Shout Out

I mentioned a tattoo parlor was going to put up a poster for Klicks4Chrissy. The name of the tattoo parlor is Mike Austin Custom Tattoos.

I tried to find a website to link to, but no luck!

If you are in the market for a tattoo, and you are in London, I think their business is at 306 Simcoe and their phone number is 519-642-3049.

Happy tatting!

Terry Fox Lives Here

Years ago, a young man decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. His story is pretty interesting.... average student, average athlete that worked so very hard to become good. Diagnosed with cancer, lost one leg, came back to run almost 10,000 km on one leg between training and his fundraising run. Only to succumb to cancer in the middle of his fund raising run... Terry Fox.

The girls' school has been participating in the Terry Fox run for 20 years. To celebrate, Terry Fox's sister Judith Fox, visited the school. There was a parent event one night I couldn't attend, but I did make it to the assembly where she spoke to the kids. It was short, but very sweet.

Her main point was Terry Fox's motto: Keep at it until you get it right.

Judith Fox is known as "the guardian of her brother's legacy." She was so young when he died, maybe 18 or so. I wonder about how she feels, 30+ years later, to have this be her life. Not in a negative way, just that I wonder if it is hard for her, or if it brings comfort... I wish I could have heard her speak Tuesday night. I heard it was amazing.

The girls both participated in the run (all three!). They each also donated their allowance to the Terry Fox fund. I'm so proud of them for working so hard to prepare for the run and for donating their allowance (that's their ice cream money... not taken lightly!).

Balance Tipped!

I had hoped donations would keep up with our klicks. Thanks to all the generous donations, we are behind in our klicks! What a wonderful problem to have.

As of today, we are up to $915. Thank you so very much for the generous donations. 

800 KM crossed!

As of today, we have passed the 800KM mark!

We had a beautiful weekend and first part of the week. Autumn temperatures are setting in with cold mornings, cool/sunny days... and breezes so the AQI has been low.

The girls have been riding bikes, roller skating and walking. I'm so proud of them!

We don't often get lovely sunsets. Beijing is in a "bowl" with mountains all around. We had this lovely bit of light and color last night. This is what good air brings!

Pies for sale!

Have you ever tasted pie so delicious you must have more? Crust with just the right balance of flake and soft? Filling with the perfect balance of sweet and tart so that you can eat the. whole. thing.?

We know of one such perfect pie maker, and she is taking orders!

Miss Elaine, one of Chrissy's Angels, has offered to take orders and make pies for Canadian Thanksgiving. All proceeds will be donated to Klicks4Chrissy.

photo credit: http://www.godairyfree.org

Details:

• Apple and Pumpkin pies.
• $10 per pie
• Orders need to be made through Oma:
• mariasinosic@gmail.com
• Orders need to be placed by Wednesday, October 9
• Pie pick-up can be arranged when you place your order

Happy Pie Day!

Such a beautiful day!

I am so very, very proud of Big Bit and Middle Bit! The weather was perfect today: low AQI, sunny, not cool, not warm, just right.

We rode bikes down to another compound to play at their playground. The big girls rode all the way there, played and rode home. They then rode all around the compound neighborhood visiting friends.

Somehow, I didn't get any pictures of the fun playground but did snap a shot over my shoulder as we rode down the road (the purple is Little Bit's helmet). My trail of children!

Later in the day, I got in a 5k run. I did intervals and tried to keep my turnover high even during my slower sections. I hit the best 5k time I've had in a while. Still not my best, and still pretty slow. But I was moving faster than I have in a while!

Total today? a Whoppin' 36 kilometers!

Prayers needed...

We had a message today that Chrissy is back in the hospital. Chrissy had been grinding her teeth and moaning some which indicates pain. Then she began crying... a sign that she is in great pain.

Oma and Nonno took her to the hospital and they are awaiting diagnostics.

Please keep Chrissy in your prayers. And Oma and Nonno. It is so difficult to know that your child is hurting but you can't help and you don't know why...

Autumn Angst

High pollution + lots of rain = low klick achievement

I finally claimed my place in the gym on a treadmill to get some Klicks in. Monday-Wednesday gained 40.5 km.

The Beijing International Marathon is coming up but the spots are limited; I didn't make it onto the roster. One of my friends made it and is training but is injured. She may have to bow out. So I'm back in training! Basically, I'm the "understudy" for a 1/2 marathon runner.

Busy Week and Wow!

This week has been crazy busy for our little family. We've had meetings and classes, illness and trips.

We did not get in as many Klicks as I would have liked, but I'm hoping we'll have better weather and time this coming week and can make up some distance. This week brought us up to 685.

Despite our low kilometer earnings, there is lots of exciting news...

• We've been added to the Participation House website! Click here to see the new link.
• We had our first donation by someone we don't know... !!!
• Oma has made some posters that will be posted in some London businesses to get the word out about our little blog. At the house picnic (read about it here), one of the guests offered to put a poster on display in his business... a tattoo parlor! Thank you!
• Klicks for Chrissy has inspired the creation of a Participation House "Dream Fund!" Our willingness to raise funds has inspired other families to help their PH resident raise funds to help reach their dreams.
• One of the businesses that sells supplies to the PH houses has offered a 10% rebate on all purchases to go back to the PH Dream Fund and so Klicks for Chrissy!
• Miss Elaine, famous for her Maple Syrup, Local Honey, Corn and Pies... oh, her delicious pies... has offered to make and sell pies in support of Klicks for Chrissy!
• And, last but not least, coming out soon will be Participation House Hoodies! Proceeds to benefit the PH Dream Fund and so Klicks for Chrissy!

I know, there are a lot of exclamation points in this post. There are just so many amazing things happening... what wonderful blessings!

I promise pictures as they become available...

Thank you to everyone who is reading and cheering us on.

The Gift of Giving

I knit a scarf for each of the girls every year... ok, so I did that last year and I'm doing it again this year. That makes a tradition, right?!

Originally, Anna wanted stripes. Now she wants zig-zags. I didn't know how to make zig-zags so I had to find a pattern. The pattern I found (on revelry.com) is free but the pattern creator asks for donations to her cause, the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.

I donated to her and let her know about Klicks for Chrissy... she donated to Chrissy's fund!

I am amazed at everyone's generosity.

Check out Frankie's page (the pattern maker) here. Check out her patterns on ravelry.com

Happy Back Home

Chrissy has been cleared by the doctors, she is smiling and calm and is heading home!

Nonno said she was giving some very nice smiles today and seemed to know something good was happening.

In celebration, the air is nice so Rachel and I went for a nice long bike ride.

So glad Chrissy will be home.

Tough days for chrissy

As we sit in Beijing celebrating 600+ kilometers, Chrissy is in the hospital back home. She began moaning and grinding her teeth (her ways of communicating that she is in pain) so Oma and Nonno took her in. She has a urinary tract infection along with other issues.

She is on antibiotics and the doctors are working on helping her get back home.

One of the amazing things about Participation House is the care they provide. Chrissy has had a staff member from her home present around the clock.  The house staff know Chrissy, they know her medical history and personality. They are able to communicate with the hospital staff; they record every comminication or treatment so they can communicate with Oma and Nonno. What a blessing.

Please keep the family in your prayers: Healing for Chrissy, strength and fortitude for Oma and Nonno, wisdom for the hospital staff and gratitude for the PH staff.

Running Joy

I was able to run today. The AQI was low. The air was cool. I had the time. I ran.

Just ran. 

Not running errands. Not going to or from school.

Just me, the pavement, the sun, the wind.

I ran. 

Rolling klicks

Little Bit asked to roller skate today. When she was done, she asked if I could push her in the stroller while I roller bladed (is that correct? Roller bladed past tense of to roller blade? It sounds odd!)

My answer? To the request to roller blade, not the grammar question....

Yes, of course you can roller skate then I will roller blade you to school!

I forget how much fun it is to roller blade. I went 8 or so kilometers and only came home because I had to get ready for Chinese lessons.

10% Done!

I haven't posted because my computer has been on the fritz then crashed.  But I'm back AND.....

We hit the 500km mark!

In order to finish our 5000 klicks by May 31, we need to go 500km each month.  For August, we did it!

Truth be told, I am a little worried because this first 500 also included July. But it also included flights and the beginning of school. So hopefully we can keep up this pace...