Oh dear...i promised... :-(

I have just had a look at how long its taken me to get around to writing the blog...it has been absolutely forever, with a few big anniversaries in between...
Im sooo sorry! Time has definitely got away from us...

where to begin!

November 16 saw us reflect again on Eli's loss...incredibly difficult...many tears and we still find it very hard. Archie is now becoming more and more aware of Eli's presence in the simpson family which is just so very sweet. I often reflect how Eli's life is going to continue as we encourage archie to know his big brother...i guess it will come as it comes.

Christmas was absolutely FLAT OUT with 6 families visiting from mid december right the way through to the end of January! We had that really hot spell in January and thankfully things held up pretty well. Christmas itself was pretty chaotic because archie picked up a really nasty virus...so it was a struggle. It was also time for archie to hand over his dummies to santa...but he did REALLY well although he still says now that "Santa came and took my dummies and left HEAAAAPPPPPSSS of presents"...im guessing he is still cranky with santa LOL

Just before the Christmas rush we were able to complete the kitchen renovations in the Cottage. They turned out absolutely perfectly. We cannot thank Adam Greenwood and his team, and the Lakes Entrance Betta Electrical store (and Voltage Electrics, Risely Plumbing and Reece) enough for all their time and effort. I will post photos at the end of the blog so you can see the difference...its absolutely amazing and for the families who have stayed with us since, they have raved about it :-)

This years fundraising concentrates on having the house upgraded for wheelchair access. We have finally got our plans sorted and are now waiting on quotes to get the work completed hopefully before the September holidays...its going to look fantastic. We only have to tweak a few things inside, and most of the work will be done on our pathways and balcony on the outside, so i will keep you posted :-)

we have been absolutely blessed with a whole heap of amazing groups and organisations who have approached us this year to get involved with their fundraising efforts for Melon's Cottage...

We have been involved with the EastGippsland Convoy for Kids which was amazing, we ran our Mothers Day Melon's Cottage Raffle which was a huge success (and thanks to EVERYONE for helping us with that)...as well as a Trivia Night which will be held in Melbourne on 19 July 2014. That event sold out in 4 days which is fantastic and with lots of auction items - we will definitely see you there.

We cannot forget some of the other fundraisers which were run with just a few weeks - Ambers Gift. A wonderful story of a selfless 6 year old girl Amber Wilson who donated her hair so that wig makers could make wigs for those who have lost their hair from cancer treatment and all the proceeds to Melon's Cottage. A total of approx $3,200!

We also had a raffle which was run in the honour of Les Cramp - a terrific local identity who died in March. His wonderful partner Carol contacted us and ran a raffle at our local establishments and in Les's honour, donated over $1000 to our Foundation. We will make sure that we have something special in the Cottage to honour Les's memory...

We have also been recently contacted by Casey from the urbanFunk dance group who will be holding another concert later in June at the Central Pub. As with last year, all donations will come to the Cottage - its just amazing! We have also been the recipients of many donations by our local service clubs and businesses who continue to give...its awesome to know that melon has touched so many lives...

For all those families who have stayed with us since we opened in 2012...we cannot speak enough of how these guys feel when they come and stay. I know we harp on about it, but it truly is a priviledge to do what we do...the amount of amazing people we have met and continue to meet is humbling. Archie is at a great age and like us, cant wait to meet the "families" who come and stay with us.

Alright will sign off for now...and make sure i post some photos of the last 8 months or so - EEEEEK...so thanks for being so patient...and thanks for those few who have said "you know jodes, we havent seen a blog in a while!" Can i recommend you also friend us on facebook - i know its naughty, but we do alot of our stuff on their now i know how to use it better :-)

take care everyone and i will DEFINITELY be back sooner rather than later this time round!

love and sunshine
the simpsons
xoxoxox