Olive Osmond was so good to us!

Okay...so, I have found out this is a little harder than I thought it would be! I have been (softly) harassing my tag people to get their tags moving...and I think...they are thinking this is harder than it should be, too! 

My original idea...was for this to be a FUN way to let someone special know how much they mean to you. Because, no matter how busy we are, we think of the people that we care about EVERYDAY....(and wouldn't it be SO nice if they knew it?).

So...instead of waiting...I decided that I am going to do some more TAG spreading projects myself. To start off, I thought I would update myself on the progress of the other MAD projects. They are doing great! I decided my first Mad thing would be to make some donations. Of course, I had to start by donating something in the memory of a beautiful women...Olive Osmond....to her own charity...The Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund. I was so lucky to have met her on more than one occasion. She had such a sweet spirit and treated all of us fans like GOLD...and was so wonderful to my mother when they would speak. She carried herself with a grace and dignity that was very special. I am positive my mother gave her a warm welcome when she arrived in Heaven and that they became fast friends! And this MAD...TAG YOU'RE IT is being sent to Olive....just to let her know how much WE ALL LOVED HER! And of course...she did give us Donny...which she deserves extra big thanks for, too!    =0)   

           

                         WE LOVE AND MISS YOU OLIVE!!!

New Hats for Liz

Another TAG started on it's journey. My sweet friend Kim was brought to me over 19 years ago when our sons were smart enough to become best friends in kindergarten! I praise my son's choice of friends...and so does our entire family...as we have shared countless holidays and great times with Kim and her whole family ever since then. And her Sammy has been like another son to me! Kim is such a kind person and did a wonderful thing for her friend Liz. Read her cute story.

Kim's TAG YOU'RE IT story...
I met Liz at a get acquainted gathering for incoming freshman students at our girls' high school back in 2005.  We realized we had quite a bit in common when we met, our girls were new to the school  a school where many of the students had been there from elementary and jr high, our girls had a passion for singing and acting and before long became good friends.  Our relationship started out slow  but over time we got to know each other better.  I recall reaching out in friendship to Liz, but she was a bit reserved and it took time to build our friendship.  

As she opened up to me I became aware that Liz had previously battled cancer twice and the treatments to rid the cancer from her body had taken it's toll on her  both emotionally and physically. Then just a couple of months ago Liz started losing her hair, it was coming out in chunks and she was struggling with the thought of losing it all together.  We prayed together for her peace and assurance that she would be OK regardless the outcome. I was shopping that week for Christmas and while walking around the store I spotted hats in the corner, I immediately thought Liz! I tried on some hats and found a couple of very cute ones and brought them to Liz the next week. She was overjoyed at how great she looked and I agreed she looked beautiful in those hats and  it gave a temporary solution while losing her hair.

Also, over the past year I found out that a back and hip ache that I had lived with for years was caused by a degenerative spine condition and I now was struggling to fine the right treatment.  Liz was there for me during this past year in countless ways and she gave me so much support.  

  

Liz is an amazing friend with a resilient spirit and I thank God for her.

Here's how Liz felt about her TAG YOU'RE IT from Kim... 
Hi, my name is Liz and my "pay it forward" friend is Kim.  We have been friends since our daughters started high school together almost 6 years ago.  I feel so fortunate to have Kim as my friend.  She has displayed her special brand of caring, kindness and godliness during this time.

Recently, I have been experiencing hair loss due to stress.  It has been quite stressful watching my hair end up in the sink.  I have lost at least half of my hair (thank goodness I started with quite a lot).  One day Kim and I were meeting for lunch and she presented me with a bag; inside were two of the cutest hats.  There was a black and brown version of a 1940's hat that newspapers delivery boys wore.  I'll be honest...I look pretty cute in them.

I was so thankful that Kim took the time and cared so much to help me with my problem.  I felt like I had an option should I lose even more hair.  Recently I wore one of the hats at Disneyland with my daughter who took a picture of me and immediately downloaded it to my facebook picture.  I've had many kind and positive comments from friends.

Thanks, Kim, for your kindness and friendship.

Love You,

Liz

I love these sweet stories!

Spending Time with a Friend

I am so excited...now we are on a roll...this is perfect! Katey and I  have been friends since we attended San Marino High School together. She was always like a sister to me, especially since I only had brothers. We have remained friends for almost 35 years. Friendship is the best! Especially, when it spans decades like ours has...and the stories so far!  You go girls! 

Here is what Katey had to say about it....

Hello, this is Katey and I was given the Tag You’re It project by Diane.  I too, stressed out about it at first, thinking I wouldn’t do it “right” and I too~put it on the back burner for a while. Then I realized I had already chosen my "Pay It Forward", friend Carrie Chase.  We have been dear friends since College.  This past year Carrie was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. She actually has had it for  more than 20 years. To remove the disease from her body, Carrie has had to take a myriad of medication that has taken a toll on her. She is a very strong person but this has been hard on her. She has lost a lot of weight and her clothes do not fit her anymore.  So for the past few months I have been going through my clothes and giving her outfits such as sweats, jeans, shirts and even a Pea Coat that I know will make her feel better and warm. The next "Pay It Forward" thing I  going to do for her is babysit her dear son Charlie, who is four years old, so she can have some "ME" time.  

 So THANKS DIANE for reminding me the true meaning of friendship….LOVE YOU TOO!

And here is the letter she wrote to Carrie

To My Lifelong, Wonderful Friend

Carrie, I think back of all our cherished memories and pray to the Dear Lord everyday for you to heal so we can spend another 30 years to laugh and cry together. You are truly my rock and I want to be your rock.   

Carrie you have been there for every major event of our our lives - Hikes on Bishop Peak, Horseback riding on the beach, Weddings, babies, Dobermans, Christmases, teenage  birthday parties, graduations, chick flick days etc...  

When Diane (another dear friend for more than 30 years as well) passed along the Tag You’re It idea, I had to pick you..  We have so much history. You know me better than most people and I know that you are always there for me and I want you to know I am always there for you. Life keeps getting in the way and I don't want that to happen anymore so I am sending you this "Pay it Forward" as my commitment to spend more time with my dear Carrie Robin.

Okay so let's do our Chick flick day~  and we are ready to babysit! I love you very much, my dear, precious Carrie.Tag…you’re it!!!    But you have already Pay It Forward to Brooks and Me for over 30 years of cherished memories and great acts of kindness!!!!!!!

 THAT'S A GREAT STORY KATEY!!!

I was thinking how these first TAG stories have been about longtime friendships...and I LoVe that I have been friends for so long with the twelve original Tag You're It Friends! I have known them all for over ten years...many for over twenty...and half for OVER THIRTY YEARS! How cool is that! And I can honestly say I could call any one of them if I needed something...and they know they could do the same back with me...again...I gotta say...

I LOVE YOU GIRLS!     =0)

FYI-HERE IS AN UPDATE!!!

Carrie’s family was coming into town for the holidays and she was exhausted from getting ready for them. So, Katey told her she would watch Charlie for a few hours to let Carrie take a bath and a nap and get ready. Charlie and Katey went to a small barn where they have a petting zoo of farm animals and a gift shop. They got hamburgers at a take out and went back to Katey’s house and watched Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. When she took Charlie back home, she and Carrie got to spend some time together. Katey said she is going to baby sit Charlie on Monday also, as Carrie is going to Thousand Oaks to a specialist for her Lyme Disease. They are going to hook her up on a constant flow of Antibiotics. Katey just wanted me to know this was a good project to give her a good kick in the butt to be with Carrie. And how nice it feels to help someone who REALLY needs it! And how grateful she is to have a friend like Carrie! I think they are both SUPER LUCKY!!! 

GOOD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST!!!

Let's Go to Disneyland

OMGosh...I am so excited to finally have the TAGS start on their journey! And I found out it is going to be fun to see what I learn by doing this blog...I didn't know Gina and Robin have been friends since before they were born....and I have known them for over 35 years myself. Now how cool is that? Gina picked Robin to Tag and tell her how special she is with a beautiful handmade card filled with LoVe and photos of them and their lifetime friendship. After they went to Disneyland to have fun and spend the evening reminiscing!


Here is what Gina had to say about it....

Hello, this is Gina and I was given the Tag You’re It project by Diane.  I stressed out about it at first, thinking I wouldn’t do it “right” so I put it on the back burner for a while. Then time starting slipping away and I finally realized that I was making it too hard…just pick someone you care about and let them know it.  So I chose my friend Robin.  We have been friends since our mommies were pregnant with us.   I gathered up several pictures of us that spanned back to when we were about four years old.  Both of us are major picture takers, but I sadly realized that we had taken fewer pictures than one might expect for such a long friendship. Anyway, I wrote her a letter thanking her for being such a great friend and I put the collage of pictures along with the letter in a cute folder. We hugged, enjoyed the pictures and then we left to enjoy an “all adult, no kids to worry about” evening at Disneyland.  We had fun talking, shopping, eating and reminiscing. …all the fun things that come with a long friendship.  Once again… LOVE YA ROBIN!!!  You’re a great friend!!!!  And I’m glad that Tag You’re It  was sent to me because we often don’t take the time to stop and tell our special people how much we love them!!!  So THANKS DIANE….LOVE YOU TOO!!!!!

And here is the letter she wrote to Robin...

To My Lifelong, Wonderful Friend,

As I sit here and think of all the memories over the years I am so thankful to have you in my life. You are truly one of the kindest, most giving people I know and our friendship means so much to me.  As we turn…cough..…fifty years old, I want to thank you for all the fun. There are lots of memories of playing at each others houses when we were little when all our moms would get together for coffee. So many fun memories up through Kindergarten, and then we were separated. But we were destined to be brought back together as young teenagers, and those days are engraved in my heart forever.  What fun we had all those years!! All the loooong phone calls, the sleep overs, the “what would you rather do..”  the trips, the boy talks, the dreams. And then to be in each other’s weddings and be there for our babies.  How lucky we were to have each other to share it all.  I am sort of sad that as our kids were growing up we were soo busy and didn’t get together as much as we should have.  Life happens. But I always, always, always knew you were there. And I have loved all of our dinners over the years at Acapulco and all the catching up that we do. It’s so wonderful to have someone to share all the good the bad the fears and neurosis with and know that they will understand and be there for you.

When Diane passed along the Tag You’re It idea, I thought how perfect it is that it’s this time in our lives.  A lifetime of memories shared, and a wonderful friend who I want to thank for your love, your kindness, your generosity, your silliness, your dedication to your family and to all of your friends. You have a very special place in my heart and although I have always thought it, participating in the Tag You’re It has caused me to put my thoughts down and share them with you.

 Now let’s go to Disneyland and have a blast!!!

I love you very much, my longest and dearest friend!!!

Tag…you’re it!!!    

GREAT JOB GINA...and what a great friend you have in Robin...I loved it!  Now let's see if you inspire the other Tags to start moving on their journeys? .....and who will Robin TAG?

WHERE DID THE TAGS GO...

These are the first twelve "Tag You're It" participants... 

They are family and friends and have all Made a Difference in my life. They are spread out all throughout California and Utah, so the tags will not all begin in one area. One thing I know for sure is...the tags are in good hands. These are some of the greatest women you could ever meet. I am proud to call them my friends. You go girls.....cause.....

 "Tag You're It!"...and I love you...xo

TAG YOU'RE IT!!!!

The tags are ready and are mailing out today!

At the get-together...I was too shy to get up on stage and pitch my own idea, but like I said, I did promise I would help with one of the ten chosen projects. I picked the “Pay It Forward” program, because I loved the movie so much. I am doing my part of the project based on love and appreciation! Donny said it didn’t have to be how much money was raised…he is just looking for the difference it makes. He gave everyone $300.00 and a video camera to capture their progress. Unfortunately, my chosen project is based out of Canada and is doing a more charity driven program. I am doing mine, with approval, more like the movie and with my own funds and cameras. It will be added to their program later…once I get it going. I am doing it on a "TAG YOU’RE IT” basis, and I have chosen twelve friends to begin with. The idea is for them to pick a person they feel has made a difference in their lives, or one they would like to make a difference to, to pass their tag along to. Then do something for them to show them what they mean to them. It can be as big or small as they like. There are no rules for that part…as a card with nice words are sometimes the greatest gift! I have matched Donny’s donation of $300.00, and divided it amongst the twelve to start the project off with. I know it’s not much when divided up, but it’s a start...and I wanted to give them something towards the first efforts. Especially, since I did not do something special for each of them individually to start it off with. They were chosen because they are all special to me…and have touched my life…my heart…and I wanted them involved! After they decide what they want to do, they can e-mail me a photo and a little story so I can add it to this blog. It will be fun to track the tags on their journey and see how far they go. If they want more than a photo, I will come out and video their story for the blog. They can also film it themselves, because I know Donny would love video, too…but it certainly is not required. I know I picked twelve SUPER LOVING CREATIVE PEOPLE to start my blog off with a bang!

Let's see who responds first!

What has MADE A DIFFERENCE to me!

As I think of what has made the most difference to me in this world... of course the five men seen standing beside me in this photo are it. Mike and I are in our 30th year of marriage, and we have raised four wonderful sons. They are what I am most proud of in my life. I am not sure how the years have passed so quickly? I know that no matter what...we can't stop the hands of time. But, I still remember being their ages and the time spent with my own mother. She has been gone from us for almost 15 years now, and I have missed her every single day. 

Some of the greatest times spent with her were traveling to see the Osmonds. I have been a huge fan of Donny's ever since he and his family filmed a soft drink commercial at my girlfriend Kathy's house when I was twelve. Since then, I could never count the amount of hours my mom spent taking us girls all over to see them. And I do mean wherever they were! She was the best mom. Even now, when I see Donny in concert, I feel her there with me. One of my close friends noticed me in the audience of their 50th anniversary show when it aired on TV. She called me right away and said, "Wow...you looked so happy...there was such joy in your face". I know just what she meant by those words. The Osmond Family will never understand the amount of fun we all shared being their fans. I just hope they know one day how much they have meant to us all. They shared themselves with us and it has given us memories and friendships that are beyond measure. 

As fans, we are so proud of Donny and the wonderful man he has become. He is such a great example of what a loving husband and father should be. And from the interviews I have seen, I think he chose the perfect mate. Not only is she beautiful, but she doesn't mind sharing her husband with all of his fans....which makes her a true beauty in my eyes. And watching Donny this summer at his get together interacting with his sons was so much fun...they share such a great bond. It was a fantastic weekend filled with fun and Donny. And it is the reason why this blog has been started in the first place. He put up a challenge to get MAD...which stands for Making a Difference. I am helping with one of the programs chosen called "Pay It Forward". It was such a great movie, with such a great message. My part of the program is called TAG...YOU'RE IT! I will spell it out in more detail as soon as I have my TAGS ready to go! So....I better get to work...so I can get this all started! I hope you enjoy following along......see you soon!