Something really wonderful happened last night.  I got to meet the amazing couple that works with “my” darlings in India.  When I heard they were coming back to the states for a rest I really wanted to meet them but figured that they wouldn’t be anywhere in the near vicinity.  It was a heart desire that I didn’t even pray about but God in his kindness just went and blessed me to overflowing.  Lo and behold I found out that Paige and Sean were going to be driving all the way from down in California up into Washington.  In one day.  They graciously agreed to meet with me and we had such a sweet time.  I’m grateful that the Lord has allowed this friendship to start.  I pray that I can visit them in India soon. 🙂  Even though we just officially met in person I already miss this great couple and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them as they faithfully serve Jesus and the ones he loves.  So very grateful for this divine appointment!

Update!!! $56,130.34 😀  So a few of you asked about the mattresses for the homes.  We helped open 11 NEW homes last year in India but total there are 2o.  So 15 of the homes have mattresses but the other 5 don’t yet.  If you want to help change that then please make a donation today.

One year ago toady at 1:15 AM I wrote in my journal (something I never do…).  In the wee hours of the morning of January 8th, 2011 God gave me an idea.  Here are some snippets of what I jotted down:

“Yep, can’t sleep.  I have this crazy idea that’s making my heart beat fast.  What if I could raise thousands of dollars for orphans… By wearing a dress.  Wear the same dress for a month and get people to donate to Warm Blankets.”

You see I’ve been afraid all my life.  Afraid of failing and this had stopped me from stepping out.  I knew I needed to change and I knew I sure couldn’t do it on my own.  That’s when God gave me this crazy idea to wear a dress for 100 days.  Then he topped it all off with an insane goal of $50,000.  Yeah…  Forget about baby steps and just jump in the deep end.  I knew that I couldn’t do this on my own and that God would have to carry me every step of the way.  I knew it would be hard but I also knew it would be exciting to walk this path with Jesus.  And it has been.  I’ve changed now and I have an even greater desire to worship Jesus with all that is in me.  I have no idea what this year will bring but I do know that my God is faithful.  And I shall seek him.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” Deuteronomy 7:9

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12

Hello everyone and hello 2012!  No, I didn’t die.  Just needed a break since all this excitement has got me going all crazy. 😉  As in I’m walking down the hall in my house and just have to do a little skip… or two.  Or start going eeeeeee (think high pitched and you get the idea)!!!!!  Yep, I think I turned into a little 5 or 6 year old or something over new years eve. 😉  And the numbers 5 and 6 have never looked so good.  Especially when they are combined! Yes here is what I think you have all been waiting for:

UPDATE!!! $56,104.60

And guess what?!  Our kids in India are getting mattresses!!! This makes my heart so happy.  15 of the 20 homes are covered.  If you want to donate you still can! I really want the rest of the homes to be taken care of…

Thanks for helping make 2011 such an amazing year for me.  I can’t wait to see what this year brings and what God has for me.  Particularly since I have NO idea what I’m doing…hahah! I do have plans to keep blogging though. 🙂  So I hope I’ll see you around.  (I have exciting news to share soon)

And yes I feel like I’m not touching the ground I have so much joy.  It should be illegal or something this “high” of joy I’m feeling!

(Photos by: Christa Taylor)

GOD DID IT AND WE GOT TO BE A PART OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE!!! $54,000.60

Hello, this has to be the best end to last year and the greatest start to this new year.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TO EVERYONE WHO SO GENEROUSLY DONATED.  I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH!

“For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.  From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.  The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord!  May your hearts live forever!” Psalm 22:24-26

Happy 2012 everyone! Are you as excited as I am to see what God will do???  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 🙂

P.S. Had to put some happy pics of me from the 100 days to show how I feel on the inside. 😀

(First 2 photos by: Christa Taylor)

(Last photo by: Jenn Lynn Images)

What.a.year.  I’m full to the brim and extremely grateful.  Thankful for this year.  Thankful for the orphans.  Thankful for all the support from you wonderful readers.  Thankful for all the donations.  Most of all thankful for Jesus.

“I don’t really want more time;

I just want enough time.

Time to breathe deep & time to see real & time to laugh long, time to give You glory & rest deep & sing joy…

I just want time to do my one life well.

Life at its fullest is this sensitive, detonating sphere —

and it can be carried only in the hands of the unhurried and reverential—

a bubble held in awe.”

From 1,000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

By Ann Voskamp

The last day of the year.  Another goal to see completed.  Will you add to the total?  For the orphans? What can we do by the end of the year?  Yes, I realize that’s tomorrow so please donate and please contact your friends and family!  Thank you everyone! See you in the new year. 😉

UPDATE!!! $47,691.60 😀 😀 😀

UPDATE!!! $48,063.60

UPDATE!!! $48,800.60

UPDATE!!! $49,750.60 WOOO HOOO! LET’S KEEP IT COMING! CAN YOU CALL ONE PERSON AND ASK THEM TO DONATE?  JUST ONE?!

(Photos by: Christa Taylor)

(Photos by: Christa Taylor)

Let me just start out by being honest.  I have so many words and thoughts bound up in my heart that I’ve been trying to get to come out onto this screen yet they wont budge.  I’ve written this blog post and deleted it a few times now.  You see I’ve been counting days, times, and…moments this year.  This year has been filled with almost every range of emotions and it’s certainly been a year of change.  Yet one thing, one Person has stayed the same and that is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  What is really in my heart is this: that he would receive all the glory and praise.  I am so grateful to be his.  He has been faithful, he is faithful, and I know he always will be faithful.   I love him.

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.” Psalms 57:9

Only one more day left of this year.  My dream was to raise fifty thousand dollars this year.  I’m just a normal girl yet I do believe in miracles.  Will you help make one happen today?  Will you give to sweet darlings who actually really truly do need our help?  Will you please, PLEASE give what you can and ask a friend to do the same?  Even $5 dollars?  Let’s watch these number soar shall we!?

UPDATE!!! $47,534.10  LESS THAN $3K to go!!! Can we bring in the remainder by the 1st of the new year???  Please post on facebook, twitter, or anywhere else you can think of! 🙂

(Last photo by: Klye Flubacker of Kyle Flubacker Photography)

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

I looked in awe at him.  So perfect and so content.  I’ve only felt this particular feeling I was having twice before.  And just because this was the third time didn’t make one bit of difference.  He captured my heart at first glance.  Looking into those eyes that stared so steady back at me and my heart went all liquid and I hugged him tight.  Ahh yes so bold so intense is this love.  This love for the tiny one who I was holding.  My sweet new little man.  My nephew.  And his tiny little form is so fragile and he yet he rests so easy in my arms.  I think of all the little ones who don’t have blanket arms to wrap around them.  The helpless ones who have no mommies and daddies and I have no words.  And I think how Jesus came down as a baby.  The One who became an infant and couldn’t speak is the One who spoke it ALL into being.  And that is why I have hope for the babies and children who are orphans.  Because Jesus knows them by name and loves them and was helpless like them so that he might rescue them.  Will you be arms of love today wrapping a child up in hope?  Please give whatever you can today and personally ask just one friend to donate even 10 dollars.  Only 3 days left to make a miracle happen!

UPDATE! $46,263.82 less than $4K to go!!!! 😀 😀 😀 woo hoo!

(Photo by: Dorene Vandermeer)

Last year at this time I had no idea that I would be sitting here writing a blog post.  Or that I would have a blog for that matter… Nor did I know that I would be raising money for orphans and connecting with amazing people from all over the world.  Then I thought that I would do the 100 days project and be done.  Half of my year given to a crazy project.  Instead it has turned into a whole year.  Given to me as special gift and I give my heart and desires for this project as an offering back to the One who gave it to me.  I am blessed.

Will you help my wish come true?  I really want to raise the rest of the money by the end of the year….which only gives us four days.  Yikes! That means we need to have a thousand dollars a day come in… Would you do me a big favor?  Would you please ask as many friends and family as you can to give 5 dollars today?  Just think, if we all do that then we’ll have no problem making a miracle happen.

I’m going to be honest with you.  I REALLY want the money to come in by the first.  It is hard to for me to realize that that might not happen.  I’m having a tiny heart struggle yet I will choose to rest and be at peace.  You see I’m not just a smiling girl for a camera.  I’m real and I have good days and bad days and desires and hopes just like you.  Letting go of those things when I need to isn’t always easy…but it is good.  Whatever the outcome I will be praising Jesus for what he has done!

UPDATE!!  $45,807.82  Let’s get this total to shoot past the goal amount shall we?!

(Photos by: Dorene Vandermeer)

(Feather fascinator by Unveiled Bridal Designs)

Since the ladies from the “12 days” were just so fabulous and fun to work with I thought I would bring you some outtakes from the shoot we did here in Portland over the next couple of days. 🙂  If you can’t tell we had quite a good time and my silly side came out…yes I can be silly sometimes. 😉  I hope you enjoy these pictures (especially since I love these girls) and if you still haven’t had a chance to give a Christmas gift to the sweet darlings in India then please consider giving even $10 dollars today.  It really is that easy to feed an orphan for two months! 🙂  And yes having food in their tummies would be an amazing gift for which they would be quite grateful…

UPDATE!!  $45, 604.90  Soooo do you think you can help me make my wish come true to get the $50K in by the end of the year?  Please tell your friends and family and together let’s do something incredible for these orphans. 😀

(Photos by: Dorene Vandermeer)

(Feather fascinator by Unveiled Bridal Designs)

Luke 2:11-14 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Merry Christmas to all you wonderful people!

Update! $45,204.90 😀 😀 😀  Can we get the last $5K by the end of the year?  Only one week!

(Photos by: Dorene Vandermeer)