For you, sweet boy..

This past week while I was heading out to visit family and start an excellent week of vacation, I received an email that my nephew's well had been built and completed in Uganda.

There are no words to describe how this makes me feel. And how it makes me feel that so many friends near and dear to my heart donated to this cause for me. I am forever grateful.

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." - Nelson Henderson

Amazing what people can do when you give them the chance...

Last week, I posted a blog post about wanting to finish funding the well that has been started in my nephew's honor. My friend Janet went above and beyond the call of friendship and posted it on her blog as well as Facebook, Twitter, etc. She even went as far as to challenge people to donate so that she could match their donations. Yes, you read that right, she agreed to MATCH their DONATIONS. Even people she'd never met, she agreed to match what they donated. I know I've gushed about her before, but there are no words to describe what she means to me and how my life has been changed simply by having her in my life. The fact that I can call her a friend is even more meaningful and unbelievable to me.

Today, I asked for an update on the well project and I can happily say that in the past week we've gotten to $1,775!!!! We're so close I'm getting anxious! My jumped when I saw the total because I didn't think we were going to be that close. As I was reviewing the donations, there were two from people that I don't really know. I know who they are because they are Janet's friends, but other than that, my knowledge of them is very very limited. I am speechless. These two women donated more than I could ever imagine possible and did so simply because of their friendship with Janet and the cause. My heart is so full of love and compassion for humanity right now that I might burst into a thousand tears!

I know I sometimes seems pessimistic and judgmental,  but I'm amazed at what humanity can and will do when you give them the chance.


And to steal a page from Janet's blog:
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." - Nelson Henderson

Lucas Paul Stewart

As almost all of you know by now, my nephew passed away almost two years ago. He unfortunately did not get to take a breath in this world before passing to the next.

In an effort to honor his memory and to provide life-sustaining water for others, I began to work towards funding a well in his name in Uganda through the help of Holden Uganda. You can learn more about Holden Uganda here.

I learned about Holden Uganda through my friend Janet. She had some friends who lost a baby in a tragic way and it hurt my heart because I knew what it felt like to be the Aunt of a child who was lost. She asked for donations and I gladly donated to the cause. I read more about what Holden Uganda is all about and felt compelled to work with them to set up a well in honor of Lucas. Here are some pictures of what the well looks like when it's completed:

This is the well that I helped fund in memory of Kaitlyn Olivia Doss.

I'm about half way to my goal of funding Lucas' well and my friend Janet has taken on a huge charge to match donations, up to $500. You can read her post here.

I know that in the past I've asked you to donate to this thing or that, but please, please, please, consider donating to Lucas' well in honor of my sweet baby nephew. You can help save the lives of so many other children with such a simple gift.

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.