Merry CHRISTmas!!!

 

SPLAT!! HANS GRUBER HITS THE GROUND!! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

 

 

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Merry CHRISTmas Eve!!

  
I thoroughly enjoyed decorating for Christmas this year... it's about 25% of what I wanted to do, but way more than I've been able to do in recent years. Dad and I (and Laurie many times) have watched an autumn, Thanksgiving, or Christmas movie every night for the past 6 weeks... I've loved it! I hope you all have a wonderful day of ushering in the celebration of Jesus' birth!!

  

  

   

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BIRDDOG CINEMA JUST GOT AN OUTDOOR FOOSBALL TABLE!!

  
Each year while I'm buying Christmas gifts for others I usually buy something for myself... usually a waaaaay better item than I would buy for someone else (haha, just kidding!!). It's usually something for the house that everyone can enjoy. This year I scored a good deal on an outdoor foosball table!! And it arrived 10 days early!! Soooooo I hope to have it assembled and ready to go for tomorrow night's DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIE NITE - Yayyyyy!!

Not many outdoor movie theaters offer foosball... BIRDDOG CINEMA: Your Future Premier Shantytown Outdoor Theater 🎥 😀

 

 

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What's better than 1 BIRDDOG CINEMA sign??

 

What's better than 1 BIRDDOG CINEMA sign?? 2 BIRDDOG CINEMA signs!!!! Thank you so stinkin' much Laurie for this PERFECT GIFT!!!!! You are so stinkin' thoughtful!!

Laurie allowed me to open up 1 Christmas gift early (so that I could use it this Saturday), and to my overwhelming joy I received a SPECTACULAR customized metal cut-out movie sign that lights up!! Oh, Mom would love this! It will compliment my other new AWESOME BIRDDOG CINEMA sign perfectly!! I will probably place the newest sign in the future concession / outdoor kitchen area, especially since it has a cut-out of popcorn on it =)

I love it! BIRDDOG CINEMA is destined to be a premier outdoor movie theater haha! Come join us Saturday night for a Christmas double feature & dinner... and check out our 2 new signs!!

Thank you soooooooo much Laurie!!!!!

 

 

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11 MORE "THANK YOU" PACKAGES WENT OUT TODAY!

  
Our last shipment of the year went out today to our AWESOME DONORS who live outside the area and weren't able to attend our Annual Banquet and get their "Thank You" Package in-person. We hope they love it as much as we love them! Jan has gotten to meet or talk to many of our Donors & Supporters and sums it up like this, "GTD has the best & nicest Supporters!!" She is finding out what we've experienced for years: GTD SUPPORTERS ROCK!! They are THE BEST OF THE BEST!! These packages are a very small way we get to occasionally show our Amazing Supporters a small glimpse of how much we love and appreciate them!! Thank you so much awesome people for your love, encouragement, and support!! We hope you know how much we love you!

 

 

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HANS GRUBER SIGHTING!

HANS GRUBER SIGHTING!
...HE HAS FALLEN 20 FLOORS!
.......5 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!
 
Update: It's not looking good for Hans!
 
5 more days till Hans Gruber hits the ground in front of Nakatomi Plaza and Christmas can be celebrated!!

Long live DIE HARD as the greatest Christmas movie of all time!!!

 

 

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WE ARE BACK ON!! ...OUTDOOR MOVIES THIS SATURDAY!!

  
THE WEATHER FORECAST LOOKS PERFECT!

LAST OUTDOOR MOVIE NITE OF 2023 THIS SATURDAY NIGHT (DEC 23rd)!

DOUBLE FEATURE!!
 
We are hosting our final outdoor Movie Nite of 2023 this Saturday night (Dec 23rd) in my backyard (in Pinellas Park, FL) at "BIRDDOG CINEMA" (named after my Mom)!
 
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE & MENU:
DOUBLE FEATURE!!
1st MOVIE: Daddy's Home 2 (1 hr 45 min)
2nd MOVIE: Die Hard 1 (2 hrs)
MENU: Chili, Hot Dogs, Pizzadillas, S'mores, Popcorn, & Snacks
DRINKS: Water, Soda, Lemonade (or similar)
  
Each Movie Nite is provided by GTD for FREE, and includes dinner, a campfire, s'mores, popcorn, and snacks. Some outdoor games like cornhole, ping pong, arcade style 2-player basketball game, connect four, and more will also be available.
 
"Doors" open at 4.30p if you want to arrive before it gets dark and play some games. Dinner will be at 6pm-ish. The 1st movie will start around 6.45pm-ish. The 2nd movie will start around 8.45pm-ish.
 
Outdoor propane griddle, grill, & burners will be available for those that have special dietary needs or those who want to make something different than what's on the menu.  
We can comfortably accommodate about 50 people. We have 16 Adirondack chairs, 4 zero gravity chairs, an outdoor sofa, and plenty of camp chairs. Feel free to bring your own chair.
 
All movies are family friendly (movies have been edited to remove cursing & inappropriate content except fighting/violence when showing action movies like Die Hard, Mission Impossible, etc).
 
Check weather and bring any comfort measures needed (blanket, jacket, pillow, bug spray, etc)

Comment below, or text me, or FB Messenger me, or Instagram Message me to RSVP to reserve your spot so we have plenty of food, snacks, & drinks ready to gooooo!!
 
MOVIE SCHEDULE:
Nov 25: Hoodwinked
Dec 2: Home Alone 1
Dec 10: Postponed Due To Weather
Dec 16: Postponed Due To Weather
Dec 23: Daddy's Home 2 & Die Hard 1
Jan 13: The Goonies
Feb 2: Groundhog Day
Feb 11: Super Bowl
  
I hope you can join us for one of our upcoming GTD MOVIE NITES!

 

 

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Happy 82nd Birthday to my Dad!!

  

Happy 82nd Birthday to my Dad (Jerry Garner)!! Without a doubt, this was the hardest & roughest year of his life after having the hardest & roughest year of his life the year before. But he is the Comeback Kid, and overall he is physically doing better compared to a year ago when he could hardly walk and just lost his wife... but an entire year without "Babes" (his nickname for Mom) has been a very heavy loss to carry. Yet he keeps on keeping on! Way to go Dad!! You are a great example of perseverance! Happy Birthday Tomato Man!! I love you!

Aaaaaaaaand Happy Birthday (in 2 days) to my brother-in-law (Dave) too!

 

 

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I'M OUT OF ADJECTIVES... WE JUST SURPASSED $115,000 RAISED!!!

 
Staggering! Astounding! Marvelous! Tremendous! MIRACULOUS!!! IT'S ALL GOD!! Well, I guess I found a few more adjectives to help try to describe what God is doing through our SPECTACULAR DONORS!!!! You guys not only beat our record for funds raised before January 31st... YOU ARE SHATTERING IT!!!!! I honestly don't know what to say... THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOOOOO SO VERY VERY VERY VERY VEEEEEEEERRRYY MUCH x INFINITY PLUS ONE & A CHERRY ON TOP!!!!! WOWWWW!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!! Thanks to you, we are looking forward to "DOING MUCH MORE IN 2024"!!! As Mom would say, "Love you MORE!"

PS: It's not even over yet! We still have 6 more weeks to go before it's January 31st!! Mind blown!!!!

 

 

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MOVIE NITE IS RAINED OUT AGAIN... NEW DATE IS DEC 23rd!

 
Due to rain we are canceling our Outdoor Movie Nite tonight and switching it to next Saturday Dec 23rd. We will keep it as a DOUBLE FEATURE night!!
 
*All Movie Nites are family friendly, and movies have been edited to remove inappropriate content.
 
Next Movie Nite:
Dec 23rd (Saturday night):
-------------------
DOUBLE FEATURE!!
Plus wear an ugly Christmas sweater or something "Christmassy"
-------------------
"DOORS" OPEN AT 4.30p
>> Daddy's Home 2 @ 6.45pm-ish
>> Die Hard 1 @ 8.45pm-ish
-------------------
Menu: Chili, Hot Dogs, Chips, S'mores, Snacks, Lemonade, Sodas, & Water
-------------------
Games: Cornhole, Ping Pong, Arcade Style 2-Player Basketball, More
-------------------
Comment below, or text me, FB Messenger me, or Instagram Message me to RSVP to reserve your spot and so we have plenty of food, snacks, & drinks ready to gooooo!!
-------------------
We hope to see you at our next GTD MOVIE NITE at BIRDDOG CINEMA 😀

 

 

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A POEM FOR MOM... "AN EMPTY SWING AT THE PERGOLA"

  
Today marks 1 year since BIRDDOG went to Heaven. We spent today eating at one of her favorite diners, going to her favorite park, sharing our favorite Mom stories, and eating her favorite ice cream (Butter Pecan). It was a wonderful day honoring Mom! I also wrote her a poem. I'm not a poet, but I Googled different ways to honor someone's anniversary date of passing on, and writing a poem was one of the ideas. I haven't tried writing a poem in many years, but I thoroughly enjoyed this process, especially since it is for my Mom. I also wanted to include the people who were with us today in the poem. Soooooooo, here it is... this poem is for you Mom!! I love you more!

(This is the picture of the actual Pergola and swings for my Mom... and at the very bottom are 2 Bible verses that have encouraged me deeply since Dec 15, 2022)
 
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POEM: AN EMPTY SWING AT THE PERGOLA

I built a Pergola for you today
   Attached to the house I planned for you to stay

I hung 2 benches so we could swing
   While we laugh... or cry... or dare try to sing

We would reminisce about years gone by
   Oh Mom, why did you have to die

I dreamt of all the things we would do
   Till the ripe old age of a hundred and two

Whether of fun or of mundane or of things that did embarrass
   We would talk of the good old days of our life on Rose Terrace

With lemonade we would sit and sip
   And chuckle about all the words Dad did invent

While savoring the taste of a ripe Georgia peach
   We would roar of Traci's teenage drives along Clearwater Beach

Licking butter pecan ice cream so fast we would choke
   As we cackle of all I did each year as a practical joke

You treasured each gag like it was your own special treat
   Even that time I put Vaseline all over the toilet seat

Then Carson was born and your life overflowed
   Much like your plumbing when he flushed his undies down the commode

Dave would visit every now and again
   To lay on the sofa from end to end
  
Laurie came to your house for a few weeks to stay
  But after 10 years you realized she's not going away

Now your grandson talks of making Lauren his spouse
   And building brand new memories in your old lovely house

So many memories I thought we would share
   Especially of good neighbors who really did care
 
So many stories I thought we would retell
   Especially of Jesus making our souls quite well
  
As our benches swung back and forth
   We would relive our travels from west, east, south, and north

But the Alzheimer's I did not foresee
   That would slowly take you away from me
 
Alone I now swing beside the window sill
   Yet there is a sadness I no longer feel

Heaven is real, and not a sad second choice
   Mom you are healed and your soul does rejoice
 
I built a Pergola for you today
   Attached to the house I planned for you to stay

I hung 2 benches so we could swing
   While we laugh... or cry... or dare try to sing

But God offered you a mansion and so much more
   With unimaginable things He still has in store
 
So I sit under the Pergola and swing all alone
   Comforted knowing you're now full of joy in your forever home
  
THE END
===================
 
======================
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
======================
"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." - John 14:1-3 (NKJV)
======================

 

 

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Just received one of the BEST Christmas gifts!

  

Just received one of the BEST Christmas gifts I've ever been given (just hours before my Mom's one year anniversary of going to Heaven [BIRDDOG is her nickname])!!

Thank you soooooo much Jason & Heather Lazzaro!!! I'm so blessed to call you friends!

(I renamed the outdoor movie "theater" in my backyard to "BIRDDOG CINEMA" in honor of Mom.)

(Jason is the super talented Visual Communicator that designs our T-shirts... however, not the one I happen to be wearing in this picture... his designs are way better than the one I'm wearing!)

 

 

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LAST OUTDOOR MOVIE NITE OF 2023 THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! ...DOUBLE FEATURE!!

  
We are hosting our final outdoor Movie Nite of 2023 this Saturday night (Dec 16th) in my backyard (in Pinellas Park, FL) at "BIRDDOG CINEMA" (named after my Mom)!
 
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE & MENU:
DOUBLE FEATURE!!
1st MOVIE: Daddy's Home 2 (1 hr 45 min)
2nd MOVIE: Die Hard 1 (2 hrs)
MENU: Chili, Hot Dogs, S'mores, Popcorn, & Snacks
DRINKS: Water, Soda, Lemonade (or similar)
  
Each Movie Nite is provided by GTD for FREE, and includes dinner, a campfire, s'mores, popcorn, and snacks. Some outdoor games like cornhole, ping pong, arcade style 2-player basketball game, connect four, and more will also be available.
 
"Doors" open at 4.30p if you want to arrive before it gets dark and play some games. Dinner will be at 6pm-ish. The 1st movie will start around 6.45pm-ish. The 2nd movie will start around 8.45pm-ish.
 
Outdoor propane griddle, grill, & burners will be available for those that have special dietary needs or those who want to make something different than what's on the menu.  
We can comfortably accommodate about 40-50 people. We have 16 Adirondack chairs, 4 zero gravity chairs, an outdoor sofa, and plenty of camp chairs. Feel free to bring your own chair.
 
All movies are family friendly (movies have been edited to remove cursing & inappropriate content except fighting/violence when showing action movies like Die Hard, Mission Impossible, etc).
 
Check weather and bring any comfort measures needed (blanket, jacket, pillow, bug spray, etc)

Comment below, or text me, or FB Messenger me, or Instagram Message me to RSVP to reserve your spot so we have plenty of food, snacks, & drinks ready to gooooo!!
 
MOVIE SCHEDULE:
Nov 25: >> Hoodwinked
Dec 2: Home Alone 1
Dec 8: Postponed Due To Weather
Dec 16: Daddy's Home 2 & Die Hard 1
Jan 13: The Goonies
Feb 2: Groundhog Day
Feb 11: Super Bowl
  
I hope you can join us for one of our upcoming GTD MOVIE NITES!

 

 

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GLORY TO GOD!!! NEW FUNDRAISING RECORD!!! 110k RAISED!!!

  
Well God used you guys to break our WOW-O-METER!!! Drop the mic!!! We are speechless!!! We are humbled & overjoyed at the same time!!! All glory to God!!! We just surpassed $110,000 raised!!! That's a new fundraising record for GTD!!!!! From the soles of our feet to the souls of our souls (that's a new one!) - THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH AMAZING, LOVING, & GENEROUS PEOPLE!!!! You are launching us into our 28th year of ministry in 2024!!! BLOWN! AWAY!!! God bless you all!!!!!!

 

 

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HANS GRUBER HITS TERMINAL VELOCITY! ...15 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!

  
After falling 10 stories Hans has somehow already hit terminal velocity! While passing the 15th floor at Nakatomi Plaza, Holly McClane yells out, "Hans, after all this you're just a common thief." Hans snaps back, "I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane. And since I'm moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite.”

Well Hans, there will be no "moving up" for you! On the contrary it's all "down hill" from here.

15 more days till Hans Gruber hits the ground in front of Nakatomi Plaza and Christmas can be celebrated!!

Long live DIE HARD as the greatest Christmas movie of all time!!!

 

 

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TONIGHT'S MOVIE NITE IS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER!

  
It looks like our area is going to get hit with some sloppy weather this afternoon & evening so we are canceling our Outdoor Movie Nite tonight. Because of this we will make our next Outdoor Movie Nite a DOUBLE FEATURE!!

*All Movie Nites are family friendly, and movies have been edited to remove inappropriate content.

Next Movie Nite:
Dec 16th (Saturday night):
-------------------
DOUBLE FEATURE!!
Plus wear an ugly Christmas sweater or something "Christmassy"
-------------------
"DOORS" OPEN AT 4.30p
>> Daddy's Home 2 @ 6.45pm-ish
>> Die Hard 1 @ 8.45pm-ish
-------------------
Menu: Chili, Hot Dogs, Chips, S'mores, Snacks, Lemonade, Sodas, & Water
-------------------
Games: Cornhole, Ping Pong, Arcade Style 2-Player Basketball, More
-------------------
Comment below, or text me, FB Messenger me, or Instagram Message me to RSVP to reserve your spot and so we have plenty of food, snacks, & drinks ready to gooooo!!
-------------------
We hope to see you at our next GTD MOVIE NITE at BIRDDOG CINEMA 😀 

 

 

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BACK BY (UN)POPULAR DEMAND.... SWAMP THING IS 8 WEEKS AWAY!

  
Our least desired and most avoided adventure is back on the calendar for 2024!

Check out the AWESOME SWAMP THING PROMO VIDEO HERE:
https://youtu.be/H7mxwB7ne7A?si=mNFTK6j5-F9-iP4n

Swamp Thing is the backpacking trip your mama warned you about!

Trudging through the thick swamp with a heavy backpack on your back appeals only to the hardened adventurer with a drive to overcome, a mindset to embrace misery, and a passion to run into a challenge that everyone else is running away from.

So if you like taking the hard road BECAUSE it's the hard road, this may be the trip for you. If you like something BECAUSE everyone else hates it, this may be the trip for you. If you like your badge of honor with swamp water dripping from it, this may be the trip for you.

If you've got the guts to do GTD's romp in the swamp then click on the link below for more details and/or to register.

Event: Swamp Thing Backpacking Trip
Date: FEB 3-4, 2024 (Sat-Sun)
Location: Florida's Everglades
Total Distance: Approximately 8 miles round-trip
Cost: Only $55 (plus food)
Website Link: https://gtdbullhorn.blogspot.com/p/swamp-thing-1.html?m=1

Here's a good Swamp Thing verse:
"For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Going The Distance Adventure Ministry
God-awesome Adventures Since 1996!

 

 

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BIRDDOG CINEMA was super sized today!

 

BIRDDOG CINEMA was super sized today! We went from a 150 inch outdoor screen to a 200 inch outdoor screen! With the enhancements I figured I better place 2 security guards next to it ;) 

 

 

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MOVIE NITE CHANGED TO SUNDAY NIGHT... "DADDY'S HOME 2"!!

MOVIE NITE CHANGED TO SUNDAY NIGHT... "DADDY'S HOME 2"!!
...SOOOO MOVIE NITE IS DEC 10th!
 
Join us this SUNDAY NIGHT (Dec 10, 2023... NOT on Friday night like originally planned) at BIRDDOG CINEMA located within Shantytown Estates (aka, my backyard) for one of the funniest Christmas movies I've ever seen - DADDY'S HOME 2!!! This instantly became one of my Top 2 favorite Christmas movies when I first saw it... I was literally crying from laughing so hard!! I know everyone's sense of humor is different, but this movie nailed it for me... and it also has substance and meaning... and culminates into a poignant message. It's full of big name actors, and doesn't disappoint!
 
- "Doors" open at 4.30p
- Dinner (Tacos!!) at 6pm-ish
- Movie (Daddy's Home 2) at 7pm-ish

These are family friendly events so we will have games & edited movies that are kid friendly.
 
Comment below, or text me, FB Messenger me, or Instagram Message me to RSVP to reserve your spot and so we have plenty of food, snacks, & drinks ready to gooooo!!
 
MOVIE SCHEDULE:
Nov 25: Hoodwinked - DONE!
Dec 2: Home Alone 1 - DONE!
Dec 10: >>> DADDY'S HOME 2 & Tacos!!
Dec 16: Die Hard 1 (Menu: TBD)
Jan 13: New Year's movie (TBD)
Feb 2: >> Groundhog Day
Feb 11: >> Super Bowl

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming GTD MOVIE NITES at BIRDDOG CINEMA 😀

 

 

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MINISTRY PARTNER GIFTS HAVE STARTED GOING OUT!!

  
This is such a big deal to me... we are finally following through with getting our "Thank You Gifts" mailed out & hand delivered to our amazing Ministry Partners!! In some cases, we are 5 years behind on getting these gifts delivered! It has been such a bummer to fall so far behind, but I praise God we are in the midst of getting back on top of so many things, especially the gifts for our supporters!! Soooooo Jan, our awesome admin person, has mailed out about 18 packages for our out-of-town supporters, and will be dropping off even more to our local supporters. We have over 100 gift packages to go out so we are doing it in waves over the next 2 months. If you are one of our phenomenal GTD supporters (anytime during the past 27+ years) and you never received any of our GTD gifts (things like GTD shirts, knit hats, coffee mugs, water bottles, etc) then contact me (text, call, comment, etc) so I can make sure you get what you deserve! As always, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your love, prayers, encouragement, & support!!! We are so blessed to have you on our team!

 

 

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HANS GRUBER UPDATE! ...20 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!

  

After falling 5 stories Hans was last seen passing the 20th floor at Nakatomi Plaza where John McClane could be heard yelling the following question, "Hey Hans, how ya doin'?!" To which Hans yelled back, "It's Christmas... It's the time of miracles.” Well said Hans, but I've seen this movie before and all I can say is 20 more days till Hans Gruber hits the ground in front of Nakatomi Plaza and Christmas can be celebrated!! Long live DIE HARD as the greatest Christmas movie of all time!!!

 

 

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We had another great time at BIRDDOG CINEMA watching Home Alone!

 

We had another great time at our Outdoor Movie Nite this past Saturday night watching Home Alone with about 30 people at BIRDDOG CINEMA! Special thanks to Mark DeSantis for supplementing our pizzadillas with lots of delicious queso & chips from Moe's!! ...Aaaaaaaaand  my awesome Sista for all her hard work & help!
  
--------------
NOTE - MOVIE SCHEDULE CHANGE: Our next Movie Nite at BIRDDOG CINEMA is changed FROM this Fri night Dec 8th TO Sunday night Dec 10th!!! (Friday night wasn't a good choice because of it being a work day and Saturday night is the City of Pinellas Park Christmas Parade)... more info to come, but the movie will be DADDY'S HOME 2 (absolutely hilarious!!) and the menu will be Tacos!!! More info to come!
--------------

 

 

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Let the countdown begin! 25 days till...

 

Let the countdown begin! 25 days till Hans Gruber hits the ground in front of Nakatomi Plaza and Christmas can be celebrated!! Long live DIE HARD as the greatest Christmas movie of all time!!!

PS: Thank you Carson for THE BEST Christmas countdown Advent calendar EVER!

 

 

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WOW x 100,000!!!! ...$100k RAISED IN RECORD TIME!!! PTL!!! THANK YOU DONORS!!!

  
I only have a couple of minutes, but wanted to get this VICTORY POST up immediately!!!! Late yesterday (Nov 30th) our AWESOME, PHENOMENAL, STELLAR, & AMAZING SUPPORTERS put us over the $100k goal line IN RECORD TIME!!!!!!!! Wow, I mean WOWWWW, JUST WOWWWW!!!!! Thank you doesn't even come close to describe the gratitude in my heart and all of our hearts at Team GTD!!!! You guys are launching us into 2024, and we even have 2 months left on our fundraising calendar to add "MORE IN 2024"!!! Our All-Time Fundraising Record is around $110k if anyone wants to help us break another record! But the BIG NEWS that we are celebrating right now is that $100,000 was raised in 1 month!!! That's amazing!!! That's RECORD SETTING TIME!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! God bless all of you awesome people!!! And most of all, ALL GLORY TO GOD!!

 

 

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