2nd year anniversary

Hi guys

well...its now 2 years since Eli gained his angel wings and left us...i really dont think this thing gets any easier...perhaps it gets more bearable for the times in between these anniversaries, but the days themselves are still extremely difficult.

We didnt really plan much today...just got up and spent some time in his room and lit some candles. We got out into the garden again and put up some solar lights (i reckon you can see the cottage from the moon!)...and then welcomed David Rogers - CEO of Challenge - Supporting Kids with Cancer to our Melon's cottage to see if it will fit the bill of becoming a respite area...amazing effort for david to travel from melb to lakes and spend a couple of hours with us...David said that challenge would be super keen to use the cottage for families so we are closer and closer all the time to getting our dream up and running...it sure has taken a while, but something we have wanted to do...just need to build the house! All the ducks are lining up which is great...sometimes patience really is a virtue!

It was good timing for David to come down on melon's anniversary. It really helps us keep on track as well as keeping melon's memory alive.

thanks to those who have sent a poem to us...i have a couple i would like to share...(and one you have probably heard before but it is just lovely)...

Im not sure who wrote it...

I thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new

I thought about you yesterday

and days before that too,

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name

All i have are memories

and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake

with which i will never part

you spirit lives within me,

forever in my heart...

The other one i would like to share came from Aunty Hayley, Uncle Dale, Kyle, Blakey and Connor..

It doesnt need a special day

To bring you to our minds

for days without a thought of you

are often hard to find

A brave little soldier, a special little face

someone we loved so much and cannot replace

Eli, you are close in our hearts and there you will always stay

loved and remembered every day.

The other phrase that was sent which is truly spesh is from Wamma - Eli's grandma in WA

Gone from our sight

never far from our hearts

where he shines with the brilliance of a thousand suns.

Miss you every single day Eli Charlie Simpson...and love you forever

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Phew!

Hi everyone

im sorry its taken THIS long to blog...as always, work and play has kept us away...keep reading and you will understand!

what a couple of months it has been for us...

I will start off by saying that I attended the light the night celebrations on 15 September...thanks so much to those of you who joined me in the treasury gardens. It was a lovely night...i thought i would be ok to be honest, but found it extremely overwhelming when i first got there...so many old and new faces, and sad to hear the new leukaemia stories which have affected peoples lives...if you ever feel the need to feel humbled, attend one of these nights...it truly is a very special time to share the success stories as well as the grief and to remember loved ones lost - regardless of the age of the patients.

a couple of pics for you to enjoy below!

I got to put a candle in the first "E", right in the middle...The effect of the candles took my breath away

You kind of get the feel for evening with all the gorgeous balloons...

Tania Cushion from the LF and me...Tania spent a fair bit of time in hospital with Eli and us...she is a good stick and it was awesome to catch up with her again...

we have also FINALLY made progress on our house...i wont go into details, but i can say the hold ups due to the ridiculous red tape has been the only factor. On a good note, our planning permit came through about one week ago. Given the delay however in permits, our builder cant start now until after christmas...it has been a very 'character building' experience for us both...we just cant wait to see the thing started...the closer we get to the house 'happening', the closer we will be to opening up melon's cottage...will keep you posted on progress!

Speaking of the cottage, a massive THANKS goes out to Anton and Dianne from MinterEllison who is helping us through the paperwork and legal stuff to have the cottage all systems go. We still have some time before we formalise everything (surprise suprise, we have to wait until the house starts), but we have some really 'firm' ideas on how its all going to come together which is great. Thanks anton and dianne...you have taken a massive load off pete and i...it has meant the world to us....We also have David Rogers - CEO of Challenge, supporting kids with Cancer heading down in November to have a look at the cottage. All our bookings for use of the cottage will be done through Challenge, so we are keen to get his thoughts on how it might work from their end...yep...its all starting to come together! Whooooohoooo

The chooks and i have have continued to be very busy over the past few months...with the angel ball wrapped up, we have turned our attention to more fundraising...all of us have been busy with the needle and thread and are whipping up some fantastic bags, purses and crafty stuff for xmas markets...if you are interested at all in any of our wares, let me know...i will try and get some pic's on the blog...any interest, just email me on eli-simpson@hotmail.com...we can do mail orders if needed...ALL proceeds will get divvied up between challenge, angel flight and the leukaemia foundation...

speaking of Angel Flight, i did our first 'official' presentation on Angel Flight to the Metung Lion's Club last month...it went really well and i think touched a few people..its easy talking about something you are so passionate about...its all about raising awareness of the wonderful work these charities do for regional people...they did a great job with an 'on the spot auction'...raising $105 for angel flight (by auctioning off a little angel bear and a $20 meat voucher)...it was really overwhelming and great for angelflight!...

The other thing the chooks have been consumed with is attending Bingo here in lakes on a monday night through the month of october..the lions club of lakes entrance supports community groups by allowing them to work for 3.5hrs on a monday night (setting up tables and chairs, serving tea and coffee etc) for a total of $1000 at the end of the month. This money will come in extremely handy as it will allow the chooks to run events under our own banner because we now have enough money to pay for public liability insurance. To date, we have run our events under the charities banner as we havent been able to afford our own insurance. Any money left over from the insurance will be donated...so we are really looking fwd to doing stuff on our own!

A big cheerio as well to a local chap and his gorgeous wife - Bob and Ursula Crosdale who donate money to AngelFlight through the sale of their paintings, a percentage of sale gets put aside and donated. If you would like to help us by setting up something similiar, please let me know and we can help you. It is awesome to have bob and ursula on board and if you see bob around Lakes selling his paintings (which are AwESOME by the way)...please support him as some of your money will go to one of our charities!

We have had a bittersweet couple of months. We are coming into the time when the 'anniversaries" are happening...our love and thoughts go out to Chad, Alex and Nick, who all passed away within a couple of months of Melon. We take comfort in the fact that they all are up there somewhere mucking around and eating twisties. They all knew each other. Its sad to think that our four beautiful boys were taken from us so close together. This will be the glue that binds our families together forever.

It would have been eli's third birthday on the 28th Septemeber...to think that our little man would have been three is amazing to us. What would have he been like? What would he have looked like? Would he have eaten all his vegetables? Would he have looked like a simpson or a smith? So many questions we will never know the answers too. HAPPY BIRTHDAY our baby boy...we miss you everyday...

Melon on his first birthday....love you loads melon...today and EVERY day

life is so bittersweet...Nick's mum Belinda just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Isabella Rose...we wish them all the very best...Nick would have been a fantastic older brother, and im sure he would have been as proud as punch.

The other bittersweet news i guess is that Eli is going to be an older brother...pete and i are expecting a little baby around 21 April. We are trying to keep things ticking over as normal, and are very keen not to have 'fuss'...We are both excited but sad. We know that melon will be watching over us all...and number '2' will grow up knowing that his/her brother will always be around us.

Thats the majority of our news now...i hope you can understand that even though it has been a while since posting, we have been extremely busy...(and ive been a bit crook with morning/day sickness which has left me with not much energy to do too much, and to post!)

our love goes out to you all.

lots of love and sunshine

the simpsons

xoxox

Some more goss and pic's

Hi everyone

its been another busy week, and we are moving ever so closer to the house being built...still waiting on council stuff, but at least we have our quote now...i guess thats one of the biggest things! :-) will definitely keep you posted...we cant wait...so close!

I have also added the pic's as promised below...they are a bit of mish-mash, hope you enjoy them.

our next little 'fundraising' jaunt comes in the form of supporting the RSPCA - with cupcake day...the chooks are catching up next weekend to make some yummy cupcakes! No doubt we will have a fair bit of fun with them...hopefully will get some pic's when we make them...

Its been a fairly quiet weekend here in the simpson house which has been terrific. Has allowed me to finish my nephews quilt (his 7th birthday in a couple of weeks)...and will head off for a walk soon...gorgeous weather! Just needs to be a tad bit warmer...

anyways...enjoy the pic's and will be in touch again soon.

big kisses go out to Pa Smith who hasnt been feeling so well...love ya loads pa...

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xoxox

The "Chooks & Roosters"...

Back 4 - from left to right - Monica, Leona, Darren and Natalie

front 4 - from left to right - Marnie, Belinda, me and 'angel tony'...

Excitement builds...definitely the best "EVER" decoration effort...

Getting right into the christmas in july theme!

Pete and I rattling tins for Challenge...apparently all the volunteers raised just over $5000 at the game! great effort...

Busy again

Hi everyone

im so sorry to blog again so late...it feels like its forever between blogs now, but rest assured, we are keeping ourselves PLENTY busy...

A few things that have happened over the past month have included selling raffle tickets for our angel ball, rattling tins for Challenge at the MCG and holding our 2nd Angel Ball!

So, i will start at the start!

in early july, pete and i did our 'turn' at selling raffle tickets for the Angel Ball. We set up at the metung market which proved to be really good...we ended up selling around 2.5 books (around $125 worth)...we were stoked because it really was an awful day weather wise! The beautiful 'chooks' have been selling the tix, with all proceeds going to Angel Flight...Just remember, that if you know someone who is travelling to melb from the country, Angel Flight might just be able to help you out with a trip! They are a fantastic mob to work with...very very positive!

Anyways...i think we raised around $2000 from our raffle (major thanks to Travelscene in Bairnsdale for donating 1st prize, Dahlesens for 2nd prize, Terry white's chemist for 3rd prize, RACV for 4th and Bairnsdale Fine Jewerllry for 5th)...all of our local businesses around bairnsdale have done a fantastic job yet again with their donations...awesome...without them, we wouldnt have been able to do what we did!

So, we held our Angel Ball last weekend and raised just over $5,000 all up...it was a terrific night. Lots of fun, dancing and frivolity...cant wait to hand over the final cheque for angelflight, thats for sure...we had a wonderful 'christmas in july' theme, and were really lucky to have a few grabs on the radio and lots of coverage in the newspaper...i will try and put some pic's on a bit later (as they filter through).

A massive thanks to Darren Chester MP who mc'd our night, and of course to Angel Tony who is a pilot for angel flight and has flown many missions...we had a great time!

the other thing pete and i have been involved with is raising money for challenge - supporting kids with cancer. We took up the offer of 'rattling' tins outside the MCG just before the Collingwood/St Kilda match...im not sure yet what the total was that was raised, but geez it was fun (and a bit cold)...Challenge are spruiking their "Great Aussie Pie Night". If you would like to know a bit more about challenge, or would like to get a team organised for their great aussie pie night, head to: www.challenge.org.au...just take the time to have a look at their website...they really do a fantastic job.

When melon's cottage is up and running, we are planning to work closely with Challenge and the Leukaemia Foundation to work the booking system to get families down to stay...we hold both these organisations in high regard...

Our house is slowly coming along...we are hoping like crazy we are at the 'pointy' end of it all...we are almost through council planning, and are waiting on a quote from our builder which is only a few days off...then the fun will begin...and we can get started on the good stuff for melon's cottage...

anyways..best fly...am planning on spending some time with my nephews, Blake and Connor and my gorgeous sister Hayley today...thinking about heading to the movies!

enjoy your day...and i will be on again shortly for all the pic's

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xooxoxox

A bit more news

Hi guys

just a few bits and pieces that i missed last week...

We received a lovely email from Kelli again, saying that the 'melon' t-shirt had arrived safely and that she was stoked... I have attached the photo of Kelli wearing the shirt along with a few of her 'training' partners...its a great pic, we hope you enjoy it!

Kelli, Eli's t-shirt and Kelli's training friends all the way from the USA! Cool Huh! Little bugger made it there before we did!

I forgot to mention that "Boatshed Quilting" pulled together a fantastic 'apron' show..it was the first time i really hooked in with a 'creative licence' and pulled together a 'farmyard' apron. The day was held in early may and it was an absolute hoot! A wonderful total of $245.00 was raised and donated to Ronald McDonald House in Clayton...a place we stayed alot when Eli was receiving his initial treatment...they were simply sensational and looked after us well. I have attached a pic of the apron i made...and wrote the following to describe it - like all good fashionista's should LOL

This "farmyard" apron was inspired by my nephews Kyle, Blake and Connor and was made in memory of Eli Charlie.

My nephews helped create the animals and even went as far as pinning and choosing buttons for each animal's eyes.

My creation will be lovingly used to cook porridge and perhaps a roast or two and is hoped to be the envy of all my mates!

One of my most favourite memories while making the apron was watching Connor try and cut a pin in half with my best scissors!

This is my first creation without any pattern and is proud to have used it to raise money for such a good cause - Ronald McDonald House, a place my family used extensively in the past...

My gorgeous (and busy!) apron...yes, ive officially come out of the closet...i love to quilt!

Perhaps i got some further inspiration from my gumboots which i love!

Just a final plug for our Angel Ball...if anyone would like to buy some raffle tickets, please let me know...just send me an email through: eli-simpson@hotmail.com. Tickets are $2 each and you can win an accomodation package and theatre production in Melb (over $600 and donated by Travelscene in Bairnsdale), a 4 burner bbq ($500 and donated by Dahlsens Bairnsdale), a variety hamper ($200 donated by Terry White Chemists in Bairnsdale), a Total Care Roadside Assistance Package ($185 donated by RACV Bairnsdale) and a Citizens Workmans Watch ($165 donated by Bairnsdale Fine Jewellers)...all fantastic prizes...we have had around $3,000 worth of prizes donated by local Businesses in bairnsdale...a bloody magnificent effort for a small country town...i think its indicative of the cause - ANGELFLIGHT...thanks to all involved. Tickets for the ball are sold through the Bairnsdale RSL...come along and enjoy the night!

The last thing to mention is that pete finally got his 'melon' tattoo yesterday. I think it has turned out perfectly! We are not necessarily a tattoo family, but this is yet another small way to ensure melon is with us forever...i will eventually get one, but i feel that being able to donate blood while i can is much more important at this point in time (for those that dont know, you cant donate blood for 12 months once you have had a tattoo)...it will give me a bit more time to make sure that what i get will be absolutely perfect! LOL...

I think that just about wraps it all up for us here at the moment...its starting to feel like its going to rain, which i hope it does...we need the rain!

Love and hugs to all

the simpsons

xoxox

A major Delay!

Hi everyone

I realise that it has been nearly 2 months since i have written...after looking at the counter, there appears to be heaps of interest in how the simpsons are travelling! Thanks for your perserverance and continued support for the blog..it never ceases to amaze me.

There has been so much that has happened in the past 2 months, its hard to know where to start!

So i will start at the beginning!

First and foremost, ive had to finish up training for the half marathon..a couple of reasons really, but i wont bore you...injury for now...so maybe next year! Pete did it though and geez i was proud...he did it in 1hr 47mins...a bloody terrific effort to run so long...tough gig, but he did really really well.

Ive had a couple of poems pop up, and i would like to share one with you:

Your story of Eli touched my heart

how inspirational i think you both are

Your warmth and love touches us all

Your special angel, a true shining star

Life is sometimes so short but so sweet

and angels sent to inspire from above

Your story of Eli truly touches us all

And envelopes us all in warm love

John Graham - Hamilton

An awesome man...thanks so much John for writing the poem for us...Your words will mean more than you will ever know and came at exactly the right time....

So...Our friend Kelli from Milwaulkie (USA) who ran a marathon for her dad Frank (and Eli), has just recently run another marathan in Eugene (i hope i got that right)...I have attached some photos below. We also recently sent Kelli a "melon" t-shirt, and we hope she finds it useful in finding further inspiration.

Mothers day was a very hard gig this year...i actually found it harder than last years to be honest. Pete made it a very special day for us, but it doesnt take the pain away thats for sure...i guess one never gets over 'what could or should' have been...there are so many small steps to continually take...its quite amazing really. Pete opened up the curtains and encouraged me to look outside into melon's garden by looking at the 'rosella's' which had apparently been eating some seed. Well, there were no rosella's, but there was a 'moowhistle' looking back at me. I was so excited and im sure you will all agree, a perfect fit for Melon's garden. Pete got it at a local nursery in Bairnsdale and they have all sorts of animals...i love them so much that yesterday, we bought a pig that can fly, and 'daisy' - a gorgeous duck. I hope you enjoy the pic's i posted below...

A few people have asked me how the garden is going, and im sure you will agree that its coming along really well...Lots of flowers, however there still are a few holes here and there. Hopefully they will cover over soon enough...(or perhaps it will be a grand excuse to plant some more!)

The house is painfully slow...we are still finalising the plans, with the main focus for now being a single story house until we can save enough money for the top part. Melon's cottage is our first priority, and we need to make sure we will be able to cope finacially with the both of them. We are hoping that the builder will quote the house within a couple of weeks, and council will get the plans approved soon. They have been in there for quite a while now...its hard waiting so long to start the thing, i guess another couple of months is not going to hurt us. We are also waiting on a fence to be built between us and our neighbours on the east, and we were toying with a chook pen too, but thought we should wait now until all the water pipes go in the ground (which is where our pen will be)...so as much as i would love to say its all systems go, we still have to show a fair bit of patience! Im sure it will all be worth it though...

Thats about it from us for the moment. The next big event on the Charity Chooks agenda is our Angel Ball which is full steam ahead...the Ball will be held on Sat 24 July, from 7pm. Tickets are $15 and can be bought directly from the Bairnsdale RSL which is where the event will be held. We have high hopes that you can all make it...AngelFlight is really such a brilliant cause! We would love to see you there!

Will try not to let the next blog take so long next time around! Keep warm and look after yourselves...Remember, if you want to ever get in contact with us, please email at:

eli-simpson@hotmail.com

Hope you enjoy the photos!

hugs and sunshine

jodes and pete

xox

Puggles the pig that can fly!

Daisy the duck...isnt she bewdiful!

Moowhistle - she is just gorgeous

Moowhistle from the front!

beautiful course scenery in Eugene - USA

Kelli's inspiration!

Go Kelli! What an amazing effort! well done to you and all your team

Monthly update

Hi everyone

Like always, its been a pretty busy month for us including a wedding, easter and training for a half marathon!

So, i would first likely to say a massive thanks to all of you who donated to the Worlds Greatest Shave this year...we made an incredible $6,100, which far exceeded my expectations. I thought that we might have reached $1500 or so, but was amazed yet again at the support our Team Melonhead members gave to reach the mark we did...It all goes to a great cause, and even better, it raises the profile of the Leukaemia Foundation down here in East Gippsland...awesome effort!

We also caught up with Chris - mum of Jarad and Connor and gave her the bbq. It was all hands on deck while we put it together, and we celebrated with a couple of lovely glasses of wine. Chris promised she would get a photo of her first bbq and send it through, so keep posted for that!

Pete and i have just started training for a half marathon (about 22km!) in traralgon in June. Its going to test our resolve, but with the guidance of guru Vorn, (who is writing our program), we should be ok...the aim is just to finish rather than 'race'...im liking that theory! longest run we have done to date is around 7.5km, with a 9km due next sunday (anzac day)...no inspiration needed there :-) Will keep you posted with how we go with that one.

Easter was a sad time for me. Pete worked and i just mooched around home...these milestones and celebrations never get easier...and there were certainly a few tears shed over the break. Every single day our thoughts turn to melon...every single day...

We are also selling some "In loving Memory of Eli" t-shirts...adults are $20 and kids $15. Please see the picture of the t-shirt below. All money raised will help with Melon's Cottage and the Charity Chooks Inc fundraising group. If you are interested in purchasing, please email me at eli-simpson@hotmail.com and i will help you out with sizes etc.

Last but not least, my sister Hayley and i are off to another fundraiser for Ronald MacDonald house in Clayton...the gorgeous ladies at boatshed quilting (in Lakes Entrance) have organised an "apron" fashion parade this arvo...we were all asked to create an apron and it will be paraded on the catwalk. I went a bit left of centre and made an apron on a cow print with appliqued farm animals...i reckon it looks fantastic, but it will be different from a few of the others im guessing...beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder :-)

alright, that is me for a little while...

we hope you have a wonderful and very reflective anzac day...pretty big in our house, we will be thinking of you all.

All the very best

lots of love

the simpsons

x0x

Chris's new bbq..cool huh!

Eli t-shirts for sale...just contact me if u would like to buy one...

More information on Alan Webster who shaved for Eli

Hi Everyone

I have just googled Alan...and found a lovely article written in his local rag...

For more info on 'webby'...click on this link:

http://whittlesea-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/epping-man-shaves-for-a-national-record/

You can also keep up to date with webby on his WGS website:

http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=316601&LangPref=en-CA

have a great day

love and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Worlds Greatest Shave - 2010

Hi everyone

what a massive week it has been for everyone involved in Worlds Greatest Shave...

I would just like to start off saying a massive thanks to the girls who make up the charity chooks...without their love, support and dedication, pete and i would not be able to do the things we do so well for our charities...quite often we are the 'faces'...but let me tell you, there are a group of girls who are amazing and truly motivated to help with our causes...so a massive thanks goes to B & leona, nat and donna, and more recently marnie, ange, monica and vikki (and all the partners!!!) for a wonderful effort... THANKYOU...these guys are the creative minds, planners, do-ers and cleaners to help raise money for all our charities...

Now...worlds greatest shave...an amazing few days have been unveiled...pete and i travelled to melb on fri arvo where we witnessed alan webster shave off his 'mo' after 32 years (i previously reported 34!!)...he is about $2,000 shy of a whopping $40,000!! an absolutely amazing effort and it was an absolute thrill for us to be there to watch it...Alan was very kind and used Eli's memory as part of his motivation (and his beautiful neice who passed away of a brain tumour at the age of 27 years)....he was clearly hugely supported and did a fantastic job...well done webby...well done...

The chooks hosted a public shave event at Lakes Entrance on Saturday 13 March - out the front of the Lakes Community & Sport Centre...the weather was absolutely perfect...we had a few who were brave and shaved including a couple of older ladies - Carol & Jean...When I asked Carol what motivated her to shave, she said "her dad, and Eli"...Jean was another lady who shaved and when i asked her, she said, "im doing this for Eli"...i was absolutely floored...here were two ladies who i had never met, but there they were shaving their heads for melon...i must admit, i shed some tears and thought this was just amazing...when i introduced myself as eli's mum, they were so thrilled to be a part of the day and said they had followed eli's story for the past few years...Pete and I still get floored at just how embraced we are in our community...and we absolutely cannot thank them enough...I was saying to Leona earlier today that there are three reasons we do what we do...1. To keep eli's memory alive....2. To raise awareness of these charities that do help families in regional areas and 3. To help them raise much needed funds to do what they do...

So, the shave was fantastic with Travis Murdoch raising just over $500 to have his head shaved (and who was a member of Melonhead)...Little Tom who raised around $200 and Vikki Eldridge who will have her head shaved on Monday Night at the local bingo club...at the moment, Team Melonhead has raised a fantastic $4,000, but we are hoping we should make it to around $4,500 and possible $5,000 by the time all our funds are banked...i was hoping for around $1,500 this year given everyone was so supportive last year...just absolutely blown away...the most important thing was to keep Leukaemia Foundation in the front of everyone's minds...so thanks once again for your continued support...and for keeping Melon's memory going...

enjoy the photos and we will keep you up to date with what the Charity Chooks are up to over the next few months....

all the best

hugs and love

the simpsons

xoxox

A little dog even got into the festivities!

This is what it is all about...luv ya big melon

Pete, me, ange and heath - thanks guys for the great help!

Some of the shavers and organisers all joining in on the fun...

Me giving Travis a big hug to say thanks...

Go Travis...and thanks again

the two lovely's selling raffle tickets...ange and vikki! Well done ladies

Carol & Jean - thanks so much for your support of Eli - and of the Worlds Greatest Shave...how brave!

Little Tom...what a champion...and yep, he did shave off all of those locks!

Get organised!

Please see below for a heap of piccies that i promised - got them done earlier than expected :-)

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Mossman Gorge - QLD...absolutely stunning...

Photo taken by "connor"....almost there :-)

Connor and Jarad - Eli's mates who had the same condition as he did...JMML

Jarad's photo....least my head made it into the frame!! LOL

Beautiful sunset taken at Wilsons Prom on Friday 12 Feb...

Cant believe how time has flown!

I cant believe it has been so long since i last wrote...i would love to fess up and say its because i have been slack...but like everyone else, we have been flat out with 'stuff' yet again...

The last time i wrote, we had just come off a high from raising some $$ for Challenge - Supporting kids with Cancer...it has been nothing but flat out ever since...with both work and charity stuff taking centre stage...

For those that do ask about the twin boys who had JMML - Jarad and Connor, i was finally able to see them and give them a massive big cuddle in February...Jarad is still sick and is requiring many medical procedures, while Connor is pretty much back on track. While Jarad is home, he does spend a number of days through the week undergoing various treatments. After speaking with Chris - I think they are happy to be at home, although it still is clearly a trying time with them...when i can work out my camera...i will post some piccies of the boys (and show you the pics the boys took of me!)...it was a truly amazing experience to see them both again...and to see them looking happy and finally at home...it bought tears to my eyes...i know its still very much a trying time for the boy's family with Jarad still being sick with complications from his bone marrow transplant, but for the time being...they are alive and together and thats all they could hope for...

I also remember writing at the end of last year about Kelli Zook and her amazing friends who ran a marathon over in the United States to raise money for Leukaemia research over there...

Kelli sent me a copy of the DVD they had put together and it was absolutely amazingly beautiful. Thanks to all of you again...it was amazing...if anyone needs any inspiration, get in contact with me and i will send you the DVD...to me its just such a tragedy that we lose our loved ones to these diseases...just such a shame...but on the positive side, its wonderful to know there are people like Kelli out there doing a fantastic job raising money and awareness...well done to Kelli and team...well done...we here in Australia are just amazed...

Thanks also to my aunty Julia and her husband Michael who so very very kindly donated a DVD player and some DVD's for melon's cottage...you guys have only ever supported us...so a huge thanks to you...

thanks also to our mate Sally who I know reads the blog from her home in Laos...thanks to you for the DVD's you bought back after your last trip home...i know many families will enjoy them in time to come...

You all know by now that i am a lover of beautiful poems...either those that written in memory of Melon or those that i discover and share with you...

I have recently found something i would like to share with you:

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life, that fills them with compassion, gentleness and deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elizabeth Kulbler-Ross

I would like to dedicate that to all the beautiful people out there that continually help us to heal and to be the people we are. Thanks...

Pete and i have recently been to Cairns to catch up with Hayley, Dale and our nephews - Kyle, Blake and Connor. It is clear to us that Eli is still very much part of their lives with many questions and statements coming our way...like....Eli is the brightest star in the sky...where is Eli now...etc etc. Blake (who is 6) still has a giraffe that Eli gave him when Eli was in hospital. Even now...it is still just so humbling to know that people - especially kids, are still so touched by Eli's memory. We consider it to be the best gift of all...and im sure like other mums and dads who have lost their children, it helps us knowing that our children will never be distant memories.

Speaking of memories...we only have a week to go before Worlds Greatest Shave happens...this year we are having a 'public' shave out the front of the Lakes Entertainment Centre (esplanade side)...we will have a small craft stall, a bbq and shaves/colours to raise money for a great cause...It will all kick off at 10am and wrap up around 1pm...thanks to Trav, Vikki, Coral, B and Flicko for helping us with morning tea's. A massive mention to Alan Webster who is shaving his mo after 34 years...he has used melon's memory for part of his inspiration and has raised a whisker under $30,000...an enormous effort and we are all just so proud!

For those who would still like to donate in Eli's memory...you can go to www.worldsgreatestshave.org.au - sponsor a team - "Melonhead"....

I think thats about it for now...I will hopefully get on in the next couple of weeks and post some pictures of our adventures over the past couple of months.

Before i leave, i would just like to acknowledge Nicholas Timms who would have been 3 today. Nick died just after Melon did...and we like to think that they are up there being the brightest stars in the sky...Happy birthday Nick...as pete says...celebrating birthdays remind us of what should have been...celebrating anniversaries of when our loved ones die are reminders of what was....

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Sausage Sizzle for Challenge

Hi everyone

I would like to say a massive thanks to all the chooks (and husbands and sons) who pulled together a wonderful day on Saturday where we raised just over $700 for Challenge - supporting kids with cancer through a really successful sausage sizzle...amazing...i dont think any of us imagined how many snags people can eat! At one stage we went through nearly 50 snags in 5 mins...it was incredible!

So thanks to all of our friends who came down to give us a hand (and eat our snags!)...it really was a great few hours to raise money for a wonderful cause!

Speaking of causes...the time has come again for Worlds Greatest Shave! Pete and i have not committed to a shave this year (because last years was so huge!)...but we have set up a memorial page for those of you who would like to donate to a wonderful cause in melon's memory. I think we will do it on an annual basis as it makes it easier for those who want to donate yearly, we can do it through that website, specifically for the Leukaemia Foundation.

For those that got to know Jenny Breheny (guru from Leukaemia Foundation-Gippsland), she and hubby dave are expecting their first baby which is super exciting for them...so we will have to make the most out of using her wonderful expertise in fundraising! As i said, we are not shaving this year, but we certainly invite people to join "Melonhead" if you would like to run your own shave/wax, or donate in memory of melon...if you are interested, just go to:

www.worldsgreatestshave.com, search Jodie Simpson and you should find us no problem. If you are keen to join, just let me know via melon's email eli-simpson@hotmail.com and we can hook you up.

Anyways..best go for now...would just like to say a massive thanks to everyone for their continued support, and we will be in touch again soon.

Happy australia day

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Just a moment

Hi everyone

Ive had an amazing afternoon. Pete and i donated blood (pete's first time..you will have to ask him about it)! and when i got back to work, i played my ipod while doing some stuff. I have over 380songs on it and was amazed to hear melon's song "Somewhere over the rainbow" playing within the first couple of songs. I sat still, looked at a couple of photos on the wall and just remembered. I composed myself, then bugger me, a couple of my other fave songs came on (which i like to remember eli)..."Last day on earth" by Kate Miller-Hiedke, and "Watch over me" by bernard fanning...straight after each other...i giggled and wondered what melon was doing up there...THEN, Beyonce came on with "If I was a boy" (A song i downloaded in memory of Nicholas Timms), and a few songs later, "Dream Catch Me" and 2 more songs later "Amazing" by Alex Lloyd - songs that were played at little Alex Preston's funeral. All of this happened within an hour. I drove home and the first song that played when i walked in was "Birds and the Bees", something Eli loved because of the music...(thankfully not the words!)...By this stage i was truly amazed and felt that all the boys were up there giggling at me as i was trying to comprehend what was going on with my ipod...the thing was on shuffle and i hadnt heard those songs for at least 3-4 weeks...cheeky little buggers!

The best thing - well, for today at least, is that i could listen to these songs with a smile rather than sadness for the first time...as they say, perhaps one step forward. There may be steps back, but its nice to feel that there is just a little hint of forward every now and then.

All of our children are so deeply missed, every day. Words cant explain the emptiness one feels. All we can do is just try to learn to live with it.

So, to all our kids...we salute you!

love and hugs

the simpsons

xox

We are back!

Hi everyone

once again, so sorry for not writing for a while, but pete and i have been on a bit of leave which has been really nice. After a very busy start with just 'stuff', we were finally able to kick up our heels and head to WA to see our relatives over there. Thanks to mum (WAMMA) for having us and to Robyn and Linds who also had us over for a night. It was great to catch up with you all. We visited new norcia, york, freo jail (at night) and did a bit of shopping. Its a great place to visit and we look forward to catching up with you all again soon!

Christmas was obviously difficult once again. While we set up our lights, we didnt do a tree again. I guess the right time will come, its just what we want for now.

We had a lovely opportunity to remember our only christmas with Eli at a memorial run by Silver Lining Funerals. We saw a grab in the paper which said that they were going to open up the chapel to families and friends of loved ones lost so we took the opportunity to go. It was an amazing service and the gang handed out a lovely little christmas 'tag' so families could hang them on their tree. I dont think i stopped crying from the moment i stepped into the chapel to the time i left. Very very moving and something pete and i could do to help us through this time. So to Tom, Dale, Pete, Rachel and the rest of the gang at Silver Lining Funerals, thanks for the opportunity, it was exactly what we needed.

The other 'tradition' pete and i have continued is that we will buy a gift for a little boy for the 'wishing tree' at KMART. we did it last year, and i must admit its bloody hard. We wandered around the toys and thought, geez, melon would have liked this...but i guess its something we will continue to do in the hope we make a 2 year old boys life a little brighter...

The other thing we would like to acknowledge is the life of Olivia. Olivia lost her battle with cancer on the 5th January 2009 at the age of 17. I met her mum Rhonda at the Challenge weekend in October and she (like all parents who have lost children) is just so inspiring. Rhonda has recently helped the 'chooks' with making some purses to sell at the markets, so thanks Rhonda for sharing your skills and your time at this trying time. Olivia will always be with you no matter where you are and will ALWAYS be loved and remembered.

Speaking of Challenge, the chooks are aiming to have a sausage sizzle out the front of Safeway in Bairnsdale on the 23 January 2010. More details to follow, but every cent raised will go to challenge. So come along and share a snag and a giggle and donate to a great cause. If you are interested in seeing what Challenge is all about, just head to their website www.challenge.org.au. They helped us out heaps while we were in hospital, and we will never forget the great work they do to help families that have kids with cancer.

The other thing pete and i are going to do is sign up for the Worlds Greatest Shave again (although we are not shaving heads!)...it will just be an opportunity for you to donate some money which will be in Eli's memory. We are not going to go hard this year...we need a rest to be honest! Maybe some collection boxes at strategic points, and if you feel inspired, we would encourage you to have a morning tea at your work places etc. to raise some money for the Leukaemia Foundation!

The last thing the chooks have been busily working on is our Angel Ball...we have set a date for the 24th July 2010 and it will be held at the Bairnsdale RSL again. More details to follow, but last year was an absolute HOOT! We are having a christmas in July theme, and of course, will be having our competition for 'best angel wings'...so start planning now! All money raised will be donated to AngelFlight.

If you would like ANY further information on anything, please contact me on Eli-Simpson@hotmail.com

Its been another really trying time for pete and i, like i guess all parents who have lost their little ones probably experience. It really doesnt get easier. There are reminders around you every single day of what you have lost and what you would do to have it all back. Having a healthy child is truly a priviledge. Embrace your kids with love and kisses and give all of them an extra hug from us!

We were given this poem from some good friends of ours - thanks liz and paul...

I thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new

I thought of you yesterday

and days before that too

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name

All I have are memories

and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake

with which I'll never part

your spirit lives within me,

forever in my heart.

Please, keep these poems coming. I collect them and write them in a journal which i keep about Eli. They mean the world to us and its lovely that you think of the Simpson family.

Lets hope 2010 is a brighter year for ALL of us.

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xoxox