Raine's Sparkle Fund (in lieu of baby shower)

Hi friends.

As many of you already know, Nate and I have become permanent legal guardians of the most incredible 15-year-old girl, Raine.

Raine's mom Leigh was my lifelong best friend, who passed away when Raine was an infant. Raine had since been living with her dad Dave, who also passed away this past spring.

Tragic circumstances brought this sparkly and resilient young lady into our home. How lucky we are to be the ones she chose to support her as she navigates life - not just the the ups & downs of teen life, but also the trauma of her past, and building a hopeful future.

As most of you know, Nate and I never anticipated being parents. We are so grateful for the emotional support of our friends and family, and the ease with which you welcomed Raine into your hearts.

We've heard a lot of "when's the baby shower" jokes, and you know we LOVE a good party! But we think a better way to celebrate Raine's arrival into our lives is to set her up for a successful future. Most parents have 18 years to prepare for their child's post-secondary education... we've only got three.

And so, in lieu of a "baby shower" for our new arrival, we are setting up two savings accounts for Raine. She wants to be a teacher, and we want all her dreams to come true. So the majority of these funds will go into an RESP for her. We also want to provide her peace and stability to overcome her past, so a smaller portion of the funds will be placed in another account to support her mental health.

So for those out there who would have picked out something beautiful for our new baby; those who knew and loved Leigh or Dave, those who understand the challenges of creating a beautiful life in the face of trauma and our struggling mental health system; or simply those who have let this little firecracker steal your heart, I hope you'll consider helping us create a bright and sparkly future for her.

Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.

Love,

Danae & Nate