Rainier, Oregon, where I live, is having their Community Giving Tree again. I was one of the families blessed by the giving tree last year. It was wonderful! I feel so blessed living in a community that cares so much. I feel that getting the word out about this awesome program is important!
There are 8 trees total. Trees are located at Cornerstone Cafe, El Tapatio, Chevron, Cole's Coffee, Deli Store and More (Mini Mart), Hometown Pizza, Rainier Community Church of God and Riverside Community Church.
We need your help! If you live in or around Rainier, Oregon and have not already done so, please think about adopting a family or a child in need this
year for Christmas. Please go take a "Giving Tree Tag" off the trees and bless a child from
our little town of Rainier, Oregon. These are done anonymously. We have over 280 tags that need to be taken which is a total of over 30 families.
The deadline for those that are getting gifts for people off the trees (wrapped or unwrapped with gift tag attached) is December 18th. They need to be dropped off at either of the two churches involved. Drop off dates and times are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30am-12:30pm at both churches, Wednesday evenings from 5-8pm at Rainier Community Church of God and Tuesday & Wednesday evenings at 6-8pm at Riverside Community Church.
For more information click on the above image to make it larger and then you will be able to read it. Thank you!!
My good friend and fellow homeschooling neighbor, Talina Aubian, has been tremendously busy giving her time and her love to the Rainier Gift-Giving Program with the Angel Trees that have been posted around Rainier Oregon. She and others have been making sure kids in this community don't go without this Christmas. The number of kids that have been provided for is an astounding number of over 200! Each child was selected by a member in the community that witnessed their need and the entire process is anonymous.
My family was among the ones on the receiving end of all of this selfless charity. We were not expecting this at all and want to thank whoever put our name in and whoever got gifts for our kids. They are so excited! I also want to thank Talina and whoever donated them to her for the awesome real Christmas tree for our home! I love the wonderful smell it brings. The kids loved decorating it and placing the new gifts under it! We are so very grateful and are truly blessed. God is good!
My beautiful 6 year old daughter passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2010. My family and I are grieving. She was taken from us so suddenly. I find comfort in knowing that she is in heaven no longer restricted by her disabilities she had here on Earth. My once totally blind daughter can now see the heavens and everything around her. She is now able to walk and run, no longer having Cerebral Palsy. She is now free from her many endocrine problems; no longer having to be poked weekly and sometimes daily for blood draws for sodium levels, and nightly for growth hormone. She doesn't have to take medications or be fed her liquids through a g-tube anymore. She is free from her physical trials and families are forever, so we will be reunited someday.
I love her and miss her dearly. Her sweet spirit touched and blessed my life so much. I miss her curly head of red hair and sparkling blue eyes! I have not been able to keep the tears from flowing. Everything of hers reminds me of her and makes me cry again. We now have to make the necessary arrangements for her memorial and go through her many things that need sorting.
I have been blessed with friends and family that are going to be helping with meals, sending flowers and cards and just giving me a shoulder to cry on. To them I wanted to say; thank so much for your support through this difficult time.
Read about my daughter, Tatiana, on my blog HERE. Read about Tatiana on her webpage HERE.
Here is a movie of my daughter, Tatiana (known also as Tati or Boo to many), that I made on June 16th, 2008 when she came home from the hospital. Her endocrine problems (mostly her Diabetes Insipidus...sodium issues) would send her to the hospital often.
She is saying all kinds of things here. This is how I usually was awakened in the morning and lulled off to sleep. Tatiana would become a chatter box pretty darn early and also late at night. It is amazing I got any sleep at all. I loved waking up to her "I love you" or "hug" or "kisses" or her singing one of her favorite songs. I miss this also...
Update April 21, 2010: I have been going through the many pictures I have of Tati and her with family and posting my favorites in my mother's picasa. Go HERE to see them...Just know that this album is not done yet.
Update April 23, 2010: My mother made this memorial picture book to music for Tatiana's Memorial Service which is scheduled to be on Saturday, May 1st, 2010 at my church (Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints) in Rainier, Oregon at 1pm with a luncheon following...
Update April 28, 2010:HERE is Tatiana's Obituary. I wrote it with many tears. Please sign the guest book there or comment on this post to share thoughts or condolences.
