Mitchell Academy's First Fundraiser

Jackson's old preschool held an annual Bike A Thon each year where the children raised money for the school by collecting money from people who sponsored them to ride their bikes (or equivalent:)) around the school's parking lot. As you all know, I was bound and determined when I decided to homeschool to try to duplicate as many of the activities as possible at home that in my (albeit crazy) mind he would be "missing out on" when I took him out of the preschool environment. Having said that I was thinking Grandparent's Day, special Christmas days, etc. Not really a Bike A Thon. Who would ride with us? What would we raise money for?? But, just before we took him out of the school, they had already been discussing the Bike A Thon coming up. He knew about it, and I didn't want him to be sad for missing it. I was overtrying at making sure he adjusted well to the new homeschool environment. Which now looking back probably wasn't all that necessary..but you know me.

So, then it hit me! We would invite our special friends and family out to the park to do our own Bike A Thon raising money for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)! I remember hearing about this awesome foundation at the hospital less than 24 hours after hearing "I am sorry to say, but it looks like new onset type 1." They asked for my permission for a volunteer to come visit our room and to sign us up as members where we would get free stuff. I vaguely remember thinking, "Oh, great. They had to get my permission. That surely means these people are going to bug the crap out of me. I'll regret this." Little did I know that those volunteers and this foundation would literally become just that. My FOUNDATION. Their website has linked me to other moms around the country who have helped me tremendously and are now my email and facebook buddies, and we are going to attend a JDRF festival in November so we can come familiar with the GA chapter. Jackson is thrilled to get to meet some other kids there who have diabetes! (And, Preston is so worried he cannot go because he doesn't have diabetes..which of course is not true!!! Poor guy.)

So, anyway on to the fun stuff! The kids had a blast..and I literally wanted to cry when they all lined up and I saw all the faces of the people who thought enough of us to come out and support us and Jackson. They all have no idea how touching it was.

And..if nothing else better came out of it..we got Daddy to the park!? Wow! What an accomplishment!! haha!

Our first (and maybe last..remember the blog post about cutting back and letting things go..:)) fundraiser was a success. And, more than anything I think it reminded me I am not alone. Even at 3:30 am when the glucometer glares back at you 331. I am not alone.