GIVE GIVE GIVE

Please find it in your heart to help

2011-05-10T23:33:00.000-07:00

My dear friend recently lost her best friend to a horrific murder. I have copied & pasted the obituary and I'm certain you will not have difficulty in finding my point........see below. You may have heard about the man that jumped into the Grand Canyon & survived, that was him! If you google "Susan Loper" you can find some disturbing information, ex: she was beaten so badly it was "overkill" (their words not mine) to say the least. BUT, there is something you can do.........ensure her son is taken care of. And ladies, be alert. If someone is bothering you to the point you feel scared, file a police report, obtain a restraining order, and above all else....devise an exit plan in your work place or home. (Susan is pictured on the left in the photo above)

Susan Miller Loper 40, of Frisco, Texas passed away on April 19, 2011. Susan was born on April 13, 1971, in Wichita Falls, Texas to Morris O. and Catherine R. (Shears) Miller. Susan graduated in 1989 from S. H. Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas and then attended American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. After AMDA, Susan spent several years starring in Off Broadway shows, full-length plays and musical performances. Her career in the fitness industry spanned 21 years, with 16 of those years as a Personal Trainer, Nutritional Counselor, Aerobics, Yoga and Pilates instructor at Gleneagles Counry Club. During this time, Susan earned numerous certifications in nutrition and health & fitness. Susan is survived by her son, Jake Loper of Frisco, Texas; parents, Morris and Catherine Miller of Wichita Falls, Texas; sister and brother-in-law, Leah and Jay Russell of Wichita Falls, Texas; nephews, Brendon and Chase Russell; great-nephews, Ashton and Breydon Russell; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. Susan is preceded in death by her grandparents. A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00PM on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at Hope Fellowship Church in Frisco, Texas with Pastor John McKinzie officiating. She will be laid to rest at her final resting place at a later date in Bowie, Texas with her family and close friends in attendance. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Susan can be made to a trust fund that has been established for her eight year old son. Contributions should be made to the Jake Loper Trust; c/o Ferguson Law Group; 2500 Dallas Parkway, Suite 260; Plano, Texas, 75093. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com

Her 8 year old son needs our help, if you have $10.00 PLEASE think of this young, young boy, without a mother, without a best friend, with total confusion. If you'd like to make a difference here, in the USA, please do anything you can to secure his future. A senseless act that has hit home and I know my friends will rally to contribute any way they can.

xoxo Riggs

A MARCH 8th UPDATE

2010-03-08T20:51:00.000-08:00

I've got good news and bad news. Because, I always like to leave on a good note. I'll start with the bad news. My dearest friend, Elana, the one that was in a coma in Mexico, had to undergo surgery to remove 20 TWENTY!!! Gallstones and her gall bladder last week. Everything was, meh, ok at best until she had to rushed to the hospital by ambulance and be admitted to ICU because the RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) was attacking the wounds. Not enough time had passed after her coma to keep the RSD at bay. So while this is a "giving" website, I'm BEGGING you to GIVE your prayers to Elana & her family. If you need to put a name with a face, this is a photo of her last trip to visit me (from South Beach) with all my four legged buddies. She was in heaven because her childhood dog was a boxer.....and she loves the Murph Smurf.

Now, on to good news! The nun run is almost upon us!! If you are in Arizona and aren't busy the morning of Saturday March 20th @ 8am. COME PLAY WITH US! Yes, I said play. We are going to have so much fun. The sisters are the coolest women around and they really need our support. The even better news is that there is room on our team, "The Nun Runners" Let me know if you need more information or refer to the earlier post. To those of you that are not running/walking with us and have already donated to show your support, you make my heart warm and fuzzy and full of love and I thank you! The nuns thank you!! If you haven't yet ....there is still 12 whole days. That's alot of warm fuzzies to produce.

I love you and thank you in advance for always sticking with me! AR

The Nun Run is Gaining on US!!!

2010-03-03T18:59:00.000-08:00

I'm walking in a 5K in a couple of weeks to raise money for construction of housing and monastery for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. THIS IS TOTALLY SERIOUS! I'm trying to get as many donations as I can to win dinner with the nuns. Please contribute what you can. Thank you so much!!
http://www.active.com/donate/thenunrun/nunrunners

Please join me and if you can't join me, ANY amount of money will be greatly appreciated. These ladies have been there personally in my times (yes times, plural) of need and now I need to be there for them. All they do is pray. When tragedy strikes a family, you call them....they pray. Remember my best friend Elana in the coma, they prayed for her. When Murphy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, they prayed for him. AND they will pray for you too.

Come out & meet these amazing women, get your heart pumping and have a good time and know that God is watching.

I love you all. Amy

Pre Occupied

2010-02-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Fellow Givers! I miss you guys. I have to admit, my mind, heart, and soul has been in Monterrey, Mexico where my best friend was in a medically induced coma last week so I've been slacking on getting us geared up for our February Project.

Without further delay.........

Imagine this....You are a sophomore in high school, this economy has really hit your family. Mom & Dad are both working full time, overtime and barely making ends meet. You didn't get much for Christmas and all the little luxuires are gone

Thank goodness you can walk to school. While at school, you are walking into homeroom just as your crush, "hottie" senior football player, BMOC, yells, "Jessie, wait up!". You stop. You're heart doesn't it.... beats faster. He says, "I don't want to make you late but, will you go to Prom with me?" That rapidly beating heart, flip flops! But, you are cool and say, "Sure, I'd love to". He says "Great, let's work on the details later". DETAILS??? The only thing you can think of is THE DRESS. THE PROM DRESS. The dress that will be in photographs all over your parent's home for years to come. The dress that will make or break the night. The most important dress of your life (well, other than your wedding dress)

Then, you get sad, you know with the household budget as it is, a frivolous dress, worn for only one night, for just a few hours, won't be a possibility. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO????

You are going to be a modern day Cinderella, through the Cinderella Affair program.

Friends, PLEASE clean your daughter's closet, ask your co-workers, friends, family, sisters, for dresses, shoes, earrings, necklaces, party dresses, bags & baubles, PROM STUFF. These girls need us! Remember how fun YOUR prom was? (my mom still has the photos up 20 years later)

Last year, the Tempe Unified School District had 1,100 girls lined up to "shop" at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center. This year Tempe girls get 1st dibs on March 26th from 9am-4pm, then the 27th any Junior or Senior with an I.D. is welcome.

If you are interested in donating any of these items, please let me know! To read more about this amazing event go to www.cinderellaaffair.org. If you click on collection sites it will tell you where you can drop off the dresses!

Love & Party Dresses

AJR

Diaper Wrap Up

2010-01-22T23:02:00.000-08:00

Just an FYI, next Monday January 31st, 2010 is the last day to turn in your diapers. I will be collecting yours this Sunday if you want me to turn them in for you, just leave a comment below. To those of you that have already done your diaper delivery, you are awesome! Now, start staring at your closet for gently used clothing, ask neighbors, relatives, friends, anyone if you can snag a bag from them. More info to follow,

Count your blessings,

MARCH - THE NUN RUN

2010-01-16T15:37:00.000-08:00

I am adding the information for the NUN RUN in March now so everyone will have time to sign up, schedule, plan, etc. I copied & pasted this from the nun's website, www.desertnuns.com but you really need to check out the website and read up on what amazing women these ladies are and how much FUN this event will be. The most critical part will be money we will be able to raise for them. When you register, be sure to join our team "The Nun Runners" that my friend J has put together for us. Not only has she put the team together but she has done amazing work for the nuns and she needs us! This is just an all around feel good, warm fuzzy event and just think of all the good catching up we could do while walking a 5k. See you in March Friends.

WELCOME to the NUNRUN link

We are the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a cloistered community of Nuns - who are without cloister!

Thus we are out RUNNING - trying to raise funds to build a chapel and monastery in Tonopah, AZ!

We invite you to participate in our 1st Annual Nun Run!

It's a 10K Run and 5k Run/Walk

For novices, a 10K is 6.21 miles and a 5K is 3.11 miles long

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

we've gotta ask HOW???Please tell us more:

As a Participant - Run with us on Race Day. Also, you can help raise additional funds for the cause by getting personal sponsorship for your miles.
As a Shadow Participant - Run with us wherever you are - world wide!
As a Sponsor - Donate to name the event, races, finish line, etc!
As a Race Donor - Donate prizes, gifts certificates, bananas...you name it!, we'll see if we can use it!
As a Herald - Tell all of your family and friends and even strangers about the 1st Annual Nun Run.
As a Volunteer - Stuff goodie bags, staff the event on Race Day...
As a Contributor - We need your prayers and donations to this cause!

we've gotta ask WHY??Please tell us more:
1. To be an Outward Sign of God's love in the world
2. To be Active and Healthy - in body and soul
3. To support the Poor Clares as we raise funds to build the House of the Lord!

If you would like to be a Nun Run Donor,

please click the link below:

http://www.active.com/donate/thenunrun

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run

in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win." 1 Cor. 9:14

Nun Run Race Information Page
Event Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010
Event Time: 8 a.m.
Event Registration:
Cost: begins at $25.
Online and mail-in registration is now available!
Please click here to register to run with us through the desert, or as a Shadow Participant in your own area.
A Nun Run Poster is now available for download. Print and post everywhere you are able. Help us get the word out!
Event Location:
Victory Lane Sports Park
22603 N. 43rd. Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85310

The REAL New Year's Resolution

2010-01-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

Because I feel so blessed, I feel it necessary to help who I can, however I can. My neighbor and dear friend came up with a BRILLIANT idea to pick one project each month. One project that will help someone locally. One project that will help our community. This blog is now going to be part journal part "what we're up to this month". I'm hoping this is an avenue that will make it easy for people to get involved or start getting involved in our community. Lady C said, "ok for January we are doing diapers" DIAPERS?? As a non diaper buying person, I thought she was nuts. She then gave me a print out from www.babydrive.org outlining the dire need for diapers in our community. Here is one story of how DIAPERS made a difference in one mom's life.

"At Homeward Bound a young mother was seen walking out of the the lobby carrying her 18-month old son and a package of diapers in her arms. She had tears in her eyes. These diapers meant she could now go to work. This mom had just recently found a job; however, she risked losing it because she did not have enough diapers to leave at daycare for her child. Daycare requires a supply of ten diapers per day and she didn't have the money to purchase diapers until payday - four days later. Sometimes the smallest things, like a package of diapers can make the biggest difference in a person's life. She was filled with gratitude for the diapers, which had been an obstacle in maintaining a job, now she is able to begin her journey to self sufficiency."

So for January our focus is diapers, any size, any brand, anything you can afford. There are drop off spots all over the valley and you will get a receipt for your taxes too. OR you can contact me & i'll come pick them up from you!

We already have plans for February (gently used clothes) and March (the Nun Run) if you have any ideas or are already involved in an organization that needs two more sets of hands let me know.

Count your blessings,

NEW YEAR

2010-01-09T21:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that this one is better than the last (shouldn't be hard)

This year I'm trying something different, writing down goals and working towards them, working on my bucket list and planning to see Italy, (back to the goal of getting a passport)

Blogging is another one of my resolutions as it will allow me to 1. Journal 2. Keep my friends up to date with "the year of charitable giving" which I know will become part of my lifestyle for years to come and 3. Keep it real and share the cool stuff I come across.

I love you all & cheers to the New Year!

New to This!

2008-11-21T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is the first of hopefully many posts I will make, as I have so much swirling around in my noggin'. I'm thinking this will be a great way to keep loved ones "up to date" and keep track of my daily thoughts. This is a test, so lets see how it works....if it works.