~**~NIMKEE~BLESSINGS~**~: September 2010

Nimkee's big brother Brendan, founder of INTRODUCING BENNETT

~Sunday, Sept 5th turned out to be a beautiful, warm, sunny day. Many local families gathered together to share in our planned festivities, and a great day was had by all.

I was overwhelmed with great joy and deep gratitude as I looked around and saw the faces of people that I had never met before---and here they were---setting up tables, selling tickets for donated items from various Manitoulin Island businesses, home-baked goods, and who can forget Landon's Lemonade Stand!!

Landon is a little local boy that is fighting leukemia. He too endures many trips to Sick Kids Hospital and his mother Marilee knows all too well what we families must experience in order to keep our children healthy, comfortable, and alive. Landon and his wonderful Mommy Marilee set up a lemonade stand and graciously donated all the proceeds to my project NIMKEE BLESSINGS! God bless you Landon---please know that you have a couple of very loving Guardian Angels watching over you at my request. Their names are Noah-Alexander, & Bennett-Chadlen....aka Nimkee.

~GREAT BIG THANKS to my nephew PAUL aka "Commander"---I appreciate everything you did to help us out! Love you muchly XXOO

Thank you Marilee for helping out as you did! The painted faces made me smile through my tears, your thoughtfulness and generosity will never be forgotten.

Various volunteers collected donations of items and services which were raffled off through a silent auction.

Thanks to our many generous sponsors:

The Manitoulin Expositor for running our ad for 2 consecutive weeks, and for doing a couple of feature stories about our family, and my project Nimkee Blessings!
NACK's Store in Manitowaning for their generous donation of various craft items used to keep our visiting children busy---colouring books, crayons, bubbles, face paints, paints, brushes, temporary tattoos, cardstock paper for my business cards, etc, and toys for a draw! And thanks for lending us your table because I forgot mine!

The following businesses graciously donated items which were used in our silent auction/raffle draws:
Soul Hope
Carl's Trading Post
Huron Lodge Motel
South Bay Gallery
JD Garden Centre
Ward's General Store
Manitoulin Espresso Bar
Mum's Restaurant
Roosterant
Happy Moose

BIG THANKS to the following volunteers for all of your help!

Stace McGauley
Christine Lee McNaughton
Jennifer Hooper
Rhonda Martin
Carrie Hull-Spry
Jena Bowerman
Allison Pyette
Marilee Harasym and LANDON for their lemonade stand!!!

~Much gratitude to LUKE SELLEN for making everyone SOUND GREAT!

~Much love & gratitude to our wonderful musicians:

INTRODUCING BENNETT ft Brendan, Pete, Jason, & Tedd
BRAND NEW EYES ft Brendan, Jason, Matt, Cindy, & Justin
LOW GUNS ft Luke Sellen & Dwayne Trudeau
CRYPT aka Michael Stevenson---who also proposed to his gf that night following his performance---she said YES! CONGRATULATIONS Michael & Carissa---may you have love and happiness together for the rest of eternity!
Dave Southwood & son Skylar, Darren Madahbee, & Damien Thibodeau
Digger Wyman, Wayne Smith, & Robbie Shawana
Leslie Neshkiwe
Pat Peltier & bandmates

YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!

~AND WE CAN'T FORGET OUR MAGICIAN!! Gchi-miigwech to Ashlee Manitowabi for his wonderful, and mesmerizing performance!! I wish my camera had been working so that I could have taken some pics!!

Thank you all from the bottom of my bottomless heart. Without you there'd be no concert----I feel blessed and forever touched by your generous donation of time and talent.

~Thanks to The Manitoulin Islanders & their volunteers for all of their hard work and making sure no one went hungry!

~And last, but certainly NOT LEAST---thanks to Rita & Terry of Gordon's Park and staff for allowing us the use of their beautiful landscape. It was perfect!! The kids loved the mini-putt and playground! We'll definitely be back next summer to enjoy some of your star-gazing nights!!!

The children enjoyed our 3 pm presentation by a local magician from the Debajehmujig Theatre Group here on Manitoulin Island. Gchi-miigwech to Ashlee Manitowabi for his stellar performance! You boggled my mind---great show!

The show got underway as INTRODUCING BENNETT performed for us. As most of you already know, my eldest son Brendan began this musical project during my pregnancy with Bennett-Chadlen as we knew that his time here with us may be cut short due to his prenatal diagnosis of Trisomy 13. It was a coping mechanism and very therapeutic for Brendan to work through his emotions with music. I'm very proud of you Brendan----we all are-----especially our Little Thunder "Nimkee".

The spirit of the cause hung heavy in the air, but was uplifting and cheery. The number of musicians that came out to help us entertain and raise funds was phenomenal. I wish that more people had been able to witness this amazing talent with us, but overall it was a wonderful and memorable day which has touched my heart deeply.

GCHI-MIIGWECH to EVERYONE for coming out to support us, & entertain us, so that we may reach out and help some other NICU families through their own healing journeys. I couldn't have done this without you!

Love, Peace, & Nimkee Blessings
Melissa XXOO