pizza-gifts

Dear Friends,

Since we began our online Help Calendar, Eddie's family have had meals delivered to their home every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You all really are amazing!

This past Wednesday, Mandee's Pizza was at the door with a pizza Eddie's grandfather had not ordered. At first, he didn't understand that the pizza really was for them; when he realized another one of you good souls had sent it their way, Eddie's brother Marshall said: "See, Papa, I told you! I told you!" When Kori shared this story with me, it struck me how Marshall's experience in these last two weeks is to EXPECT goodies to appear at his door. You have created this sense of expectation, and I'm not sure there is anything more beautiful than that--to teach a child surrounded by so much suffering to expect good people to care, to count on grace, to be confident that Love will nourish.

(And check out how adorable he is, above; Eddie's grandpa took this photo and asked Kori to text it to me as a thank you to us all).

Thank you, friends! Your goodness goes on and on. When folks suffer, we who stand by have opportunity to shower grace and blessing into their lives, to bear witness to the pain, and to light the way to hope, provision, and love. You have done that and I'm so very grateful.

(If you'd like to sign up to bring a meal, or have a meal delivered, please visit our Help Calendar at https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/ and click on "Join This Community").

Thanking God today for all your goodness in the midst of so much heartache.

Much love,
Melissa

meals for Eddie's family--no matter where you live

Eddie's mom, Kori, has been so grateful for the meals we've delivered so far to her dad and her other son. I'm especially grateful to you; Kori is wearing herself out going back and forth each day from Eddie's side to her son in Salem, trying to spread herself out between her two boys as much as she can. So I'm so thankful for the ways you've stepped in to bring practical, needed help three days a week to their home.

If you are not in Salem but would like to be a part of our meal-delivery efforts, I've had a brainstorm: What about if you called a local establishment on a particular night (you can sign up for this evening on our online calendar by using the link below) and have it delivered to them? If you do this, please do tell the food delivery folks to leave the food if no one answers (it can be left at the front door). And, don't forget to pay the tip ahead of time when you place your order. Local sub shops in Salem and Lynn are ideal.

Use this link if you'd like to join us: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/

Once you're there, click the "Join this Community" link and fill out the request form. Because this is a private community, please be sure to let me and my friend Rebekah (who is helping me manage the site) know how we know you, so that we can ensure that Eddie's home information is shared only among friends. Once you're approved, you'll receive an email with your approval notification and an invite to sign in to the community.

Once you're in, please use our Help Calendar to choose a date for bringing or delivering a meal to Salem. And if you can, tell us what you're bringing/having delivered so we can all do our best to give them some variety along the way. Kori's dad and son are easy--they eat everything and have no dietary restrictions.

For now, we've added meal opportunities for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. If we can fill these, we can add others. Thank you, friends, for loving on Eddie and his family with us. We appreciate you more than we can say.

a hard week

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for Eddie. He's had a very rough week; yesterday he had a tracheostomy to aid him with his breathing. As you can imagine, this step has taken quite a toll on Eddie's body and is weighing heavily on his family.

For the next week or so, Eddie will be sedated to give the trach time to heal. He then has a long road ahead as he re-learns to talk, and waits and hopes for a double lung transplant.

I've been so touched by the support so many of you are offering. Practically, Eddie's grandpa could use our help. He's watching Eddie's younger brother and they could use a few home-cooked meals delivered to their house each week. We've set up an online website for this purpose. If you are interested in bringing a meal to Eddie's family in the coming month, please visit this website.

Use this link: https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/664128/

Once you've there, click the "Join this Community" link and fill out the request form. Because this is a private community, please be sure to let me know how I know you (or how you know Eddie), so that we can ensure that Eddie's home information is shared only among friends. Once you're approved, you'll be receive an email with your approval notification and inviting you to sign in to the community.

Once you're in, please use our Help Calendar to choose a date for bringing a meal to Salem. And if you can, tell us what you're bringing so we can all do our best to give them some variety along the way. They're easy--they eat everything and have no dietary restrictions.

For now, we've added meal opportunities for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. If we can fill these, we can add others. Thank you, friends! I dropped off a meal there yesterday and was just so happy to "do" something in what has been such a hard week for them all.

Thank you for bringing hope and help to Eddie with us!
Love,
Melissa