Thank you SEW much Harrisonville Log Cabin Quilters Club

Mimi and Quilt Designed by Papa

 WOW.....  Still amazed at the love and support from last night's meeting in Harrisonville.  Maverick shared his Wiscurzoos.  Mimi shared some quilts and we all had a great time.  Maverick was SEW excited to get more material and stuffing!!  What a blessing!   We can not wait to share the stories of the Wiscurzoos and their adventures from the donated material.  We hope each Wiscurzoo adds a special blessing to your life.  Each time you hug your Wiscurzoo may you feel love, laughter and joy.    Smiles and the biggest thank you!!! I know Maverick will remember this night forever, thank YOU!!

Some of the donated material

Maverick and his Wiscurzoos

Happy Valentines Day

 Thank you 4th graders for making 77cards for the Ronald McDonald house in Kansas City. It meant so much to our family. Mason Valentines continue to spread joy.  Happy Valentines Day!
Celebrate the love and happiness in your life everyday.  Thank you.

The picture above is the lobby of the Ronald McDonald house.


As I was going through all of last years cards, so many we hold close to our hearts and have saved...like the one below from a 9 year old girl; somebody somewhere, straight to our hearts.  This is why we are here... for Hope and inspiration. Thank you Nora.

February Update

Full speed ahead.  Thank you for understanding how crazy life can be. Friends, you are on our mind and in our hearts.  Please forgive us if we have not told you recently how much you mean to us.   I feel like I can't catch up as life is moving by.  Thank you friends, you are the sunshine that peeks through the fog. Thank you.  It just does not seem possible that March is around the corner.   There are a list of events ahead; we would be honored if you'd like to join us. Thank you for remembering Mason.  Thank you friends and family.

 Wiscurzoo update: Since January, Maverick has sold 104 Wiscurzoos and donated 18. Yesterday, Wiscurzoos made their first debut as "birthday party favors"at a Bowling party.
  February 23, Maverick is invited to speak in Harrisonville at a quilter's guild.  
A HUGE thank you to Marilyn. Thank you for helping stuff, sew and sell Wiscurzoos.  We are so thankful for your time and support.



Valentines Day - the 4th graders at Maverick's school are making Valentines by using the cards we received in the mail last year.  Maverick and I will then deliver to the Ronald McDonald houses in Kansas City, Mo.    It means so much to be sharing the love and smiles from last year.

THANK YOU!!   A BIG THANK YOU to the  Alpha Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa for their silent auction to benefit St. Jude.  All the money raised will be donated in Mason's name.  We are so honored, our deepest thanks.   Thank you everyone for your time, dedication and your support.  

I am speechless.  Soon after the auction,we received the most inspiring invitation from the Brookridge Girl Scouts. They are honoring Mason and the tigers at their father/daughter dance.  I can not begin to tell you how much this means to us.   To Mason. 

HOPE is alive, thanks to YOU.  Thank you for being a part of our journey.

 

 UPCOMING EVENTS (Details TBA)

March 2- The Brookridge Girl Scouts father/daughter dance.  

March 29-We will plant a tree in memory of Mason and release green balloons.  We would love to see everyone wear Make a Difference shirts and wear green.  

April 28 at Corporate Woods Walk for Wishes (benefit for Make-a-Wish)

May- We hope the Sumatran tigers at the KC Zoo will have a remodeled cage (this will be temporary until further expansion of the zoo)  We are so EXCITED for the  TIGERS!!! 

June 9-  Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer Walk in Olathe

August  26- Head for the Cure in Corporate Woods-We would love to see everyone again this year!

P.S. 

I'm Dreaming of a White February....

February started with smiles.  Yesterday, Ally woke up singing," Happy Birthday Maverick, she tried to bring him breakfast in bed, he respectively said no thanks to the brown banana she had squished in her hand.  After school, Maverick celebrated by playing baseball at the park with his new Wiffle bat. It was fun watching the team get bigger and bigger, as kid after kid joined in.  Dad got off early and it was a beautiful sunny day. Maverick gained some extra muscles carrying his treasure found from the neighborhood creek. He is determined to find what machinery this came from, I can see it as garden art this spring. (See above picture)   Ally still pretend plays with Mason, he pushes her in the swing, slides down the slide; in more ways than one, he's always by her side.  I know she will always remember the time they spent together, especially at St. Jude.


Speaking of St. Jude,everyone is invited to join us at a St. Jude benefit auction, Wednesday, Feb. 8 at Merriam Park Elementary school.  We are looking forward to this fun evening. Maverick donated 3 Wiscurzoos, including the very first Star Wars Wiscurzoo. We  can not say enough about the care and quality and the memories we will always have at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Mason and Ally always had something to do; and the staff and volunteers added smiles everyday.   St. Jude is currently celebrating 50 years of finding cures and saving children.
If you get a chance we would love to see you on February 8. (see previous post for details)

 I can't believe March is fast approaching, one year without Mason...just doesn't seem possible. .
Our hearts smiled as we received the most beautiful invitation in the mail yesterday. The girl scouts are having a father/daughter dance for the KC Zoo tigers in memory of Mason. The memory of Mason  lives on... We will have a tree planted in Mason's memory in March, we would love to have you join us...details to come soon.  

Last night, I dreamed I walked through halls in a trance, tears fell from my face, pain leaked from my heart.  "It's good to cry; it lets out emotions that leave holes in our heart.  Thank you for your continued support as Mason's memory reigns forever in our hearts.  Even though nature hasn't brought us snow, we still have a dream.  Happy Groundhog's Day, as Ally would say...  Happy Molehogs Day!  We hope you see your shadow!!!   Each night we fall asleep reading Calvin and Hobbes, Mason's with us as we read.  We can relate as a tiger follows our tracks too. Where ever you are, I hope your day is magical

Ready for February...

It's Kansas Day for the 4th graders.  I'm excited to be volunteering at Maverick's school today.  Square dancing, crafts, spelling bee and a home-cooked feast for all.  Looking forward to a fun day and hoping I have something fun to wear. Searching for a straw hat or bonnet.

February is just around the corner. On Wednesday, we celebrate Maverick's 10th birthday!
(he requested a simple party at home this year)

 Ideas are brewing!! Time to spread some joy with all the Valentines Day cards we saved, we are ready to cut and paste and make new cards.  We will be sure to share the fun!

 We are also excited to invite everyone to the auction below.  Thank you Alpha Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa for selecting St. Jude. Words can not express the gratitude, our family will always have towards St. Jude.   Finding cures and saving lives.

Everyone's invited to a special event; a silent auction to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital sponsored by Alpha Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa on Wednesday, February 8 at Merriam Park Elementary School 6100 Mastin Merriam, Kansas (just west of 1-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway) Silent Auction 5 p.m. and Live Auction at 6 p.m. Please spread the word.

Auction to Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research 
Hospital  

A guest at the table...

January, Oh January.  You have been rough on us all.  2012 has also been a time to open up and welcome grief into our lives.  That sounds weird, but grief is so tricky... It's been around for so long, but it's time to deal with it.  Grief has been tangled inside; it is amazing how much we can store inside; eventually it explodes within us.   I have realized; I can not read other stories or blogs or comment on others experiencing the same.  Yes, I am too sensitive and have yet to properly address my own grief.   I feel better admitting this, this is my first big step.  The blog has helped me so much, even all the posts never posted; it is my healing, our family's steps.

We had a wonderful get-away Friday night to the Overland Park Sheraton, we finally took advantage of a gift card.  The kids went with us, it was after all a Junior Suite, movies, and pool.  I wouldn't want it any other way. We had a some great family time.  It was a long 2.9 mile drive to the hotel in which we had just enough time to order pizza.  We were very impressed and highly recommend the OP Sheraton.  Its friendly service, and all its accommodations, it was a vacation...it was wonderful.    We are all hibernating the rest of the weekend, as Ally's cold got the best of her and we've all had quite the week.

 It is amazing how in 30 days the green latex balloon has spoke to us.  Landing in various spots around the house, on Friday landing next to "You are my Sunshine" sign.  Yesterday, the green balloon finally started to descend, it was floating and Ally batted it in the air  and it floated around again. Later, I found it resting as a guest at the table.  This morning it is resting in the same spot in the seat of the chair.    A perfect spot.  (I believe, Mason controlled its every move.)

  As we left the doctor's office Saturday, I snapped a heart Maverick drew, inside the hand the words, "Hope, Love, Courage, and Family"  Words of encouragement straight to our hearts. A family logo.  Maverick painted a similar design on a plate for the Make-a-Wish ® Gala, with a green hand print and blue heart.

Today is a Wiscurzoo stuffing and sewing day in reverse order.  We have not predicted any football teams Wiscurzoo style, as the Bronco and Packer Wiscurzoo failed.    Smiles to everyone. Maybe there is a reason we couldn't  find any 49ers, NY Giants or Patriots material.

Thank you!

Maverick had an awesome day yesterday!! Marilyn from Venture Crew sold ALL 60  Wiscurzoos to Pack 3193!! Maverick was speechless!! Our family can't stop smiling and Maverick is excited about the opportunities ahead.  Thank you Marilyn!!  Have a Wiscurzoo day.  Be on the look out for a Green Bay Packer Wiscurzoo. Thanks for all your support; as Wiscurzoos remain  Chili Pepper "Hot" in 2012!