{pssst...}

Yep, that's right well numero quatro for P320!

Amazing!  He never ceases to amaze me with his love!

So thankful!

My little one got in on the action and we do a good ole fashion drawing!

And the winner is....

Yay!  Congrats!  And thank you all so much for helping build a well!

{charity:water giveaway}

Well hello there lovelies!  I'm pretty amazed I have any followers with my ridiculous hit and miss blogging. Buuuuut, I sure am thankful for ya'll! Especially today, because I finally got over all my obstacles and pulled together a Charity:Water giveaway!!!

Charity:Water is more than a great organization, it's love in action.  Precious babies all over the world die daily for lack of clean drinking water and that is not okay.  I wish I could drop $500 for a well, but I can't. But, YOU can.  Because, when we put enough $10 donations together they eventually become $500 or even better $1,000.  For every $10 you help one person have clean water for ten years.  Hold the phone peeps....that was TEN YEARS! I know everyone has bills, and Christmas lists, and wants, and at least $10 to help a precious baby who drinks this:

have a chance at this:

Ten bucks.  And if that wasn't enough of an incentive, how about some handmade goodies. How about $150 worth of handmade goodies?!?! For every 10 smackeroos you donate you are eligible for one entry into my giveaway or any of the other Project320 giveaways...and there are some AWESOME ones.

A few of us thought we would up the ante. For the first 9 donations on my blog I will email you a Shutterfly code for a free 8X8 Photo Book!  That is one less present to buy folks.

How about if you donate $30?  Well, the beautiful Julie of Joy's Hope wants to bless you with TWO free and ADORABLE  8X10 prints! She also has a Days Until sign available for a $60 donation {which you can mail to me, just saying} and for $120 donation a ROY G BIV rainbow of beauty in her ever popular Pretty Messy Flower pins.

Sweet and stunning Heather of Cookie Mondays is offering one of her special Project 320 aqua scalloped bowtie or headband for each $40 donation, as well as donating $10 from every sell of one of these items to Charity:Water!

So along with entries into the fabulous giveaways, you have some pretty rad swag for yourself...make sure if you donate the amounts listed above that you visit Julie and Heather's posts to receive your goodies.  I will email codes as entries are made on THIS post and will be the first 9 only!

So what does $150 of handmade look like...

Red Knitted Cowl, Turquoise Ragamuffin Beauties Knots and Pearls Necklace, Yellow Infinity Scarf

Plum Rosette Headband, Mum Clip Trio, Yellow Mum Earrings, Hot Pink Rose Earrings, Hounds tooth Button Earrings, and Turquoise Rosette Earrings

Floral Fabric Bracelet and White Rose Ring

Brown and Pink Ipad Cover, Brown and Pink Writlet with lace and brown ruffle, Watermelon Pink Polka Dot Key Fob and Tissue Cozy Set

Classic Children's Book Spot Paper Banner

So what 'cha waiting for?  Donating is easy peasy. Go to the Project320 Charity:Water page and donate.  Then select the giveaway of your choice from the Project320 blog and comment once per $10 donation. Entries can be made to any giveaway, but you must comment on that giveaway to win.  You will also need to comment on Julie or Heather's post for the extra incentives.  And if you are feeling extra generous you can follow along on the Project 320 blog or Facebook page and blog, tweet, facebook, etc to your heart's content!

My giveaway will end Monday, December 19th at 12pm CST and the winner's loot will be promptly mailed out to hopefully reach you by Christmas!

Disclaimer: Shutterfly codes are for a  20 page 8X8 hard back photo book, does not include premium license photo books, leather or padded covers.. Code expires 12/31/2011 and does not cover the taxes, shipping or handling expense.

{What a Silhouette has to do with a hot potato..}

I'm back from Creative Estates.  It was more than I can put into words, so I'm working on my recap post and it will be up soon.  I learned a lot, had a great time and won a Silhouette...sort of.

Last year I was overwhelmed with some amazing girls from Project 320 that affectionately call themselves the Hollas.  Project 320 exists to give to Charity:Water.  This year, Julie, after many attempts to win her very own Silhouette, did just that.  And then she gave it away.  Gave it to Charity:Water. My heart lept into my throat when I read her post. She would call it the right thing, I call it sacrifice.

When chatting with Kim from Today's Creative Blog at Creative Estates, she casually told me if she won the Silhouette she would give it to me.  {Let's back up, Kim from Today's Creative Blog was talking to me...that's a whole 'nother heart in throat moment.}

I'll be honest, I was totally like yeah right.  Fast forward to the last giveaway from the night and who wins the Silhouette, yep Kim did.  And yep, she was true to her word and gave it to little ole me {disclaimer that is totally a saying and not an admission to thinking I am little}!!! I was giddy, it was a magical moment.  But it was the moment after that I will treasure from Creative Estates.  I immediately knew it wasn't mine.  It was Julie's.  Erin was standing next to me and had driven to AZ...perfect.  Erin agreed to be my Silhouette mule and from there commenced Operation Re-Gift.  Little did I know Julie's heart is more amazing than I can describe.  Enter the hot potato of Silhouette's game.

Jeannett showed us the amazing organization Reece's Rainbows in the Fall of last year.  She rallied for sweet baby Cliff to find a home.  And he did.  What also came of finding Cliff a home, created an opportunity for Sergey to find a home.  His Mommy, Danielle has set up an amazing fundraiser to get him home.  And of course Julie knew that Silhouette needed to be a part of that fundraiser too.  I agreed.

That face is beyond precious.  Check out his Mommy's blog and learn how your $10 may just land that Silhouette and other goodies {like an Ipad 2} on your door step.  Even better, my prayer is that sweet face will be in his Mommy's arms come this Christmas!

You see I wasn't even at Creative Estates by chance.  I won a ticket.  I would probably still not have gone had my SIL, Melissa not won a ticket.  But she did.  Kim taking a chance on some chick from Texas, crazy talk.  Then winning.  Erin being at Creative Estates, with a car, and a willing heart.  Julie, being Julie.  God, my friend is in the details.  The word coincidence isn't in his vocabulary.  This story is not about Julie or me, it's about His desire to use us in ways that stretch us and do His incredible work beginning with the details.

Oh and I challenged Julie to see how many times we could give away a Silhouette between the two of us.  I'll let you know what comes of our shenanigans.

{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!

{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.

picture from Jody Landers
Jody Lander

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.}

{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  

Project 320 Blogger's Giveaway !  

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 

Becca of Jumping Jax Designs

$15 Value

Winner's Choice of Photograph or Card

Janet of Janet Ridgeway Photgraphy

Value of $10-$12

Winner's Choice Of Family Tree 1 or 2

Kimmie of Sugar and Dots

Value of $20-$25

Modern Love Fairytale Quote Print

Winner's Choice of Color 

Stephanie at GeeZees Canvas Art

Value of $25

Holiday Cheers Vintage Fabric Bib with Chenille Backing

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.

Heather at Blessed Little Nest

Value of $68

 Stamped Penny From Heaven Necklace
Christy of Wired Whimsy
Value of $16.50

Two Rock-N-Happy Heart Devotionals
Stars, Guitars, and Megaphones CD
Have A Fancy Yancy Christmas CD

Yancy Not Nancy

Value of  $36.85

Little Boys Chef Style Apron

Little Girl's Eco Chic Everyday Apron

Joan at Momo's Retro Fashions
Value of $20

31 Bits Bracelet 'Darby'

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!