Kelli has details about how we can pray for Heather’s surgery here.

Thought y’all might like to know.

Edited to add: the link to Heather’s love offering will be active at least until she leaves for the Mayo Clinic on April 25th. You can click here for the post that will take you to PayPal. And click here to see our updated totals!

So.

How does it feel to be the most generous internets in the universe?

Because that’s exactly what y’all are.

I don’t even know how to say “thank you” in a situation like this, but that may have something to do with the fact I’m still too busy shaking my head from side to side to actually write anything coherent.

Nonetheless, THANK YOU. A million times. Over and over.

Also, you need go see Chris at Notes From The Trenches. She’s organizing another prize giveaway – and anyone who has donated to the For Heather love offering is eligible. I’m not sure what all Chris has up her sleeve, but I do know that one of the fabulous prizes is a $150 diaper bag from Cool Mom Picks.

Which, if you think about it, is a whole lot nicer than the hot pile of nothing that I have to offer you. However, I will give you my hot pile of nothing WITH LUV, which of course will make it the most special. gift. evir.

Or not.

Anyhoo.

If you’ve been a part of Heather’s love offering and would like to be eligible for some great prizes, then head over to this post of Chris’ and leave a comment – and that’s all you have to do.

Also: thanks again, everybody.

I am so thankful for each and every one of you.

Edited to add: For love offering updates, click here.

Are y’all ready to spread a little love? :-)

Today we have such an incredible opportunity to minister to our sweet friend Heather and her family. If you’re not familiar with the story behind this love offering, you can click here to see all the details.

If you are familiar with the story and ready to BLESS HEATHER’S SOCKS OFF, click on the little “Make A Donation” button below. The minimum donation is just one dollar – but certainly you may give more if you’d like. Your transaction will be completely secure via PayPal, whether you pay with your own PayPal account, your bank account, or a major credit card. If you don’t feel led to give or aren’t able to give today, then you can still contribute by praying for Heather and her family – and I know that they will be beyond grateful for your prayers.

Also: if you’ve supported this love offering for Heather by posting about it on your own blog, by praying about it, by praying for Heather and her family, or by contributing financially, then I’d love for you to leave a comment here that says, simply, “I’m in.”

I’ll be posting updates on our progress throughout the day, and don’t worry – the donation button will stay active for a couple of weeks, at least. So if you can’t contribute right this second, that is perfectly fine…you can come back by tomorrow or the next day and still have the opportunity to give.

More than anything, may God be glorified as His children come forward to lift up sweet Heather.

Thanks, y’all, for everything – and I’ll keep you posted!

1. Don’t forget that tomorrow is our love offering For Heather. I’ll put up a post with a “Donate Now” button around midnight (central time), and that button will link you directly to PayPal, where you can make a donation via your PayPal account, your bank account, or a major credit card. Your transaction will be completely secure.

And if you can’t make a monetary offering tomorrow, you can still participate; your prayers are the most valuable gift you can give.

2. Also, remember that Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry is having a prize drawing for the people who have promoted For Heather on their blogs. Click here to see what it’s all about – I just checked the list of prizes and got a little teary-eyed when I saw all the people on the Mr. Linky list who have opened their hearts to spread the word about Heather.

3. A few days ago I got an email from Heather at Bramasole Crafts, a pottery and toy shop. From now through April 22nd, she’ll donate 10% of all online purchases to the For Heather love offering. Check out the online store here – you can do a little shopping and contribute to For Heather all at the same time.

Thanks, y’all, for everything…I’ll probably say that about nineteen more times over the next few days, so you might as well get used to it now.

And I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: you’re the best internets in the whole wide world.

Back in January, when we first started to organize our little For Kelli web-a-thon, I really and truly thought it was a one-time deal. In fact, I think I even said something about the fact that the next time I would ask for donations would be approximately, oh, never.

But apparently, as best I can tell, “never” is officially here.

Because what I never dreamed was that a another friend would find herself in the middle of a medical crisis; I never dreamed that Heather, my talented, sweet, funny blog designer, would find out that she has a brain tumor. And I never dreamed that a second situation where our blogging community can so tangibly make a difference would cross our paths so soon.

So on Wednesday, April 18, we’re going to have an opportunity to love on Heather and her family. Heather and her husband Mark will be leaving April 25th for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota – the number one neurosurgery hospital in the country. The fact that Heather even got an appointment is a miracle, and there is absolutely no telling what further miracles God will do through the hands of the gifted physicians there.

And here’s what I’m thinking. :-)

I’d love for us to give Heather and Mark a love offering before they leave for Minnesota, to be able to take care of some of their financial obligations so that they can focus on the most important aspect of their trip: getting the absolute best treatment for sweet Heather without worrying about how they’re going to pay for it. Before Heather knew that we were going to step in and try to offer some help, she posted about some of their financial concerns surrounding their trip to Mayo; you can read the details here. If you don’t know the specifics of the challenges Heather’s family has faced over the last few years, you can read about that here. What you read will bless your socks off.

And please understand: I have absolutely no set amount in mind for this love offering. Maybe what we’re able to present to Heather and Mark will pay for a few meals at Mayo; maybe what we’re able to give them will cover a couple of nights’ hotel expenses while they’re away from home. Or maybe – just maybe – we’ll be able to cover their hotel costs for the whole trip (THAT WOULD BE SO COOL). But here’s the bottom line, at least for me: whether we collect $50 or $500 or $5,000 for this love offering, God will get all the glory. He is the Source of all love, of all hope, of all joy, of all generosity. Anything we’re able to do for Heather will be an extension of the love He has lavished upon us.

So if you feel led to give, you can stop by here on April 18th and click on a “Donate Now” badge that will take you to PayPal. You can pay via PayPal, checking account, or credit card (and if you are more comfortable sending a check, email me and I’ll tell you how to do that). Just for kicks, let’s set a minimum donation of $1.00 – but you certainly may give as much as you’d like.

The money will go straight into an account for Heather and Mark. I won’t know how much you give; I won’t even know who gives (unless, you know, you tell me). I won’t be involved in the financial end at all aside from the fact that I’ll have the Donate Now badge for contributions on my blog. There is absolutely no pressure for you to participate financially – please know that. And if, for whatever reason, you can’t give a monetary gift right now, you can offer something even more valuable: your prayers.

If you’d like to help spread the word and put the For Heather button (thanks, Laura!) on your blog, that would be great. If you’d like to put the For Heather button in your sidebar, email me and I’ll be glad to send you the code so that you can do that. Just be patient with me on the email end…we’re heading out of town later today, so it may take me a few hours to get back to you.

If you have any questions, just let me know. And thanks, Jada, for setting all of these wheels in motion yesterday.

April 18th is For Heather. I hope with all my heart that you’ll be here.