Here Goes Nothing

To blog or not to blog that is the question I have been asking myself for a while now. I read all these cool blogs and I think to myself, could I write a blog and if so would anyone read it? Well here goes nothing :)

I want to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a 5th grade teacher by day and a crafter by weekend. I come from a long line of crafty people and we use our crafting skills for good ;)  Speaking of good, I want to use my crafting for good and raise money for my mom Linda.

All my life my mom, Linda, has been the strong on, the rock of the family. When my dad had a stroke at the young age of 47 she was forced to choose between her job or helping care for my dad; she chose my dad. She left her job and insurance behind to make sure my dad was taken care of, during this time they lost their house and endured many set backs with my dad; but my mom never gave up hope. To help make ends meet in between caring for my dad; my mom would sell crafts that she made. My mom is an amazing artist and her painting helped keep the family afloat. ( Check the link http://www.facebook.com/DesignsbyL.family )

Over the last 10 years my mom has supplemented my dad's disability income with her craft money. However, during the last year she began to drop her paint brush and complain of pain in her hands. At first we thought she pinched a nerve in her hands but the pain got worse over time, the more she used her hands the more it hurt. She is unable to make anything for her crafts and the lack of money from these shows has impacted my parents. A few months ago we convinced her to see the doctor because she was having trouble holding a cup or even using her hands to eat. The doctor told her she has severe nerve damage in both her hands and wrists. The doctor told her that she could have a surgery to help repair the damage and in time she could regain the use of her hands again, but since my mom let her insurance go she has to pay for half of the surgery up front.

My mom used her hands to help make a living and supplement my dad's disability. My parents don't have the money needed to pay for the surgery. If my mom doesn't have the surgeries her hands and wrists will get worse and eventually she will loose the use of them.

I want to help my parents raise the money to cover the cost of the surgeries. I have come up with a few ways to raise the money needed. I am selling items on Etsy and their facebook page; all of the items are handmade by me or my mom before her hands gave out, or I am asking people to donate $1. To date I have raised $2,000 which is amazing but we still need to raise about $6,000.

I pray with this blog, Etsy and facebook we can get the word out to the masses. Check back for frequent updates.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me- Philippians 4:13