Dog days of summer

Baseball, super heroes and sunshine; summer...

Good Morning.  Just a quick update as summer is flying by.  Last night as Maverick took a bite of his cheesy chili, the string cheese was hanging from his spoon.  He said "Mason would have not liked this." Mason did not like to see cheese so stringy. My heart fell in an instant as I imagined him at the table.
We are spending this 4th of July at Corporate Woods sitting by the tree we planted for Mason.  My heart aches to hear Mason's laughter, he loved the 4th of July. As the spark will never be the same.

We are excited to be traveling to New York this summer; splashing once again in the waves of Lake Erie and under the waterfalls at Stony Brook.  Baseball season is over, Maverick's team had an awesome year; advancing to the senior division this year and finishing 2nd place. 

Maverick loves pitching

Maverick is excited about selling Wiscurzoos again. The sewing machine is all fired up. He has 138 to sell at the Overland Park Craft Fair in September . We are helping stuff and sew; our goal is to have 300+ available for the sale.  There are 3 sizes, large, medium and small ($10, $6, $4).   At this rate, Wiscurzoos should be complete right before school starts.  The sales will benefit Make-a-Wish, Seasons of Wishes. The sale is September 29 in downtown OP.

KC Zoo; the tiger exhibit should be ready sometime in July.  We will keep you posted of the progress. With the extreme heat we have been unable to visit the zoo as often as we would like.

In August, we are gearing up for the Head for the Cure 5K, see the link below. We would love to have friends and family join us in this inspirational walk/run to help find a cure for brain cancer. A HUGE thanks to American Adoptions and Red Robin for supporting our team this year.  We also will have a raffle again this year for our team.  One of the prizes, a white tiger similar to the one Mason got on Valentines Day.

Win me!!

 You can join or donate to Team Make a Difference for Mason from the link below.  http://www.headforthecure.org/metro-kc/hftc-metro-kc 

The dog days of summer...

The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. These are the days of the year when rainfall is at its lowest levels.

Happy 11th Birthday Mason

Mason's 1st birthday

Things go better with 2

Tell me it can't be another birthday without you.  I miss everything about you.  Your memory lives in every splash of summer and every color in the rainbow, in every ray of sunshine, in ever tiger lily bloom, the list goes on.  Happy Birthday Tiger.  We miss you more and more each day.  At a loss of words; there is so much more I could say.  More than ever I really wish you were here today.  I want to do more and more for you, but most of all find a cure.  I hear your voice, it whispers everyday; find a cure; only if there was one in 2010 we'd have you here.

Looking forward to making a difference with friends and family in your honor at Red Robin tonight.
From 5- 8 p.m. 10% of the proceeds will benefit Head for the Cure Team Make a Difference for Mason.  We will be at the 95th and Metcalf location, the Red Robin at 135th and Antioch and Olathe are participating as well.  Everyone is invited!!!  Have a burger and fries for Mason!

Memories

Summer, the first day of summer will be here this month, Mason's 11th birthday.  I stop and think what we'd be doing. I can't begin to explain the many times I imagine.  Always thinking of the past and the future.  Daydreaming what you'd look like, the memory of your laughter replays in my mind.  Watching kids at play, I picture you. I guess how my Target cart would be filled, if you were only by my side. I see your friends and brother so grown up and picture you.  Sometimes I smile and sometimes my heart weeps.   I Gotta feeling played in the van yesterday; Ally screamed "thank you, Mason" out the window.  Then she bowed her head and prayed with her eyes tightly shut.  I asked her what she prayed, "Mom I can't tell you, it's very special."  Moments later, she whispered, "I prayed for Mason to come back." Then she tapped her heart and said, "I know he is always with us."  Time passes by but Mason you never will.  You are by our side and inside our hearts forever.  Every day.
Summer has added smiles and relaxed days.  Although there is still never enough time. Always feeling guilty for precious memories of things we've missed. We missed an important birthday and graduation recently and wish we could spend more time with friends.   Maverick's days consumed with baseball, and we add a few splashes at the pool.  Ally loves every chance to squeeze as much love and laughter from Molly our pug.  With each bit of laughter I want to freeze each moment.  Remembering how much more laughter we had.  We embrace each  moment and wonder.  We will be celebrating Mason's birthday at Red Robin this year surrounded by friends and family for a good cause the Head for the Cure.  Everyone is invited. (See previous post)  I Gotta a Feeling Mason would smile, wear a funny shirt, smash his face in birthday cake, and win a prize at the  games for Ally.  Go ahead make a splash for Mason, he's smiling from above.

Nall Hills Baseball at the K

Happiness is a Pug Hug

Laughter is a Pug Squeeze

Wiscurzoo report: Maverick has plans for a Fabulous Farewell to Wiscurzoos.  With a plan for bigger pillow sized Wiscurzoos and a Team Make a Difference for Mason stuffing party.  He hopes with a team effort to finish out the end of summer and  sell one last time at the Overland Park Craft Fair in September.   All for a good cause, sew we will let you know.

June 21

Help Make a Difference….

Thursday, June 21st

5 to 8 p.m.

A benefit night for

Head for the Cure!

During Mason Kempf’s courageous battle with brain cancer he inspired others to make a difference.  This summer, in Mason’s memory, come celebrate his birthday with us at the following Red Robin locations:  95th-Metcalf, 135th-Antioch or Olathe.   On this very special night, 10% of the check total will be donated to the Head for the Cure in Mason’s memory.  You can truly help make a difference. 
 

Where are the dinosaurs?

Little Miss Ally,  Oh how you make me smile.   Your imagination and inquisitive mind.   Out of the blue, you wonder where the volcano is that made the dinosaurs disappear.  (But you also said it could have been a meteor) So, of course I am baffled for a second and Maverick quick as a whistle explains how millions of years ago the world was different and the continents were all together and over time the continents shifted. " So the volcano is no longer here, do you understand Ally?"  She happily shakes her head yes.

Later after dinner, I notice a pair of shoes outside, "Ally , you need to bring in your shoes."  Mom, those are my sisters, she lives outside you know"

Here's to the first splash of spring!

Then I was shopping and could not decide on what color of shirt to purchase.  After the purchase, Ally says, "Good thing I was born"  So of course I asked why she said that.  "Because mom you wouldn't know what shirt to buy without me." 



Maverick's garden is AMAZING!!  Never have I tasted a more delicious strawberry.  He has tomatoes, radishes, green beans and cucumbers that are growing like crazy.  Today he's on a field trip to Kauffman Center of Performing Arts, his entire 4th grade class will perform with their recorders. Tonight his first baseball game of the season.  We are counting the days until summer.  His last day of school is the 22nd already.  Tomorrow another surprise awaits.  Here's to the sweet things in life.

The colors of the rainbow

Hello again.  It's been awhile.  Yesterday at 11:50 p.m another angel entered heaven, a precious girl named Harley.  I've never met her, she had brain cancer too.  May 1st, brain cancer awareness month.  I am left speechless, and I have been lately. Here are the repeated swirls in my head ready to escape.  I will not stop, my mind constantly shuffling, invisible pain buried deep, trying to turn bad into good, battling when to keep my mouth shut, watching the tidal wave creep overhead, keeping my eyes wide open for a glimpse of a rainbow.  
 Ally could see the colors in the sky after the brief rainstorm yesterday.  She learned so much from Mason. He could see a rainbow when there was none. He knew when I needed a smile.  He taught Ally laughter.   Yesterday, the gray clouds hung.  Ally put me back on track; "Mom, I had a dream last night I was flying with underwear on my head and eating Kit-Kats" 
She keeps me on my toes, " Mom, what are patios made out of?" (as she tapped the sidewalk) and why is it different color than the street?"  Concrete is such a hard subject.  But her inquisitive mind made my heart burst with a smile. She lights the fire inside.  As we walked hand in hand on our way to have lunch with Maverick. I am so proud of Ally and Maverick.
There will always be a fire burning inside.  We all have our own dreams and goals, desires to move ahead, make a difference, and spread random acts of kindness.  Life is all about keeping our eyes wide open, catching a glimpse of the rainbow ahead, and savoring Kit-Kats in the middle of the night...
 Here's to  Mason and Harley for teaching us those precious moments. Why so many brave little souls?   God knows my anger.  I pray for understanding....for unanswered prayers... from a mind running in circles.

To infinity and beyond..

  Hope is here, we can make a difference.  We will never be silent.   Hope is alive in every color of the rainbow.

For the fire in our souls and the colors of the rainbow:

 June 9 at the Braden's  Hope Walk for Childhood Cancer
http://www.active.com/donate/hopewalk2012/masonarik

 August 26-  Head for the Cure 5K at Corporate Woods registration is now open you can join team Make a Difference for Mason
 https://www.vergeregistration.com/Events/HFTC/Head-for-the-Cure---Kansas-City-2012/Register/Participation

September 15- Run for the Tigers at the KC Zoo The 9th Annual Run
http://www.kansascityzoorun.org/