Several crocheters asked about the Janet's pattern at the Make a Blanket Day. You can find it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsytamQnXWI

Email me your finished product and I'll post it here!

Make a Blanket Day was a huge success - over 140 blankets were turned in that day, and all of them have already been delivered to children in need. Many thanks to Susan Russell and the Knightdale United Methodist Church for hosting. Here are some photos.

Make A Blanket Day

Saturday, September 13, 2014

10am to 3pm

7071 Forestville Rd,

 Knightdale, NC 27545

 

   

Welcome to the 2015 Moving Forward Mary-thon!

Ready for the 2015 Moving Forward Mary-thon? It's new and improved, it's fun, it's a great way to get moving and get healthy and best of all, it benefits Project Linus! There's no running required - just a commitment to exercise regularly for 6, 13, 19 or 26 weeks. We all know that the more we move, the healthier we become. When we move with friends for a cause (Project Linus, of course) our chances for success are so much better!

Here's what it's all about:
What is a Mary-thon? The Mary-thon is a 26 week fitness event. You commit to 26 weeks of exercise (your choice - walking, running, elliptical, Zumba, yoga, or whatever gets you moving) for 30 minutes per day either three (Half Mary-thon) or five (Full Mary-thon) days per week.

1. How long do I have? You must complete your 26 weeks within a 30 week period. That means there are 4 extra weeks built in to each Mary-thon corral to allow for illness, personal time off, etc. - it's up to you whether or not you use them.
2. When do I start? There will be three different "start dates" called corrals. You can decide which "corral" best fits your schedule in 2015 by selecting your starting date: Corral #1: Start January 4 and finish between June 4 and July 2, Corral #2: Start April 5 and finish between October 3 and October 31, or Corral #3: Start May 31 and finish between November 28 and December 26, 2015. You won't need to "restart" - once you start, there's plenty of time to finish.
3. What's in it for me? Finish 6 weeks and you will earn your "Rookie" status and receive a downloadable certificate. Finish 13 weeks and you will earn your "Semi-Pro" status and receive a Mary-thon reflector hand/arm band or no-slip headband (your choice). Finish 19 weeks and you will earn your"Pro status" and receive an official Mary-thon drawstring "sports pack". As always, when you finish 26 weeks you will be listed on our website as a Mary-thon finisher and receive your beautiful 2015 medal.
   Remember - FINISHING = WINNING!
4. How much does it cost? The cost of the Mary-thon is $39.50. For an additional $10 you can include weekly online reporting with personal feedback and encouragement. We will also have the Mary-thon workbook available for $10.00.  
5. What's in it for Project Linus? The best part is Project Linus receives $10 for every registration.
6. In addition: We will also have fun challenges along the way, Mary-thon workouts by our certified personal trainer Hannah and inspirational e-mails each week to motivate you to keep you moving forward!

Please spread the word! Registration will open on our website (www.mary-thon.net) October 1, 2014. If you have ANY questions or would like notice when registration opens, please e-mail Mary: mary@marython.net 

Some Thank Yous, both national and local:

We just received this beautiful thank you note from a grateful parent: "I just wanted to write a thank you! My children and I belong to TAPS.(Tragedy Assistance Program for survivors). We lost their dad 8/8/11. He was a SFC in the Army. To some people, that may seem like a long time. To us, some days, it feels like just yesterday. The blankets that you lovingly make and donate to TAPS, gives the children a connection between them and their mentor they receive when going to a TAPS convention. When they go home, They have a snuggly blanket that someone who cares about them picked out for them. On those difficult days, they can wrap up in that blanket and" remember the love, Celebrate the life, and share the journey" with their mentor even though they are miles apart due to your special gift! There is nothing like a warm hug and your blankets gives that to all our children. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! From a humble Army Widow"

Most campers had checked-in at Camp Corral in Gig Harbor, WA the afternoon of August 3rd when a woman and an obviously distressed young boy walked up to the tables filled with blankets. The woman asked if it was ok if her son received a blanket mentioning he was not ready for camp. She looked upset and the boy was tearing up and looking at the ground. The mom then said her son had had a rough summer so far, that earlier in the summer bullies at a playground had put a noose around her son's neck and pushed him down a slide. And because of that experience, he wasn't ready for camp this year. Her son was trying so hard not to cry, but the tears were rolling down his cheeks as she was telling all this. We made sure he got a blanket in his favorite color, and as he walked away hand in hand with his mom, he was clutching it to his chest as though his life depended on it.

And it took a couple minutes for this volunteer to pull it together as they were walking away.....

 

A beautiful thank you from a grateful mom! "I just want to say thank you for the love you provide. My now seven month old son was born with a heart problem (that he has already outgrown) that required some time in the NICU. I was a terrified new mother who had no idea what the doctors were talking about. As someone who has always loved dinosaurs, seeing the T-Rex blanket stretched across the top of his incubator made the scary box that was holding my heart and soul seem less scary. It was like a friend was there with him at all times when I couldn't be. The blanket has become his favorite play mat! Thank you so much!"

 

We received this beautiful thank you note from a grieving parent. We're always amazed when a parent going through such a crisis takes the time to thank us for the blanket their child received. It's so encouraging to us to know that our blankets really do offer a type of comfort to the families as well as the children.

Here's the note: "Just writing a little email to you all to let you know how wonderful your organization is. My husband and I just had our very first baby on May 20th and lost her that same day. One of the Project Linus crocheted blankets came to us that day and it has provided so much comfort to all of us since. I wanted to thank you for how much your organization can help in the healing process while we grieve. Our baby girl is named Hazel Noelle Shelley and she was wrapped with love in the blanket. Thank you so much."

    

Yesterday, as my daughter went back to get ready for surgery we came upon her bed with a neatly folded handmade quilt wrapped in a ribbon. When the nurse told me about Project Linus and how every little boy and girl gets a blanket before surgery I was overwhelmed with emotion knowing that a group of people, who do not know her, took the time to make something that will be forever special to her. My daughter hugged the blanket as they wheeled her off, giving her the security she needed. I just want to thank you for doing what you are doing. You are truly making a difference. It is wonderful to know there is still so much good in the world. When my daughter heals up, I am going to take her to pick out material to donate to a local Project Linus so she can return the gift of happiness to some little boy or girl. THANK YOU!!!!