12 more days! Please consider donating!

Thank you to all who donated and provided words of support. It looks like I’m shaving my head!   Debbie B. made the first donation and has first dibs of cutting cut off my pony-tail.  My niece Laura Bonhard and her new husband John made a very generous donation and get the first shave of my head.  There are 12 more days before the event.  Please consider donating to support childhood cancer research. https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/1035742/2019

Almost 6 years since she left us

May 19, 2019 marks the 6^th year since Lisa left us.  It is also the day of St. Baldrick's Shave-A-Thon….in Livonia…at Claddagh Irish Pub.

It seems like Lisa is sending a pretty strong message of what I should do to honor her that day.  She thought nothing of shaving her head, it was part of her getting ready for summer ritual. Only problem is I’m not Lisa and having a shaved head is not one of my best looks.  (Some have compared bald me to Mr. Bean and Beaker from the Muppets!)

But, it’s not about the hair, right?  It’s about Lisa and the other childhood cancer warriors. It’s about how they have bigger worries then hair.  It’s about childhood cancer research being extremely underfunded and finding ways to increase awareness, funding and research.  

So, I should do it, right?   In honor of Lisa, I should shave my head.  But I need your encouragement and support.   Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers Will you please consider donating to help me raise money for childhood cancer research?  All you need to do is click this link. 

If you’re able to join us at the event message me.  I will see if I can reserve spots for the group and get a set time for my shave!

 

PS. Someone mentioned offering added incentives to get people to donate.  Something like the first person to donate gets to cut off my pony-tail (which I will be donating to Michigan’s Children with Hairloss.) and the person who donates the largest amount gets to do the first shave.  What do you think? Any other ideas?  Let me know!

 

 

 

Happy 14th Birthday

Today Lisa would have turned 14 years old.  I try to think of what she would be like.  I'm pretty sure she would have been our toughest teen.  She had no issue telling you what she thought and getting what she wanted.  I attempted to honor her today doing things that I thought she might have enjoyed.
I started the day with a massage and as I drove to it felt Lisa guiding me to call a friend who lived in the area who I had not seen in years.  The odds were that she would not be available  given the short notice but I had to at least reach out as it seemed what Lisa wanted.  Five minutes later I was on my way to meet my friend for lunch.  Maranda was in the area so she was able to join us.

We had a great time catching up and when we were done Maranda and I got pedicures together.  I then headed off to a psychic reading.  While an interesting experience I'm still not sure what I think about what I heard.  

Mike and I finished off the day having dinner with our neighbors at the lake.  Two of the families have girls Lisa's age that she played with years ago.  It was nice to be able to spend some time with these young ladies nd think about how much Lisa would have enjoyed the evening.

Remember tomorrow starts Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  Be Bold Wear Gold because kids can’t fight cancer alone and  they shouldn't have to!

5 years

It has been five years since Lisa left us. Today seems less emotional than the past years and I can only attribute that to the fact that we kept ourselves incredibly busy as we packed for Montana and attempted to have a garage sale.

I considered two things that I could do today in honor of Lisa.  One was to shave my head at the St Baldrick fundraiser.  The other was to go to Montana to visit Tom. I am writing this as we sit in the   the airport waiting for our flight.(nobody voted for the head shaving😉)

Lisa would’ve loved  this trip. Not only are we GOing someplace new as we know she loved to do. We  get to see Tom working in a kitchen in Yellowstone and we will be with him to celebrate his birthday as he turns 20 on Monday.

While today has not gotten to me emotionally I cannot say the same about the last few weeks.  I’ve had more than a few days where  suddenly I’ll just feel very uneasy and sad. I am starting to think it is my subconscious counting down the days and still looking to fill the hole Lisa left.  I oftern hope and wish  Lisa would appear to me in my dreams as I miss her dearly and have a few questions for her. With her always in the back of my mind we go off on our next adventure to wish Tom a happy 20th birthday in Montana.


When we return we will move forward with our plan to sell the  Canton house and move permanently to the lake. Why this is a big move it seems to be the right move as it will help to simplify life and  let us focus on living in the moment and finding the beauty in all things as Lisa taught us to do.

Loving Lisa 13 years

Today Lisa would have turned 13.  I made a promise to myself that every year on this date I would make sure to spend it honoring Lisa and remembering what she taught us in her short time with us.

At her young age she knew how to live in the moment and she made every day count.  I am guilty of not doing this most days as I let work, money, aches, pains, worry nip away at the precious hours.  But on this day, I STOP doing my normal and use this day to just BE and live life and honor Lisa.  I seek to just "go somewhere" and take pleasure in the "going" as she would have.  It is my day to be spontaneous and let go of time and honor my child who lived life fully and who we miss daily.  As today unfolds I will see where Lisa takes me.  Happy Birthday Lisa.  Love You Lisa.

11:20 PM Update--As this day comes to an end just thought I would share a "day in the life of Lisa" ---Brunch with the family---followed by some reading and long lazy nap---followed by a tattoo in Lisa's honor (finally!)---dinner with some of Lisa's favorite people:)

PS. Tomorrow starts Childhood Cancer Awareness month please remember to wear gold!

May 19, 2017

4 years ago Lisa left us.  4 years and the approach of 5/19 still causes me anxiety.  While she is never far from my thoughts knowing that this was THE day it all ended brings all the questions, fears, despair rushing back.  It is one of the few days that I will let my walls down and let the pain seep in and through me.   Mike and I have been able to use this day to honor Lisa and try to approach the day as she would have....looking for somewhere to "just go", no plans, no expectations, just be alive and live life fully. 

Earlier this week an unexpected email from Sean of Mott's Development Team provided us the perfect opportunity to remember Lisa.  He wanted to thank us for our support of Mott Children’s Hospital and talk about our prior fundraising efforts.  We were able to arrange to meet today.  Our conversation was a great way to share memories of Lisa.  The conversation meandered around many topics including a new camp for children with chronic and life-threatening health challenges in the Pinckney area.  The  discovery of a new camp provided the perfect opportunity to "just go". Once Mike and I finished up the conversation we headed out to the camp.

It was totally spontaneous and seemed exactly like something Lisa would have loved.  Our drive to see the camp turned into a full tour as our timing coincided with a volunteer training day.   It was a very gratifying way to spend the afternoon and live life.

Thank you to Sean for suggesting we meet and telling us about the camp, thank you to North Star Reach for allowing us to spend the afternoon seeing the fantastic place you have built for children, thank you to everyone who sent us warm thoughts today.

Love You Lisa.  Miss You Lisa.

Happy 12th Birthday