MISS ELAINI OUS

Yesterday as I was trying to open a canning jar the top slipped from my hand and fell sticky side to the counter… It got me thinking: Lids fall to the ground messy side down and some lives lay messy side up.  Skinny little ones, with empty bellies, sit hungry in the dirt.  Messy.  There are little hands and feet that are blistered, bruised, and battered and without a mommy to kiss, bandage, and care for them.  Messy.  A tear trail runs through the grim on sad little cheeks.  Messy.  Broken lives that need to be loved.  Donating money helps these orphans.  Find that jar of loose change you have and donate it today to a child in need.  Because messy lives don’t have to stay that way.

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Hat by: Unveiled Bridal Designs}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

This is a personal post.  A letter to myself…

Remember the beginning of the year?  That night you couldn’t sleep and at first it didn’t seem any different from the many other sleepless nights you’d had before.  Eyes wide open staring into the dark.  Looking, seeking for something that wouldn’t quite materialize.  Yet a spark was lit in you and even though you had a fear of failing you recognized that the greatest failure would be to do nothing at all.  Wasting the beautiful life you have been given would be failure.  The best things come from stepping outside your comfort zone.  You’re the girl that wouldn’t even comment on blogs you loved, didn’t have Facebook, and was terrified at the thought of writing.  Period.  (Even in your journal…lame).  Maybe creating a post is like pulling teeth…almost every.single.time, but here you are 75 posts later.  (Don’t forget you also have Facebook and Twitter (which you have no idea how to REALLY use…ahem, it’s ok you’re a work in progress.)) It’s alright to fail.  To not be perfect.  To be perfectly imperfect.  God’s holding you.  So you can rest.

UPDATE:  O.K. some more donations came in but we still haven’t hit the $5,000 mark. Let’s break past that number today! We need to raise $173.27 today in order to do that.  We are doing this for orphans.  These aren’t fictional children they are flesh and blood little ones.  These are some of the orphans in Warm Blankets orphan homes:

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Skirt donated by Megan, Necklace donated by David&Cheri}

Remember my really amazing camera story here?  Well, this is part two.  Because I need to be reminded that God can do whatever he wants with this project.  You see we are getting REALLY close to the halfway mark of this project and considering that we have $45,000 left to reach the goal I can start to get a little nervous…but WAIT! instead of doing that let me tell you about my camera lens. Rather lenses. 🙂  So I had prayed about getting lenses and I received two with my camera but then I was meeting with a dear friend who was showing me how to use my camera and she told me I needed another certain lens.  My response to her was that if the Lord wanted to provide that lens then he would since I didn’t have the money. Welllll the next day she said she needed me to drop by.  I had no idea why but when I arrived she handed me a small bag with the beautiful word Canon on it. !!!!!!!!! (That’s me freaking out) Because when I opened the bag there was the lens she had told me about!!! Along with her family they had unanimously decided to get me this amazing lens.  I am so blessed.  And I am remind that whatever happens with this project is not in my hands.  Jesus loves these children.  He will take care of them.  Will you do your part and donate today.

Update:  Look we are almost at the $5,000 mark.  Let’s have our goal be to raise that much by tomorrow.  😀 We can do it!!!

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Clothing borrowed from Heidi}

Splash! A dew drop from heaven hit me directly on my nose as I walked along smelling the freshly scented air. I looked up as the blanketed expanse began to wash my face.  It was as if all the grime and dust from last week washed away.  My soul feels refreshed after having the water of the Word wash me.  A beautiful new week has begun.  It will hold new weather and thunderstorms may come but there will be rainbows too.  This ring from Shabby Apple reminds me that raindrops don’t have to be “rain on your parade” but they can be sparkling teardrop gifts for a parched soul.  Thank you Shabby Apple for making my week a bit brighter!

{Ring donated by Shabby Apple}

{Dress borrowed from Michelle}

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

I know some amazing people.  YOU!!! Last night I had the privilege of attending a clothing swap.  Everyone went home with something new and fun and the best part…it was free. 😀  Because the host, Emily, is so amazing she decided to have a raffle.  The ladies each put in $5 to enter and then Emily donated all that money to Warm Blankets Orphan Care! Isn’t that just wonderful?  I think so.  More money for the sweet little children in India.  Here’s my challenge to you:  can you do something creative to raise money for the orphans?  Think garage sale, concert, themed dinner with friends…you get the idea.  The options are limitless.  Have everyone bring a set amount to give to the orphans and WA LA! A fun AND profitable time.  Anyways just something to consider… 😀  (I’d love to hear your ideas!)

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

Sometime we have an off day/moment/year…but I don’t ever want to stay in that “off” place.  I have been given so much.  More than I deserve.  When I think about that it puts things in perspective.  So here is a few things I am thankful for:

Ears to hear truth
Eyes to see everyday miracles
Hands to help others (and type!)
Weakness so I don’t think I can do anything on my own.

Are you grateful for what you have been given? If so then please give a gift today to the orphans. Don’t wait. You have been given this moment. Make it worthwhile.

Since I don’t have a lot of words today I am sharing this video…because it speaks beautifully.

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Clothing borrowed from Heidi}

Coming up with outfits is hard work.  I know it looks glamorous and it seems that I just get to play dress up for 100 days, but that would be an erroneous view.  There are so many days that I want to wear the dress…with sweats underneath.  Thankfully there have been friends helping me and letting me borrow their clothes.  Often I am so paranoid about ruining them that I wear an apron when eating…pathetic but true.  So when the incredible people over at Shabby Apple donated this beautiful and stunning necklace and ring I was extremely grateful.  This company has really great products and I feel honored that they would partner with me to bring a unique look to you and help the orphans.  Thank you Shabby Apple for being so generous and amazing!

{Necklace and ring: Shabby Apple}

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

Sorta freaking out…! I only have 60 days left.  To raise $45,000. Deep breath.  I am not doing this alone.  I need you fabulous people to help me spread the word and thank you to those who have already done so!  Would  you be willing to post on your FB page, twitter account, or blog about this project (or all three)?  Obviously the more people that hear about it the easier it will be to raise the amount to open 10 more orphan homes.  I don’t know about you but I REALLY want them to have a safe place to sleep at night.  In a bed.  With sheets.  And a pillow.  If 500 people gave 100 dollars (one dollar for every day of the project) we would have raised over $50,000!!!!!  Can we do this??  I know we can!

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Styled by Lauren}

My taste buds tingled and rejoiced as I placed the perfectly balanced morsel into my mouth.  Yumm.  Greek cuisine makes my heart and stomach happy.  I’m half Greek, I love kalamata olives, and I love ethnicity.  Actually I am enticed by unique or unlikely pairings whether food or culture.  We are all so different and have such unique stories and when our lives intersect it is like a complicated but perfectly executed dish.  I am an American who is half Greek and I care about Indian orphans.  You my friends are from varied nations, backgrounds, and cultures.  In a way I’m like the olive oil, the orphans are the spice, and you are the bread ($$$).  😉  Combined we make a savory dish.

{Fun fact: the skirt was from my Greek Yia yia (grandma)}

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Scarf donated by David&Cheri}

We have funded the opening of one orphan home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention that we are also well on our way to opening the second of eleven new homes for Warm Blankets Orphan Care.  So. Very. EXCITED!!! This project is a success because of YOU! So I say “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart.  It is about the little sweet child that gave me her four quarters…she is doing extra chores “for the orphans”.  It is the incredible people who got creative in how they could give.  People left comments when they gave such as:

This is a gift in honor of ______ birthday.
Or this one that totally made me smile.  Especially since I know there was sacrifice involved:
Someone decided against buying new PJs because when they considered the amount they realized it could go towards someone with real needs.  So they clicked on the GIVE NOW button and donated.
It’s the woman that gave me $40 dollars despite the fact that she couldn’t give right now, but she told me she would die if she couldn’t give anymore.  WOW.

That my friends is amazing, beautiful, and it keeps me inspired!

And to my amazing, wonderful, truly incredible mother HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I love you SO very much and I am delighted that we get to celebrate your life.  Thank you for showing me what it means to truly love others and lay your life down for them.  You’re the best friend a girl could ever dream of having!

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Clothing and accessories donated by Megan and David&Cheri}