I wish that this would have all shown up, but I can't figure out how to get it to fit so that it all shows..

  What it is showing is that March 7th is Ice Cream for Breakfast Day in support of Give Kids the World, a village where kids stay witth their families while in Orlando for their wish trip.   Because Owen's trip was a rushed trip (we found out he had relapsed and were in Orlando the following week because the cancer had come back in numerous spots in his brain and spine so quickly), we did not stay at Give Kids the World, however, we did visit daily to eat, ride ponies, play miniature golf, etc.  

  For more information on Give Kids the World or to make a donation, please visit their website at  http://www.gktw.org/

 Let's all show our support for children with terminal illnesses and eat ice cream for breakfast on March 7!!

Celebrate Founder's Day  by having Ice Cream for Breakfast! March 7th, 2009 All of us at Give Kids The World Village are getting ready for our Founder's Day celebration on March 7. Four years ago we started a tradition... encouraging everyone to "eat ice cream for breakfast" to help us celebrate. Whether you were a guest at the Village, share your time as a volunteer Angel, send Wish Children here as a Wish Granting Organization or are one of our treasured partners, you are a special part of our GKTW family. We hope that on March 7, you will start your day off with ice cream and thoughts of the thousands of precious children we have served. Show us how you celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day by sending us your photos. You may even see yourself on our website or our fan page on Facebook! Please send your photos toDream@gktw.org. Our world-famous Ice Cream Palace is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., so that our Wish children can have ice cream for breakfast every day of the year! Wish Child, Jack enjoys an ice cream sundae with his mom and sister in the  Ice Cream Palace at Give Kids The World Village. A Wish Child's sister, Ruby enjoys some delicious chocolate ice cream in the  Ice Cream Palace at Give Kids The World Village. The staff of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon, one of our partnering Wish Granting Organizations, celebrates Give Kids The World's 2008 Founder's Day with a yummy bowl of ice cream for breakfast!   For more information about Give Kids The World, visit www.gktw.org. To receive the next edition of our online newsletter and GKTW News, please visit our subscription page. [Return to Top]

About Give Kids The World Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre, non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a week-long, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 90,000 families from all 50 states and over 65 countries.  For more information about Give Kids The World, visit www.gktw.org. To find out how you can help create memories and hope for children with life threatening illnesses please visit our How to Help section. To receive GKTW News, please visit our subscription page.  Give Kids The World 210 S. Bass Road Kissimmee, Florida 34746 United States

Helping a grieving person: Provide ongoing support

Grieving continues long after the funeral is over and the cards and flowers have stopped. The length of the grieving process varies from person to person. But in general, grief lasts much longer than most people expect. Your bereaved friend or family member may need your support for months or even years.
Continue your support over the long haul. Stay in touch with the grieving person, periodically checking in, dropping by, or sending letters or cards. Your support is more valuable than ever once the funeral is over, the other mourners are gone, and the initial shock of the loss has worn off.
Don’t make assumptions based on outward appearances. The bereaved person may look fine on the outside, while inside he or she is suffering. Avoid saying things like “You are so strong” or “You look so well.” This puts pressure on the person to keep up appearances and to hide his or her true feelings.
The pain of bereavement may never fully heal. Be sensitive to the fact that life may never feel the same. You don’t “get over” the death of a loved one. The bereaved person may learn to accept the loss. The pain may lessen in intensity over time. But the sadness may never completely go away.
Offer extra support on special days. Certain times and days of the year will be particularly hard for your grieving friend or family member. Holidays, family milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries often reawaken grief. Be sensitive on these occasions. Let the bereaved person know that you’re there for whatever he or she needs.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/helping_grieving.htm

Thinking about Owen makes me smile.  One of the things that made Owen happiest was making other people laugh and smile.  He had such a sweet giggle-would double over laughing, his belly and cheeks shaking.  Hearing him laughing was infectious...you couldn't help but be happy when you were around him.

   One of the things I used to say to Owen was that if I had every single Owen in the whole world and every 4 1/2 year old in the whole world in the same room, he would still be my favorite one.  One of the last videos I have of Owen awake and talking is one of my favorites...He was speaking slower, and taking longer to process what was being said to him. I asked him, "Owen, who is my favorite Owen in the whole world?"  I was about ready to fill in the answer for him because I wasn't sure if he was going to or not, and he spoke up and said "me..."  It made me so happy to hear that he still knew that he was my favorite Owen, as he always will be!!

 Miss you, Frogger!

I hope that everyone has someone to love who loves them back today...love comes in all forms, and need not come from a "significant other".  It can come from your children, your friends, your pets---everyone is worthy of love, and I hope that you all feel that.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those lost in the plane crash about 3 miles from my house...What a tragedy.

  I love you, Owen.  Even though you are not next to me physically, being apart does not diminish the love that you and I share...Miss You, Frogger!

 

  "A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again, and through we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it."

  I know how lucky I was to have Owen in my life to love.  He made my world a more beautiful place.  He taught me to notice the little things that I would have passed by before, and see the beauty in everything...While I wish he was still with me physically, I am eternally grateful for the time I did have with him.