The time I donated my Wedding Dress

I have typed and retyped this post. Not liking how it sounds and not liking how vulnerable it makes me seem.
I donated my wedding dress on Monday night to a great cause: Angel Gown Project. I specified my search, looking for a donation center where I could drop it off myself and did not have to mail it. I also felt funny selling it or donating it to another bride. Maybe I was being silly, but I felt that I wouldn't want to wear a used wedding dress from a woman who was divorced. Not that we divorced ladies have the plague or anything, but more that I would be worried about the bad juju. (ha!)
When I was doing my research and reading about the different organizations I could donate my dress to nothing really stood out to me and when I stumbled upon Angle Gown Project I knew that this was exactly where I wanted my dress to go. I wanted my dress to mean something to someone, to make a different for a person, for a family, for a loved one. This organization takes used wedding dresses, and other formal dresses, and repurposes them into bereavement dresses for babies who pass-on before they leave the hospital. 
I donated my dress with a heavy and loving heart, knowing that it is going to a good cause. I dropped the dress off near my old apartment with a woman who is a law student at UC Berkeley. I *sort of* wanted to tell the Universe to just leave me alone for a bit, but that just seemed par for the course in this entire experience. I am not going to lie, I cried when I got home. I cried, not because I was sad or because I was angry. I cried because something that brought me so much joy and happiness and that was so beautiful is going to be repurposed for a great cause and provide closure for a mourning family. Also, because I believe that it provided closure for me.

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I wrote the above post right after I donated my dress, so almost a year ago. Needless to say, I was in a very different place in my 'grieving' process. The reason I hadn't posted it was because I was waiting on the organization to send me a picture of what they made my dress into, and because, as I mentioned above, it makes me feel vulnerable to share this. This was on the list of "last few things to take care of" for my closure, for my peace of mind.

On Friday, I was scrolling through facebook and decided, on a whim, to change the display from 'most popular' to 'most recent.' I did this and began scrolling and 24 minutes prior to my changing the display and scrolling through posts, the Angel Gown Project had posted the below picture and said that one of the gowns was made out of my wedding dress. I wasn't tagged in the post, and I honestly believe that I wouldn't have seen this had I not randomly changed my display. I squealed a little bit. I have been waiting for this picture to appear. 

My dress made the sweet little dress that is second from the right, and I am sure many more. It is with a heavy and loving heart that I share this with you all. 

Part of me wanted to re-write this entire post. And then I thought about it some more and decided that this was important to for me remember how I felt after donating and realize how far I have come in just a year. I had an epiphany last week, that I am still working out, and once I can articulate it, I will share it :-) 

Voted Today!

Google is so creative!!

Today is an important day!

A day to vote for local props and measures as well as to vote for the next President of the United States!

We were up early to hit our polling site when it opened to avoid long lines - we arrived at 7, on the dot, and there were about 10 people ahead of us!

Some back story...

When it was time to vote in the primaries, I didn't think that I was registered in our new area yet because I hadn't received anything in the mail.

So, Rich headed to the polls to vote and when he got back, he told me that I, indeed, was registered!

I then walked over and had a nice conversation with the people working the polls and voted in the primaries.

This morning, when it was our turn, the volunteers remembered me!

They remembered that I was wearing "an amazing sun dress" for the primaries!

Gotta love making an impression!
Now, if I could only remember which dress I was wearing....

I hope that everyone votes today!

Make the time.

It is important!

Not only for the presidential candidate, but also for your local community and state!

Now, off to work!

Let's Bring Brett Home!

I am from a small town with a huge heart!

A young man is missing and seeing the amazing community that has come together to #BringBrettHome really brings intense emotions and feelings to my core.

Yes, that is the church that Rich and I got married in and yes, that is my mother who is staying strong and holding prayer groups for this scary time in a seemingly helpless family's life.

This is really hitting my family close to home because this strapping young man toutored my brother while he was in high school. He spent many of nights at my parents house helping my brother, being fed by my mom and being loved, tremendously, by my family. 

I am so proud of my family.

Of the heart of my family.

That my two brothers are so passionate about finding this friend, brother, son and young man and are doing everything in their power to ensure his safe return.

I am proud to call Lafayette my home.

Proud because when someone is in need, everyone comes together to help.

Please join the facebook page and keep this family is your thoughts and prayers!

Do whatever you do for good wishes and positive things happening!

Please!

Let's Bring Brett Home!

Brewbies

On Saturday, Sweeter and I took our friends Downtown to this fun beer festival called "Brewbies." It was $25 and all proceeds go to Breast Cancer research and we get to taste 4 microbrews. We had a blast!

We ended up getting there a little late, so we had to drink up, really fast, but we had a lot of fun anyway!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Hump Day

THE GIANTS WON THE WORLD SERIES on monday AND TODAY WAS THE PARADE IN SAN FRANCISCO!!

{it is crazy in SF today!}

And I also wanted to share that I have just discovered this song 

My friend told me that she liked it and she thought of Sweeter and I when she heard it!

{Listen to the words, aren't they beautiful, and his voice is soo soothing!}

What a sweet sweet friend I have!

Good Karma

This afternoon I was walking from our main office building into mine when I was crossing the street I made eye contact with an elderly man. We greeted each other with a smile and crossed paths as I walked to open the door to my building.

As I went to open the door, I dropped every paper that was in my hand onto the floor causing everything to get out of place (I was going back to my desk to put a binder together with some useful information for my new position.)

As I did this, another man walked passed me and in a sarcastic tone said "UH-OH," laughed and walked away.

I bent down to pick up all of my papers and out of the corner of my eye, I see the older man walking back toward me and he bent down and helped me pick up all of my papers!

That kind of thing rarely happens, especially in San Francisco. I would like to say that what goes-around-comes-around and I really believe that you should treat others the way you want to be treated!

I would like to thank that man who helped me pick up my stack of papers without even thinking twice about it, and I would like to thank every one else in the world who would do a kind task for a stranger. It tells LOADS about your character!

THANK YOU!

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Reno Rodeo

I was in Reno last week visiting my grandparents with lots of sun, food and relaxing! I had a blast! The last night I was there we all decided to go to the Reno Rodeo, "the wildest and richest rodeo in the west"

I had a blast! I had never been to a rodeo before and I am so glad that I got to go to this one! I guess all of the rest that I plan to go to now have to live up to this one!

The events include:

Bareback Steer Wrestling
Saddle Bronc
Team Roping
Tie-Down Roping
Mutton Bustin'
WPRA Barrel Racing
Bull Riding FUTURE RENO RODEO DATES
June 16 - 25, 2011
June 14 - 23, 2012

For more information..take a look at their website, or click on the event you are interested in!