ronald's house

Whew, deep breath in and out. This is what I have been working so hard on for the last six months. This one night raised over $200,000 for the families of critically ill children. I have never told ya'll but I work for the Ronald McDonald House. We provide a home away from home for kids that are being treated at Duke Hospital. Every day I get to go to work and see faces of sweet little children who have some of the most serious childhood illnesses, some of which who will not make it but many of whom will have a happy ending. I love that my job is to raise money to help take care of these families.

Steve Daniels, Anchor on ABC11 and Coach Cutcliffe of Duke Football

Our gala and auction on Friday night was huge. 400 people, over 100 auction packages with a total value of over $70,000, a silent and live auction and seated dinner. Every night the past 2 week, when I came in the door after Lila had already been asleep for hours, having only seen her for a handful of moments that morning, I reminded myself it was for other children who did not get to sleep quite so peacefully that night.

My adorable sister and hubby dressed in full Roaring 20's costume for our themed event

My parents and their best friends Mike & Alice

Ronald and I

I have slept more in the past 2 nights than in the past week combined. Thank God for my in-laws who drove up to watch Lila from the moment she woke up on Friday till after she went to bed while Brian and I worked all day on the event. Thank God for my mom and sister, who were my go-to girls all day helping me set up. And thank God for my sweet hubby who was the amazing single parent these past few weeks. And tomorrow, I will get to spend the entire day with my girl, playing at the park, having a special lunch date with our favorite Valentine and just being silly.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.

If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.

~Oprah Winfrey