The Toy Box Years: How To Support #TeamDanjela

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

I've had to stop blogging for a bit because I've been wrapping my head around the diagnosis that my baby girl has a brain tumor.....and our world has been moving at 1000 mph since then.

Before I jump back into posting about our journey, I wanted to do a post about how your can support our daughter and our family during this journey. There are so many ways you can help!

First - if you're on Facebook, you can "like" her support page - "Support For Danjela". Click HERE to go directly to her page. I will be posting updates there regularly.

Second - you can go to her GoFundMe page and support there. Please know that, as a family, we are NOT asking for donations.....just prayers. But if you are inclined to help, this is an option as well. Click HERE to go directly to that page.

Third - our amazing Colorado National Guard Family Programs staff have setup a Meal Train for us. It doesn't even have to be a cooked meal. Gift cards for restaurants and grocery stores are great too. Again -- we are NOT asking for donations -- just prayers. And again, if you are inclined to help, we are so very grateful. Click HERE to go directly to that page.

Fourth - a very good friend of mine has set up a #TeamDanjela photo campaign. She is asking that wherever you are, if you have a moment, to take a photo with the #TeamDanjela hashtag in it and post it to Facebook or Instagram. If you use FB, please be sure to also put #TeamDanjela in the comments so that we'll be able to search and find it. If you use Instagram, please use #TeamDanjela as well as @marinehawkwife12 so that we can search and find it as well.

Fifth - Cards of support are always appreciated. You can send cards directly to:

The Belo Family
C/O Suzanne Buemi
12200 E. Briarwood Ave. Ste. 160
Centennial, CO 80112

Please know that we, as a family, appreciate every single thought, prayer, message, text, comment that supports our Nani's fight. No family should have to go through this. Thank you for sharing our journey with us.

#Sheischosenandblessed #TeamDanjela