~Brats for Babies- March of Dimes Fundraiser~!

"Brats for Babies" update

Brats for BabiesFriday, April 9th, 20105:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.North English Fire Station(210 N. Main Street)Hello, Team Joely supporters! We're continuing to add to our list of raffle and silent auction items from the very generous area businesses, and getting our "ducks in a row" for our Friday, April 9th fundraiser! Below you will find details pertaining to the raffle and silent auction items:
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Raffle InformationThanks to the generosity of English Valley Radio Service, you have the chance to win a HD television!
LG 22-inch LCD HDTVFeature-rich HD experience with crystal-clear HD picture quality.Raffle ticket prices: - 2 for $5- 5 for $10If you are unable to attend the fundraiser, but would like a chance to win the raffle item, please follow the steps below (you do *not* need to be present to win one of the raffle items):1) Make a donation to the Team Joely page at www.marchforbabies.org/team/teamjoely (or, you can make a donation to one of the Team Joely's personal fundraising page by selecting the individual at the bottom of the Team page).2) Send an email to teamjoely@gmail.com and include the following information (you may find it easiest to copy and paste this information into your email message):
First & Last Name:
Phone Number:
Physical Mailing Address:
Email Address:
Amount of donation (e.g., $5, $10, $20, etc.):
Name of Team Joely member you made your donation on behalf of (or list "Team Joely Page" if you simply made a donation to the team page - www.marchforbabies.org/team/teamjoely - instead of an team member's personal fundraising page):3) Once we receive your donation and contact information, we will fill out tickets on your behalf and add them to the raffle drawing on April 9th. We will contact you via email to let you know that we have received your donation and correspondence, and inform you of the number of tickets that have been entered in your name. If you are selected as a winner, you will be contacted at the phone number you provide in your email message (as instructed in step #2 above).Please note: It is important that you include ALL of the information requested in your correspondence, in order for us to notify you of your prize AND to ensure we are providing you with the correct amount of tickets.Additionally, your donation must be made between Wednesday, March 31 - Thursday, April 8th in order to have tickets added to the raffle in your name.
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Silent Auction InformationThanks to the generosity of our area businesses, the following items will be available at the silent auction on Friday, April 9th.
Golf packages (includes green fees & cart rentals to multiple area courses)
Salon & Spa packages (includes services and products at local salons)
Mexican-theme basket (including gift certificates to Los Portales, Mexican pottery & more)
Children-theme basket (including toys)
Gift certificates to various area restaurants (P.H.A.T. Daddy's, Longhorn Saloon, Myers Grill & Catering, and more!)
Gift certificates to various area businesses
Jewelry (lia sophia items, as well as beautiful locally-made jewelry)
Handbags (Miche, as well as a popular "Hawkeye" handbag)
Scentsy gift basket (including a large burner, bars & more)
Home decor and appliances (including a floral swag, bread maker and more)
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Thanks to the area businesses who made this event possible!We also want to make sure our very generous local businesses are receiving the recognition they deserve! Here is our list of sponsors who have contributed items or services for our April 9th fundraiser:
Amana Appliance & Furniture Center, Amana
Amana Colonies Golf Club, Amana
Amana General Store, Amana
Amy's Salon House & Spa, Sigourney
Ayla Kolosik (lia sophia consultant), Cincinnati
Brown's Tru Value. Marengo
Cindy Menke (Scentsy Consultant), Kalona
Cornerstone Apothecary, Marengo
English Valley Radio Service, North English
Impressionz Salon & Spa, Williamsburg
Little Red Wagon, Amana
Longhorn Saloon, Barnes City
Marengo Golf Course, Marengo
Montezuma Country Club, Montezuma
Myers Grill & Catering, Williamsburg
Knoll Ridge Country Club, North English
P.H.A.T. Daddy's, Marengo
Pride of Iowa, Marengo
Renee's Ceramic Cafe (Iowa City)
Rosa's Flowers, Marengo
Sale Barn Cafe, Montezuma
Trina Hassis Arp (lia sophia consultant), Williamsburg
Williamsburg Foods, WilliamsburgIf your business has items or services that you wish to donate for our raffle or silent auction, please contact us at teamjoely@gmail.com.Thank you again to the local area businesses for their support, as well as our friends, family and community for their donations for March for Babies! We look forward to seeing you on Friday, April 9th!





Join Team Joely!
If you are interested in joining Team Joely, please follow the steps below:
Go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/ and click "join a team".
Enter "Team Joely" under the "What's your team's name?" field.
When presented with the search results, click the "Team Joely" link.
Follow the steps to create your account and personal page.



About Team Joely
On January 3, 2008, our very good friends, Trista and Chris, lost their daughter, Joely, who was born approximately 4 months premature. On January 5th, we stood with Chris and Trista’s closest friends and family at the private burial service for their little angel. It’s a helpless feeling to know there is nothing you can do to relieve the pain of someone you care about so much. However, we have discovered a way to help other families avoid such hurt in the future.In an effort to support Trista and Chris, as well as raise awareness and funding for research, we formed "Team Joely", and participated in the 6-mile "March for Babies" on April 19th in Iowa City. We raised over $3500 for the March of Dimes, but we're not finished yet! We'll continue to raise money throughout the year towards next year's March for Babies.While many of us are blessed with healthy babies, countless families are not as fortunate. The cause of approximately 40% of premature births is unknown, and premature birth touches half a million babies and their families in the U.S. every year.The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The money we raise for the March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start.

Where did we go?

Jackson and I have been busy to say the least since last post... Here are a few highlights...

-We went to Florida to visit Grandma JoAnn with Mamma John & Aunt Kati in January for a week.
-Jackson had a tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy April 2nd. He is a bew boy!
-We had our first emergency room visit-for a sprained ankle/foot- in June. This makes 6 trips to the ER in Jackson's 4.5 years!
-Jackson had surgery June 29th on his "manhood"... he recovered well and is doing great!

-Both of Jackson's Aunts graduated from high school. We were able to celebrate with both. So happy and excited for Tay Tay and Kati!!

All in all we are doing great! Jackson is enjoying summer at Mamma Johns and is looking forward to school starting again in August. He is the light of my life and gives me reason to SMILE each and every minute of every day! How I love that boy!

Untill next time...

Rolling into the weekend...

Jackson and I will have a busy weekend... We are going to put up our tree tonight!! My son is just sure that Santa will not find him unless we have lights up! The minds of 3 year olds... Tomorrow morning Grandma McWilliams got him reservations to have breakfast with Santa! He is looking forward to that so much... Hope he is a good boy and we get to go! We have had some issues with pinching children at daycare... I pray that stage will pass soon. He has been through so much-to much-in his little life, I feel awful sometimes when I have to decipline him. I know it is for his own good. Today has been a great day for him, I pray that is the way it will continue... We are supposed to get snow again this evening and then again Monday! Tis the season!! I hope to finish shopping this weekend. We'll see how that goes!

Have a great-safe weekend!

Great giveaway!

I just read about an incredible giveaway. Go on over here to check it out and enter. You'll definitely want to!

New week, new attitude....

Things seem a little better in our neck of the woods.

This picture is Jackson with one of our puppies. This is at 2 weeks!!! They are huge! But I guess when a momma has 10 "dinner plates" and only 2 puppies to feed-this happens!

We attended the visitation and funeral for Mikyla Thursday and Friday. That was heart-wrenching to say the least. Her family and friends are one strong group of people! Her service was beautiful. From the picture video, to the music that was selected, the group of FFA ushers that came wearing their yellow usher shirts, to her entire senior class being Honorary Pall Bearers. It was all amazing. Quite a tribute to a beautiful girl! We will never forget her, she will live on in all of our hearts forever.

This last weekend was a busy one. Deb and I had a yard sale at our house Saturday. We had a decent turnout and made some extra money. We also got fall cleaning done! We took most of what didn't sell and headed to Goodwill! While Deb and I were busy with the yard sale, Jackson went on a playdate! His very 1st!!! Robe & Lisa Smith (actually our landlords and they also take their youngest boy Luke to daycare at Debs) invited Jackson over Saturday. I dropped him off at 10 and picked him up at 1. They said he was well behaved and well mannered. Thank God! We had a little lecture on the way (listen to Rob and Lisa, don't fight over toys, remember-it is Luke's house and Luke's toys, etc...) We also had a little lecture on "no politics talk". Who has to have that talk with their 3 year old?! He has a mind of his own. He was a tired little man when we got home!

How about the wind gusts on Sunday? Jackson and I helped my Dad and step-mom in their restaurant Sunday morning-since she is open weekends now with hunting seasons upon us. It was cool crisp morning... But, wow did the winds pick up! The wind in the corn fields looked like waves! Jackson thought is was pretty cool that there were stalks of corn blowing across the roads... Cool for him, not so much for mommy driving!! He loves to take drives this time of year, and see all the combines, tractors and wagons. We got home Sunday afternoon and stayed inside!!! The wind was too much!

Jackson has his 1st school pictures today!! Aunt Kati stopped over last night to try and help pick out a shirt for him to wear. I sent 3 in his bag, so Grandma will have to make the final decision. He was so excited, and practiced his smile all evening. This morning he was very concerned with his hair and outfit! What a drama-king. I just hope he smiles (cheesey as it may be) and doesn't decide to pull out any "shrek-faces" or anything else goofy. The 3 year old preschool is having their pics taken today which is "re-take day". So this is it--one shot! I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Also our car may get fixed today!! Branden (a good friend of our family) is also a mechanic and has they day off today, so he is going to see what he can do! It would be less expensive (a couple bottles of Southern Comfort and the cost of the parts!!!) and we trust Branden. Thank God for friends! And thank God for Deb allowing us to use her car!

My moms Birthday is tomorrow 29th. Another one of those time I wished I lived closer! We will have to make up for it when we see them again. :)

The rest of our week should (please God) be uneventful... Aunt Cindy and Dennis get married this Saturday November 1st. That should be a fun time with family. We are so happy for them!

Have a great week everyone.

When is enough-enough?

Jackson and I are struggling to say the least... 3 weeks ago I had to have my fuel pump replaced in my Jimmy-to the tune of $481.50. Ouch! Not quite in a single-moms budget! Monday evening-I noticed it running different (not alot of power and a strong sulfur smell). Tuesday morning I dropped Jackson off at Debs, and left my car there as well.. It had "died" 6 times from our house to hers... Thankfully she has let me use her car. Now-I am looking at another $500 in repairs. What?! I have only had this 2001 for 1 year! I take good care of it, regular oil changes, gas tank always above half, drive like a grandma... What else? I am quite down about this latest turn of events, but I also need to focus on the more positives... Jackson and I are safe, healthy and for the most part-happy. It could be much worse.

Tonight I am attending a visitation for a dear friend. She was killed in a car accident Monday morning on her way to school. Bless her heart-she was only 17. She worked for my family in our little restaurant, was the first person (outside of family) to watch Jackson, and just a genuine girl. She was the most beautiful girl, inside and out. Please pray for her family. She has younger brothers who are beyond devastated-she was their 2nd momma. And her parents are barely hanging on. When I told Jackson that Mikyla wa sin Heaven. He had just said his prayer and he asked God to watch over "Kyla". Then he looked at me and said "I'm going to have to go get her. She shouldnt be with Dod yet." I tried my best to explain why he couldn't. And I told him he couldn't leave his mommy. He said " Well, then I will take you with me." Wow-talk about a hard one for mommy to talk about. He is only 3. My little Bless his heart boy.

Jackson and I's dog Callie-had puppies 10/5. She had 7 total. She has kept 2. We are not sure what happened-they just passed away one by one. Sad, but thankful for the 2 healthy (very well-nourished) pups. Jackson so enjoys taking care of them, holding them and can't wait to play with them.

So, again-it is a dreary day, things are tough... But I have to count my blessings and thank God for what we do have.

Getting started

So many of my friends have started blogs. It is such a neat way to keep in touch. Yes, you can email, facebook, myspace... This is just another fun way! So, I will try my darndest to keep this updated and post new pics. :)