Cassie Bustamante

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Sophie and Madigan’s Playground, 7 RAK’s, and Snapshots from the Weekend

May 6, 2013 by Cassie 28 Comments

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Happy Monday!  Hope you all had an awesome weekend! I was busy here…. Chris was out of town at his brother’s bachelor party (don’t worry, it wasn’t too wild; his dad was there, too!).  Friday we attended the school’s Spring Fling, which is a little fair/fundraising event, complete with hula hoop contests, bounce houses and pirate ships, giant slides, and much more!  The kids and I had a blast!
Lots of the following photos were on instagram if you follow me there (cassie8978).

Sawyer didn’t get this ball, but he hit the next two… I just happened to snap his strike!

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And here I am with my favorite kindergartener!  She is growing up too fast…. I’ve been a little weepy lately about the fact that my baby and I can now sit down and have real conversations…. happy and sad, too.

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And let me tell you how grateful I was that I dressed Emmy in neon coral… it was so easy for me to find her!!!

After that, they headed home with a friend, and I headed out to celebrate my neighbor’s birthday.

Saturday morning we woke early for Emmy’s soccer game, which was at 8 am.  My parents came to the game so they could take the kids back for the night.  I had plans to do the Frederick Running Festival 5k, and with Chris out of town, I needed help. 🙂 It worked out well, because I got help, and my parents got help, too…. My dad sent me these photos Saturday.

Child labor at its finest…

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Followed by chocolate cake making for Papa’s birthday (notice the chocolate cake batter face on Emmy!)

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And they even had a safari adventure in the back yard.

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While the kids were kept busy slaving away in Gramma’s gardens, I cleaned the house since no one was here to mess it up after me! 🙂  While cleaning, I spotted this guy…. last year I was thrilled to discover our then new house had a lilac bush, but it never bloomed.  This year, I have one bloom…. it’s a sign.

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After I cleaned, I relaxed for a bit before the Frederick Running Festival 5k which was at 6 pm.  One of my very best friends, Kerry, ran it with me.  Here we are after the race…

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After the race we headed to La Paz on Market St. for dinner and drinks, a little pre-Cinco de Mayo celebration!  While we waited, this tall handsome stranger who happens to be the most interesting man in the world tried to buy me a beer…

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I kissed him goodbye, and told him I was a married woman, and bought myself a margarita instead…

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Now, I want to change gears for a moment and talk about something more serious, and near and dear to my heart.
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You may have noticed our matching electric pink shirts.  We received these shirts from Chrissi Lillard, the mother of the two girls that died in the fire on my street.  She ran as well, and a group of others ran, all of us sporting these shirts, raising awareness about the memorial playground being built for her beautiful girls, Sophie and Madigan.  I was proud to wear the shirt, and glad to be able to spread the word when other runners asked me what it was for.  This course had its challenges, like a couple of steady though not steep hills.  I am a morning runner, so evening runs are always harder for me anyhow, and then the heat (it was not too hot, but it was in the glaring sun on open streets), and the carrots I ate at 3 pm started to get the best of me.  I remembered the shirt I was wearing, and I thought about as hard as it was to run up this hill, it’s nothing compared to what Chrissi and her family go through every day.  I knew I had to make it up those hills for her and her girls.

If you are interested in donating to the memorial playground they are building, please visit sophieandmadigansplayground.org.  I am astounded at the incredible grace and strength Chrissi has shown.  This playground to be built in Frederick, MD, will be an amazing tribute to her daughters.

Another way in which you can honor this family is by participating in “7 Acts of Kindness for Sopie’s 7th Birthday“.  On Wednesday, May 15, Sophie Lillard would have turned 7 years old, the same age as Sawyer.  Chrissi has organized a facebook event to ask people to commit 7 random acts of kindness in honor of what would have been Sophie’s 7th birthday.  She has put together yet another beautiful tribute to her daughter…. imagine if we all participate all of the love and kindness that will be spread in memory of Sophie?  What a legacy that will be.  Please feel free to join the event on facebook, or just participate on your own.

I did not know Chrissi before this tragedy, aside from the occasional neighborly hello or wave.  But I can honestly say, she is a true hero of mine.  Seeing all of the work she is doing to create a legacy of love and kindness so that her beautiful girls will always be remembered…. it’s amazing.  We never know how we will handle the hard times when they come until they come.  Chrissi, you are an amazing woman, an inspiration to us all, and I am honored to know you.  Much love.

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Comments

  1. Julia Konya says

    May 6, 2013 at 10:42 am

    What beautiful girls. Such a tragedy!

    Reply
  2. Fiona, LilyfieldLife says

    May 6, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Cassie -so much I admire about you , including your beautiful heart -and how you can look so good after a run!
    lovely post
    Fiona xx

    Reply
  3. miss flibbertigibbet says

    May 6, 2013 at 11:03 am

    What a sad event. She sounds very strong but she may need a friend like you close by on many days. Sounds like an otherwise wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  4. [email protected] says

    May 6, 2013 at 11:38 am

    Such a sad thing. So glad you could help support her. xo Kristin

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says

    May 6, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    What a meaningful weekend! A great way to remember those little girls.

    Reply
  6. Andrea says

    May 6, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    Cassie, what a beautiful idea to pay tribute to Sophie. I will most definitely participate. Congratulations on your 5K. I can see how you would be so inspired to make it up that hill!

    Reply
  7. Alison @ Rubylicious Bespoke says

    May 6, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    Someone I know is also going through something no mum should have to face and hearing your neighbours story has just reinforced how lucky we are and how remarkable it is for Chrissi to honour the girls memories in such a beautiful way. I may be a long way away, but i will be participating by doing 7 acts of Kindness.
    Xxx

    Reply
  8. cindy the cottage chick says

    May 6, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    Wow. What a great thing this mama is doing…turning her grief into positive ways to support the community. And good for you for running on her ‘team’!

    Running scares me almost as much as waxing, which is why I don’t do it. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    May 6, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Oh those beautiful girls! I am constantly amazed at the strength and resilience that people find in the face of devastating tragedy. Such an inspiration!

    Reply
  10. 17 Perth says

    May 6, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    First off–I agree with Fiona. LOL. You are beautiful..and love the photo of you and emmy.
    And that is so sad and such a tragedy about those little girls..but what a great thing their mom is doing. Amazing strength…almost have a hard time finding words for it….gives me such perspective!

    P.S. I am definitely a morning runner too!

    Reply
  11. Michelle Scheibe says

    May 6, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Your week-end: Sounds happy and awesome. Way to kick running hiney.

    The girls: 🙁 Way to run hard for them. I’ve been needing to a do a random acts of kindness and this is a good push!

    Reply
  12. Lynn@FernAvenueBlog says

    May 6, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Cassie…it’s awesome of you to be there for the family! Those girls are just beautiful & my heart aches terribly for them. I am blogging today about May 15th & I am posting on my Facebook page. This hits so very close to home & I just wince at the thought..

    Reply
  13. Renee says

    May 6, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    Sounds like a fun weekend. I ran the 5K for the Bay Saturday morning. What a gorgeous weekend we had. I will definitely do the 7 acts of kindness. What a beautiful tribute.

    Reply
  14. Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies says

    May 6, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    A wonderful fun and meaningful filled weekend.
    Very inspiring.

    Reply
  15. Ali Richardson says

    May 6, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    A post that left me teary. I feel so sad for that family and what they have endured and will continue to endure. I joined to group on FB and feel honored to be a part of it. So awesome that you finished the run & treated yourself to a margarita after). I love you!

    Reply
  16. Kirby Dunton Carespodi says

    May 6, 2013 at 5:30 pm

    Not sure I would be as gracious if they had been my little girls. Will definitely be participating and linking up to the FB page when I get home.

    Reply
  17. Lisa @ Turning Tables says

    May 6, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    I am all teary too. So sweet. You have such a big heart and I am so proud of you for making it through a tough run. xoxo

    Reply
  18. Kamela Hudgins says

    May 6, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    This is what should be on the news every night . the 7 acts of kindness is awesome. I have a great friend Pastor Matt Brown Sandals is a church in Riverside Ca. and they just had a message Killer Kindness … it was great I think you can youtube it. This is how I want to live my life…Giving back. Thank you for this post

    Reply
  19. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    May 6, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    Oh just looking at those sweet faces brings tears to my eyes, Cassie. I’ll be sharing about the playground and 7 Acts of Kindness, too. Your neighbor is an amazing woman and YOU are an amazing friend.
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  20. pam {simple details} says

    May 6, 2013 at 9:49 pm

    What a wonderfully supportive friend you’ve become, Cassie! I’m sure it makes the unimaginable difficult days bearable to be surrounded by such a loving community. You’re a gem!

    Reply
  21. Rita says

    May 6, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    This breaks my heart every time and I still remember the post you wrote when you woke up to the fire next door. I think it was probably like we were all there living it with you. So in that sense, it hits home. I’ll go by her pages and see what (if anything) I can do to help.

    Reply
  22. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    May 7, 2013 at 1:45 am

    This still breaks my heart. Makes me want to go wake my kids up and just hold them.

    Reply
  23. Anna See says

    May 7, 2013 at 2:01 am

    Love the 7 RAOK idea. What beautiful girls. I will pray for Chrissi.

    Reply
  24. Cathy Wall says

    May 7, 2013 at 11:50 am

    What an inspiring woman your neighbor is in the face of this tragedy, I cannot imagine. You too are a wonderful soul to run and think of those girls as you did. Hug your adorable kids and know that you are making a difference.

    Reply
  25. Kelly says

    May 7, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Oh it hurts my heart so much to think of that family, but it’s so inspiring that they’re bring good out of such a tragedy!

    Reply
  26. Gexton says

    May 8, 2013 at 9:42 am

    A couple weeks ago I found this sweet little toy chest at the flea market.
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    Reply
  27. Denise at PinkPostcard. says

    May 8, 2013 at 4:12 pm

    wow, amazing post Cassie. I was thinking about this family the other day- so glad to hear an update.

    Reply
  28. Erin @ His and Hers says

    May 8, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    I cried looking at those pictures of the girls. It hits home more than ever now that I am expecting a baby of my own. Your attitude about how hard it was to run being nothing in comparison is beautiful.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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