$1,000 Christi Thomas Memorial Scholarship Winner - AMANDA BARGER, Heidelberg University

We are pleased to announce this year's $1,000 winner of the Christi Thomas Memorial Scholarship is Amanda Barger.  She is studying to be a teacher at Heidelberg University.  

Shayne was kind enough to do the speaking for me this year.  One of the things he said was: Our recipient combines a stellar academic record while participating in faith centered activities. Quoting from her application, "I hope to inspire kids to love learning and reading as much as Christi did." 

Our congratulations to AMANDA BARGER!

Christi Thomas Memorial Egg Hunt at Tiffin University - Wednesday afternoon

The 7th Annual Christi Thomas Memorial Egg Hunt will be held on WEDNESDAY at TIFFIN UNIVERSITY! BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket) and meet in Osceola Theatre at 3:30pm. The TU students will go over rules and divide into groups. PLEASE JOIN US! Bring the little ones! We'd love to see you there! Christi LOVED this wonderful event and we are so honored they've continued to hold it in her memory! Thanks, Tiffin University! 

CMN Fundraiser at BGSU Raised $275,484.33!

Our family was deeply touched to again be part of the Dance Marathon on campus this weekend!  BGSU's Dance Marathon is an amazing one!  This year nearly 300 dancers stood on their feet for 32 straight hours and just under 200 cyclists rode 180 miles all raising money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals!  I thank BG for asking me to speak and share our family's story and for inviting Shayla to dance.  If you'd like to see the 3:30 minute video clip with my interview and a bit of Shayla's pointe routine that aired on BG24 News, here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njpIU5ovTlo&feature=share

Scamming Celebrities - Hope Jackson (again on ABC's Nightline)

Hi!  I hope this finds you well!  A few sweet bloggers have emailed asking for an update on the show so I thought I should share.  You can find it all on ABC Nightline's website, but it was basically a repeat of the same story which ran in November, but with new celebrities Hope Jackson also scammed who came forward as a result of the November airing.  The new part is basically Part III of the story.  Here is the link to that section if you desire to see it:  http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/singer-natalie-grant-plays-family-victimized-elaborate-hoax-23117457

I hope all is well with you and your family!  We had a nice (very, very, very quick - like 48 hours) trip to New York City where we saw a couple of shows (Rock of Ages & Les Mierables), had an official college visit at New York University - NYU, a trip to Solving Kids Cancer and a ballet lesson with a Broadway choreographer for Shayla.  We also visited a friend who lost his child to neuroblastoma and believe it or not hooked up with our niece who was in the city for work - crazy!

Visiting our NYC friends who also lost a precious little family member to neuroblastoma.

Fun getting a lesson from a Broadway performer and a Broadway choreographer!

We loved seeing Les Miserables; we are still singing the songs!

A very nice visit was had at Solving Kids Cancers - focusing on the three most deadly childhood cancers (of course this includes neuroblastoma).

Rock of Ages on Broadway!

Shayla's official campus visit at New York University (NYU).

Much to our shock and delight our niece was in the city for work so we got to spend a bit of time with her and her friend.  SWEET!  I'm so proud of my little enginerd! (Oh, I mean engineer!)  Shayla said, "I've now been to NYC with my cousin two times!"  Yes, indeed!