The artist behind the logo.

The talented artist that designed the Kyrie Foundation logo is creative in many, many ways. Julie Reed knits, felts, graphically illustrates, collects and designs all from her home base in Kansas City. With all that busy creation, she has somehow found time to launch her Etsy shop. For those of you unfamiliar with Etsy, it's a great site where you can buy or sell handmade items from artisans all over the globe. Super great if you're looking for something really unique and special for a gift.

Feel free to check out these sites to learn more about Julie:

Etsy shop
Portfolio
Blog

And her designs have been selected by this entity's holiday store. Very, very cool stuff here.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for Thursdays. I love how this has become the day of the week that we've singled out to find something worth acknowledging. I love that Thursdays feel sturdy, like four properly inflated tires, like Abraham Lincoln, like a good hug. I love that Thanksgiving will always fall on a Thursday (apropos, huh?). I love that Thursdays happen all over the world ... every week! And I'm thankful that Kyrie made me thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

Relay for Life

What an amazing event!

We put a ton of time & effort toward creating a booth for the Kyrie Foundation in conjunction with Chad's cousin, who was promoting melanoma awareness, a tenacious cancer affecting her husband. I think we were the only booth centered on educating people about specific cancers, a fact not gone unnoticed. Toward the end of the event, a man came up and said how great he thought it was that two families would come together to raise money and awareness. We thought that part was pretty great, too.

We began early in the day to stake out our electricity and put up our tent. Thanks, Uncle Paul! Then we headed to the house to decorate our luminaries both for Kyrie and Jenni's husband, Brian.



The kick-off began at 6 p.m. with a survivors lap and the all-teams lap. Then we got down to business telling people about Kyrie, about the foundation and selling those shirts!


Of course, those in our booth wore our Kyrie shirts. Such a great response to the design. Karis, a regular commentator here on the blog, said that she couldn't wait for the first time she'd be out in Maryville and see someone wearing a Go, Kyrie, Go! shirt. Us, too!

We learned a ton and can't wait to be at the next Relay in Wichita & K.C. And we walked and walked and walked and walked until the wee hours of the morn, giving our raffle gift basket at 4 a.m. to Joy, another proud owner of a Kyrie tee. Kyrie's & Brian's luminaries shined brightly the whole time.


One look at this event and anyone could see the massive abundance of love. So many luminaries. So many walkers. So many stories. So many people donating their time, money and resources to raise money to fight cancer. So much love. But in another sense, you could calculate the pain. All the families & friends who were there because of agony or loss, because this is one of the only positive ways, as Chad would say, "to turn tragedy into triumph."

Relay for Life

Headed to Maryville, MO, this evening for an American Cancer Society Relay for Life event. The trunk is loaded with Kyrie shirts, and we're hoping that folks in Nodaway County fall for them like we have. We'll take plenty of pix and post 'em on Monday.

Go, Kyrie, Go!!!!!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for sharing, specifically your stories & ideas shared here. When passed on, stories & ideas pour onto the soul like sunshine through a window on a January afternoon. And when Susan shares her luminary design, or Erin shares her Go, Kyrie, Go idea, or Mother of 2 shares a lesson, or Karis shares a little reminder, or Melissa shares a song, or Jordan & Lacie shares Kyrie's story, suddenly, what seems a simple thought to the giver multiplies in proportion & purpose. Stories become resonating feelings; feelings create empathy & community. Ideas become personal goals; goals become motivation & inspiration. Amazing, isn't it?

Ksfaith, a longtime reader & commentator here, shared a moving video with me a while back that's really something. Ksfaith herself is really something, too. She is a magnificently talented dancer who has traveled the globe with her award-winning, passionate skill that she uses to express artful stories through muscular grace. As a young mother and faith-filled follower, she now choreographs and teaches dance to the next generation. While not her work, the video resonated with her in a way that deserves to be passed on. This video is a choreographed skit by young adults in Knoxville, TN, to Lifehouse's "Everything" song. An unusual interpretation of the world versus The Big Guy. Pretty neat.

What are you thankful for today?

p.s.
Shirts are back in stock! If you haven't ordered already, just mail us your quantity, sizes & payment, and we'll pop 'em in the mail to you ASAP.

As promised ...

Andrea really did an amazing job--plus she straightened it for a fab finish.




Mother of 2, what a WONDERFUL story! Such a gift to correct our own thinking by a memorable example. And kudos to you for being able to admit a shortcoming. Many people can't even get that far, let alone decide to change. Way to go!

Karis, are you out there? Did I hear that you might have a story about this past weekend, too?

Thank you so much.

A huge thank you to all of you who put special thoughts & prayers into the world this weekend on Kyrie's birthday. We are continually amazed at your generosity of time, treasure and compassion, especially those acts of kindness & prayers supporting Jordan & Lacie.

The first official board meeting for the Kyrie Foundation was very productive--so many good ideas to make little dollars do big things. We hope that you stay tuned for ways to help fund the fight against pediatric brain cancer.

Also, this weekend, it was time for me to make good on a promise I made during Kyrie's first stay in the hospital--donating my hair. Andrea at Fringe Salon in Wichita did a fantastic job! (Photo to come soon.) Please, if you get a chance, patron this salon: ultra-fab environment, ultra-talented stylists. Thank you, Andrea!