Thankful

I'M THANKFUL ...

for being able to hold my precious baby girl

for my husband who somehow loves me with endless patience

for my peaceful mother and her beautiful bond with my daughter

that my extended family has the opportunity to live their lives as they want

for financial stability and the peace of mind it allows

for my health, my sanity, my life

While those I know have not been touched, or only lightly so, by economic hardships there are many in our Nation who are struggling in ways that can't be helped by well wishes and Government dreams. This year my family is NOT struggling and that comfort creates mommy guilt within me ... how can I help struggling mommies and their young kids? Those who aren't going to have a Christmas, or even the daily necessities??? 

The multitude of ways to offer assistance can be overwhelming at times and then I found something that made it easy for me to help.  This wonderful person, mother, wife, blogger of www.modgblog.com wanted to make a difference and started Operation WANA (we are not assholes) which brings together web dwellers who are in need or those who can help. It's really simple in that those in need post their story and their needs and those who can help contact them directly to offer whatever assistance they can. The predominately mommy audience offers lots of hand-me-downs, diapers, gift cards for basic supplies, and similar. It's a leap of faith that the person you contact to help is truly in need but the option to help a specific family, and KNOW I MADE A DIFFERENCE is satisfying.

So FAMILY, this year in lieu of gifts for the grown-ups, I have helped some who need my money a little more this year.

WE helped Holly in Kentucky. A mother of 2 girls (16 & 8) and the caretaker of her 6 mo niece Holly recently lost her husband in a job related accident and is struggling to make ends meet. Her church and friends are helping with hand me down coats but her older girls were still in need of school clothes and the baby needed diapers. WE sent a selection of Old Navy school clothes and a huge order of Costco basics (diapers, wipes, tp, detergent, and chocolate).

WE  helped Raquel in Texas. Her husband, 28, lost his job with the border control when he developed epilepsy. They are currently waiting for Social Security disability to make a decision on benefits and they are 35 weeks pregnant!! Having lost their first pregnancy at 6 months this pregnancy is a HUGE blessing.  Raquel needed help buying diapers and baby supplies. WE sent supplies via Costco online.

WE also donated a $100 to Toys for Tots which, as I've learned, you can do online allowing them to send the money to the state that needs it most.

WE will probably find a couple more ways to help as the Christmas deadline approaches.

So FAMILY ... THANK YOU for helping, even if you didn't know you were and even though I didn't really give you a choice. If you were thinking of buying us gifts consider helping someone in need instead because if you can't buy us more sleep, what do us Porters really truly need?



MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM STARK, SARAH, & DELLA