5/4/08 - Racing season has started again, so Steve and I went to
Anderson Speedway on Saturday night. Last year, we began taking Sammy
to a few races to support driver Josh Timmerman, the son of "Miss
Debbie", one of Sammy's nurses. It was completely out of our comfort
zone to take Sammy there, but Sammy loved it, so we took him several
times. Josh is a mature young man who wants to be known as someone who
stands for something, and we are very impressed that he has allowed
Sammy to touch his life and is willing to help us raise awareness about
HPE by displaying the Families for HoPE logo on his truck. Josh drives
in the Super Truck division, and this year, he has added a special
tribute to Sammy's memory on the tailgate of his truck! We were excited
on Saturday night when Josh was leading the race for a few laps which
meant that the other drivers were all getting a good view of Sammy's
tribute. We know that eventually someone will cause a big dent or
scratch across the back of Josh's truck, but since that hasn't happened
yet, Sammy's tribute remains unscathed! We're just waiting for that
day when Sammy goes with Josh to Victory Lane!
5/8/08 - For those of you who have known us for a long time, you're
familiar with the name "Aron". Aron is our "Little Brother" through
the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. In 1997, Steve and I decided
that we wanted to get involved, and Big Brothers had just introduced
their new "Couples Match" program. The Couples program allowed married
couples to be matched with a young boy with the hope that the married
couple would be able to model a healthy marriage. We were matched with
7 year-old Aron who quickly became a fixture in our lives. Today, Aron
is 18 years old, and we've been matched with him for 11 years! Last
night, we attended a special Big Brothers Big Sisters event celebrating
Aron's graduation from the program. Even though he's "graduated", he's
still a very important fixture in our lives and has been a bright spot
to us over these past few months of mourning.
5/9/08 - In tribute to all of the moms who are spending their first Mother's Day without their child.
Dandelions From Heaven (Author Unknown)
Mothers Day is coming...and I wanted to send you a sign... Something you can tell others..."Is from an angel of mine". So I searched the Heavens high and low for that perfect thing... And low and behold I found it....and a smile I hope it will bring.
So when you look to the Heavens and see the yellow stars in the sky. Just think of me...your angel... in the Heavens way up high... And just imagine those stars...are dandelions up above... Yes! Dandelions are also in Heaven, which you know how much I love.
So on this Mothers Day... when you awake and feel blue... You will notice those yellow stars...are no longer in view... So just look to the meadows and the dandelions you see... Are the ones I've tossed down this Mothers Day from me!
And when you find a dandelion that has turned from yellow to white... You're supposed to make a wish...and then blow with all your might. For you will be blowing kisses... to me in Heaven above.... And I will be catching them and blowing them back...sent with all my love.
Please know that I am with you...on this Mothers Day... And also in the days ahead...God and I will never stray... We will be with you in the morning...when you wake and see the sun... We will be with you when you say your prayers...when the day is done.
For God and I will never be...very far from your side... For I can now be everywhere...and God will be your guide... So...remember when you see dandelions...it's your guarantee... That I am always close to you...For dandelions are free to roam....now just like me.
5/13/08 - In case you were
wondering, I had a very lovely Mother's Day. Steve gave me a Mother and
Child pendant with Sammy's birthstone. We drove to Mishawaka, Indiana
on Sunday for a day trip. Steve was a good sport for driving in the
rain for over 6 hours round trip to take me to a scrapbook store! He
waited very patiently and allowed me to spend as much time (and money)
as I wanted. I didn't go overboard, but I did pick up a few cute items
for Sammy's preschool scrapbook that I've been working on.
5/14/08 - This is your last chance to sign up to walk with us for the Walking For Dreams Family and Pet Walk
on Sunday, May 18 at the Downtown Canal. We have formed a team to walk
in memory of Sammy and would love to have lots of friends join us in
celebration. (You can easily register online and print a pledge form at
the link above.) If you can't walk with us but would like to make an
online pledge for Families for HoPE, please visit the donation page
and make sure you select Steve Harley or Leslie Harley as the
individual you wish to support. Can't choose between the two of us? You
can select "Families for HoPE" as the organization you are supporting,
and Families for HoPE will receive 100% of your pledge. All walkers
with pledges of $100 or more will receive their choice of a t-shirt
with the Families for HoPE logo or a limited edition www.SammyYammy.com
t-shirt with Sammy's photo printed on the front! One last request--pray
for good weather on Sunday!
5/19/08 - The fundraising walk was fun and successful. Families for
HoPE had five teams of walkers with a combined total of $3,100 raised!
Online donations can still be made through June 1 at the link to the
donation page below.
5/22/08 - Steve and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on
Tuesday. We thought you might enjoy seeing photos from then and now.
5/28/08 - The HPE conference is coming up in just 6 weeks. I've
been working on it and planning for it for several months now. Due to
losing Sammy unexpectedly in early January, it set me back several
weeks. There's still much to plan and funds to raise, so if anyone is
interested in volunteering to help with planning, fundraising, or other
tasks, please don't hesitate to contact me! Send me an e-mail message
to Leslie@FamiliesforHoPE.org.
(If the response is good now, I won't have to beg for help in a few
weeks, and Steve will be so relieved that he won't have to listen to me
whine! He says that whining isn't becoming.)
