lookie here...

did you notice my new widget over there on the right hand side of the blog??  it's where you can check out my recent Instagram photos (aka pictures from my phone that have been through the awesome Instagram app that's FINALLY available for my android)!! woo-hoo!  if you click on a pic you can see it nice and big and read any captions too. chances are the pics will get updated more frequently than the actual blog posts so hopefully they'll hold you over during the lulls.

enjoy!

Letters to Leo

when you receive an email like this, how can you not do something?

First let me apology for bringing up a personal issue at work but I could use your assistance if you would like to help.  My 9 year old son, Leo, has been battling a terminal illness since his 2nd birthday.  As of late, things have taken a turn for the worse and we are taking things one day at a time.  The one thing that makes him smile is receiving cards in the mail.  I know none of you have met him but if you have the time, I would really appreciate it if you could send him a card.  He loves it when I come back from the mailbox with a card for him.  

The attached photo was from this past Christmas vacation to Big Sky, Montana and Yellowstone Park.  He had a wonderful time and was just waking up from his nap on the snow coach tour bus.  :) 

Thank you and god bless!

Tony

it wasn't much, but we had arts & crafts hour at work and made 50 cards to send to Leo to help brighten up his day.  watching all my co-workers play with stickers and construction paper was hysterical...good team bonding activity...we had a great time and hopefully we can do it again during the summer once all of the cards have made their way to Leo!

if you'd like more info on Leo, read this article from 2009.  if you'd like to send Leo a note please leave a comment with your email address (or email or facebook message me) and i'll send you his address.

image source. 2009

  

grab a pen: twloha

today's"to write love on her arms" day...

or is it tomorrow?

getting conflicting information,

but who cares,

one day, two...or the whole week, like i did last year...

TWLOHA is a day to appreciate

love & life 

and to encourage and remind others

of these values because it matters.

and it helps get through

everything from the small stresses of every day life

to the big issues that drag us down into those deep, dark places.

so write love on your arm.

and leave it there as a reminder to love yourself a little extra

and love those around you enough that they feel it.

from the twloha vision:

You were created to love and be loved.  You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story.  You need to know that your life matters.

The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.  
The vision is the possibility that we're more loved than we'll ever know.  
The vision is hope, and hope is real.

spread the word, not your germs.

i got shot.

the TDaP adult booster shot.

my arm hurts, 

but i feel so much better for finally getting it.

i've been wanting to for months,

but it seems that doctors around here

only book appointments 9-12 months in advance,

less than ideal.

luckily, i just found out that 

the CVS minute clinic now has the vaccine.

so quick and convenient,

no appointment needed,

and they took my insurance, 

bonus!

but no cool sponge bob or dora band-aids,

otherwise you know a pic of that would be up on the blog.

but let's get serious,

pertussis - the "p" in TDaP, aka whooping cough -

is making a come back,

and if an infant gets it, it can be fatal.

the best way to fight it is to vaccinate yourself.

please go to Sounds of Pertussis to get the facts.

_._._._._._._._

a little about why i'm helping spread the word...

i remember getting my Nikon D90 for my birthday last year and wanting to learn how to take better pictures.  i stumbled upon digital-photography-school's website.  the first article i read was written by a photographer named Natalie Norton.  the way she explained the intricacies of photography was exactly what i was looking for, and she was hilarious, so i was quickly hooked.  i read all of her articles.

i remember venturing over to her website Picks & Kicks and reading, for hours. going through the archives and getting a glimpse of what made this woman tick.  each post was inspiring. her dedication to her family, her commitment to her faith, her love for life, and the way she honed her craft, all so personal, honest and real.  the pictures of her adorable children acting like crazy little monkeys definitely didn't hurt either.

i remember when Natalie blogged about the newest addition to their lovely family, Baby Gavin.  the sweetest little baby pictures that followed over the next few weeks were beautiful.  her words warmed my soul during that holiday season.

i remember checking the blog the first week of January and painfully reading about the health issues Baby Gavin was facing.  i remember praying.  and sharing the story (and link) with others.  soon many around me were following Natalie's tweets and blog...chatter around the office and home focused on 'did you see the blog?' or 'is there any update on gavin?'.  prayers and positive thoughts were sent their way all day, social networking and prayer networking is a powerful thing.  it is way more powerful than stupid pertussis.

i remember a few short days later checking Natalie's blog/twitter and there was nothing. no updates. no new prayer plea. nothing but silence. i kept refreshing, all evening long, and even once when i woke up in the middle of the night. my prayers grew more desperate as i sat waiting for the news.  i remember getting to work, checking the blog, and seeing the heart wrenching news that the Norton's youngest son had left this world.

not a day goes by that i don't think about that week.  i think about how this family, living across the country, brought so many strangers together to focus on one goal.  and how to this day their spirit remains strong, positive and loving.  how their faith in this life, and the next, helped to restore and strengthen the faith of so so many.  thank you, natalie & family!

but now the fight continues, and you get to help out.  do your part, get your shot and leave a comment letting everyone know you're immunized and supporting the cause!