Carleigh's name gallery and more

I have finally gotten around to creating a name gallery for all of Carleigh's pictures that so many wonderful people have sent me. I looked at several different sites to host all the pictures but finally decided to create a Facebook page since it could hold the most photos and people can interact on the page too. So you can visit Carleigh's page here. Now that she has a page, I will be deleting her group on Facebook. No sense in having both, really, and I think it will be easier.

I was going to hold a giveaway this week but have decided to put that off until later. What I would really like to do is hold another raffle for Harley. If you remember, she is the special little girl who passed away from Alper's Syndrome. She was born in January 2008 just like Kyndra and her mom Katie and I were in a due date club together on Cafemom. I know there are still needs to be met and I would really like to help them out. I would really love to have several items besides the one I would provide to raffle off to try and raise as much money as I can. If you or someone you know would like to make or donate an item for the raffle please email me at caring4carleigh@yahoo.com. I would like to get this up and running as soon as possible. And thank you to everyone who made the last raffle such a great success! I truly appreciate it! You can visit the blog or caringbridge page to read her story.

I got a sympathy card in the mail today from the University of Findlay. It was a nice surprise. Inside the card it says, "Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your little Carleigh. From your friends at Findlay." Then a bunch of people signed the card. I'm not really sure who they all are but it's nice. I imagine they found out from the update I submitted as an alumni. Maybe it'll be in the next alumni magazine.

Some of you may be aware that Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD Beauty Will Rise was released today and the first single off the CD is called Heaven Is The Face. Oh my goodness. This song is AMAZING. If you haven't heard it pause Carleigh's music player at the bottom and play this video below. I've already bought the mp3. Yeah, it's that good.

Raffle winner

Congratulations to Nicole P for winning the Coach purse!!

16 people donated money for the ChipIn for Harley and raised $244. Fantastic!! Thank you, on behalf of Katie and Cameron, to everyone who donated and to everyone who has been praying for them.

I may be holding another raffle for them so keep your eyes open for that! Have a blessed weekend!!

Harley is in Heaven

Sweet Harley is now in Heaven. While my heart is joyous that she is in such a wonderful place and in no more pain, it is also breaking for her parents, Katie and Cameron, that they had to lose such a precious daughter. I never wanted them to have to experience losing a child.

Harley was diagnosed with Alpers Syndrome. She fought this disease since March and so many were praying for her. She touched the lives of so many people along the way. You can read her entire journey on her CaringBridge page. Many of us moms, including myself, know Katie and Harley through Cafemom by the January 2008 babies groups.

There is a balloon release scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 1pm CST. It doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing. At that moment on Saturday we are all going to release a purple balloon for Harley. Below is a tag you can attach to the purple balloon. Take a picture of the balloon release and email the picture with the subject 'balloon release' to Ivy at sissygurl_02@yahoo.com. A collage of pictures of Harley and the balloon release will be created for Katie and Cameron by Amber.

Photo created by and courtesy of Emily Johnson.

Thank you to anyone who donated money towards Harley's shadowbox. All the money was raised and that is so wonderful!

It has been placed on my heart to help and I would like to hold a raffle to raise money for expenses, both medical and funeral. Harley was in the hospital for many months and those bills can add up quickly. Now her parents will have to face funeral expenses too. I know I can only help just a little but at least it is something. So what I am raffling off is a Coach purse. It is a light pink color.


Each raffle entry is $1. You can either place the entries separately or buy all at one time. All money will go straight to my PayPal and at the end of the raffle I will be giving all money to Katie. The ChipIn ends September 4th and the winner of the purse will be announced the next day. I hope you will help me help Harley's family!