MISS ELAINI OUS

You know that plate of dinner that you REFUSED to eat.  Your mom stood looking over your shoulder as you stared dejectedly at your plate of (fill in blank) and said something along the lines of, “You should be grateful.  Starving children in China would be thrilled to eat your plate of (fill in the blank)”.  Let’s be honest.  Actually here’s me being honest.  It’s way easier for me to get in my car, drive to the store, and get my favorite ice cream with my awesomer (that’s his word) cousin than it is to hear about starving children.  It can seem so distant and let’s be real, ice cream is a delight to the taste buds.  Yet the pleasure is short.  If you donate 10 dollars today you will have helped provide meals for 2 children for a MONTH!!!! So…3 meals a day x 30 days in a month x 2 children = 180 meals.  Just 10 dollars can do all that.  Now wouldn’t that make you feel better for longer knowing your ten dollars provided 180 meals?  Please give today so these darling children won’t have empty little tummies.

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Styled by: Glenna Fashions}

Loss.  Neglect.  Pain.  These are words a child should never have to experience.  Yet daily they do.  Orphans in India who have not been rescued paint a sad picture.  Their dirt caked faces are the canvas from which grief filled eyes stare back.  By donating you help those tiny lips turn into a grin.  Doe eyes can be filled with hope instead of tears.  Will you help a child smile today?

{Photo by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Styled by: Glenna Fashions}

Those simple lines etched together to create meaning are so fascinating.  I love numbers.  They make sense to me.  They tell me something and it’s truthful.  On this spinning orb we live on so many things aren’t that simple and straightforward, yet numbers are.  Glancing at the clock and seeing 11:11 makes me smile.  Because it means something.  All those ones standing tall and straight like sentinels to remind me that time is to be guarded and cherished.  $50,000 grips me.  Because it means something.  All those open mouthed zeros tell me to wait patiently and they will be filled.  One fourth.  1/4th.  A quarter. Just trying to wrap my brain around that fact.  Because it means something…to me.  A slice of the pie may be gone but the best is yet to come.  75 more days left.  How much time will it take to get the children into beds instead of sleeping on the floor?

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Styled by: Glenna Fashions}

Opening a new orphan home means an “emotional roller-coaster. Moving in means accepting their parents really aren’t coming back.  Before coming to the home, everything was temporary, including where they ate their meals. Some days a neighbor would share    with them, but they would spend most of their nights hungry, always fearing what the next day held.  Almost all new kids struggle with food security. A lack of food security means
not knowing where your next meal will come from, when it will be, or if you will have one at all. When a just-rescued child first arrives at their new home they investigate the kitchen to make sure there is enough for the next day. They ask their caregivers dozens of times to show them the rice stockpile, just to make sure it is still there. They ask for a loaf of bread, just in case, and fall asleep with it under their pillow. Their stomachs churn with worry before breakfast each day, afraid they will find an empty table.”
~from Warm Blankets Orphan Care Newsletter

Would you give up your lunch money to help these little ones??

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Styled by: Glenna Fashions}

Grasping the slender shaft with my forefinger and thumb I gently shook it.  A single delicate feather, and as I did so every wispy hair danced with grace.  A mustard hued pompom of a flower catches my eye.  A cup of ruby red tea glistens like a lake of liquid jewels.  Slipping the ribbon off a dark chocolate bar and parting the crisp gold wrapping in order to savor the bitter tang on my tongue.  Tiny toes between my fingers that feel like wiggly little caterpillars.  Yes it is true that I have an exorbitant and slightly ridiculous delight in all the design around me.  I feel as if thousands upon thousands of gifts are just waiting for me to discover them and for me squeal with joy as a child would.  It is not always this way but I want to live life with wonder filled  eyes.  What left you in awe today?

{Photos by: Jenn Lynn Images}

{Styled by: Glenna Fashions}

I looked straight into his crystal clear sky blue eyes and said, “Don’t look down, just keep your eyes on me.”  He kept his gaze fixed on mine.  And he took off.  My feet pounded the pavement in front of him and his pressed into the peddles as he listened to my encouragement.    Yesterday I had the pure delight of watching my little man (aka nephew) learn to ride his bike.  It was thrilling and so amazing to watch as he experienced the joy of riding on his own.  I may be almost 23 but I saw myself in small child form today as I reflected on my own journey.  Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”  Keeping my gaze fixed on God and pressing on and into him.  That is how I do this.  That is how I stay the course.  Like my nephew I will experience joy if I do this, but it will be joy in the fullest sense.  I can feel it especially when I consider that little ones like my nephew can be rescued and given true joy as we raise this gift of money for them.

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

Thank you Jesus for sunshine! AHHHHHH!!!!! Yes I am an Oregonian.  When the sun comes out we get just a little bit excited.  Just a little.  Why?  Because the last time we saw this much sun was in September… O.k. I’m good now just needed to get that out.  Moving on to other things.  Last week I was interviewed by the most incredible woman Erika Weisensee and we had a great time swapping stories.  So yes I am in The Oregonian!  Never had anything like that happen before and it is pretty exciting.  O.K.  EXTREMELY exciting.  I am hoping that it will bring us one step closer to our goal.

{Photos by:  Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

Woah! How am I already 1/5th of the way through this project!?!? I feel like I just started wearing the dress…weird.  $1,771 raised.  Only $1,229 away from having helped our first orphanage open! Isn’t that exciting?  Those little darlings won’t have to sleep on the street or…worse.  If you understand visually (I do) and pictures help you learn then think “Slumdog Millionaire” movie and you get a pretty good image of the harsh realities that face the orphans.  If you haven’t seen the movie then maybe you can watch it with friends tonight for your Friday night activity.  No “What do you want to do?” “I don’t know…what do you want to do?”   Friday night dilemmas solved.

P.S While this movie is excellent it is not suitable for children….

{Photo by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

I like dresses.  I guess that’s a good thing since I have 81 days left to wear this dress.  Since one dress is sometimes simply NOT enough I thought I’d wear two today!  😉 Also I am hoping that this healthy does of vibrant color will help perk me up.

I am thankful for:
sunshine
sweet friends
donated accessories/clothing
one more day given to me to learn and grow
bloggers who are taking the time to write about this journey
several bloggers giving me input, suggestions, and encouragement

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

I feel the stretch.  The stretch of writing and it’s in the pulling out of my very being the words to etch into the paper.  Like the curve of a letter S.  Each one of these “letters” to you and to myself are a movement of muscle.  Exercising my brain to document and account for the happenings of now.  Where will that winding path down these letters on this blog take me?  This journey will bend me just like an S.  It will shape me more into the person I am supposed to be.  If I am willing.  To let go and not be in control.  I am thankful today that this journey can be an S and not a Z.  Fully embrace this experience.  Not just get from point A to point B (Z) but like taking a walk (S).

I love this last picture.  It is one of my favorites.  A moment of joy and delight.  Not caring about a thing in the world.  This is from the wedding I went to on day 6.  This amazing woman asked for a chat and I was more than happy to oblige.  Thank you my friend for a lovely conversation and for your encouraging words.  Thanks for taking the time to listen and laugh with me.  For living in the here and now.

Total Raised: $1,771

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}