My Public Thanks!

You'd better believe I've been keeping a list of ALL the things people have been doing for us this past month and a half and fully intend on acquiring all addresses to send a special little hand-made 'something' of thanks out---hardly thanks enough---but what I feel lead to do for such a huge village of loved ones.
However, I woke up this morning with the idea of creating a page just for public thanking, so all could see/get SOME idea of what blessings keep coming our way as the weeks pass.
On this page, I will post pictures or just simple, heart-felt words of thanks to gestures I feel are so above and beyond that they need to be made known to everyone... because they can be. ;)
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Thanks: The very first week of this journey, I put out a silly statement of 'needing' pink boxing gloves so I could kick off this 'Fighting Like a Girl' hike, right. Barely 24hrs after stating such, an Amazon box containing the most perfect pink boxing gloves and a Fight Like a Girl blanket (which I had no idea was actually a breast-cancer slogan!) arrived at my door.
Sarah Kendrick, you are too good to me, sweet cousin. I am sorry I didn't get the chance to call you personally and let you know what that meant to me, but it was incredible... and I love you.

Thanks: At the very beginning, when we weren't sure but had been told to prepare for surgery, a dear friend had the realization that my 33rd birthday, not more than two weeks after our news, would likely be spent in a hospital recovery room. Not ok with this 'plan', in less than 48 hrs, she threw together a whole party, (scrumptious homemade cake and all!) for me...the event at which all our courage pics were taken...and absolutely the best b-day party of my adult life.
Cori McCurdy, my sweet life-long sister-friend, I love and appreciate you so much.

Thanks: Not only has she taken countless beautiful and COMPLIMENTARY pictures for us since I've known her, but she has absolutely become a sis I didn't get to biologically have. She continues to craft and do things for us, texting me with ideas and/or pictures of things she can't seem to STOP doing for us. I keep thinking my necessary thank you is getting bigger and bigger and bigger, she has to quit, lol! But really, the reality is she knows I would and will do the same when the tables are turned. That's what having a true sis is...and even though God gave her a biological one aside from me (and our other sis-in-love too), apparently, He gifted her the world's biggest heart to contain them all at such a level.
Erin Garland Ziebart, you are more than I could've ever prayed for in a sis. I hope someday to have the opportunity to bless you in ALL the ways you've blessed me. I love you.

Thanks: Not more than a few days into our news, a dear friend came by with a card that after opening it, I realized contained a substantially large tithe to our household. What they may NOT know is that that tithe bridged some serious initial financial gaps for me, a private business-owner and contracted professor, to suddenly have to quit working. God provided for us, through them.
Caleb and Jessica Hugill, you just have no idea what a blessing that money was in that timing. We are so very indebted.

Thanks: A few weeks ago, while talking to a sweet, verklempt uncle on the phone about the whole 'shocking set of circumstances', he begged me to tell him what he could do to help. When I responded with 'Just pray' he seemed frustrated and said 'If you don't tell me what I can do, I'm just going to figure something out!' I told me how much my beautiful aunt (his wife) had already done in making mom and I a pair of handmade, gorgeous witness bracelets and he scoffed saying 'Yeah, it was nice of your aunt and I'm glad you like them, but I want to do something substantial, honey.' When I didn't provide him with much of a response he mentioned he had some hotel points and maybe that would help. Three days later, I received 5 hotel points cards from him with a humbling amount of points that we will be able to utilize come the surgery stage of things.
Uncle Tye, I love you so much. Words just don't do it justice.

Thanks: Two days before it was held, a friend informed me that a local mom (actually a mom of a student I was supposed to teach voice lessons to!) had organized a Zumba night, in MY HONOR! I was so sad to not know of it sooner--and have secret hopes that another might be held, teehee--but in seeing the pictures of the army of women who attended the event, learned that it was quite the success!
Erika Russel, thank you so very much for the gesture...you are too great!

Thanks: A couple of weeks ago, a close friend and church member came to us with an envelope and news that our church administration had all met and after discussing the realities of our ongoing, weekly travel to Portland for care, decided that a gas-stipend was an appropriate provision for us. Inside the envelope was a number of Safeway gas cards, which we have utilized gratefully!!!
Redeemer's, it's times like these where a person finds out a lot about their church...and we are sure more than ever now that we have chosen our church home, wisely! ;)

Thanks: Upon hearing that I'd 'very likely' lose my hair at some point within this whole fight or 'hike' as I'm now calling it, it was decided *mostly by me* that cutting my hair into a short--BOY-short--haircut would be wise. Somehow, the idea of waking up to a clump the length of my pinky-finger on my pillow seemed less emotion-clenching than my then currently, shoulder-length hair. After having this discussion with a new, darling friend of mine via a short 'all call for hair-stylists' post on Facebook, we enlisted her beautiful and talented sister, Jennelle (aka: Michelangelo of hair) to give me a new do. Not only did she manage to make boy-short hair look CUTE, but she did it entirely, voluntarily!
Jennelle Patterson Ralston, you are too wonderful. I am so blessed we've become friends through this--thank you so much for your beautiful heart!

Thanks: On the very last week of October, Ultimate Images...a local hair salon with with AMAZING, supportive and talented ladies held an event for me that, apparently, had a line of women out the door there, (to support us!), by buying gift certificates, products, etc. A few days after the event, one of our dear friends. Kristin Champion (whom also jumped through a ton ton hoops for us in getting our donation account opened at First Community CU!) stopped by with a full zipper pouch of earnings from that event. SO HUMBLING!
Ladies of Ultimate Images, and all who went to the event, we can't say thank you enough for your support and contribution!!!

Thanks: A few days ago, a friend who has been working sooooooo hard to get a benefit money account set up for us via our ornery newly-transitioning bank called with the news that our account is FINALLY OPEN!!!
Kristin Champion, you are exactly as your name says...a CHAMPION and the world's most awesome friend!! Love you, girl!

Thanks: Two days ago, in getting our mail, we received an envelope containing a card from Aaron's sweet classmates. When I saw the return address, my first thought was 'naughty girl', as the person sending it had ALREADY sent me an awesome Fight Like A Girl sweatshirt (which was part of my breast-cancer awareness Halloween outfit, btw, Jeanette) ;) on an earlier occasion. Once opening it, however, we quickly realized that the envelope, though being sent by her was a collaboration of an 'offering' taken up by her and many of Aaron's other close college classmates! Another sum of checks totaling a humbling amount--of which was deposited yesterday and will be used on the stacking doc's bills today during bill-pay hour! :)
P.T. Family, you are just amazing. You know that already. But really. YOU ARE!!! Love you all!