Your help is requested!!!

I'm training for a marathon with TEAM WORLD VISION, and I would love your help!!! Read below to find out how you might be able to partner with me on this journey!

1. PRAY for me. Running this much is time consuming and sometimes painful (I am battling a hip issue). If you could pray that I continue to stick to my schedule and enjoy running pain-free for the kiddos in Africa, I would appreciate it.

2. Donate to and/or visit my Garage Sale on August 24th. If you have anything that has been sitting around for a while that you want to get rid of, consider bringing it over before August 24th. All proceeds from the sale will go directly to my World Vision page. You could also shop the sale :)

3. Visit my fundraising page and donate to bring clean water to people in Africa who desperately need our help. EVERY dollar amount helps. For every $50, water is provided for one person for life. To those of you who have already donated, THANK YOU!!! So far we have provided water for life for 7 different people :)

4. Come CHEER me on October 6th. My goal is to have as many family and friends as possible line the course to keep me motivated for 26.2 miles!!!

We are in this together, friends! The needs are great, but together we can make a difference in the lives of many!

~Sandra

Bathroom Entertainment

Who needs a toy when you have a hand dryer at the gas station?

Fun at the Rash/Lasky House

This is how boys have fun :)

Ninja Warrior Grayson

This kiddo...

brings so much joy to the lives of many!!!

Quality Time with Cousin Samuel

Birthday Celebrations for Griffin :)

 Cupcakes and Pinatas with Grandma Laurie

The Wisconsin Dells with Uncle Andrew, Samuel, and Mary Ann

 Chili's with GiGi

 Opening Presents at Papa Tom's

Splash Pad Fun with the Scalia Family

Griffin was blessed with quite a few birthday celebrations this year. He is a lucky boy who is loved by many!

Farthest run to date...

On August 11th, I ran 15 miles. It is my farthest run to date, and it was the first time I reached a 30 mile week. The run went well, and I was blessed to have completed this milestone with my brother, Andrew.

Happy 7th Birthday, Griffin!

It's true. You are SEVEN! AAAHHH!!! STOP GROWING UP SO FAST!!!

Okay, now that my rant is out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about why you are so special :)

This past year has been a whirlwind. You have grown in so many ways... there are literally times where my breath catches in my chest when I think about all the little ways you have grown up this year. All the little accomplishments. The lessons. The joy you bring to this family.

Currently you are still proving to be a fantastic reader. At the end of the year, you tested at a DRA level that put you past the end of 2nd grade. You have been reading chapter books all summer, and you are currently in the middle of a 200 page book! You enjoy reading, but you are definitely reaching a stage where it isn't your go to activity like it was before. I have enjoyed many coffee dates with you this summer at Caribou while the two of us read our own books and chat about life. Your questions are becoming harder to answer. For example, the answer "From God" no longer works when you ask the question about where babies come from. Your daddy and I are still trying to figure out how to appropriately have this conversation :)

Your faith is getting stronger every day, and you are definitely my little evangelist. You set up a church camp during recess at school!!! And just the other day you chose to sing a church song for the talent show at Play Net. It is obvious you like sharing Jesus with those around you.

Tennis is still your sport of choice, and man, it brings a smile to my face when I watch you play with your daddy. You actually played your very first set the other day...serves and all! I was so proud because you had great sportsmanship. You do super well with the older kids, and you adore your coach. We are lucky to have found a program run by Gusties!

You and your brother are definitely the best of friends. While you can argue with one another, and both of you know how to push each other's buttons, at the end of the day, you have each other's backs. You look out for each other, and you can spend hours playing together. It truly is a joy as a mother to watch the two of you play together.

Your ability to sense that something is wrong and your ability to care for someone else is what I admire most about you, Griffin. You love taking care of little kids, and you offer to help Mommy do many things. You also know when Mommy gets upset, and you are the first to apologize for things that sometimes you have no control over. For example, you were recently sick and up in the middle of the night. You must have heard me talk about not sleeping, and you came over to give me a hug and apologize for keeping me up. Your heart is really in the right place, and I simply assured you that it is MY PLEASURE to take care of you. It is honor to be your mother and help you through life.

It's also becoming obvious that you have a little drama in your blood. You love to perform tricks, dance moves, or make silly faces for anyone willing to watch. Your zeal for life and your passion for entertaining others is apparent in almost everything you do. The pictures above are just a snapshot of your daily energy.

Allergy shots are still part of your regular routine, but we have been able to back off on some of your daily medicine. You are able to be around dogs without getting sick, and it is obvious your breathing is much better than years past. You are still a bit on the small side because your medicine is apparently stunting your growth, but apparently that is par for the course in the Dunigan Family. You and your little brother are destined to be little dynamos :)

Happy Birthday, my little man. Words are not enough to even begin to describe the love and joy you bring to those around you. You amaze me every day, and I am so thankful God has allowed me to be your mommy. May your light shine even brighter this year! 

Wisconsin Dells 2013

Instead of a typical friends birthday party, Griffin chose to go to the Dells for a night with Uncle Andrew, Samuel, and Mary Ann. We are blessed to have those three in our lives, and I am continually thankful for the time we get to spend with them. If only we lived closer :(

Como Zoo

 Dancing in line :)

Miss Isabel was the only one brave enough to ride the tea cups :)

 

 They make a great team :)

 Face/Leg Art

 We have a picture just like this from a few years ago...MAN they are growing up fast!!!

 My handsome monkeys