1,000 Gifts: #226-500+ Catching Up

My list has grown and grown and grown {even though I haven't been posting them here as often}.

I've already reached the half-way point!! {I'm actually up to #550--wow!}.

Here are some highlights:

261:: sleeping with the covers pulled all the way up

285:: introducing Andrew to the Star Wars triology

314:: Divinely inspired ideas: rain, rainbows & sun!

347:: having a fellow Etsian make crocheted flowers for my God Knits event

370:: a hot cup of orange jasmine tea on a damp, cold day

381:: A Day Out With Thomas and riding in the front car--magical!

393:: Ethan's first hair trim {and baby curls that come back}

413:: covering my craft room chairs in "Happy All Over" fabric

416:: closing down my Etsy shop for good. Aaaah, freedom!

430:: a reliable mechanic within walking distance

453:: trying out vegetarian recipes

468:: no anxiety!

475:: getting hired to make "real money"

488:: Drew's weight loss

505:: an Easter gift of undies tucked into a green coffee mug

511:: putting in offers on TWO houses in my parent's neighborhood

526:: having mature friends who don't escalate an already-uncomfortable situation

545:: embracing the waiting-to-hear-news-on-the-house phase

For more entries, visit Holy Experience

Living to Tell The Tale

See this gal? Her name is Chrissy. She's even more adorable in person. She gives people (women) underwear as gifts. She treats people (again, women) to pedicures on a weekly basis. She lives her life FAST but would drop everything to help a friend.



We were neighbors for five years, have played Bunco together for over six years and have worked together off and on for three years. She is one of my dearest friends and favorite people, is a blast to spend time with, is authentic and down-to-earth, is an amazing woman of God and is THE MOST giving person I have ever known. My kids adore her. I call her my Fairy Godmother.

This was us at the baby shower she threw for me in May 2009.



What you can't tell from this picture is that, earlier that day, her son accidentally hit her in the head with a soccer ball and she almost blacked out. She was miserable the rest of the day. It was just one of many early clues (along with persistent migraines, flu-like symptoms and vision problems) that landed her in an MRI machine a few weeks later, afterwhich she received the news that would change her life forever: she had a brain tumor the size of a racquetball and it was fatal.

Her greatest fear was dying young and leaving her kids to be raised by someone else. Thirty years old and she had to face her biggest fear.

Later the same day, she learned that it was not fatal after all and two days later, she underwent an operation to remove it. What took place over the course of those two days (and during the months of her recovery, and beyond) could fill a book. And she's working on writing the book right now!

Her diagnosis and surgery was two years ago. She celebrates life every day and feels honored to have walked the path God chose for her--and she is just starting to tell her stories.

This is her brand new blog that I helped her with. I think it's adorable (just like her)!!
Chrissy Calderwood.com

I hope you'll check it out! I encourage you to leave a comment--it will make her day!