Because One Small Kindness Can Save The World...

I Have Done SomethingI looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society.
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness, and betrayal. And I was angry.
"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"
God was silent for a moment, and then He spoke softly, "I have done something," he replied. "I created you."-- Author Unknown"Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one animal"

Dawn on Day 1

Last year, in February 2012, mom found Dawn. She was the beginning. There have been babies we've cared for and love for nearly my entire life who we have rescued and kept, passed on for another family to love or, on a few sad instances, helped to cross the Rainbow Bridge. Dawn was different. She challenged mom even more. She was the spark that lit her fire. Right there that day, Fighting For Dawn began.

Dawn 2.5 weeks later

Through much hard work, and much help from others too, Mom was able to make Fighting For Dawn an official animal rescue foundation at the end of last year, 2012. FFD has helped so many animals since it's very beginning with Dawn, then Martin, and on and on. At last count there were 21 directly through our family alone, about 14 in other rescues. FFD has reached out and help so many animals and opened so many hearts to the love an animal can bring- and the love my mom taught me growing up as a rescuer. I can't imagine any other upbringing.

Dawn 3 months later...

If I could count the number of animals the love my parents has helped, I'd be counting for days. I can't remember the endless number of animals we've helped- either transporting on a leg of their trip across the country; bottle feeding an orphaned baby; bandaging wounds of hit, beaten, and even shot animals; sometimes just holding them as they crossed the Rainbow Bridge (because no one should ever die alone and feeling unloved). We're going to have a serious herd of animals coming to greet us when we cross over the Rainbow Bridge. The love and compassion my parents have taught me towards life has made me a better person and a better mother.

The Queen now!

Then there are you guys. You have helped us monetarily, with food, with old blankets and bedding, with transport, with medication and vitamins, and even with your heartfelt prayers. Your words of encouragement are like gold. Without all of you there would be no Fighting For Dawn. We couldn't do this without you. Dawn is the heart and the purpose but you are the lifeblood. I've met such nice and amazing people through this dream come true. There are truly no words I can express to say how much you mean to us- to me. I know you don't see me as much, Dawn's Oldest Sister, but still... I'm forever grateful for each and every single one of you.

And now we're an official, licensed rescue. We received our license just today. So many years, tears, and lives saved and our dream has come true. Mom's biggest dream. Now we can help even more and reach out even farther. Our hearts are joyous and overflowing. What happy, fantastic, amazing day.



Love from all of us-

Denise, David, Elizabeth, Hannah, Charlie, Emmy, and, of course, Dawn.

Run, Ellie, RUN!

"Make yourself proud of yourself."

I ran today. Not far, about .6 of a mile, but enough. I also walked about 1.5 miles. All that matters is that I did my best. It'll get easier as I run. I will do this. I will do this. I WILL DO THIS.

And I know I can.

The day ended snuggled up with Elmer at mom's then going home and nursing Emmy to sleep. She looks so peaceful I think I'm going to join her. Goodnight!

Tell Me A Bob Story!

Emma GoldmanNo one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.

Once upon a time the was a boy named Bob. His best friend was Susie. He had a cat named Melody Pond. He lived in a house with his mommy.

One morning he woke up and Melody was between his pillow. She reach over and popped him on the head. He jumped up scared, he didn't know what that was! He smiled when he saw it was Melody. He scooped her up and she layed in his arms.

Emmy told me this story tonight while nursing. It was so sweet. Usually I tell the story but her's was much sweeter. These are such cherished memories.

Earlier today we also colored. That was lots of fun! She'd pick the page and color crayon and I'd color what she pointed to! Times like this are important to us both.

I love this baby girl.

And When I Already Felt Old Enough....

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”   Mark Twain

Today my little sister turn 21. Do you know what this means?

I am OLD.

Michael took us all to Mary Mack's restaurant for dinner. It was basically pretty divine. I had black eyed peas and cabbage along with chicken fried chicken and gravy. I'm still stuffed and that was almost 3:30 hours ago. They even have all you can eat fresh, hot cinnamon rolls. I blew my diet. Been doing SO good these last couple days too! After we ate, we went back to Michael's for cake and rest for out engorged bodies before we all drove home.

Juniper busted Hannah's lip!

I'm Finished

This is all... I finished it. 7:20 am I sewed on the last button...

Bed now.

I've Never Felt This Way Before...

"Familiarity is the root of the closest friendships, as well as the intensest hatreds." (Antoine Rivarol)

 Familiarity? Is that it? I'm too familiar with this cursed dress?

I loved the idea. It was magical in my head. I picked out the fabric with the greatest care, took me 2 hours. I could see the shining silver snowflakes in my head. How gorgeous would an Alice in Winterland dress be?

I hate this dress. It's beautiful. I'm proud of it in a bitter way but... I hate it. I've never felt this way before about anything I've ever made. I don't like it.

Despite my hating it, Luna is going to look beautiful. I tried it on her tonight and it fits like a glove. I still have to do the embroidery, apron, and diaper cover tonight.

I'm going to try not to let my blood sugar about make me pass out again like earlier. I rushed to the kitchen, grabbed strawberries, black berries, a glass of milk, and made me a chicken salad sandwich. So glad I made that chicken salad last night!

Night ended with my girl being adorable again. Here is a video of what she would say if she met the Doctor.

Emmy saying "Hello Doctor!"

And a picture of my baby girl sleeping in out bed. CO-SLEEPING FOR THE WIN!

The rest of the pics are random... Enjoy!

Lunch of Champions!

My work station during my lunch break

I really love pins. I really hate those sleeves.

Finished the freakin thing!

Yeah, even stitched the skirt on inside out. Had to pull out all the stitches.

Finally done with the major parts!

Tired But Happy

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

I'm tired tonight. This dress I'm making is kicking my butt mentally and physically. The puffy sleeves are HARD and my sciatic nerve is acting up from sitting there trying to figure it out. Today Emmy played a bit to herself and watched me a while so I could get a little work done. This evening Mom and Hannah came to visit and Michael came by shortly to pick up Hannah. Emmy was very happy to see him. Here are pics from today. Really too tired to post more than this... But I must say I do love my job.

Totally took a pic of my hand. Talent, ladies and gents!

Michael is a goofball

Emmy is a goofball too...

But aren't they both too cute??

USE ALL THE PINS!!!!!

It's Another Special Day

"There may not be something special in every day, but every day is something special."

Today we just kinda played and snuggled this morning because it was cold. I wasn't feeling so good so I was glad she was content to not run around the house like a mad woman. She kept telling me that she was a "man". She'd kinda cup her chin with her hand and tell me "I'm a man and I'm taking all the toys!"

Nana came and picked her up in the afternoon so they could play a while. I took advantage of this time to sew a bit. Today that mostly meant staring at my cutting board as I attempted to figure out how to make puffy sleeves without a pattern. Three hours I sat there… ANYWAY. I think I've got it now!

After Nana brought Em back home, I shared a chicken salad sandwich with her. Afterwards, I gave her a bath, brushed her teeth, and got her ready for bed. We talked a bit about her day and talked about dogs. At 8:30 she climbed in my lap and asked to nurse. She was asleep in about 5 minutes. I cuddled with her a bit and I laid her down at 9. 

Now that I've written two blog posts, I'm going to sew. Wish me luck because I'm not sure my sanity can handle much more confusion! 

A Visit From The Doctor...

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a Dalek was exterminating, not even a mouse 

The stockings were hung by the TARDIS with care, In the hopes that The Doctor soon would be there. 

The companions were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of cybermen danced in their heads…"

Aaaaaactually…

It was Christmas Eve. My mom and sister had decided to stay the night so that they could be here in the morning when Emmy woke up and saw what Santa brought. Emmy was running around playing with the new things that she had already gotten that night. I was sewing like a mad woman on my embroidery machine. My mom decided to try and lay down with Em to get her to sleep. That's when it all began…

While laying in bed with mom, Emmy heard a noise. Mom told her she needed to go to sleep or Santa wouldn't bring her toys. It took about 2.595969 seconds for her to be in my arms because she was terrified the noise was Santa coming to steal me away. I got her calm and situated in my arms a bit better to where she could nurse and I could sew.

Suddenly, she told me Santa scared her. She didn't want him to come to her house. She was afraid he might hurt one of us. She couldn't go to sleep if he was coming. I didn't know what to do.

Then, I had a great idea! The Doctor could bring her toys!

I said "Hey Em, can the Doctor bring your toys instead of Santa?" Her eyes lit up. She nodded and smiled, never stopping nursing. Within seconds, literally, she was asleep. *Super Mommy Moment!*

So Mom and I welcomed the Doctor in to set all her gifts up. He wrote little notes on her magnetic boards. She loved every last bit of it the next morning and thanked the him over and over.

I just love my little geeky child!

Odd Birds Are Cool

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and what enables you to laugh at life's realities. -- Dr Seuss

 Once upon a time there was a little egg. It was a white egg, covered in tiny pictures of very happy penguins in scarves and snowflakes. It grew and grew, sort of odd shaped, but it's mother did not worry.

One day, the egg began to shake. Mommy Bird realized it was laughing! Slowly, ever sooo slowly... The baby bird popped out!

Mommy Bird was EVER so happy to meet her baby bird, who was dressed only in a diaper. It giggled and giggled and Mommy Bird joined Baby Bird in the "mest". They snuggled together and read a book. Suddenly, Baby Bird jumped up and started flying! Mommy Bird chased the baby on wing through the house. Oh! They laughed so hard!

Finally, the playtime came to an end. Baby Bird was very sleepy. Mommy Bird changed her baby's diaper and put on her pajamas and off they went to bed. Once in bed, Baby Bird nursed and snuggled to sleep. Mommy Bird smiled happily and snuggled down... and closed her eyes and.... Zzzzzzzzz

All You Need Is... Chocolate... and a Sonic Screwdriver.

 I expect chocolate for breakfast. If you don't feel sick by mid-morning you're not doing it right.

-The Doctor Ganger, The Almost People 

Happiness is chocolate. And Doctor Who.

Today we kinda pigged out. Emmy and I went to the post office, the bank, and the fabric shop today. It took us two hours so I decided we needed a reward- Chocolate covered pretzels! We munched on them  as we rode home and the last few snuggling on the couch to get warm again. Chocolate memories are some of the best ones.

I went to the fabric shop today just to buy light blue and white fabric. Well, Emmy saw Mickey Mouse fabric. She turned and looked at me with those big, gorgeous, blue eyes. "Mama... Will yous make me a Mickey Mouse dress?" Of course I couldn't say no. I simply picked up the bolt, shaking my head, and put it into the cart. She wanted her mommy to make her a dress! Melted my heart.  :-D

Tonight were just kinda sitting there, snuggling under the covers when I had a brilliant idea. GET OUT THE SONIC SCREWDRIVERS! I ran to my room and grabbed the two I bought on sale before Christmas. After putting in the batteries backwards then finally getting them back out and back in, we ran around "sonicing" everything. Emmy had 11's and I had 9/10's. I think we drove my cousin a bit insane. You know what though? We don't care! LOL.

Tonight were just kinda sitting there, snuggling under the covers when I had a brilliant idea. GET OUT THE SONIC SCREWDRIVERS! I ran to my room and grabbed the two I bought on sale before Christmas. After putting in the batteries backwards then finally getting them back out and back in, we ran around "sonicing" everything. Emmy had 11's and I had 9/10's. I think we drove my cousin a bit insane. You know what though? We don't care! LOL.

After sonicing the entire house, we'd worked up an appetite. We decided muffins sounded yummy so.... MUFFINS IT WAS. I let Emmy stand on a [sturdy] chair next to me and we mixed it all up and got them in the oven. She is just too freakin adorable when she's all proud like that. Here are pics of us baking:

In the end, she stole the bowl and attempted to eat all the rest of the batter in it. She got a few licks in before I wrestled it away. The muffins were pretty nummy. We all ate one tonight and saved one for a rather delicious, if not nutritious, breakfast. (Emmy can't live without fruit at breakfast, too, though!)

Tonight, I'm going to sew my pretty little tail off. Let's see in tomorrow's post what I accomplished!

"I made a promise, Mr. Frodo. A promise. Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee. And I don't mean to. I don't mean to."

“Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.
Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

When I was 12 years old, I met one of my longest standing friends. Jadie was a year older than me and the oldest of six children. We both had a passion for poetry and fantasy books and movies. The Dragonlance books really drew us in, both of us reading them then swapping out until we'd read nearly every one. We started calling one another "Raist" and "Tas", our favorite characters respectively.

We were the best of friends but we were complete opposites. As I'm sure you'll see in the pictures, Jadie is a bit more gothic and outgoing where I'm more... reserved. Did this stop us? Never. Our friendship transferred into one we began to compare to Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. My nickname changed from Raist to Mr. Frodo and her's went from Tas to Sam. Even as the years went by and we didn't see each other hardly at all, we knew we'd be there for each other at the drop of a hat.

Now, Jadie and I are 24 and 23. She has two babies, Rain is 3 and Luna will be 1 next wednesday. I have my 2.5 year old monkey child. We've both been married and divorced/are divorcing. She rubbed my aching feet at my baby shower and I've nursed her daughter for her when she just needed a break. I'd walk through fire for that girl and I know she would do the same for me.

Today we visited them so that I could measure Luna for her "Alice in Winterland" birthday dress. The oldest two ran around and played with a football in a basketball goal while we adults chatted and Luna refused to leave my lap. Watching Rain and Emmy really made me realize we'd come a long way from tales of Huma and Kaz, Aragorn and Arwen, Raist and Tas, Frodo and Sam.

Today, our favorite name to be called is "Mama", we're walking milk cows, and watching Dora and Deigo is a way of life. Keeping our children fed and clean and teaching them to count, say their ABCs, and who the Doctor is (or will be, or has been... wibbly wobbly stuff, ya know) are some of the most important things we can accomplish now... But we'll never forget the girl who we sat back to back with reading, imagined we were elves with while balancing on top of WAY too high things, or giggled with under the covers while dreaming of Middle Earth.