Branson Retreat for very deserving foster parents!
This year's Fostering New Memories (FNM) recipient was nominated by Katherine Craig of Anna's House Foundation and unanimously selected by a committee of moms who have lost their loved ones. Foster parents, DJ and LaDonna currently have EIGHT foster kids in their care! We were thrilled to present their FNM trip basket and hope they get some R&R in Branson and come back renewed for the busy summer ahead! Thank you to this wonderful couple and to Anna's House for all you do to serve the kiddos in your care!
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Left/Top: Jim and Melissa Johnson presented the basket and flowers to DJ and LaDonna just before Mother's Day weekend!
Middle: Katherine Craig gave us a tour of the amazing Anna's House community center in Luther. Pictures in front of beautiful donor wall.
Right/Bottom: Thank you to our donors! Basket included: Tickets donated by Sight and Sound Theatre for production of Esther; two Classic Tumblers for the road trip donated by Simple Modern and two gift cards for dinner donated by Bricktown Brewery (new to Branson Landing!) Seven-night Airbnb stay and gift cards for gas, meals, and entertainment provided by L1H1.
Middle: Katherine Craig gave us a tour of the amazing Anna's House community center in Luther. Pictures in front of beautiful donor wall.
Right/Bottom: Thank you to our donors! Basket included: Tickets donated by Sight and Sound Theatre for production of Esther; two Classic Tumblers for the road trip donated by Simple Modern and two gift cards for dinner donated by Bricktown Brewery (new to Branson Landing!) Seven-night Airbnb stay and gift cards for gas, meals, and entertainment provided by L1H1.
The Ratcliff's conquer Great Wolf Lodge 2022
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What an honor it was for L1H1 to attend the adoption of the latest Ratcliff and present their family with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge to Foster New Memories!
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The Ruslers take on Red River!
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What an exciting adventure! Thanks to the support of our corporate run sponsors (McBride Orthopedic Hospital, Dignity Memorial Gardens and Citizens Bank of Edmond) and donors, we were able to send the Rusler family on a trip to Red River to make new memories together as Chelsea and Bryce have opened their homes to these four beautiful kiddos! A great time to social distance in the great out doors! Read the story (file to the right) published by Melissa's company for more!
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A note from the Ruslers: We wanted to thank you and L1H1 Fostering New Memories for EVERYTHING! We had the most amazing time in Red River and cannot tell you how much we appreciate all of the detail that went into the trip! We were able to go River rafting, go cart racing, tubing and the boys did an obstacle challenge. We also hiked to the top of the ski lift, went fishing and had so many great meals you provided. We also loved the cookies and the boys each bought a souvenir! Thank you really for everything and all you are doing for foster families! The Rusler Family
We're excited to announce our newest initiative!
Fostering New Memories!
Family vacations hold some of our fondest memories. Colorado, in particular, was a regular destination and although most trips to Colorado were for visits to Children's Hospital in Denver, we always managed to make room for some fun, whether it was dining at our favorite restaurants after a day full of doctors visits (chocolate for dessert was a must!), relaxing in a movie after a long day of testing, or a little shopping therapy after the latest news on Lauren's condition. Our favorite Colorado destination for skiing, Crested Butte, became off limits for our family because of the altitude before Addie ever had a chance to learn to ski. The doctors suggested lower altitude trips, like the beach, might be better for Lauren's health. So, we skipped skiing for ten years. It was bitter sweet when we were finally able to take Addie skiing for the first time the year after Lauren passed away. Friends invited us to stay with them at their vacation home. To create new memories with our little family of three, while remember the many precious times with Lauren was a gift in so many ways. We felt so close to Lauren on that mountain top with the beautiful sun shining down, the crisp chill in the air and the crunch of snow beneath our skis. It was therapy for us! We could just feel Lauren watching Addie on the magic carpet in ski school with the same ski school bear mascot that had helped her learn to ski when she was just four years old! It was just what we needed!
A few short months later, we'd decided to open our home to two precious girls who had been removed from their home. They had only been out of Oklahoma once and never to the ocean! So, we decided it would be fun to take them to the beach to see the ocean! To watch these little siblings walk out into the ocean hand in hand and experience the waves crashing on them together for the first time was such a sweet moment, as much for us as it was for them. Memories to last a lifetime and help wash away some of the pain of their past. They were grinning ear to ear!
So, although Fostering New Memories is a new initiative for L1H1, it really started a number of years ago with a gift from a sweet friend. A retreat to Crested Butte, encouraging us to create new memories. Now we would like to continue in that spirit and bless another special family with an opportunity to create new memories.
Lauren's childhood best friend, Chelsea, became a nurse because of all the years she walked by Lauren's side through so many medical issues, including emergencies, limitations at church camp and up close doctor visits in Denver. She saw the genuine love between Lauren and her medical staff that made such a difference in her care. While Chelsea was a nurse at OU Children's Hospital, she befriended a young patient. All of the nurses and staff fell in love with this little boy. After a lengthy hospital stay with no visitors, he was healthy enough to leave, but no one came to pick him up. Chelsea and her new husband decided to take him home. We're happy to report that two years later, he's doing great! AND, last year, Chelsea and Bryce were asked to take his three siblings ranging in age from 1 1/2 to 17!!! What an incredible sacrifice this young married couple has made to give these sweet kids a loving and stable home. We hope that you'll join us as we send them on a trip to the mountains this summer to spend time making new memories together in the beauty of God's creation. Lauren's birthday is July 10th, she would have been 28 this year. Ironically, Bryce's birthday is also July 10th and he will be 30. What a wonderful way to celebrate their birthdays and make new memories while honoring a special and shared past.
A few short months later, we'd decided to open our home to two precious girls who had been removed from their home. They had only been out of Oklahoma once and never to the ocean! So, we decided it would be fun to take them to the beach to see the ocean! To watch these little siblings walk out into the ocean hand in hand and experience the waves crashing on them together for the first time was such a sweet moment, as much for us as it was for them. Memories to last a lifetime and help wash away some of the pain of their past. They were grinning ear to ear!
So, although Fostering New Memories is a new initiative for L1H1, it really started a number of years ago with a gift from a sweet friend. A retreat to Crested Butte, encouraging us to create new memories. Now we would like to continue in that spirit and bless another special family with an opportunity to create new memories.
Lauren's childhood best friend, Chelsea, became a nurse because of all the years she walked by Lauren's side through so many medical issues, including emergencies, limitations at church camp and up close doctor visits in Denver. She saw the genuine love between Lauren and her medical staff that made such a difference in her care. While Chelsea was a nurse at OU Children's Hospital, she befriended a young patient. All of the nurses and staff fell in love with this little boy. After a lengthy hospital stay with no visitors, he was healthy enough to leave, but no one came to pick him up. Chelsea and her new husband decided to take him home. We're happy to report that two years later, he's doing great! AND, last year, Chelsea and Bryce were asked to take his three siblings ranging in age from 1 1/2 to 17!!! What an incredible sacrifice this young married couple has made to give these sweet kids a loving and stable home. We hope that you'll join us as we send them on a trip to the mountains this summer to spend time making new memories together in the beauty of God's creation. Lauren's birthday is July 10th, she would have been 28 this year. Ironically, Bryce's birthday is also July 10th and he will be 30. What a wonderful way to celebrate their birthdays and make new memories while honoring a special and shared past.
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Images from left to right: One of our first ski trips with Lauren; Besties - Chelsea and Lauren; Our first trip back to Crested Butte with Addie; Chelsea and Bryce Rustler foster parents to four sweet kids ranging in age from 2-17!
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