If anyone is reading this, PLEASE help if you can

I am relatively new to this whole blogging thing, but I have met some pretty cool chicks who have remarkably great ideas and the ability to reach tons of people with their blogs. I certainly don't mean to imply that I do that, but I aspire to do that one day. I have been completely wrapped up in my own universe over the past few weeks, trying to prepare for our move to Dallas - but I checked a friend's blog this morning while having my coffee and was stunned. I cannot explain to you the fear I feel and the problem I'm having breathing while I'm typing. This simply CANNOT happen.

Right now I am doing the only thing I can think of to help a friend of mine - she is one of the kindest, most thoughtful women I've never met. She is spunky and hilarious and unbelievably creative. BUT, this really isn't about her persay - it's about her daughter. My friend Lisa has a beautiful daughter Marielle, her Sunshine Girl, that is currently in END Stage kidney failure and yes it means exactly that. Her family has been tested, they are now moving to friends to be tested but time is running out. I cannot stand the panic I feel when I think of what will happen. I want to protect this family and I feel fierce when I say that.

What do I want to happen? I would love for someone to make the decision to be tested and be a match for Marielle, it's very simple. I want my friend's daughter to be better than okay - I want her to be a normal teenage girl who gets her life back. I cannot currently be considered due to blood pressure issues and the medication I take, or I would put my kidney where my mouth is and hand deliver it to Philadelphia.

Here's the contact information: If you would like to find out more about being a kidney donor to Lisa's 15-year-old daughter, Marielle Carroccio, please contact Joann Palmer of Children’s Hospital of Philadephia at (215) 590-2449.

You can read more about Lisa and Marielle on her blog: The Domestic Diva (she's on wordpress - thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com) - still can't figure out the damn link business.

From my heart and my hope and my faith that this will happen for Marielle, I pray that this will happen - please add them to your Prayer List if you have one, I would really appreciate it and I know they would too.

Handbag Planet

This fun website is having it's grand opening mid-October and is giving away FREE, yes I said FREE handbags on the day of their launch - go there and register to win, you can even pick the bag you would like to be entered for. Cute stuff! Very pretty bags, great colors and different styles for your whole wardrobe. Enjoy!

Going to the Big D

It would seem that my family is making a move, make that a BIG move. My sweet hubby has tentatively been offered a position in Dallas, TX. I told him we won't do anything until we have it all in writing, the money, relocation, etc. But that apparently is just details at this point. He's been there for 2 weeks and has been working and going out neighborhood shopping for houses with his two awesome sisters. I'm scared and excited all at the same time, I feel like I'm at the top of the roller coaster and we're starting to head down the hill and pick up speed with no turning back. I would go anywhere with my husband, no questions asked, just as he has with me - but everything I've known for the last 8 years has been here in Sacramento.
I'm sad for my girls that they won't be around their only cousins like they are now (they live 9 miles away). I'm excited for them that they will be around their aunties who simply adore them and make the greatest efforts to spoil them. But most of all I'm dreading the separation of my girls from their Grammy. Grammy is the only person who has ever watched the girls - whether for a few hours or overnight. When I was working, she was daycare and neither of my girls know anyone else. She was with us in the hospital and as involved in the decisions we made for Ms.J when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She is the 3rd parent in our girls' lives and I'm really upset about changing that dynamic.
More details to follow as I get them....working on getting estimates from movers right now and figuring out what the hell I'm going to do with all the crap I own....OMG

Things we do in the car.....

So yesterday I took my Littles with me to run some errands, drop some clothes off to a single mommy and just get out of the house. We were on a 2 lane road, going over an old bridge behind a friggin' STREET SWEEPER - Ms.J from the backseat says "boy these people just don't know how to drive and why is that guy doing that during the day when everybody has somewhere to go?" Giggling at her rather astute observation, I redirected her to the folks kayaking below us on the river and to the 2 other bridges that were on either side of us. We finally pass the street sweeper, pull up to the light and I hear this "MOM! Why is that girl brushing her teeth in the car? You aren't supposed to do that! Where will she spit? Does she have water to rinse her toothbrush off?" Just as I look over at the toothbrushing, Prius driving (tell me you're not surprised by this)20-something she cuts someone off to pull into a gas station - toothbrush sticking straight out of her mouth. I just sighed and said something to the effect of "we can't make choices for other people sweetheart, we just have to hope they know what they're doing" to which her reply is "well I know that what she's doing is DIS-GUS-TING". My thoughts exactly. God I love that girl.

Kindness, Generosity and did I mention an awesome prize?

Ms. Tiffany over at The R Family Diaries (dufus hasn't learned to do the link thing yet, sorry), has posted today about a great little photo printer she's giving away and has a scavenger hunt of sorts set up to really get your Pay-It-Forwardness started up. She asks you to go to 3 incredible ladies blogs to read about them and give them some words of encouragement. I spent about an hour reading their blogs and can I just tell you that I am inspired by all 3. Truly wives and mothers that everyone would be proud to call part of their family. And thank you to Tiffany for introducing me to each of them.
Anywho - check out the contest & scavenger hunt.....it's worth it, you'll learn and be inspired and captivated by these families.

My cup runneth over today.....

Where were you?

I remember that day, 7 years ago, exactly what I was doing when I heard the news that one of the Twin Towers had been hit by a plane. Then the second tower, then the Pentagon, then the plane in PA. It was my best friend's 30th birthday that day and I left her 2 messages....the first to wish her a happy birthday, then I called right back to inquire as to the status of her in-laws (2 of whom worked 3 blocks from the Towers). For the first time in a long time I prayed for strangers and families and for New York City itself. Over the next days, weeks and months I was proud of NYC and how they recovered and took care of each other. I was disheartened by the thieves and scammers, but I truly believed that people were doing more good than bad. A year later, I was sent to the Big Apple on business, at Christmastime no less. I found the most magical Christmas city I'd ever experienced....the lights, the department store windows, the decorations, the SPIRIT that was everywhere in that city. I took a taxi to Ground Zero because I had to, I was scared and emotional and my cab driver handed me tissue through the window. I stood on the sidewalk with said cabbie and he told me what it was like that day and how much he loved his city and every single person in it. He too was proud of New York City and how they moved forward and took care of their own during that horrible time. His twin daughters were conceived the night of 9/11 and they have the most beautiful names....Liberty and Hope. How's that for justice?
I long to take my girls to New York City and show them the most amazing city I've ever been to....I want them to experience all that is good about that glorious city and know that it is rock solid.
God Bless America!

How Much Fun Would This Be?

The gals over at SITS The Secret is in the Sauce: September is SAUCY- Cricut Expressions! have this amazing give-a-way. You can go and enter EVERY SINGLE DAY. What a cool way to get those creative juices flowing, eh? I have seen these little bad boys everywhere and I long to have one to call my own. I can't seem to justify the purchase at the moment as we are currently a single income family, BUT I do have my "when I have a job" list and one of these is on it! Seriously though, how much fun would your next girls night be? Or getting ready for one of your littles birthdays? The possibilities are truly endless and what fun to see all of the other gals that are interested in owning one of these great machines too?