A Special Announcement

Good Evening!

We are starting off the New Year with some special news....

As we went through our pregnancy and delivery with Caden, we were constantly searching for some meaning in or the purpose of our hurt. We don't believe that God puts you in those circumstances without wanting you to DO something with your experience...because, unfortunately, others will encounter a similar hurt some day. So, we asked "How can we serve those that will follow us?".

It's amazing how God answers prayers. He brought us a trip to Build-A-Bear with Connor and Kylee, which I wrote about last summer. They were both given the opportunity to create a special bear in memory of Caden, courtesy of our friends Doug and Polly Hare. They loved it. An idea was born.

After some brainstorming and idea-sharing, we are excited to announce the formation of "Caden's Cubs"...a special project through which we hope to provide that same experience for other families with other children who have said goodbye to or are anticipating the arrival of a terminally ill baby. Through Caden's Cubs, we will provide these families with a gift card to Build-A-Bear for each sibling, with which they can create their own special bear or animal in memory of their baby.

Build-A-Bear has generously offered a discount to Caden's Cubs for the purchase of gift cards. Even more amazing has been Patti Lewis, who, through Alexandra's House, has set up a mechanism for supporters to make tax-deductible donations to Caden's Cubs through the Alexandra's House website.

If you're ever so inclined, or would like to purchase a bear for siblings you know through "Caden's Cubs", you can donate at http://www.alexandrashouse.com/ and designate "Caden's Cubs" in the memo line of your donation. Then you can e-mail us at thecarlsoncrew@yahoo.com and tell us about your loved ones and provide us with their address. We do the rest.

We are planning to start small...primarily working through referrals through Alexandra's House. We hope to some day expand, as resources allow, to offer this special family time to others outside the Kansas City area. As it stands now, we trust that God will open the doors for families who can be served through this ministry. We are humbled to have already been contacted about two families who would like to create bears in honor of the babies they are expecting...that are not expected to live. We will work out details and specifics as we move along and see what fine-tuning we need to do, but feel honored to be able to use our experience to help others...and of course, to see Caden's legacy continue.

We are excited to provide some small joy for others, specifically the siblings of a sick baby, as it was provided for Connor and Kylee in such a difficult and trying time. We also want these families to know that we will be praying for them...as so many have prayed for us.

Another chapter begins...