Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Tell Your Child You Love Them!

Well another month is about to end, and the month of “Love” is about to begin. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s important to stop and think about the people we love and how we let them know we love them.

Judy and I have found that when a parent loses a child to death in a sudden or unexpected way that the parent often wishes they could have told their child one more time, “I love you.” But, as with most things in life, we simply take the opportunities to tell our children that we love them for granted. After all, they’re young. Their whole lives are before them.

If you’re a parent, take the time today – maybe even right now – to tell your child that you love them. Let them know how special they are to you. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to give them some-thing so they know you love them. Our words are powerful. A hug conveys so much. An hour of uninterrupted time with a parent says so much to a child.

One of the mistakes we have made in America is to think that we need to give our children “things.” You know what I mean, the latest video game, the newest fashions, or the newest electronic devices. Please know, that while these “things” can be nice, the best gift of love that you can give your child is your gift of time and attention.

For those of you who have suffered the death of a child, Judy and I want to say how sorry we are for your loss. It may be that you didn’t have a chance to tell your child one last time that you loved them. That was the case with our daughter. She had a cardiac arrest and lapsed into a coma from which she never came out. Oh, we did get to tell Mickey we loved her while she was in her coma for 38 days. But it tore our hearts apart knowing in the last moments of her life we didn’t get to say good bye.

Still, Judy and I know that Mickey understood we loved her. We had told her many times before her collapse that we loved her. We had spent the whole day with her the day before her cardiac arrest. It was Labor Day, and we laughed and talked at the Minnesota State Fair. Mickey had been able to see a horse show that day. She loved horses, even though we had never lived on a farm. Watching the joy on her face as horses jumped over barriers and raced around obstacles is a memory Judy and I will never forget. The day was one filled with togetherness and wonder. We never knew that within 24 hours Mickey would be in a coma, never to speak to us again.

I have said all of this to simply remind each of you of the importance of telling those you love that you DO love them. Tell them today. Never let an opportunity to express your love pass by.

With that in mind, Judy and I want to tell you once again that we love you guys. God bless. Pat

P.S. Be sure to check out our latest newsletter entry. It will tell you about some exciting news regarding what we’re doing related to purchasing the land.

 

Posted by SmileAgainMinistries at 17:39:15 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Looking down the Road

Hello Everyone,

If you live in Minnesota, I hope you have survived the C-O-L-D we’ve been experiencing the past week or two. I’m glad I’ve got a toasty home to hide out in.

The Board of Smile Again Ministries met on January 18 to talk about the past six months, and to look ahead into 2008. It was exciting for Judy and me to be able to tell the board members how God has specifically answered prayer time and again.
* Like the time we were looking for land for Mickey’s Lodge last Fall. We had gone to seven different locations when I talked with Matt Balmer of Land’s End Development in Crosslake, MN. He mentioned that his brother had 15 acres of land on a lake nearby that he was selling. Judy and I went to the land and realized it was perfect! It even has a major building on it already.
* Like the time we needed zoning approval before we signed a purchase agreement for the land and just as we were talking with the seller a person from the County Zoning office called to give approval of Mickey’s Lodge.
* Like the time we needed $6,000 in one day for land expenses and a person we hadn’t talked to in seventeen years called out of the blue. Once she learned of our need she said, “I can give you that.” And the next day we had the money we needed.
* Like the time I sent out an email telling people we were looking for 100 people to join us in our efforts by sending $5,700.00 to SAM. On a day when there would not be any mail delivery Judy and I prayed about this need. Judy prayed, “God please have someone call us today, or stop by to drop in.” No sooner had the words “drop in” left Judy’s lips than the phone rang and a friend of our said to Judy, “My wife and I are in the area, would it be alright if we dropped in?” It’s true! He used the exact words Judy had just prayed moments before. So this couple did drop in, and they became the first people to respond to the $5,7000 challenge.
* Like the time I got a call from a friend I hadn’t seen in years. She worked for the Minnesota Christian Chronicle and was asking to do a story about SAM. We were one of the featured articles in that MCC’s December issue.
* Like the time a reporter from the Brainerd Dispatch called wondering if she could do an article about SAM since Mickey’s Lodge will be built in that area. We said “Yes!” The reporter did a fantastic job on her story that came out on January 11 of this year.
* Like the time just recently we needed an additional $1,600 for our land payment and within four hours of sending out an email regarding that need we had received assurances from three people that they were sending funds that brought us up to the $1,600 mark.

OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL! These are just a few of the answers to our prayers, and your prayers. Judy and I have experienced this truth over and over and over again during the past six months. We have known from the very beginning that if Mickey’s Lodge and SAM was going to be a reality that God would have to be the one who would move the hearts of men and women to give to this cause. And God has moved hearts. Many of you reading this blog have been a part of giving toward the purchase of land and Judy and my salary. We can’t do this without God’s help. We can’t do it without your help.

Judy and I look forward to 2008 with great anticipation of what God is going to do for SAM. Please join us in praying that God would provide the money we need to finally purchase the land and build Mickey’s Lodge. God bless. We love you guys! Pat & Judy

Posted by SmileAgainMinistries at 15:51:00 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Who’s gonna clean up?

Hi Everyone,

As you know if you’ve read my last blog, Judy and I are the proud owners of a new Chorkie puppy. Chaco has been fun to have around - at least most of the time.

My sister, who maybe has a bit more wisdom than I, wrote an email today asking me, “Who cleans up after Chaco goes to the bathroom?” And, “Who gets up at 4:00 a.m. and lets Chaco out?” Well, Judy and I had carefully discussed that matter before we got Chaco and Judy simply told me, “You will!” So “I do.”

My sis couldn’t have been more on target about the night time potty break.  In fact, this very day, at around 4:00 a.m. Chaco made his needs known to everyone in the house (that being me and Judy). Thankfully he didn’t really have to go at 4:00 a.m., he was just looking for attention.

But by about 6:45 a.m. that all changed. Now, I’ve got to tell you, Chaco may only weight about 1 1/2 pounds, but his voice really carries. I tried to ignore him. And for a few minutes he seemed alright with that. But then he started all over again. First the whimper. Then the high-pitched begging voice. Being the faithful husband that I am I “volunteered” to get up to take care of Chaco. Actually, I guess I had “volunteered” about two weeks before we got Chaco.

We’ve been pretty successful so far in getting Chaco to “hit the mat” on which he goes right now. At 1 1/2 pounds he doesn’t appear too excited to go outside to do his business. But did you know that if you don’t put a puppy on the potty mat right away that he may think he doesn’t have to wait? Yup! It’s true, believe me. I have a nifty little potty spot on a rug that is now washing in the washing machine. “Naughty Chaco!” Actually, I couldn’t say that to him because I had made the mistake of taking him out of his sleeping quarters and placing him on said rug until I could fetch the potty mat. By the time I got back with the mat - and I mean it was just seconds, Chaco was no longer whimpering about his need to go, he had already done that. It takes a LONG time to train in the master of the dog.

Well, Chaco’s going to make one fine addition to our SAM staff. He already knows how to twist Judy and me around his finger, so I don’t think he’ll have much of a problem doing the same with guests who come to Mickey’s Lodge.

I hear Chaco calling in that pittiful voice of his. But this time, I’ve already got the mat in hand.

God bless. We love you guys. Pat & Judy, and I guess - Chaco

Posted by SmileAgainMinistries at 20:56:06 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Friday, January 11, 2008

Get a T-Shirt!

Hi Everyone,

Judy and I wanted you to see a sample of the T-shirt we’ll send everyone who gives a donation of $10 or more to SAM. We’ve put a sample on Mickey’s teddy bear that we’re going to be using to make some video  clips regarding people giving. We’ll have the SAM logo on the front along with the words, “Mickey’s Friends.” We think this will help spread the word about SAM, as well as letting people learn about Mickey’s Lodge. Please consider giving toward SAM. 

We’ve also welcomed a new member to the SAM family. Chaco is a mixture of a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuahua. He’s just adorable. Chaco was donated to SAM by Sandy Partlow of Dalbo, MN. Sandy raises miniature dogs. You can find out more about Sandy’s dogs by going to her website at www.tailswagon.com Judy and I can’t thank Sandy enough for this special gift to SAM. We believe Chaco will be a great help in getting people to talk when they come to our lodge - particularly children. He’s got a great personality that lends itself to making friends with just about anyone. 

Thank you to everyone who continues to give and support SAM. We can’t do this alone, so your help is appreciated. God bless - we love you guys. Pat & Judy

Posted by SmileAgainMinistries at 20:09:01 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Spread the Word!

Wow! Judy and I have some new news for you!

A friend of ours told us about a website called facebook (www.facebook.com ). I had heard about it, but hadn’t checked it out before. Well I have now, and as of today Judy and I have our own facebook site.

But what’s really exciting is the fact that we’ve also created a “Group” on facebook called “Mickey’s Friends.” We hope this will be a great tool to get the word out about SAM and about Mickey’s Lodge. I’d really encourage you to go to the site and check us out. There are over 27,000 people in the St. Cloud, MN area alone who have their own facebook site. Can you imagine how many there must be in the U.S. and around the world?

One of the things we’re doing through the Mickey’s Friends group is to ask directly for a donation of $10 or more for the Mickey’s Lodge project. We’ve added an incentive too - a free T-shirt for everyone who does donate at least $10. My friend who suggested the facebook idea to begin with tells me that many of the people on facebook are teens and college-age people - and they LOVE T-shirts. The T-shirts will carry the SAM logo along with the words, Mickey’s Friends, on the front.

So check it out, and spread the word. Remember, we can’t do this alone. We NEED your help! God bless, Pat & Judy

Posted by SmileAgainMinistries at 18:10:22 | Permalink | Comments (1) »