



Posted by Krista Layman at 10:28 PM 4 comments
Posted by Krista Layman at 10:14 PM 11 comments
More excitement...look at the AMAZING turn-out we had for our volunteer training at Lutheran today...and this isn't even everybody who is interested...as there were several who couldn't make it today and will go through another training.
Posted by Krista Layman at 11:47 PM 5 comments
I picked up the Kart tonight from Jenny (you know...Shannon's mom from the Little Give who runs this totally cool pottery store...you should check it out...and take your kids there to paint something for dad for Father's Day!) Anyway...she graciously agreed to paint it and did an amazing job...we couldn't be happier.
So I spent this afternoon and evening labeling and loading books onto the Kart...tomorrow, we will take it to Lutheran and re-load it there. It's so exciting.
And...I got an email from Samantha...another heart from Texas...who is doing our aprons for us. She sent me a picture...and the aprons will be in the mail soon. You should check out her online store, Bundles of Snuggles. for your embroidery needs.
I'm still amazed...it seems at any given time I can go to different blogs and find entries or links to Kate's Kart....people just spreading the love...and the amazing thing is that we are getting donations from strangers who found out via this amazing world of "blogging"
Isaac in Las Vegas
Ramona in Chicago
Elijah in Minnesota
Aubrey, Drew & Casey in California
Arianna in Arizona
Michelle in North Carolina
Bilal in Alabama
Sara in Georgia
Anne & Samantha (private blog) in Texas
Melissa, Michelle, Jennifer, Shannon in Indiana
And even my 20 year high school reunion blog
(If you don't go to an entry...then there is a link on their sidebar)
It's becoming a national phenonomen.. In fact...Drew in California is getting a couple of Kate's Karts books via the mail as he just underwent his 3rd open heart surgery. A huge thanks to everyone who is helping us spread the word...and the love! It warms my heart.(And I am so sorry if I missed your link...please let me know...I want to know!)
So...tomorrow is training day...then Andy and I will deliver for the first time next Wednesday (we're waiting because of the end of school for Andy).
Oh yeah...and another shout out to Laura our webgal...she is designing bookmarks that we will hand out with all the books...as well as helping us with labels, notecards, return labels and anything else we ask of her....I tell you...we've hit the big time! Laura does amazing work for us...we are so grateful!
God is bringing all the right people together...at just the right time...to orchestrate something amazing...He's just that full of grace!
Posted by Krista Layman at 11:29 PM 7 comments
We were back in Portland today...for a cookout! It was just another beautiful and relaxing day. The boys had an amazing time playing in Cathy's "boy heaven" and played together wonderfully....they were 3 dirty boys by the time we left! Just the way boys should be!! Us adults...just a whole lot of good eatin'
We all walked--through the trail in the woods that Andy cut down--to the cemetery. It was so sweet...all 3 boys picked wild flowers along the way and placed them on Kate's grave. I so wish I had my camera.
I made an attempt at photographing the boys. Every year for Easter...Nana buys them matching outfits...and then for Mother's Day ( I know, I'm late) we get their picture taken. We tried today in Cathy's yard...we got a few good shots. I have learned to admire photographers...especially those who do children well!
Posted by Krista Layman at 11:26 PM 4 comments
We headed down to Portland Friday night. I knew it was going to be a bittersweet visit as it was Memorial Day Weekend...and the tombstones were supposed to be placed. As of Friday night...they weren't. Andy went on his yearly tradition of placing flags at veteran's grave sites around Jay County. I know it was hard for him...being that it was his first year without his dad/grandpa ever! He has down a tremendous job of carrying on that tradition. Click here for a newspaper article from last year.
Saturday morning...Andy did a lot of yardwork around his mom's 3 acre yard while Seth played. After lunch...we loaded into the car with our flowers to find the stones placed. We were all very happy with the way they turned out...and we have plenty of room for flowers/statues as the footer is plenty long. The stone is made of a pink granite. It is comforting to have her right next to Grandpa...I am glad we made that decision.
We placed the flowers for Kate and Grandpa and then headed to several other cemeteries in the area to honor Andy's grandparents and great-grandparents.
I guess it is all done now...not much more to do to "finalize" Kate's earthly passing. I am glad that her stone turned out so nice...as she is so much more deserving than a stick in the ground. But...it's hard to see your daughter's name carved in stone like that. I am so so grateful for "Kate's Kart" and the legacy she is leaving through that...it means so much to me and makes this whole process so much easier....not easy...just easier. Praise God for the hope of heaven!!
Posted by Krista Layman at 7:53 PM 7 comments
Posted by Krista Layman at 6:07 PM 1 comments
We attended Seth's closing preschool ceremonies on Thursday night. He did so well...sang all the songs and was exceptionally cute! We kept asking him if he would sing...or just stand there like at the Thanksgiving Feast. His reply: "I was little then!" My photography and movie making skills are lacking...guess I was relying too heavily on my zoom! The video clips are fuzzy...but you get the idea. Glad daddy got decent video clip with the regular video camera.
Crossing over....waving and getting his gift
The turtle song
Singing with his class
What makes me happy: my swingset
Cookies and Punch with new buddy Daniel
Posted by Krista Layman at 9:59 AM 1 comments
Mommy and Me day was really nice...the two of us had a great day. I even got to run a couple errands...thanks goodness there is a carousel at the mall...where I had to pick up my ring. He is such a super little guy...especially when he is getting one-on-one attention...and getting to do what HE wants. Some of the highlights:
Posted by Krista Layman at 1:49 PM 5 comments
Posted by Krista Layman at 1:08 PM 3 comments
My faithful readers know about the Christian fiction book series I've been reading. I can't believe I've read 12 books in little over a month....that's more than I've read in the past 4 years. Anyway....so I finished "Summer" last night...crying all the way through the end (you'll know why if you've read it). I had reserved the next one at the library....and checked the status....I'm number 68 in line! I can't wait that long...so I was wondering if any local Karen Kingsbury fan has "Someday" sitting on their shelf for me to borrow...I only need it like 2 days. I know...I"ll still have to wait after that...as the final book in the series hasn't even been released yet. What will I do after that?....I'll gladly take suggestions of great authors or books to read for the summer.
Oh...and while I'm soliciting advice...curious if anyone has purchased a wooden Toys R US swing set...and what their thoughts were. We are looking for a new wooden swing set for Seth...and the online comments about Toys R Us were terrible. I know the Rainbow sets are awesome...but very pricey...and we don't (can't) spend that much money. Just curious as what you experienced mommies (and daddies) thoughts are about wooden swing sets.
And...in case you were looking...we evidently got bumped from the paper last night. I guess there was some confusion with the photographer and he was waiting for our "shipment' of books. Well...we have that "shipment" in the storage shed. I'll definitely let you know...and post a link when it does get published.
Posted by Krista Layman at 9:51 AM 4 comments
Posted by Krista Layman at 10:51 PM 4 comments
Posted by Krista Layman at 10:26 PM 2 comments
For the past 2 weeks...I've had one thing on my calendar for today: Jury Duty! UGHGH! What a relief last night when I called and the trials had been cancelled...so what to do with my day?
--Wake up, breakfast, get ready
--Take Seth to playdate (I had arranged childcare with one of Seth's buddies from school...they would have been distraught if we cancelled! )
--Run errands...pass a couple garage sales...find this for $30 and it even came with 3 brand new ink cartridges. It's a scanner, copier, fax and color printer. I feel so professional now...who knows what I'll find to scan now! What a blessing since our printer was on the brink of a home in the dumpster...and every single page you put in it needed inserted 3-4 times. I'm pretty excited about it...what a thrill to find such a bargain at a garage sale!
--Pick up Seth
--Make lunch...make 4 phone calls...prepare invoice for my basket business...write a complaint letter about an unpaid medical claim for Kate...FROM JULY!!!
--Take Seth to school
--Head to Kohl's....it's a major sale and I finally got the extra 30% coupon in the mail! Find some bargains.
--Head to the mall to get my wedding ring fixed for the 2nd time in a month. The smaller outside diamonds keep coming off....luckily this time I found it! They said the tines were really worn down...I asked if this was normal after 6 years...they said "yes!" UGHGH...another $100! They said you should get them fixed every couple years...who knew? So...again I'm without my ring...it just feels so weird!
--Run home...fold and put away laundry
--Talk with Parkview Volunteer Coordinator about getting trained for Kate's Kart
--Pick Up Seth
--Run to my parents to pick up some things!
--Go pick up the mail for Kate's Kart at the PO Box
--Set up new printer...and more laundry!
--Start Dinner
--Run to neighbors to drop something off...chat for 15 minutes
--Take Seth to swim lessons
--Eat dinner
--More laundry....UGHGH... I ruined a shirt! I am now officially boy-cotting this stain-remover...if you leave it on for more than 5 minutes...it ruins your clothes....and I'm always forgetting that I pre-treated something...so NO DEAL!
--Do Dishes...and make cookies with Seth--I finally got them made for Gina who won our "name the Kart" contest over a month ago!
--Work on handwriting with Seth....yep...he's a lefty!
--Play Computer Games with Seth
--Put Seth to bed
--Return emails for Kate's Kart
--Watch "The Office" with Andy--work on Kate's Kart stuff
--Head to bed...and read a couple chapters of the book series I'm hooked on. (Stayed up till 2 last night reading....I don't have time for that...at least I have only 2 more books to go (I've read 10) until I'm caught up...then I have to wait for her to release more!)
--And here I am!!!
Wow....I guess I had no problems filling up the day! I'm trying my best to keep up with Kathy! But...it was good to be busy today...as today marked 4 months. Andy and I talked a bit about it tonight...It has been a long 4 months. But...it's becoming our new "normal" and we're slowly defining what that means for us....whether we like it or not! We often just find ourselves saying how much we miss her and her smiling face.
Well...I have a little more work to do...and some catching up on some other blogs...I'm reading, but am so behind on leaving comments!
Posted by Krista Layman at 10:46 PM 5 comments
Finally...some pics from our Fill the Uhaul Day...obviously an amazing amazing day!
And...I just have to give some "Props" to our webdesigner Laura. She is amazing...and is constantly updating and changing the webpage. So...you need to check it out often...cause who know what cools things she is adding on a daily basis.
Laura and I grew up together...our families attended the same church. We became better friends in high school (we went to different elementaries and junior highs) and I have many fond memories of church camp, going to Georgia with her family on spring break, high school band and getting my first kiss in her basement from my first "boyfriend."
We lost touch after high school...got reunited for a year or two in the 90's and went country line dancing...but again lost touch.
But now...I am so glad we are back in touch....our kids have become quick friends and am I looking forward to working with her in many aspects of Kate's Kart...and renewing our friendship...this time for keeps!
Thanks Laura....you have been a huge blessing to us (Dalen too...he's the connection to Shannon and Jenny). We are very grateful to have you both on our team!
Posted by Krista Layman at 12:17 AM 3 comments
Hey all...just a quick post asking for help. We have 2 "artsy" type projects in which we need help!
1. Painting the "Kart!" We would love to paint "Kate's Kart" on the side of the kart...as well as possibly replicate the tree logo. We'll supply the paint...just need someone artsy to paint it! We need to liven it up a bit!
2. Aprons...we got approval today from the hospital to wear our own "uniform"...instead of their maroon vests. So...we are planning on having aprons that we can just wear over our clothes...and then leave with the Kart for the volunteers to wear. We would love to have 2-4 aprons embroidered with Kate's Kart...and whatever else of the logo is possible. (I don't know a bunch about how those fancy embroidery machines work!) Again..we'll supply the aprons and thread...just need someone artsy to do it.
So...if you feel lead to help in either of these ways...let me know...via a comment or shoot me an email (kateskart@verizon.net). Our goal is to start passing out books the 1st week of June...so that is our tentative deadline.
Thanks everyone....you're all a blessing to us!
Posted by Krista Layman at 2:09 PM 4 comments
So....my mom just discovered that you can go on the WAJI website...click on the Listen Now link...and hear Shannon and Jenny's report about the Little Give...as well as an email I sent the station.
Kinda fun...and a great way for you out-of-towners to hear it first hand.
It still blows me away!
Posted by Krista Layman at 11:15 PM 0 comments
I had a nice Mother's Day...I was a little on the weepy side all day long. Throughout the day...there were just certain things that got to me
A Song...it's always those songs that get me all joked up. Sunday morning at church...it was the hymn...In His Time.
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful In His time.
Lord please show me every day
As You’re teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say
In Your time.
In Your time In Your time
You make all things beautiful in Your time.
Lord, my life to you I bring;
May each song I have to sing
Be to you a lovely thing
In Your time.
I know...part of it might just be the pretty sappy melody...but it also got me thinking. I just kept thinking about God's timing...and how He took Kate back in His time...definitely not in mine. But...by doing that...she became beautiful. Yeah...she was always beautiful...but I related it to her heart and her health. Then...I started thinking about Kate's Kart...and how beautiful that is...and how God's perfect timing is stamped all over it. His timing is perfect....most the time we don't get it here on Earth...but it is. And I just have to keep remembering...that the 50 +/- years I have to wait to see Kate...are just a blink of an eye...in his time!
Then...later on in the day...Seth gave me my Mother's Day gift. He and Andy went shopping and evidently he picked it out and was pretty insistent on getting it. It's a beautiful music box. I started crying...and Seth just kept saying...why are you crying? I tried to tell him they were happy tears...but he didn't seem to grasp that. Oh...I wish I could get a Mother's Day gift from Kate...one that she picked out herself.
The rest of the day was nice...spent time just snuggling with Seth on the couch while he looked at EVERY single page of the Sunday paper. The boys did the dishes and cleaned up...and I just had some quality time with the boys...all I could ask for.
We did see Kate's tombstone proof on Saturday night. It was definitely harder to see than when we went and ordered it. It's going to be really nice...plain and simple. It will be up on Memorial Day...I am expecting that my journey with the whole tombstone process will just continue to get harder...with seeing it set by her grave as the hardest. But...it's definitely a needed step in the whole closure aspect of all of this.
It's been another busy day with Kate's Kart....I talked with the other local hospital today...and will be meeting with them next week to make plans to get Kate's Kart rolling at Parkview too! And...a reporter came from the newspaper and interviewed us...it was really nice as we just talked and had conversation. The best part...it's going to be in the faith and values section...which means she can talk about our faith and how it is what pulled us through all of this. I'll definitely post something when it goes to print (May 21.)
Posted by Krista Layman at 9:48 PM 3 comments
Our garage sale was a succes...in that we got rid of the big things....were left with only "junk" that I already took to the Salvation Army...and we now have some extra money...most likely to buy a new grill now that spring seems to finally be here.
We're off in just a few minutes to Portland. We're spending Mother's Day with grandma...and tonight we have to proof Kate's Tombstone. UGHGH...I'm not really looking forward to that...but since we want it up for Memorial Day weekend...it has to be done now.
Still have lots of money and books coming our way for Kate's Kart. It's just crazy...people are so generous...and it's just such a great thing. I know...I still owe you lots more pictures...maybe I'll get a chance tomorrow. It's been really crazy the past 2 weeks.
Well...gotta go pack...and we're on our way.
Posted by Krista Layman at 3:48 PM 2 comments
I know...I promised you all pictures...and totals. It's just been crazy around here. The Little Give is "over"...but things just keep happening...it's totally amazing.
Posted by Krista Layman at 11:33 PM 8 comments
I know...I'm on a little posting frenzy...but I couldn't sign off without a quick reminder to listen to 95.1 between 7:15 and 8:00 Tuesday morning. Shannon and Jenny (as well as the other participants in the Little Give) will be sharing their results. It should be exciting to hear what everyone did...and especially the totals for Shannon and Jenny!
It's still continuing to grow...we just got word that Canterbury School collected another 1100+ books and more money just today. WOW. We'll definitely post the grand totals and put links and thank yous on the website.
And...just another added blessing! Today we found out that we had climate controlled storage donated! WOW. God is so good...and just continues to bless Kate's Kart...and all of us!
Posted by Krista Layman at 8:49 PM 5 comments
So I told you all that 5 of us bestest friends from high school got together this weekend for a little 24 hour get-away. Sharyn came up from Indy...met Gina, Melanee and I and we headed up north an hour to Mel's families lake cottage on the Michigan border. We were laughing on the way up...cause all 4 of us had attended our child's soccer game that morning...which made us a carload of "soccer moms!" Wow!
Posted by Krista Layman at 8:37 PM 3 comments
Posted by Krista Layman at 8:25 PM 1 comments
Hey all...well, I'm back from a most exhausting and refreshing weekend.
First of all...the "event" went really well. We couldn't be happier with the day. First of all it was sunny...a little windy...but sunny. We had a great turn-out and from our preliminary calculations...we got over 4500 books. We sorted and categorized all the books...and ended up with over 2400 usable new books! Plus...over 1000 used books that we are looking into getting into doctor's offices and to other charities. IT FILLED THE UHAUL! Woo Hoo! Plus...a ton of money too! We are meeting on Wednesday to go over the grand totals of everything. Shannon goes on the radio Tuesday morning to find out the results of the big contest.
And...the local tv station came and we got a 40 second bit on the evening news.
But...overall...we're thrilled! We're set for a while...and the donations keep coming in. We'll really be able to spread out and do lots of hospitals in the area.
I was too busy to even think about taking pictures...but they had a professional photographer taking pictures...and lots of others promised to get me their copies...so you'll just have to wait for pictures.
Thanks to everyone who made Saturday possible...I'll definitely give more details after the contest is over and when we have pictures. We're amazed.
More about the the refreshing half of the weekend later!
Posted by Krista Layman at 8:49 PM 6 comments
Well...tomorrow is the big day...I'm pretty excited about our "fill the Uhaul" event. The girls have done a great job...they have a tent (cause it's most likely gonna rain), food, a banner...and of course the Uhaul. I can't wait to see if we get it filled...based on what I know so far...I'm guessing it will be. We're getting checks and books in the mail...it's so exciting! The word is spreading. In fact...we've even had people volunteer to help from Indy, Michigan and Minnesota....who knows how far this might grow.
I'll be sure and post some pictures soon...probably won't be until Sunday night cause....
The whole day is going to be a whirlwind. Seth has his first soccer game of the season at 9...then hustle to set-up at 10...then the "EVENT" from 11-2...then I'm heading out as soon as possible to an overnight get-away with my 4 best friends from high-school. Gina and Melanee are still here in town...but Sharyn is in Indy and Karla is in Ann Arbor. It'll be great to see the girls and catch up. It's been over 2 years since the 5 of us have been together...barring about 20 minutes at Kate's Funeral...and a quick reception dinner for Karla's wedding. We probably won't do a thing...but sit on the couch and chat...but that's just fine with me.
Thanks again to my wonderful husband for letting me have another "girls" weekend. It's been awesome to catch up...and as you girls know...just chat!
Love to all...if you're around tomorrow...stop by! I have a van load of drinks and cookies!
Posted by Krista Layman at 10:26 PM 5 comments