Sis' Hope to Heal
I've finished our list of items lost, and it was an overwhelming, emotional struggle for me to jog my memory and think of everything that was in
Matilda when she burned to the ground. I had no idea what the process would entail, and I can tell you that I never want to do that again. For it
being "just stuff" it sure broke my heart into a million pieces to recall every detail. I'm not going to enjoy visiting her final resting place, and
seeing the destruction of our dreams in real life.
Sis has been a basket case since she heard the news. She wept openly and with such deep sadness when she saw the pictures. I don't know how she is
processing it all, but I know she's taking it very hard. We remind each other that our family is safe, and that it's okay to be sad. I wish she didn't
have to feel such raw emotion at such a young age.
She came up with a plan to help us all heal, and I want to share it with you all, so that you can share it with the world, because I think it's simply
beautiful. She has been wanting her own sewing machine, has been saving her money and now she has enough to buy it, and she has been wanting to quilt.
Her idea? Have people from around the world send her fire department tee shirts, and tee shirt with fire related themes so that we can make a tee
shirt quilt from them for each of our beds in our new Baja home. Her hope? That the love sent from everyone in the form of their tee shirts, will keep
us warm and help us heal, and that we will always be comforted by the love of family, friends and strangers when we need it the most.
As you may know, her Daddy is a firefighter, and I do believe he may be taking it harder than anyone else. Of course, he internalizes it and puts up a
brave front. He is our rock. But, I know that the fact that he fights fires for a living, that he helps others in their time of need, and yet, he
wasn't able to help us, has shattered him. I think that an outpouring of love and friendship from the fire community would do his heart good as well.
So, if you would be so kind as to grant a sweet 8 year old's wish, to bring healing and hope back to her family's hearts through a simple donation of
a fire tee shirt, please send one her way. I promise to take pictures of the progress and the final results. And if there are too many shirts, we'll
make extras to give to other children that are the victims of fire loss. Please share this post and her wish far and wide!
If you'd like to help, please send the shirts to ~ Erin VanGurp
PO BOX 401
Pinetop, AZ 85935
for more information, please visit our blog @ thefamvangurp.blogspot.com or U2U me.
thanks so much!DocRey - 2-3-2014 at 09:30 PM
Tee shirts will be in the mail post hast. I'm thinking 2XL, unless you have a preference. Pacifico - 2-3-2014 at 09:35 PM
You got it!24baja - 2-3-2014 at 11:43 PM
We will round up some of our fire shirts also. Happy quilting honey and please post pics when done! Connie and Brett (both firefighters)bajafam - 2-4-2014 at 11:09 AM
Thank you all so much! This warms my heart after feeling (once again) so defeated. The size doesn't matter as she will be cutting them into shapes and
designs as she sees fit. She specifically asked for a fire shirt from Africa, so that will be a challenge for me! I will definitely contact the IAFF,
thank you SoulPatch.
If you know of any other firefighters, emergency organizations, etc that might be willing to send her s shirt, please share the blog link in all of
your social media outlets. I would love to get too many so she can make extras to donate.
Muchas gracias amigos!!!24baja - 2-4-2014 at 06:28 PM
Tell Sis that i have sent out an SOS from my fire buddies on facebook and will see what turns up. I am sure we will see something heading your way!
Connie & Brettbajafam - 2-4-2014 at 06:47 PM
muchas, mucha gracias!!
She is so excited. I can't wait to see her face when she gets all these shirts Terry28 - 2-4-2014 at 10:27 PM
Count me in....just gotta go through some closets....bajafam - 2-5-2014 at 10:52 AM
thanks so much! You guys are great!!bajafam - 2-7-2014 at 04:49 PM
DocRey ~ Erin got your package today!!
She was so tickled!! Thanks for putting a smile on her face, friend!!DocRey - 2-7-2014 at 05:08 PM
Great! Happy to oblige. Keep us posted.bajafam - 2-9-2014 at 06:31 PM
24baja - 3-25-2014 at 04:33 PM
Sent a small package today, hope they work for youbajafam - 4-16-2014 at 03:04 PM
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!!
If anyone else would like to send tees to Sis for her quilt, please do! She's starting to pick out how she would like it to look, but we are in need
of many more shirts for it to happen. We've decided that any shirts fire OR Baja related would fit the purpose.
The address is ~
Erin VanGurp
PO BOX 401
Pinetop, AZ 85935
Thanks again!!DocRey - 4-16-2014 at 08:23 PM
Well & good. I'll get a few more to you. bajafam - 4-17-2014 at 10:49 AM
soulpatch ~ I sent out several messages on Facebook to different IAFF affiliates, but I haven't gotten any responses. I think I will need to send out
snail mail letters instead. Thank you for the reminder.mulegejim - 4-17-2014 at 01:55 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajafam
soulpatch ~ I sent out several messages on Facebook to different IAFF affiliates, but I haven't gotten any responses. I think I will need to send out
snail mail letters instead. Thank you for the reminder.
I emailed my union of which I was the long time treasurer of, Local 112, IAFF......Los Angeles City, they indicated you should receive shirt/s from
them in the near future.
Jim Galvin, retired Captain, LAFD.
[Edited on 4-17-2014 by mulegejim]bajafam - 4-18-2014 at 11:32 AM
many thanks Jim!!
we are feeling the love!!bajafam - 5-19-2014 at 04:39 PM
Pacifico and 24Baja ~ we've received your packages. Thank you all so very, very much!!Pacifico - 5-19-2014 at 04:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajafam
Pacifico and 24Baja ~ we've received your packages. Thank you all so very, very much!!
Glad you received it! Can't wait to see a pic of the finished product!24baja - 5-19-2014 at 06:19 PM
So glad that you received it. I have a friend who is looking for more shkrts will send them when i receive them. I cant wait to seethe quilts!BajaRat - 5-27-2014 at 01:27 PM
Thank you to everyone!
[Edited on 5-27-2014 by BajaRat]bajafam - 5-27-2014 at 01:29 PM
If you are on Facebook, I posted a picture of the shirts in their preliminary arrangement. Feel free to friend us!
