Archive | August, 2011

Progress!  Well I did manage to not wear the dress yesterday but it felt weird not being in it.  Safe to say though that you haven’t seen the last of that dress because it will be making an appearance shortly.  Very shortly.  This has definitely been the year of “the dress”.  You see this all started long before May 1st but I doubt you want the long version of this so I’ll just give you a snippet.  I couldn’t sleep one night.  It was January 8th at 1:15 in the morning and after reading one of my favorite photography blogs I got to thinking about what this young lady had said.  She expressed that the things in her life that she had been the most afraid to do had turned out to be the most rewarding things she had done.  This really hit a chord with me.  I don’t know about you but I like comfort.  Comfortable has a nice ring to it ya know?  Yet I wanted to grow…growth takes stretching and stretching isn’t comfortable…at first.  Here was a dilemma.  Growth or comfort?  Thankfully God helped me pick stretching and thus this project.  Somewhere along the road this thought hit me:  When we are stretched we have a greater capacity to be filled.  Filled with more life.  To live fully brings so much joy.  Isn’t that joy worth going through some pain?  You’ll never know how far you can walk if you never take the first step.  Take that first step and you might soon find yourself running with joy straight towards your goals and dreams that aren’t quite so far off anymore.  Go ahead.  Beware though…you might just surprise yourself. 🙂

I hope to be able to put an update in this post today so please donate! Approximately $5 dollars feeds an orphan for a month…that’s 90 meals. 🙂

O.K.  I’m in need of therapy.  I think I have an unhealthy addiction (actually I’m guessing that all addictions are unhealthy but never mind).  Yeah because what you saw on the blog yesterday…well I may or may not have worn a certain black dress all day. (said sheepishly)  Anyways in other more uplifting news we are just going to keep trying to raise the $50,000.  I don’t know about you but I really want to feed some more children.  🙂  And guess what crazy, exciting thing happened?  The article in the Huffington Post about my project came out.  You can read it here!  Thank you to the lovely Cornelia Seigneur for writing it!  Really we only need 1,000 more people to give $19 dollars and we would exceed our goal!!! 😀

If you are the praying type then please pray for me as I go to talk to my doctor today.  I want to ask her about the possibility of going to India.  Phew, deep breath.  It would be pretty crazy for me to do that considering my health but I am dying to see the orphans that we helped and bring you pictures! 😀

UPDATE: $31,692.25

You all are INCREDIBLE!!! We doubled our “funds raised” in 9 days.  NINE DAYS!!!!!! We hit over $30K in 100 days.  Donations are still coming in and since I still have this crazy dream to provide $50,000 for the orphans then let’s make it happen.  I’ve had too many dreams die to not want to fight to get this one. 🙂  But I REALLY need your help still.  If 1,000 people gave $19 dollars we would reach that goal.  That shouldn’t be too hard right?  Not if you help me. 😀  Look what you have already done.  You should be very proud of yourself for being part of this incredible gift we are giving to suffering children!  Children are being placed in homes!!!  Keep donating and I’ll keep updating. 😀 When we’re doing so good why stop?  The dress chapter may be finished but this is a new chapter.

I chose this outfit because I feel like it is the opposite of the dress.  White.  Jeans.  Shorts for summer (if it will ever arrive…).  Honestly it feels weird. On one hand I feel like shouting Hallelujah and on the other hand I think I might just have to wear the dress some today…gatta ease out of this slowly.  Baby steps.  This definitely isn’t the last time you have seen that dress.  In fact you will mostly likely see it in another black dress outfit again this week, but more on that later.  What damage can we do to the total today? 😀  If you didn’t get the chance to donate during the 100 days now’s your chance!

I’ll be working on answering all your lovely comments and emails today.  I do read them all and will respond.  I can’t tell you how awesome you made my day yesterday.  It was incredible!

P.S.  I kept my word to you and didn’t buy clothing in the last 1oo days and I figured out that I spent less than $50 dollars on clothing in over a year.  Man I want to go shopping…!!!

UPDATE: $30,495.36

UPDATE: We actually raised $31,249.25 yesterday. 😀

UPDATE: $31,331.10

{Photo by: Jenn Lynn Images}

My heart is too full.  Writing day 100 at the top of this post is surreal.  There is so much to say and communicate to you.  How does one go about writing day 100?!?!  Let me first explain today’s outfit.  Day 1 I just wore the dress forwards and today, day 100, I am wearing the dress “backwards”.  The markings on my hands, feet, and face are significant in that they are the words that had meaning to me for this project as well as being a reference to Indian henna.  As the letters were being sketched on my body I realized that they have already been etched on my heart.  The plight of the orphans has pierced my heart like a quill pen and made red love ink come forth.  I hope that this same pen has written on yours as well.  I pray that you are moved to action.   To everyone that has donated I wish I could give you a hug and look you in the eyes to say my sincerest most heartfelt “thank you”…I know the orphans would if they could.  Thank you for putting your care for orphans into actions.  It’s been incredible to watch.

Sorry everyone but I just can’t fit this all in one post (unless I were to make it unbearably long)!  I will be posting a day after picture as well as continuing this post…  Let’s see how close we get to our goal today but others can still donate later and we will just keep adding it to the total.  So you can continue to spread the word! 😀

Thank you so much to Stevie from tru.che for this beautiful handmade necklace!  She generously  custom made this design for the project. 😀  I love the simplicity and effect it has.  India truly does have a part of my heart.  Stevie, thank you for this beautiful piece from your shop.

An extremely large thank you to:  My photographers Jenn Lynn Images and Christa Taylor of producing beautiful images.  To Jason Orth for much needed web support. To Karen, Michelle, Emily, Christa, and Amber for lending me clothing and styling the dress.  To all my incredible readers who sent me mail and donated clothing, you made my day!  To all those that prayed for me and supported me every step of the way I couldn’t have done it without that.  To my parents for all their love, support, encouragement and for constantly pointing me back to Christ, I love you both and would never have done this if you wouldn’t have been here helping me.  Most importantly I have to thank Jesus for allowing me to do this incredible project with him and that he was with me in every moment.  Jesus may you receive all the glory you deserve! I love you Jesus and I am so thankful you hold my heart.

I hope to keep UPDATING this today: $24,286.82

UPDATE: $25,638.16

UPDATE 9:25 am: $25,890.66

UPDATE 10:50 am: $26,500.66

UPDATE 1:30 pm: $26,610.66

UPDATE 3:00 pm: $27,390.66

UPDATE 6:00 pm: $30,370.36

UPDATE 7:00 pm: $30,495.36

If 1,000 people gave $19 dollars we would reach our goal!!!! 😀

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

Do you remember saving your pennies as a child or your babysitting money as a teenager.  Or now as an adult waiting for that paycheck so you can buy that thing you’ve been wanting for yourself or for someone else.  There is something (many things actually) amazing about humans.  When we are passionate about something it changes us.  It makes us do things we normally wouldn’t.  Because we care.  As children we loved our moms so we would pick them flowers and bring the foliage all wilted and straggly to a delighted mother as a show of our affection.  What is it that you love?  We toss that word about so flippantly…at least I do far to often.  But when you truly love and care it affects you.  Greatly.  Do you say you care about orphans?  That’s wonderful! How will that affection change you?  What will you do for orphans because of love?  If you haven’t already joined in the blessing of giving to others would you please consider donating today?  One day left to reach our goal.  Thank you for caring about suffering children.  You are changing lives!

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Dress and shoes: Karen}

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s what I think when I see that number at the top of this post.  Day 98?!?!?  Only 2 days left…  O.K. So let’s talk.  We’re getting down to hours left to reach our goal.  Can we at least push the total to $25,000 today?  Halfway would be fantastic.  Actually everyone that has donated should feel amazing for getting us this far.  It’s pretty incredible what you are doing for these adorable children.  If you haven’t donated already PLEASE Donate.  Today is the day.  We’re running out of time! If 1,000 people gave $28 dollars we would reach our goal. 😀  xxx

In other news today is a very exciting day for me.  My kindred spirit and very dear friend Elizabeth is marrying the love of her life Aaron.  Congratulations you two!  I am thrilled to be a bridesmaid on your special day.  Its going to be a busy and very fun day. 😀 (I’m doing hair and makeup for the girls…say a prayer for me!)

Total Raised: $22,036.82

Thank you to my sweet reader Rebekah for sending me this beautiful headband!

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

I saw the sign yesterday flashing the news that the circus was coming.  Lately it feels like the circus is already here…at.my.house.  Yet seeing that sign transported me back in time to a day that my older sister took me to the circus.  Crystal clear in my mind I can still see the funny little monkeys ridding bicycles and the giant lumbering elephants with their decorated head dresses. Then there was the beautiful slender acrobat who transformed herself into a flying bird as I watched in amazement.  I was very young when I went to the show but this memory is still so real to me today.  I can’t imagine the scary acts and sights that must be even more ingrained in the minds of the orphans.  Yes my childhood was very different from theirs.  Have you ever stopped to think that it could have been you?  I have.  What if I had been born in India and had lost my parents?  Since most of us haven’t had this experience lets help these children that have.  Because if it WAS me I would want others to have compassion.  Did you know that the orphans are praying for the success of this project?  So I guess they want you to have compassion as well.  Will you?  Hmm.  Three days.  There’s just way too much to write (about everything in my life).  Yes, I’m going to keep the blog so I’ll tell you all about my personal circus later. 🙂 PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO DONATE!!!! If you want to see us reach the goal then I’ll need your help!!! Thank you!

Thank you Abigail for donating the beautiful flower and for David and Cheri for donating this amazing cuff bracelet!

Total Raised: $21,387.29 😀

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

Both chubby hands gripped the two rough toilet paper rolls (aka binoculars) that were glued together and hung around her neck by a slender piece of yarn.  Lifting them to her shining eyes she exclaimed, “I see you!!!”  She walked around the yard peering through the craft project with eager sight.  I want to see too.  See what the future holds for me.  (It’s unbelievable how foggy my lenses are.  I can’t see right now.  Apparently I’m not supposed to.)  I want to see what the future holds for the sweet darling orphans in India.  When they look through the lens of their life I want them to see hope magnified there instead of pain.  Instead of them focusing on survival I want to see them have the opportunity to focus on education and building a beautiful life.  I hope you truly see how much these orphans need our help.  Please donate at least $10 dollars today.  If 1,000 people gave $29 dollars we would reach our goal!!!!

To everyone who has read this blog…THANK YOU. You are amazing.  To the (maybe 10?) males who actually read this blog….you deserve an award or something! 😉

Total Raised: $20,857.29 😀

{Photos by:  Christa Taylor}

Time is such a mind teaser.  One minute I feel as if the 95 days have flashed by while in that same moment I feel as if I have worn this dress for forever.  (It has become like a second skin.)  Counting days has revealed to me a precious gift.  The awareness that I often miss moments that are glittering gems of beauty or significance.  I wish I could just open my arms and hug life to my chest.  Wrap it up and appreciate it more.  All I have is right now but I so often abuse the time I have been graced with.  Am I guaranteed that I will have tomorrow?  Are you?  Realistically no.  Tiny grains of sand are streaming through the hourglass.  Will you let them slip by unnoticed?

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given us.” ~Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)  What will you do with the time you have been given?  Let’s make a difference in the lives of orphans.  Let’s take the time to be a blessing to someone else.  Let’s not forget that all we have is right now.  Please take in the beauty around you today.  I know I need the reminder to do so.

Only 5 more days to throw a party!

UPDATE: RAISED SO FAR: $20,107.29 😀 😀

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

The link is now working! Thank you SO much for you patience.  If you tried to give and were unable to please try again.  Grateful for your support and the help for the orphans!