Being right

Our first day back to reality brought with it a half of day of school but, for once, it wasn't a school planned activity. Nope, this time it was for a trip to see Dr. Debbie. Both Graham and Sydney have been fighting illness and Lynley decided that it was necessary for them to see the doctor. You may notice that I said "Lynley" instead of "we." That is because Lynley is nice, sweet and caring and I am a big ol' meany that thinks that if it isn't cancer they should just suck it up. Okay, maybe that was a little harsh. I am just of the opinion that if you aren't febrile or showing signs of infection there is no point in going to the doctor. Give the kiddos some over-the-counter decongestant and be done with it.

Regardless, mean old daddy lost and we were off to see Dr. Debbie.

When we arrived at the doctor's office Sydney was surprised that she was the one that had the appointment. That just added fuel to my fire of worthless doctors visits. The irony was that Sydney was the only one that came out with a seemingly genuine sinus infection. She received a script for an antibiotic. So, in the end, even though neither Sydney nor I thought she was sick her mother and her spooking sickness divining senses were smack on. Score one for mommies.

However, Lynley's theory that Graham had pink eye missed its mark. He didn't even have a scratched eye. Apparently he just has some kind of seasonal irritation. He did receive some over the counter eye drops and a promise of treatment if an infection set in. But, in this case, Daddy was Mr. Righty-pants. Oh yeah, score one for the male of the species.

The great sickness competition could not be settled though. Ainsley was not sick or suspected of it. She is just a twerp. Both Lynley and I are in perfect agreement with that.

You know, this all makes me think back to the years of treatment Sydney endured. Lynley and I were diametrically opposed on many items . Sometimes she was right, sometimes I was right.

Never the less, we always made decisions together.

I wonder if it is that skill that is the reason we are still married.

She has definitely gotten better at appreciating my all-knowing-ness. She just gives me a little smile that tells me that I am off my rocker and I somehow know it is time to follow her direction.

I love her.

She is my other purpose that often goes neglected. Don't forget that Mark.

Conflicted Purpii

Well, on Saturday, the Dungan's arrived back home from their journey to the deep South. All in all, it was a pretty good trip. For me, I must admit I was a little bit disappointed. I was buried with work and had little time to focus on family. This also meant that I had less time to spend focusing on the kiddos.

Don't get me wrong. I know I am lucky. With my flexible schedule, I generally get to spend far more time with my kiddos than most. However, with owning my own business and running the foundation there aren't really any days off. For most of what we do, if I am not doing it, it isn't getting done. At times of the year like this, when I should be spending more time with my family, I find myself being pulled in a hundred other directions.

I love doing the cookbook - talking with families, collecting the recipes, correcting them, formatting them, adding pictures, running the contests, making sure the winners get their prizes, lining out the printer, setting up shipping, and just about anything else you can think of as it relates to getting the cookbook out the door. But again, it is a lot of work, and when it comes down to it, if I don't do it, it doesn't get done. Therefore my November, and my Thanksgiving are often buried in recipes.

Again, I like it. However, I just miss being able to focus on my kiddos when they are having so much fun. I know that when I am finished - when the cookbook sales are completed, the Lunch for a Cure fundraiser has broken its million dollar mark, and we have a big fat check to hand over to the neuroblastoma researchers -that there is nothing that will feel better than knowing that there are real lives of children with neuroblastoma that we have saved. There will be an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.

We will have made a huge difference. There will be children out there, ones that would have lost their battle - living - and it will all be because of all of our hard work.

I know it is all worth it. I know it is important. I just need to remind myself of that when I see my kiddos out the window having a blast - without me.

It can be hard when your purpii conflict.

Neuroblastoma Black Friday Sale

Lunch for Cure Cookbooks are flying off the presses and they are ready for sale. This Black Friday Sale is a bit different than others. Instead of offering deep discounts for your purchase, the Neuroblastoma Foundation is offering you the opportunity to save a child's life with it. To me, it is a much better deal and I am sure those receiving your gift will feel the same.

It is simple. Go to http://LunchforaCure.org/cookbook and order cookbooks as gifts for your friends, family coworkers, and anyone else you can think of. The proceeds from the sale of this year's cookbook will help fund an incredibly important clinical trial for children with neuroblastoma - a clinical trial which will likely mean the cure for many children. Unlike other "cures" this particular one is proven and the purchase of a cookbook will help ensure that some children that can not receive this treatment will get it.

Not only is the Lunch for a Cure Cookbook an excellent gift for your friends or family but for a child with neuroblastoma it will also mean the gift of life.

Purchase your Lunch for a Cure Cookbook here.

Read more about the "cure" that we seek to fund here.

Help a child with neuroblastoma win a dream vacation to Walt Disney World by donating in their honor here.

This is purpose, with purpose.

A Griswald Thanksgiving

The Dungan's have arrived. The trip was as eventful as expected. First off, I am happy to report that the family truckster survived the trip. We have now had two trips in a row where the Suburban we were driving actually survived the trip. I hope I did not just curse myself. After all, we still have to make it back home. Regardless the trip was fun - even considering the fact that it took 2 hours to make it through just 10 miles of Mississippi due to some wrecks.

We learned quite a bit. The first realization occurred in Tyler, Texas during our breakfast stop at the Cracker Barrel. Graham remarked at how excited he was to be in the "real old" Texas. "Look, all of the signs are even in old Cowboy letters" he remarked when reading the antique store sign that was next door - the "Old Texas Antique Store," I believe

Back on the road it was not long before we made it to Monroe, LA. Sydney asked "What's the smell, Louisiana?" Sorry Louisiananites, but I don't think you won any supporters from the back seat. The twerplets were not impressed. I fear it has been ingrained in to the hearts, minds and sinuses forever.

Other than the traffic, Mississippi was nice enough. It was our first stop in the syrupy sweetness of the deep South. Our stop at Arby's was uneventful but we wanted to share some of the congeniality we experienced there. The sign at the store wanted to let everyone know that Denekia, Kevin, Kisha, Danyeil, La Tonya, Shaniqua, Tareia, Janeeka, and Kevin wished everyone a Happy Holiday. Being in the South, I just thought we would share some of their good cheer.

Several hours later, we finally made it back to Alabama and, in Lynley's opinion, the true deep South. You could feel it in air. Our first stop at a gas station was met with a tide of friendly chatter. It took nearly 15 minutes to buy a coke and some beef jerky as the person behind the counter decided it was necessary to engage me in friendly banter. Friendly-enough people, I suppose. I think they were just trying to figure out how we were related.

Oh, don't get your nose out of joint Alabamians, I am a native son. After all, Lynley and I had to become bother and sister, before we got our marriage license. Just think of me as that obnoxious crossbred cousin.

All joking aside, I love Alabama. I would move here tomorrow if Mama Marge would let us move in with them.

I guess she just doesn't love us enough.

Well, I best be off, there are hours of in-law pestering purpose ahead of me.

Just call me Clark, Clark Griswald

Thanksgiving has arrived. Oh, I know you may not think that Thanksgiving has arrived. You may not have even been to the grocery store to buy your turkey yet. But, if your in the Dungan household, Gobble time is here. The kiddos are already out of school and chomping at the bit to hop in the Suburban assault vehicle and make our very best impersonation of the Griswalds as we make our 13 hour trek to the deep south. As it stands, today I am in charge. The kiddos are home and it is my job to pack and get us all ready to leave by about 4 or 5 tomorrow morning. That means, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, and packing (amidst a list of about 20 items that Lynley has left for me to do). Yes, and all of that while I also watch the kiddos. And, yes, this is all happening while Lynley sits her cute little butt at work and socializes (about business stuff I am sure). Somehow, I got the raw end of the deal.

None the less, even though I won't have my blushing brides help (although I am sure I will receive about 20 more texts from Demandia requesting for me to do more) I do have three little helpers (slaves) by my side. I think I might keep them busy packing for Lynley all day. Knowing Ainsley, she will have Lyn in a pink polka dotted top and yellow and green striped pants for Thanksgiving dinner. That ought to teach her a lesson for leaving her poor husband to do all of this work.

Feel sorry for me yet?

Naw? Neither did she. Oh well, I had better get to work.

In all actuality I am actually really looking forward to our trip. Not only am I looking forward to being back in Huntsville, AL but I am also looking forward to the road trip itself. I know. It sounds strange, doesn't it? The fact is that we have a pretty good time. The kiddos are pretty good and we all have fun stopping along the way. You would be amazed at the excitement a gas stop can be for the kiddos. It is amazing how different they find everything. Listening to them you would thing the truck stop in Terrell, TX or the BP Oil outside of Jackson,MS were in foreign countries. (Well, I guess in a way the latter probably is) Regardless, it is a fun day full of beef jerky, pumpkin seeds, Gatorade, and all of the sites, sounds, and smells (yes, smells) of life on the road.

I am looking forward to it. We will be making memories.

How weird am I?

That is just what one example of what purpose will do to you.

Lunch for a Cure Cookbook Cover Winners Selected

Good morning! After scouring through roughly 160 pictures, we have finally selected a child with neuroblastoma to grace the cover of this year's Lunch for a Cure cookbook. It was not easy. In fact, it was so not easy that we actually select two pictures for two separate covers for the cookbook. Yes, you heard me. There are two covers to the cookbook - Team Xander and Team Reese. Furthermore, for even more fun, one is a vertical cover and the other was a horizontal cover.

I am also ecstatic to say that, for everyone else, we selected the best picture of each child from each entry and have created a collage to grace the back cover. This way, everyone gets to be a star and appear on the outside of what we are sure will be the most coveted cookbook of the year. So, with no further delay, here is a sneak peek at this year's cookbook covers which are already being spit out of the presses.

Incredible, aren't they? I know. I know. I would take full credit for the work but it is obviously the cuteness of the kiddos that pulls them off.

The great news is that we are already at the printer. Make sure to order yours now. You can get them here:

http://www.lunchforacure.org/cookbook

Buy one for yourself. Get them for your friends at Christmas. Give them to everyone.

This purpose will help a bunch of kids with neuroblastoma savor life to the fullest.

Lost tooth = adult?

Yesterday marks another milestone. To listen to Lynley, her last baby is now all grown up. If you ask Ainsley, she would have told you she has been grown up for a long time. None the less, the last true hurdle of grow-em-up-edness has been achieved. Vestiges of her little girldom are beginning to disappear. Ainsley has lost her very first baby tooth. She is now a certifiable adult.

As anticipated, Ainsley is extremely proud of herself. I can't say that I completely understand this phenomenon but, I must admit, it is pretty fun to watch. With the loss of a tooth, Ainsley is now sophisticated (or at least she certainly seems to think so). She is no longer a lowly toothful twerp. She is a grownup and with the loss of her tooth she can now drive a car and vote. She no longer needs a sippy cup when she is drinking grape juice on the couch. As if she couldn't already do everything "herself" (in her mind) she is now somehow certified to it all.

While I hate to break the news to her that it is not the case, I would have to agree that she is somewhat certifiable.

Wow, do I have my hands full. If this is the transformation that a simple tooth can conjure. I am wondering what will happen when she turns 18, 21, worse yet 16, or (for Ainsley) 6.

Time flies when you are a twerp.

Even I will have to ramp up my purpose if we have any hope of surviving her adolescence.