You are Invited to a Virtual Baby Shower

August 16, 2010 By 3 Comments

What is a girl to do without friends?

And when you are expecting a baby??  Good heavens….it is your friends who will keep you sane, calm your worries, hold your hands – look in to your eyes and tell you that THIS JOURNEY IS GOING TO BE AMAZING….

And so we have baby showers….not just to ‘shower’ the new mother and impending little one with gifts, but really and truly to gather around to say, “we are here now watching you grow and we will be around to do the same for your new sweet one”.  At least that is what I imagine we feel as we host, attend and are the recipient of baby showers.

In just more than a week, I am joining my close friends Ria Sharon and Suzanne Tucker, of the amazing site, My Mommy Manual as they co-host a virtual baby shower with St. Louis TV Station, KMOV in honor of morning anchor and expectant mom, Virginia Kerr.

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The event, A Mom is Born: A virtual Baby Shower Celebrating a Woman’s Journey into Motherhood will be held on Wednesday, August 25th from 11am to 1pm CST.

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This is only the second virtual baby shower ever (Ria and Suzanne held the first last year!) and it will benefit the March of Dimes Missouri Chapter. The shower will celebrate and honor the transition a woman makes as she becomes a mother…..as well as highlighting how friends and family can support her during this amazing time.

Anyone with internet access can attend virtually….(I’m looking at you)  You will be able to interact with Virginia and the hosts via live chat during the broadcast.  You can watch live on A Mom is Born.

screen-shot-2010-08-15-at-104442-pmSome fantastic prizes have been donated by event sponsors and will be raffled during the broadcast. For a raffle entry – share your ‘top tip for a new mom‘.  You will also have the chance to learn how to personalize a Holding Hands bracelet.  (A perfect fit considering My Mommy Manual‘s motto is “Why do this alone when we can hold hands?”) The Bracelet symbolizes the connectedness of all mothers.  A limited number of bracelets will be sold during the event and a portion of the proceeds will go to the March of Dimes.

How can you support March of Dimes through this event?

• Make a donation via the ChipIn widget below.

• Buy a Holding Hands bracelet for yourself or a loved one.

• Support A Mom Is Born sponsors: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Kolcraft, Goodnite Rooms, Pixie Posie Photography and our Venue Sponsor, Overlook Farm.

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Overlook Farm is excited to announce a special package for moms. From now October 15, 2010, (Virgina Kerr’s due date), we invite moms and friends to spend a relaxing night in one of our luxurious inns for the special rate of $125/night. Simply become a fan of Overlook Farm on Facebook to receive this special rate. Mention the virtual baby shower on our wall, and you will be entered to win a Girl’s Weekend Getaway for four to Overlook Farm. Unwind on our 200 acre property, take a soak in our greenhouse hot tub, explore our many gardens, or steal a quiet moment with your best friends with a glass of wine while you watch the sunset over the Mississippi River valley.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Live TV : Ustream

Filed Under: Featured Content, Give Good Get Good, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The tears keep falling

April 14, 2009 By 3 Comments

Last night after I went to bed, I lay in the dark. 

Just thinking.

Every thought I had banished from my mind earlier in the day came creeping forward.

I was thinking about Maddie.  And Heather and Mike.  It just isn’t fair. It is kicking-and-screaming-bury-your-head-in-a-pillow-shake-your-fists-at-the-sky-unbearable.

I thought about my kids. The dark thoughts – the ones that warn me I may not always be immune to the type of pain Heather and Mike are experiencing – float through my veins like ice water.

I can’t even go there.  But knowing that this is truly my greatest fear in life – this is what brings me – and I imagine so many other mothers and fathers – to support the Spohr family – to share their love - to donate to the March of Dimes in Maddie’s honor (Over $25K and counting) -  to create donation buttons, to fly to LA with open arms and healing hugs – to organize Walks all over the country – to turn purple - to write and write and write AND WRITE.

 I’m crying again. 

Because I can’t imagine the pain.

Because there are so many others who know this pain and are kind enough to offer advice on how to help.

Because I am proud to be a part of a community that says, “come here so I can give you a big hug and make sure you know I am praying for you and will do anything in my power to take one minute of your hurt away.”

Because I am in awe of a woman I don’t even know, but feel like I just might, who has summoned the strength and grace to speak at her daughter’s service tomorrow.

I will be wearing purple tomorrow.  I will be praying for this family I don’t know, but who’s loss will have us thinking the same thing at 2:30pm tomorrow.

Rest in Peace Sweet Girl – you were certainly loved.

Filed Under: Breaking my heart, Extraordinary Tagged With: , ,

It just isn’t right

April 13, 2009 By 5 Comments

I spent the past week on vacation with my family.  I was effectively out of the Internet/Social Media/Twitter world.

The few times I checked my blackberry and took a glance at Twitter, I saw a lot of  this: #Maddie.  I saw a lot of tweets about ‘Maddie’ and prayers for ‘Maddie’.  I suspected the news was bad.

But I didn’t know the whole story.

I am now home.  I have now read the whole story.  I now know the light went out of Heather and Mike’s world on April 7th.

I don’t know the family.  And yet, I feel like I do – just a little.  I know enough to sit at my computer at midnight on a Sunday night and cry.  I know enough to hurt, deep down in my soul for them.  I know enough to be amazed by the true and unbelievable outpouring of support I have seen in the short time I have been home and online.  I know enough to want to help in some small, seemingly insignificant way.

I mean really – how can a stranger living in the middle of the country possibly help?  I can donate to help the family - hoping to ease the financial burden of two parents who aren’t working.  I imagine the money strain must be heavy but I think the emotional burden of burying your sweet baby girl must be devastating.  You can also donate to the March of Dimes - the family has requested this in lieu of flowers.

More than anything, I wish I could give them both a hug – not because it would make it any better, but because, maybe, just maybe, it might help to be held – at least for a moment.

So – I am sending virtual hugs and I will be praying.  Tonight.  Tomorrow.  Tuesday. And every day after that.  I will pray for Sweet Maddie.  And I will pray for Heather and Mike – that the amazing support they are receiving will help – even a little.

For more information on all things Maddie, visit a wonderful family friend.  She has also set up a Mr. Linky so you can let the Spohr family know if you posted about Maddie.

If you want a copy of a button for Maddie – or just want to read a beautiful post by someone who actually did know Heather, Mike and Maddie: visit one of my favorite writers.

There is certainly another angel in heaven tonight.

Heather and Mike, I am so terribly sorry.

Filed Under: Breaking my heart Tagged With: , ,