Background information is that Marianna is my oldest and dearest friend. We became close as freshman in high school when we connected at a church youth group we both attended. Our parents informed us that we had gone to Sunday School together as 4-year-olds at a different church both families attended when we were itty-bitty. When we saw photos of one another at around age 4 we both remembered the other one! I remembered her long, blonde hair that her mother often styled in beautiful curls and she remembers my long, brown hair. As high schoolers we were inseparable. We remained close until she moved away for a bit in early college but when she moved back at the end of college, we got an apartment together and were roommates until I got married in 2000. Marianna is a "forever friend," and if you have one, you know what I mean. We were in one another's weddings and rejoiced with one another over the birth of our children. She's the girl I can not talk to for months at a time and then pick up where we left off as if no time has passed.
Marianna has a 3-year-old, Andrew, who has cerebral palsy, as well as 1-year-old, Michael. At Andrew's birth, Marianna and Andrew both almost died but miraculously, they both lived. It was a frightening time for all of us. But due to balls dropped by medical professionals involved Andrew was without oxygen long enough during the birth process that he sustained a baby-sized stroke(s) and this caused his cerebral palsy. Marianna and her husband are among the strongest people I have ever known and have been through incredible, unexplainable pain, frustration and difficulty. Throughout it they have stuck together, stood by Andrew, advocated for him in every possible way, and all this while Marianna's husband works on his doctorate at Nortre Dame. It kills me to not live in the same town as Marianna...we live in Central California...and to only be able to support her by phone and email. She is my biggest hero and I love her husband and sons to death!
That's why it was horrible to hear that they were victimized. A scrap metal thief stole the wheelchair lift that had been designated for their Andrew from the non-profit agency that was helping them get this lift. Can you believe that? After all they've been through. But look at how even this has turned out for the good and not only that we can all contribute to it, as well.
Double-click on the link below to watch this incredible t.v. news story about Marianna and her family:
http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/17030101.html?video=pop&t=a
I'm going to forward any comments you leave to Marianna, Sweets, so if you don't mind, will you leave the comments for Marianna? I'd love that!
Thank you all in advance for your sweet comments, support and even financial support if you feel led to send it. There's an address on that news story but if by chance that link stops working and you need the address for the fund again, just pop me an email and I'll send it to you.
Love,
Cheryl
My girls and I decorated tiny straw hats for each of the guests' dolls and had them ready when the guests arrived with their dolls. We sat each dolly guest at a tiny tea table while their "mamas" partied...
Here's Mr. Jangles who was seated next to Baby Jesus...gotta love the names kids give their lovies!
Each girl got one of these plain white straw hats that my sweet friend Pat sent. Then each girl got to choose what ribbons, flowers and other trims she wanted me to use to decorate it with. 
And although I still don't know exactly what my swap partner's hat is going to look like (The Derby Hat Swap), the HOURS (yes, hours!) of studying hats of all styles and eras has finally paid off! Or maybe I was a milliner in a past life?? I don't know but I had a little too much fun with these! 
As soon as everyone had a yummy hat, it was time for tea...
Rachel is drinking out of a new tea cup and saucer I gave her!
Then it was time for opening presents!
Raychie gave a gift to each of her guests. I've been saving this sweet vintage graphic for something special and I realized it was just PERFECT for the tea party!!!
Happy 4th Birthday, Rachel!
That's my sweet girl!
Twenty-four hours 'til the big tea party! Miss Raychie is very excited! 
Aunt Laura is here and she took the girls outside to play around with the camera. 
We're busy but we're having fun. Frankly, I'm in my element when I'm planning a fun little girly-sweet party like this one!
Flowers, ribbons and tuling for decorating straw hats at the party tomorrow. These roses are from Wal Mart, Sweets...aren't they great? The little wooden flower pots are from Cost Plus World Market and you can see the pink party favor bags not quite finished.
We're going to decorate the dolls' hats later today and I've got all my pretty trims and tiny flowers standing ready.
And lest you think everything is pretty and pink around here, Mr. Mud Monster will tell you otherwise!!! My sweet mama came over with flowers to plant around the front door and of course Andrew wanted to dig, too....
Want to hear what I'm up to?? :)
I also got a fun surprise in the mail...a sweet giveaway I won at Sarah Keith's yummy blog! Can't wait to relax with some tea this evening and page through these magazines. 
And look at the gorgeous tag she made. I think I'm going to use it as focal point in a project I have going that I am not ready to show you quite yet.
Thank you, Sweet Sarah! 
