Just amazing

My word of the day.

The boys are currently down for their nap, so I have a teeny bit of selfish time in between laundry loads... Let me tell you how I am spending my time. I am spending it AMAZED. Yes, amazed. I'll explain. One of the blogs that I frequent...in fact the only one I read every day (except my own) is by a woman named Ali Edwards. She is the creative editor for Creating Keepsakes magazine (scrapbooking magazine), and she has a five year old son with Autism. In the beginning of February she started something which has ended up being just amazing...here is her post from Feb 2nd.

Here we go : www.SixDegrees.org Many of you have sent me emails and left comments wondering how you can help in getting the word out about autism and fundraising. This morning I received an email from Stephaine (thank you) who let me know about a new social network set up by Kevin Bacon (yep, the Kevin Bacon) called www.SixDegrees.org in partnership with Network for Good. Here's the basics: www.SixDegrees.org is social networking with a social conscience. Through this web site, you can learn about and support the charities of celebrities and your friends, as well as fundraise for the causes close to your heart. By creating a Six Degrees Charity Badge you have an opportunity to raise even more money for your favorite cause! Your charity(ies) could receive a matching grant of up to $10,000. The six badges that have the most number of donations between January 18th and March 31st at 11:59pm ET will get a matching grant from Kevin Bacon. Multiple donations from a single individual to the same Six Degrees Charity Badge will only be counted once. The process is easy; all you have to do is created a Six Degrees Charity Badge and you will automatically be eligible to receive the matching grant. Once you have created your badge, post it online or send a link to it (sample) via email to your family and friends so that they can help to support your effort. Over on the right side of my blog you will see my badge to raise money for Autism Speaks. I really think that we could get enough donations to receive a matching grant. Here is your chance to make a difference. And, thank you.

About one week into her endeavor she made a bold request...to get 1000 donations! Well do you know that as I type she is at 1950!! She will no doubt roll to 2000 by the time I finish writing. Here is her blog for those of you who may just want to take a peak. And for those of you who want to see the contest progress... check 6degrees and click on the top 10 badges. She has been in the #1 position for the last few weeks, but the contest ends tonight at midnight and it is really heating up! Kevin Bacon was even on the Ellen DeGeneres show and mentioned her name!

All of this is on the heals of Comfort Keepers having our "Burger Burn" outside Sam's Club yesterday for The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This is our second year having a team and raising money. We raised about $375, but even more amazing than that was just the amazing generosity and PASSION people had. From the tons of people who baked in their kitchens and donated goodies, to the people who came out yesterday morning in the 35 degree wind to help us sell burgers, to the many people that told us to "keep the change" because it was for a good cause, or those who couldn't eat meat because it was lent, but donated anyway! Wow...how very cool.

To see people having a passion for what they believe in and sharing it, is just amazing (if I may use that word just one more time).

I'm going back to laundry, and to cheering on Ali, whom I have never met, but has inspired me in many ways.

Have a passionate weekend everyone!