{Day 187 (on the 11th day of Christmas)}

“On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping.”

I don’t know about all of you but I’m loving seeing all these incredible women come together to make this project happen.  And since it’s so fun seeing what everyone comes up with I decided to put TWO amazing women on today.  Yes, your welcome. 😉  I am so blessed to know Kelly and Kristen.  Not only are they stunning on the outside but they have amazing hearts.

Hi! I’m Kelly and I’m 21. I’m hailing from the lovely city of Portland, Oregon.  Elaini has been a dear friend of mine ever since I can remember and watching her complete the 100 days initiative over the summer was an immense honor and joy.  When she told me about her dreams of finishing her goal to 50K through the 12 Days of Christmas project, I was excited about the idea of being involved. So here I am!

                Warm Blankets and their work with orphans is a ministry close to my heart.  My family and I have been supporting an orphanage in Cambodia through Warm Blankets for nearly ten years and the blessing of joining with them and watching their work through these orphans’ lives has been a truly humbling experience.  Several of my family members have gone to witness their efforts first-hand and have returned changed people.  This venue of supporting them through the 12 Days project is thrilling to be a part of.

Of course, I had plenty of help: My sister Christa is an amazing photographer and my brother Sam is a stud, so together we had an awesome time putting together our shots for the Pipers Piping look.  We decided to go at it in two different angles, one with a pipe, and two with a piccolo. Enjoy and please join with me to support orphans!

(Photos by: Christa Taylor)

Merry Christmas! My name is Kristen Fleischauer, I am 28 years old, and I live in Glen Ellyn, IL, a suburb of Chicago.  I am part of the Orphan Rescue Operations team at Warm Blankets and I met Elaini when she began her campaign back in May.  Elaini is quite an amazing young woman (as I’m sure you all know by now) and has astonished and inspired all of the staff here at WBOCI over and over again as she has relentlessly advocated on behalf of the orphans.  We have watched the Lord answer our prayers for the kiddos in India through Elaini’s campaign and we are, yet again, humbled by the way God provides  for the “the least of these” despite our own human frailty and seemingly insurmountable odds. 

I decided to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas campaign in order to support Elaini as she reaches her goal and as a way of getting the word out about the orphan crisis to as many people as possible.  As of today, I have raised $590, but I need friends, family, and faithful Elaini followers to help me get to $1,000.  I can not think of a better time of year to join together to save some orphans, can you???  Their pain is real, their tragedy is daily lived, and WE have the opportunity to offer them hope and a future through partnering with Elaini to rescue and provide safe, loving, and Christ-centered home for these little ones.  Will you donate today? 

Ladies I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this.  Thank you for not only cheering me on but running this race with me.  I am deeply grateful for the gift that your lives are to me and to others.  Much love.

UPDATE!!! $44,764.90 😀 😀 😀  Wanna help us push it over the $45K mark?? 🙂  Let’s spread some real Christmas love.

(Photos by: Klye Flubacker of Kyle Flubacker Photography)

(Hair and Makeup by: Sadie Ypma of Mario Tricoci Salons)