Monday, December 20, 2010

{YOU did it!}

You, You, You, You , You, You (Kathy Kelleher) , You , You (Angela P) , You, You (Mandy Cozby), and You all DID IT! You and 176 other amazing people, built a well in a week! $5,762 in donations to be exact! You took an opportunity to give and gave a tremendous gift.  A gift that while monetarily may have been small for your family or a huge sacrifice, will be lasting for a community.  Not a person or even a family...a community.  Can you imagine for just a moment what that means for not only the immediate families in that community, but the generations that have a new story written because you allowed God to move.  And move he did!  I tried my best to believe for the full well, but that pesky little voice crept in and out this week...yet God was faithful and I for one am rejoicing for a well for sweet little one's like this guy...

picture from Jody Landers
Couldn't you just squeeze him?
Thank you for helping me learn from my unbelief.  I am so very thankful to have been a small part of such an amazing accomplishment!    Thank you for every donation to Charity:Water, thank you to every sponsored giveaway item, than you for every social media blast, and thank you for every prayer.  The work isn't over.  Now that we are aware and we have grabbed a hold of this burden for water, it's time to be diligent with prayer. Please continue to pray for this effected by unclean water, for the staff of Charity:Water, and for the donations so desperately needed for more communities who need the precious gift of water.
And congrats Nic,

 
you are the winner of my Charity:Water giveaway! 
I will email you details on your prizes soon, sorry for the delay it has been a nutty day. 

And if YOU gave and entered my giveaway, please send me your address for a little something from me.

PS Still have Charity:Water on your heart?  Purchase some last minute Christmas gifts form Water4Christmas, an etsy shop benefiting Charity:Water. Or continue to give, the Project 320 Well Page will be open through the end of the year.  And lastly pray how you can get involved...I plan to host another giveaway next year and would love to partner with YOU again!

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Friday, December 17, 2010

{God is good}

 
I bawled in the shower this morning.  I let the warm rush of water break the drop in temperature that chilled my house over night.  I stood there as the water hugged the racks of my sobs.  And as quickly as the tears came I shut off the water and jumped out, feeling guilty.  A lot of my time spent in my daily shower is spent with God.  I pray over my day, get my thoughts in order and try to get my heart in tune with his.  Today I know he met me and I was overwhelmed. I prayed for Project 320 and the sweet babies Charity:Water helps and was struck by how readily available water is taken for granted in our culture.  I stood in my shower overcome with grief only to waste more water as I stood there.  The irony was not lost on me and I pray it is not lost on you.

Wouldn't it be amazing if Charity:Water could build wells like this in each African community that has a need.


picture from Charity:Water

Wouldn't it be awesome if an African Mother never had to have her children fetch water for their family here again.



 picture from Charity:Water

Wouldn't it be a beautiful Christmas if together we could give this simple gift


to this sweet little boy.


Well we can and we are. Project 320's goal for another well this Christmas is 50% funded and I need your help to fund the remaining 50%. I know Christmas is a week away and everyone is busy wrapping, and baking, and making memories.  Amidst all the busyness this season brings would you pause and pray with me.  Would you pray how you can help Project 320 and Charity:Water?  Maybe God will nudge you to pray, maybe give, maybe nothing.

I also wanted to encourage you.  Charity:Water is an organization that pulls on my heart.  But just because it pulls on my heart means I can afford to financially give to their cause.  When I knew it was getting close to Project 320's 2010 launch I starter praying about how much if any I was supposed to give and felt strongly it was $50.  Looking at my budget I also knew it wasn't there.  In faith I prayed God would show me what to do. Wednesday I was starting to get anxious.  Late Wednesday night I was on Twitter and another blogger tweeted she was looking for baby gifts.  Long story short she ordered from my shop and her total was $50. I trust God is in control, but apparently sometimes I get a little impatient in the waiting.  I am so thankful for his provision for our family to contribute in a small part of what Project 320 is doing.

I am thankful for all who have given of their talents to push my Charity:Water giveaway to over $500 in value and I would love to give it to one of my readers.  There are still 19 other bloggers with giveaways open to benefit Charity:Water, as well.  Please let us bless your willingness to give with an entry into one of these amazing giveaways.  And if you want to enter my giveaway, but also donated, enter anyway and I'll hold a separate drawing for your prize if you win.

Here's a video from Charity:Water to give you vision for what this amazing organization does.


Ready to get involved?

First, visit Project 320's Charity:Water Well page.
Then check out my giveaway and the others, select where you want to enter your donation.
And then pray and spread the word!

Give, Pray and Drink Water.

{God is good, all the time.}

Monday, December 13, 2010

{Charity:Water Giveaway}

I can't believe it's here...I am giddy with excitement.  I am expectant for all God has planned with this project to erect a well for his children.  I am humbled to be a small part of how God will move 
as each donation is placed.

I was so excited as the donations so quickly fell into place and was blessed by the sweet hearts willing to give of their talent and resources.  So if you love these awesome items as much as I think you will, visit Project 320's Charity:Water Well Page to donate and then come back and leave one comment per $10 donation.  There is absolutely NO LIMIT to how many entries you place on this giveaway or the other  

Give with hopeful hearts to bless those who will be the recipients of this precious gift...clean water.

Winner takes all:

One Ready Made File From 
$15 Value


Winner's Choice of Photograph or Card
Value of $10-$12

Value of $20-$25

Winner's Choice of Color 
Value of $25

Kristiana at Krispy Banana Kids
Value of $12


Winner's Choice of any Diaper Clutch Listed
Amanda at Practical Designs
Value of $6.50


Winner's Choice of Tie Die Peace Sign T-shirt
Any Size Newborn to Adult 6XL
Dawn at TDFT
Value of $14-$25


Complete Blog Makeover
The winner will receive a Custom Happy Photo Header, a Coordinating Blog Button, and a Lovely Layout Update which includes installation of header, button, and blog background, along with updating your blog's layout and color scheme.
Value of  $36.85
Jenni at Carlisle Clan Conversation
Value of $14


Signed Copy of Totally Desperate Mom
Wendy Hagen of Tales From The Motherhood
Value of $12.00


Triple Layer Pinwheel Bow in Black, Pink, and Zebra
Tia at Little Bow Head
Value $3.50

Scrappy Yo Yo Headband
Nicole at Olive Blue
Value of $7.00

Ruffled Camera Strap
One of a kind made especially for Charity:Water!
Ruthanne of Eclectic Whatnot
Value of $38


ALL Six Seeds of Worship CD's 
This giveaway includes the 5 listed above and the newest one, Seeds of Character!
Seeds Family Worship
Value of $80


Organic Pink and Green Vespa Scooter Print with Chenille Backing Stroller Blanket
Sarah at Little Things Botique
Value of $30


Two Full Bars of Soap
Kelsey at Cake Face Soaping
Value of $12


$50 Gift Certificate
Ragamuffin Beauties
Value of $50

My giveaway will end next Sunday, December 19th at midnight.
The winner will be announced Monday, Decemeber 20th.
I will use random.org to select ONE winner to win all the prizes listed.

Remember you can enter as many times as you wish, but only once per $10 donation to Charity:Water. Donate $50, get 5 entries, donate $100, get 10 entries, donate more...you get the picture.

I still have a few sponsors I am working out details with so, this giveaway bundle actually gets better!
Keep checking back for more updates and please
pray for Project 320's effort to build another well for Charity:Water!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

{project 320 & Charity:Water}

 
Last year I was so excited to be a small part of building TWO wells {in TWO weeks!} for clean drinking water in Africa, with Project 320 and Charity:Water.  Some amazing blogger Mommas with huge hearts and mad talent joined forces to facilitate a huge undertaking.  They created the Project 320 blog to bring awareness to the incredible need in Africa that we in America take for granted every day...drinking clean water.  What started as a dream for one well, bloomed into two and here we are again ready to call on the help of YOU the blogging community. Check out the Project 320 blog and check back on Monday for a giveaway that you can feel good about!


Friday, December 10, 2010

{Sweet Baby Cliff}

 
Those that know me well, know that I {love} babies, toddlers, and kiddos in general.  Those same people also know I {heart} adoption and that it's my heart's desire to add to our family one day through adoption.  For many families who share my {heart} for adoption and would love to provide a sweet orphan a forever home are unable to due to the financial burden that some adoptions can carry.  Some saints on earth with hearts to care for precious babies who may have a harder life ahead of them due to a health concern, down syndrome, etc, are left wanting.  Enter Reeces Rainbow, an amazing organization that lifts that financial burden for these families.  One of the sweet babies, Cliff is waiting for his forever family. A family that God has already chosen and that needs our help, because Cliff needs our help. 

The amazing Jeannett Gibson at Life Rearranged, wants that help that to become a reality.  And she wants you to jump on Team Cliff too! See Cliff's sweet face over on my side bar?  Don't you think it would look awesome on your blog too?  I think so.  You see just like when we promote awesome handmade shops, companies we love, etc. we raise awareness of their products.  Let's say we do that for sweet Cliff.  Because maybe you can't donate today, but the person who sees his sweet face feels God tugging at their heart to join Team Cliff and donate.  Cause a chain reaction of sweet blessings to make Cliff's forever home a reality, join Team Cliff.  Read more details about Jeannett's precious heart for Cliff and see how to add Cliff's adorableness to your blog.  Then once you do, go link up on Jeanett's giveaway that includes some goodies from awesome shops like Ragamuffin Beauties!  You can even give the gift of Cliff this Christmas too...check out Jeanett's post where the adorable Heather at Blessed Little Nest created Cliff Certificates and lovely Shealynn of SheyB is donating 20% of every sale for orders placed this month!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Our 2010 Christmas Card

Rejoice Lord King Religious Christmas 5x7 folded card
Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.
View the entire collection of cards.