Senator Mark Begich (D) who serves on both the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs gave an address on the Senate floor yesterday to commemorate veterans. Today he is in Alaska attending Veterans Day events, and will be present tomorrow to greet President Obama at Elmendorf Air Force Base tomorrow.

The following is from a press release from the Senator’s office:

“Today I welcome the opportunity to praise Alaska’s servicemen and women, their families who are such a key part of our communities, and the thousands of veterans who have chosen to live in the 49th state,” Begich said.

Recounting Alaska’s military history, including Air Force General Billy Mitchell’s testimony before Congress nearly 75 years ago when he declared, “Alaska is the most strategic place in the world,” Begich noted Alaska’s strategic location has been well known to Alaskans for centuries. Shortly after Alaska’s purchase from Russia in 1867, the U.S. Army was dispatched to help administer the new American territory and within ten years a significant presence was established in Alaska by both the Navy and the Revenue Service, which later became the U.S. Coast Guard.

“The Army helped maintain law and ordering during the turn-of-the century Gold Rush, which saw thousands scramble North in search of fame and fortune. With the build-up to World War II, Alaska’s vital role in the defense grew dramatically,” Begich said.

After noting the construction of the 1,400 mile Alaska-Canada Highway, and the service of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II, Begich turned to current day status of Alaska being home to some 30,000 active duty service men and women with another 30,000 family members. Through Alaska’s major military installations, Elmendorf, Eielson and Clear Air Force bases, Army Forts Richardson, Wainwright and Greely and Kulis Air National Guard Base, about one in five Alaskans has a personal tie to the military.

“To maintain these vital posts, the Department of Defense spends in excess of $1.5 billion a year in our state. That is a huge part of federal spending in Alaska, which constitutes about 18 percent of the state economy,” he said.

Alaska is also proud to have the highest per capita population of veterans in any state, Begich noted. The more than 75,000 veterans who call Alaska home comprise eleven percent of the population.
Currently, more than 4,000 service members stationed in Alaska are supporting Overseas Contingency Operations around the world, including many in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Begich said since the 9/11 attacks on America, 143 service members from Alaska units deployed in support of the Global War on Terror have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

He noted just two weeks ago, a lifelong Alaskan, 23-year-old Marine Corps Corporal Gregory Fleury died in the line of duty. Corporal Fleury had already served two tours of duty in Iraq as a combat helicopter mechanic and gunner when he died Oct. 23 in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province after two U.S. helicopters collided in the predawn dark.

“I spoke with Corporal Fleury’s grandfather last week to thank him for his grandson’s service on behalf of a proud nation,” Begich said, and added that he will submit the names of all Alaska troops who have made the ultimate sacrifice since Sept. 11, 2001 for the Congressional Record. He added it is critical that the transition of our service members from the care of the Defense Department to Veterans Affairs be as smooth and comprehensive a possible and that the VA is funded to meet the current demands of this generation of veterans.

“On these occasions, let us rededicate ourselves to our commitment to our nation’s veterans and servicemen and women. So that their sacrifice is never taken for granted or forgotten,” Begich said.

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

And here are the final four squares.

First is the one called “Native boots.” The boots have beautiful long suede fringe. Bordering the top of the boots are littel tiny seed beads in blue, orange and white. The fabric of the boots itself also looks like fringe and beads, so it’s a very striking effect. The background fabrics are fascinating. One has interesting looking petroglyph designs of people and animals. The other is a colorful display of what looks like woven Native American baskets with all sorts of interesting designs.  Jackie was the creator of this incredible block.

Then, we come to a square covered with little song birds of all kinds. Yes, it’s the Twitter square! Until yesterday, these little tweeters would have made me think of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s infamous Twitter account. But now, they make me think of the brand new as of yesterday, SarahPalinUSA Twitter account! I’m hoping the handlers actually let her write her own tweets, but I won’t hold my breath. But we’ll always have Shatner… AND this quilt square with little birds on every square inch! And the boot fabric is bird seed! Amazing!  The talent behind this one is Elizabeth, and it was her very first quilt block ever!

Square #3 is deep blue. Blue, blue, blue. Blue stripes, blue stars, blue sky, blue boots, blue beads! A fitting tribute to how all of us working together turned the country blue on November 4. And who might have signed this particular block, you might ask? Those of you on the Mudflats Forum will know in a second that it’s Administrator Maureen, known to you all as … (drum roll please) …. Deep Blue!  She has the distinction of signing blocks in two different cities!

And finally, the last square. And what a finale it is. The boots are classic yellow with a tiny little mud-colored satin trim. The fabric they sit upon looks exactly like the mudflats! Why? Because that’s what it is!  InJuneau is responsible for this one.  Here’s her description.

The photo in the center is of Eagle Beach, Juneau.  The photo was taken by [spouse] InJuneau and was selected for the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Impressions NANPA Showcase publication in 2006.  One would need mudboots of some sort to play on the beach much, although we tend to wear Xtra Tuffs (aka “Juneau sneakers”) here instead of yellow ones.  I almost made them brown to match Xtra Tuffs!  The corner fabric is a Southeast Alaska/Northwest Coast Native design fabric.

A square from the state’s wonderful capital, that you-know-who couldn’t wait to get out of is a fitting end for this amazing piece of art.

But just like a great fireworks display, what you think is the end….isn’t! Because after looking at, fawning over, and touching every square inch of the quilt, there’s only one thing to do. Flip it over. Anything on the other side? You betcha! First, is a little sliver of fabric that says, “With (heart) & boundless appreciation to the Great AKM, assembled and hand-quilted by Quince, with special thanks to all contributing Mudpups and InJuneau, Erin, Deep Blue, Forty Watt, Futurexpat? & CO Almost Native. *2009″

But that’s not all. What would any blog be without….a troll?

And there he is…splatted on the back side. “Thrown under the quilt” if you will. Splayed out with his little balloon right on the dark brown mudflats (Merrimeko fabric from Cambridge!), where he can writhe and wriggle around for all eternity, or as may thousand years as this fabric will last. I can just hear him now in a teeny little voice, all muffled…. “You just hate Sarah because she’s pretty! You’re a hater! That fugus is smarter then you! You won’t be laughing when Sarah’s in the White House! You won’t be happy until we have a Marxist, fascist, communist, government and everyone becomes a gunless homosexual pot-smoking troop-hating unemployed athiest whiner who terminates pregnancies for fun and never bathes!  And furthermore, …” (I flip the quilt over and instantly it gets quiet.) Ahhh.

And like a really REALLY good fireworks display,  you’re really sure it’s finally over, but there’s still one more big surprise.

Yet ANOTHER box arrived mysteriously at my place of work. The handwriting on the box looked very familiar. I dashed upstairs, grabbed a box-cutter and opened it. A pillow! One last rogue square that didn’t make it into the quilt found life as an accessory!

This one came from the other “bookend of Canada,” the great state of Maine!, and is signed by Aeroentropy!  The background fabric is covered in berries of all kinds, and the blue boots sport a big fat red lobster! There are two interesting little bead embellishments – a silver peace sign, and a very handsome wooden moose! And in the lower right corner – a duck. It took me a moment, and then I realized that this was the Bill Allen duck! Because we all know that corrupt CEOs with lots of money are “sitting ducks” for politicians who take advantage of them, the poor dears. At least that’s the story you’ll get from their attorneys.

And that truly is the end. What can I say? (hands on my heart) Every one of you who contributed to this magnum opus has my deepest thanks. I am humbled and touched. I have visions of my great great great grandchildren looking up at my great great grandchildren and saying, “What is this again? Sarah who?” and getting told some great stories, and it makes me laugh. This is truly a treasure – the Bayeux tapestry of the 2008 election and beyond.

All of you, take a bow.

(standing ovation from my living room!)

Wondering what to get that fringe right-wing conservative kid on your Christmas list this year? They’ve got all the realistic plastic guns. They’ve got the Corporate version of Monopoly. But I bet they don’t have THIS!

Help! Mom! Radicals Are Ruining My Country! spoofs on leading Democrats, President and adoring media.

A new children’s book which is expected to be released later this month is sure to ruffle more than a few feathers on the left. Help! Mom! Radicals Are Ruining My Country!, written by author Katharine DeBrecht, takes to task leading members of Congress, the President and a fawning media on wealth redistribution, czars and a skyrocketing national debt.

(Stroking chin) Now who was the first president to have a “Czar?”  Oh, that’s right.  It was that lefty Richard Nixon.  And the first Drug Czar?  That bastion of liberal thought Ronald Reagan.  And skyrocketing national debt?  OK, let’s look at the gross federal debt as a percentage of the GDP for the last 30 years…just for giggles.

Jimmy Carter (D)  -3.2%
Ronald Reagan (R) +11.3%
Ronald Reagan (R) +9.2%
George H.W. Bush (R) +13.1%
Bill Clinton (D) -0.6%
Bill Clinton (D) -8.2%
George W. Bush (R) +6.9%
George W. Bush (R) +11.7%

I believe that’s what you call a “pattern.”

The sequel to the bestselling Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed! continues the story of two boys who open up a lemonade stand only to have the stand seized by the government. Determined to succeed, the boys open up a swingset business, but their plan goes awry when a cast of characters resembling the politicians du jour – including a sweaty and sputtering Congressman Fwank and a tiara-donning Speaker Queenosie – force the boys to sell swingsets to kids who cannot afford them.

Follow Tommy and Lou as they struggle to keep their swing set business afloat despite 246 czars, onerous regulations and sky-high taxes in these troubling times.  Will Tommy and Lou finally decide to join the other kids on the corner in standing up for freedom or will they continue to fear being vilified by the press and demeaned by Marxus Obundus (“the One”)?

Wow. Just, wow.  Hopefully we’ll learn in the next volume how all the swingset manufacture jobs get outsourced to child laborers working for pennies an hour in China, and Tommy and Lou make a bazillion dollars on our bad trade/tarriff policies and don’t have to pay taxes, and leave all the kids on the corner with their signs who haven’t figured out yet that they’re cheering for the end of government and the takeover by corporations.

DeBrecht says she wrote the book for several reasons. “When public schools no longer teach children about the founding of our nation and spend most of the time discussing the plight of polar bears or creating chants to idolize the President something is terribly wrong.” DeBrecht explains. “There should be something out there for parents to teach their children the values of hard work, individual responsibility, and freedom, and the importance of defending these when they are under attack.”

Why just today my kids confirmed that they spent most of their day, not doing math or language arts, but discussing polar bears and chanting O-Ba-Ma! O-Ba-Ma!

Adult and child humor throughout the text and colorful illustrations are a plus, adds DeBrecht. “It’s a fun and entertaining way for parents to sit down with their children and teach them the importance of standing up for liberty and the American Dream.” Humor is not only an effective teaching tool, according to DeBrecht, it can be a stress-reliever as well, she says. “Instead of screaming at the television, why not laugh a little?”

Or try screaming at a book instead.  The website provides us with sample pages so that we may peruse them, and be swept away with how hilariously funny they are, and imagine how we might sit with our young children and really get into a family-style “teachable moment” with the little tykes.

Here, I’ll tell you what. Let’s do a little role playing.  I’ll be the Mom, and you be the little kid and I’ll tuck you in for a nice bedtime story, while we read the sample pages together. (I plump your pillow and smooth down the sheets before I tuck you in) This’ll be great.  OK, scoot over, so I can sit down. Ready? Here we go.

“But we can’t just give these [swingsets] away,” Lou told the radicals. “We have to sell them so we can pay the people who work for us.”
“Watercress sandwiches!” Senator Dudd thumbed through his thick address book.
“I know some very nice loan companies that will loan money to commoners to buy swingsets. They make some sweetheart deals, let me tell you,” he stroked the lapel of his expensive suit.
Tommy and Lou knew how long they saved and hard they worked for their swingset and did not feel right about selling swingsets to people who could not afford them. But, under the radicals’ new law, they were forced to do so anyway.

Wow. Kind of reminds you of the credit card companies that give out those cards to people who can’t pay them back so they can keep them in a downward spiral of interest payments. Or like the sub-prime mortgage fiasco where people were talked into buying homes they couldn’t afford. Yeah…all that deregulation and lack of oversight really got us into hot water.  So what we need is more deregulation and less government oversight, right?

You look a little dizzy. Do you want another chapter? OK, just one more.

But then something strange happened. A very smart-looking radical appeared on TV. “Now is the time for hope and change.” Marxus Obundus looked left and right, back and forth. How amazing he was! People swooned, TV reporters fell in love, and drive-thrus were more pleasant! So many people came from miles to hear his voice, they decided to construct a temple in which for him to speak.

Ah! That would be the set on the stage when he delivered the speech at the convention in Denver. It had all those evil, hubristic, god-like Greek columns…you know, like the ones on all the buildings in Washington D.C.!

“I’ll never have to work again!” a citizen at the temple gleamed “He’ll pay for my gas, my …

You interrupt hesitantly. “Gleamed? Did she say “a citizen of the temple ‘gleamed?’” I double check. “Yes. Yes, she did.”

I continue:

“He’ll pay for my gas, my house and my cheeseburgers! I can sit and watch Dr. Phrill all day!”

“The tingle up my leg just confirms he is a savior!” a TV host proclaimed.

Columnists Kathleen Snarker and Peggy Nowsham girlishly dusted off their diaries, giggling with glee.

“Did she say ‘girlishly dusted off their diaries’” you ask?

“Yes, she did indeed,” I gleam.

“And Mom, what does the ‘tingle up his leg’ mean?”

“OK, bedtime for you young man/lady!”  I quickly shut the book and turn out the light.

And so ends our little role playing exercise.

And if one of these achingly painful books is not enough for your l’il neocon, you might enjoy other titles by the same author:

Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed! - described as “a witty alternative to the usual liberal fare.”

Help! Mom! Hollywood’s in My Hamper! - in which you and your child can discuss and condemn “gay cowboy movies.”

And the one that started it all, Help! Mom! The Ninth Circuit Nabbed the Nativity! - “Young readers will love following along with the lively story while singing the ridiculous (but very politically correct) new lyrics for The First Noel.”

And if you needed any more convincing, here’s an endorsement from Grover Norquist!

“Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed” combines an ingenious story with hilarious illustrations to teach kide [sic] about the value of hard work and the threat that taxed [sic] pose to the American Dream.”- Grover Norquest [sic], president, Americans for Tax Reform

Sweet dreams.

That’s right. We’ll be gettin’ all mavericky and talking about Mudflats, the upcoming book, Going Rouge – An American Nightmare, and more!  It should be a lot of fun.

Today at 4:00pm Alaska Time (5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern)

Stream it HERE and blog it in the comments!

Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe has been outspoken lately about former VP candidate and almost-one-term governor Sarah Palin.

Last week he recounted that:

“Obama and I had a long talk late that afternoon to evaluate Palin. ‘I just don’t understand how this ends up working out for McCain,’ he said. ‘In the long term, I mean. The short term will be good for them. But when voters step back and analyze how he made this decision, I think he’s going to be in big trouble.”

A very cool and analytical response from Barack Obama. I like to think that after all the dropping of coffee cups and the scraping of chins off the floor, and the ripping out of large clumps of hair, that’s how Alaskan Democrats felt too.

Yesterday, Plouffe spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“I think she’ll be most helpful to the Democratic Party with a high profile,” Plouffe quipped. “I hope her book tour lasts two years.” Palin’s book hits shelves Nov. 17.

Palin case in point: Over the weekend, Palin appeared at an anti-abortion rights fundraiser in Wisconsin. She banned media — or even anyone from bringing cell phones or other recording devices inside. Nonetheless, Politico snuck a few reporters inside the old fashioned way: By paying the $30 entry fee.  Their reward?  The Rogue gave them some fresh material.

Mudflats’ Boots on the Ground reporter “E” was there too, taking notes and getting out the first report on the event right here, including Palin’s recounting of a story cited by Plouffe in which she talks about a dollar coin.

I looked at it for a long time and then compareed it to another original coin and noticed that the words “In God We Trust” are pushed to the side, off to the very edge. Who makes a decision like that? It may be irrelevant to lots of people, but it’s a sign of a disturbing trend to me.  It worries me …  Because it is in God we trust. That’s the basis of our country.

We are led to believe that somehow the Democrats and Obama are to blame.  A quick fact check tells us that no, in fact it was then-President George W. Bush and the Republicans in Congress who literally marginalized God in 2005.

That’s why Plouffe said that when Palin is carrying the GOP banner, the party appeals to a smaller slice of the USA. “This is not where Middle America is,” Plouffe said.

[h/t Ink & Snow for the great cartoon!]

UPDATE: 

Wow.  Even Fox News is fact-checking and correcting Palin’s coin conspiracy!

And another volume in the Alaska Left Behind series by the marvelously witty flyinureye!

Finally the question, “What universe is she living in?” has been answered!

OK, here’s what we have so far for Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue tour!  Any Mudflatters out there who want to be “Boots on the Ground,” you now have your dates.  Rogue photographer wannabe?  Want to plan an outing with friends?  Are you among the lucky few that live in these not-so-big, not-so-blue cities?  Get out your super secret decoder rings, and toothbrush communicators!  Everybody loves a good caper.

I think if I could beam myself to just one event, it would be the Sam’s Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

More dates are coming but this is a good start, although there’s one state I don’t see yet… Hmmmm.

********************

11/18: Grand Rapids, MI – Barnes & Noble, Woodland Mall, 3670 28th St SE, Kentwood, 6 PM

11/19: Fort Wayne, IN – Meijer – 10301 Maysville Rd, Fort Wayne, 12 Noon

11/19: Noblesville, IN – Borders Books and Music, 13145 Levinson Lane, 6 PM

11/20: Cincinnati, OH – Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Rd, Norwood, 12 Noon

11/20: Columbus, OH – Borders Books and Music, 6670 Sawmill Road, 6 PM

11/21: Washington, PA – Sam’s Club, 80 Trinity Point Drive, South Strabane, 11 AM

11/21: Rochester, NY – Borders Books and Music, 1000 Hylan Drive, Henrietta, 6 PM

11/22: Roanoke, VA – Barnes & Noble, 4811 Valley View Blvd N NW, Valley View Mall 11 AM

11/23: Fort Bragg, NC – AAFES Post Exchange, Bldg. #8-5050 Butner Rd, North Post Mall 11 AM

11/23: Birmingham, AL – Books-A-Million, 757 Brookwood Village, Birmingham, 4:30 PM

11/24: Jacksonville, FL – Books-A-Million, 1910 Wells Road, Orange Park, 9 AM

11/24: The Villages, FL – Barnes & Noble, 1055 Old Camp Road, Lake Sumter Mkt Sq, 2:30 PM

11/24: Orlando, FL – Barnes & Noble, Colonial Plaza, 2418 East Colonial Drive, 7:30 PM

11/26 – 11/29: Thanksgiving Break

12/03: Fayetteville, AR – Sam’s Club, 3081 North Highway 112 at I-540, exit 66

12/04: Dallas, TX – Legacy Books, 7300 Dallas Parkway, Plano, 11AM – 2 PM,

12/06: Sioux City, IA – Barnes & Noble, Southern Hills Mall, 4400 Sergeant Rd, 1PM

12/06: Sioux Falls, SD – Barnes & Noble, 3700 West 41st St, Sioux Falls, 5PM

12/07: Bloomington, MN – Barnes & Noble, 118 East Broadway Suite 238, Mall of America, 7 PM

Mike “Let’s Change the Constitution” Huckabee, one of the likely frontrunners for the GOP 2012 nomination has a book?  Who knew?  Well, it’s out there and it’s called “A Simple Christmas.”  Huh.

Here’s where you can imagine a side-by-side book signing at some Barnes & Noble, in some backwater town, whose state has no coastline, with Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee.  The time arrives. The doors open.  There is a stampede, and elbowing, and screaming people holding books aloft on their way to get the coveted signature.  Sporting red shirts, credit cards in hand they trample over some table that’s in the way, crushing “A Simple Christmas” and its author underfoot in a mad dash to be the first to meet…..the “Rogue.”

Poor Mike.  He’s definitely feeling a bit dejected.  Mild-mannered and good-natured though he is, he is also…as my grandmother would say, “jellybeans.”  This was her code word for “jealous.”  I don’t know if this was a common expression of her generation, or just one particular to her, but if she were ever referring to someone in the throes of this emotion, the eyebrows would raise, and later she’d make reference to the fact that SOMEone was “jellybeans.”  And we’d know that this was not a good thing to allow yourself to be, never mind acting that way in front of other people.

Mike Huckabee talked to Politico recently.

“Some of the people who had excoriated me and really been very dismissive of me for views that I had taken, and labeled me anything from a populist to an ignoramus — the same people have been very defensive [of] and laudatory to Sarah Palin,” Huckabee noted, adding that he’d invited her to appear on his weekly Fox show but “could never get any contact.”

“I’m glad she’s getting the props — I know I’m not nearly as attractive,” he said with a guileless grin.

Whoa.  Mike Huckabee just pointed to the GOP elephant in the room and said, “Hey, look at that giant elephant!”  And all the Sarah Palin fans say, “Elephant? “  And he says, “Yes, elephant.  The elephant that’s only allowed to BE in the room because it’s a nice-looking elephant.  If it was an ugly old mangy-looking overweight elephant, it would have been booted out long ago, no matter what it contributed to the conversation.  Heck, it never would have made it in the room in the first place!”  And they can’t think of anything to say, because Mike Huckabee is a conservative and a man.

Nobody on the right has ever quite said it before, and I’m glad he did.  And this is why it’s so amusing when Republicans talk about the fact that she’s gotten a bad break because she’s a woman.  The only breaks she has gotten are because she is an attractive woman.  Now, I’m not blaming Sarah Palin for this.  She is what she is.  But our society ought to be smacked upside its head, or at the very least acknowledge this kind of shallow desire to look at a shiny object, and how dangerous it can be.

So, thanks Mike Huckabee.  And let me just point out that even though Mike Huckabee has said out loud what many people are thinking, if Mike Huckabee was a woman, we’d doubtless be hearing some kind of metaphor involving a cat, and people would be comparing his looks to hers.  Just sayin’.

Huckabee is unceasingly pleasant and mild, even in relating his grievances. The same sense of humor is there, too. But so are an obvious frustration and a barely concealed bitterness, as well as the underlying question of whether Huckabee really wants to go through with this again or, instead, succumb fully to the showbiz side that he began polishing as a teenage disc jockey in Hope, Ark.

Gallup’s survey of Republicans found that 71 percent would consider voting for him, more than for Palin, Romney or others. The same survey found that he’s the only Republican whom even 50 percent of Americans say they think is qualified to be president.

So maybe the majority of the GOP has learned a lesson after all.  They want Palin around, just as long as she’s not going to have her hand on the tiller of the ship of state, or be making any kind of decisions about the world.  And Mike Huckabee can be the “serious one,” but he’d better come to terms with the fact that he is not going to win the book-signing glamor wars.  He’ll be sitting in the corner with a bag of jellybeans.

Christmas came early for Noah Biorkman this year, but under sad circumstances.  Noah has terminal cancer, and may not make it to December 25, so his family decided to celebrate last weekend.  He didn’t want toys or the normal things a 5-year old wants for Christmas because he can’t play with them.  What he wants is to get more Christmas cards than anyone has ever gotten.  A local radio station heard the story:

Five year-old Noah Biorkman is in hospice and we need your help to make this the best Christmas ever by sending him Christmas cards!

Noah was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in February 2007. He went into remission in August 2007. In September 2008, Noah relapsed with lesions in his right arm and right leg. After going through six different trials, the cancer continues to spread. Noah is an angel and we are blessed to have him in our lives.

Emails have been circulating, and there is also a Facebook page telling Noah’s story.  Do not send money or gifts – just a signed Christmas card. Please send your card right away so that it arrives as soon as possible.

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon Mi 48178

Thanks to all who can help this little guy get his Christmas wish.

[h/t - Zyxomamma]

UPDATE from Noah’s Mom:

Hello Everyone!

What a week! Scott and I have had a hard time wrapping our brain around how much support and compassion we have received from people all around the world!!! Noah was the 17th most googled topic on Thursday and 12th on Friday!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone for the support! Thank you to everyone that listened to my requests for peace. Thank you to Mindy for setting up security for my front door today!! Thank you to the South Lyon Police, Fire, and Post Office for the help and support over the past week. Today was the first day that I could relax. We had a person sitting out front guarding the door. My family and I didn’t have to worry about whether the person walking up was going to knock or ring the doorbell. Yes, I do have a sign on the door.

I just wanted to note something interesting. Last Saturday, I posted a little note on this carepage — it said that we were celebrating Christmas this week. If you would like to send Noah a card, send me an email and I will give you my address!! Our friends and family have repeatedly asked us for something to do to help. Asking for a Christmas card was something simple that many people could do. They posted it on Facebook and BAMMMMM!!!!!!! Next thing I know, we are receiving thousands of cards and packages. Tuesday — 64, Wednesday — 416, Thursday — 2,600, Friday — 5,100 and Saturday — ??????? At least 10,000. Yes, you read that right — at least 10,000.

We are opening and reading each and every card. This is taking some time. It is just humbling, shocking, incredible, astounding… the outpouring of love for one sick little boy.

Friday night, Noah loved meeting Santa. ……

Today was a very merry Christmas! Noah, my mom, and I woke to a Christmas tree in our front yard, fully decorated with wrapped presents underneath. Noah thought that was the coolest thing. Again — the smile said it all. He spent most of the day in my bedroom. No shocker there! He was stingy with his happy face today. He slept quite a bit and he seems to be hurting again.

…….
No matter how hard this is or how painful it is, Scott, my family, and I can say one thing — Noah had Christmas today. And for that, I am grateful.

Merry Christmas Everyone! The world helped make it special for Noah, my family, Scott, and myself. I can guarantee one thing — This week was a week that none of us will ever forget.”

[h/t Karla]

Well, I clicked on the email and laughed myself silly.  A wonderful gift at the end of a not so wonderful day.