Yoga Gives

**Warning - long post with multiple yoga selfies. If either one of these things annoys you, please just CLICK HERE to donate to St. Jude!! 

Last year I participated in my first Yoga Gives for St. Jude Kids event. I was so moved by the day long yoga fundraiser I knew walking away from that day I wanted to do more than just participate.

Outside the Danny Thomas Pavillion last year at Yoga Gives.

St. Jude is one of the many many things I proudly brag that Memphis has. Not only does Memphis house the best children's cancer research hospital in the country, the people of Memphis support it. St. Jude is the hope that so many of these family need in their time of crisis and despair. From the moment patients and their families arrive at St. Jude, they do not have to play for anything; no deductibles, copays, worrying about eating, lodging, anything! In some cases, they don't pay for their travel to St. Jude. Not only does St. Jude pay for all the patients expenses, it operates totally on donations and fundraising. That means the cost of running the hospital, all the labs, meds including chemo, radiation, housing and staff are paid for people LIKE YOU!

 

I know a sweet sweet girl who has gotten to know almost every wall of that hospital. Carson is the reason I did this event last year. You can read her full story on her Caring Bridge site. She has to be one of the spunkiest, sweetest, bravest gals I know. This year and every year, I will do Yoga Gives in her honor.

Last years event pushed me. I had no clue how exhausted I would be. I didn't 'train' like I would a half marathon because, it was yoga. Well, 6 hours of yoga is nothing joke about. I was pretty sore the next day, but super proud of myself. The one day of endurance and pushing myself is nothing like what Carson and her family (and all St. Jude families) must have to go through every day.

 

This is where I need your help. First, please pray for Carson, her family and her team of doctors and nurses. Second, donate in the name of Team Carson. I have until the beginning of June to raise as much money as I can. I would love your help. Every dollar counts. Can you skip your Starbucks once this week and help the kids at St. Jude? Can you and your family decide together to forgo a dinner out this month and put that money toward research for St. Jude via a donation? Like I said, every dollar counts.

 

Other ways to help:

DONATE - This is my fundraising page: http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/YogaGives/Events?px=3067324&pg=personal&fr_id=39539
Every penny counts. If you have $1, that's wonderful. $2, $5, $10?? It ALL helps.

1. Pass along the flyer! Can you put a flyer up around town for me? Ask at your church, hair stylist, childcare facility, gym, that would be a big help. Does YOU or your husband/wife/mother/father/next door neighbor/best friend have a business that could hang the flyer? I can get you as many as you need! Just tell me how many you want and I'll get them to you.

2. Come do yoga! If you enjoy yoga, consider participating in the event. You don't have to attend the entire day, just make the times you can! Raising $250 for the hospital gets you in for the day, an awesome tank top (think of it like your Hero Marathon bib), and a St. Jude bandanna, (which I still use when practicing).

3. Share the love. Could you share this post and see if any of your Facebook friends would like to donate or participate? If you know a yogi, pass along the website and flyer! Encourage them to come! I attended last year not knowing a soul and left with gaining some friends I am still in contact with!

4. Pray for all involved; organizing, participating, fundraising. Everyone could use your positive thoughts, vibes and prayers!

If you made it this far, thank you! If you can't give, please pass the word. Someone you know might be able to make the difference in the lives of the children of St. Jude.

And so it begins

There is no such thing as one birthday celebration in this family. You have to have your family birthday, then your school birthday and then your friend birthday...Kids these days, they got it figured out. ;)

We started Evan's birthday festivities this weekend with family. He is have a very hard time deciding what to do as far as a friend birthday. (wants a sleepover, but momma isn't letting him invite the 15 people on his list. He can't narrow it down to 4.) So we started with family.

Opening presents is the best! I love his excitement!

 

 

Luke got in on the "opening presents" gig too!


Nobody, I mean NOBODY can resist a Muddy's cupcake!


This was after the chocolate cupcake was smeared all over Luke's shirt....boys...


The evening ended with a couple friendly rounds of cornhole. We are adults so I can guarantee there was no smack talking or distraction methods or gloating going on at all. I will say Jed might retire his beanbag after 4 straight perfect hole in ones during the last game. Annnd, I might add that the Asbell women right now hold some major bragging rights.....until the next game.


 

And NO party would be complete without the birthday boy getting a surprise attack of goofy string straight to the face. Look at Nonna's face - the pure concentration of not missing her mark. Hoping that payback won't be too bad for you Nonna.


It was a great night...a great way to start the birthday festivities for a great little man! Happy early birthday E! I can't wait to see what the rest of the week holds!

More Easter Happiness

The Asbells on Easter Morning!

Maundy Thursday has been one of my favorite services at Hope for years, and this year was no exception. At The Stirring, we were concluding the sermon from Christmas, Cradle to the Cross.

Without Easter, there would be no Christmas...

The three ladies who were pregnant at Christmas and sang around the manager, are now mommies who sang around the manager. The song was so incredible sweet and was a great reminder, as a mother, to consider what Mary felt as she saw her son and her Father on the cross. Of all people, I don't know how she could bear it. I feel that's mother's love. I know how she wanted to trade places with Him. I have see my son suffer, in the most trivial of ways, and want to take it all away. It was just such a humbling service that John and I are so proud to be a part of.

As I mentioned, we had some sickness invade our house over the holiday weekend. We were able to pull it together long enough for some Easter Bunny egg hunts and lunch at Grandmom's.
For Easter Brunch I was motivated by my dear friend and fellow PK mom, Brandy, to make this bunny cake I had seen floating around. It's made with two 9inch round cake pans. One is the face and the second is cut to make 2 ears and a bow tie.

The finished project is CuuuuuUUttEE!

The Easter Bunny was so very thoughtful to think of John and me on Easter morning. After hiding 40 eggs and leaving the boys a basket, he left this note upstairs on a baby gate blocking the stairs. They boys did great following his directions, which let mommy and daddy get some great Easter pictures!!

 

Easter at Grandmom's is always exciting! There plenty of food, tons of eggs to find and happiness galore! Oh, and she has some strong connection with the Easter Bunny. He leaves a basket for the boys at her house too!! #spoiledrotten

 

 
 

Holy Week Part 1 - Easter Egg Hunts!

Holy Week is one of the most loved weeks as a Christian. Easter Egg Hunts at school, the last supper at Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, which my son thinks should be renamed Bad Friday since that was the day Christ was killed, and Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday. The day that Christians count as one of the best days of the year!

So why is it I always gets sick during this week??? #memphiscrud

Despite that, we pushed through to have a great week.

The boys had their annual Easter Egg hunt at school. This was very special because the first graders, Evan's grade, got to hide PK's, Luke's grade, egg. They were then matched up with a buddy and sent a searchin. Evan, Luke and Darrell made a great team.

 

This is Jane. I want Jane and Luke to get married. I love Jane and I love Luke and Jane. GAH! Right before I snapped this photo, I said, "Luke...do you love Jane??" That smile says it all!

Evan had a hunt too. This is his last hunt at SG. Sadness!! He hunted with his fifth grade buddy Maddox. He loves doing stuff with his buddy! His buddy is so good to him too. Evan was running full speed across the playground and lost his shoe. Did that stop him? Heavens no! His buddy, picked up his shoe for him and kept on running!