April 15th marks the 2 year anniversary of CJ’s death.

Can’t believe that it’s been almost 2 years.

Unreal and impossible.

How has it been that long since that gorgeous smile left my world? How can it be so many months ago when it feels like it happened just yesterday?

People say that time heals all wounds but 2 years isn’t enough time when your son took his own life. Not sure 20 years will be enough time to dull that pain.

Trying to keep busy to ward off the tears that threaten constantly. Staying busy doesn’t necessarily stop the tears, it just lessens them some days.

Gearing up for the second Blood Drive we are hosting in memory of our beloved Shmoops. It will again be held on April 16th, the day after the 2 year anniversary. Lost Valley Ski Resort has once again graciously donated their lodge as the drive site. The blood drive will be held from 11-4pm.

I will start registering people to donate blood asap. Need to sign up approximately 120 people to reach my target goal of units collected so if you’re local, know that I’m going to ask you to give. I want to surpass the units collected last year. Won’t bring CJ back but it will help make a difference in the lives of others. I am hard on myself and I do get sad when I don’t accomplish what I’ve set out to do. Add to that the fact that I am doing this as a way to keep my son’s memory alive and you get one terribly depressed mom if her goal isn’t met. May not make sense but not much does in my world since CJ chose to leave it.

**Regardless of what the Red Cross promotion is in the month of April for those that donate blood, (last year it was a 6" Subway coupon for all who donated) you will also get a BUY ONE TICKET, GET ONE TICKET FREE coupon to Flagship Cinemas. AND....a coupon for $1 off popcorn. AND....a free raffle ticket (read more about that below) THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CRAIG GODDARD for getting Flagship to agree to such a great deal!

In addition to the blood drive (because I can’t sit still and don’t seem to know how to do anything small), I am holding a massive fundraiser/raffle to benefit the New England Organ Bank. Raising awareness about organ donation is something I’ve been passionate about most of my life. Organ donation is what allows my Dad to exist. Without the generosity of another family, he wouldn’t be here.

We donated CJ’s organs at the time of his death. The decision to give others a chance at life was easy….saying goodbye to our beautiful son was not. The New England Organ Bank was involved with us from the very beginning. They helped make the single worst moment of our lives a little easier. CJ’s liver, his left kidney and both his lungs are thriving in people as I type. Sadly, the recipient of his heart and his right kidney did not survive…but CJ’s organs gave them a chance.

I hope to raise as much money as I possibly can for the New England Organ Bank. It is through their efforts that people become more aware of the importance of becoming an organ donor. Education is key. People need to know that being an organ donor is the single greatest gift you can ever give.

In the next few weeks, I will be posting tons of information regarding the raffle. Tickets can be purchased online or in person and will be sold now through April 16th. We will draw the winners at the end of the Blood Drive. (you don’t need to be present to win)

I have been BLOWN AWAY by the items I have received so far and continue to ask everyone I can think of to donate an item for the raffle. One week in to my “PLEASE DONATE SOMETHING FOR MY RAFFLE AND YOUR GENEROSITY WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN” period and I already have tickets to sporting events, ski lift tickets, jewelry, a 4 night stay in a GORGEOUS cabin, lots of chocolate, VIP tickets to the Central Park Opera, a 32” flat screen TV, $180 worth of steaks and more.

Once all items have been accounted for, I will split the items into RAFFLE PACKAGES. For each dollar that you donate either online (DONATE) or in person, you will receive one raffle chance. You can then choose exactly which RAFFLE PACKAGES you want your tickets to be entered into. If you want them all to go to one prize package, great. If you want them split up amongst five or six prize packages, so be it. Or, if it doesn’t matter, I will randomly disperse them amongst the drawings.

I will post pictures and a full description of each prize package here on my blog, on Facebook and on the website (DONATE) where you can pledge money.

The next few weeks will find me obsessively organizing all the details for both the blood drive and the fundraiser. (BUSY IS GOOD)

If I haven’t already asked and you have something you’d like to donate for the raffle, I’d love to hear from you. Tickets to an event (anything after April 16th), artwork, jewelry, gift cards in any amount, food items, craft items, handmade items, etc. Basically, anything you can think of. And if you donate a raffle item, you get a free ticket for the raffle.

Thanks in advance for helping me, help others.

I can never bring my son back (God knows I would give up my own life to do so) but I can make a difference in the lives of others.

Right now, that’s about all I have left.

****Even though the PRIZE PACKAGES are not yet listed, you can still be one of the first to DONATE online. I will contact you directly when I add the prize list so you can tell me exactly how you want your raffle tickets divided up. The prize packages will all be amazing. The $$$ amount of the items I already have are HUGE!!