We Hate Cancer

If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that my Dad is fighting Stage IV lung cancer that has metastasized to his bones. Read back a few years and you will find that one of my older sisters, Ursula, has also battled cancer - breast cancer - but I can happily report that so far she has remained cancer-free for 3.5 years since removal of that cancer and treatment.

On May 14, 2011, my sister is participating in Race For The Cure in Columbus, OH, to help raise funds for cancer research, but also to raise money for the ten county area in Central Ohio. The money raised stays in Central Ohio to fund mammograms and cancer treatment for people without insurance and those with financial hardships.

My guess is that you know someone who has had breast cancer, or your family has been affected by breast cancer in some way. One in EIGHT people will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Look around Starbucks. Look around the grocery checkout line. Look down the pew at church. Glance around your office at your co-workers, or around the table at Sunday dinner. Who is next?

You can help! I'm asking if you're reading that you consider making a small, tax-deductible donation. You can make it honor of someone winning their battle. Make it memory of someone who fought a valiant fight. Make it for your children, so they can grow up in a world without cancer. No amount of money is too insignificant. Go without that $4.95 venti latte for one day.

So, as an incentive, readers, I'm offering up some yarn. Make a donation, leave a comment here, then email me at ttownknitiot at gmail dot com with verification of donation, and I will do a drawing on May 15, 2011. The link to donate is here: Ursula Hunter Donation Page

What are the prizes? I will draw these in order.

Prize #1
Chewy Spaghetti Sport weight yarn, colorway Alluring.




Prize #2
Claudia Handpaint, two skeins, enough for a pair of socks, colorway Strawberry Latte.



Prize #3 (hold on to your underwear!!)
WOLLEMEISE!!! colorway verzaubert (lovely dark blues and greens)



EDITING TO ADD:

PRIZE #4
A set of pink stitch markers made by my dear friend Sarah Lou!

PRIZE #5

One skein of yarn from Yarn Cravin' yarn shop, winner's choice!

Remember, to be entered into the drawing, you have to make a donation, leave a comment here, and email me. Have fun, and good luck!

Believing in Christmas Wishes and Amazing Surprises

There was only thing I wanted this Christmas. I admit there were days it was hard to keep the faith, but the week before Christmas, Santa came into the yarn shop, and reminded me to keep on believing!



Dad made it to Christmas and my wish was granted! His cancer is very aggressive, now in his liver along with the lung and bones. The day before my family gathered together, Mom told me his hair had begun to fall out, so I started a hat for him from Berocco Ultra Alpaca. (50% wool, 50% Alpaca). I finished it at the table while we visited that day. Dad immediately put it on!



We had the opportunity to take some photos of Mom & Dad together,



and Mom and Dad with all of us sibs... we don't look alike, do we?



I know these photos will be treasures and bring us comfort sometime very soon.



All the "little" cousins were enjoying having the "grown-up" table to themselves!

As for surprises, well this beautiful man below, the love of my life, gave me an amazing surprise this Christmas. Bill pulled off an incredible surprise, which is not easy to do because I am nosey and I have incredible hearing!



The gifts were all ready for when the kids woke up.



Here's a photo of all my critter together. :-)



The first gift I opened from Bill, was a plastic pail of sand with seashells and gift certificate to Margaritaville Key West, complete with palm tree bottle opener. "Cool," I thought, "I can order a shirt online," and Bill went and fetched two bottles of Land Shark from the fridge. At 8:3oAM.





Gift bag #2 had another plastic pail full of sand, with a shovel and shells... and I had to dig for treasure. A sealed metal spice canister held an incredible surprise... flight itinerary to Florida!!!!



Sand pail number three really blew me away... See? The treasure I unearthed in the sand in that bucket had the itinerary for a Caribbean Cruise!!!!! Miami to Key West to Cozumel!!



Bill even had an ornament made to commemorate the occasion.



Think about how hard it is to find beach toys in Toledo in December!!! <3



Bill even made sure my precious baby Bruno (and Coco, too!) will be taken care of while we are gone.



Once my kids left for their Dad's, we prepared for Christmas day with Bill's boys. My two big sons surprised me with a gift certificate to Yarn Cravin', my very favorite yarn shop. I sent the entire red velvet cake (made from scratch!) home with them.

Christmas miracles happen. You just have to believe.