The post to read, please. Pretty please.

Thanks, Will Smith, for the idea of donating my birthday. I don't expect it to reap in millions (that would be nice), but if this gesture inspires one human reading this blog to donate money to CureSearch, I will feel like it was not in vain. So, here I go. I am donating my birthday in the hopes that you will feel moved to give. Two dollars? Five? Twenty-five? It's the gesture, and I will be head-over-heels thankful for whatever you are willing to give. It's the reality that as another birthday of mine easily goes by, another child is fighting for his life to make it to his next birthday. It's the fact that 98 cents of every dollar will go to childhood cancer research. What does CureSearch do? What has it been up to? This article made me sob with tears of joy. Read it. See for yourself what this incredible organization is doing.

So, what will I be doing on my May 1 birthday? I will be at the hospital at 8 a.m. with Gideon. He will be sedated and methotrexate will be administered into his spine. Here is a link to what that day is like for Gideon. What I hope, what I PRAY, is that someone out there will either donate money (no matter how small) or join our walking team that will be walking for a cure to Childhood Cancer on May 19. I know Gideon's battle has been going on for awhile. I know that it might not be new news anymore and interest may have left many hearts. The fact is this: while this might be old news to you, Gideon is still in the thick of the battle. So many of his friends are, as well. Please do not forget them. Instead of sending me birthday wishes or phone calls or emails, please click here and DONATE what you can. If it is a dollar, if it's fifty dollars...anything. Thank you for your continued prayers and love.

Also, tomorrow, MAY 1, there will be a Premier Jewelry Sale at Mattawan's Main Street Pub from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. 100% of the proceeds will go to CureSearch. I can't think of a better place to buy your mom a Mother's Day present. On her box you can even write, "This gift is helping to find a cure to Childhood Cancer." I promise every mom will adore this sentiment! Thank you, Premier Jewelry and Main Street Pub for caring enough to host this event. People are wonderful, and I believe you are as well. Please continue to fight alongside Gideon until there is a CURE!

Hellooooooooo

Wow.

I feel like I need to introduce myself again and shyly ease into conversation in a very how-is-the-weather kind of a way. I need to get reacquainted. This box I am typing in is even different. There were some Blogger renovations and I never even noticed one orange cone, that's how long I've been away. Let's remedy that.

For once, I am going to need to be very to-the-point or Gideon's blog will turn into the War and Peace of all blogs. Okay. Here it is:


- My boys have taken turns being seriously ill on and off until now (praying and looking to heaven that I don't eat my words). Brody had Scarlet Fever. Yes, you read that right. I felt like I needed to light an oil lamp, put my hair in braids, and say things like, "I'll be there directly, Brody" with hardened lines creased on my forehead in concern as I climb a rickety ladder to his hay-strewn loft. So much for being to-the-point. Anyway, Brody did beat the 18th century disease. He battled a few more strep throat incidents, but the Justin Bieber toothbrush has been boiled and I think we've killed all of that nastiness (another hopeful glance to heaven).


- I need to insert a bullet here to say, as much as I was kidding around above, my soul is massaged to the point of bliss in realizing how lucky I am. How blessed we all are. Not long ago, I would have lost BOTH of my boys. Scarlet Fever was no joke. Cancer never was, either. And allll because of modern medicine, my babies are still here. How did the mommies of long ago do it? The same way the third world mommies are still doing it, and I promise they love their babies as much as I love mine. This makes me want to join the Peace Corp. I'm not kidding. But my mission is here. Once childhood cancer has a cure, I think I may have found another calling.


- Gideon had ONE day when he just didn't want to go to clinic. He was bumming and sad. My baby sister sent me the music video below, so the boys and I had been watching it NONSTOP. I told Gideon we would go into the clinic singing "our parts" and acting like our corresponding alien. Gideon wanted to be the red-guitar-singing hopping one. I was the orange and armless one. We reenacted the video in the parking garage and he walked into those doors with a HUGE goofy smile. I wrote to the creator of the video (and also the composer of the song) as a thank you. He sent us an email back wishing Gideon a speedy recovery, telling us about his most recent musical work, and promising to keep in touch. Also, he doodled the below picture for our little Warrior. I love creative geniuses who also have gigantic hearts.

Professor Soap - Spirit Quest Journey from Professor Soap on Vimeo.

- The boys are doing very well. They are both playing soccer. Brody is also playing more hockey. Gideon is REGISTERED for kindergarten. Also, I have a super-de-duper important blog coming before May 1. Please keep your eyes open for it.

THANK YOU for those continued prayers and well-wishes. I won't be a stranger for so long next time.