We all have the desire to make life better for the people we love. We would do anything to ease their pain, to lessen burdens, to give someone the gift of joy!
And today you can make that desire a reality!
Today is the day that YOU can make a difference in someones life. Today is the day that you can nominate someone for a very special treat!
Do you know someone who has work stress? Or a strain in the family? Or that has health issues? Do you know someone who is always giving? Who feeds your fish when you are out of town or volunteers to ring the Salvation Army bell every year? Do you know someone who you think could use a smile?
Here is your chance to give them a very special treat!
Nominate your friend or loved one to receive a gift from people around the world!
How do you nomiate someone?
First: Leave a comment here nominating someone you know who could use a little tiny spot of sunshine in their day. It can be a family member or a friend or even yourself. Let us know just why they could use a special treat.
Please leave the full reason you want to nominate someone in the comment. If there is a link to their blog or FB page or twitter feed that is fine, but please make sure we have all the information we need in the comment.
You should know your nominee’s full mailing address, but Please do not leave your nominee’s full name, mailing address, or personal information that is not public knowledge in your comment.
Second: Copy and Paste your comment into an email and send it to deservingdesserts@gmail.com with NOMINEE in the subject line. Here is where you can provide the nominees full name and mailing address.
At this time I am asking that you only nominate people who live in the United States of America or in Canada. If you have a very special need out of the US or Canada, please email us at deservingdesserts@gmail.com with that information and we will see what we can do.
If you are able to also help spread the word through social media I would be much appreciattive!
My facebook page is going to be updated regularly and if you are able to share any posts that would be so wonderful!
Twitter is @iambakertweets and our hashtag is #deservingdesserts
If you feel comfortable Pinning this post that would be SO appreciated as well!
THANK YOU ALL!
Many blessings-
Rebecca, Shanna, & Amanda
Rebecca and Shanna are the two amazing ladies who volunteered to help make this all happen. Believe me when I say… NONE of this could have come to fruition without them. They are doing everything on their own time and dime. Thank you so much ladies!
The Nomination Period has ended. Head on over to the Calling All Bakers post to see who has volunteered their time and resources!
I would like to nominate a dear family of seven in our church: The Pierce family.
This last year has been a rough one for them. Death, job loss, fire, family struggles and health issues.
It has been tough. But through it all, they give Glory to God for his grace, peace, mercy and comfort.
I do have their mailing address.
I want to nominate my best friend Michelle, who deserves this award more than anyone I know. Michelle has six kids and lives on a very limited budget, but she spends her ‘spare’ time doing great things for anyone who needs it. She babysits for free to help out people who can’t afford daycare. She volunteers at a crisis pregnancy center and at St. Vincent de Paul. She volunteers at her kids’ school – daily. In recent years, she’s also volunteered at a local food pantry and a clothing pantry. She’s helped multiple people in need in local neighborhoods by doing good old fashioned telephone work, calling friends to see if they have old clothes, appliances, etc. to help a certain family. She coupons for good deals, but even though there is more than enough need in her own family, she gives away her bounty to those around her. She never complains and always has the best attitude! She is the most selfless, giving person I know and she definitely deserves a sweet treat! She is a saint!!
I want to nominate my dear friend April. She has one of the most caring, generous spirits I have ever had the joy to encounter.
Unfortunately, she is dealing with the aftermath of being raped. But even in this she is giving. Instead of hiding away, she is reaching out, helping others, even has an online video diary, hoping that by expressing her fears, feelings, and discoveries, she will help and give peace to other women who are afraid to talk about their experience.
I hope that this could be a reminder to her that she is LOVED, and LOVEABLE, and that she and her spirit are beautiful.
A few days ago, I met a mom and 2 yr old daughter at the park who are staying in the area while their husband/father, a U.S. soldier, is recovering at Walter Reed from injuries that he sustained in Afghanistan. They have been here for several months, and have another 6 to 9 months to go. There is no way to thank this family enough for their service and sacrifices for our country, but I would like to nominate them and take this opportunity to say thank you.
I would like to nominate my sister Josefina. This past year has been really though on her trying to figure out life as a single mom, going through a divorce and working a very stressful job.
I have her mailing address.
Thank you.
I’m writing because I think my husband deserves to have his day brightened. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28 last October and from that moment (and obviously before) he has been nothing short of amazing. He has gone with me to every doctor appointment and treatment and took care of me after my surgery. He even slept in the room with me on a couch while I was in the hospital recovering for 4 days. For as hard as it was on me, it was equally as hard on him and he never broke down. Words really can’t express how amazing he is so I’m hoping this helps show him
. And on a happy note I finished my chemo 2 weeks ago and am cancer free!
I just had to write to say I’m happy to hear of your good news!
I want to nominate a family. Their second grade son Trenton has been struggling with cancer. After a LONG year, he has completed his chemo treatments and will hopefully be cancer-free at his next check-up. He has a younger sister who was in the same class as my youngest daughter. I admire their courage, strength, and faith. I can’t imagine having to juggle the treatments (traveling around the state), family life, church life, school with two young kids and the financial burden of medical bills. They have a very positive outlook and I haven’t heard them complain. They make the most of what they have, so I think it would be nice to just send them a smile.
I would like to nominate my sister. She is the mother of two little boys and beautiful three month old girl, Zoe. Zoe was diagnosed with almost constant seizures when she was six weeks old and has spent several weeks in the hospital already. Currently she is home but the doctors still don’t know what is wrong with her. She goes back to the hospital almost weekly for more testing so they can try and diagnose her. When she is at home, my sister has to administer a slew of medicines, keep her on a special diet and timetable, and monitor all her seizures and record them for the doctors.
She does all this on top of taking care of the two boys also. I haven’t heard her complain, or whine or ask “why me”. She just keeps going, does what needs to be done, and does it all lovingly. For this reason I’d like to nominate her to let her know that we’re thinking of her too and admire all that she’s done for her family.
Thank you for organizing this, it’s a great thing.
I would like to nominate my friend, Kelly, who has MBC. It is now in her brain and spinal column and she has been given only a few more months to live. She is 43 and has beautiful 6 year old twin girls and a hard working husband. She has taught all of us who know her how to live life more in the moment and to truly appreciate life’s blessings and family. She is an inspiration to all who know her.
Theresa aka Mama
I would like to nominate my father, Rich. A man whose love for the Lord has carried him through some of the most difficult life situations: holding my grandmother in his arms as she died, and most recently being there to witness the birth and then death of my first born, our son Elijah.
Life’s difficulties, a long difficult divorce, and major financial issues has pushed my dad into alcoholism for 5 years, where he is now currently in a detox in-patient treatment center. I could just imagine the look on his face and the feeling in his heart if he were to recieve a random act of kindness who doesn’t know him, but cares for him. Thank you for this opportunity!! God Bless you!
I would like to nominate my friends Michele and Jay Stinson. My husband and I have been going through some tough times with our jobs, and Michele and Jay have opened their hearts to us. They have been long time friends, but they have been overwhelmingly kind and giving to us in these last few weeks. They lend an ear when needed and have shown us that there is true kindness and love around us.
I would like to nominate my cousin, Cheri. An extended family member’s daughter was recently beaten by the person who was taking care of her while her mom was at work. She was less than one year old at the time, but has since had her first birthday. She has suffered severe brain damage and has been in and out of the hospital for months, with one surgery and infection after another. My cousin, who already has a houseful of kids, has taken in this remarkable baby to foster her until she can return to live with her mom. I am in awe at the giving spirit of this family, and am truly saddened at how this poor baby’s life has changed. And yet, they still remain positive and hopeful through it all. I know this would be a wonderful surprise for a family that is used to being on the giving end of kindness.
I would like to nominate a young family, Derrick and Ruth and their two young sons, Noah and Gavin. Yesterday morning their baby girl, Mia, died of SIDS. This dear family is suffering so deeply.
Being a grieving mom myself, I know that sometimes it’s the little things that brighten that will brighten their day and give them the strength to carry on.
I would like to nominate one of my co-workers, Amy. She and her family have had a rough year. She does not make a lot of money, and her husband was out of work for a long time because of a shoulder injury, so they dealing with some serious financial strain. She also has a wonderful little boy with special needs. I think she could use a reminder that there are good people in this world that would do something for you without even knowing you – she deserves it!
I am nominating my grandparents, Paul and Betty. They are both in their 80′s and have been so very supportive of my family. My husband started his own business recently and they have just been encouraging, helpful financially and with prayers for us all the time. We can’t ever repay them – but this would bring them a little joy. My grandpa and I e-mail frequently and my grandma will often send me a little hand-written card of encouragement. She has terrible arthritis in her hands and even the smallest of tasks can be difficult. My grandpa also went through some health scares, and thankfully he does not have cancer – but he does have constant pain and fatigue that he lives with (without complaint). But throughout it all he has said he is leaving everything to God. A little gift of some fresh baked treats would be a wonderful surprise for them. Thanks so much to all who are helping and participating to make this special for so many!!
I would like to nominate a dear friend of mine, Cassie. Cassie has been through a lot- from her mom dying at a young age, to her father passing away a few years ago from cancer, to infertility and failed IVF treatments. Most recently Cass was diagnosed with breast cancer and just last week underwent a double mastectomy. She is recovering well, and has gone through all of these trials with a loving spirit. She is a joy to so many people and I would love to send some joy to her.
Thank you for organizing this!
I would like to nominate my husband, Jonathan. He always keeps my spirits up when I need it the most and I’d like to do the same for him. He’s been so stressed about work and life in general lately and it can definitely take a toll on him. He always takes care of me and it would be nice to remind him that other people care about him too. That there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can’t see it yourself right away. Thank you for organizing something so awesome!!
I would like to nominate my dear friend, Heather. Not only does she have three children of her own, but she recently adopted a beautiful little baby boy from a relative. This selfless act ensures that the baby will grow up in a very Godly family that will provide so much love and stability. The transition has been tough on her as a mom, but she has embraced it and is doing such an amazing job. I would love for her to receive a little token of kindness to remind her that *she* is important and loved.
I would like to nominate my mother. It’s been a rough couple of years dealing with my brother’s addiction that resulted in his overdose and death in October 2012. As you can imagine she’s been having a reall tough time dealing with the loss of a child. I think this act of kindness will brighten her day.
I talk about him a bit in this post: \http://idkmybffjes.blogspot.com/2011/11/every-time-you-think-things-couldnt-get.html
I would like to nominate my Mom, Kim. She is getting a small operation this summer with a recovery time of 4 weeks where she cant really do much of anything. Since this is her first big health issue/surgery I know she is really nervous and anxious about it and I think a little surprise like this would really brighten up her mood and ease her anxiety. She’s the most caring. loving mother I know and the things she does everyday make my life easy. I just want to reciprocate during a rough patch in her life and give her the support she’s always given to me.
I’d like to nominate my mother’s cousin (and mine!) Kim, and her family. I learned yesterday that their son just passed away, and the family is devastated. They worked tirelessly with an autism spectrum group to make his life as pleasant and productive as they could. Their hearts are broken, and I think any show of light might make their days a little brighter right now. Thanks.
I would like to nominate my nieces and my mom. My mother has had 3 heart attacks within 1 year and congestive heart failure. She raises my 2 small nieces with my help. My nieces are 2 and 9 and they just love anything I bake them but they can never seem to understand how special they are! I think someone else showing them they are special will go a long way to helping with their self esteem! I also would like to volunteer to bake something for someone so richly deserving as being important to someone else. Thank you for doing this!
I would like to nominate my grandparents, Elvin and Grace.
My brother died of an overdose in October, he was 20. He had gotten clean (or so he seemed) for a few months, then went back to drugs. It’s been really rough on all of us. My papa won’t even talk about it/him. And my grandmother spends most days crying. I love them so much and wish I could take this hurt away, but I can’t. I know that any outreach of love would brighten her day, even if only for a second.
I would like to nominate little Zachary and his Family. He has had 2 kidney transplants, the first one failed and most recently received one in January of this year. His mother also donated her kidney in a paired kidney exchange to save someone else at the time he relieved his kidney.
He has had over 50 surgeries and still struggles daily and weekly facing infections and nonstop visits to the hospital. It’s very challenging for the family they also have 2 other children. He has been through so much but almost always when pictures or updates are posted on his FaceBook page he is always smiling! even though you know he is in pain.
http://help-zachary.com/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Save-Zachary-Elsenpeter/127121614002476
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=974069
I would like to nominate a very special woman named Beth. Beth is a mother of 2 boys, the youngest having Autism. This no doubt brought about a lot of challenges in her life but despite this Beth is one of the most outgoing and uplifting people I have ever met. She is also one of the most selfless. Having a child with autism, she has quite enough on her plate, yet she is always reaching out to others and helping them in anyway she can. She is so sweet and can cheer anyone up with her fun and positive personality. To name one example, Beth was a great help to my mom when my grandma died, bringing us chinese food and talking to my mom on the phone when my mom was sad. Beth is just that kind of person and everyone who meets her sees how special she really is. At the end of this summer, Beth and her family are moving back to California. I would like to give her this honorable treat to show her how happy me and my family are to have met her and her family and how special we think she really is. She is truly deserving of a treat like this.
Hello I would like to nominate my best friend Sarah she is an amazing, beautiful, kind and loving mother of 6. She has had a very tough time with finances, failing health and a extremely hard marriage. Yet she still smiles 24/7 and is a support for many in the community. She volunteers regularly as a doula for teen moms for free in our area. She is the kindest person I know and is well deserving of this treat!
I would like to nominate my in laws.My mother in law is such a strong woman and has had so much loss this year,but keeps her head held high and trusting in the Lord. Last year my father in law was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and not expected to make it a year which I’m happy to say is still with us. Most of his days are not so well,but he has some good days still.They lost their dream home due to his not being able to work any longer. In less than a year my mother in law also lost her brother to complications from diabetes and only a few months later her sister to another illness. This is such a wonderful thing you are doing!
I would like to nominate my in laws who lost their son recently to hunting truck accident….he was 22…..
they could use some smiles
I would like to nominate my Mom, Patricia.
My Mom had a difficult childhood – after an accident, she became handicapped at age 5 and had to live in the children’s hospital for several years away from her family. When she was finally able to come home, she was put in school and the children were pretty terrible to her. She never let their criticism slow her down, she used it as motivation.
She’s a very hard working single Mother and did the absolute best job she could to raise my sister and I. It was a team effort from the whole family, but we made it work. Last year, she took on a second job to be able to give a little more to those she loves. She was able to get by before, but my Mom is a person who always wants to give as much time, love & support to those she loves.
My Mom has never complained about her situation, she sees it as something to make her a stronger woman. Since having my daughter 4 years ago, I now have a better understanding of that desire to be the best Mom possible for my daughter.
She’s an inspiring woman and I know she would love to receive one of these special Thank You gifts!
This whole concept is wonderful and I really appreciate you doing this. I hope you know that you’re a very special person for making so many others smile!
I would like to nominate the mom of my son’s best friend, Vicki.
Maryssa, my son’s friend, went to the hospital, 2 hours away, for a simple surgery. She came through the surgery just fine, she was away, walking and trying to talk, she had surgery on her jaw, so talking was difficult. Two days after surgery, while still in the hospital, she starting having seizures, and slipped into a coma. After several tests, the doctors told Vicki, that Maryssa was gone, never coming back, she needed to “pull the plug” Vicki, knew that there was still hope. So she fought to get Maryssa transferred to a hospital closer to home. She was transferred, and after even more tests, the doctors said, while she did have some damage, she “should” make a recovery. After some time in the new hospital, her breathing tube has been removed, her eyes are open, and she is recovering. She is still not talking, and waiting for further updates. My heart is just broken, NO parent should have to go through this. Though the power of prayer, our Mighty Lord as brought some improvements, but we know it will be a long road for recovery.
Maryssa and my son, Collin, have been “best buds” since 3rd grade, this coming school year they will be Juniors! What makes their friendship so amazing is that both are Special Service students. Our school is small, so they are with each other all day, everyday of the school year. The bond between them is special! As a family, my husband and I have chosen not to tell Collin about his friend. He has Autism, and I just do not know “HOW” to tell him, that his friend is fighting for her life.
Please, pray for Maryssa, pray for her Mother Vicki, she need the strength to fight for Maryssa, to handle each and every day as a blessing. And pray for my son also, I don’t know what he will to without his Buddy. Children with Autism have such a hard time making real friends, and the thought of him loosing his friend just breaks my heart.
I would love for Vicki, Maryssaa mom to get a package, something to brighten her day, something to let her know that there are many people out there praying for her.
Thank You
Kim
The Cookie Puzzle
I would like to nominate my parents, Bruce & Mary Anne. My parents have always been the hardest workers I know. When I was growing up, my dad had 3 (sometimes 4) jobs in order to provide for us, while my mom had a part time job with the school, and a full-time job at home. I don’t remember ever hearing either of them complain. In their 40+ years of marriage, they’ve pretty much seen it all, and been through everything. They’re still together, and they’re stronger for all of it.
Back in January, my dad (who is 61) was laid off after 25 years with his company. He was about a year away from collecting his retirement benefits, and therefore will not receive anything now. My mom does her best to support them now, in her job as an Instructional Assistant in a local elementary school, but their financial situation is just nowhere close to what it was. My dad has spent his days since January looking for work…..any work that would provide some kind of living. Now to top it all off, they’re losing their house too. They likely have to be out by the end of July, and have no idea where they’re supposed to go or what they’re supposed to do. Listening to my mom cry on the phone while packing up her house, and knowing how unfair all of this is and that there is nothing I can do to change any of it, has been heart-wrenching.
This nomination is because both of my parents are struggling daily with why this is happening, and what they’re supposed to do about it. Since Day 1, they’ve been praying for peace, understanding, and a direction — any direction. They both know (as well as all four of us kids) that all of this is happening for a reason, and that God has a plan for them. But right now, in the thick of it, it doesn’t make any of it easier. So my nomination is to let them know that they’re not alone, and that they are loved. And to remind them to continue to trust God, because He alone can provide everything they need — especially now.
I would like to nominate my mother Susan. She is the most selfless person I know she cares for everyone never leaving any time to care for herself. She volunteers at our church on a daily basis, and also volunteers at a local battered woman’s shelter. She has started a wonderful local moms group and has also started a local food pantry all in her “spare” time. She is a wonderful mother/grandmother/friend! The most beautiful woman deserving of this gorgeous treat! I love you Mom! Thanks so much for all the wonderful things you do!
I’d like to nominate vivica and her family she is only 12 yrs old and already has had a kidney transplant. she needs a heart transplant as well. right now she is at the Amplatz children’s hospital in MN she has pleural effusions in both lungs right now. she’s a sick young lady. I think this would brighten her day along with her moms who never leaves her side.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/HELP-VIVICA/355766735883
I would like to nominate my husband, Valentino. He is such a blessing to have in my life. He is the soul bread winner in the family and he does this so I can stay home with our 4 children. He is gone a lot, working side jobs and finishing his degree just to provide for us and for our children to have a better future. He is also a step-parent, which can be a very challenging job. During all of this, he fights with chronic pain. He sleeps on the coach or against the wall in bed in order to get some relief from the pain. He avoids going to bed at night because sleep is a dreaded time for him. He sacrifices daily for us and I want him to know just how grateful I am for him in our lives.
I would like to nominate my grandsons. They are 3 and 5 years old. They love pictures of decorated cookies but other than sprinkles I do not know that they have never had one that was frosted. Their mom has celiac disease and can not handle flour much less eat it. The boys eat their real deal treats on the patio, so they do not make their mom sick. I am not sure they have even seen what they call “fancy” cookies in the grocery store. They are getting a new baby sister next week and I am more than positive they will be delighted to have a special treat just for them.
I want to nominate my coworker’s husband, Mike. A little over a year ago, Mike was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He’s gone from doctor to doctor to see if there is a way to fight this disease. Despite the initial horrific news, Mike has remained positive throughout his fight. His blog entries are candid and honest, and he tells us about the difficulty of chemotherapy and what it’s done to him. Mike’s wife (my coworker) is breath of fresh air – she and I have the same witty attitude, and it’s her positivity and love for her husband that keeps him alive. Mike’s blog can be found at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikemarkey. Mike talks about his gratitude for freshly baked goods, and his wife sometimes asks me for recipes. I’d love to help make one of his days a little bit more bearable and bring a bit of sunshine into his life.
I am nominating my wonderful Aunt Pam. She has dedicated her days and nights to taking care of my grandma, her mom. Aunt Pam is my grandmas full time care giver. Her and her husband have made countless sacrifices in the past several years but never once complained.
Aunt Pam is such an inspiration, especially for my children. They see how kind and loving she is. My kids have told me, “mom, when you are old we will take care of you like Aunt Pammy does for Grandma”. If that isn’t a testament to what she does….!
She really is wonderful!
Thank you!
I am nominating my best friend, Sommer. She has been through the wringer the past few years with her divorce, losing her job and having to deal with her family’s feud. She has two young girls and I know the hard struggle that she is on. She is kind, loving, big-hearted and I hope that she makes it through all of the heart ache that she is currently encountering. She and I have been there for each other since Jr. High and I wish I could take away her pain and struggles. I want her to know how truly special she is and has been to me.
Thank you!!!
I would like to nominate my friends, Vic & Cindy. Vic was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia last year and just finished up 8 months worth of chemo treatments. Cindy has selflessly stood by her husband’s side every step of the way…sharing in his pain, heartache, fears, and small successes.
Vic continues to battle the disease. The chemo treatments stripped him of his ability to walk, so he is now undergoing intensive physical therapy to try and regain the muscle strength in his legs.
I just know that they would appreciate a box of sunshine from a kind-hearted stranger
I would like to nominate my Great Aunt Betty, the dearest, sweetest lady with the best laugh you’ve ever heard! The love of her life, my grandfather’s brother, my Great Uncle Howard passed away over a year ago. She just recently auctioned off all of her belongings when she moved into assisted living, and graciously gave my husband and I her beautiful crystal chandelier for our home. When my brother, sister and I were growing up, Aunt Betty used to send us a monogrammed pewter Christmas ornament every year- such timeless gifts that now hang on my Christmas tree. She’s just the most giving, loving, happy lady, I can’t even describe to you how wonderful she is. She would never complain in a million years, but I know she must be lonely. I would just love for her to get something in the mail that would brighten her day.
Thank you for this opportunity!
I would like to nominate my wonderful husband, Jay. I admire all that he does. He serves and protects all day and it is truly his calling. He has such a passion and open heart in his job and it is very seldom treated in a kind way. And after all this work he comes home and even when being completely drained from work starts all over with our three kids which is always overwhelming. He is my hero many times over.
I want to nominate my older sister, Yisaira. She is exactly 14 months older than me and she is my rock. She us a very hard working single mother. I could go on for days about how great she is but I will instead sum it up in one word: selfless. She deserves a little sunshine and a whole lot more. I am praying for all her dreams to come true.
This is such a great idea!!! I will definitely be volunteering to bake.
I would like to nominate my friend Mary. Mary has MS. She was diagnosed in her 20′s and now more than 30 years later the disease has taken it’s toll. She is confined to a wheel chair and has very limited mobility. Through all of this she has remained one of the most positive people I know. She never complains about what she can’t do, rather she rejoices in the things she is still able to do. She is an inspiration. I know she would appreciate the kindness of a stranger, not to mention a great baked treat.
I would like to nominate my mom.
My mom is the most wonderful person I know. She raised my sister and myself on her own while working full time and still finding the time to shuttle us to our softball games (my sister) and dance recitals (me). She never complained, always had a smile on her face and stayed positive. She is now struggling to keep that smile on her face and keep that positivity in her life.
A year ago, the company she worked for closed down and she lost her job. She has been struggling to find a job for a year, but can not seem to find one. She believes it is due to her age that no one wants to hire someone her age.
Not only does she not have a job, she has no insurance, and is in desperate need of back surgery. She has severe scoliosis, which is severely painful and debilitating. Standing, walking, sitting, etc are very painful for her. If you were to ask her how she was feeling though she would smile and say fine.
I just would like a little bit of sunshine to shine down on her and show her that she is a wonderful mom and person and that people recognize that about her.
I would like to nominate a long time family friend who is in her 50s and was so faithful to wait on the man God had in store for her until last October. She was finally able to be married just last October, and then a few months ago was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, and her newlywedded bliss was cut short as they have been traveling all over the country to try to fix it and be able to spend a little more time together. She has been so faithful during the whole process, and always brings a smile to her friends and family even during this tough time. She definitely needs some sunshine in her life! Praying for her continuously.
Thanks so much for this opportunity, what a wonderful idea!
I’d like to nominate my friend Sandra. Sandra is a wonderful person who is always ready with a smile, always willing to help out a friend, bringing meals when needed, or ready to just listen on the phone. Despite being allergic to cats she’ll even volunteer to feed mine if I’m out of town. She’s my pastor’s wife, so many people are pulling her in many directions, but she still makes each person feel special. Sandra is also a mom of two very active boys. She homeschools her oldest, a 1st grader, and her second son is autistic. She is very proactive in her care for him and it takes a lot of time and energy, but it doesn’t faze her in the slightest. Sandra and her husband are also in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. They’ve been on the wait list for over a year and are hoping to have their child home soon. It’s been a long process, but one that they are anxious to complete.
Sandra is a very special person. If I can brighten up her day in this little way, I’m glad to do it. Her website is http://peoplesonline.blogspot.com/
I nominate my sister because she is going through a rough patch and could use something uplifting in her life. She would do the same for me always.
I want to nominate my dad who has been a champion on his fight against cancer. This June 21 is going to be a year since we got the news and throughout this year he has been so brave and has given us the greatest lesson in courage, he has been our rock, always keeping a positive no matter what. Today we have to thanks God that he has remain Cancer free and we pray that he continue to be for many years to come. So when I saw this I said, ” I need to nominate dad” who by the way LOVES anything sweet. So I hope he can be one of the many people that deserve this amazing gift. Thanks for doing this.
I nominate my mom, Arlene.
She and my dad had four kids, then a friend of hers (in the late 1960′s) made her aware of the need for foster parents. She cared for nearly 30 newborns while they waited for adoptive homes.
Three of those babies were hard to place, so they were with us for more than three years. At that point, my parents adopted those three into our family.
Now, my mom has one of her grandchildren living with her. That child just graduated high school, so my mom has successfully raised yet one more.
She is in her 70′s and still working full-time. My dad passed away 11 years ago, so she has a lot to do on her own.
In addition to her family, my mom is very active in our church, and has made baby quilts too numerous to count that are donated to a group that works with the needs of young families without resources.
She is extremely giving and never asks for anything in return, EVER.
She deserves something nice for herself, and this special treat would be great. Thank you for the opportunity to nominate her.
I would like to nominate a waitress at the restaurant I have breakfast at every Saturday morning after work-out. Her house burned to the ground a couple of weeks ago–they have nothing left at all. I cannot imagine where you begin to start over from this kind of loss.
I would like to nominate my friend and former co-worker for whom nothing seems to go right. She was lay off from the company we both worked for and was then unable to find a job in California. She drained her savings and also her 401k, but still no luck. She ended up moving to Florida where here brother lives. She lived with his family for about 1 1/2 years but was still unable to fin a job. Her brother finally told her that he could put her up at his house anymore and that he needed to leave. She’s now living in Pennsylvania with her niece. She had found a job at a call center (which she hated), but ended up losing her job after slipping, falling and breaking her wrist this winter.
Her only child (a daughter) recently had a baby boy and lives in California. They’re both in no financial position to visit one another, so she has only seen her grandson in pictures.
I know she would really appreciate a kind gesture from someone. It’s guaranteed to bring a smile to her face and tears to her eyes.
Thank you for hosting this. I think it’s amazing.
I would like to nominate a family I know here in my town.
My friend, Michelle, has an adult son, Joshua, who was diagnosed with a form of cancer mostly seen in teenagers. They have been traveling back and forth from our small town to Nashville MANY TIMES (around 2 hours one way) over the past 6 months and are still looking at more long trips for more chemo and possibly a marrow transplant. She has a group page set up in FB (hope the link works)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/309713405732510/members/
She, her son AND husband could sure use a pick me up! Prayers are also always welcome!! Thanks so much for this opportunity to share!
I nominate Ruth Bower. Her birthday was yesterday. I posted the reasons why on my blog post yesterday:
http://titus2eight.blogspot.com/2012/06/real-titus-2-woman.html,
Thanks for doing this.
Paige
My husband and I are celebrating 16 years of marriage this summer. We have had some trying times and this would be such a treat.. I’m going to bake for some of the amazing moms in my moms group this month.
I would like to nominate my friend Anne. I’m going into ministry next year and am raising money this summer. She has been such a long-time friend, so faithful. Even though she’s making much less money than me, she supported me in my ministry and I am so humbled by that. Her loving loyalty to me and all of her friends is astounding!
I would like to nominate my Dad. He is so friendly and never meets a stranger. Growing up he was always helping someone in need and was a good example to me of being kind and helping others. I think this would be a nice surprise for him for someone to do something nice for him as he is always doing something nice for others.
Thank you.
I would like to nominate my best friend, Kim. She’s a teacher who struggles to take time for herself; she is incredibly giving to her students, her family, her church, and her community. She’s going through some tough “Where-am-I-in-life?” times right now, and she deserves to know that she is loved!
I would like to nominate the Bush Family. Heide & Phil, and their four beautiful children, Nathan, Nick, Dani, and Katie. This year, Phil was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It’s hard for me to write this; I want to cry every time I think about it. Phil is currently undergoing aggressive chemo treatment and Heide has been his rock by his side. She has managed to be by Phil’s side during every treatment, cook meals, take the kids to and from dance classes and sports games, go to work, and still squeezes in time for giving to others. They are the most amazing family I have ever met. They have provided such a great foundation for their children and are heavily involved with church and charity groups. Heide spent her mothers day at the Ronald McDonald Charity House cooking for families with children in critical condition in the hospital. I can go on and on about how absolutely amazing they are. They are an inspiration to myself and many others and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a little baking joy!
I would like to nominate my mom & step-dad. The last 3 years have been very difficult for them. My step-dad severly broke his ankle 3 years ago and because of it now has RSD which causes him to not beable to work outside the home any longer. He is constantly in great pain but puts on a brave face each day. They’ve watched my son (5yrs) & daughter (3yrs) since they were born 4 days a week. I don’t know what I’d do without them. Since my step-dad’s accident and now that he can not work, my mom on top of watching my kids all day, works online after they have left for the day just to be able to pay for their house. Unfortunatly I’m not in a place to beable to pay them for watching my kids, and even if I were there would be no way that they would take the money from me. They wouldn’t trade watcing them for the world. The positive is that my kids have been able to create an amazing relationship with their Nana & Papa. They would both love to receive a special package in the mail to brighten their day! Thank you for this opportunity!!
Good morning. I would like to nominate myself. It has been a rough two year emplyment, financial health issuesissues have been resolved .Last hurdle hopefully, is a more extensive mammogram and ultrasound. once cleared all health issues and check ups will be done. So onward and upward from here…
I want to nominate someone that I have come to really admire. Her name is Noelle. She has a baby girl with heart problem. She has been in the hospital and had several surgeries and is only 10 months old. She speaks candidly about the situation on her blog and my heart breaks as I read the things her little girl has to go through. She always seems to be able to power through these difficult situations that I feel like I would never be able handle. There isnt anyone in my life I think deserves this more than her.
I would like to nominate my brother and sister-in-law (Clint and Jackie). They have a 2 year old son and just had twin girls born at 29 weeks. The babies are currently 2 lbs and in the hospital NICU 30 minutes away. I’d also like to nominate my mother (Gloria) who has given her time to help them as they’ve gone through and continue to go through this. She has done so much for them and deserves to be treated.
I would like to nominate my friend, Amy. This past year they were on the mission field in Kenya with 5 kids. So many hurdles to jump through from culture to figuring out home schooling. Ten months into their journey they needed to come home. As a wife there are so many up and downs following and supporting your husband. Amy is a big hearted and generous. Even in their time of need you will always find her giving to someone else.
I love that you’re doing this again, Amanda! I’d like to nominate my cousin Jen. Her husband lost his 3 and a half year battle with cancer last week. She has been ‘the strong one’ for so long keeping track of all his doctors and treatments and everything else. Now she is left to take care of their 4 young children and her life is just upside down. I just know a sweet treat would bring a smile to her face. (:
I would like to nominate my best friend Faith. She is a mother of two, but I feel like she is a mother of 15, because of the way she takes care of all her family members. From the moment I met Faith, she has been the strongest woman I know. She saved her friend from being murdered by her parents (friend got pregnant early) and helped her escape to keep the baby. She has been with me during the toughest times of my life. She has undergone so many health issues of her own, and family health problems as well. The recent incident being that she just underwent surgery, and still waits at the hospital with her dad to recover from his amputated leg. I don’t know how she does it, I don’t. I would have a nervous breakdown but for her, she smiles and life and offers the best of herself to everyone around her. I don’t know where I would be without her in my life, and I know so many can say the same thing about her. She is a true hero, my kids will look up to her.
This is such a fantastic idea, I look forward to the call for volunteers!
I would like to nominate my sister in law Susan. She is a single mom who is always doing doing doing for others but rarely for herself. Even though she struggles financially, she would give her last penny to help someone else out. She works at one of our local high schools where the students adore her and she takes them under her wing. She truly cares about these students. As a huge pet lover, she’s been known to rescue several pets and even an injured turtle and bird off the side of the road (animal lover is really an understatement
Despite never receiving child support, she has raised a fabulous son who was just sworn into the Army and will begin after his senior year. To really sum it up, she just has a huge heart and is selfless. She definitely deserves more than what she has.
Id like to nominate my aunt and my cousin.
My aunt is an amazinginly string woman of God. The wife of a minister/butcher counter manager. When I was a teen, her you test son, and middle child, committed suicide at the age of 16. Her oldest son has seen service in the military around the world. Her youngest child, and only daughter, has been suffering from inexplicable, almost non-stop seizures.
That brings me to my cousin. Last year she stared having migraines. In February she had her first seizure. She now has multiple seizures daily, and they can find no cause; no reason. She can’t work, can’t drive, even had to get rid of her dog. She’s tired. She’s sad. She’s frustrated.
They both could use some major love; a tangible ray of sunshine to their hearts.
I would like to nominate a friend and co-worker, Lynn Cusano, to receive something to lift her spirits. She lost her best friend in the world (who just so happened to also be her husband), Fred, to cancer a year ago in May. She also has a very sweet grand-daughter who is now 13 years old who has been going through a very difficult time in school with bullying and other emotional problems.
Lynn is always the ‘mother’ to everyone at work, helping them with their problems, being supportive, making cakes for everyone’s birthday, but no one realizes how deeply she is hurting!
Please agree with me to help bring a little bit of sunshine into Lynn’s life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing this to help others.
From Karen true
Bless you, Amanda, for organizing this again.
I would like to nominate the son of a friend. James is six years old and yesterday, after a long and courageously fought battle against cancer, his mother left this world. Jenn was a bright light in the lives of everyone she knew. With a diagnosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer and told she had only months to live, she fought hard, beat the odds and lived brilliantly for 4 and half years. In her last year, she actively raised funds to help others with cancer – this is how we met. I am also a cancer survivor with a young son just a year older than James so my heart aches for James and Dennis (husband/dad).
Treats won’t bring his mom back, but the smile on James’s face will be a reflection of Jenn’s unending love for him. Thank you so much for considering.
I would like to nominate my friend Melinda and her children. 6 months ago they started a brand new life when Melinda was able to leave a very abusive husband. They have struggled to adjust to a new home, town, school, job – making ends meet is a constant struggle. But throughout this struggle Melinda and her children have discovered a new appreciation for simple joys and are now enjoying a much happier and healthier home.
I would like to nominate my mother-in-law. She lost her husband just over 2 years ago, after losing his fight with cancer. Since then, she has lost her job, had to draw on unemployment, and struggled to find another job that pays minimum wage. She barely makes enough to make the house payments and is faced with the threat of losing the house she raised her 4 kids in. If she’s not working, she’s tending to her 4 grandkids, who are from the ages of 5 months to 10 years old – not an easy task!
JoAnn is one of the most giving people I’ve ever known. She just gives gives gives, without expecting anything in return. I don’t know how she doesn’t just break down and run away from it all. No one could’ve planned that JoAnn would’ve lost the love of her life, but she is proof that life just has to go on, no matter how hard you may be hurting. Sometimes I just worry that she is over-worked and will never quite get a break, when really, all she needs is some time to herself to relax and BREATHE!
More than anyone I know, she deserves to have her day brightened. She’s strong and loving, and she’s one of the most generous people I know today.
I’d like to nominate my mom if that’s quite alright. See, my mom has never had anything easy. She’ gone through two divorces, raised three children on her own, multiple jobs just to keep the lights on and food on the table. We’ve lost many people and much of our family has left us in the rough of it all. We lost our childhood home to debt and moved around quite a lot after that but still my mom was kind and hardworking, giving us everything she could to ensure we were happy. She’s in a new state now with a better job and a nice home and even a dorky boyfriend to complete it all.
But that’s not why I’m nominating her. I’m nominating my mom because after all that, of finally having raised her children to adulthood and starting her life back again, a two year was placed on her doorstep and in her care. Her niece had recently gone to jail and a large family battle ensued with three children in the crossfire who were left behind. The boyfriend’s family took the baby, my cousin took in the oldest and when no one stepped up for the little brother, my mom swooped in to take him, starting over from scratch because he came to her with nothing.
He’s been with her for two weeks now and we’re happy to say, with much help, he’s got a pail of toys and a drawer of clothes now. Whether he’ll stay permanently or if the mom will take him back when she’s get out is still unknown but my mom is giving everything she can to make sure this little boy is happy and healthy in her care. I’ve been helping out with what I can but I’ve also been trying to think of something to give my mom to show her that she is so amazing and strong, selfless to do what she’s doing. Really, I just want the perfect Thank You for being not just my mom but a mom to anyone and everyone who needs one.
Thank you for hosting this and I look forward to reading many of the other stories posted here.
I want to nominate my sister-n-law. She and her husband have only been married 3 years. He has gotten very sick in the last year and a half. He’s diabetic and his heart is failing. He’s scheduled to start dialysis next week. And he’s also on the heart and kidney transplant list. Two weeks ago, her mother passed away.
She’s going through so much with her family, she just needs some encouragement. What a wonderful way to share God’s love!
I would like to nominate a dear friend, although it’s hard to put this hear with so many deserving people I see who have been nominated. My friend who has been through the loss of her husband, to a massive heart attack right in front of her and surgery to help her back still does for everyone she can. Her mother was just recently diagnosed with Alzheimers and its has gotten to the point where they (her siblings and her) had to place her in a nursing home which ahs been heart breaking for all of them. My friend visits her mother every day because she says I have no idea how much time we have before she is gone. She is very active in her church and draws her strength from it and the kind members there and is a member of the church choir. She helps her only daughter with her grandkids often and takes the oldest girl to dance three times a week. She is run off her feet but always has time for a kind word or a few words of encouragement to others. I have her address
I would like to nominate my amazing fiance, I think he deserves this because he has stepped up for the past 4 years and taken the place of my 3 oldest children’s “deadbeat dad”! He works so hard to make sure they plus 1 more child we had together, have what they need and want. Sometimes he works months straight with no days off but he does it for us and I would love to show him ow mh he is appreciated!
I would like to nominate an amazingly strong 17 year old girl, Zoey, my daughter calls her “Zoorookie”. She is an extremely strong girl! Before she became sick, she was very energetic, an awesome softball player and a ray of sunshine. She continues to shine brightly through her tough journey, she is a FIGHTER, her strength and happy personality is AWESOME. She has not been able to be a regular teen in a long time and I think she deserves this bit of sunshine. Here is her story (told by her amazing mother Pam), this is copy and pasted from her Facebook about page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Zoey/163226833738587
Zoey Kaylyn Ross journey with her battle of Rhabdomyosarcoma stage 4 cancer
Description
Zoey is 16 yrs old and was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma stage 4 cancer on November 9, 2010. At the time of her diagnosis she had three tumors. One on each ovary and one on the fatty tissue that surrounds the organs in the bottom of the stomach on the left hand side. Both tumors were 9 cm and the one on the tissue was around 6 or7 cm. She also had cancer in the left bone marrow and left breast lymph node. One of the tumors on her ovary was filled with fluid and was leaking the fluid into her abdomen. They gave her a 30% chance of survival over 5years. Her treatment began as 54 weeks of hard chemo to control the fluid and the fast growth of the tumors.After the first two rounds of chemo the bone marrow in the left hip and the left lymph node were clean of cancer. During the last six months Zoey has spent more time in the hospital than out. The month of March was extremely hard on her, because after a really hard chemo her left kidney which was discovered to be bad through all of this started to bleed and give her problems pain included. Chemo had to put on hold until the bleeding stoped and a combination of chemo and this bleeding her counts dropped dangerously low. Her white count was 0.02. She spent some time in ICU and the whole month in the hospital. After the last set of scans which started to see about the kidney we discovered that her pet scan showed no cancer at all there are still cyst like small masses and she is not in remission yet but our prayers are being answered and she is steadly improving. 11/7/2011— Thought maybe it was time for an update on this page….. In two days it will be a year.. a long year of prayers and tears, being afraid of what will happen next…… A long incredible journey that changed all of our lives and the way we look at everything, Zoey not only was diagnosed with cancer, but a bad left kidney, a birth defect that we didn’t know about either, in June Zoey was finally strong enough to have that kidney repaired , they thought it would have to come out especially after it started to bleed during chemo which was one of the causes of the many delays we have had in our chemo schedule. three and half weeks after kidney repair ,Zoey started radiation three weeks and one day. On the last day she was supposed to go inpatient to continue with chemo, but low blood counts and platletts sent us to OPI for refills, Zoey spiked a fever and was immediately put in the hospital. Thinking it was an infection we started loading her up with fluids only to find out three days later that she was suffering from VOD- Veno occlusive disease, a rare side affect from heavy doses of chemo and radiation. The blood in the liver starts to flow backwards and the liver swells and fluid leaks into the abdomin. Since your liver processes almost everything that goes through your body, Zoey ended up in OICU for 35 days taking another test drug called defribritide. It worked but boy what that stuff does to your stomach. The poor child spent most of her days throwing up. After that go round she started chemo again, One inpatient down and one outpatient down three more sets of the same to go of this and we are only in the weeks marked 26-30 of 54. Zoey is definately my hero, I know that I could not have gone through what she has with such grace and dignity. She is strong and resiliant and we have all found strength from her. So in two days we mark her year anniversary with a very happy , we are actually ahead of this horrible disease that takes so many people away, our Zoey is still here fighting the fight , Thank you Lord for answered prayers.
On November 28, 2011, Zoey had been out of chemo for a week she had dropped counts platletts were very low and hemoglobin was down, took her to OPI for blood and platletts, after second bag of platletts started she went into shock and her blood pressure started to drop, they immediately started pushing fluid, at that time her platlett count was 1 and her hmgb was 6.0, her white count was at .02. After about thirty minutes of that they transported her to picu on the sixth floor. She had a little sniffle runny nose when we went in that morning, but by the next morning she had dropped into phnemonia. They immediately started her on vancomyocin, which is horrible for the kidneys and Zoey is allergic to it. this is the same antibiotic that sent her into renal failure the last time she was in the hospital with VOD, but against my wishes and the warnings on her chart they gave it to her anyway insisting that it was the only one that worked. They also put in a central line which requires kedamin as sedation, She had a reaction to the kedamin and kept acting strange all night we had to sit next to her bed, she kept pulling her oxygen mask off and picking at the tegaderm on her port and central line, she was talking out of her head, didn’t know who she was kept asking us why we were calling her Zoey. The nurse and I kept telling them she was having a reactiont to something and could they please do something, by 5 am she was so bad she didn’t even know who I was and was combative, they had to sedate her and intobate her. That was saturday morning. By Monday morning she wasn’t getting enough oxygen and the co2 was building up in her body.They told me to call Jim and the kids and get everyone there because Zoey would probly not live through the night. I told them all that Zoey had plans and that she was not ready to give up that easily. So we all started talking to her. They switched out ventalators, three times and finally found out that if they gave her oxygen by hand pump that would start to pull the co2 out . Then her lungs started to harden. they flipped her over on her stomach to let the fluid push to the front and see if that would help soften up her lungs She was so swollen with fluid she didn’t even look like herself. After two days her lungs finally softened up and her levels started to look better. She then went into renal failure, bad renal failure twice as bad as the last time. Her kidneys and liver were just wiped out from the last time and all the chemo and she just couldn’t take all the meds and fluid. So they waited two days to see if her body would start to push some of the fluid out with the help of meds. That didn’t work, so they started dialysis. Four days of dialysis, Through all this Zoey was in a med induced coma and in critical condition. She stayed that way until the week before Christmas, they took her off the ventalator and started bringing her off of the meds. This took about a week. She took about another three days to realize what she had gone through and to start to remember things we were telling her, she asked alot of questions more than once. She had no use of her hands of feet for the first week and could not walk or stand on her own up until about a two weeks ago and still needed the walker to get around. She doesn’t remember anything of this , and for that we are glad. We are so very grateful for answered prayers and we thank all of you for your prayers during this time.
Please visit her Facebook page and show her some love and support
but still undergoes chemo and has a long battle ahead. My heart goes out to this sweet beautiful girl and her family who have been through SO MUCH and still find joy and happiness in their life. They pray for others going through hard times. On October 6-7 they will be doing Relay for Life, Team ZooRookie. If you want to donate to their team, just go to this link, thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Zoey/163226833738587
She is currently cancer free
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=36361&team_id=1159905
I love you beautiful Zoey! You are an inspiration to us all!
I would like to nominate my mother-in-law Diane. Last summer Diane moved to Montana to care for her elderly parents. Diane’s husband had to stay in California because that is where his job is. Diane only gets to see her husband for a couple of days, every two weeks or so, when he has time off and can catch a flight. Being apart from her husband has been very hard for Diane. She misses him so much.
Diane is also having a difficult time in caring for her mom. Diane’s mom, who I will call Grandma, has Alzheimer’s disease. Grandma does not remember that Diane is her daughter. She thinks that Diane is a neighbor who helps take care of her. Sometimes though, Grandma thinks that Diane is Grandpa’s girlfriend. When that happens Grandma calls Diane mean names and this really hurts Diane.
Grandma needs 24 hour care. Grandma and Grandpa cannot be left home alone for more than a few hours at a time. This means that Diane is not able to go anywhere. She is feeling like a prisoner in her own home.
Later this month Diane’s oldest son is getting married in Washington. Diane is worried that she will not be able to attend the wedding because she does not have anyone who can care for Grandma while she is away. Grandpa is well enough to travel, but Grandma is not. Diane was hoping Grandma would be able to stay in a care home for a few days while she went to the wedding, but she recently found out there are no openings available.
And as if all this wasn’t enough, Diane is also dealing with health problems of her own. She is diabetic and she is having difficulties managing her diabetes. She is putting Grandma and Grandpa first and not taking the time to care for herself like she should.
Receiving something unexpected from a complete stranger might just be what Diane needs to lift her spirits. I know it would certainly be a bright spot in her day.
I’d like to nominate my mother, Judy, who lost her very best friend this past Saturday. Her friend (practically my step mother), had been in remission from her cancer for several years. By the time it came back, it had spread far enough that the doctors told her she would be lucky to be alive come August. My mother has spent the last several months visiting her in hospice, as often as twice a day for the last few weeks. I know that she is having a very difficult time coping but is having a hard time because she feels like she needs to be strong for me and my siblings (who all think of her as part of the family) and for her friend’s adult daughter, who is also having a very difficult time. She could really use some cheering up.
I’d like to nominate my friend and co-worker Christian. He is always stepping up and going the extra mile, which is soo needed in the small non-profit that we work for. He is super awesome, and super deserving of a extra treat in his life!
I would like to nominate my parent’s neighbors. They have 3 kids of their own and within the past year adopted 4 girls from Africa (originally they were going to adopt 1, but couldn’t split these 4 sisters up). The youngest girl almost passed away on the plane ride over and recently struggled with an illness causing her to be housed in the hospital for an extended period of time. This little girl is now home and free of this illness, we all hope for good. The mother quit her job to stay at home and take care of these kids. The father is a teacher – and we all know he isn’t paid nearly enough for what he does. They have struggled through unknown illnesses, adapting from a 5 person home to a 9 person home, worked through financial struggles, a recent cancer diagnosis for their grandmother, and language barriers. The strength, courage, faith, and love this family shows is beyond imaginable. This small act of kindness to let them know that people care would be a blessing.
We would like to nominate our friend Rachel Lincoln. A few years ago Rachel was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form or cancer. Immediately after she gave birth to her daughter, Vida (which means life) she underwent chemo and basically “took the bull by the horns” and came up with her own treatment method. Just this week, after passing several important milestones, Rachel was declared “cancer free”! Her amazing spirit and will to beat this disease that claims so many deserves a celebration. I hope we can honor her!
I would love to nominate my mom
She is an INCREDIBLE woman, who puts the world before herself. She has raised her three nephews, runs a successful business, AND runs an adult family in her home and takes care of three mentally/physically handicapped woman 24/7. She raised me as a single mom, is my best friend, and the most amazing grandma to my son. She needs a reminder of how special she is in the worst way!
Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity!!!!
I would like to nominate my mother-in-law, Alene.
I love my mother-in-law very much. I consider myself extremely blessed when I hear the horror stories of other girls’ mils!
The reason I would like to nominate her:: I recently opened a coffee shop, with her investment. While she still has her very stressful full-time job, she finds the time and energy to be at the shop to prep for opening every morning at 5:15am, go to work, come help me on her lunch break, and come help me close once she gets off work.
She recently had her daughter come run the shop for me one day so I could take a break. SHE deserves the break! She does all this and continues to help me, her son, and grandson in any way she can. She SO is deserving of a dessert!
I’d like to nominate a young, single mom named Kielynn. Last year in mother was murdered in a tragic mass murder in Seal Beach, CA. I know how much this sweet young lady misses her mother and cannot imagine the enormity of her grief.
She is a strong young woman and doing a great job raising her daughter. Something to add a little happiness to their day would be wonderful.
Thank you!
I would like to nominate my friend Angela Meadows. Two years ago. Angela’s husband Josh, a Captain in the Marine Corps, was killed by a sniper in Afghanistan just a week before he was scheduled to return home for the birth of their first child, Olivia. While this was a sudden and devastating loss, Angela conducted herself with strength and courage that amazed everyone. We would like to thank Angela for her sacrifice, for her amazing courage and for her faith.
I would like to nominate my little brother Jesse. Last summer he was diagnosed with diabetes and was hospitalized for several days, this came as a huge shock for me. He is only in elementary school. During the first few months I had a hard time dealing with it. He’s my baby brother and I couldn’t accept he had something that I couldn’t make better. Although I’m sure Jesse had a harder time accepting it he was the one who always tried to make me feel better about the situation. He would tell me not to worry and he would make sure I wasn’t sad. Later he found out he had Celiac disease and this limited his diet even more. Once again I was upset by the news and Jesse was the one who comforted me even though it should have been me comforting him. He did whatever he could to let me know that he would be okay. Today he is on a gluten free diet and he is doing whatever he can to make the best of the situation. He always puts others before himself, he stays strong for everyone around him and I love him so much!
I would love to nominate Meghan . . . she is an 18 year old, new mom who has moved in with our family. We have know Meghan since she was 12 years old and during this time she has had a very challenging and difficult life (let’s just say that in the last 3 years the longest she’s lived in one place was 4 months). In early May, we welcomed her and her then 3 week old daughter into our home and our lives. Since then, she has taken steps to get her GED finished, enrolled in college and is now looking for a job all while learning to be a wonderful and loving mommy. It hasn’t been easy as she learns to function in our family and there are many moments of extreme emotions but these are out weighted as we watch her grown to be the women she wants her daughter to be. We would love to celebrate all Meghan has accomplished so far.
A year ago today my boyfriend passed away after a long struggle. It has been really hard on his family to lose this amazing human being. I would love to nominate his family for all that they have been through and to remind them of the love in this world. They deserve something special!
I would like to nominate my mother, who always puts the rest of the family before herself. Even though I’m 23, she’ll drive over to take care of me when I’m sick and send me care packages when I’m feeling down. She never asks for anything and spends all of her time and energy on everyone else. My mom is currently trying to quit smoking, which has been very difficult for her. She could use some encouragement and love to help her get through it!
I would like to nominate my friend Maria. She is one of the most caring, selfless, hard working people I know. She always puts others needs before her own and is trying her best to do what she can for everyone around her. She is always volunteering to help others in need although she herself is struggling with she hard times at the moment. She has a big heart and I think she deserves a small treat to let her know that although we may not always tell her, she is appreciated for everything she does and for being who she is.
This is wonderful, Amanda. I would like to nominate a fellow blogger. I recently learnt that she has just finished a round of chemo for a brain tumour. During all of this, she developed heart arrhythmia so therefore just had her heart burned and frozen to fix that problem. I can’t imagine how much stress she has been through with these illnesses, it must have been such a difficult time for her and her family.
The person I am nominating is Trish from Sweetology. I really think she deserves a little something good in her life right now.
I would like to nominate my father, John. He raised my younger brother and I as a single father for most of our lives. He is the hardest working man I know, and at 52 he still runs his own painting business and still manages to help my brother and I whenever we need it. He never complains or takes a day off “just because”. He was the first love of my life, and the absolute best father anyone could ever ask for. Even though he and my mother weren’t ready for kids when they were surprised with me (they were young and unmarried) he stepped up to the plate and did the best he could with the little he had. While most young fathers would have ran he stayed right there out entire lives doing the bulk of the work and being both mommy and daddy. He most certainly deserves a little happy surprise!
I would like to nominate my Aunt Janet. She has given up her life to making sure that everyone around her is happy, but herself. She is always giving and never asks for anything in return. Her husband, and subsequently my uncle, has been diagnosed with leukemia, and my aunt has persevered and taken up all that she can and more to make sure that my uncle is comfortable. She works all day to make sure that her family is provided for, and as I said she never takes the time to look after herself. I think a reminder that she is important, and that there are people thinking of her, would do wonders for her spirit, and keep her moral high at a time when she is so run down.
Amanda,you are such a sweet blessing! I look forward to reading your updates and new recipies,I loved the Hydrangea cake,I was able to make one last week although not as pretty as yours it tasted delisious and what fun I had preparing it.
I would like to nominate a family I know,to make a long story short I lost my mom 5 years ago June 5th I had just turned 30. I know she could never be replaced but I prayed for someone to be like a mother for me and I got what I prayed for! I met this family through a neighbor friend and the husband is sick with lymphoma and was suppose to be gone years ago and his wife is a retired nurse and takes such great care of him and she is like a mother to me and she is like a grandma to my 3 girls. She really deserves to know how much she means to me and her husband as well. If I don’t win for them or if I do I would like to commit to make them something special and pray God’s blessing on it to show them I love them and how they have inspired me even the husband who is sick always smiles never complains and he is such an inspiration to me about what life is all about trusting God for each moment not just each day. They are Jewish (as I was before I became a messianic Jew over 10 years ago and I live to shine my light not to thrust it on someone)
Thank you Amanda,I wish you lived closer you are the kind of friend I can learn from. I pray God puts women like you in my close circle…God bless you
I would like to nominate my friend Kim. She and her family have had a tumultuous year dealing with issues regarding her son. This of course has snowballed into major family strain, possible job loss, and the loss of relationships. Kim is a wonderful mother, friend, and person. She has so much faith and I’m amazed at how she continues to turn to God when other people may have turned away. When I visited with her once she said, “the only thing I’ve ever done is love my son”. We never know what are children are going to do and we raise them the best way we can, and she has. Her whole world has been turned upside down by all of this and there is still a long way to go. If nothing else, please join me in prayer for my dear friend and her family. Thank you.
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I would like to nominate my mother and father in-law, together. Words cannot express just how special this family, has been to myself and others. When there is trouble you can always count on Pat to be there, whether for that shoulder to cry on, or a hot meal because you have other things to worry about, she gives makes sure that you are well looked after in your time of need. Jim, himself has been through so much himself in the last year. He lost his job, got another one, then was let go again due to resizing. Even when he’s on the down and out himself, he still takes the time to do what is best for his family. I would like to nominate the pair.
What an amazing idea!!
I would like to nominate a family whose story has really touched me! They are the Slezak family and have been moved to adopt a special needs little girl from China, even though they have four boys of their own. After going through months and months and months of red tape from both countries, they brought her home this week. They met her for the first time on her birthday! I was just so moved by their faith and dedication to this little girl they never even met. God has opened so many doors for them and truly led them on this journey. They deserve a small treat just for all their stress and dedication!
I am so blessed just to have read their story. Here is their website: http://www.slezakplusone.com
I would like to nominate my friend Cathi. She is an amazing woman, who has had to battle a lot of chronic illness in her life. Years ago she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which she fought and won, she also suffers from Lupus. Despite this she is always cheery and friendly and always willing to lend a hand, this spring she was diagnosed again with stage three cancer. It is another hard road she has to face but despite it she is just as chipper and caring as always. If any one deserves a little something to brighten their day it’s her.
I would like to nominate my mom Jean – the absolute sweetest and most giving woman in the world! She is an inspiration to me and so man others. My mom is the type of person who gives to everyone BUT herself.
2 years ago, she lost her husband (my Dad) in a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was his full time caregiver and there with him every step of the way. Towards the end, he forgot even who she was, causing her more pain than I can even imagine.
She went back to work after he passed away, and has now taken another leave of absence to care for her mom (my Grandma) who is 92 years old. She is now having to relive how painful it is to see someone she loves slowly slip away. These days, it is difficult for my Grandma to even get out of bed. My mom, through all of this, says “If I can get her to smile or chuckle we are having a good day.” They live in a rural area of West Virginia, at the top of a mountain. It is peaceful and quiet, but I know she gets very lonely at times.
I know my mom (and I am sure she will pass some goodies on to my Grandma as well!) needs and would LOVE a little cheer in her day! She LOVES to bake and is the type of person that will definitely “pay it forward!”
I am here to nominate two of the strongest people I have ever known, my Paw Paw and Maw Maw, Rich and Treeca. Last month, my aunt Rashonda passed away after fighting a 9 month battle with Leukemia. They took her off of life support and had to let her go. This is not the first, but the third child out of five that they have had to say goodbye to, along with so many other losses we have had in our family. The first child they lost was my aunt Tracy, who also had to be taken off of life support. The second was my uncle Richie, who passed away in a car accident. And now, my aunt Rashonda.
It breaks my heart to see them have to go through this, yet again. It’s hard for our whole family, but the thought of losing one child, let alone three, is unbearable and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain they are feeling. Despite having lost three of their five children (my mom and my uncle remain), they still push forward each day and are still completely devoted to God and remain faithful to Him; something I’m not sure I would be able to do after going through that.
That is why I have chosen to nominate my Maw Maw and Paw Paw. I think that maybe a special little treat would brighten their day and would put a smile on their beautiful faces.
I would like to nominate my friend Ashleigh. She lost her brother and father during Thanksgiving last year, and I know she dearly misses them. Now she is expecting a baby girl, so for her it is both a time of mourning and celebration. I know a surprise in the mail would bring her a much needed smile as she continues to figure out how to enjoy life without her best friend.
I would like to Nominate my step daughter Kayla. She is a single mom twice over, was engaged to be married and was left alone , pregnant and homeless at age 25. She stayed with us in NY for a couple months after having her baby before moving back to Florida to be near her oldest son’s Father. Through all of her struggles, she has managed to put herself through college and is graduating this June. she has two beautiful son’s whom I’m proud to call my Grandchildren. Kayla has always been a wonderful mom to her children and puts them first as any good mother does. I think she could use a little something to brighten her day. This is perfect for her.
I would love to nominate my friend Shanda and her husband Bo. Last September 24th,they laid their daughter Bailey down for a nap on a Saturday afternoon. When they went to wake her up, she had passed away in her sleep. I’m not sure if they ever discovered what happened, but I know that their world was turned upside down that day. They were amazing parents, and they were left with a terrible void. Yet they decided to do something kind for others by creating the Pink Poodle Project in honor of their daughter. You can read more about it at http://pinkpoodlepillowproject.wordpress.com. Shanda and Bo found out they were expecting their second child earlier this year, and she endured a hard first trimester (while continuing to work). She is feeling better now, and they are excited to give Bailey a brother or sister. But I would love to nominate them because this is her first summer without her little sidekick at home. She misses Bailey terribly, and I would love to give her a little surprise to brighten her day. And Bo is an amazing husband who has supported his wife through the most difficult time of their lives. They are an inspiration to others that although they mourn, they do so with the knowledge that they will one day see their daughter again.
My dear friend, Bernadette Grassia, has my nomination to receive a deserving dessert. Bernadette just ‘retired’ from work but it was really a forced retirement due to lay-offs. To add to that, her best friend from childhood just died a few months ago from lung cancer and Bernadette was with her family throughout their ordeal. Also, her two best ‘work friends’ just abandoned her due to a misunderstanding. Although money is tight, she keeps tithing at her church. Bernadette can really use a surprise. Please help me in making her realize that their are people who are supportive of her. From her friend, Karen
I would like to nominate my wonderful loving mother, Renae. For close to 27 years now, she has been the most amazing woman I have ever known and has gone above and beyond to make others lives better.
In the past few years her health has been in a slow decline. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and about month ago she was forced to retire at the age of 50. She is now almost entirely bedridden and spends the majority of her days in extreme pain. She has very few good days and I always try and do whatever I can, no matter how small, to make her life happier or easier to handle.
I just know that receiving a small gift from someone like this would make a random day that much better for her!
I would like to nominate my mom, Tricia. She and my step-dad took his grandson Justin into their home and became his legal guardians when he was 4 years old (he’s now almost 13). Justin’s mom has been addicted to drugs for almost 30 years and was not providing a safe home for him. 5 years ago this fall, my step-dad passed away and my mom was left to raise Justin on her own. She has done a beautiful job. He is an honor student, plays football and basketball, is active in church and community activities and is an all around great kid. She has quite literally saved this child’s life. My mom is 72 years old (but seems more like 52) and she does it all with a smile on her face and love for this child who is not her blood relative. I know there are days when she wonders if she can do it, or should do it. I shudder to think where this child would be had it not been for my mom.
I would like to nominate a good friend and neighbor, Beth.
She is a wife and mother of 3 great kids!! She is also a pre-school teacher and the epitome of what we, as Moms, strive to be. She is the first one to volunteer and always thinks about others.
Some things she does- volunteers at church, head of the Girl Scout Troops in our town, on the PTA and is at every PTA event, includes all of the neighborhood kids (and will take yours if you’re stuck… even when she’s got to run around with her own kids), takes care of her mother and her mother’s place, always a good shoulder to lean on, and a great overall person!!
I am thankful we wound up in our small neighborhood as it brought me to know her. She makes me want to be a better person, Mom and friend:)
Hi Amanda! Thanks for the reply earlier. I would like to nominate my Aunt Carol. About 2 months ago my Uncle, her husband suddenly passed away. They have been married for nearly 50 years. The day he passed he spent the day with his grandkids at the ball park. That evening after sharing a glass of wine with my aunt he suddenly felt ill and within minutes had a massive heart attack and died. She never got to say goodbye. I could only imagine what that moment must have been like. You have no time to prepare, to talk, to say I love you one last time. I recently heard from her and I know that each day she needs to keep going on but without her companion that was with her for so long has been difficult. I know a she would be deserving of a dessert to bring a smile to her face.
I would like to nominate my parents. They are two people with hearts bigger than the moon! They put their four children, and now two grandchildren, before themselves always. They do anything to be sure that their family is happy and healthy. I am amazed by them everyday and dream of being as loving and giving as they are every day of their lives! It is time they get celebrated!
The first person that came to mind when I read this was my friend Jennifer. She has three teenage girls and had been married almost twenty years when her husband walked out on her and the girls. She lost her home…and is now renting. He left their finances a mess. Her oldest daughter graduated high school this week and did not have enough money to give her a party. Thanks to some generous friends she was able to take them out to dinner to celebrate. With little means on her own, she is handling the divorce on her own. She receives no help from her husband. Jennifer has gone without many times to ensure her girls do not. I love to bake and Jennifer is always eager to be my guinea pig when I try new recipes. Things like a plate of cookies or a small bouquet of daffodils mean a lot to her. Thank you for the opportunity to nominate her! This is a great thing you’re doing! 8)
I have to nominate a dear friend of our family, Patty. My husband and I were best friends with her son, who (along with his sister) was killed just hours after midnight this past New Year’s by someone they both considered a good friend. David was an F-18 pilot in the Navy and Karen was his selfless, loving sister and very best friend. The loss of two of her children has been an incredibly difficult journey and she has been so graceful in her search to understand and cope with their passing. We have been so blessed to become a part of their lives and to be able to connect with, and practically adopt, their two younger children as our own siblings. I don’t know how we would have dealt with losing David without them in our lives. She (and the whole family, really) deserve a pick-me-up more than anyone I’ve ever known.
I would like to nominate my sister Brittany. She has been going through a really rough time. At 30, she decided to go back to school to get a law degree. She wants to help veterans or work on environmental issues. Thing is, she had to quit her job to go to school, so money is tight. She withdrawls the same amount from her savings every month to “pay” herself for rent, food and tuition. But it gets worse, she had a boyfriend of 2 years dump her last week. She has been very down in the dumps about it. And her roommate is moving out at the end of the month, so she is struggling to find someone to fill her spot, otherwise, Britt’s housing bill will double on July 1. And the thing about it that tops the cake is that she started a summer internship on Monday which is super high stress and very very long hours. I wish that I could be there to help her through this rough patch.
What I love about my sister is that despite all of this, she is up every week at 3:30 am to work as a sous chef at a soup kitchen in D.C. for homeless vets. It is what inspired her to go back to school. Even when she is sick or tired or she burned herself cooking grits for them or she drops her cellphone in the mop bucket, she is there helping veterans get a warm meal and some companionship.
God Bless her and all the other nominees for this gift.
I would like to nominate a dear friend, Georgette. She’s been faced with some pretty major challenges recently, as her husband has spend the past few weeks in the hospital, with a long recovery ahead. She definitely deserves something to brighten her day!
I would like to nominate my dear friend Brooke M. She and her husband have been trying to have children for over a year and just recently have been diagnosed with infertility. It breaks my heart to see them grieve through this, as I know they would make such wonderful parents. It’s been such a difficult time for them and as a friend there is only so much you can do to help. I would love to be able to send a special gift or treat in honor of Brooke and Kevin.
I want to nominate my daughter. She has supported her family for many years. She has raised her only child, her son Terron, being the good example for him. She has helped him have perfect attendance, except for 1 day so far, and to secure a four year full scholarship to college! She has done so much for our whole family as well! She doesn’t own a car, though she used to, rides the bus to the same job she’s had for 10 years, as well as grocery shopping via bus, dragging home wood stove pellets to keep them warm! She is a doll carrying a heavy burden and never complaining! She deserves something special! She lost her little brother when she was young and lost her little sister a few years ago. Please cheer up her day. Thanks.
I would like to nominate my parents. At the end of March, my dad suffered a stroke while camping in a remote area. He has spent the past 2+ months in the hospital and rehab facility, working on stabilizing his body and regaining/relearning the skills that were affected by the stroke. My mom has been by his side the entire time, despite having to commute 2-4 hours each direction, depending on which facility he was located at. She finally started taking a few days to go home towards the end of his rehab stay, but she’d rush back to him as soon as she could. My dad has worked so incredibly hard at trying to master skills we all take for granted – speaking, feeding himself, getting dressed, etc. Today he finally gets to go home, which is amazing! But he still has a long road of recovery and adjustment ahead, and what better motivation to keep at it than to receive a special package in the mail to remind him to keep smiling and to keep his spirits up!
My friend Katy’s little baby (20 months old) is battling a very serious form of cancer. She and her husband live in New Mexico but have moved to Boston (where Katy is from) to seek treatment here. They are in/out of the hospital and her baby has had 6 major surgeries (in the last 3 months) and is doing chemo and radiation. I’m sure Katy would enjoy receiving a treat.
I would really like to nominate my parents Joseph and Geraldine. They mean the world to me (I live far away so I can’t visit them as much as I would like). They are the most generous and giving people I know. They have always put my siblings and my needs before their own. They have always encouraged us to follow our dreams even if that meant they had to give up on their own. They have made so many sacrifices for my brothers, sisters and I so we could have a comfortable life. They are simple people who’s biggest treasure is family and I want to know that I am so grateful for having them as my parents and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. I love them with all my heart!
I want to nominate my mother. She has recently been in the hospital for a kidney stone and they just found out a 6 inch cyst on her ovary. She will be having surgery soon. She could use something to brighten her day.
On May 23rd two planes crashed into each other in mid-air in North East Arkansas. Janet (the wife of pilot Tony) and Toni (daughter of pilot Tony) lost their husband/father unexpectedly. Earlier in 2011 they thought Mr. Tony would not live through the year due to brain lesions. This family is living most families worst nightmare. One day Janet woke up and her husband left for work, but he didn’t come home. Toni, their only child who graduates from high school next year, no longer has her daddy. For Janet and Toni the past year has been a roller-coaster. They dealt with thinking they were going to lose Mr. Tony, then they found out he would make it through, then one morning they found out he was in a plan crash and didn’t live through the crash.
They have been through so much this year, I couldn’t imagine going through what they have. I would love to see them receive a little more encouragement and love from others as well.
Link to the story of the accident
http://www.kait8.com/story/18605244/sheriff-two-planes-collided-1-killed-and-1-injured
I would like to nominate my twin sister, Robyn. She is on the leadership team at a Christian summer camp for her third and last summer. I know she would love this “happy mail” to arrive and be able to share it fellow leadership counselors. Please help me spread some homegrown joy to her.
I would like to nominate my friend Courtney. We are both working on our MSW degrees. She is such an inspiration to me. She has a learning disability and has to work at least twice as hard as everyone else but is the the most cheerful, encouraging and supportive friend someone could have. Earlier this year, I had something awful happen and Courtney was there. She listened with so much empathy and caring and offered helpful suggestions and kept checking on me throughout. Another cool thing is that there is more than 20 years difference in our ages but Courtney sees me. She sees the real me, past the years and the grey hair. She makes me feel totally accepted, valued and cared for. She has taught me so much about how to truly love and encourage others. I would love for her to have a treat because she is always showing up with treats and words of encouragement for others.
I would love to nominate the most wonderful woman in the world. My mother Lisa has been a rock in so many people’s lives during the past few years. In the past two years, my mom has moved from Ohio (after 23 years in the same house) to New Jersey with my dad after he got a new job out there. My father began work right away, which means my mother single-handedly had to pack and move our house. My four brothers and myself were all either at college or moved out starting our careers and were unable to help her as much as we would’ve liked. While in the midst of planning this move, my mother’s father was in a car accident which permanently landed him in a nursing home. From that point forward, she has been having to fly from NJ to FL every 3-5 weeks to take care of her parents and her brother (who had issues with multiple sclerosis and was living with their parents). Since the car accident, my mother has dealt with the deaths of both her brother and her father, and still has to go down to FL to help take care of her mother. Not only has she been helping her family, but she has yet to spend a full month at home to be able to spend time with my dad or even make new friends. Getting a little something would really just mean the world to her. She is such a rock and positive example for me, and I am so lucky to have her.
I would like to nominate my pastor Rachel C. She’s had a trying year and this summer will be even harder – she’s taking on all duties at church, the VBS leader cancelled, and she’s had to do multiple services in two weeks including one for a teenage boy. She’s also dealing with illness in her extended family.
I think she could use some extra joy in her life to remind her why she’s doing the right thing and always is a good shoulder for others.
I would like to nominate my mom. We found out last week that my very healthy father needed emergency open-heart surgery, and since I’m currently working in the Middle East (about 6,000 miles away from home), my mother is going to be taking care of him pretty much on her own for the next two months while he is recovering and going through rehabilitation. We have almost no extended family, and I’m sure that she is going to be overwhelmed with the job of being a 24/7 caretaker. His surgery is tomorrow, and I know that seeing the man who has been her constant companion and strength for the last 25 years in such a painful and helpless state is going to be so very difficult for her. Anything to bring a smile to her face during the difficult months ahead would mean the world to me and my family.
I would like to niminate my sister’s college professor and his family. Early in the second semester, Brian was in a very traumatic car accident. By grace, he survived, but is now in a long-term rehabilitation facility. I’m 99% certain there are small children involved, and I just think his wife must be going through a lot in learning to be a single parent, even though temporary. I can’t imagine being separated from my family and to not be able to be there for my son.
I don’t have any substatiative information, I guess, but this is who I thought of.
)
I DO have access to their permanent mailing address and the address of the rehab facility though
Thanks for doing this – I can’t wait to volunteer
)
I would like to nominate my husband Mike. We have been together for over 11 years and in that entire time I have never seen him miss one day of work. Work is his life and how he prides himself on taking care of me and our 4 children. Last December (9th) at around 7:30am something broke underneath his truck which sent him crashing into a 10 foot drainage ditch completely writing off his truck. He managed to climb out of his truck, which was suspended over the ditch and wedged in, then back up into his truck to find his phone, then out again and up the ditch to the road to call for help. He was working that morning, so he called his boss to tell him what happened. His boss called me and I met them at the hospital. He was in X-Ray when I arrived. An hour later the doctor arrived to read the X-Ray and the next thing we knew he was surrounded by nurses and they were strapping him down to a board. His head, his body, his legs and arms. He couldn’t move if he tried. His back was broken. It was broken when he climbed in and out of his truck to find his phone. It was broken when he climbed up the ditch to the road. I spent the next 12+ hours watching his toes, after an excruciatingly painful, hour long trip by ambulance to the next closest major hospital that could treat him. They finally got him into a room after 11pm where I (sort of) slept on a cot for the next 6 days waiting for him to recover enough to come home. So lucky for us our kids are old enough to fend for themselves because it was an hour drive if I wanted to come home. We had to put a hospital bed in our living room because he couldn’t walk the stairs to our bedroom in the basement. 3 months in a brace, needing help to do little things like put on his socks and shower. Up to now it’s been countless doctor appointments, physio 3 times a week (2 hrs drive each time) and a whole lot of X-Box. We still don’t know if he can continue to do his job and his world crumbled when they mentioned “job retraining”. 20+ years at the same job and they want him to retrain to do something different. Well here we are now, waiting for more doctors to tell us our future and thanking every prayer and blessing out there that he is walking and I just thought he could use a little pick-me-up while he patiently waits for his life to change again. Thank you for reading
I’d like to nominate my friend Heidi Reed who is a phoenominal baker! And she is so lovely to share her talents with others. She works with special needs chldren in the school system & she is a single mother. She volunteers & donates her skills whenever & wherever she can or if there is a need or a call, like school events, church events, campus ministry at her teenage daughter’s school. She makes cakes & cookies for the other teachers & assistants she works with. Its almost as if baking is her “ministry” because her talent is a real gift. And all the while, she does it with this GREAT smile!
I would like to nominate my family; my mom, dad, and sister. For the past year I have been sick with symptoms of weakness, nausea, slow HR, and low BP. The doctors have yet to figure out what’s wrong. I ended up having to drop out of college for last year’s fall semester, which devastated me. Throughout this past year, my family has been my rock. My mom has been there with me at every doctor’s appointment. Both of my parents sat beside me for hours as I was admitted into the hospital twice. Money has become tight through all of this, but my family has still stood strong, making sure I didn’t feel guilty because of all of the hospital bills.
I became tired of laying around sick so decided to try and go back to school for spring semester. My mom moved 8 hours away from home for a month just to help me transition back into college life. She would sit and pray for me by the pond on my campus as I would push through my weakness to get through my classes each day. Now how many parents do you know of that would do that?!
I also nominate my sister because she is going through a tough time with her marriage right now. My sister and I have always been best friends. She has encouraged me through my sickness and I have been trying my best to do the same for her now. Her husband has decided that he doesn’t wanna be with her or his 7 month old daughter anymore. He kicked her out of the house and has been seeing other women. It has been tough on her trying to get through all of this, plus raising a baby all by herself.
I love my family more than words can say! I don’t know where I would be today without them. I know that many people aren’t blessed with a close knit family like me, and that is why I thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful mom, dad, and sister
I would like to nominate my sister Maria. Maria is a single Mom who has raised 2 great kids all on her own without any assistance. She has worked hard and dedicated her entire life to raising her kids often at great sacrifice to herself and her own personal needs. Both of her children are amazing young adults and are now in College. In addition, our family was recently hit hard by the loss of both of our parents to Cancer. Maria deserves to know how much she is loved and appreciated.
What a great idea. The person I want to nominate is my mom. My grandma passed away from an intense fight with cancer two years ago yesterday(June 6th). She left behind my wonderful grandpa who is 95 and still lives on his own. During my grandma’s cancer journey my mom made a 5 hour round trip drive to their house every week to spend 2 days while still working full time. After grandma passed away and grandpa did not want to move home with my parents, she has continued to make the same 2-3 day trip EVERY week while still working full time. On top of this she leads a bible study and teaches sunday school. So for about 3 years my mom has given up many days every year to help her parents. In the meantime my mom has missed many family events and sacrificed her free time that she could relax and have time for herself so that she can care for her parents. She is so giving and puts EVERYONE before herself. She deserves a treat and this would be wonderful!
I would like to nominate my 87-year-old mother-in-law, MaryAnn, who is struggling to maintain her independence in her own home. Until 2 years ago, she was still caring for her husband at home, although he had dementia caused by pernicious anemia and loss of muscle strength. She now drives to the convalescent home 5-6 times/week to visit her husband, feed him and play his favorite music. She remembers each of her children’s and grandchildrens birthdays with a handwritten card and sometimes a check! She is a special woman who devoted her life to her husband and children. And now she is struggling to keep her house and pay her bills.
Please consider this special woman who as selflessly devoted her life to her family.
From one of her daughters-in-law. . . KAREN
I would love to nominate my Mom, and little sister! My mom is making it on her own, with my sis in tow, going through a not so fun separation from my dad. She is the best mom ever, and I wish I lived close to her! She could use a little encouragement!
I would love to nominate my mother, Krista. She is the amazing mom of 7 children, 5 of which she did not birth. And she’s been the mother to over 20 other children.
She has me, her 18 year old daughter, her biological son (Jack 6 yrs old), her adopted son (D’avieon 2 years old), and four foster children. She has sacrificed so much to take care of us all and I admire her work so much. This year has been so challenging for her, we moved cities and she has had to leave behind her closest and dearest friends and has struggled to make new ones. With 7 kids begging for her attention, who wouldn’t?
My mom is so deserving of recognition because she selflessly gives everything to us. She devotes every waking moment to our benefit, and I know that it isn’t easy. I love her so much and I just want her to know that she is a great role model to me and is changing people’s lives every day.
I would like to nominate both of my parents. They live together and in the last year they have been through a lot.
last year my mother went with one of my sister’s to watch my sister’s three young boys (at the time they were 6,5 and 2). my sister was having a baby who was going to have health issues. The best place to have the child was about a thousand miles from home so my sister and her husband packed up and took their sons with them. Someone had to watch the boys while my sister and brother -in-law were intent on my niece.
They came back home just as the summer was winding down. A few weeks later my niece had a health scare and was in a hospital about an hour away. My mother and father took over watching the boys. Then shortly after that (about 2-3 weeks) my father had a stroke. My mother then spent all her time with my father as he recovered in the hospital and then with him in his rehab. In the middle of February my mother had an emergency surgery for an aortic aneurysm dissection. My father was there every day for her while she was in the hospital and then with her for the doctor appts and the rehab.
Both are coming along very well.
My parents still will watch my sister’s boys when needed as the baby ( who will be one next week) needs special attention. My sister knows that her children are getting the best care next to her and her husband their grandparents.
Hi, I would like to nominate my wonderful friend Cindy. Cindy loves her family and she loves baking. She’s one of the reasons I found I AM BAKER in the first place. And she’s a darn good baker herself.
Almost one year ago to the day, her brother – her only sibling, a usually very healthy man, age 34 and father of two young girls – was diagnosed with leukemia. it’s called ALL and it’s nasty…and vicious.
Cindy sprang into action and, while raising two kids of her own, she put together an “army” of volunteers to help her brother and his family. She took him to chemo appointments, arranged numerous schedules for her sister in law and the two nieces. She organized some 20 volunteers of extended family and friends to be with her brother in the hospital and at his out patient “apartment” 24/7 so that he would never be alone. Then, once her brother was strong enough, Cindy made the ultimate selfless decision to donate her bone marrow so that he had the best chance of survival. The transplant, which occurred in January, was successful, but it was very hard on Cindy and it took her longer than normal to recover.
two weeks ago, her brother was well enough to return to his job, albeit part-time, for the first time in nearly a year. It was a joyful day!
Unfortunately, his latest doctors appt. tests this week revealed that the leukemia is back. dammit. So now he’s back at Johns Hopkins as an in patient enduring more chemo treatment, and his sister..my pal Cindy…gas no choice but to spring into action again. This time around, however, she cannot donate her bone marrow. So the family has to rely on the national registry next.
Please pray for my friend Cindy, her brother and the entire family! And if u feel compelled to do so, please check out the National Bone Marrow Registry to see if you can get tested and placed on the list.
Thanks for reading!
Meredith
I’d like to nominate Terisa. A month ago she lost her infant daughter who was born with Trisomy 18. Despite the grim diagnosis in utero, Terisa and her husband decided to carry on with the pregnancy and use the experience as a testament to Christ’s love in their lives. She is an inspiration to the entire neighborhood!
I’d like to nominate my friend, Ginny. She’s such a hard worker and times have been tough. Yet even though things are tight financially, she cooks a meal in her home for a small group of folks every other Monday. She works up to 12 hour shifts at her brother’s pizza shop to really keep things in order and make sure all products are really good. She bakes for the church when they need it and has been the pastor’s right hand Sunday morning by overseeing the service area – ushering, greeting, children running about, teenagers sneaking off and other interesting personal contributions by people. She has her own FaceBook ministry. She and her husband took me in when I lost everything several months ago. She and her husband, Paul, continue to encourage me through many disappointments and have offered me personal help more than I can count. Even though she’s exhausted, she will give a smile and listen to you, then add a wee bit of advice. She’s a great lady.
My amazingly beautiful brother Greg who suffers from Trigeminal neuralgia. Even thought he has lived through constant pain for over a decade, his demeanor, warmth and love is remarkable. I cannot say enough about what he means to me!
I would like to nominate my friends mom, Dianna. She is a very hard worker, she works a full day job with her husband to make a living and on top of that she makes sure she makes each of her children (and grandchild on its way) feel extremely loved and special!! I think all working moms actually have 2 full time jobs – working at work and looking after a home, and i think they all deserve aomthing special!!!!
I would like to nominate my friends mom, Dianna. She is a very hard worker, she works a full day job with her husband to make a living and on top of that she makes sure she makes each of her children (and grandchild on its way) feel extremely loved and special!! I think all working moms actually have 2 full time jobs – working at work and looking after a home, and i think they all deserve something special!!!!
I’d like to nominate all the people at YWAM Pismo Beach and Central Coast. They are very close to my heart. I have worked with them for a year and they have been such a blessing to me. 2 months ago I went back home, the Netherlands, to wait for my visa to be able to return but due to different circumstances I cannot go back. Not expecting to not see them again for a while I want to let them know I am thinking of them. I often baked yummy things for everyone so they will know that I am thinking of them and sending them my love, even if I am far away.
My wife and I nominate my mom, Danice. She raised three kids on her own, and it still amazes me the way she prioritized our needs above her own. More than she needed to I think, but she did it nonetheless. Her side of the family has not been very cohesive, and after her parents died 20 years ago, she was basically left with only her sister, who has chosen to distance herself from everyone in some pretty bitter ways. I know my mom is feeling pretty lonely about this right now. She has a great husband now, and my sister lives close, but my brother and I live on the other side of the country. We would love her to get a random pick-me-up from someone she does not know!
I would like to nominate one of my bestest and dearest friends. She is a mother of 4 year old twins and a 1 year old. As with nearly everyone these days, money is extremely tight for her and her husband and they raise their three beautiful children. Heather is the most giving and loving person I know. She goes out of her way to make people smile and give them a helping hand any way she can. She is my best friend and therapist and I don’t know where I’d be today without her. (literally). She works a full time job, takes care of her family and still finds time to bake cakes and cookies for family and friends… even if it means staying up until 3 one a work night. She and I started cookie decorating and baking as a hobby and we have absolutely fallen in love with it. I have been out of the country for work since the middle of May and won’t be coming home until the end of June. One of the things I’ve missed most while being gone (besides everyone back home) is really good cake! So being the awesome person that she is, she started researching online for someone who could make really good cake pops for me locally and ship them to me. She spent a week talking to a lady in north England, and was on the verge of ordering some for me, until the price came. It absolutely wasn’t an unreasonable price, but with the minimum order, $60 before shipping is a bit tough when you don’t have extra money. I love her dearly for going through all the trouble, but I would have kicked her butt for spending the money on me!! I could tell from her email how badly she wanted to do this for me and it made me love and miss her that much more.
She is an awesome mother and wife. Her kids are incredibly happy and well taken care of and want for nothing… well, except for more candy if you ask them. Even through all of the stress of juggling bills, kids, work, psycho friends (aka me) she always finds time do for others. Even though it’s very likely she’ll read this because she intends to volunteer as a baker, I would love to be able to surprise her with some goodies that she can sit back and enjoy!
I would like to nominate my best friend Jenna. She is one of the most giving people I know. She’s the friend you can call at 3 a.m. when you’re in trouble, sick, or stranded on the side of the road, and she’ll never complain. She’s dependable, kind, loving, and compassionate. Last year, when I had the toughest year of my life, she was there for me any time I needed, and she never once told me to stop crying or get over it.
She started a new job in February, and the transition didn’t go as smoothly as we had hoped. She suffered a lot of stress because of it and also a lot of anxiety. I’ve tried to be there for her as much as I can, and I wish there was an insta-fix I could find for her. She deserves so much happiness and so much sunshine, and I think this would be a great way to let her know she is appreciated more than she can imagine.
I would like to nominate my Uncle, Frank Zachary. Two years ago he was involved in a freak welding accident. He was welding a diesel tank and it exploded. He was burned very badly and spent several weeks in the hospital. Doctors weren’t sure he would make it, but he pulled through. Because of the burns he has had a plethora of medical problems. One problem which is most disturbing is the loss of most of his sight. His sight is very blurry and he can see very little. His wife, my aunt, has also had several medical problems due to a blood disease. My cousin, Lisa, their daughter, has gone above and beyond the call of duty to care for them and make sure they have everything they need. This family has certainly been through tough times in the past two years and desserving desserts would be most appreciative. My Uncle has a huge sweet tooth and loves all sweets!
I’d like to nominate my friend Kate. The past two years have been very difficult for Kate and her family. They have been through so much since her husband lost his job. Now they are having to seel their home. It’s been a very trying time and at times Kate doesn’t understand why they are going through these trials but somehow she always manages to hold tightly to her faith and the promise that God knows what He’s doing. She has been a pillar of strength for her husband and family. She has always been there for me, no matter what. She’s loved by so many and I know that if more of us were closer we would all do as much as we could to help her out. I know that she would appreciate this more than anything.
I want to nominate my amazing sister, Misty (Half-sisters, we have different moms).
2 years ago, in a time span of one year she found out she was expecting her second child (YAY!) but also had two surgeries, one to remove a tumor on her jaw (cancer free, YAY!) and another to remove her gall bladder. She was pregnant through both and everything turned out fine. In that same year, she found out that her mom had a brain tumor. Her whole world changed in that one year, that one instant even.
Since then, she’s put her life on hold to become a stay-at-home-mom, mostly because then she can take care of her mom. Her mom is still fighting this tumor with everything she has, and she’s doing a great job, but she still needs a lot of help. Misty takes her to and from all her doctor appointments, helps her around the house and just is there for her in every way she possibly can. It’s amazing how selfless and giving she is.
Plus, there’s more. Just this past December, my sister got tested and decided to donate one of her kidneys to her friend’s mom, who was in desperate need. She asked for nothing in return, just wanted to do it to be able to help someoen else’s mom live comfortably.
My sister is amazing and I don’t think she knows how truly great she is. <3
I would like to nominate my mother-in-law, Barbara Whitehead. She is always putting others before herself, especially our men and women of service. She is the director of the NC brand of Give2TheTroops, a non-profit organization that packs and sends care packages for our deployed troops. Recently she was told that the center may have to close if they cannot get any monetary donations coming in for postage and supplies. She logs in countless hours there each week, then any other time she has leftover (if any!) is spent making sure her grandchildren and children are provided for. She never takes time for herself. Back in August of last year her and her husband lost their home in Hurricane Irene. After spending many tiring hour on the phone with the bank and insurance company, they have started rebuilding. It’s going to be an expensive endeavor as they have had trouble with insurance paying for things. I know this is so frustrating because that was their home for over 30 years. I believe she could use anything to brighten her day!
Give2TheTroops Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Give2thetroops-North-Carolina-Branch/111475258915310
I would like to nominate my sister Sherrie. Six years ago she lost her husband to a heart attack. After remarrying, she moved her family from Jax FL to an Amish town in OH on a farm. He new husband “works” the farm, leaving her to make all the money for their family – which now has 5 children. She never has any time for herself, nor is she ever able to do anything for herself being that she is the moneymaker for the family and having 3 teenage boys, with 2 toddlers leaves no leftovers. I think this would be awesome for her and show her that someone is watching what she has sacrificed and cares.
I nominate my daughter amanda bowen. She is 21 and in college. She makes honor role and works her self to the bone. On top of that she is an amazing sister, so close to her little sister who is 18. She takes her places and helps her whenever she needs it and more.
My daughter helps my mother who is 74 with MS too. She takes her to church every week, drives her to the store to do her shopping and visits her since she is alone, twice a week on top of it.
She is totally sweet and a wonderful and selfless person who I am so proud to say is my daughter.
I would like to nominate my grandmother, Katherine. She is a strong, older woman that has had a
pioneering spirit before it was ok for women to do so. She is also incredibly talented and a fantastic baker herself, having made several wedding cakes before she had chronic arthritis. She also still paints her walls, does all the home improvement through her pain. She is currently a widow and managing and taking care of a home by herself. She has always donated and helped with many charities and even took me in and let me live with her for free when I needed a place to stay. I know she gets very lonely at times and we don’t tell her thank you enough. So I wanted to nominate her to show her that we all care and love her and to make her day with a delicious dessert!
I would like to nominate Sam. Through the ups and downs, the good and the bad he has always stuck by my side. He is always there to help those who need it most even though he is having some hardships himself. He has gone through a lot with struggles at work and other family issues so I would love to brighten his day with a little something sweet!
I would like to nominate my grandmother, Doris. She recently lost her husband of 65 years (they got married at 17!) and is having a hard time. We try to visit frequently, but I worry that she gets lonely. My grandfather was definitely a character, so the house itself must be very quiet. I just want to brighten her day and lift her up a bit with our baking love.
Thank you for doing this!!
I’d like to nominate my friend, Lynne. She is such a giver and such a godly woman, despite losing her husband about 10 years ago to cancer and having to finish raising her three children on her own. She puts together our church bulletin every week with no pay, and routinely gives of her time by organizing our church’s free clothing giveaways every year and leading ladies’ prayer nights. Her generous spirit has benefited many in our town.
I would love to nominate my friend Debbie.
She lost her 7 week old baby girl last year to SIDS, and has had a really rough year with it. Her baby girl would have been a year old on July 4th. It was her 4th daughter, and now she is currently pregnant with a baby boy. It is definitely bittersweet as she rejoices with the new life she is carrying and yet she is still hurting a lot with the loss of her little girl.
I think a little gift in the mail would definitely lift her spirits!
Thanks!
My stepgrandmother. I have no biological grandparents living and she has just opened her heart to me. Her husband passed away a few years ago and she went through a tough time. We call each other about once a week and chat about tomatoes and gardening and life. She’s so precious to me. However, I live about 11 hours away and would love to share a little sunshine with her.
I would like to nominate a sweet person named Judy. She is the kindest, sweetest, most opimistic person I have known. She is the mother of three and care giver for her husband who is battling ALS. He is only 50 or 51. Way too young. Her oldest will go to college in the fall. Tough time for this precious family.
I love this idea you have!! Hats off to you! Thank you for touching the lives of strangers!!
Can I nominate i am baker? She inspires me and this idea of giving back moves me to tears. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to spread some love to a deserving person.
Well, since I don’t have i am baker’s personal mailing address, I would like to nominate my big sister, Susan. She is a nurse in the NICU and as is her nature, ALWAYS cares for others. Our father passed away 3 years ago and she was there when he was slipping away. She used her medical expertise and cool head to perform CPR until the EMS arrived. He never regained consciousness, but he survived for another 24 hours which allowed our mother, me and our 3 brothers to say goodbye and be together when he died. I will be forever grateful for that. Unfortunately, last year her marriage of 25 years ended and she is now in the middle of a heartbreaking divorce. It saddens me beyond belief because she deserves every happiness. She is my daughter’s godmother, my sister and my best friend. I want her to know she is cared about and thought of every day. Getting an unexpected surprise in the mail would make her day I know! Thank you so much!
I hope hope hope I am not too late!! I was waiting for an address.
I actually have 3 people to nominate. Is that ok?
The first is Lindsay, a high school friend. She’s 30 years old and just lost her husband,Luke, to Cystic Fibrosis. They trust in God and have prayed and battled the disease for years. Luke went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday. They were in the process of adopting the little boy they have been fostering for the past year.
Next is Luke’s parents. They lost their son, Luke on Tuesday to Cystic Fibrosis. Unfortunately, the disease also took the life of Luke’s sister, Sarah, about 7 years ago. Sarah was engaged to be married but was never able to make it to her wedding day. Luke and Sarah were their only children.
Finally is my brother’s Mother-in-law Sandy. In the past year she’s lost her sister in law, mother in law and 3 cousins to cancer. Her 22 year old daughter, Kayla, was diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma in march 2011. Thankfully she was declared cancer free a couple years ago. Unfortunately, Sandy was laid off from her job about 9 months ago and despite many tries, she hasn’t been able to find another job.
I think I am a day late so it is ok if they can’t qualify. But please please pray for myfriends
Wow. Amazing people out there!! It’s hard reading the stories above and not get teary. I’ll add another amazing duo – my parents. My Dad just turned 80 in May and my Mom is a couple years behind him. My brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was about 15 years old. I was about 5 years old at the time. My parents have given their lives over to trying to help him, be his advocate, his caregiver, be his friend, and learn as much as possible about the illness while at the same time raise me and my sister and have to go to their official jobs! They’ve been on the head of boards just so they could make a difference not only for my brother, but for others with the same diagnosis. I marvel at what they went through and continue to go through everyday. And btw, they love sweets!
I would like to nominate my friend B.F., who is a two-time cancer survivor. For the last round she had to wear a colostomy bag for several months. She is single and now has no insurance and has only been able to find a part-time minimum wage job despite a very impressive resume and skillset. Despite all of these setbacks, she has remained upbeat and considerate of others and a loving caretaker to her four cats.
I would like to nominate a good friend of mine, Melissa. She works and studies full time and to make things more complicated has lost both of her parents over the last year. I am not there to give her a hug, but she more than deserves one; she is caring and sweet and would go out of her way to make someone else’s day brighter.
Hi!
I would like to nominate the Erickson family. The father is undergoing many medical treatments and his wife and amazing three sons have been by him the whole time. A blessing would give their difficult journey a little bit of sunshine:)
Your blog is wonderful! I love that you do good and do cakes good:)
I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2012/great-ideas-that-caught-my-eye/
Have a fabulous weekend Amanda!
I would like to nominate my Mom who just lost her teaching job after many years of dedication to a failing school. She worked with inner city kids in a city that could not support its own school. The school was recently taken over by the state and will now be turned into a charter school. This means all the teachers have been fired, and if rehired at the new school will no longer be employed by the state to gain the pension that she has been working towards.
My Mom could have given up on that school and the kids long ago to work in an “easier” district with much less drama and heartbreak everyday. Not only did she stick it out for the underprivileged kids but also took some kids under her wings more than her job ever asked of her. She feels betrayed by being let go as her job was a very emotionally involved one.
Her sweet tooth has a direct line to her brains happiness center and this would be an awesome way to make her day. Thank you for organizing such a great thing!
I would like to nominate my Mother and Father, who always put everyone else first. They are the most humble people on earth, helping, providing to everyone in need. Even though they are not financially well, they always find to give to others. My parentes home is the one stop help spot in the area and there is never a no from any of them, simply heroes to me!
I would like to nominate my friend April. She had to move to Minnesota to be near the Mayo so she could have her fourth brain surgery. She’s the only person in the world who suffers from what she has. They literally are having to invent new procedures to be able to treat her.
Her blog is: http://thetumordiaries.blogspot.com/
From her blog: My Journey as a Christian Wife, mother and brain tumor survivor in the wake of the aftermath it left behind. Left with a fight against Trigeminal neuralgia, brain stem damage, the loss of hearing, four brain surgeries and most recently loosing my sight. Here is my story, here is how I fight.
She truly deserves a special treat!
I just noticed this and am glad I did.
You probably will fall off your chair when you see that I’d like to nominate my ex husband. Yes, really.
I won’t say it’s been like that all along but there have been things in my own life and the lives of others where he’s stepped up to the “plate”.
He goes above and beyond for kids because his own childhood was awful, in a word. I’ve been with him on one special occasion, he and another of his friends “made it rain” in an under privileged neighborhood. What a joy that was. He’s worked hard to get were he is and giving back isn’t a second thought to him.
He’s always giving and I’d like to do something special for him, I’d like him to know even my own next phone call isn’t because I need something, but that he’s getting.
Thanks so much,
I would like to nominate my step mother DeDe Turner from Danville VA. She has been in my life for 8 years now and she has been the kindest, smartest, most hard working person I know. She paid my way through high school so I could be with my friends and then turned around and paid my way through college out of her own pocket so I could get the best education possible. She is a CCRN at Moses Cone hospital and she loves what she does. I have never heard someone come home to talk about their job the way she does. She has so much love and compassion for her patients, and this is why she is continuing her education to get her PhD and Nurse Practioner liscense. She has been in school for many years. She works so hard! This semester especially! Just last weekend she not only worked Fri, Sat, and Sun 7 a- 7 p but she had 3 papers due also. She always gets A’s and is discouraged if she gets anything lower (which never happens). She always puts others ahead of herself, which is definately one of the reasons she is one of the best at her job. I came in to town to spend time with DeDe and my father the other week and I don’t remember one day that she wasn’t free of school work, her job, or straining about housework that needed to be done, or dinner that she wanted to cook for us. She has had multiple health issues to deal with her entire life but she has always just went to the doctor and kept going with her job, school, and life like nothing is wrong. Most people would complain alot, sucking up all of the attention they could until they were better, but not DeDe. She is just ready to get on to make someone else’s day better. Her kind heartedness, her ambition, her career, school work, etc. is not the only reason I believe she deserves to win. I believe she deserves to win because of all the things she has done for me, my family, and her patients, I do not believe I can or have told her enough how much she means to me and just how awesome she really is. I believe she needs to know and I think this contest will help her relax and realize just how wonderful of a woman she has become.
What do I say? While not myself a mother…I have an amazing step-daughter. Her father and I went to high school together and we reconnected 9 years ago. We joke about how he used to pull my hair in class. All that aside, one Friday night after Christmas I met a brilliant pre-teen. We ate pizza and played Twister. Never knowing where this would lead us. Here we are 9 years later. I had no clue she was watching my life so closely. But, YES my life is at times as busy as she said. I received a wonderful package from Canada this week. While trying to thank the sender of such wonderful goodies, I ran across my nomination that Crystal had written about me. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to read this. In all my years, I can’t say that I have ever read anything that moved me as much as her nomination did. For the first time in my life I am left speechless. I don’t even know how to begin to thank her, but here are just a few things that you all need to know about my amazing step-daughter: she’s a military wife, has an 8 month old daughter, and is expecting a second child in December 2012. I’ve seen her in action – juggling college, planning a wedding, working full time as a store manager, and growing the most perfect baby ever. She’s not that pre-teen I met earlier – she’s grown-up before my eyes the last few years. Without knowing it she has taught me a lot about myself. She is an amazing wife and mother. She is the woman most strive to be and never become. She is an example for modern women – smart and successful. Thank you – DeDe
I would like to nominate my Pastor Dan from our church back home. He has been on sabbatical for a little over 3 months. He has worked so hard as the leading pastor of Grace Church Reno for 30 years, and had never taken a sabbatical until now. Because of this, the emotional stress has worn on him and taken a physical toll. He is taking an unforeseen amount of time off of teaching because of this. He is struggling bad and I know that some baked goods would really cheer him up a lot. I am so grateful to have such an amazing pastor in our lives (he married Matt and me). He has been such a positive influence in our lives and I want to see him recover as fast as possible and keep his focus on God.
PS sorry for the late nomination…
If it is not too late I would like to nominate David and Annie. Growing up they have always been there for me, always bringing me joy and laughter. It would be nice to give back to them and let them know I love them and appreciate them very very very much. And I will never forget the many memories they have created for me. They have always been there for me no matter what and I am blessed to have them in my life.
If not to late i would like ro nominate my friend cindy e. She has had a rough couple years, three teenagers, all the issues therein..making her way back into the job market.. financial hardships. She is very giving, very involved in her church and is always volunteering to help anywhere she can. A pick me up would be great.
I would like to nominate my Mom. On April 18th, she was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After several hours in Emergency, doctors determined that she had blood clots in her left leg. A Thrombectomy was performed and Mom spent 10 days in the hospital. She was then transferred to a Rehab facility–where she has been ever since! My Mom had to give up living independently, which I’m sure was very hard for her. She hopes to improve enough that she can relocate to an Assisted Living Facility soon. Therapy (OT & PT) has been very hard for Mom and she has had several set-backs (including infections), delaying her progress. Mom’s birthday is on June 26 (she will be 83–shh…don’t tell her I told you her age) and my hope is that she will recover enough that we can actually celebrate!
Thank you for your consideration. and, I’m sure many will be blessed by your endeavors.
p.s. Mom is the one who gave me my love for food (cooking & eating). I come from a long line of sweet-lovers
I would like to nominate my aunt Becky. She is an amazing woman who has faced a lot of challenges in her life. Regardless of what is going on personally, she is always there for others. Becky is selfless, hard working and strong.
I would like to nominate my cousin’s family. Her 16-year-old son took his life late last year, and it has been a difficult journey for them ever since. They continue to try to focus on the joy that he brought, instead of the sadness that comes from knowing that he is gone too soon.
Their whole family is about the warmest, friendliest, most hospitable family you could ever meet. And every July they host a canoe weekend for about 50-70 of their closest friends and family. We’ll be going again this year, and it will be difficult to be there without their son for the first time. He and his twin sister and their friends (and my stepson) would have a blast on the river.
I would love to bring a little happiness to their day and remind them that their son made a lasting impression on us all. And we will never forget.
I have volunteered to help but I would also like to nominate someone. Our pastors daughter was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease a couple of years ago and has been basically bed ridden for the last two years. The toll that this has taken on this family is immense. They are the most kind, loving and caring people you could have ever met. And they are desperately in need of a loving gift. They live in Canada though. I do have their address.
I’d like to nominate my husband, Richard, who has multiple problems he is dealing with- an ailing father who is now in a convalescent home with little recognition or response to anyone, helping his mother who tries to deal with the situation, job stresses, as well as dealing with our 8-year old adopted son who has occupational defiance disorder. My husband is not even able to relax on weekends as he has so much to do constantly.
It would certainly make his day and bring a smile to his face.
God bless you for doing this!
I would like to nominate my mom, Nancy.Right now she’s supporting my whole family as my dad has been out of work for 2 1/2 years now. She works all day and still comes home and takes care of all of us. Its been a struggle on her especially with the years of fighting with my dad and them finally making a decision to get a divorce. Although the divorce is a mutual agreement there have been many nights that she’s come to my room crying. I know there are going to be a few more rough spots before she sees the light at the end of the tunnel and I’d love for her to get a treat to brighten her day.
I just wanted to thank you for starting the desserts for the deserving. My aunt Becky received her cookies last week and words can’t express how happy the package made her. The cookies were beautiful and personalized with her name. Thank you again! What a way to make a difference in someone’s life.