Friday, November 4, 2011

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 4

It's Friday!  Hooray!  I don't know why Fridays are exciting to use stay at home moms, but for some reason, they still are.  I'd like to suggest it's because we know we're going to get to see our husbands for the next couple days!  This weekend is a busy one for us, because we're taking a little trip.  A trip that makes me especially thankful.  

Today, I am thankful for the students at Indiana University!  


I haven't met the students at IU...most of them anyway.  I don't know what they're doing right now.  I don't know what they'll be doing tonight.  I know that a whole slew of them, though, have spent the last several months planning, organizing, fundraising, to produce an amazing event, the IU Dance Marathon!  This awesome weekend will feature 36 straight hours of nonstop dancing by hundreds of college students!  Sounds fun, right?  

So you're wondering why I would thankful for a room full of sweaty, stinky, dancing college students.
I'm thankful for these students because every year, for over 20 years, groups of students from IU have selflessly donated their weekend (and in many cases MUCH more time than just a weekend) to give of themselves and raise tons of money, which they donate to Riley Hospital for Children!

Last year, IUDM raised over $1.5M!


Each year, the IUDM team invites families of "Riley Kids" to join them for the event.  Fraternities and Sororities sponsor each family, providing a hotel room for the weekend, food, gifts, etc.  They're so gracious and generous with their giving!  For the last three years, Bugsy's been one of the sponsored "Riley Kids!"  So we make the 2 hour trip, stay in a hotel, and pretend we're on a wild and crazy college rave-type road trip for the weekend!  It's super fun and a great way to honor the struggles some of these kids have endured.  It's exciting to be a part of such an event that benefits an organization without which Bugsy might not be here today!

So, today I am thankful for the students at IU.  Thank you so much for taking the time to make a difference for children you don't know...for generations to come!

Dear Lord, place your hand of protection on the marathon this weekend.  Bless these college students as they dance.  Encourage them and keep them strong!  Allow each family in attendance to be blessed as well!  Thank you for your provisions, even through a group of crazy college students, and for putting the right people in the right places so that funds come together and children around the state (and around the world!) can benefit from this one weekend.  Thank you for creating these students!

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