Cooking for a Cause!

Like I said in the last post, it was my mom's dream to start something to serve uninsured women and their families who have been diagnosed with cancer. She also loved to cook and started brainstorming ways to fund this non-profit dream and decided she wanted to create a cookbook from friends/family recipes to sell and raise the money. She spent the last couple years collecting recipes from people she loved. Thankfully I was able to find a lot of the recipes and information about styles that she liked when I went through stuff a couple months ago and I feel like I was able to pick up where she left off with ideas for the production of it. I also sent out letters to have people put advertisements in it to "sponsor" making the cookbook. We had a great turnout on businesses wanting to advertise in it! 

The cookbook will be called "Cooking for a Cause!" Thank you Audrey for this great idea for a name, it's perfect! 

My goal is to have 500 ordered by June 15 so that they will come in by August! I am in the process of sorting recipes, putting together the ads that people/businesses have put together to help fund the production, and filling out the ordering paperwork. If anyone has some spare time to type recipes into a software program or has a creative mind and wants to be a part of the production, I would love the help :) 

Also, I am trying to think of a name for the non-profit before June 15th, so it can be included in the cookbook. I want it to reflect being a faith based non-profit! Please leave your ideas on the blog!! 

In Him,

Allison

Her story. Her dream. Our calling!

My mom was re-diagnosed (after 9 yrs of remission) with stage four breast cancer in January 2005. She went through chemotherapy for 4 years straight and never complained. She never questioned why it was happening to her, and continued to serve God and others as if the disease didn't phase her. 

When she got diagnosed she did not have medical insurance, which made things a lot more complicated. We had no idea how we were going to pay for treatment, or even things like our mortgage, electricity, or even food. We tried to apply for funding and assistance from large agencies, but most funding solely went towards cancer research. A woman at Texas Oncology connected us with a non-profit agency in San Antonio called "Wings." This agency stepped in and started helping to pay for medical treatment we could not afford as well as helping us with day to day expenses, like utility bills and food. It was an answered prayer. Thank you Jesus. 

After fighting this disease for 4 years, the Lord decided it was time for her to join Him in Heaven where she will spend eternity, dancing and celebrating with Jesus.

My mom had a dream of opening up a non-profit, to support uninsured women with cancer and their families, just as Wings supported our family for two full years. We had several conversations about wanting to do this and we said we knew we were going to make it happen someday. When she got really sick, I remember assuring her that it would still happen because it's something the Lord called us to do together. We will be opening up a non-profit that will support families as a whole and reach those who fall through the gaps in our system. 

This is our vision: We will provide cancer education, assist in applying for free drugs from pharmacuetical companies, provide financial assistance for day to day living (i.e. utilities, food, expenses) We will also provide biblical counseling/therapy to the entire family throughout the process from diagnosis to end of life decisions and grief counseling. 

My mom was a servant of Jesus. She was a model to me of what it looks like to give sacrificially, no matter what the Lord has placed in your life. Her love for the Lord is the story that she would want to be told. Her battling cancer was just a part of His sovereign plan, and not her identity...Her identity was in her relationship with Jesus Christ. 

I am going to need significant help from others to make this happen. If you would like to help be a part of this, please let me know! We are in the beginning planning stage right now & this blog is a great way for people to throw out ideas and communicate!  

That is her story. That is her dream. Help me obey His calling by pursuing her dream! 

James 1:27