Thankful Thursday

Believe it or not, today I'm thankful for work, especially with regard to the foundation. To do something, to create something, to see at the end of the day the difference that was made because you put effort toward it--wow. And to know that your very special talent or skill is a gift from God, but what you do with it is your gift to God.

Work: Thank God for the might of it,
the ardor, the urge, the delight of it;
Work that springs from the heart's desire
setting the brain & the soul on fire.

Oh, what is so good as the heat of it;
And what is so glad as the beat of it;
And what is so kind as the stern command,
challenging brain & heart & hand.

Work: the power that drives behind,
guiding the purpose,
taming the mind,
reigning the runaway wishes back,
holding the will to one steady track,
spending the energies faster & faster,
triumphing even over disaster.

And what is so good as the pain of it;
And what is so great as the gain of it;
And what is so kind as the cruel goad,
forcing us on through the rugged road
Work: Thank God for the might of it.

--David Jeremiah

What are you thankful for today?

Even More Caring & Wearing.

So many great people out there helping us make a difference. These Go, Kyrie, Go! photos come from Melissa, a regular commentator here on this blog. She & her family wore their shirts on a family vacation this summer, which included a visit to the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri. Thank you, Melissa.

I'm also attaching the pics I promised. They are horrible quality, but oh well. We couldn't use our flash inside the chapel. The fact is we spread Kyrie's story just a little further. The Precious Moments chapel is such a neat place. I was there not too long after I lost my friend Caryn our senior year in high school. I still remember the mural of the gates of heaven being so soothing to me then...just thinking of Caryn being greeted by those who loved her...a fun place where she would feel no pain. This time was no different, maybe even more poignant for me. The sign that says "No More Tears" cut me to the core...isn't that we are all just getting through each day here on earth for...so that we can get to a place where there are simply No More Tears allowed.

Belated Congrats

Congratulations to Lyn B. of Wichita, winner of Kyrie's Quilt and member of the Prairie Quilt Guild! And another giant round of gratitude to all those who quilted, planned and organized the fundraising and the beautiful, handcrafted quilt. So good.

As promised ...

The butterfly had landed on a bright, ripe tomato in the garden. Actually looks more like a purple/aqua/yellow with blue iridescence. Can't believe Chad was able to get this photo.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for coincidence. With a raised eyebrow, the word coincidence includes an element of chance, a mere alignment of happy indiscretion. But as Oprah and others will tell you, there are no coincidences. To even recognize something as a "coincidence," well, there must be a message, a clue, a reason within, right? Otherwise why bother noticing?

For the past week or so, Chad has spotted a beautiful blue butterfly in our garden. He's been seeing it so often that he snapped a photo of it the other evening (we'll post tomorrow!). Coincidence? Perhaps, but I like to think of it as a little thumbs up, a little clue that we're all moving in the right direction.

Inspiration.

Sometimes a thought can keep you going. This may be one of those thoughts.

It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while
DARING GREATLY
so that his place shall never be
with those timid souls
who know neither victory or defeat.


Theodore Roosevelt
26th President Of The United States

More Caring & Wearing.

Thank you everyone for wearing your Go, Kyrie, Go! shirts out and about. That's one of the best ways, we think, to raise awareness and to get others to join the cause. Thank you so very, very, very much.

Another cutie for Kyrie: Thanks, Jeni, for sending us your photo! Jeni is also a family photographer who has helped promote the foundation to her clients through her Web site at www.weilertphotography.com. Ginormous thanks for that, too, Jeni!

I apologize for taking so long to get this picture to you, and it's not even taken with my good camera. Not exactly photographer quality. Jalynn is so proud of her shirt!! For obvious reasons, she's wearing it as a night shirt, but she walks around the house with it on saying "Go Kyrie GO!!" It's pretty cute.

Caring & Wearing.

Here's another set of very caring people wearing their Go, Kyrie, Go! t-shirts. Thanks, Leah!

These were from about a month ago when me, my husband Derek, and my friend Sarah (the blonde) did the 'Race to Rebuild Greensburg' in Kingman, KS. It was a Kyrie-inspired event, so naturally we had to wear the tees!! Then after the race we flew out to Ponca City, OK to have lunch (Derek is a pilot). Kyrie came along with us to lunch as well! She was definatly using her wings that day!! She started in Wichita, then to Kingman, then to Ponca City, all before noon!!

Look-see.

So if you have a moment today, you may want to check out www.kyriefoundation.org. ;)

Working upward.

We are closing in on the foundation's Web site. For those of you who have followed this site, you may see some familiar reminders in addition to some very interesting additions to help the cause. We're elated to be creating something that is far beyond ourselves, something that has wings.

The fluttering of a butterfly's wings can effect climate changes on the other side of the planet. ~Paul Erlich

sferko family, please feel free to e-mail Jordan & Lacie at lacie_thome1@yahoo.com for questions, comments or comfort.

Thoughts today have careened back & forth between Kyrie & Taya. And Ethan. And all the children who need our help. All the children born today that will need our help next year or the year after that. Or the year after that. The Kyrie Foundation has much to accomplish to help these families, these children. Please consider this your personal invitation to be a part of the Kyrie Foundation's effort. Lord knows, we and these families need you.

I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit.
-Dawna Markova

Help.

All, we have another child for whom to pray. See the last comment on the last post.

sferko, please feel free to e-mail megan_thome@yahoo.com. Jordan & Lacie, I'm sure this family could use your precise insight & care. Marcy, are you out there? This family might benefit from your journey, too.

In the meantime, prayers, prayers, prayers please.

We have ...

a logo!

Accomplished designer Julie Reed donated her time & talent to create a logo that symbolized what the Kyrie Foundation is about. We wanted it to be simple & uplifting, something identifiable.

We thought the metamorphosis of a butterfly--all the energy it embodies and the symbolism of good change--captured the spirit of our goals. And this isn't just any butterfly; ours has beautiful angel wings, to protect & guide, to soar as a messenger between us & heaven.

We hope you like it.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for butterflies. They grow from such unlikely creatures into delicate beauties whose jobs include visiting flowers and inspiring art.

Did you know that Monarch butterflies regularly migrate beween southern Canada and central Mexico, a total distance in excess of 2,500 miles? They only weigh 1/50 of an ounce yet travel at 20 mph and reach altitudes of 10,000 feet. If a little butterfly can do that, imagine what we can do.

Busy, busy.

New news to come very soon. So exciting.

Something to share.

Remember our artist friend Rhonna who designed the Kyrie Foundation's t-shirt? Well, if you pick up the latest special issue of Paper Crafts magazine, you'll see on page 74 & 75, a journal project that her 21-Day Challenge inspired. Last year, Rhonna promoted the idea of a 21-day challenge to break a less-than-desirable habit; twenty-one days being the length of time in which a new habit will stick. Creative journaling chronicles the emotional/spiritual process.

Willingness to change is never easy. Even moreso, the conscious willingness to bear struggles come what may is nothing short of a miracle. This willingness to carry on is really the essence of courage, and it's evidence of real, day-to-day faith. Make no mistake: courage is difficult. And many times right behind a moment of miraculous courage comes our human selfishness, wanting it our way, wanting it to be easy, wanting God to change things, wanting God to change His will. This struggle between the selfish comfort of habit or blame or ease and the awareness of becoming better, of choosing grace is a daily challenge. It's like having the past & future, the worst & the best within you all at once.

There's a song about this struggle, this fulcrum point where two feelings collide, and wanting to get to the good side. Perhaps that good side is heaven. Maybe you'll like "Twilight" from Shaun Groves.

And if you come to courage today, you may be inspired by this one, too.

Small Update

We're underway becoming official not only in Missouri, but Kansas as well. And ... we just put in for our second t-shirt order! Much will be happening in the days ahead, so stay tuned!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful—immensely thankful—for help.

That small, one-syllable word embodies the human & the divine all in one. That word can change the world; I know it's changed mine.

Whether giving help or receiving help, a glowing grace usually accompanies the exchange. That grace must be why doing good feels good, as if your skin is radiating with compassion or gratitude, depending on whether you are the giver or the recipient.

The best is when help comes from unexpected people & places, like a holy ambush. Thank you people. Thank you places.

What are you thankful for today?

Not alone.

The Kyrie Foundation's Web site will soon be up & running, and we're hoping to debut the logo right here within the next few days! Wa-hoo!

In the meantime, we wanted to tell you about our sister organization in Holland, Michigan. That's right, not one but two groups inspired by Kyrie. Months ago, a prayer request came to Margorie Sondermann. It was a request for Kyrie, and Margorie, like many of you, followed the blog journey each day. She was especially touched by the photo of Lacie & Kyrie coloring together. With that image in mind, she and her husband were inspired to create a non-profit ministry that donates Christian-themed coloring books to pediatric hospital units. Can you believe that?!?! Such proactive kindness.

You can learn more by visiting the Web site for Kyrie's Gift. There was also a very sweet article written in the local Holland paper. You can download that PDF here on their site.

Go, Kyrie, Go!