Hey friends! We’re getting closer to the fundraising events for a new van for the Allens. If you want to participate in the golf tournament, you must RSVP by tomorrow. Also, there will be a wine and cheese reception on October 9—so RSVP for that as well!

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Keep reading.

Our Goal
…It’s our hope and desire to help the Allen Family purchase a van with a wheelchair lift. As Amelia grows up, it has become more of a challenge to lift her in and out of a vehicle. A new wheelchair lift will make going places much easier for the Allens and for all the volunteers who help with Amelia.

How You Can Help
There are three ways you can particpate:
1. Sign up for the “Give Amelia a Lift – Golf Tournament”
2. Join us for the Wine and Cheese Event
3. Make a Financial Donation

Golf Tournament
When : Saturday, October 9th at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Woodland Hills Golf Course – Near Eagle, NE
Details: 4 person Scramble • $100 per person
($55.00 for the green fees are not tax deductible)
RSVP to Andrew at andrew@weekslawpractice.com or call 402.310.6269. Please make checks payable to Redeemer Church with Amelia/Golf in the memo line. – 745 ‘D’ Street, Lincoln, NE 68502.
Sign-Up: The last day to sign up is Thursday, Sept. 30.

Wine and Cheese Event
When : Saturday, October 9th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rob and Carla Nixon’s Home – 3045 Van Dorn St. Lincoln, NE
The purpose of the Wine and Cheese Event is to raise money for the van, to learn more about families with disabilities, and how we can encourage and support them. There will be an opportunity to make a financial contribution at the event.

Financial Donations
Please make all checks out to Redeemer Church with Amelia in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Redeemer Church at 745 ‘D’ Street, Lincoln, NE 68502. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover the cost of the van and wheelchair lift.

You can also watch this short video by David Houfek.

Happy 40th birthday to the love of my life!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
– James 1:7

I praise God for this child, for the fun of being together on a Friday afternoon and doing special things together like drinking Sonic slushies and going to the lake.

I praise God for this world He’s created—that Livia loves to explore—and for the creatures like ducks and caterpillars that bring her such delight.

I praise God for her chubby kid cheeks that will someday morph into a more slender shape. I praise God that He has given such a beautiful child to me to love and care for.

This unchanging nature of our God brings me such relief and profound gratitude. He doesn’t change. His goodness can’t be altered. Praise God.

Under the headline “Why getting messy can be good for children,” The Macomb Daily newspaper printed my photo in their Sunday, July 18 newspaper.

It was pretty cool. Here’s the photo:

If you Google muddy child, (and if you ignore the horror show shot of one particular small child, eek!) then Livia’s image will immediately pop up and that shot will lead you to this blog post. I believe that’s how a journalist from the Macomb Daily found me. We conversed back and forth via email and I submitted several images for consideration. I also gave a small email interview and was then quoted in the article.

Like most other papers, the Macomb Daily doesn’t publish every last article online, but I wish I could link to this one so you all could read it! I think I come off sounding much smarter and more professional than I really am. [wink, wink]

“We’ve always known that kids and play are just a natural combo,” [Dr. Michele] Borba said. “But new research also shows that letting kids engage in self-directed play has immense value for their social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth.”

Rebecca Tredway, 32, would agree.

The former middle school teacher and freelance photographer—whose blog, View From the Prairie Box—provides readers with a daily dose of images and stories about life in America’s Heartland—said, as a mom, she tries to value childish fun and exploration over cleanliness and easy parenting.

The article goes on, with a little more quotage by yours truly, to detail the benefits of messy, independent play for young children. If you’d like to read it in its entirety, you’ll have to stop by for a cup of coffee sometime. I have exactly one hard copy in my possession.

You can see the rest of the mud photo series on my Flickr account. My favorite shot is this one.

Some of you might remember me desperately asking for prayer for sweet little Amelia Allen about three years ago. Those were some very dark times when my friends Steve and Jen were doing all they could to help Amelia fight leukemia. An infection entered her brain when her body couldn’t fight it off and Amelia suffered brain damage at that point in time.

A lot has happened since then. I believe cancer has gone into remission and the Allens have moved back to Lincoln (where Steve pastors UNL students with RUF). Amelia is a beautiful little girl and is now joined by a little brother, Miles. I continue to be floored by Amelia’s work in therapy and by her parents and therapists’ work to allow her to communicate with others.

Because I love the Allens, I want to mention an opportunity we have to help in outfitting them with a van with a wheelchair lift and ramp. It’s a blessing to both give and receive—and I’ve been on the receiving end of gifts before. It’s harder to receive than one would think! At the same time, it would be remarkable if we could raise this money to bless this awesome family.

So think about it. And read the info below to Give Amelia a Lift.

********************************

Our Goal
…It’s our hope and desire to help the Allen Family purchase a van with a wheelchair lift. As Amelia grows up, it has become more of a challenge to lift her in and out of a vehicle. A new wheelchair lift will make going places much easier for the Allens and for all the volunteers who help with Amelia.

How You Can Help
There are three ways you can particpate:
1. Sign up for the “Give Amelia a Lift – Golf Tournament”
2. Join us for the Wine and Cheese Event
3. Make a Financial Donation

Golf Tournament
When : Saturday, October 9th at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Woodland Hills Golf Course – Near Eagle, NE
Details: 4 person Scramble • $100 per person
($55.00 for the green fees are not tax deductible)
RSVP to Andrew at andrew@weekslawpractice.com or call 402.310.6269. Please make checks payable to Redeemer Church with Amelia/Golf in the memo line. – 745 ‘D’ Street, Lincoln, NE 68502.
Sign-Up: The last day to sign up is Thursday, Sept. 30.

Wine and Cheese Event
When : Saturday, October 9th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rob and Carla Nixon’s Home – 3045 Van Dorn St. Lincoln, NE
The purpose of the Wine and Cheese Event is to raise money for the van, to learn more about families with disabilities, and how we can encourage and support them. There will be an opportunity to make a financial contribution at the event.

Financial Donations:
Please make all checks out to Redeemer Church with Amelia in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Redeemer Church at 745 ‘D’ Street, Lincoln, NE 68502. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover the cost of the van and wheelchair lift.

You can also watch this short video by David Houfek.

I suppose you could say I made some good friends at Horn Creek camp back in my high school days. The PCA youth leadership camp doesn’t even meet in the Sangre de Christo mountain range any longer, but that location will forever hold precious memories for me. I get a bit nostalgic just writing about it—and could go on and on—but for now, suffice to say that amazing, lifelong friendships were formed during those one-week sessions over four years of attendance.

Charity, Haley, Bryonie, Autumn and I now get together over Labor Day for a weekend of talking, eating, drinking, reading and general laziness. It’s awesome. I love these women. And Isaac, the newest addition to our girls’ weekend (though he’ll only to get enjoy this once).

You asked for photos, so enjoy!

I’m back in town, settled back into my comfortable daily existence of kid cuddles, husband hugs and dog-petting. It’s a good life for sure.

But a weekend away with the girls at the lake? It was priceless. And very otherly. And that is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I sit at my own booth, the yellow breakfast platter before me is now empty while a mug of coffee sits, full, just to my left. For too long now I’ve read while listening to someone else’s conversation, my mind only half-heartedly focused on the material on the page. The conversation is interesting, but my goal in coming here was not eavesdropping. So I move on and start up my computer, plug in my headphones and start to write. But, wait a minute, I can’t write while listening to Patty Griffin apparently. I thought her music was unfamiliar enough to become background noise, but it’s not. So classical then. Again no, not going to work at all. I’m one of those folks who is way too aware of—and thus distracted by—background music. Shoot. Now I’m listening to the dude on the phone behind me.

Oh, the life of a freelancer at the “office.”

I love it.