Julie's Blog

I spent a little "free time" watching the movie Sweet Home Alabama this weekend.  It's pretty sad when you equate "free time" with sitting on a gurney in the emergency room wearing one of the beautiful hospital gowns; but honestly I think it's the first time in about 2 years that I've actually watched a movie all the way through!

I'm not sure if you've ever seen this movie or not, but there's a line in the movie that refers to an idea that's crossed my mind several times...

Is it possible to have both "Roots" and "Wings"? Home is where you hang your heart, right?  Or is it where your roots are planted deep into the ground?  Maybe it's both.

I have friends that are way more "Wings" than "Roots", who seem to soar from location to location without ever looking back.  State to state, home to home....

 I could never be one of those people.  I know it for sure.

I never thought I'd ever be able to call anyplace else home other than the home in which I was raised.  Even up to the day I moved out of my childhood home, only days before my wedding, I was still nervous about how I would feel about my new "home".  I really didn't believe anywhere else would ever feel like home to me like that again.

It's been almost 8 years now, since my husband and I moved our family here to Plainfield, IL, and I think I'd have to dig pretty deep if I ever wanted to try to pull these new roots now.

For a long time after we moved into our new house, I felt a pulled to my old familiar stomping grounds.  It wasn't until after we started making new memories as a family, and made new friends in the area, that it really began to feel like home. 

When I drive through my old hometown from time to time, it's funny how I can turn back the clock in my mind.  So much has changed, but the memories of my childhood still come clearly flooding back.

This new home, and this life we've made for ourselves here in Plainfield, will be the memories our kids take with them throughout their lives. 

Yep, home is where the heart is... and I really like where I've hung mine!

Home means something different to every person.  Here's some other points of view:

What Makes a House a Home

Trevor Kott 
October 14th, 2006 ~ April 25th, 2007
        

Trevor was born on October 14th, 2006, with a very rare type of cancer called AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).  He endured 5 rounds of chemotherapy in hopes of keeping the cancer at bay until a compatible bone marrow donor could be found.  As time went on, and no donor could be located, Trevor grew more ill.

In his short, but meaningful life, Trevor summoned up the good in people.  He challenged strangers to answer a call to be good to each other; to take care of one another. 

He made us take notice that, yes... one person can make a difference. 

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I tell you, Trevor Kott passed away on April 25^th, 2007 because a bone marrow donor could not be found in time to save his life.

Some people search their entire lives in the pursuit of happiness, scurrying to fulfill a purpose, and struggling to understand the meaning of their lives.  Trevor did all of that with what little time he had with all of us here on earth.

Trevor is a messenger.  Countless lives will no doubt be saved because of the spirit of giving that Trevor invoked at the drives held in his honor. 

Please join me in honoring Trevor's life on by becoming a member of the Bone Marrow Donor Registry on Saturday May 12^th, 2007 at:

Meadow View Elementary School
2501 Mirage Ave.
Plainfield, IL 60586
9:00am - 1:00 pm
A swab from the inside of your cheek is all that is required for tissue typing.  If you have any questions about the drive, please call me, Julie Ferenzi, at 815-609-5462.

(In addition to the Bone Marrow Registry Drive, Meadow View Elementary is also participating in a Blood Drive and a used Electronic Equipment Recycling Drive on this day.  Please come out and support these great causes. )

  Read more about Trevor and his story at

www.TrevorKott.com