Wow! What a weekend! PART I

And, it isn't even over yet. Today was supposed to be packing day, but I'm out of packing tape and haven't been to the store - and I'm sore from my big day yesterday. It's hard to believe how badly sitting in a metal folding chair for 12 hours can make you feel the next day! I even had a chair cushion and I did get up frequently, but I feel like a train wreck this morning. I also slept 12 hours, which is absolutely unheard of for me. I rarely sleep 7 or 8, so 12 was a total luxury and my body must have needed it.

I went to a fundraiser yesterday for an amazing organization called The Kyrie Foundation. Kyrie Dawn Thome was a little girl I never met and didn't know her parents or the circumstances surrounding her life - and death - until two years ago. She was born in September 2006 and passed away April 7, 2007. Such a short life, but one that has impacted so many lives with her passing. How this amazing family did not implode is an amazing story in faith. Instead of imploding, they took their grief and used it to help improve the lives of other children who are diagnosed with pediatric brain tumors. Kyrie was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive tumor in February 2007 and was gone just nine short weeks later. In their grief, the family started The Kyrie Foundation, a non-profit organization, to help raise awareness and funds for pediatric brain cancer research. So far, the foundation has raised over $50,000 from people just like you and me through various fundraising events and word-of-mouth. I urge you to consider donating to this worthwhile foundation. We're working on our next $50,000!

Yesterday was their 4th annual Kyrie Crop in Wichita. I missed the first one, made it to the second one, missed last year's, and attended this one. That sounds like a theme, but I plan on making it to all of them in the future, God willing. The crop is held at Family Worship Center in Wichita, who donates the space for the crop. All of the food is donated by local businesses, big (and little) scrapbooking companies donate awesome door prizes, and  variety of vendors and companies donate items for goodie bags. The cost for a chair for the event is $45 and every single dime raised goes to the foundation. All of the set-up and tear-down of the tables and chairs are done by volunteers (I was one of those this year - probably another reason I'm in pain today, but it's a good-feeling kind of pain). There is usually at least one person (usually Megan Thome, Kyrie's aunt and the person who started the foundation - with her husband) who brings tools to share and a 6" Cricut for the scrappers to use. I also took my 12" Cricut and cartridges to share and I know it was a big hit because I had a couple of people come up and thank me for donating the use of my things. Honestly, I was glad to do it; it was such a small thing to do to help others.

I sat with my friend Michelle (who used to own the local scrapbook store here in town and where I bought all of my supplies after Isaiah was born in 2003 and for the next several years until she closed) and her mom and sister. Amy and I had sat with them two years ago and they're great fun to hang around with. Michelle's "table" has been pretty lucky because out of FOUR annual events, someone from that table has won the grand prize THREE times in a row. She won one year, her mom won last year and.... I WON THIS YEAR! Michelle and I were bantering back and forth all day about the grand prize and I said that I was "due" so it was coming home with me. Her sister, Shanda, said that it was her turn since Michelle and their mom had won each of the previous two years. I just smiled and said that I had been saying all day - talking to the universe - that it needed to come home with me. All in good fun...

Everyone goes home with a door prize. They range in value; some are donated by others and some are donated by vendors and others are donated by various companies such as K and Company (where Megan works), Pink Paislee, Zig Markers, Martha Stewart, Die Cuts With a View, Provo Craft, local companies, etc. Pink Paislee donated the grand prize this year, valued at over $200. I won a $15 gift card to a local BBQ eatery called Pig In Pig Out. I've seen it advertised on TV but have never been there. It'll be something to look forward to.

The crop is held from 9 am until 9 pm and includes snacks, drinks (coffee, tea, water, soda), and two meals - all donated items.

~TO BE CONTINUED~