We’re back. And we want to say thank you.

We are back! We are back to say THANK YOU!! We are back to let you know that you guys are AWESOME!!

For those of you who missed our first post, we are ten ladies whose lives have been affected by Susie, and we have started a Go Fund Me campaign for her.

We have a long way to go but man you guys have shown up for our sister Susie (no, none of us are actually related to her but we all share the same heart). Watching the numbers climb has been wonderful but almost pales in comparison to some of the beautiful comments that have come in by you all.

There really are wonderful people in the world who will lift you up and open their hearts to let you know that no matter where you are you are not alone. If you are in a battle they will stand up on your left and on your right and fight right along with you no matter the cost.

That all being said, we do still have to pay attention to the numbers to win the war. If you haven’t had a chance yet or if you are only just hearing about “Paying it Forward Not Your Average Mom” on Go Fund Me . Please take a second to click on the link and show some love. The days are ticking away.

It even came to my attention that some people are actually donating multiple times. One sweet lady made a wonderful contribution and then had a bit of good luck come her way and was able to donate again and double it!! So if you supported the Go Fund Me for Susie and are aching to do it again click away!!! You guys ROCK!!

Now for some inspiration on why it is so important for Susie to keep on doing what she does, and why we nee to help her.

This letter came in from someone who loves Susie as much as we do and Gets it!! Thank you for your beautiful words. They hit the nail right on the head:

I randomly found Susie’s blog when I was bedridden for one month after a painful series of surgeries. It was in the beginning of her blogging adventure and I think I read her first 6 months of posts in 3 days on my cell phone in bed. I was hooked. I loved her absolutely REAL perspective about life, kids, and all the madness in between. I love her honesty and courage to share the intimate details of her struggles with others, in hopes of giving other parents/people the strength to face their own madness. And I absolutely know she is an inspiration to many, myself included.

Having learned through the blog that Susie teaches swim lessons, I sent her an email one summer to make an appointment. I live in the general area, but it would still be a 45 minute drive, one-way to get to swim lessons. Certainly, there were swim lessons available in multitude in a 10-mile radius from my house, but having tried lessons through various organizations, my girls didn’t get it. We did lessons with Susie three days a week for about three weeks. And my kids no longer feared going under the water, no longer had to hold their noses, and looked forward to going swimming without floaties. But the point I’m getting at here isn’t that she is a great swim teacher (she is!) but that Susie is real and lovely and hard working. Her kids are friendly and polite and helped my kids not be nervous on their first day at a new pool with a new teacher. Though we were just swim clients, I would be proud to call her a friend. She is genuine. The blog is not contrived in any way in my brief personal experience with Susie.

And her dedication to the blog amongst the commotion of a full house and busy life is amazing. So many people claim they want to be a writer, or say they are writing a book, but a minute percentage of people have the stamina and determination to actually BECOME writers. And writing is a profession. Reporters are paid, novelists are paid, jingle writers are paid. Bloggers are writers. Yes, they may write for some self-gratification or desire to help other people. But maintaining a blog and building a base of readers is also designed to bring in income—both from readers and advertisers. So I absolutely support the GFM drive.

Please consider. Susie has been writing the blog for about three years. The GoFundMe drive is hoping for $40,000 in pledges. 40K divided by three years = $13,333. Her FaceBook page has 14,000 likes. If every person who liked the page gave a dollar per year of enjoying her blog, she would have made more than $40,000. Most people could dig out $3 from their couch cushions (along with 40,000 old cheerios!) Most people spend more money on a cup of coffee.

I have read through other comments and see a lot of criticism. I never understand why people have to criticize others online, especially in such personal ways. Unless an egregious “crime” has been committed keep your unwanted advice to yourself. If you don’t agree with the GFM drive, don’t donate. But why tell Susie to “get a job,” or “stop accepting handouts.” If you don’t like what she is doing or how she is trying to support her family, stop following the blog and save your judgement for something else. But, if you have been inspired by her words in any way, if you have chuckled at a photo of her kiddos decorating the kitchen with cheerios, flour, or markers, or have related to any of her struggles, now is the time to pony up your $3+ “subscription” for her words, her talent, her job.

I haven’t seen Susie in two years, nor have we had the opportunity to go back to swim lessons recently (and not for lack of desire). Maybe she remembers me or my kids, maybe not. I am just writing as someone who understands her position and knows that a few dollars from all of you can help all of us keep her as our favorite blogger.

 

Good luck Susie!