our father who art in heaven

I will not ever forget the night I pulled the covers up to tuck Kale in and asked him to say his prayers. We don’t really have a specific prayer that we say every night, he is always welcome so speak to The Good Lord about anything, often he would recite the Lords Prayer, which we had studied, so he understood what he was praying.

I believe it was August 2nd 2009. Kale looked at me, and then fell onto me - not as a child, but a grieving big brother - something he should never have to experience as a child. He was asked by our pastor to come up to the pulpit and say the Lords Prayer at Story’s memorial on July 31, 2009. Kale was well versed in this prayer and had such a deep connection with Story - he was locked eyes with the canvas that Cristy Nielson so generously created for our family. Microphone in hand, Kale prayed. I think everyone had tears in their eyes. Back to August 2^nd - he told me he didn’t want to pray because it made him cry.

What do you tell a 7-year-old who was not refusing to pray, but physically ached at the thought; it hurt deep in his soul to realize this loss. He just could not understand why *ALL* of our earnest prayers did not bring her back. He burst into tears. He would not hold me or talk about it further. To this day he will only recite The Lords Prayer with Timber; who is still learning and doesn’t know the prayer in its entirety. Kale will do anything for his sisters.

I grieve and tear up, quite frequently, knowing he should have another younger sister and to go into the thoughts of what he must feel about not having his big brother. Kale is a child who lives to love and all of this is missing in his life. My sweet boy is an 8-year-old that will happily change a cloth diaper, feed his baby sister, help his middle sister with anything she needs, and he enjoys doing all of this. Kale was the one to cut Story’s umbilical cord. He feels the loss. I desperately wish I could take it all away. He shouldn’t be going through this. What really blows me away is that his primary concern is for how I am coping. He truly is an amazing child and wise beyond his years.

do something - Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the Scavenger Hunt.

Today's cause is Education. There are 2 challenges to complete today.

Challenge 1: Every 26 seconds a student drops out! Have every member of your team share this stat on Facebook. "Like" and tag Do Something in your post.

Points: 10

Challenge 2: Donate new school supplies at your local Staples store for Do Something's "Staples for Students"

Points: 20

BONUS: Snap a pic and send it to notebooks@dosomething.org for a chance to win a Lenovo laptop

When you're done with the challenges, don't forget to REPORT BACK to redeem your points.

To learn more about education, check out these great resources.

happy birthday

Do Something with me ...

Click here to get started

Welcome to Day 1 of the Scavenger Hunt. Today's cause is the Environment. There are 3 challenges to complete today.

Challenge 1: Collect 20 cans and recycle them

Points: 5

Challenge 2: Create a work of art out of recyclables and put it in a public place to raise awareness about proper recycling

Points: 15

BONUS: Send a picture of your artwork to art@dosomething.org for a chance to win a brand new Lenovo laptop

Challenge 3: Post 5 flyers about local recycling guidelines next to trash and recycling bins.

Points: 10

When you're done with the challenges, don't forget to REPORT BACK to redeem your points. To quadruple your points for any challenge, submit a photo along with it.

Story Time Ministries DoSomething.org Scavenger Hunt

Click Here To Get Started

What is the Scavenger Hunt?
The Scavenger Hunt is 11 days of challenges that can win you prizes AND make your community a better place.

How does it work?
Each day starting July 11th we'll send daily challenges right to your cell phone or e-mail inbox. Alternately, you can check out the daily challenges right here. If you're not currently signed up to receive challenges on your cell phone, you can text HUNT to 30644 and get daily text messages. The challenges will always be something you can do in your community, alone or with your team.
Can I report back on challenges after July 21st?
YES! You'll have until July 25th to report back on all completed challenges.
Can I only complete the challenge for a certain day on that day?
Nope! Once a challenge is released, you're welcome to complete it throughout the Scavenger Hunt. For example, you can complete Day 1's challenge on Day 5!
How does report back work?
If you are using your cell phone, you will need to stay tuned for each challenge and the keyword required to report that you've completed it. If you are using the web, you will just need to click the Report Back button next to that day’s challenge. For some challenges, you will be given the option to send in a photo of you and your team completing the challenge.
Do I need to be part of a team?
Nope, if you want you can take part all by yourself. We definitely suggest that you join with a team, though- the more team members you have, the more points you can get, and getting more points gives you a bigger chance of winning a trip to L.A.!
How big do teams have to be?
Teams can be as small as you and your best friend or as large as you and your soccer team!
Does every team member need to report back?
One or all of your team members can report back. We know what team you're on, so your points will only be counted once. BUT, every day we're giving away Bonus prizes of Lenovo laptops. These laptops are given to individuals who report back. So, everyone on your team who reports back has a chance to win a laptop of their own.
How do I send in a photo?
If you are using your mobile phone, you can e-mail us a photo at huntpics@dosomething.org. If you are participating via the web, you will be able to submit it online. When you send in a pic, you quadruple your points for that challenge! So, get snapping!
How can I win prizes?
We're giving out Lenovo laptops for different actions each day. We can’t tell you exactly what you’ll have to do each day without giving away the challenges. But, we can tell you how to make sure that you’re eligible to win. To be eligible to win prizes make sure that you:

• Complete a challenge and tell us about it.
• Verify that you've completed a challenge by snapping a pic and uploading it when you report back, or by e-mailing the photo to huntpics@dosomething.org
• Complete challenges early- some days we'll offer prizes to the first people to send in a picture of the challenge they completed.

How can I win scholarships?
We're awarding $500 scholarships to every member of one randomly selected team (up to 11 members) that has signed up by the first day of the Scavenger Hunt, July 11th.
How do I verify that I did a challenge?
To verify with your phone, just follow the instructions that we'll text out to you. To verify online, go to the challenges page, and follow the instructions!



so much

I want to say so much. I cannot stop crying.
Sharing now. I will follow up later.

full circle

Its only right that today, we are sitting here watching the first season of Digimon on DVD. I have had this DVD for almost ten years. I recently found out it was a collector’s item and listed it on half.com for a pretty hefty sum. I don’t really want to get rid of it, so I listed a nice big number and figured if it sold for that it was worth letting it go. I got notification yesterday that my Digimon DVD had sold. Bittersweet.

Now, to the back-story … near the end of my pregnancy with Keegan, I never missed an episode of Digimon on FoxKids network. I was taking classes at Valencia and I still remember the time, to this day, I rushed home to catch the 2.30 broadcast of my beloved kids show. I was 18 years old, and couldn’t get enough of this wonderful little cartoon. I ordered the DVD a few days after he was born (and placed for adoption). I think it was kind of my connection to him, knowing I would have it to watch. The dvd has moved from house to house and sat untouched for ten years. Today, I pulled it out to watch it one last time before I mail it off. The kids are fascinated. I am still in a whirlwind of mixed emotions – ten years ago, to the day, I was watching this exact same show with my very first child squirming around inutero. One of the only memories I will share with him (for now). Quite apropos that the order came this week and we are all watching a show that I shared with my first baby boy.

where did I go

I was dependable. Maybe I was late more often then not, but I was always where I said I would be. I have always been spacey, only enough to make friends assume it must be the blonde. My word was unshakeable – if I said I would be there or do that I would have something done  – it was considered done. There was never a question of me skipping out, or needing a back up. I used to head up projects. I used to make great ideas happen. I started my own businesses. I used to know how …… how to function.

Is it so hard to fathom that her death would be the end of that person ……

I don’t want it to be, but I can’t find her.

If you happen to find this person who used to have a fire lit under her and a reason to do anything please let me know.

july

july

Today marks ten years that July has been and will be the best and worst month of my life.

Keegan will be ten years old on July 19. The Good Lord knows how much I miss him. I don’t think I could put into words the swirl of emotions that it is to place a child for adoption. Birthing Keegan changed the course of my life forever. In his birth I learned what God had put me on this earth to do, I would be a mother and I would become a midwife. July marks the month that my life changed forever. My husband and I journeyed through personal hell that made us a couple stronger than any mortal bond. Fast forward 8 years and we were welcoming our fourth child into the world July 15, 2009. She was amazing. We celebrated Keegan’s 8^th birthday as a family of 4. I wish I had taken pictures. Why didn’t I take more pictures?! On July 25, 2009 our baby girl died. Who I was as a person died with her. I was more broken than I had ever thought possible.

Fast forward a year, we celebrated Story’s first birthday with a gorgeous butterfly release and a family celebration … I was also in labor. Chapel was born July 17, 2010.

All that being said, it is July.

There are so many emotions in this month … what is a girl to do?