Tank’s baseball dreams for this summer for sure for next week’s tournament are a go! Wow! Thank you. Thank you.

Still more donations came in yesterday. How exciting! When I told Tank he said, “Mom, that’s awesome. You’re awesome. I need to be awesome.” I told him he was awesome.

This whole “Getting Creative to Help Make Dreams Come True” process has taught us all some valuable lessons, too. Community, our circle of friends, it isn’t just Hallmark Cards. It’s the real thing. Appreciate the human beings around you. There is a collective force that pulls us towards one another. That’s what makes this life worth enjoying and living.

We’re just shy of the goal ($50); but, a few more peanut butter sandwiches and dollar-stretching in other places and we’ll likely make it work. Thanks again to all the “Baseball is Life” sponsors.

And can I tell you how much I love PayPal? I wish more interfaces allowed me to use Paypal. Like I have a library fine I owe right now (I can never finish my books in enough time because I check out too many at a time). I logged onto the library page and you can pay online – that’s awesome; but it won’t take Paypal. Really? Bummer. I have to dig out a credit card. Ugh. Also, there have been times over the years, especially with Tank’s sports stuff, where we’d wish that folks took Paypal. One small note – the time of an email, and BAM! Everyone has their money. You’re collecting for a gift for so-in-so’s birthday at work. Take Paypal baby. It’s easy. Course this is because I NEVER carry any cash. Ever. Ask my kids.

“Mom! It’s the ice cream man!”

“Does he take Paypal?”

/snort. I crack myself up, at least.

If anyone wants to help us get that last bit of our goal, remember it’s a simple paypal donation to:  casz at creativewordlab dot com.

Thanks again to the incredible generosity and faith in dreams my fabulous circle has. You put your money where your mouth is. May your graciousness come back at you threefold.

Tank says, "Thank you. You're Awesome!"

I’m indebted to the incredible generosity of those that responded to my “Getting Creative to Help Make Dreams Come True.” We need $150 more to meet our goal. But even so, I have a lot of writing to do. It’s really going to challenge me, but I am so inspired that there is such human greatness out there. I am stunned. It was hard to keep my emotions under wrap yesterday. I was a blubbering mess each time a donation came in. Tank, too, was very touched. He, however, in true athlete fashion was, like, “I’m gonna kick butt!” Made me realize yesterday I have raised some fighters. We don’t give up. With the help of some very dear souls and friends, we will regroup and wage assault again to battle for our dreams.

Again, my deepest gratitude to those who are helping my sweet Tank go for his dreams. Wow. You all are incredible! Thank you.

In mid-June, I stepped away from a stable, yet very unsatisfying job. I began a career of self-employment. Creative Word Lab (www.creativewordlab) was born.

Initially business was good. Invoicing went out and some monies came in; but not all of them. And it’s pinching in a too important place as far as I’m concerned.

Bills are still due and my son’s baseball dreams are at risk. He has two tournaments coming up.

Because there’s not enough in the baseball travel fund kitty at the moment we need to commit to his upcoming tournament, we came up with a plan.

We’re accepting donations to help his baseball dreams come true. In true modern athlete fashion, he’s putting his name – Tank – on the line to play baseball. And I’m putting my name as a creative artist and writer on the line.

For each donation of at least $25, you have two choices. You will be noted as a sponsor in a small video montage (that will be offered to other baseball families and posted w/ a promo posted on YouTube (which also features your sponsorship) that will be put together over the tournament weekends (there are two upcoming) or I will write you a poem featuring you as a main character.

For $50 donation, I will write you a short story featuring you as a main character and Tank will give you a shout-out on the video.

If someone wants to sponsor one of the entire tournament costs ($300 – travel, lodging & entry fees), we will create a sponsorship banner that will be featured in the video. And I will do $500 worth of writing, creativity coaching and, or communication consulting for you. That’s a savings of $200 plus free advertising!

You are also welcome to make a donation (anonymous or noted) without a gift beyond knowing you’re helping make a child’s dreams come true.

We are accepting PayPal Donations (casz at creativewordlab dot com). Private Message us here with your sponsorship preference — video advertising or literary memorialization, or some extra consulting business for free.