw. Writing my own name makes me cry because it is so hard for me to do. I cannot make my muscles work right to do all of these things. I want to be able to, but I need help.
When my routine is changes from what I am used to every day, I get really mean and angry and I am naughty. I kick and scream and growl. I throw a tantrum like a 2 yr. old. I do not want to be like that, but my brain does not like changes. I want to be better, but I need help.
My mommy found some specialists to help me. They only see a handful of children each year. My mommy prayed that they would be able to see me. They have an opening in February!!! That is very soon. i will visit a place that will teach my brain to work better. I will have a special test. My mommy called it a FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGICAL EVALUATION. They will test everything about me so they can help me. They will give me homework called therapy. It will teach my brain to work better. They will help me.
This help cost lots of money... $1250.00 for the first visit. Then every 4 months after that, for 2 years, I will go back for re-testing. Those visits cost $850.00 each. My mommy is worried how she will pay for all of the help she wants for me. My mommy made a donation button in her side bar. Will you help by donating today so I can get better?

Thank you and God Bless~
Punky

For The Sake of my Child

I have been given a great opportunity to have my daughter, who has Aspergers Syndrome- a form of Autism, seen at a special institute for brain injured children. This institute only sees a handful of children a year. They did not have many openings left, in fact their schedule was quite full. Great news though...Two days before I finally was able to speak to someone, they had just had a planning meeting and added one more session to their schedule. Even better news...This session is in early February and they had an open slot. The best news...my daughter was accepted. I did not stop to think how I would pay for this. (Even though I have health insurance....this is NOT covered.) What a blessing from God to be able to have my daughter seen at this institute and still an even bigger blessing that they could see her so soon. I told myself to just trust in the Lord to provide for my needs. So, what i am about to ask is for the sake of my child.

I need help to raise $1,250.00 by February 8th for the initial 3 day visit and evaluation. Then she has to go back every 4 months, for at least 2 years. Those follow up visits are $850.00 each visit. I have started a 50/50 drawing at some local places in my town. I have mailed out fliers to all of my family. I cannot deny her the help she needs so badly just for lack of money. I would do anything to get her the help she needs. So, with all humbleness and tears flowing, I am asking any one out there to please help me raise the funds I need for the sake of my child.

The reason I need your help so badly is what I will now try to write. I have written and deleted this post so many times, not knowing quite how I should say some of the things I need to say. I am a very private person when it comes to my personal life. I have a hard time asking people for help, even when I truly need it. I have a hard time letting people know when I am suffering. I just try to bear the cross that God has given me and offer it up to Him. Life has been extremely difficult for me over these last 15 months. I have called out to God so many times this last year. And I have now come to realize that I need to call out for help from friends as well. I need to be able to give my daughter what she needs for a better future. I need to take yet another lesson in humbleness and not be so proud to think that I can do everything alone. I am able now to put this information on my blog only with strength from the Lord and also for the sake of my child.

Ok, (deep breath) here I go.

15 Months ago, my husband left me, our children, our family. (That was really hard to write and though the tears won't stop now I need to continue writing this for the sake of my child.) I cannot provide everything she needs on my own. I need help. I continue to raise our three children in the Church. We are all clinging tightly to our faith. I know that is the only way my children and I have even been able to make it thru all of this. I used to be a stay at home mom, I now have to work. It is only part time because of the amount of time and energy I need to give my daughter. (However, it feels like I am working a million hours each week.) I home school all three children, and still take care of our home as well. I have had to humble myself and go get on Food Stamps. I have visited the food pantry, (food stamp money does not go far when I have to buy specialty foods that are wheat free and dairy free for my daughters diet.) I also had to ask for assistance one month to pay the power bill when my daughter was sick and I could not work enough hours. This has all been extremely difficult for me, especially since I had a fairly good lifestyle before my husband left. Yet, as I look back over the last 16 months, I see that all my important needs were met. I had food to put on the table. I was given three trees worth of firewood for our heat, and when I did not know how the mortgage would get paid, some money would come from someone or somewhere, allowing it to be paid. All that I asked from the Lord was that I could provide the basic needs for my children. He has given that to me. He has also given me enough strength and courage to know that I need to ask for help from my Catholic friends for prayer and support. Knowing that I am asking complete strangers for help is very difficult but I am asking you to please help me in any way you can, by donating or even just in prayer .... for the sake of my child.

I am still hopeful that my husband will return to the Church and me. Not a day goes by that I do not pray a Rosary for him. I offer all my sufferings up for him and pray that he will seek God's forgiveness and with blessings and graces from the Lord, he will come home. I know God has a plan for our family in all of this and that His will, not mine, will be done. It is just so hard sometimes to understand that. I feel so lonely at times and I question why I need to suffer so. I am trying to trust in the Lord and be strong, for my children.

Please pray for me to keep finding my strength and peace in God. Please pray that I will be able to do what I need to do for the sake of my children and that thru all of this suffering that I will find comfort in Him. Please pray for my children to keep their faith and love for the Lord strong thru all of this. And lastly, out of the great love I still have for my husband, will you please include him in your prayers and offer a Rosary for him too?

If you can in any way donate... I have added a donate button in my sidebar at the top. Or if you would like to contact me, please leave a comment and I will reply back.

Lord thank you for all that You provide. May I learn to trust you more.

Until Next Time, May His Angels Keep You Safe~
+JMJ+

ALL SAINTS COSTUMES 2009

After deciding what saint the kiddos wanted to be, I began the task of bringing their wishes to reality. It was not too difficult this year. Munco had decided MONTHS ago to be St. Michael the Archangel (which he was last year). WHEW!!! At least all I had to do for him was make sure it still fit. (which it did)!!! Punky had decided to be St. Veronica. I made a simple dress with fabric I had in my stash and then added some scarfs(compliments grandmas closet)to wrap around her waist and head. A dear friend loaned me a cloak that had been made for her and her siblings years ago. I then found an image of the face of Jesus online, printed it out on fabric transfer paper. I then took a tea stained cloth and ironed it on. Voila!!! Two costumes done in less than an hour. I sure got off easy this year. And they were both grinning ear to ear when I finished. I think that says it all.





Now, I have to tell you the sad part of the story. Our All Saints Party had to be cancelled due to SOOO many families being very ill with the flu and how contagious it had been in our area. SOOOO, now we are all dressed up with no place to go. Well, we will still dress up and celebrate, but not go where the flu may be. Also, there is talk of having a saints party later in the school year,(like NEXT SPRING), when the flu bug is less likely to be hanging around. And... I will have a jump on things because the costumes will already be done!!!

I hope you have a great time... however you plan to celebrate, and may there be no flu bug wherever you are.

Until Next Time, May His Angels Keep You Safe~
+JMJ+