Annual Pilgrimage to Ronald McDonald

Katelyn and Jake, our grandchildren from Oakley, came to stay for a few days this summer. We picked them up in Russell which is half way on a Thursday evening. Two of their cousins, Allie and Hannah who live here in town came also. Friday morning we headed out on our annual pilgrimage to the Ronald McDonald House in Wichita. In the past we have always gone to the one by Wesley Hospital so this year we decided to take them to the one by St Francis/Via Kristi. When Nick was born Cystic Fibrosis his mom and dad stayed at the one by Wesley because that is where he was for 3 weeks. Now when he is in the hospital he stays at Via Kristi. The lady there was very nice and showed us around and explained how they do things there. I think the kids have a better understanding of what the Ronald McDonald House is and how it is so helpful to those who use them. We delivered another 7 and 1/2 pounds of pull tabs so we are over 21 pounds now! Believe me that is a lot of pull tabs!! My co-workers here at ESSDACK have been very kind to help with the collecting of them along with our family.

After that we went to the Town West Mall and did a little shopping and while there Jake, Katelyn and Hannah tried some bungee jumping. They didn't jump off of anything, they only went up about 20-25 feet with harnesses, but they could turn somersaults, if they wanted. Hannah really liked doing that, she is six. They would have liked to do it longer of course....

The rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday we had fun with water fights, going to the water park and play ground equipment at the Fair grounds. Making giant bubbles, painting finger nails, playing games, more water fights anything to try and stay COOL. I say try.....because it has been over a hundred degrees for weeks now. The day I wrote this it was suppose to get to 113!! : (

Sunday afternoon we took them back to Russell where they got a ride with their other grandparents who live in Oakley back home. I got the pictures developed and they are in the mail. Looking forward to next year!

Ronald McDonald Houses collect pop tabs instead of entire aluminum cans because it's more hygienic to store tabs than cans, and collection and storage is easier. The program is an easy way for people of all ages to support RMHC and know they are making a difference for families and children.

If your local Ronald McDonald House participates in the program, it’s likely cardboard collection containers in the shape of a house have been distributed to schools, community and civic groups and other organizations in your area. Collect pop tabs to drop off at one of these areas, or contact your local House about getting a collection container that you can be responsible for filling through one of your own groups.

Fourteen Pounds and Counting

Three of our six grandchildren came to stay for a few days before school got into swing for the new year. Jake a first grader, Katelyn a third grader and Hannah a kindergartner. Katelyn and Jake can't wait for school to start another year they have been counting the days! Hannah is excited about starting her first year of school. When Hannah's mom took her to enroll she told everyone this was the best day of her life! It is a great feeling when your children or grandchildren are so anxious to go to school.

One of the things grandpa and I wanted to do while they were here was to take the pull tabs that we have collected over the last few months to one of the Ronald McDonald houses in Wichita. When I say we I mean our family, extended family and my work family. I work at ESSDACK , an educational service center, in Hutchinson, KS and some of the people there help collect tabs for us. I have mentioned before about the jar we have in the kitchen at work and sometimes some of my co-workers bring me a "bag of tabs." I know this is an extra step for some of them but they are awesome for taking the time and we appreciate it. Our first trip was back in December and we said at the time we wanted to bring the grandkids the next time if possible. We usually take them to Sleepy Hollow close to Wesley hospital in Wichita but next time I think we will take them to the one close to Via Christi which is where Nick stays in the hospital when in Wichita. Nick is sometimes in the hospital because of Cystic Fibrosis but Via Christi is also where Nick goes for the Cystic Fibrosis clinic. We took their picture outside on the porch with Ronald and then took the tabs inside. We took 7 pounds in December and we took another 7 pounds this time so we are 14 pounds and counting! They could see some of the families that the tabs will help and we talked about it in the car afterward. I want my grandchildren to realize one of the best things you can do in life is to help people. There are always people that need help whether it be just spending some time with someone who is lonely or taking pull tabs to Ronald's house, or donating in some other way, there are lots of ways to give back.

Another way my co-workers give back is by taping segments of My Kids Turn. If you are like me you need a little help when it comes to homework or just extra fun things that help your children or grandchildren with their school work. They are taping new segments all the time. I haven't had time to look at all of them but the ones I have seen make learning fun!!