The Haley Palmer Foundation

Well, today is the day I promised to bring all of you the good news our family has been waiting to share!! My heart is heavy writing such great news today, as we are suffering the loss of Rich's sister who passed away this morning. I first want to say thank you all so much for all the messges, calls and text and letting us (him) know how much you care. We are constantly reminded just how short life really is....

Every since Haley passed away, I knew my heart was calling me to do something in her honor. I always had a "vision" of what I wanted, but really couldn't "grasp" the concept of how to even begin to accomplish this vision. Up until a year ago, I was kind of scared to make a change of how we, our family, was doing certain things. We had been raising money for CF for 15 years, and in our eyes, it had been successful. "How could we make a change, what if we fail?"

After praying about this for a while, last January my vision became very clear to me. I had a peace about what I believed could happen and exactly how our family wanted to honor Haley. As we started checking into what it would take to start this vision...there was SO much involved. I knew the vision, I just needed the right time to persue it and the right people put in my path to help me!

As I stated recently in a caring bridge post, we are currently selling Classroom Corner. One of the main reason I have decided to move forward is to persue a dream I have had since her passing, and I feel that it is now the right time to move forward. As I stated, in another post, Opening the store was Chapter 1 to this new way of life for us, and it certainly was the beginning I needed and would not change it for anything, but now it is time for Chapter 2...., which we simply will Title:

The Haley Palmer Foundation

Rich, Brenna, myself and a wonderful group of people who make up the Board for this organization, is very proud to annouce, The Haley Palmer Foundation.

The Mission of the Haley Palmer Foundation is to provide lasting memories for families with chronically ill children. We will grant wishes at a local level and help with necessities in hopes of improving the family’s quality of life.

We are very excited to "kick off" the HPF and we are looking forward to helping ill children in the Owasso and surrounding areas. Everything will be kept at a local level so "you" can see your money at work helping other families in times of need. As parents of a chronically ill child, it was the small things done by local friends, family and complete strangers that made our last few months so special for our family. Even through very tough times, we were able to smile and make lasting memories for all of. The HP Foundation will give these families the opportunities to do things they might not have been able to do without some assistance.

I couldn't be more proud to be part of such a wonderful organization!! You will see much more information in the months to come. We are tying up all the "legal" ends such as paperwork, but I will make the announcement when we can start taking direct "tax deductible" donations! We do know that our 1st Official Fundaraiser will be our "Haley Palmer Bunco Night" that will be held in April or May. I will announce the date a soon as it is set!!

Thank you all for your continued support. The application process will probably not begin until the end of the year. I will keep everyone posted as things progress.

As soon as things are taken care of at the store, I will be able to dedicate all the time needed to make this as successful as possible. My passion and desire for this is none that can be explained.

Looking forward sharing this new path with all of you watching as we are able to bring happiness to others.

I have a Dream...

I thought today would be the perfect day to stop by my blog and remember the words of someone who made a difference in the lives of so many with his dedication, passion, and love of people and peace...that he was willing to take a stand when the odds were not in his favor! Today I honor him for folling his heart and his dream!



I HAVE A DREAM!



So many people have dreams. The questions is....what do they do with those dreams?? Many people dream, and never follow up. I can certainly understand that...because, sometimes...getting there is difficult and even more so, many people don't know where to start! Sometimes life is more simple if you just "go with the flow" and never reach further for what you believe in.



I am speaking from experience. Years ago, I was the one who dreamed big, but never followed through. Over the years, 2 of the most precious people in my lives have taught me the true meaning of living and striving for more than I "think" I can acheive. It truly started with my first daughter, Haley. After watching a child suffer and be the strong young lady she was, it was hard to sit back and not analize just how she was able to be the tough trooper she was. Over the years...I watched! I watched her actions, listened to her words, listened to her prayers, saw her reading her bible and I slowly realized...she was gaining her strength by Faith and God!!



As a mother...that is very difficult to grasp, that I am learning this from MY DAUGHTER! Before Haley passed, I started relying on God more to help me through difficult time, and leaning on him in prayer and I truly know he carried my entire family through this terrible nightmare! It was by far the hardest days, weeks, and months I have ever experienced in my life, but somehow...I was always able to get out of bed the next day. There were times, I was MAD at God...very, very mad!! But each time, he found a way to shine his light and remind me that he was still there for me!



Now Haley is gone, and on a daily basis I have put my faith in God to continue to carry me. After Haley's passing..I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. The opportunity came along for me to open up my own business with a friend of my. It was "joking" conversation that turned serious in a matter of weeks. I put my Faith in God....reminded my self how Haley would "never give up"...and I "Followed my Dreams"! 6 weeks later...we have a business that is up and running!

Haley is still a constant reminder of how my faith needs to stay strong, even when I am in doubt. Our family is currently on the "hunt" for a new church home. This has been a difficult time for all of, but we will not stop going or quit, just because the journey has been a little tough, we will just keep praying about it!

So now...my little one, who's not so little anymore is still teaching me, what I feel I should be teaching her when it comes to God and how we should treat others and act. As she was telling me a story the other night as I was tucking her in bed about how one of her friends has been being kind of ugly to her at lunch around "others" and making her feel bad. I was quick to say..."well, don't take that and dish it back out". She looked at me and said, "mom, I don't think that is what God would want me to do!". ....SILENCE.... ok, I am still learning, but God is working on me, and if it takes my kids to continue to teach me the Godly way to act, then that is fine with me! She is my inspiration daily, as she is only 11 years old, but has her "own business" that she is doing very well at, is in all honors classes at school, with a 4.0 gpa, plays soccer, is an avid softball player and loves playing the guitar and piano. I am in awe of her everyday, to see what she continues to acheive! Brenna, you amaze me!!!

Back to the "I have a Dream...", My family and God has shown me that a dream is only as far away as you make it. I have been praying for God to lead me in the right direction for me to find a way to honor Haley and everything she stood for since Haley's passing. A year ago, this week, I was slapped in the face so to speak, and I truly think it was a wake up call for me to realize what I had been praying for and I was being pulled in a direction that would lead me to exactly where I was "dreaming" of! It has taken a year for me to follow through with this, but the time has come and I am only days away with sharing the great news to all of you!

"I have a Dream..", and I am following it! Are you??

I am excited to share the news with you all on my next blog!