Now that the dust has started to settle, by popular request, let me share with you how Christmas Eve and Morning went down. WARNING< GRAB YOUR KLEENEX! When Joanne text me at 12:45pm on Christmas Eve and told me that there were 5 rooms that had moved in, I thought okay I can handle this, I will nix the Hot CoCo bar and go get some more toys. Then I found out that there were thirteen kids in those 5 rooms. I instantly started crying and I just did not know how I was going to make it happen. I had to do all the stuff for my own three children, I had to finish stuffing stocking for the 24 kids Alli had made stocking for, AND I needed to finish Christmas dinner for the 14 people coming to our home. Not to mention, my husband was at work all day, as retail management, he left at 8am and we saw him about 7pm. I posted that we needed help and the outpouring of support was amazing, it was all taken care of within hours. At 6:45pm, Joanne text me with ages of the last two kids and at 11pm, my mom and I ran to Walgreens (about the only place open) and got a mix of Toys R us, Old Navy, and movie theatre gift cards for the two kids. To know that every child would have something to open Christmas morning, made us rest easy. The is were dotted and the ts were crossed about 3:30am, and I crashed hard. At 5am, my alarm went off and I woke Alli up. We did our morning necessities, loaded the car, and to the hotel we went. We set up tables, put out gifts, Alli arranged the stuffed animals for Santa, we set up cupcakes, stockings, set out bagels, juice, milk, etc. As I was rushing around, I started to go into my perfection mommy mode, I was getting frustrated because I could not get the table runner straight. Alli, who had not known that we had successfully got gifts for the 13 additional children came up to me and said., Mommy, I have an idea. I replied, What baby? and she put everything back into perspective when she said, Those kids who we dont have presents for yet, we can give them some of mine. I turned my head to the side, holding back tears and said, Youre crazy, mommy has it under control. Your followers made it happen, we have something for everyone. At that moment, I quit caring about the table runner and I just followed her lead. About 7:15 reinforcement arrived, uncle Michael and Grandma Denise and by 7:30 everything was complete. The lobby was no longer a lobby and it was now a Christmas wonder land. The two news crews that the parents at the hotel okayed (We did not allow any news crews to come without the okay of all of the parents. We never wanted anyone to feel exploited, this was never about Alli or us, it was simply about giving toys to kids. However, if someone was inspired by her story, if the kindness continued, then we had no problem sharing the story via TV, Facebook, or shouting it from the highest tallest mountain.) arrived and shortly after, the kids began coming down. The families were welcome to bagels and cream cheese donated by Panera Bread. There was juice and milk from Chick-fil-A at Independence Center. The stockings that were donated by a follower, decorated by Alli, and stuffed with snacks from a follower were laid out for the kids. Cup Cakes that were donated by The Sweet Tooth, were stacked and flip flops that were donated by a follower were laid out for the kids to choose from. Santa was sitting in front of the tree and he shared some things the children said to him. Santa, will you be able to find me next year, I think I am going to have to move again. Of course Santa finds everyone, Santa said, I have been watching you since you were a day old, I will find you. Santa are you real. Santa replied, Son, I am is real as you want me to be. When Santa saw his first child, he asked what she had asked for this Christmas, she replied, An X-box. Santa was quick on his feet, knowing there were no X-boxes under the tree, he said, Oh sweetie, I ran out of X-boxes in Australia, I just couldnt keep up with the demand, there are a lot of kids that wont be getting those this year, we will see what we can do next year. Stay tuned for how Santa follows through with this. Santa learned not to ask that question any more. After the kids visited with Santa, they received a stuffed animal and a Bump City pass from GAGE Center Great American Gymnastic Express from Allis Aunt Jenna, who was helping Santa out. Uncle Michael, myself, and Alli called out names on the presents and kids ran up so excited to receive their presents, they tore into them with such joy that I had to keep myself busy because each time I looked at a child I just cried. I complain about my messy house, too many dishes, I complain about going to work, and wrapping the 70 presents under my tree and these children were just thrilled to have the present we were handing them, for all they knew it was a giant empty box. I watched my 3 year old tear into gifts with other kids, I watch my 1 1/2 year old play with other little boys and their new toys, I watch our Alli sit on the ground with twin girls who go to her school and play with their new Barbie house. I sat on the wall with the mother of the twins as we watched our girls play and we both began to cry. She thanked me and told me that she did not believe that this was real when Joanne told her about it and she never dreamed of it being this magnitude. Then, a gentleman came down and began to grab bagels, Grandma Denise, who was manning the bagel and beverage table, asked him how many kids he had and what their names were, so we could get their presents pulled from under the tree. The man replied, Mam, it is just me and my wife, we do not have any children, we have been very sick and we have not eaten in several days, do you mind if we take a few bagels. Heck no we didnt mind and my mom helped him fill a bag with juice, milk, bagels, cupcakes, extra snacks, etc. Another man said, Mam, do you guys have any soap. We didnt, but you better bet Allis heart has its next project in mind. I received this message from a mother, I would just like to tell you thank you for the gifts you and your daughter raised for +++++ and the other kids here at the hotel...we really appriciated the gifts she loved them thank you very much. It was overwhelming at times and sometimes I wondered if the amount of my time I was taking form my own kids was worth it. I did not print or mail the Christmas cards I designed, I need to shave, my house is a mess, my laundry is piled high, and the grocery store is calling my name, but my heart, my heart is so full that none of that even matters. My three year old walks around and says, We got toys for kids. and Alli is still on cloud 9. All the time and stress was more than worth it and none of it would have been possible without the awesome people of the local community. A GINAT thank you to all the local businesses mentioned above as well as Bike Stop Bicycle Stores, Two Men and a Truck Moving Company, Dancin Treads & Threads, Kohls, Jennifer Nails, and Frank Thompson Insurance Agency Inc. and an even bigger thank you to our family and friends for the help and support. Thank you, Matt, Ashley, Alli, Brookie, and Caden Koepkey
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 03:15:38 +0000
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