my daughter visited Children’s Hospital Los Angeles last year with a broken arm.  I was overwhelmed by the care and attention she received—the same care and attention every child who walks through their doors receives, regardless of whether or not they have insurance. I’m grateful that this hospital exists and cares for so many who need it.  

team ROMP donated a toy for a child at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  if you’d like to learn more, volunteer or make a donation, visit: http://www.chla.org/site/c.ipINKTOAJsG/b.3476085/k.CC14/Giving__Donate__Volunteer__Gift_of_Life__Hospital_Events.htm

I wish we could go back in time and erase yesterday.  There are no words right now to describe what we are all feeling in the wake of the shooting, and that is nothing compared to the families directly affected.

What I did to give back yesterday was pray.  That was my offering, my way to help.  

May we all move forward with a little more awareness of those around us and love in our hearts.

Sometimes when saying thank you, words are not enough.  Our soldiers and the families who support them give so much of themselves on a daily basis without asking for a thank you. 

My daughter and her friend spent the afternoon making holiday decorations to brighten a soldier’s day.  We’re sending these gifts to Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit volunteer-based corporation that works to put a smiles on the faces of soldiers, veterans and their families.  Operation Gratitude welcome letters, pictures and care packages.  It just takes a moment to say thank you, and you can’t imagine how much it means.

To find out more about Operation Gratitude, visit: operationgratitude.com

An unsuspecting Trader Joe’s shopper is going to get a grocery gift card.  Fun, surprising, just because.

So our little pencil drive for a school in need has grown!  We just received a few hundred pencils, colored pencils, erasers and sharpeners from our friend Kelly and her sweet son (photo below).  Thank you!!  And team ROMP member, Kiran, just picked up a box full of pencils from her cousin.  We are so excited that this elementary school will be set for awhile!  Again, if you want more info on this lovely organization, go to thePencilProject.com.

Here’s my blog on The Pencil Project: http://kelliemartin.tumblr.com/post/36987092422/the-pencil-project-romp4good

In 1998 my family spent a few months at UCLA medical center.  My 19 year-old sister was diagnosed with lupus and admitted a few days later with one of the worst cases they’d seen in awhile.  Our time there didn’t end well, and, as many of you know, my sister died from complications of lupus.

I know that miracles do happen at that hospital, and I’m hoping that the young man we are “adopting” through the UCLA Health System Auxiliary Adopt-a-Family Project this holiday will be one of those miracles.  He’s in there for the long haul and he’s got a battle to wage.  Here’s hoping that our holiday gift brings a smile to his face.  We’ll be thinking of him.

Here’s more information on this fantastic program:

This morning I hauled myself out of bed and out into the chilly (but still Los Angeles) weather to run in the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run.  I’m very involved in autoimmune disease awareness and arthritis hits close to home for me because it affects my mother-in-law.  The thing that touched me most was seeing those kids who live with rheumatoid arthritis on a daily basis out there walking or wheeling along the course, excited to participate and celebrate.

To lean more about the arthritis foundation, visit:  arthritis.org

A friend’s 6 year-old son has asthma and frequently needs to be treated at the ER with a nebulizer machine.  She had mentioned that she wished she could afford to get a nebulizer for her home.  

Here’s where a good idea hatched:

My nephew has a nebulizer he no longer needs and when we inquired, he was happy to pass it along.  Here’s hoping my friend can avoid long waits at the ER and have a little peace of mind knowing that they have an extra line of defense when dealing with a scary asthma attack.

Sometimes the best laid plans get derailed. I had planned to give blood today.  Just a pint. Apparently, I wasn’t adequately hydrated because my body decided that it only had 20 ccs to spare : (  It wasn’t an argument I was going to win.  So, I tried … and I’ve got a pretty pink bandage to prove it.  Sigh.

This morning Maggie and I brought a holiday gift from ROMP for a child at Hillsides.  

Hillsides, the Episcopal Home for Children in Pasadena, provides care for children who have no family or who cannot live with their family (often because of abuse and neglect). Hillsides creates safe places for children by treating abuse, neglect and mental illness; strengthening families; providing special education; and advocating for children’s rights.

To learn more, please visit hillsides.org.