MISS ELAINI OUS

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!

Years ago while studying history I learned how wine used to be made.  Lush, plump grapes would be piled high in a large vat and then people would stomp on the fruit with their bare feet.  The sweet sticky juice would burst from the skins and run all purple red liquid.  What happens when we are pressed? More importantly what happens when I am pressed?  I find that what is pressed from my life isn’t always as sweet as what comes from the grapes.  Yesterday was a good moment for me to consider my own heart.  Was it easy? No.  Was it good?  Yes.  Walking through difficult circumstances shows us what color really runs in our hearts.  Thankful that I am learning (key word learning) to trust Jesus.  With my own life and the lives of others.  What have you been learning lately?

Since we are talking about grapes this is my purple princes outfit. 😉

A very large thank you to an incredible reader, Abigail, who sent me shoes all the way from Florida!!! Amazing. 🙂  Also thank you SO much to generous Rebekah for the lovely bracelet.  One of the many items she sent me.  Totally made my day! Thank you lovely ladies!!!! 😀

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Dress borrowed from Karen, Ring my brother brought back from India}

Do you ever just stop and catch your breath at what you see or learn?  When was the last time you were amazed by something?  When was the last time you didn’t just look but truly saw?  Yesterday I marveled at the cellophane type wings of a dragon fly in a photo a friend sent me.  I studied the variance of color in the meat of a deeply hued plum.  I delighted in the picture of a beautiful mommy holding her look a like baby.  Each one a stunning picture of creation in their own way.  A little girl and her brother coming up to me with hands outstretched.  Their sandwich bags held $312 dollars that they had raised at a lemon aid and cinnamon roll stand.  They are both under the age of five.  “Is this for the orphans?” I asked.  I was answered with a cheery smile and a “Yes”.  It was humbling to see these young children offer their gift.  A gift from one child here to another in India.  For the sake of love.  It left my heart all in a puddle.  They came to my church camp out so they could deliver it to me.  And it it left me amazed and grateful.  Because a sweet 4 and 3 year old raised over 300 dollars.  What will you do for the sake of love?

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

The conference was great! Thank you Alex and Brett for all your support. 🙂  It was really exciting to meet some of my readers yesterday.  (Pictures coming soon to our Facebook page)  It was definitely a highlight being able to talk one on one with many people and share my heart for the orphans.  Every time I see the slide show from the last 91 days I am just in awe of what God has done.  The “total raised” just keeps going up! So little time left though.  Will you help?  Will you be part of the blessing?  Check out the party page to see what you can do or donate today!  OK off to rest…the conference did my health in…exhausted but SO worth it.  Total raised coming soon!

A VERY big thank you to reader Rebekah for sending this adorable scarf and purse! (She had even wrapped it all pretty) 😀

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

9 days.  Hey guess what everybody?  Our project is going to be featured at this conference!  I’m really excited to see what will happen and how much money we can raise.  Together.  Yes I know I’m crazy to think that in 9 days 34,000 dollars will come in but hey…you already know I’m a tad bit insane! I mean I HAVE worn 1 dress for 91 days so far. 😉 If 1,000 people gave $34 dollars we would meet our goal!!!  Alex from TheRebelution kindly made this video to be shown today to all the attendees. (Thank you Alex!)  We wanted you to be able to see it and share it! Enjoy! 😀

Total Raised: $15,764.29 😀

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

Day 90 everybody! Can you believe that the ten day countdown has begun??  If 1,000 people gave 33 dollars we would reach our goal.  Can you, will you tell your friends and family and basically everyone?  These little children have experienced grief and pain like most of us have never had to even think about.  Empty bellies cramping with pain or a stinging touch where there should be a loving hug.  Loss of two parents.  Babies really without care.  Hopeless, helpless, and in every way needing a heart to love them.  I know you hear about this kind of thing all the time and it is easy to brush it aside.  Yet today I am asking you to think about that little one in your life.  A niece, nephew, cousin, friend, grandchild, sister, brother, or even your own child.  What if this was your little one?  Please consider donating to these children because they are just like the ones you know.  Real darlings with feelings.  Your gift makes a difference.

Also I just want to say a HUGE thank you to the woman in this picture with me.  She made the dress and worked with me to see my vision come to life in the fabric.  I can’t thank her enough for believing in me and donating her time and expertise.  Karen I am also grateful that you styled outfits or lent me so much of your clothing.  xxx

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

This part of my journey is quickly coming to a close.  Tomorrow marks the 10 day countdown.  Wow.  WOW.  I’m sad.  Even though only a handful of people knew about the blog/project before May I have been thinking and praying about it since January.  This project has been a part of my life this entire year.  There are so many moments that I just stop and go “I can’t believe I’m doing this!”  When I looked at the woman who inspired this type of fundraiser last year I thought, “That is a brilliant idea, but there’s no way I could do that.”  It’s true that I’m not going for a year like her, but I will have done 100 days by the end of this project.  Are there things in your life that you long to do but are to afraid to do?  Things on a list tucked away and almost but not quite forgotten?  Crazy things that are so far removed from your everyday routine.  Please don’t think that it will happen “some day”.  Why not make someday today?  That’s all you really have is now.  I’m definitely not saying it will be easy.  This whole adventure for me has been fairly difficult.  It is a privilege that I will always be grateful for but it has been stretching as I knew it would be.  Despite the challenges I have experienced much joy.  I will never regret doing this.  I don’t think you will regret making your list a reality either.  What is it that you secretly dream of doing but just haven’t made the leap to do?   Go do it!

Please help our sweet little orphans today by donating so that they too can dream.

Sharon Blair, a Portland based designer, who runs Studio SKB graciously offered to lend me this stunning jacket.  She offers “Sustainable fashion with a vintage touch.  Locally made, locally owned quality apparel, design and classes.” I am so grateful to her for helping me out.  Thank you so much Sharon!

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Styled by: Karen}

I love fruit.  It’s one of the few sweet things that I can eat.  So summertime is yumminess!  The other night I discovered that some of the bushes in our backyard have little plump blueberries all over them.  As I sat there and picked (and ate) the delicious little morsels I was completely delighted.  Then last night as I made rounds with my spoon in the juicy vibrant pink watermelon I felt that same joy.  The simplicity of summer.  Fresh fruit that leaves my taste buds tingling.  Yet all the bright melons and fat berries make me think about another type of fruit.  The fruit of our lives.  “A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:18)   “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33).  What kind of fruit is my life producing?  This is something that I need to think about more often.  What kind of tree are you?  Looking at your life and seeing where you put your time, energy, and money will help give you a good indication of what you love…and what type of fruit you are bearing.  Grab an apple and go munch on it while you think it over. 😉

Don’t forget to donate to the sweet orphans today since there’s not much time left! Total Raised: 12,619.29!!!!!! 😀

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Sweater lent to me by Amber}