Thank you from Senior Center in Richardson Texas

 






You recently gifted my mother's crochet club with yarn to make baby blankets and lap blankets.  My mom doesn't have access to email, but composed a message for you.  Their group is very grateful for your gift.From her group:

You should call yourselves 12 extraordinary women.  Because of you, the babies at Parkland Hospital will sleep a little warmer and the Veteran's at the VA Hospital will be more comfortable.  Thank you so very much for all the yarn you donated to our group.

Crochet & Knitting Group at the Senior Center, Richardson Texas
Peg, Rose, Donna, Pam, Rita, Nancy, Barbara, Linda, Billie, Jann, Mercedes, and Sandra

A special gift for two special people

 I have delayed sending this (now long overdue) thank you message to you wonderful women because, frankly, I was so blown away by your generosity that I didn't quite know how to adequately express my gratitude.

One recent Sunday afternoon, with my new baby in my arms, I answered a knock at the door to find two women standing on my front porch with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. "J M?", they asked; and I told them that I was indeed that person. They said that they had a delivery for me, and handed me the flowers and an envelope. As they turned to leave, I thanked them and closed the door.

It briefly occurred to me that these women didn't look like typical couriers, and also that one rarely received deliveries on Sundays. But I brushed aside these thoughts and opened the card to learn the identity of the person or persons who sent the flowers. Inside I found a lovely note from an anonymous group identified only as "12 Ordinary Women".

It turned out that these lovely women weren't just delivering flowers. They were delivering a gift that was far from ordinary. It seems that these extraordinary women - who, to my knowledge, do not know me, nor do I know any of them - had raised a significant amount of money and purchased for my husband and me a night at a very nice hotel, two massages, and dinner at a very nice restaurant.

How could they have known that a night away with my husband would be so meaningful to us? I was stunned, and moved to tears.

You see, just a couple of months earlier, I had given birth to our first and only child - a daughter -  by emergency C-section. Newlyweds in our early(ish) 40s, neither of us ever thought that we'd have children. But during the emergency C-section that brought our little girl into the world, the doctors discovered a mass on my Fallopian tube that turned out to be cancer. And we soon learned that the cancer had spread to many of my other organs, including my other Fallopian tube, both ovaries, my uterus, my colon and parts of my abdomen. The cancer was staged as IIIC, and I was given a 50% survival rate.

The three months since the diagnosis have been a whirlwind of doctor appointments, surgeries, chemotherapy and lots of One Day At a Time-ing. In the midst of it all, we've tried to focus on our love for each other, the love and support of our family and friends, and - of course - our beautiful, healthy little girl. A girl we named Magnolia Grace. But the one thing we haven't had much of is one-on-one time with each other. And - cancer or no cancer, baby or no baby -  we still need and cherish our alone time.  To say that we've missed it would be an understatement.

So, we plan send little Maggie G to Grandma and Grandpa's at the end of this month for her first overnight solo visit, and use our amazingly generous, timely and perfect gift certificates to have a much needed night alone. No middle of the night feedings, no early mornings, no interruptions....our first night alone in the more than 100 days since the night before our daughter was born. We can't wait.

I don't know how you found us, or how you knew exactly what we needed, but you did. And we will be forever grateful to you. We also hope to one day pay forward this extraordinary kindness shown to us by beautiful strangers who are anything but ordinary.

Best to you and yours,
J &M M

I have many people cheering me on...

 

Where to begin...

August 2, 2010, the death of my husband which turned my life upside down, along with those of my college bound daughter, and seven year old son.  Since that day we have been deeply tested with emotional, financial, and health issues but through it all we have had unforseen helpers.  I have always been a caregiver because that is my nature but now I am learning to take care of myself so I can really take care of others.  My breast cancer was a turning point in my life but through this struggle I had so many people cheering me on...something some people do not always have...I am so blessed.

At this time, my cancer is in remission and I'm planning out my future because I am here to stay for a long, long time.  This week was just another sign of how helping others comes full circle.  There was a message on my phone from 12 Ordinary Women from North Dallas, Texas telling me I was their January recipient of a monetary blessing.  I have since just learned to accept all the prayers that are put in front of me and returned the phone call.  Today, I met D a wonderful example of this grassroots organization, and was so priviledged to be in her presence.  My favorite bible verse is To Every Thing There is a Season - Ecclesiastes 3. 1-8, and right now it is my time to receive but my time to give will be even more fulfilling.

A heartfelt thank you!

Claudia

I am speechless...well almost



I have just received one of the greatest blessings EVER!  A beautiful young lady arrived at our condo with a smile and a card, and simply said that the card would explain.  I'm sure I looked very surprised....hopefully, not rude!  I am still in shock and in awe of this group of women (I had never heard of you!), and can't wait to get involved.  My 97-year-old dad, when learning of my cancer diagnosis, simply stated that he couldn't wait to see how God intended to use me during and after my journey.  Now I know!

Thank you so much for your prayers, your encouraging words and your fabulous gift.  You have certainly inspired me to pass it on to others.

Blessings to each of you always!

Ann

Thank You!



It has been a few month since a phone call followed by 2 kind women showing up at my door.  The gift of cash came at such a crucial time and was completely suprising.  It was a big lift in my spirit at that time.  I was pretty humbled by the random act of love.  Whoever it was.. thanks.  Things like that help us along in life and I think of it often at how loved I felt at the time.  What a great group of women!!..