Close your eyes and make a wish

Lauren's two-year old birthday party May 3, 1996
She got the nickname "Bubbles" about two minutes later
after drinking some Bubbles, producing hundreds of them
as she hiccuped and burped and giggled for the next
several minutes. She dearly loved to make us laugh.

Everyone knows that birthday parties include blowing out candles to make a wish, and guests making a wish for you as they 'bump you on the head' with your gift. Everyone knows that a rub of a magic lamp may get you access to a Genie who will grant you three wishes, ("Ix-nay on wishing for more wishes!") or to make a wish when you see a falling star. In her younger years, Lauren developed a love for making wishes and taught us to make a wish at a well, on the first star, when an eyelash lay on our cheek, when the clasp on our necklace came around to the front, when we found a lucky penny or smooth stone, or when a number was 'duplicated', especially when the clock is 11-11. This was one of our favorites and through most of the last year of Lauren's life, seemed to notice that time of day nearly every day. It was a fun coincidence this morning to come to the computer and see the 'counter' on her blog for number of 'hits' (since we began counting a month into it) had risen to 1111. It made me smile like only Lauren can.
Our 'birthday' wish (and wish on the number 1111 this morning) is to make one of Lauren's many wishes come true. When given the opportunity to be granted a wish through Make-A-Wish, Lauren simply and sincerely wished to "give her wish away" to someone who needed it more. Subsequent requests brought the same response until she figured out what SHE could do to make the WISHES of OTHERS come true. So, as we try to "Live Lauren's Legacy", we feel to do the same.
Lauren's wish is the purpose for this blog. Her wish is directing the things we have determined to do and will do with her story. In honor of her birthday this year, we are encouraging wearing 'blue' on Monday, May 3, along with a gold ribbon for Childhood Cancer, and that each person whose life has been touched by Lauren, will consider ways to make the wishes of others come true.
Under the heading "Making a difference" on this blog, are links to Lauren's favorite charities where you could donate direct. As stated in the last post, funds, books, and food are being gathered in Lauren's honor to be donated to those in need. We would be honored to have you participate as you feel able. T-shirts, paintings, and window decals are still not viewable on the blog (will be soon), but are available if you would like to contact us. And, I'm still working on her beautiful wish ... and pulling together her story through her book "Happily Ever After."

Central to Lauren's 'wishes' have been one particular young girl whom we have all grown to adore. Her family will be the main focus of all of these particular efforts with funds and food. The books will go to PCMC, and libraries Lauren frequented. PCMC and Make-A-Wish will be the other recipients of donations collected and delivered in honor of Lauren's birthday.
And, for wishes to really come true, you have to LOVE and LAUGH every day. After all, that's what a "Happily Ever After" is . . .