(Posted by Chad)
This month marked the two-year anniversary of the creation of The Kyrie Foundation. We cannot thank all of you enough for the amazing support you have shown our grassroots effort. We have only seen an increase in the momentum as people have started registering online for the second annual Twilight Walk. Please know that nothing you do is too small or insignificant. The actions that we take may seem tiny at the onset, however the ripple that results covers so much more area that originally expected. Thank you for starting that ripple.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Talking about walking.
Hey! I hope you are as excited as we are about the second-annual Kyrie Foundation Twilight Walk!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Bishop Carroll High School Track
Food & fun begins at 4 p.m.
Walk begins at 7:15 p.m.
$10 per registrant
$35 for a group of 4
Children 2 & under are FREE
Registration fee includes t-shirt, illumination star and 2 free game tickets per child.
We have lots of fun games for the kiddos, delicious bites, the bounce house & inflatable slide, great buys for the silent auction, massage therapy at the ready and of course, our very special walk that kicks off as another gorgeous Kansas sunset commences.
I can't begin to describe how moving the walk was last year. Something so simple, yet when done together, so powerful. One foot in front of the other, nine laps on the track became a countdown for the elusive cure we are daring to discover. One evening to do something very, very good.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Bishop Carroll High School Track
Food & fun begins at 4 p.m.
Walk begins at 7:15 p.m.
$10 per registrant
$35 for a group of 4
Children 2 & under are FREE
Registration fee includes t-shirt, illumination star and 2 free game tickets per child.
We have lots of fun games for the kiddos, delicious bites, the bounce house & inflatable slide, great buys for the silent auction, massage therapy at the ready and of course, our very special walk that kicks off as another gorgeous Kansas sunset commences.
I can't begin to describe how moving the walk was last year. Something so simple, yet when done together, so powerful. One foot in front of the other, nine laps on the track became a countdown for the elusive cure we are daring to discover. One evening to do something very, very good.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
To tweet or not to tweet?
The other day someone asked me if The Kyrie Foundation would start a following on Twitter. It's difficult these days to escape the twittering about Twitter. In case you've been baffled by yet another form of social media, it's basically a way to mini-blog. You create an account and acquire followers who are updated on whatever 140-character report you send out, a sentence or two about what you are doing. It's much like the status line on Facebook.
We considered it. After all, getting the word out about who we are, what we're doing and hoping (and deeply praying!) for people to simply come to our events has been a lot of work (and more prayers!). About this same time, Conan O'Brien told a joke on his late night show that made me think about all this social media stuff. [Warning: This joke is just a joke. It's not meant to lower our verbal standards here on the blog. :)] He joked that in the future, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter would all join forces to create a new site called YouTwitFace. I laughed out loud!
So, the short of it? No, we will not be tweeting. 1) We already have this blog, which is a labor of love and a safe place to come together to support each other, to think about ideas and stay connected to the cause. 2) We already have The Kyrie Foundation web site, another official method of communicating what is happening with us. 3) We already have a growing community of supporters on Facebook, still another way to get the word out about events and happenings.
If, however, someone invented a web site where we could sign up to get guaranteed cures for cancers sent to everyone who needs 'em, we'd be all over that one.
We considered it. After all, getting the word out about who we are, what we're doing and hoping (and deeply praying!) for people to simply come to our events has been a lot of work (and more prayers!). About this same time, Conan O'Brien told a joke on his late night show that made me think about all this social media stuff. [Warning: This joke is just a joke. It's not meant to lower our verbal standards here on the blog. :)] He joked that in the future, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter would all join forces to create a new site called YouTwitFace. I laughed out loud!
So, the short of it? No, we will not be tweeting. 1) We already have this blog, which is a labor of love and a safe place to come together to support each other, to think about ideas and stay connected to the cause. 2) We already have The Kyrie Foundation web site, another official method of communicating what is happening with us. 3) We already have a growing community of supporters on Facebook, still another way to get the word out about events and happenings.
If, however, someone invented a web site where we could sign up to get guaranteed cures for cancers sent to everyone who needs 'em, we'd be all over that one.
Monday, July 20, 2009
all in the family
To those of you who check in on a regular basis, the photo of Kyrie on the right has been a mainstay. Some of you have even applied this photo to your fantastic do-good projects and ideas. Well, you'll never guess who has grown to love playing in this very same kitchen cupboard ...
Uncanny, isn't it?!
Uncanny, isn't it?!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thankful Thursday
Today I'm thankful for this baby, Kyrie & Kamdyn's new little brother!
Kolbe Kross Thome
Born 07-08-09 at 10:56 a.m.
7 pounds, 6 ounces
19 3/4 inches long
Jordan & Lacie will post about little Kolbe soon, but they have had their hands full this past week with getting Kolbe settled and caring for a 1-year-old who came down with a terrible summer flu-like bug precisely as Kolbe came home. So I'm thankful today for parents who simply will themselves awake when the fog of exhaustion hangs heavy. I'm thankful for healthy arrivals, newborn appetites and little sleeping sounds. I'm thankful for swaddling and lullabies and onesies. I'm thankful for parents, and I'm thankful that children teach us as much as we teach them.
What are you thankful for today?
Kolbe Kross Thome
Born 07-08-09 at 10:56 a.m.
7 pounds, 6 ounces
19 3/4 inches long
Jordan & Lacie will post about little Kolbe soon, but they have had their hands full this past week with getting Kolbe settled and caring for a 1-year-old who came down with a terrible summer flu-like bug precisely as Kolbe came home. So I'm thankful today for parents who simply will themselves awake when the fog of exhaustion hangs heavy. I'm thankful for healthy arrivals, newborn appetites and little sleeping sounds. I'm thankful for swaddling and lullabies and onesies. I'm thankful for parents, and I'm thankful that children teach us as much as we teach them.
What are you thankful for today?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A big prayer request.
The past week has brought one of the highest of highs and one of lowest of lows. More on the good news later, but for now, it is with a heavy heart that we're asking you to pray for a little girl in Arizona who was diagnosed last week with a PNET.
Several of you e-mailed/Facebooked to let us know, and we would have posted about Kate McRae before now, but we wanted to make sure it was okay with her family first before we publicized their very personal struggle. It has also been difficult to simply type the words. News of Kate knocked the wind from me. Not another child, God, please not another family ...
This—right here—is why we were in the fight . She, just like Kyrie, was a completely healthy, normal child one day, and within two weeks, she's recovering from a crainiotomy and in preparation for a chemo plan. It is for her parents who are exhausted and frightened and wrenched with worry that we fight. We know this place. We know this anguish. We know the constant prayer that is behind every breath as you sit in PICU. We know that perpetual support and prayers from anyone is the only thing that resembles comfort when you're in the fight of your life.
We're with you, Kate. We're with you, too, Holly, Aaron, Olivia and Will. We're right there with you.
Several of you e-mailed/Facebooked to let us know, and we would have posted about Kate McRae before now, but we wanted to make sure it was okay with her family first before we publicized their very personal struggle. It has also been difficult to simply type the words. News of Kate knocked the wind from me. Not another child, God, please not another family ...
This—right here—is why we were in the fight . She, just like Kyrie, was a completely healthy, normal child one day, and within two weeks, she's recovering from a crainiotomy and in preparation for a chemo plan. It is for her parents who are exhausted and frightened and wrenched with worry that we fight. We know this place. We know this anguish. We know the constant prayer that is behind every breath as you sit in PICU. We know that perpetual support and prayers from anyone is the only thing that resembles comfort when you're in the fight of your life.
We're with you, Kate. We're with you, too, Holly, Aaron, Olivia and Will. We're right there with you.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
This little light of mine.
It's a dark, rainy Sunday morning here. Belly rumbles of thunder, veins of rain spilling down the gutters, cars shushing through pavement-bottomed lakes with sidewalk beaches. Mornings like this are ideal for being still, for contemplation, for calculating priorities, for examining where you've been and where you're going. Mornings like this are for snuggling with your children, putting on a pot of coffee, coming home from church to a warm breakfast casserole, and for me, listening to a CD of vespers.
I also lit a candle this morning (for some illumination on a gray day). A while back, Chad's cousin passed along a candle that was lovingly crafted by her dear friend. Thank you so much, friend. Today this tiny candle flickers alongside our family photos on the old hutch in our office.
I love this little light. Maybe you will, too.
I also lit a candle this morning (for some illumination on a gray day). A while back, Chad's cousin passed along a candle that was lovingly crafted by her dear friend. Thank you so much, friend. Today this tiny candle flickers alongside our family photos on the old hutch in our office.
I love this little light. Maybe you will, too.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Circles and connections.
Nearly two years ago, two little girls in Iowa celebrated her 8th birthdays by inviting friends to make donations to The Kyrie Foundation instead of purchasing traditional birthday gifts. With that decision, small but mighty Emma and Abby (and their parents) hosted the very first fundraiser for us. A normal, everyday decision with powerful and profound meaning.
That weekend, Chad and I motored north to celebrate with Emma and her family. We thought that her generosity deserved a little of our generosity, so we selected a small gift to inspire her to create more good ideas. That gift was this clever and entertaining book:
Now, in a strange and wonderful twist of paths, those of you who read this post will see that the illustrator of Emma's gift is none other than same benevolent artist, Keri Smith, who has donated to the 2009 art auction. Isn't that something? I mean, really, really something?
I love it when the world is tethered together by goodness.
That weekend, Chad and I motored north to celebrate with Emma and her family. We thought that her generosity deserved a little of our generosity, so we selected a small gift to inspire her to create more good ideas. That gift was this clever and entertaining book:
Now, in a strange and wonderful twist of paths, those of you who read this post will see that the illustrator of Emma's gift is none other than same benevolent artist, Keri Smith, who has donated to the 2009 art auction. Isn't that something? I mean, really, really something?
I love it when the world is tethered together by goodness.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Thankful Thursday
Today I’m thankful for all that we’ve accomplished together. July 2009 marks The Kyrie Foundation’s second anniversary. Just two short years ago, we decided to continue this blog, applied for our federal and state non-profit status, and printed our fab, cocoa-colored t-shirts featuring that gorgeous design from Rhonna Farrer. Two years ago, we were uniting with Kyrie’s Gift, linking with the PBTF and spending every free moment on weekends, over lunches and in between workdays strategizing how exactly we were going to fight this cancer. In just two years, we’ve connected, communicated, planned, called, begged, arranged, laughed, cried, produced and hosted. We’ve grieved yet carried on; we’ve doubted yet pushed through; we’ve sacrificed yet been overwhelmed by your continued support and response.
Again, when I say “we” and “us,” I mean you. You, yes, you reading this sentence. You are us. You who check into the blog. You who brought your family to the Twilight Walk. You who search with Goodsearch and shop with Goodshop. You who have become our friends on Facebook. You who wear the t-shirt. You who have told someone about this grassroots nonprofit. You who have dressed in costume to bring joy to children on our behalf. You who have donated art. You who have sponsored our events by donating cookies or gift certificates or soda or your gift of music. You who bought a bracelet. You who made the bracelets. You who have organized mini-fundraisers for us like office chili cook-offs or charity softball games or birthday party donations. You are making this happen.
I am thankful for every ounce of time, talent and treasure that has been offered. Once again, there are so many demands for our resources these days. Every time you choose to help The Kyrie Foundation, we are stunned and incredibly grateful, like helping us ask for gift donations or checking with a friend of a friend who might like to become a corporate sponsor. This endeavor has taken more time, energy and ideas than we could have possibly guessed, but this work—to cure this cancer and in the meantime put goodness into the world—is the work of people who value families and children and joy and friendship and that clichéd but oh-so-important ideal of “making the world a better place.”
Sounds pretty big, huh? Who knew that bigness really is just a lot of smalls put together? ;)
What are you thankful for today?
Again, when I say “we” and “us,” I mean you. You, yes, you reading this sentence. You are us. You who check into the blog. You who brought your family to the Twilight Walk. You who search with Goodsearch and shop with Goodshop. You who have become our friends on Facebook. You who wear the t-shirt. You who have told someone about this grassroots nonprofit. You who have dressed in costume to bring joy to children on our behalf. You who have donated art. You who have sponsored our events by donating cookies or gift certificates or soda or your gift of music. You who bought a bracelet. You who made the bracelets. You who have organized mini-fundraisers for us like office chili cook-offs or charity softball games or birthday party donations. You are making this happen.
I am thankful for every ounce of time, talent and treasure that has been offered. Once again, there are so many demands for our resources these days. Every time you choose to help The Kyrie Foundation, we are stunned and incredibly grateful, like helping us ask for gift donations or checking with a friend of a friend who might like to become a corporate sponsor. This endeavor has taken more time, energy and ideas than we could have possibly guessed, but this work—to cure this cancer and in the meantime put goodness into the world—is the work of people who value families and children and joy and friendship and that clichéd but oh-so-important ideal of “making the world a better place.”
Sounds pretty big, huh? Who knew that bigness really is just a lot of smalls put together? ;)
What are you thankful for today?
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