1. Being able to return stuff to Amazon
2. Pizza Pretzel mom+son dates
3. Blankets
Nov. 11:
1. Tears and reminiscence at Veterans Assembly at work
2. Teens being respectfully quite and attentive
3. Teens being focused while talking about pregnancy
Nov. 12:
1. Weight training class. Man, I will miss them on Monday when classes change
2. Pork chops
3. Clean dishes
Well, here we are begging for your money. Or at least that is what this feels like.
As always, plans change. Instead of being able to go the a little more economical route to watch rugby, which would have been to go to Vancouver via Seattle, we will need to go a week later to NYC because little Miss Z has a dance competition that we just can't miss on March 6th. Seeing Ilona play on a home pitch will be magical. Being able to also check out some sights will be amazing. E was very excited to think we could go to The 911 Memorial, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
I would also like to let you know that if you do donate to our trip, you can also get some writing from me as a thank you. Maybe you need a little poem to carry around to remind you how amazing you are, maybe you need a love poem to send to a loved one, maybe you need some help writing a family history story or even help writing it fully, maybe you have a writing project sitting aside that needs another set of eyes to polish and finish. I am here to thank you with writing services. So...if that pushes you to donate please comment here or on the socials, or email(see below for address) me for details.
I would also like to thank those of you who have already donated to our trip. We have already raised enough to pay for tickets to the rugby matches. Still looking to fund flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.
What a great way to celebrate fifty years on this planet.
A few weeks ago, as I was leaving The Lindon Temple, I asked Heavenly Father to help me feel like I am loved. Over and over in the past year, when I have felt so lost and alone, He has always answered my pleads for comfort. That Tuesday night the answer came like all the other times when I have felt low...He shows me His love through the love and support of other people. Countless times I have been lifted up through a text, a letter, or people physically checking in on me. Thanks for being a part of answered prayers. I love my tribe.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
A few ways to donate:
Venmo: @Alice-Ficklin this way eliminates the GoFundMe fees.
GoFundME HERE
A check in the mail...email me Alice.ficklin@gmail.com for address.
Have a wonderful day.
I don't think it is possible for me to just sit her and type my gratefuls each and every day...but each and every day I am loving fall. I am pretty sure it is my favorite color.
8:
1. Friends.
2. Hugs from my kiddos.
3. A walk with my dog and son.
9:
1. Two bike rides with two different classes.
2. People donating money to my crazy dream.
3. Chill classes.
I'm Grateful for:
1. Dinner with good friends
2. A friend who makes lovely soap
3. A community of support and accountability
4. Football
5. Bike Rides
6. My dog, The Bumblebee
If you know me, you know I love sports. If you really know me, you know I love rugby. I played at Utah State for a season back in my glory days and had no clue what I was doing, but man was it a very fun season. I wish I knew rugby back then like I do now.
In 2024, I discovered this beast:
 |
| Photo found in article HERE |
Ilona Maher plays on the USA 7s team. She and her teammates won the bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. This is the only time a women's rugby team has medaled in the sport. Maher became famous not only through her play but through her prescence on social media. She has been a champion on and off the field as she supports women's sports as well as encouraging women to feel proud of the body they have been given.
I haven't always been proud of my own body. I was built bigger. I often tell people I am from a long line of Wisconsin milk maids. We are sturdy people made to work! But in a society very focused on miniture women being the ideal, I have always feel like an outsider instead of the amazingly strong beast I truly am!
Ilona helped me find the value in a big and strong body. She also found a fan in my 10 year old daughter who often tells me she is strong, "just like Ilona."
After her stint in the '24 Olympics, Ilona was chosen to dance on Dancing with the Stars. She didn't win, but every week we saw a woman who was confident and who also had the strength to keep going even when she failed the week before. Z and I got tickets to the Dancing with the Stars tour with hopes Ilona may make a surprise appearance, but we missed her by a week.
After dancing, Ilona focused on making the US Womens 15s Rugby team in hopes of playing in the world cup. To do so she needed to get back into 15s and signed with the Bristol Bears in England and played for three months prior to the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
Anyway, Ilona is returning to Rugby this season to play 7s again with the Women's USA team. They will be playing a few matches close enough for us to try and make a few matches. This is where the silly dreaming comes in.
I would like to take my kiddos to one of two tournaments. One is in Vancouver, B.C. Canada and the other is in New Jersey. I am concentrating on going to the Canada one because airfair is really cheap to Seattle from SLC and driving the 2 hours to Vancouver is doable.
I am in no shape to do this on my own financially and that is where my crazy idea of having help comes in. I feel a little silly for doing so but I truly feel my tribe will make it possible. 50 is a big life milestone and I would love any support from my people.
Ilona continues to bring joy to me and my kiddos. Read all about it on the GoFundMe!
Your support can be sent in one of two ways:
1. Venmo: @Alice-Ficklin
2. GoFundMe: LINK
Thanks for reading this all the way through. Feel free to share that link or my Venmo. Miracles do happen and this dream will become my reality. Thank you for being a great friend and if you are stranger, I am really cool and have a had an incredible rough year. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Dreams do come true!
