Chasing Butterflies
Please allow me to introduce myself and tell you a little about what I am doing .
My name is Colleen Cooper, I am a 42 year young, wife and mother of 3. I have 2 living daughters and one son that moved on to his home with Jesus Christ a little over 5 1/2 years ago.
My name is Colleen Cooper, I am a 42 year young, wife and mother of 3. I have 2 living daughters and one son that moved on to his home with Jesus Christ a little over 5 1/2 years ago.
On September 18th, 2000, my son Ian died from injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 7 years and 12 days old. He was a beautiful (big) boy and is still dearly missed and thought of every moment of the day.
Shortly before he passed away, my husband and I decided that he would be an organ donor.
The group at the hospital, LifeGift, had been talking with us and up to that point, we had never really seriously considered the donor idea.
A short time after his death, we were notified that he had been the donor of his 4 heart valves and his corneas. 6 people are now living a better life because of the gift he gave them. He, in a way, lives on through the people that received the new valves and corneas. I love the thought that someone somewhere is living better and seeing, because of what he gave.
The LifeGift group had a bumper sticker at the time that said something like this, "Heaven doesn't need them, but it's hell on earth without them"!
A short time after his death, we were notified that he had been the donor of his 4 heart valves and his corneas. 6 people are now living a better life because of the gift he gave them. He, in a way, lives on through the people that received the new valves and corneas. I love the thought that someone somewhere is living better and seeing, because of what he gave.
The LifeGift group had a bumper sticker at the time that said something like this, "Heaven doesn't need them, but it's hell on earth without them"!
My goal is to bring awareness to my community, reaching out as far as possible, that signing up as a registered donor will save someones life or greatly improve the one they are living now!
I hope to let people know that when a loved one dies, if they have not registered, to consider donating their organs and whatever else they would want to donate (ie; tissue, bone, etc.) so that someone else might be able to "spread their wings" and fly.
My son was the inspiration behind the name I chose. Butterflies live such a short life yet they are beautiful and graceful and everyone always marvels at one when it flies by. To be kissed by a butterfly is considered one of life's treasured moments in my family. It is like a kiss from God because they are so gentle, to light and so tender.
Ian, spent much of his life "chasing butterflies"! When asked to do something, he would get it done but in the process, would be found chasing them around the yard. It was a beautiful thing.
It made me think of those who are on a list waiting to receive a new life, through a new heart or lung or kidney or cornea or heart valve or so on.
Please talk to your loved ones and discuss becoming a registered donor. I hope to have registration cards soon but they are available at your local Dept. of Public Safety (where you get your drivers license). All you have to do is fill out a very small and simple card and then place one or two of the very small stickers somewhere on your drivers license.
If you would consider registering, but have questions you can find out more at the LifeGift website or at your local DPS office, or you can leave me a comment or email me and I will be happy to try and get an answer for you.
Please let me know you were here and if you are a relative to a donor or recipient, I would love to hear from you and share your stories or thoughts if you'd like.
God is so great that not only can he carry our burdens, but He cries with us over losses such as the death of a child or a family member or friend. I pray that if you are reading this that you know that the only way to Him is through his son, Jesus Christ, who died and gave (donated) his ALL for us, for our sins to allow us to live with him eternally in heaven when we have finished our race here.
Think about this: You won't need them where you are going!
Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted by myself or one of my family members, (Kendra, Shannon and Tori, have been true blessings), and ALL are created with love. Each piece will have a butterfly somewhere within it's making, to signify the "spread your wings and fly" theme. A butterfly will be included in either the beading or dangling from the piece.
If you have a specific color pattern or choice you'd like me to make, I can do that as well.
If you see a piece you are interested in, please email me with the item number just below the photo and I will send you the pricing information and shipping details. Thank you! my email is as follows
If you see a piece you are interested in, please email me with the item number just below the photo and I will send you the pricing information and shipping details. Thank you! my email is as follows
praynlady@cebridge.net
Ideal Ideas
Ideal Ideas
(these are only a few of them...)
Wedding attendant gifts
Sport Team Moms
Teacher gifts
Secret Pal gifts
Birthday, Christmas or other special days (i.e. Mothers day, Grandparents day, etc.)
NO TWO PIECES WILL EVER BE EXACTLY ALIKE UNLESS ORDERED SPECIFICALLY THAT WAY: ie wedding attendant gifts, teachers gifts, party favors etc.
Wedding attendant gifts
Sport Team Moms
Teacher gifts
Secret Pal gifts
Birthday, Christmas or other special days (i.e. Mothers day, Grandparents day, etc.)
NO TWO PIECES WILL EVER BE EXACTLY ALIKE UNLESS ORDERED SPECIFICALLY THAT WAY: ie wedding attendant gifts, teachers gifts, party favors etc.
I have several pieces that can be purchased as individual pieces or as a set for a discount. When a set is purchased, I will discount the total set by $3.00 to $5.00, depending on the make of the set.
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of great courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest.
If I will need to ship an item or items to you, there will be a $2.50 handling charge along with the postage. I will only ship from the local post office. I have my own scale and will only charge the amount on the scale. Should the amount be less than what I have charged you, well, good for me! haha But if the amount is more than what I charged you, I will deduct the difference from the handling charge and you won't have to worry about it, so good for you! haha I am trying to figure out how to include a paypal tab on this page so that those of you who use paypal can just click to pay. I will keep working on that as well.I have approximately 90 pieces ready. I have a few that I have not yet photographed. As soon as I can, I will add them to the post!
Thanks for being patient until I figure out exactly what I am doing and get everything lined out. I am going to try to put a title under each one so that you will know the difference in the ones that look similar.
Disclaimer: Most bracelets, necklaces and earrings are made of glass beads, silver plated, gold plated findings are used, and occasionally plastic beads are used for accent. If you would like to place an order, items made with pure silver will be charged accordingly and may take a bit longer to make and deliver, (mail, ship, drop off personally).
These are beautiful! I saw your comment that you left in our kitty blog and wanted to drop by and visit with you in your newly designed blog. What a great idea, and I wish you all the luck in the world with this venture!!!
Posted by
Wystful1 |
5:15 PM
Hey , just foun your new blog.... cool!!
Do you make these bracelets yourself???? Please let me know.
Ive missed ya sooooo much, hope you can get some zzzzzz
GOD KEEP BLESSIN YA !!! I love ya !!!
byeeeeeeee
P
Say HI to KAYLSSSS
Posted by
Iranai |
11:10 PM
KJ, I had a really great time with you too! I love you and thank you for your help! Come back anytime and "play" with me anytime!
Posted by
praynlady |
8:50 PM
Very cool! I need to get something for a friend of mine. Her son drowned when he was 18 mos. old and she has claimed the butterfly as her symbol of hope & healing. She even got one tatooed on her ankle. Love this-I will share with friends!
Posted by
Lizanne |
10:53 PM
Lizanne, thank you so much for the comment, I too, got a tatoo on my ankle for Ian. My "chasing butterflies", has a story behind it which I will post on the blog as soon as I have time. Anyway, tell your friend I am here and that most seem to select the butterfly as their emblem of freedom from the pain and as a remembrance of their loved one because it is so free! Thanks again.
Posted by
praynlady |
8:05 AM
Found your site through the CWO blogring- I love your idea for the "chasing butterflies" jewelry! Sorry for the loss of your son, but it's so great that other's got to live a better life because of the donations! God Bless!
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:04 PM
(visiting from Blogging Chicks)
We have very close friends whose son, Samuel, was a recipient of a donor heart at 3 months! He is now 7 years old and as ornery as ever. His family stays in touch with the donor family, and have visited them a couple of times. Here's their story: http://www.clainescorner.com/
I'll have to get my friend one of those bracelets -- well, when I have a little cash, lol!
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:11 PM