For a change

My friend Carmon over at Life at Star's Rest gave me a "Creative Blogger" award in June. I was surprised by the award and delighted to read her kind words: Ever since I discovered her blog, I have been an admirer of Alison's photography, writing, and amazingly generous spirit. I don't think she is very interested in awards so I am giving her this one mostly because she deserves it, and also to send people to her site in hopes that they will find a way to help a family that recently experienced a profound loss.

That was very kind of Carmon, and people did link from her site to mine. I appreciate her kindness most of all for that reason.

Then last week, another blogger, Nilla over at Rhymes with Vanilla, gave me an "Honest Scrap" award. Again I was surprised. Again I was delighted.

I waited until after our fundraising even to post about this because I didn't want to take any attention away from our focus.

With both awards, there are a few rules. The Creative Blogger award states that I am supposed to tell you seven interesting things about myself and then pass this award on to seven other bloggers. With the Honest Scrap award, the concept is the same but instead of interesting things, the request is honest things and the number is ten.

I'm going to opt for seven things. I don't think they're necessarily interesting but they are honest. Here goes:

1. I'm a list maker. I write down weekly or daily goals, and if I have errands to run, not only do I write them out but most often I write them out in the order that I'll make them, from a time-efficiency standpoint. I picked up this habit when I moved in with my parents to take care of my niece and nephew, and my mother would make notes for things she needed to do, or things she wanted me to do. She was a night owl, my mother was, and in the mornings, I'd wake to find her organization in all sorts of notes left for herself, my father, the kids and me in the kitchen. When I moved out, the note habit came with me.

2. I delight in putting a check mark beside the completed tasks on my lists; the feeling of accomplishment is way out of proportion to the actual achievement. I can't explain why I get so excited when I check off Dry Cleaner.

3. I used to bite my fingernails, and I mean down to the nub. It was a habit that drove my father nuts. When I was in 10th grade, he offered me $100.00 and a manicure set if I would stop. I don't recall what I spent that money on but I still have the manicure set. And decent fingernail length.

4. My middle name is Elizabeth, after my mother. I feel wonderfully connected to her because of my middle name. Both of my neices also have Elizabeth for their middle names.

5. The ceiling fan in the living room of the family cabin clicks three or four times every now and then. It has done so for years. I think about that clicking sound often. In my thoughts, I've attached that sound to the sound of passing time.

6. When Calvin Trillon was writing for Time Magazine, his essays were oftentimes on the last page. Whenever the magazine arrived, I would go to the last page first so that I could read what he had to say. I now read all magazines from back page to the front.

7. I have two projects in the works. One is big and will take my life in a different direction than I've been on for the past 20 years. The other might be big but right now is a seed of an idea and growing in the hands of another. I'm not ready to elaborate on either one yet. But I will soon.

Now for the part of passing these awards on to others. I'm only going to pass these awards, yes both of them, to one blog. My friend Dee is relatively new to the blogging world, and her blog, Soul Promptings, consistently provides new ideas to my mind and inspiration to my heart. Dee is creative, honest and has a healthy and loving relationship with God. I've learned a lot from her over my years of knowing her and I continue to learn from her through her writings.

An Evening of Cause - The MVP edition

It's hard to put the spotlight on a single MVP from Saturday's fundraiser. I just cannot do it. There were so many people who went way beyond in their efforts for our cause.

It is the woman who made a personal donation through the event site, who had her company donate an auction item, and who drove the live auction beyond our expectations by insisting that she be the one to win Yao Ming's signed jersey. Yes, she is definitely an MVP. Her name is Susan and she showed up all over the place for this fundraiser. Susan's smile and her heart are equally big and bright. Hers is a shining personality, and she laughs loud and often. It's one of my favorite sounds.

Another MVP is Joel Limley. He's a professional auctioneer and he's also a big-hearted, nice-guy cowboy who wears a Texas flag tie and who donated his voice and his skill, not to mention his time, for the live auction portion of our event. He's the kind of guy who stands up and tips his hat when you and he are introduced. One of my friend's asked me later, Where can I find a man like that? He's a thrill to watch and hear and he's so animated when he does his job that only one of my pictures was in focus enough to include.



Then there was the band. The band was A Dog Named Leo and they stepped in at the last minute when the originally planned for band stepped out at the last minute. I only knew one of the band members and hadn't seen or spoken to him in over seven years. He did not hesitate when we spoke. He pulled together his friends, recruited some others, and they all donated their time and equipment to our cause. And they were great! Their song selections were great, their volume was perfect and they not only tolerated but encouraged their new number one fan's obsession with their music and their equipment.



MVPs were also each one of my committee members. This is a talented and generous lot. They know how to organize and get things done. They know how to ask for what is needed and they know how to deliver the goods. They also know how to make work fun. Carol, Carrie, Chris, Jacqui and Sharon. All MVPs.

Two other MVPs come to mind. Holly, whom I've never met personally but who is a internet friend of mine, a fellow blogger who read about our efforts here and contacted me with interest in donating a piece of her beading artwork for the auction. Sandy, another fellow blogger whom I've not met, sent me a similar note and then followed up with a package of her handmade jewelry. Both of these women are loaded with talent and their contributions helped us surpass our goal.

When I think about it, everyone was an MVP. All the friends who clicked on the PayPal button on the event site, all the friends who donated items for auction, all the friends and family who showed up at the event, and all those who bid and bid again and then raised their bid at the silent and live auctions.

Without you, we could not have succeeded.

There are moments in my life, moments when the Lord asks, what difference are you making, what are you doing with the gifts I've given you? I don't always have an answer, or a positive one, but sometimes I do. This event is one of those times. We all made a difference. We all used our gifts to help another. I believe that when we do this, when we join hands to help others, we are at our very best. We are all MVPs.

Oh what a night, what a night it was

If success is defined as achieving something desired or planned, then my-oh-my were we successful Saturday night!



I spent much of Sunday going through the pictures and the memories, talking on the telephone, reminiscing and laughing. It was that kind of night, the kind of night where you spend most of the day after talking about the night before.

Are you wondering how much we raised? I'll get to that answer, just not quite yet.

The reason why the evening was such a success is the people. Friends and family, co-workers, ex co-workers, children, cowboys, musicians, Republicans, Democrats, mothers, fathers, sisters, daughters, sons, brothers, girlfriends, cousins. Some people drove in from out of town, others flew. We had such a wonderful group of people, such a wonderful and generous group of people.





I got outbid on everything I wanted, which was okay because, have you heard? I have no job. At one point though, I was holding the bag, er, winning bid, for something I didn't even want but was not so cleverly trying to raise the bid amount, and in that very long moment I tasted fear and inner panic. And I can confidently say that bluffing at a live auction is not for the faint of heart. But I do admit it was fun to raise my hand.



You are probably wanting me to tell you how much money we raised. Pick a number between one and twenty.







There's something I believe in and yet I'm always amazed when I witness it. I believe that one person can make a difference in this world, and I believe that a small group of people can join efforts to make a bigger difference. I believe that a room full of people coming together for a worthy cause can make an even bigger difference. There is power in numbers, but those numbers are made up of individuals.

Speaking of numbers, what number did you pick? If you picked 15, then you are correct. On Saturday night, we raised $15,000.00 for a family in need. Oh yes we did.

And that, my friends, is what we did together.



Tomorrow, I'm going to highlight the MVPs. There were many.

Sunday morning, her place in the sun

Countdown

Last night, my friend and I met at her house and assembled some of the packages for the silent auction. Then we reviewed the values and minimum bids. Looking around the room at all we have managed to assemble, I struggled with my belief at what has transpired in such a short amount of time. Then we discussed what was left to be done and I struggled with the list I held in my hand, the list of finishing touches and tying loose ends that will be the script for today.

In case you haven't heard, tomorrow night we are hosting a fundraising event. I hope to see you there. And if you cannot be there, please consider a donation by clicking on the above link which takes you to the event site and a PayPal option. Together, we can make a difference in the lives left behind.


Saturday, July 11, 2009
Hilton Medical Center Hotel
6633 Travis Street
7 P.M. – 10 P.M.

We have live music, cash bar, hors de oeuvres, a silent auction and a live auction.

We have a lot of wonderful auction items, some for her, for him, for the sports fan, and for the whole family. Most of all, what we have is the efforts of many, the gifts of many, and a fun evening planned for the benefit of a family who lost their loved one to Cancer, a family who can use a little help from us.

Thursday heart-catcher

This not-so-little dog of mine, the one I still refer to as Little Brown Dog, or LBD, is truly a lover of the dramatic. She sighs, she groans. She strolls and trots and sniffs every interesting spot on our morning walk, tail wagging all along, and when we return, oh the exhaustion, the insult of the heat, the torture of being made to labor outside when there is cool air and a couch inside, a couch on which to nap for the rest of the day! She looks as if she can't move, as if gravity is holding her down, as if she is miserable with pain. Don't believe it for a minute. If I were to walk into the kitchen right now, she'd fly from this spot in a brown blur of movement, and get to me in two leaps in hopes of scoring a treat.



Her drama? It's one of the many reasons I love her. Who are you loving today?

Everybody knows one

When I was a young girl, my favorite person in my world outside of my parents was my Aunt Pattie. Aunt Pattie was my father's younger sister and she was the sparkle in my eye. She seemed more alive than other adults in my life, she laughed louder, hugged me tighter, talked to me more like a kid and less like an adult.

Cancer stole my Aunt Pattie's life.

Nature shows often make me think of Cancer. When I see the predator singling out and moving towards its prey, I always think, that's just like Cancer. Cancer relentlessly stalks its victims, cell by cell.

Cancer touches all of our lives in one form or another. We know someone fighting or, sadly, we've lost someone. We celebrate the survivors and we mourn those who did not survive.

This Saturday night, July 11th, is about a man who lost his battle with cancer. This Saturday night is for his family, his wife and two young daughters. The Saturday is about showing up and helping.

Friends of the Martin Steves Family present: An Evening of Cause.

Thank you to those of you who have donated money and your artwork to this cause. It takes one spark to start a fire of passion and change. Click on the link above for details. I hope to see you on Saturday night.

Freedom

This little brown dog of mine was gifted with the freedom to swim in my friend's pool on the 4th of July. And I had the freedom to spend the afternoon with good friends, enjoying good food, good drinks and some good laughter. On my way home, I drove over a bridge and glanced towards downtown and the fireworks lighting up the night sky, Cheyenne stretched out in the back seat, bleary-eyed and yawning. For that moment, that entire moment, every single thing in my world was free and perfect, embraced and celebrated.

Happy 4th of July

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. ~ Robert J. McCracken

Not my typical Thursday

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a tattoo is a lifetime of speaking. I love his voice.