VOAM is having a PhoneRaiser event tomorrow in Quinlan TX! RAINN CD's to the first 5 there to make a $10 donation! We will also have a drop box for cell phones and ink jet cartridges. Message us for info!

Wow I can't believe I made it through the night! I got a few hours of sleep in and we're off to take the babies to Chuck E. Cheeses. You know, I had only planned on using this blog for the duration of the Blog-a-thon, but I really like the format of blogger.

So I guess I'll be seeing you all around!

yay! That's it, I'm done! This was a lot of fun, but I have to be honest, I'm so glad to see 8 am get here. Thank you all who checked up on me, and a special thank you to my sponsors! I hope everyone enjoyed their part in the 2009 Blog-a-thon. Good night everyone!

One more.. yaaaayy. Then bed time.

Only two posts to go. This has been fun. My son is starting to get really fussy and I'm afraid he may be awake for the day very soon..

Trying to budget my last hour, and I honestly have no idea what I'll do. Probably just sit curled up in a blanket, rocking back and forth to try to keep awake :)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... *SNORT* I'm up, I'm up!

The sun is coming up over here. For some reason it's making me realize how tired and cold I am. My eyes are getting so heavy!

Not much to say this time.. just hanging on for the last bit of the 'thon

Final two hours everyone! I am so ready to plow into that bed.

For the first time in awhile, after this night is over, I will have nothing on my schedule for several days. I can't believe it! I don't know what to do with myself!   Kind of nice to be clear.

Doing a little online "window shopping" to stay awake. I did discover that the Hope Ball doubles as a great medicine ball. I got in about half an hour with that- maybe not the smartest thing. Now I'm really tired... but hey, not much left to go. I'm pretty proud of how far I've gone so far :) I honestly thought that after having two children 16 months apart I would never be able to pull an all-nighter again (at least not one by choice!), but it wasn't so bad. Next year, I definately want to do a better job preparing for this. A lot of bloggers had great, creative ideas and I was totally tapped by the 4th hour or so!

3 hours left and I am SO bored! Everyone is out cold, there is nothing on tv and I'm too tired to even try to exercise.  It seems like the last of the carnival is gone finally and I'm hungry!!!!!! I don't think I can stomach another banana, and if I eat one more Rainier cherry I'm going to eat the whole bag, and I really should save them for Ohana. I think it's PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME!
:D

(Does anyone else see the dancing banana?)

Everyone is asleep, here is where the boredom is going to set in... I think between posts I'll get in some exercise.
How is everyone out there keeping themselves awake? I've tried two strategies and I'm not sure which is best- conserving energy on the couch with a movie (and risking falling asleep of boredom) and exercising to keep blood flowing (and risking passing out)

Which is working for you out there? Or are you using a different strategy?

I can't believe there are only 4 hours left. Yay! I'm not really tired, but I know I will be once the kids are up and around. My son is really restless. He has come running out to the living room twice now, and he's stirring again because of the carnival. They're banging things around, taking down the rides and starting the trucks to haul them off. I can't wait until they're gone! I always wanted to live next to one as a kid, but now as an adult I would settle to live "near" one and not 15 feet away!

We're almost done everyone! Hang in there.

I'm going to Paul McCartney's concert!!!!!! Just got an email that the tickets are on their way. We wanted to go so badly last time he came to Dallas and couldn't. This time, we'll be there!

Just saw something creepy... it seems if a mouse is hungry enough, it will do just about anything to get to food. We live next to a large field and sometimes see mice. So we have a trap set. We just heard it go off and checked it, and found nothing. But about a foot away, there was a mouse that we assumed was "playing dead". We stared at it for a minute, and as we were watching another mouse darted in and dragged the first one off! I guess it had pulled it out of the trap to get to the food. GROSS! Can't wait to mooooove!!!

I'm starting to believe I might actually be able to make it through the next 5 1/2 hours. Of course, I am wondering who's going to watch the kids when I pass out at 8am? 

Watching a movie. Wish we had a sponsorship contest for that!

Getting sleeepy.

Nah, not really. I was really dreading this part of the day, but it's going pretty smoothly. Not too much longer! Going to try to stay up without waking up the rest of the family, which may be difficult to do and not get bored...

I just fell in love! Rainier Cherries- MMM! Why have I never tasted this before? They look like little apples and taste like a nectarine smells. You know how a nectarine smells so juicey and tastey, then you bite into it and it's a little disappointing because it's not quite as nice as the smell alone? These cherries taste like what I expect a nectarine to taste like, but better! 
YUM!!!!

Yay, the carnival is packing up. They stayed a little longer than usual this year. Two years ago, they started setting up the NIGHT I brought my son home from the hospital! haha! That was a long week... the dogs barked all night and people walked in and out of my yard talking a few feet from the windows. And as with this year, the trucks that keep their lights on for carnival lighting had their brights in the windows as well. 
Alright, a little over 7 hours to go! We can do this!

We're almost there!

Time for a midnight Bible study... Not the easies time to focus. More in a bit!

Ugh.... Still 8 1/2 hours left and I'm starting to draaaaag. If no one takes my sponsor dare by 1am, I'm having some freaking coffee.
What happened to me?! I could have done this 5 or 6 nights in a row just a few years ago. Now I'm barely able to keep my eyes open at 11:30?
Yikes....

One down, one to go! My little man was pooped. He's such a little monster man :) He spends all day wearing himself out so thankfully he passes out easily at night. Our little girl is still fighting off sleep, but sleep is winning. The carnival lights shut off in about an hour, but we've put some thick covers over their curtains so hopefully no extra light comes through.

Well, beyond that, nothing interesting happening here. 9 hours to go bloggers!

Still getting my babies to sleep. Of course, my daughter being sick and the carnival that has set up in the field next to our house literally 15 feet from my kids' window isn't helping at all.....

This is where I'm about to get really boring for a post or two. Bedtime for the babies

10 1/2 hours left. Still awake. Going to take a shower and try to get ready for the "hard part" of the blog-a-thon. Good night to family and friends who may be getting ready to call it a night.

Apparently this blog is causing more trouble than it's worth. I love everyone who is involved in this, but to those who are starting up rumors and calling others to point fingers- I respectfully ask that you stop. There are things being said that are not true, and that are being twisted from other's stories of survival.

Yes, Verge of a Miracle is my website. I am the director. It is a resource center and nothing more. If you have questions beyond that you need to come to me and ask for the facts before going to others and making false assumptions. I love you all, but this needs to stop here.

Sorry for the delay, eating dinner. Dare #3: Sponsor me for $25 and I will add one hour to my Blog-a-thon end time of 8am central. (Please email me if you sponsor to tell me which dare you want me to complete)

What is your absolute favorite dish?  It it gourmet? Is it Italian? Is it country cooking? Or do you love to hear the sound of dialing for take out? : )

Dare #2 To all you who are still looking for someone to sponsor: Sponsor me for $25 and at this August's Wizard World convention in Chicago I will dress as Emma Frost from the Dark X-men. Any takers? Pics will be posted to this blog in late August.

Does anyone know how to convert .amr files to anything else? There is a karaoke contest and the only thing I can get from my phone to my comp is .amr. But of course, nothing reads it! Help? Thanks!

Here it is: if anyone still looking for someone to sponsor sponsors me for $25, I will go through the entire remaining blogathon caffine free. I had one cup at the start of the 'thon and I will not have another until it ends tomorrow at 8am my time. I know this would be difficult to prove- but every hour I will post a pic of my unplugged coffee maker. Any takers?

Ok, so I haven't thought of anything yet. My kids are both up now and I've been making lunch. Suggestions?

Only 9.5 hours in and I'm wearing down. Running out of interesting things to say, I'm afraid. I saw that another blogger is holding an incentive for donations, so I'm trying to think up something of my own... Maybe I will have it out in the next post.

My little man is awake!! He's such a good eater, as soon as his feet touch the floor he's asking for peanut butter and jelly. Ohana still looks so peaceful. Hopefully she naps a bit longer.

Sending off box #2 full of ink jet cartridges tomorrow! This one is actually one of the "smaller" boxes- only expecting about $10 back for this one but I have been talking with an old friend about some cartridges his business needs to get rid of! I'm hoping this project will do really well. We still have several months left so we'll see!

kiddos are still sleeping sweetly! Trying to decide what to do when they get up. Ohana may still be under the weather but Turk will be wanting to get out some energy.
There are still 16 hours left in the 'thon and I'm still looking for sponsors! If you would like to sponsor me, go to http://www.blogatho.org/pledge.php?blogid=202

kids have been napping now for almost 2 hours. I'm hoping Ohana will be feeling much better after resting.

The PhoneRaiser that Verge of a Miracle is hosting is raising funds for three different organizations and I only explained two. The Turning Point was the inspiration for Operation Care Package. They send advocates to hospitals and are always in need of new clothes. They also provide free counselling and operate a free hotline. You can find out more about the Turning Point at http://www.turningpoint.org

Not to turn into an advertisement, but I have got to brag on a little treasure I found. Trying to raise funds to go non-profit doesn't leave room for other things financially for Verge of a Miracle. I found this site called VistaPrint that prints free business cards and tons of other things. They send all kinds of coupons via email for other free things, and I get all my return address labels, address stampers, and promotional things like pens, keychains and magnets for free! They also have offers for families, so if you have a small business or use any of these things for personal use at home you may want to check them out!

Watching Kendra- my fellow living room pole dancer!! It's an older episode and she's going through wedding prep. It reminds me that my sister-in-law is having a wedding soon and I have a party to plan! I'm thinking of a surprise lingerie shower. She's such a glamour girl, I want to get her a really hot pair of red heels!

Seperately, our daughter being sick and hearing about all the swine flu cases is freaking my husband and me out quite a bit..... If she's not better by tonight she's going to the dr.

Here's a "fluff" topic for you:
So I woke up this morning to a table full of wet, sticky goo and couldn't figure out where it came from until I noticed the to-go cup that had been full of pink lemonade was nearly empty. Apparently, liquid eats through Taco Bell cups overnight.
I've gone into a store more than once and returned half an hour later to find the floorboard soaked with coke from a McDonald's cup.
Nothing life changing, nothing that will keep me from going back, but something that just erks me I guess! I wonder what the difference is between paper cups that work and paper cups that suck? I guess it's just whatever the slick lining is made of in some cups...
Don't you feel enlightened? :)

Hour 5 of the Blog-a-thon! I'm wondering, what were the reactions bloggers got when asking for sponsors? Did they mostly jump on board and want to help? Did they think it was too "weird" and not respond? Did they go a completely different direction and sign up for their own blog for a cause they feel strongly about? What was the reaction to your request?

Almost nap time for the little ones!
I'm about to be traveling to Chicago for work, anyone know of some can't miss attractions in the Chicago area? (Or great shopping spots? :)

My little girl is up and playing!! She still looks pretty miserable, but she's having fun and eating a little. Yay!
I have two beautiful kids! My oldest, Ohana LightShines just turned 3 in April and Turk will be 2 next month.

I don't think of myself as an advocate just for women's issues but for women's sexiness as well! I think every woman has more than just a little hidden away and expressing it now and then is part of who we all are.
I used to think it was a shameful thing, and especially once I became a mother I thought it was time to put it away for good. But the older I get, the more I realize that there's a sexy biotch in me that has to be let out now and then so I don't lose my mind! I think we've all got her somewhere in there.
I think Sheila Kelley said it best in The S Factor, "It's like you're a sexual goddess, a kid, and a superhero all at once."

Not to mention, it's a great way to blow away that leftover baby weight (even when your "baby" is almost 2 years old!) The best part, you don't have to look like a stripper to feel like one. It really adds that extra "Boom-boom-POW!" into your walk and life and I don't know what I did before I got mine. Of course, it's not a fix-all for self esteem issues, which I'm sure every woman who has ever spun around one has discovered at some point. It's not going to instantly make your thighs smooth and tight, it won't make your hair long and sleek, and it won't give you a great tan. But it's fun. It's an energy boost, and an ego boost all in one. I don't think there is a woman alive who couldn't shimmy down a pole and make any man's eyes pop right out of his skull. There's power in that ability :) And did I already say it's fun?! ;)

Who can resist that?

Verge of a Miracle began as a resource center and even though we have expanded, we still offer many resources for survivors of sexual violence. There are printable brochures on our services and useful hotline numbers for many after-issues available for free.
We also have some legal resources and links, volunteer opportunities, helpful books for survivors, useful links and now a page dedicated just to male survivors and the unique issues they face. We are frequently adding new information, and we are part of several social networking sites on which we post new information and updates. You can check us out on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Xanga and now here!

Operation Care Package is a distribution effort to assist crisis centers. We are in the research stages right now but will be in full swing by the end of the summer.

When a woman reports a rape, she goes through a long and often humiliating process to aid law enforcement in catching the attacker. If she agrees to do a rape kit, she must provide DNA, hair and fluid samples and give up the clothes she was wearing as evidence. So what happens next? What does a woman who must surrender her clothing wear home?

This is where crisis centers come in. They send an advocate to meet her at the hospital, often walking her through the entire process. They provide information on where she can get help for herself for free and give her a care package of clothes and toiletries. These crisis centers receive everything they give through donations, and often donations are not enough to cover the many calls they receive.

Verge of a Miracle has been surveying crisis centers all across Texas to determine how many Care Packages would be needed by each one every month and the numbers are STAGGARING. Out of the many dozens of crisis centers in the state, we have collected numbers from only about 1/3 and the number of Care Packages lacking are already in the hundreds. It is our hope to fill these gaps. We are collecting new, unworn clothing in all sizes, undergarments, socks, shoes in all sizes, slippers, travel sized toiletries, journals and pens, and large gift bags or totes to send to these centers. We are also in need of postage or money donations to get these boxes out! if you have anything you could spare for Operation Care Package, we are beginning to collect packages and will destribute them as soon as they arrive. You could be making a painful process a little more bearable for a woman in need. Please remember their situation and only send new items. Our address is:
Verge of a Miracle
P.O. Box 3664
Quinlan, TX 75474
For more information, visit http://www.vergeofamiracle.co.nr/ and click "Get Involved" There is a link to Operation Care Package at the top of the page.

The PhoneRaiser Against Sexual Violence is a fundraising effort for RAINN, The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center and Verge of a Miracle. We are collecting used cell phones and ink jet cartridges to turn in to PhoneRaiser for cash! The money we raise is distributed 45% to RAINN, 45% to the Turning Point, and 10% stays with Verge of a Miracle to help us afford the process of going non-profit.
PhoneRaiser also completely recycles the phones and cartridges we send in, keeping their toxins out of landfills.
If you have old phones or ink jet cartridges, please don't throw them out! Donate them to a great cause and keep them out of our landills! Your donation is tax deductable! Our address is:
Verge of a Miracle
P.O. Box 3664
Quinlan, TX 75474

If you want more information about the PhoneRaiser, visit http://www.vergeofamiracle.co.nr/ and click "Get Involved"!

The Hope Ball Project was our first outreach effort and it's still going today! For 6 years, celebrities, sports teams, survivors and loved ones from all over the country have been sending us rubberbands with messages of hope. The messages are written right on the rubberbands and added to the Hope Ball. The messages are displayed on Verge of a Miracle for others to see and, hopefully, receive a bit of hope and inspiration from. The ball is now over 13 pounds and contains over 11,800 rubber bands! If you would like to help us with the Hope Ball Project, check out http://ww.VergeofaMiracle.co.nr and click "Get Involved".

I started Verge of a Miracle almost 8 years ago as a way for women and girls to get connected with RAINN and it quickly grew. The site underwent a format change about 6 months ago and the focus has begun to shift from only resources to victim services.
The PhoneRaiser Against Sexual Violence, Hope Ball Project, and Operation Care Package are three of our programs, and soon I hope to add a Prevention through Education program as well. I'll devote a few posts to each of our programs throughout the day.
We are hoping to raise enough funds through our portion of the PhoneRaiser to offset the fees for going non-profit. The process is slow, but we're moving forward!

So I woke up at 6:50 US Central time and went into a panic thinking I had already missed the first hour of blogging. I got up, went to the computer and started typing away. As I was making a pot of coffee and pouring water into the wrong opening and into the filter, I realized... My alarm didn't wake me up because it was set for 8am. I still had an hour to sleep! Of course, when I stumbled back to bed and passed out again that hour flashed by way too fast.
So here we are 30 minutes in and I'm wondering if I can fill 49 posts with complete, interesting thought without the coffe I screwed up at 7am... I'll try!!

Here we go! 24 hours of blogging are now underway for hundreds all around the world. My name is Cassie and I am blogging for RAINN(Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) I chose RAINN because they are a charity that I have worked closely with for several years, and they were also the wings that gave Verge of a Miracle flight.
Thank you to my sponsors - Floyd, Dolores, Kent and Keri!! Your sponsorship will help RAINN continue with their support and assistance to survivors of sexual violence.
I'm realizing that the 3 hours of sleep I got may not be enough to get me through the day! My daughter is sick and my wonderful, sexy husband went out at almost 2am to get her juice, Vick's and fruit. Coffee coffee coffee!!

So much for getting a long night's sleep! It's the day of the 'thon and I still haven't made it to bed! Still poking around for last minute sponsors as well- if you would like to help me raise funds for RAINN please visit http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=202

Going to try to sleep early tonight so I can have extra energy tomorrow. My little girl is getting sick so this may be difficult... One of my sponsors just told me that their sponsorship didn't register on Blog-a-thon. If anyone else has had this problem please let me know so I can thank you!

Less than 20 hours until the Blogathon! Getting my typing fingers ready and plugging in the coffee pot....

for any who would still like to sponsor me, my sponsor link is http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=202

How your sponsorship will help RAINN

When you make a donation, it's nice to know what the money will be used for. If you are considering sponsoring this blog but would like to know first where your donation will go, check out this list from RAINN.org

National Sexual Assault Hotline
$42 = pay for telecom costs for 12 hotline calls.
$135 = distribute training info to 90 local affiliates.
$720 = operate the hotline for 8 hours.

National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
$28 = pay for 4 hours of training for a hotline volunteer.
$90 = operate the Online Hotline for 30 minutes.
$625 = provide 25 hours of hotline volunteers tech support.

Public Education
$30 = provide sexual assault prevention tips to 1,500 college students.
$71 = print posters that will be viewed by 10,000 students in college dorms.
$160 = pay for one day of research/analysis of sexual violence statistical trends.
$240 = provide DNA briefings to 4 Congressional offices.$900 = produce a DNA policy briefing for media and legislators.

I now have a direct link for sponsorship! Check out http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=202

Sponsor information

Alright, here it is! If you would like to help us by sponsoring our blog in the 2009 Blog-a-thon to benifit RAINN, visithttp://www.blogathon.org/list.php?sort=alpha and scroll down to Verge of aMiracle. Click Support this Blog! Thanks!

2009 Blog-a-thon!

Check back with us on July 25th for our blog-a-thon to benifit RAINN! We will be blogging every half hour for 24 hours. Want to help us out? Sponsor our blog! Link will be posted soon!