IT'S A BOY!!

I got the call with the news from my sisters first official ultrasound. The tech is 99% sure it's a boy! We are all convinced Sara has a big part in this baby. She heard my moms and my prayers for a boy. We just feel it will make this easier for everyone not to be tempted to compare this baby to Sara. The tech also found her to be a bit further along.. so his new due date is March 2nd. That works out well with everyone! We aren't worried about when he arrives just as long as he is healthy and happy!

I'm also more convinced that Sara's original date for delivery of the lapghans to the nursing home of 2010 is becoming more practical. After a rough summer and now a move I finally am getting back in the spirit to make more lapghans. I will also have to start a new baby blanket for "Him". No names picked as of yet. They only had girls names! They can save those for "next" time :)

Congrats again Heather & Al! I know Sara is thrilled also!!

She must be jumping up and down in heaven!

Sara's mom made a big announcement on her own birthday. She is expecting a baby in Sara's birth month of March! Sara always wanted to be a big sister. I have a feeling she had a hand (from heaven) in the timing of all of this!! Congrats little sister, another baby will help fill the void of Sara's absence and bring happiness to the house and family again. She is smiling down on this news I'm sure!

I also received another beautiful lapghan from Karen. She was Sara's reading tutor and had Sara's big brother in her preschool class. I will post a picture asap!

Karen please accept my apologies!

Thank you for your understanding and patience Karen. These three beautiful Lapghans were made by Karen in St. Louis, MO. We finally got to meet when she came to town to see her mom and brought these along. I enjoyed meeting your family and wished I could've stayed longer. Also thanks Karen for bringing some of your other projects to show me. Loved seeing them all. Thank you again.

Dedication to Our Angel in the Outfield!

Angel in the outfield
Hornets dedicate tree in memory of their departed teammate
05/21/2008, 12:40 pm

Melissa Garzanelli, melissag@mywebtimes.com, 815-431-4049
Photo: Doug Larson

The Hornets girls fast-pitch team gathers around a tree planted in memory of teammate Sara Treest, who died in November. A ceremony to honor Treest was conducted prior to the team’s first game of the season by coach Joel Hambleton (far left) and manager Jim Thrush (second from left) on Tuesday.

A framed uniform with Sara Treest’s number, signed by all her teammates, was presented to Al and Heather Treest in memory of their daughter.

Running from first to second base during a softball game last year, Sara Treest was struck in the back by a thrown ball. Hard.
Jim Thrush, manager of the Hornets' girls fast-pitch team, recalls hearing the crack when the ball hit her and watching as Treest went down face-first and crying. But he had to laugh when even as she wept through the pain, her foot wiggled out from under her to touch second base.

That dedication was so typical.

"She was always the first one there," he said.

Thrush, along with all of Treest's teammates on the Hornets, gathered prior to their first game Tuesday to plant a tree in her honor at the girls softball diamond at Peck Park.

Treest died last November in an accident at her home. When softball season started, her teammates still were thinking about her, missing her in her spot in left field. Uniforms were ordered with wings and a halo around the name "Sara" to commemorate their friend.

Last year, Treest was No. 2 and this year no one else was given that number. Instead a shirt was made for her, each player signed it and the framed shirt was presented to her parents, Heather and Al, during the dedication.

Heather recalled how scared her daughter was when she moved up to the Hornets last year, being the smallest girl on the team.

"She was so happy to be part of this team," she said. "At first she was so scared because she was so much littler. But everyone treated her like a big girl. She was really honored to be part of this team."

Thrush was amazed at how the older girls "took her under their wings." He credited Treest's positive attitude. Other parents, also gathered at the dedication, noticed it too.

"She was the sweetest little thing ever," said Karen McCormick. "She loved being part of this team É Her personality made her belong."

Her teammates remember Treest most for her bubbly personality and commitment to others. Lauren Funk recalls one team meeting when bickering had erupted. Treest stopped the argument by offering to play only two innings so someone else could play more. That selflessness and team spirit was a spark for the rest of the team.

"She was always happy. She was always in a good mood," remembered Samantha Daugherty.

"She was the most positive person on the team," agreed Megan Beard. "She knew when we were low how to keep us up and positive. She was the most spirited."

"I couldn't look at her without smiling," said Funk.

Thrush also praised Treest's attitude and her dedication, always the first to volunteer to help and to cheer on other members of her team. With the season kicking off and the Hornets striving to win their third championship in a row, he said Treest will be missed.

"Sara will be our angel in the outfield," he said. "This is something that we all believe."

We made it onto Lion Brands Charity Page!!

I was thinking about it and thought I would look to see if we were accepted. I hadn't heard anything so I checked, Click here to see. Scroll down to Sara Smiles Project. I'm thrilled to be on such a well known/viewed site. A BIG thank you goes to Virginia for suggesting I put try to get us on there. Please check us out!

Signed up on Lion Brand

Virginia S. emailed me with a great suggestion that I didn't even consider. She suggested I get on the Lion Brand website and sign up to be listed on the Charity page. Virginia, I did it immediately after reading your email- Thank You. I will have to check back to see if the editors will list us. Everyone keep your knitting needles or fingers crossed that we are accepted. Thanks again Virginia! You've been a wonderful help.

Virginia - This is beautiful!

This fabulous lapghan was sent by Virginia of Depew NY. The picture doesn't do it justice. I love the pattern. Thank you for the time , effort and love you obviously put into this. I'm positive Sara is smiling.

Also again my apologies for being so tardy at getting this photo posted. I went out of town with my mom and sister to "escape" right after Sara's birthday. She would've been 13.