Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Balance

With all we have been seeing in the news regarding the death of women and children, I have been negligent on this blog for a while, and I must apologize. With Lee's cancer coming back, and all that has transpired in a year, I am back to writing more often and will pick up on the blogging again. I find that there is a solidarity with others as we all transfer information back and forth in the internet hiway. Please leave your comments on things you would like to see or hear from me as we move forward. Life is about what we can do to make a difference in the lives of others. 

Love and Prayers.. 
Peggy 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Kidney Cancer hits home

It has been a while since I have blogged. I have been busy with my husband having Kidney Cancer, he had a kidney removed in December 2010, and in April his cancer came back with a vengeance. This has given way to my thoughts and hopes for my blog, to turn to what my passion is, to help those in need, regardless of the circumstances that bring them to me.

My non-profit turned one in July! With that I have been busy contacting hospitals, agencies, and now, with a renewed hope. WE have discovered that there is a need for support groups in our area for people with cancer, especially kidney cancer. With this, we will be expanding what we do in looking for a place that will allow us to meet and give hope to those who feel alone and isolated at this time in their lives. As a family member reaching out for hope and help, we have our own issues to deal with. I need to be strong for Lee and the other family members, but, I also need to look at my own health and well-being. It is with this new challenge, we are looking to expand and help not only heal our family, but the needs of others.

We are starting small, with a humanitarian effort that will bring love and warmth to those in need, but comfort from knowing that they are NOT alone. I have begun a quest to make 100 caps for people with cancer, BUT, I feel that is a small goal, I also want to have 100 burial blankets for the infants that do not live. We need to look forward to the help and hope we can give.

Please join me in this effort.

Sincerely.. P

Friday, November 12, 2010

Death and unanswered questions

I do not know how many people out here have had to deal with the loss of a loved one, nor could I even imagine the numbers! But, death is a part of reality. When I look back at the family and friends that I have lost this year alone, I get a deep pain in my heart, as some of them were not much older than I am today. This brings to mind my own mortality.

Like most out there, we tend to think that our parents or children are impervious to death, we think that are all suppose to be around forever. I think I got my mortality slap when I was 25, and my dad died. He was only 61 years old. In retrospect, I realize now how little I knew this man. He was a drop in parent all my life. Yet, during the final weeks of his life, I was a constant in his, I was concerned that he would die and leave me with impending questions on why... just "why?"

It was not until later when I was 41 and my only sibling had died did I get some answers to my life long quest to determine why my father was a drop in dad. Mike was only 43 when he died, he did not talk alot about his life in San Diego, and when he died, I was left to find out that my brother was a "saint" in the eyes of many of his friends. Yet, we knew nothing of this part of him. He did a ton of volunteer work, gave up vacation pay and time to help those who needed it, spent 24/7/7 at Standown for homeless VETS to get them back in the system. How can I forget his work with SD Pride.. wow! This person had a long list of awards and letters of appreciation stuffed everywhere around his loft! I was amazed and set back by all of this knowledge. That is when it hit me...

It did not matter why my dad was the way he was, I was to love him no matter what because he was my father. BUT, I did not have to like his actions toward me. In one letter that I found among Michael's stuff, it became obvious that we were not the "apples of his eye" nor were we to be treated like his children. He did not pay child support or send home an allotment when he was in the military. It was the mythical dad that I always wanted.. not what I got "stuck" with.

Later in my life, I would face yet another death that left me wondering, but, not questioning. My granddaughter, Anna died at just 32 days old. Her lil life was nothing but a struggle from the time she popped her lil head into this world. As much as I would have loved to blame God for this, it was not God, it was human nature that dealt her the problems that she had. If it was not for us having "freewill" as a gift from God, then we would not learn from the trials and tribulations that happen while we are here. We can either follow His laws and commandments, or we can just move through this life not thinking of the outcome of our actions.

When we look at the entire "book" of life, if we do not know God, we can not emulate Him or his word. I believe that by the Grace of God, is why I am here. I learned lessons from my father as how to be a good parent by his example of his lacking parenting skills, AND Mike left me a legacy of how I can overcome this issue by helping others. Anna, well, she gave me the best gift of all, the ability to still love God and not place blame on what happens. It is all part of his plan, and by her death, maybe there will come knowledge that will save another child through medical procedures or her legacy will be the work that I am doing to help others along their path enduring what we endured with her issues and death.

Is is all up to us to look at someones life and make is a legacy? Or do we look at their life and not learn from it.. I choose the first one, to look at someone's life, see what we can do with our memories and lessons learned and challenge ourselves on a daily basis to make a difference in how we live our own lives.

I know this was a random post, but, at 345 in the morning, my brain was aching to say something.

Please continue to support ANP and Angel Blankets... as we are trying to comfort those in need, and make one more person come unto God, just by loving His children..

I say this in Jesus' name, Amen..

Peggy

Monday, September 6, 2010

September is here...

As the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon is on, it reminds me of the unofficial end of summer. Always there, and like all things, reminds me of the years gone by. I remember the family watching it in the 70's.. and now all these years later, I try to catch part of it and see if there is progress in the research, it is a disease that is more than anything a taker.

I am still gathering things for the raffle for the nonprofit, it is still a challenge. I have to get out this next week and hustle and try to get an office and continued support. I have a schedule this week that is phenomenal!! I have a couple of job interviews, as well as visiting business and churches to get support. I am hoping that out of all of this we will get support that we need. I am preparing the "talks" as I know that I will be asked to give.

I have spoken several times regarding domestic violence and what had happened to Anna.. but, I have yet to put them together for speaking...ack!! It will be ok.. I will be at a local street fair in Portland next Saturday. I will be a time to talk and share what has happened.. and sell raffle tickets. With the Grace of God, I will make a difference in this world. Ministry is vital to the success of any good organization. We have to be able to share the story of Jesus and use Him as our example of why we give so much of ourselves for no pay. It is all about becoming more Christ-like in our day to day activities. By humbling ourselves and getting past the "gotta-haves" and being happy with what we do have, we can change the world one person at a time.

In this world, we have several chances to give back for what we do have. What I do not understand is why we generally choose not to. I have a friend who is one of my best friends, and this person is always there to help me. This person is not what I want to call deeply religious, but he does have faith. Is he so different than those who congregate regularly? Do you know people who are regular church members that are part of the world and do not give of themselves? Please share with me your thoughts ..

Blessing and in Prayer.. Peggy

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

what is your why?

As each day passes, I am getting more and more support for ANP, it is a great thing when you can feel the devotion and love beginning to flow from the people that I am working with. I truly feel that the time has come for us to be able to at least get a slow start, and it will be a struggle, and at times alot of travel, but, all in all we are working hard to make this a reality. With the support that we are getting, it makes me drive myself all the harder to do what needs to be done. By giving of ourselves, we are doing what the Lord has commanded us to do. We need to pray daily for the children like Anna, who really had to struggle for the 32 days she lived.

BUT, in those 32 days, she touched the lives of so many people, and changed my life forever. What a legacy that she has left behind! Who else among us can say that? Anna is my why... what is yours?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Each day brings new challenges, dreams and reality!

Hello, Friends!
We are off to a fair start from nothing. I have been working hard at running the sewing machine, crocheting, looking for a job and looking for a place where we can have an office. This is not an easy task, when you are working with relatively nothing. I have contacted local churches to see if I can get a room where we can hold meetings, but, alas, nothing yet.

I am excited about the open house we will be having on the 18th of September. We are having munchies, meeting our board members and accepting donations to get the baby stuff as well as keep the mailings going. It has been a task to do this all with faith, but I have it in capital letters! FAITH!!

I was reflecting the other day on the spirit of the Holy Ghost and the promptings that we often receive and sadly, ignore. This has been a real blessing to my life as I see how God has allowed me to do something that is challenging, yet I feel so blessed. Via this course, I have met some interesting people and reconnected with some friends. Truly, this is a calling for me.

I feel the joy in my heart when I see the work that I have so far been able to accomplish in small corner of my craft room.. imagine what I can do with a real space... the possibilities are endless.

I am saddened by the loss of people on a daily basis, and feel that there is nothing that can be said to them to ease the pain at the moment. I learned that it is not ok to say "I know how you feel" because I do not know how THEY feel, but, I can empathize with them, and just be there.

It is not about telling people what they need to do, but, being there to help them with the basic things, and for them to lean on in a time of crisis. It is this vigil that will mean the most to them after they take a moment when it is all said and done that they will remember with a smile.

So, with all of this said and done, please, be aware of those in need... and give a hug when needed and space when requested.

Love P

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

WE are a REAL non-profit!!!

We are officially a non-profit!!

We are going to be up and running soon.. it has been a long rough road, but I am at this point. With the Grace of God, I am here. I have been doing alot of praying the last few months, and I have my paper hanging on the wall. I am beginning to look for a room that we can use as a meeting place, and have burial clothes on hand for kids that do not make it. It is an arduous task to even think that way, but, reality can sometimes bite big time. I remember how to this day how special it was to have that lil sweater set for Anna as I held her in my arms, and I want to have that available for other grandparents.

Anna lived only 32 days, but her impact was huge, her little face was angelic from the first day I saw it, and there was nothing wrong with her beauty. Little did I know what an impact this child would have on my life, nor how it would change it. I am still looking for work, as the non-profit says it all.. but it is not for the money that I do this, it is for the love of helping others.

I pray on a daily basis that Anna is looking down with total approval on this project. It is not an easy road, but, a road that has to be traveled non the less. I have been creative like crazy in my lil spare bedroom, I have been crocheting, sewing, and even writing several articles to bring to light the plight of the grandparents, aunts, and uncles that have been left behind by the aftermath of Meth..we are a peer to peer support group and for now, we are trying to establish how to reach out to those in need. It is a task for which it keeps me off of the streets..lol..and gives me plenty to do while I am home and looking for work.

How can you lbe helped by people that do not know your pain? The truth is, you can't. I do not profess to know how a specific person feels, however, I know my pain, and the pain that has turned into this project. To be constructive in the wake of destructiveness is a true calling and blessing. All around us on a daily basis, this drug takes from someone, I have never been addicted to drugs or alcohol, but, I have been on the side of the abuse. I am here to stand for those who can not, pray for those who think they have nothing to pray for and to listen to those who feel no one is listening. WE are Anna's Nana's Place, a place of help, hope and healing.



Phone # 360-718-0051, it is always on..

If anyone knows of any place where I can share my message, please, feel free to email me at annasnanasplace@comcast.net, or call me... I would love to put together a powerpoint and share my vision, and help others.

If we neglect what Heavenly Father has laid before us, then we have joined the masses that are not listening.. or heading the Word. P