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About The Hope Ball:
The Hope Ball now contains 11,803 rubberbands-many donated by celebrities- and weighs over 13 pounds! This ball is still growing strong after over 5 years. We are hoping to auction the Hope Ball for RAINN and the Turning Point Rape Crisis Center later this year. (We will keep updates going regarding the official auction date)

Hope Ball Stats:
Official "Hope Ball Project" birth date: March 16, 2004
First band donated by: Walter

How you can help:
We would love a contribution! Sign your name or write a message of hope on a rubber band (the bigger the better!) and send them to us at:
Verge of a Miracle
P.O. Box 3664
Quinlan, TX, 75474

You can also submit a message here and we will write it onto a band for you:
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Back to Verge of a Miracle

Messages:
(See where the messages are coming from here: )
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A message from Jaci Velasquez:
Hi, my name is Jaci Velasquez and I get a lot of mail. Most mail is fun and encouraging, but every so often I will get a letter from someone who is being abused (usually a wife or girlfriend) and my heart feels like it is being ripped out. I have personally never experienced this but I know what it's like to hurt. I also know (thanks be to God) that I can go to God and He does love me and does hear my prayers. When I feel like I just can't go on any more, He's still there. When I run out of words or can't find the right words, He's still there. Sometimes I don't even say anything and He is still there. If you know ANYTHING, know HE is there for you and He loves you!!!

I have added a rubberband with this message to the Hope Ball:
"God is there for you and He loves you!- Jaci Velasquez"
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From Kira and the oh-so-talented Koopa :)
"You are not alone"
"<3 Koopa loves you <3"
"<3 Hugs and turtle kisses from Kira and Koopa <3"
Plus 20 MUCH needed stamps (Thank you!!) and an absolutely adorable picture of Koopa!
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"Stop the violence, end the silence" Added on 3/18/04 by Tabloidscully from Pandys.org
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"Everyone can be the answer to someone's prayers", Viola, LA- Added on 3/19/04
**Thanks Viola- as you can tell, I love that quote!!!**
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"Silent no more", crystal,22, Florida- Added on 3/23/04 by Crystalbutterfly81 from Pandys.org
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"I can be changed by what happens to me, I cannot be reduced by it"- Maya Angelou / Naomi-Pennsylvania
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On a white rubberband with the American Flag and "Liberty for all" inscribed on it- "Liberty to wear what we want, go where we want and with whomever we want and be SAFE!"- Marie/Louisiana
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"God's love heals all wounds"- Elizabeth, Tx
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"A journey of thousand miles starts with a single step." From Togo- Kent, England
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"Hope, strength, and blessings to you. From the Dallas Stars- Go Stars!"
**(WOW!! Thank you SO much to my beloved Dallas Stars- I look forward to seeing you back in action soon!)**
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2 Rubberbands from my Louisiana IceGators!!:
"Keep your head high & aim for the stars."
"When you smile the world smiles with you."
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Message from the Washington Capitals:
"Stay Strong!!!-Caps"
*The message also included several bumper and cling stickers as well as 2 temporary tatoos! These will all be displayed proudly!*
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6/18/04- A message and letter from the New York Islanders!!:
"Never, never, NEVER Give Up!!!~From the New York Islanders
I love that quote. Thank you- it's perfect!
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Also thank you to Walter who made me 60 address lables!!! Thank you!!! That saves me SO much time!
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Two bands from the Phoenix Coyotes:
"Never let the abuser take your soul- your faith will keep you whole!!
"I will pray, for the day, that you will be, healed and free!"
(Special thanks to Tomi Stern- your message was beautiful and so inspiring- I started to cry in the post office parking lot when I read it. The lady in the car next to me looked at me like I was nuts!)
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Message from the Los Angeles Kings:
"Faith, Hope, Spirit, Strength, Serenity, Peace~ The 2004 LA Kings"
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Two bands from the Fort Worth Brahmas Hockey Club!
"Keep on keeping on- The 2004-2005 Fort Worth Brahmas"
"Never give up- The 2004-2005 Fort Worth Brahmas"
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From the New Mexico Scorpions:
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent- Eleanor Roosevelt"
With this band they sent a puck, a bumper sticker, a stress puck, a rally towel, and a JERSEY!!!
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From the San Angelo Saints:
"Don't lose hope- when it gets darkest, the stars come out."
"We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes"
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From the Reading Royals:
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow- Albert Einstein"
"We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival. Winston Churchill"
"We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes. JFK"
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compaired to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson"
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible. Anonymous"
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From the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies:
"Silence is not a virtue. Be strong"
"Never give up- keep the faith"
"Never give up- stay strong!"
"Be strong and have faith & you will be triumphant!"
"Keep kickin @$$!!"
"Don't bend or break, never back down- it's your life!"
"Always hold your head up high!"
"Wrinkles only come where smiles have been"
"Keep your head held high and you will rise above!"
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From the Utah Grizzlies:
"There's a lesson to be learned in every painful experience"
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it" (I LOVE this!)
"ICECREAM FIXES EVERYTHING" :)
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From the Roanoke Express:
"May you find the courage & strength to live, love and enjoy life"
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From LOURDS:
"I fell upon the Waking Hour- 'cause I'm the one who gave you power.. and now I take it all away" -LOURDS, "The Waking Hour"
"I will walk until I rise, until I find my place in time, until I leave the pain behind." LOURDS, "Sunrise"
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From the Portland Pirates:
"Stay strong"
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From the Houston Aeros:
"Keep the faith and continue the fight.-Houston Aeros"
"Believe in yourself and you can do anything.-Houston Aeros"
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From the Milwaukee Admirals:
"There is hope. Don't give up!! Milwaukee Admirals"
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"The person who is scared of life is a person who doesn't accomplish anything" - Walter
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From the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks:
"Stay strong and keep the faith."
"Rise above the storm and you will see the sunshine"
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I received a letter with 4 VERY colorful bands from the Rockford IceHogs!
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From the Greenville Grrrowl:
"Don't ever give up. Look to loved ones for inspiration."
"Hang in there!"
"Find strength in family and friends"
"Love like you've never been hurt and dance like nobody's looking."
"Don't let anyone keep you from reaching your dreams"
"Reach for the stars and don't let anyone stop you."
"Prayer heals all wounds- keep the faith."
"Live strong"
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From 2004 NBA Champtions Detroit Pistons and 2003 WNBA Champions Detroit Shock:
2 red and blue rubberbands
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From the ECHL's Trenton Titans:
"Live your life filled with joy and wonder- From the Trenton Titans family"
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From the WNBA's Seattle Storm:
2 BEAUTIFUL yellow bands- both with, "Pride, attitude, commitment- BRING IT!"
(Also with 8 schedules!)
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From the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers:
9 blank bands
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From my WONDERFUL friend Tomi Stern:
"Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage~ Pray, there is immeasurable power in it."
(Also with 20 more MUCH MUCH needed stamps!! THANK YOU TOMI!)
On 1/25/05- Another incredibly thoughtful letter with a new sheet of stamps and a large, red rubber band!
"Be the first to fight for a just cause! When there's a hill to climb, waiting won't make it smaller."
Thank you Tomi for your support, kindness and friendship. @~}~~
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From the 2002 CHL President's Cup Champions Memphis River Kings :
"Be strong. Be brave. Be courageous."
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3 orange bands from the WNBA's Charlotte Sting:
"God bless"
"Stay strong, best wishes"
"You're in our prayers"
(Also with 2 stickers!)
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From the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx and the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves:
3 green rubberbands with the teams' names, 10 cards, a schedule and a program!
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From anonymous senders:
"You are not alone- help is out there!"
"Don't be afraid to take back the night!"
"Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.- Anonymous"
"It is a heretic which builds the fire, not she who burns in it. -Shakespeare"
"You can never be a 'lesser than' unless you are intimadated by someone you think is a 'more than'."
"The human spitit is stronger than anything that happens to it. -C.C. Scott"
"Someone was hurt before you.....beaten before you; humiliated before you; raped before you; yet someone survived. - Maya Angelou"
"Never forget the courage it takes to survive."
"Do not hide your tears- 'cause they were sent to wash away those years - Creed"
"There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you. - Maya Angelou"
"Reach out to Jesus, hold on tight. He's been there before, and he knows what it's like. You'll find he's there.-Rich Mullins"
"When you're lost within your weakness, hope is waiting to be found.- Martina McBride"
"Nightmare and fear, they have no power here.- Fred Small"
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... thank you all so much! Please keep sending in rubberbands!

Donations:
A HUGE thanks to Jim, who gave me 20 stamps today!!! THANK YOU!
From Naomi- 20 Disney friendship stamps!!!
3 blank bands from the Chicago Wolves
14 blank bands from the Philadelphia Phantoms
THANK YOU TOMI !!!! You are an angel!
(I received another package from the Phoenix Coyotes and Tomi Stern today!! This time she sent me a letter with 2 schedules, a magnetic calendar, 2 pamphlets, and autographed cards from: Mike Johnson, Cale Hulse, Matthew Spiller, Ossi Vaananen, and Landon Wilson! And she also sent 40 stamps!!! :) So I was finally able to mail the rest of the letters I have prepaired, and have now sent letters to every NHL, AHL, ECHL and UHL hockey team, as well as the Houston Astros and several local college teams.)
12 bands from Walter from SMU
8 bands from Walter (made into a seperate ball) plus 153 brown bands
1 large blue band from a waterproof camera from Lacey, plus 6 small bands
3 bags of 2,493 from Deloris
5 black paintball bands from Allen Paintball Products
8 bags of 4,371 from Linda and Donna
one bag of 184 big brown bands from Dale
218 multi colored (very stretchy!) bands from Christi
1 plain band from Richland's book store
2 bands from Walmart
3 plain brown bands from Pert Plus

History of the rubberband ball previously known as Carlos:

I started working on Carlos in an attempt to keep myself from pulling out my hair.. which hasn't really worked. But I do have a rather impressive rubberband ball now : ) Now I'm trying to make Carlos into a hope ball- messages written on rubberbands from Survivors and friends of Survivors. Some really great bands have been donated by a lot of people, including some HUGE multicolored fridge bands!


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