Fun Run for Stiggys in Germany!

I received this email yesterday… This is so incredibly AWESOME!!!! I am speechless

Jennifer,
On August 11(sorry for the delay of money) we held a 5k Fun run in Stiggy’s name. The run took place on Ramstein AB, Germany, in the Rheinland-Pfalz region. This is a large European base that is only minutes from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center that is the first stop for all wounded warriors coming home from their deployed locations. Despite that this is the first time my Husband and I had ever thought to put something on of this scale, we had over 40 runners and raised 600$ for Stiggy’s Dogs. We hope to make this an annual thing and raise more money every year. The lessons learned this year should ensure the event grows every year. The donation will be coming from my Husband’s name, Joseph Stone. I’m attaching some pictures of the race. The top male finished in 20min 38sec and the top female finished around 30 minutes. I’m so glad that we were able to help. Please let us know if possible what this goes to help with :) Thank you again for letting us be a part of this wonderful organization. The lone Cocker Spaniel is our little lady, Sadie. The Golden Retriever was part of the run.

Rozilyn Breedlove-Stone

Happy 1 year Anniversary Faith and Honor

Faith: meaning hope and belief in goodness.

Honor: fairness and integrity.

Combine them together and you have love and loyalty….  forever…

I remember when I wrote that a year ago, (Faith and Honor) and this statement holds true today…. Hard to believe all that has happened in just one year for this pairing.

Honor was nominated this past year for the Hero Dog awards. This indeed was a honor to be involved with. I remember when Faith called,  filled with excitement about the email she received saying they wanted Honor to participate in the Hero Dog awards. Being recognized nationally for one of our dogs, was a huge step for our organization. Being recognized Nationally for a Psychiatric Service Dog was the perfect outlet for building awareness for what we do. But the single most amazing thing, is the the relationship behind these two, that in my eyes are the winners of the Hero Dog awards!!! Honor finished 12th place out of the 135 dogs that competed in that category. WOW. Enough said! :)

This past year has been a difficult one for Faith. Immediately after returning from being paired with Honor, Faith was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. Honor has been by her side through it all, the prep Dr. appointments, surgery day in the hospital with her and all through her recovery . I am not sure who the true warrior is here……

Faith called me recently and I knew right away something was wrong….“cancer was back, another operation in September…”  my heart stops yet again. This woman has endured more than one should in a lifetime.  “Don’t worry Jen” she starts off, always concerned for everyone else, ” I am a Warrior. I fought in Iraq, I fought when I came back (PTSD)..and I will fight this, again!

Yes, Faith is a warrior, a fighter, and she is armed with the BEST weapon…Honor!!!

This is not (and will not ) be the last of their story. Their journey is inspirational. Knowing them has made me a better person. I love you both so much.

Happy Birthday Faith (today) and Happy 1 year anniversary…..and many many MORE!!!


“Alive Day”

All our Veterans have one, a date or time frame, that they will never forget.  And sadly, some have more than one.  Theses dates are reminders of their loss, suffering, pain and more…..

Last Monday at our fundraiser, I was talking to one of our Veterans Mike (paired with Barrett). While asking him how things were going, he mentioned that “things are going good…..but my Alive date is this Sunday”…. Alive date?  “Well, that is what Mollie (his wife) calls it” .… It took awhile for this to sink in.

That simple 1 minute conversation stayed with me all week. Thinking about Mike, and all the others. Sunday morning came and I knew I wanted to reach out to Mike.  I picked up the phone (twice) and hung up in tears before I could talk. I wasn’t calling to say Happy Birthday, or Congrats…it wasn’t a day I am sure he wanted to celebrate. But thinking about it more, it should be a day for him to celebrate, at least to celebrate life. I called Mike then and barley got out what I wanted to say in one deep breathe. “Thank you for your Service Mike. I wanted to acknowledge that today especially. I, for one, am happy you are alive.”

That was all I could muster out. See, I have a different perception of this. We, as a family, do not get to have a ‘Alive Day’. And as our date draws near (loss, pain, grief) my heart breaks all over again. But the little pieces of life lessons come shinning through and I urge all our Veterans and families  all to have and celebrate a ‘Alive Day’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration and creativity at it’s best!!!

“This book wasinspired by a local non-profit organization, Stiggy’s Dogs located in Howell MI, who I had the honor of planning and planting their huge garden in 2012.

From the beginning I was concerned with how many tomatoes of many varieties they were going to get and what in the world would they do with them all?  After all, 66 tomato plants is a lot more than the average gardener plants.  The next concern was canning and meal planning.  After all, they use this garden to sustain their team, volunteers and the veterans who come in for training.  It was important to me that they had many different ideas long term as well as daily use. 

I hope this book inspires them to use a portion of their glorious garden to benefit throughout the winter months until spring arrives again and we can get our hands in the earth and start planting again”

Got Tomatoe’s?

Tomato Canning & Everyday Recipes

By. Doreen Babbit

This is so fantastic that I cry every time I open the book  (and now writing this)… I hope to get past the first page dedication to actually use the recipes.  As much as I want to put this on a pedestal, our garden is over flowing, and I have a feeling this book will be one that will be all *spotted up* with goodness, the corners will be dog eared with my favorites, and recipes will be passed along. After all, our Magical garden is that because of the hands that made it happen….

It all started from our Home Depot event in June.  When Donna and I went to pick up the 260 plants (that were donated from Bonnie) we were overjoyed with excitement! Doreen, Donna sister, who had a garden of her own for years, offered to come over to help. Doreen was overwhelmed as she looked everything over. Donna and I were like giddy little school girls *cooing* over the plants. Doreen, looked frighten as she looked at us “You have no idea how much work, or what to do with this”.  The day before the Home Depot team was to come out and start our garden, Doreen showed up with the Garden Plans. Which was a detailed blueprint of each plant we had, all of them separated and spaced where they needed to be planted, PLUS a list of each plant we had and how they needed to be taken care of! Seriously!

Our garden is Magical. It really is….the fruit and veggies it is producing is amazing. Partly due to the Honey-Bee hive we have some 40ft away. But because of the love that went into it. Each and every person that dug into the ground, help to build the fence, the boxes, planted and nurtured (Elicia Tapani)…… It is Magical because it is giving back, as it does now, with….

Got Tomatoes? To preview and order:

 

What a night!

My heart swells with happiness and pride! I can’t stop smiling after our fundraiser last night at Buffalo Wild Wings. Seeing everyone, having the support of a community, family and friends, is a motivation like no other!!!! Looking around the packed full restaurant I see…..

A table full of Home Depot employees and families. Knowing the love and support that they have given us is incredible. Our new extended family that were excited to have….

Corpsman, our dog in training, stole the show!!! He was such a good boy, while kids were running around him, random people coming up to him, and even getting his tail stepped on!!! He was the perfect ambassador…..great job Lynda!!!!

My Mom and Dad, who drove far just for dinner (and to see their little girl!).  The random people who I saw walking in with our coupon, that I didn’t know. Ben’s mom , Carrie and her friends showing their support.  Jacob Krebs, who introduced himself to me, asking about an Eagle Project he would like to for Stiggys Sanctuary. Justin Mulholland, of Edward Jones, decided to have his Birthday dinner with his family at BWW  just so he could support us too!

But the BEST part of the night , personally, was seeing all of Stiggys family together…the Veterans, their wives and their kids. My heart swells with happiness and pride indeed!!!