So Much Going On!!!

2nd Annual Ethin’s Heart Still Beats Heart Ball
Saturday January 8, 2011
VFW Hall
9075 Mason Dr
Newaygo, MI 49337

Doors will open at 5pm
A welcome will happen at 5:30pm
Dinner immediately following the welcome 6pm-7pm eat dinner
7pm Auction
745pm introduction of a speaker
8pm Guest Speaker

Tickets are $30 for one or $50 for two.  Tickets include a four course dinner, open bar, auction bidding paddle, and your night of knowing that Ethin’s Heart Still Beats…..”It Beats in us”


A list of Auction items and a full program will be up as we continue to fill in the details for the ball as well as an announcement of the theme for the night.  Last year was "HOPE" this year the theme is "The Difference of a Heart" If you have any questions or would like to make arrangements for reserving tickets please email Jessica Twigg founder of Ethin's Heart Still Beats at chdhlhs09@yahoo.com or call 616-634-3029

For the Heart Ball this year we are creating a video with kids with CHD's and their families doing things that make a difference...Maybe it's a heart walk, an organization that you founded, or maybe it's going to the hospitals and giving things to patients and families to make their lives a little easier...What ever it is we want you to send us an email and pictures of you and your child and family making a difference!  Email them to EHSB at chdhlhs09@yahoo.com

Also my work Wendy's of Newaygo is a donation site for Cuddles From the Heart!!!!  How amazing to know that my bosses and coworkers believe in what we do!!!  So stop by and see me at work and bring in your blanket!!!  Also now you can drop off blankets at Bills Shop -N- Save or True Value Hardware in Fremont!!  And also Wendy's restaurant's of Muskegon Henry, Sherman, Apple, and Grand Haven!
Cuddles From the Heart MI is starting to collect blankets for newborn through teenagers!  We give out the blankets in December and we would like to have 500 by then.  We are a bit slow in starting to ask for them as last year we began asking for them at the end of July and it is now mid August. 

Cuddles From the Heart (CFH) started two years ago in Iowa by heart mom Stefanie Jacks.  Last year she opened it up for any state to do.  In June I told her I would like to do it for MI and after Ethin passed away later that month I still said that I wanted to do it!  I am so glad that I did!  It was rewarding and amazing to see how much people truly care about others!  So here we are this year hoping to do the same thing.  Our goal last year was 500 and we did just over that.  Same goal this year 500!!!  We can do this!! 

What we need is new homemade or store bought blankets ranging from newborn to teenagers for boys and girls to give out at U of M Mott Children’s Hospital in December.  The blankets are a very comforting thing to many families while they are in there and sometimes just one blanket can make the hospital feel a little less like the hospital.  Ethin’s Heart Still Beats board members are all ready to go to Ann Arbor in December and as a board we decided that we want to do this so you can mail your blankets to
E.H.S.B
9172 S. Croswell Ave.
Newaygo, MI 49337
If you have any questions you can email me at chdhlhs09@yahoo.com

 

Also I am in need of your favorite recipes!!!  We are teaming up with another non-profit organization called Hope For Bravehearts to create a world-wide From the Heart Cook Book.  You can submit up to 2 recipes and we would like if you can to let us now the caloric intake per serving on your recipe.  You can email them to us at chdhlhs09@yahoo.com  Please include the name of your recipe, your name and where you are from!  Books will be published and available for purchase.  As that info becomes available I will keep you posted! 

So onto the life stuff........WOW I am busy and things are finally slowing down and then they just get busier!  Work keeps me occupied, the kids keep me going, and EHSB gives me a reason to know that Ethin is always here!  

So soccer season is officially done....Normally something I do not like to see happen, but with the heart ball and everything else right now the break before spring will be nice.  It allows me to focus on the big things going on with EHSB. 

Here is a sneak peek on our new family photos!!!

We are HUGE Michigan State fans!!!  By the way have you seen MSU is ranked #5 right now and we are to this point undefeated!  Look out Iowa here we come!  (Stef and Jen I love you guys!)  But I hope we kick some Hawkeye butt!  

So the kids had conferences here last week.  Jessa, Jonathin, and Jayde are doing GREAT!!  Jonathin's conference was the BEST conference ever!!!  Jayde is a chatty Kathy and a giggler.  Jessa well she is Jessa and really she never disappoints in conferences! 

Well Halloween is approaching which means that shortly after that everything I hate about the fact that I lost a child is approaching as well.  Is it OK to feel overwhelmed with everthing?  I mean is it OK that even though I am busy as all get out that when I slow down just a little bit I feel overwhelmed?  I feel like I have avoided so much of this for so long and I am still just not ready to face so much of it.  Oh the holidays are coming and there is no stopping it.....

So the big question this year as Thaksgiving is approaching is wether or not I put up a tree this year which I did not do last year.  My problem with this dilema is that I still do not have that perfect ornament that is Ethin.  There is still a void to me with holidays that he is not a part of it.  I pray that God will continue to soften my heart and that perhaps this year will not be as dreadful as last year.

Blessings,

Jessica