Raashanai Coley

Raashanai was born in Gresham, Oregon on April 19, 2003 and lived her early years in Monmouth/Independence. She had 2 very happy years in her grandma and grandpa's house on Broad Street where she loved to ride the yellow school bus to her preschool class at Monmouth, Elementary School. Her beloved teacher, Kathy Bond and her loving classroom helpers worked diligently with her mom, grandma and grandpa to guide and develop her language and communication skills. When she got home from school, her devoted uncles modeled language for her and giggled with her, including her in many happy hours of play. One day a week, Raashanai and her Grandma Linda visited the friendly and very fun speech therapist, Teacher Jody, who also worked regularly with her on her language and speech skills. Grandpa remembers how much she loved the school bus and would jump up and down for joy when it came down the street. She also loved the letter R, which helped her remember her very special name. After that year, Raashanai moved first to Texas and then to Chicago.

We have made many wonderful friends from far away who have loved Raashanai along with us. We are so grateful for the kindness and compassion which once total strangers, now friends have shown Raashanai and her story. The folks in Waukegan, Illinois have gone above and beyond to care about Raashanai and to care about us, as well. Together that community collected funds for Raashanai, had a bake sale in her honor and decided to actively become closer as neighbors. The community raised $3700 for her funeral expenses and for a special bench to be placed at the neighborhood park in her honor. They didn't know her well and had no reason to do this except that they were deeply touched by the events that unfolded in their neighborhood concerning her. Today, Sunday, October 5, 2014, the neighborhood will be planting a memory tree in her name, and sharing her celebration of life with us miles and miles away. We will forever be grateful to you, Waukegan, Illinois.

Raashanai's Hope
Dear friends and fellow knitters (anyone who can, or wants to learn how). Our recent family tragedy has stirred my spirit deeply. Raashani's life purpose is not yet complete. You can help her life make a difference. Please join me in a simple act to stamp out abuse and speak life to people who suffer abuse. Knit a hat! You don't have to be a knitter. You can use a loom, or a knitting machine, needles or a crochet hook. It is not about how good you are at making hats, it is about being willing to step into the life of someone else, even just for a moment, and make a personal connection with them, with a hat. Once you are done with the hat, write a special note to them. Tell them how their life has value and how they have special gifts to offer this world. Then find the person you made the hat for (God will guide you to them) and give them your hat. Tell them you made it especially for them, and that they are here for a purpose. Offer to teach them how you made the hat. Even leave them with yarn, instructions and a loom so they can make their own hat. Pass on the blessing, get involved and make a difference for Raashanai's Hope, one hat, and one person at a time. If not us, then who? If not me and you? It's time for us to do something! Let's do it, one hat at a time, one person at a time, one connection at a time and change the course of history, one story at a time.