HOME...Safe and Sound!!!!!!!!!!!

Look for photos and stories soon!!

Day Five...

Well...we make the trip back to the airport to pick her up today. She called last night...she is ready to come home. She has one of her new friends on her flight home with her...so she is very excited about that.

(just on a side note...she never came across another person from Michigan while she was there...it looks like she may have been the soul representative of our state!)

We (the girls, my mom and I) will be leaving today at 12:30 to make the 3+ hour drive to the airport. Please pray for safety for Tate, and us as we travel today.

Thank you for your support and prayers over the last 5 months...she wouldn't have been able to do it without you...and I know she is excited to get home and share her experience with you!

Here is the final e mail and slide show.

Dear Parent,

JrNYLC has been a week filled with adventure and learning. It is hard to believe that Tatelynn will return home tomorrow! Of course, we are keeping her busy on her journey of leadership until the end. Throughout the day, Tatelynn polished her newfound leadership skills with a presentation and discussion of her LFG's social project. In the evening, she watched Shackleton's Antarctic Adventures, an IMAX movie about Sir Ernest Shackleton’s trans-Antarctic journey. Tatelynn will end the night with a sleepover at Adventure Links.

To see photos of today's activities at JrNYLC, click here.

Day Four...

Another day...another call. She had a lot of exciting stories to tell about today, the highlights being...one...she made more new friends...and two she learned how to load a civil war type gun...(whatever those are called?) She is a little bummed that this adventure is almost done...

Here is the latest email...and slide show...(she is in this one a few times!)

Dear Parent,

Today Tatelynn traveled to Harpers Ferry which is located at the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Now considered a national park, this beautiful area was the site of abolitionist John Brown’s daring, and ultimately unsuccessful, raid on a federal armory in 1859. Along with park rangers dressed in historical garb, Tatelynn engaged in a variety of simulations that mimicked life in the United States during the years leading up to the Civil War. The scholars scrubbed laundry on a wash board, participated in military drills and learned some fun folk dances. Tatelynn also examined Brown’s life story and discussed his leadership characteristics. Following that, the scholars studied the challenges Brown faced and then debated his actions.

To see a photo slideshow of Tatelynn and her fellow scholars at Harpers Ferry, click here.

Day Three...

Got another call from her last night...she is still having a great time...she didn't take nearly enough film...they ate at an Italian restaurant yesterday...unlimited spaghetti...right up her alley!

Here is the newest email and slide show.


Dear Parent,

Today, Tatelynn continued her investigation of Washington, D.C.'s rich history with an exploration of some of our most important historical monuments: the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial. Afterwards, she was then able to visit the re-opened National Portrait Gallery, which houses nearly 20,000 works of art featuring men and women who have made significant contributions to the history, development and culture of the United States. The scholars also stopped for a photo opportunity at the White House.

At each of these sites, Tatelynn learned how leaders use their "voice" to take a stand and make a difference. In the evening, she worked with her LFG members to create a social organization to serve as their own "voice of courage" for a special topic that impacts local communities. This final project tasked her with using the new leadership skills she has developed at JrNYLC this week. Be sure to check in with Tatelynn to hear about her LFG's project!

To view pictures of today's activities, click here.

Day two...

We got a call from Tate last night...her exact words..."it is soooo cool here...I have made so many friends!". Making friends was something she was worried about...I knew she would not have a problem. Here is the newest email...and slide show...I didn't find her in any of the photos yet...but I haven't looked real hard. ENJOY!!


Dear Parent,

It has been a busy day! Tatelynn started her educational journey in Washington, D.C. by experiencing five centuries of news at the high-tech Newseum. Here, she learned about the history of the news and the role it plays in our society, while exploring hands-on exhibits and up-to-the-second technology. In the afternoon, Tatelynn went on a walking exploration of our country's legislative branch on Capitol Hill.

In the evening, she re-convened with her LFG to engage in a First Amendment simulation. In this fictional scenario, the scholars took one of two sides in preparation for an impending debate. Tatelynn had the option of either supporting the right of students to wear "peace patches" in school or advocating for increased community policing against the distraction that the patches would cause. Employing her communication skills, Tatelynn debated and negotiated with her fellow scholars, citing relevant support for her side. Be sure to ask Tatelynn which side she took!

To view photo slideshows from Tatelynn's day, click here.

Day One...

We started our day bright and early yesterday. We were on the road at 6:45 am. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time...got her all checked in...got through security...found her gate...and had about 30 minutes to spare. As we sat and waited we started to see other kids that were dressed in the required khaki pants and white shirt for arrival day...as it turns out there were 5 other JrNYLC kids on her flight...and one of the boys father was flying with him...so he would make sure that everyone found there people on the other end! That was a huge stress reliever for sure!!

They started boarding the plane at 10:30...and at 10:45 we said our teary goodbye...(I was teary...she was embarrassed that I was teary!) and at 10:57 her plane pulled away from the gate.

We headed over to Lincoln Park Zoo, and just after we found a parking spot...(which took about an hour...and cost a small fortune) the phone rang and it was Tate! She had landed safe and sound...she thought the plane ride was "cool"...and she was excited to get off the plane and get to the hotel and meet everyone.

I can't wait for her to call to let us in on some more details...like her roommates...what sites she has seen...etc.

Here is the email that I received this morning...I will be getting an email everyday...and there will be a slide show with each of them. Tate is in a few pictures in this slide show...


Dear Parent,

I am happy to report that Tatelynn has arrived at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) and is already immersed in a journey of learning and self-discovery! Tatelynn has been assigned to the Character 2 Leadership Focus Group (LFG) led by Kim Johnson, her faculty advisor for the week. The Leadership Focus Group is a small group that Tatelynn will meet with over the course of the week to focus on and discuss leadership concepts in a close-knit setting.

In her LFG's first meeting, Tatelynn participated in icebreakers with the other students and received an introduction to the different leadership concepts that will be covered throughout JrNYLC: character, communication, goal setting, problem solving, respect and teamwork. Tatelynn also worked with her group to set goals for the week and write a group constitution.

To view a photo slideshow from the first day of JrNYLC, click here.

planes...trains...and automobiles...

well...we are on our way (in an automobile) to the airport to put Tate on a plane to Washington DC!!!

She is excited...and a little nervous.

I am a lot nervous...and a little excited.

Our friends from Illinois are going (to take the train) to meet us at the Lincoln Park Zoo for the afternoon. It has been over a year since we have seen them...we are very excited!!

I'll update blogs when we get home tonight...and throughout the week, as we hear about all the fun adventures she is having.

Please pray for her today and during this week for safety and just for a wonderful experience.

Thank you in advance!

One week to go...and...

We've met and exceeded the goal!!!

We returned the last of the can/bottles today...we ended up with 728!! That put us $6.80 over the total goal!!!

It is just amazing to me the way this all came together. When we received the invitation way back in March...we were very sceptical about being able to raise the money for this trip!

We have just been blown away!!

We realize that God had a huge hand in this and that it was meant to be for her to attend this conference! We want to thank all of again for your support and prayers.

We will spend this week making sure she has everything she needs...and by this time next week she'll be in Washington DC!!!

I try not to think about it...it causes a throw-upie feeling in my stomach!

Please pray for her this week and during the week that follows!

One month...and counting...

and Tate will be getting on a plane and heading to DC!! We are almost half way to having her flight paid for...and we have accumulated a whole bunch of cans again too! I'll update will can totals after we go on another returning spree!

She has been spending some time on her "homework" assignments...I'll post her leadership essay as soon as it is done...(if she will let me?).

She is excited...and a little nervous.

Next up is getting her wardrobe in order...she as to wear "business casual" a couple of day's...and we'll need to find something that fits in the parameters!

For now...she is headed off to Cran Hill Ranch for a week.

Thank you so much for you support and prayers. It has been amazing to see this all come together!

Her flight has been booked...

and I feel like vomiting!!!

She will be departing out of Chicago O'Hare on the 2nd of August...PLEASE continue to pray for Tate, and for this trip, that everything will go well...and it will be a wonderful experience, and that she will be safe.

I'm going to find a bucket!!

Tate got paid...

Tate got another check from the greenhouses today...she is contributing another $100 to her trip fund!!!

That brings us past our original goal and onto the plane ticket goal!!

We're almost there...hopefully we will have her ticket purchased by the end of this month.

(Her mother is procrastinating a bit...because her baby is going to get on a plane alone!!!)

Another family can/bottle return day...

The girls and I loaded up this morning and headed to Meijer to return cans/bottles. We were able to get it all done in 2 trips with 3 carts heaped full. We were an interesting sight for sure. I (Shann) feel like I need to explain to all the passersby what is actually going on...so that they don't think that I have a drinking problem!!

But anyway...it took us about an hour and a half total to return bottle after bottle and can after can...and in the end we returned 1,051!! Raising another $105.10 toward Tate's trip.

To date we have returned 3500 can/bottles!!!

Next week I have to start nailing down a flight...and before we know it she'll be on her way!

Thanks for all your help and prayers!

She's been accepted!!

We received the official acceptance letter today. She will be attending the conference August 2 - 7. Now comes the daunting task of finding a flight...in a reasonable price range. We could use prayers about this part of the process!

The acceptance package is full of all sorts of fun information. Like, dress code, and pre-conference assignments (yes...there are two!) Tate had no idea there would be homework! I think it is quite humerus myself!

So...we are T minus 71 days...and counting until "lift off".

Please continue to pray for her (and her mother) as she prepares for this trip.

We are headed out to collect more can/bottles...More updates to come!

More cans/bottles...

We just returned from Meijer, where we returned another 494 cans and bottles. So when we add another $49.40 to the total....we are up to $1756.40.

If you frequent this site you may have noticed that the tuition amount changed...this is because I misread it way back in March...so the actual tuition is $1840 not $1895...but we also did not realize that they strongly suggest tuition and travel protection...for $99. While we know that the chances are extremely low that anything will happen to prevent Tate from going on this trip...we also would be just sick if anything did happen and all the money you helped us raise would be gone!

So for the sake of peace-of-mind, we went with the protection...bringing the grand total to...$1939...(so technically $44 more than we had originally thought in the first place!)

Anyway...the check is in the mail, and now we wait to get our confirmation...and further information on travel arrangements and all that!

Well, that is where we are...only $182.60 away from the tuition goal...but who knows...maybe we can collect enough can/bottles to pay for some or all of the flight as well.

All I can say is God is great...and so are all of you. We are so glad that God blessed us with family and friends like all of you!!

The check is in the mail...almost!!

We are truly blessed and in awe of the tremendous generosity that has been shown to Tatelynn (and us too) in the last 6 weeks.

When Tate received this nomination, we never imagined that she would actually get to go...but we wanted her to have this opportunity, so we said we would help her raise the money!

And here we are, I just got off the phone with the JrNYLC office of admissions, the week that we were hoping for is still available, and our check will be in the mail tomorrow.

As of this afternoon, we (read all the names to the right) have raised $1707!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we still have cans/bottles in our garage, and still have to go do our "last" collection!! I'll say it again AMAZING!!

We can't begin to thank you all enough!

Please keep Tate in your prayers as she prepares for this "journey" I know she is a little nervous...and a lot excited. (please keep her mother in your prayer too...she is a lot nervous and a little excited!)

**Just a reminder...we have decided to keep the can/bottle collection going until the last week of July, she will be going either Aug. 2-7 or 3-8 if all works out!**

Thanks Pres...

Our tax rebate came today...and because without her we would have gotten $300 less...we decided that Tate could have that money to get her even closer to her goal.

She also has her greenhouse hours that she has been banking to put half towards her goal, and we are going out collecting can/bottles tomorrow. So...stay tuned for another update tomorrow night.

**On a side note...we have decided to keep the can/bottle drive going until she leaves on her trip, or til she reaches the goal, to help offset any of the cost that is not raised by the deadline**(which has been extended a few days due to being able to register online!!)

Sticky fingers (take two!!)

We made it a family affair today, which was a good thing because of the quantity of can/bottles we returned.............1,1o2!!!

Holy smokes!!! We are so thankful for our family and friends (especially those who don't like to return bottles and had an enormous stash for us!!)

One more week....keep up the good work...we are really going to make it!

Amazing!!

It's offical...

We have reached the half way point...and then some!!!! We are blown away by the generosity of our family, friends and local business'!!! It's been exactly 4 weeks since this fund raiser began...and with 2 weeks until our "deadline" we're thinking that the name of this blog is becoming more and more appropriate every day!!

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!!!, to all of you...you are amazing!!!

Making progress...

Well we are getting very close to half way, and we have a huge pile of cans/bottles in our garage right now. We will have to take Dad's truck next time, and it will take a few more trips in and out of the store next time too!! But...we are not complaining, we're just amazed at the amount of cans/bottles that we've received...you all are amazing!

Sticky fingers...

We went out collecting cans and bottles this morning and it was very much a success. The back of the van was about as full as we could get it!

So...2 hours, 700 can/bottles, and 20 very sticky fingers later, we are $70 ahead!!!

Thanks everyone, we are almost half way there already!

The pop cans are pouring in...

We brought back our first batch of pop cans today...$15.30 worth!! Horray!!

We want to send a big THANK YOU to the 5th graders at South Elementary School for helping with the pop can drive...we just picked up cans from them after school today!

Keep up the good work, and thanks for your help!

You got um...We'll take um!

If you are visiting this blog and would like to participate in the pop can "drive"...leave a comment or send an email to the address on the right, and we'll gladly accept your pop cans too!

Fundraiser is offically a go!!

Well, we have started to distribute the fundraising letters. The bulk of them will be mailed out tomorrow. So...hopefully we will be posting some thank yous, and start counting down (or up?) to the goal soon!!!

**If you have any pop cans that you need to get rid of before April 12 or May 3rd, please shoot us an email and we'll arange to pick them up...or you can drop them off anytime at our house...just drop them in the garage.**

Thanks for your help, and prayers!!

WELCOME!!!

I can't wait to start updating you on my fundraising progress!!!