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!!)