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I’m a goner.  And yes I’m in love.  And my heart aches because I found out that the ones I love were all excited about their bunk beds and so was I until I saw that there were no mattresses on these bunk beds.  Yes “my” precious children are sleeping on boards.  And while it must hurt their little bodies it hurts my heart.  And while their bones ache my heart does too.  It costs $50 per mattress.  If you figure all 11 homes need them, and each home has around 10 kids, that would be $5,500.  This isn’t including pillows and such.  It is $100 per home for pillows, sheets, and blankets.  O.K. so what do we do.  Do we just let them sleep on hard boards??  No?  Well then will you help me help them today?  What if this was you…or your child?  So if you haven’t already will you take the 10.for.10 challenge.  I hope you don’t have to think about it but if you do then think on it tonight…while you sleep in your comfy bed…

I so love putting in these UPDATES! $37,850.50  Thank you everyone!  Can we keep it coming??  We only need $150 more to hit the 38K mark!  You all are amazing.  Seriously.  xxx

I’m really happy to write this post. 🙂  You see I have had the privilege of “meeting” some of you wonderful readers and I get to introduce you to one of them today.  Her name is Bethany and frankly she is wonderful.  There are lots of reasons why but here is just one of them.  You see a few weeks ago she posted on the Facebook page that she was going to keep her profile picture about the project…until I raise the $50,000!!!  Now there’s dedication for you.  I informed her that she might never have a normal profile picture again (hey it IS taking a while… 😉 ) and she happily responded with, “But I do want to, cuz just maybe it helps, maybe one of my friends will see it when they’re looking for someone to help out.  I don’t know.  I like to hope so.”  She also added this, “Sometimes I think its easier for us to do little things. Like, hey. I can do that!”  I agree with her.  But you see about a week and a half ago this sweet lady’s husband, John, had a piece of metal fly in his eye and he has had to have several surgeries since.  Needless to say this wonderful couple has been through a lot.  Yet in the midst of this huge trial Bethany still responded so cheerfully to the 10.for.10 challenge….I was humbled and blessed to say the least.  As if that wasn’t amazing enough she emailed me just a few days later and said that she had gotten fourteen friends to pledge ten dollars.  WOW.  And one friend she asked handed her a hundred dollar bill and said he wanted to give it to someone who needed it.  All because Bethany asked.  I pray you are as encouraged as I am by this amazing couple and that you are inspired to go do what you can do for these sweet orphans.  Also if you are the praying type please pray for Bethany and John in this difficult time.  We are praying that God would restore full vision to John.  Thank you to all you wonderful people who are reading and following this journey.  I am blessed to be able to share life with you. xxx

UPDATE!!! $37,563 😀  So excited about such a big jump in the numbers! Onward to the 600 mark. 🙂

~1st Photo by: Gretta of Grettagraphy ~

~All other photos by Bethany of Duoimagery ~

Today is Orphan Sunday.  Please take the 10.for.10 challenge.  See these young ones in this picture?  They are excited about their new toothbrushes.  They have so little but they are more grateful and happy than we can imagine.  Let’s impact their lives.  Will you give even just $10 dollars today? You can’t get much for that here but if you give that amount for these orphans it will feed two of them for a month.  I only ask that you would do for these orphans as you would want others to do for you if you were in their situation. xxx

UPDATE! $37,151 😀 😀 😀  You all are amazing! We finally tipped it over the $37K mark.  O.K. how fast can we race to the 200 mark?

(Photo: courtesy of Warm Blankets. These are children from one of the homes we helped!)

Knowing that they are praying for me and that they pray for their daily provision helps keep me going.  I’ll be honest…I’m a bit frustrated today.  I read that some $40,000 dollar purses can’t be kept on the shelves because people are buying them like crazy.  I don’t care if it is crocodile, no purse should cost $40,000 dollars! Right?  Right.  Especially when “my” children in India and around the world don’t even have food.  The fact that the vast majority of able bodied people don’t help because they can’t do “that” while it is the weak and poor that often do the most for others is hard for me to swallow.  I have been one of those that neglects what I should do and many times that is still the case, but I want that to change in my life and I pray it will change in your life too.  If we say we love then let’s put that into action.  For those of you that do sacrifice: thank you.  I am humbled by your actions.  You inspire me.

Let’s stop saying what we can’t do and start being creative about what we CAN do…

Have you checked out the 10.for.10 dare?  If not please do so!

(Photo: courtesy of Warm Blankets)

Guess what?? I don’t know about you but whether or not we want to admit it most of us have dreams, goals, and desires that involve grand things.  Crazy things like saving the world or inventing a cure for cancer.  Yet most of us go about our day and never seek to do anything about those dreams.  We haven’t stopped to break it down and actually figure out a plan.  But if we never stop and actually DO something…then are dreams are just that.  Dreams.  Dead ones.  But you can change that.  Today.  You can be someone’s hero.  But the hero never gets to be a hero without a little bit of sacrifice.  Orphan Sunday is coming up and I have a challenge for you.  Do you dare to take it?  Do you dare to make a change in your life today?  What will you do to help little ones in need? Here’s the 10.for.10 challenge.  Will you pledge to get 10 people to donate 10 dollars to orphans by November 24th, Thanksgiving day?  It just takes someone (hopefully you) to be willing to ask.  (Considering that it is for orphans I bet you won’t get turned down.) 🙂 If you’re up for this challenge then please leave your name in the comments below.  Let’s see if we can be a hero to these little darlings in India.  Let’s start changing the world TODAY.  Shall we?  I hope to see a lot of names in the comments below! 🙂

UPDATE!!! $36,901  Only need 99 dollars to tip it over the $37K mark. 😀

So I have another big test today.  Gulp.  Really need to pass it.  This one is American Literature…and I don’t feel quite prepared.  Of course if you know me I NEVER feel prepared for tests.  Anyways if you are the type that prays and you happen to think to pray about it I would really appreciate it.  While I was thinking about passing this test though another very happy thought came to mind.  We don’t have to get a certain grade to get into heaven!!!  In fact we all get a big fat F if we are going by a grade.  What is so incredible is that it is about grace.  Salvation isn’t based on how good I am but on the sacrifice of Jesus who died that I might live.  His perfect life in exchange for my messy, dirty, sinful one.  Wow.  So while I might not always want to keep learning for a college test I do always want to be learning more and more about Jesus who is the lover of my soul…

P.S. We didn’t bring the camera to the wedding so all we have are these iphone pictures. 😀  The wedding was at the most beautiful vineyard and this was the view.  Also aren’t these table decoration beautiful…and I think the favors are so cute.

 Part 2 of the San Francisco pictures…you can read part one here.

It’s Monday and the rush, bustle, and all around business of what we need to do is most likely on our minds and causing us to hurry around.  Looking at these pictures though makes me stop and contemplate the beauty of a building with flying buttresses.  Stopping to really look at this I am reminded to reach out and support others just like these arms of strength are supporting this building.  We need one another…  Especially during a busy season or time.

There is so much to see, learn, and enjoy.  I was struck by this fact when we walked along the pier and weaved a path through a myriad of people in the market place.  I know for myself though that it takes a concentrated effort to stop and really see it all.  I was grateful to have my camera in hand to slow me down and cause me to enjoy so many of the gifts around me.  I thought you might like to see just a few of them… Anyways I hope you stop and see and are blessed today.

We had less than 24 hours in San Francisco and I didn’t get to roam around much but I did snap a few pictures and I hope you enjoy them.  I am by no means a photographer (in my dreams my pictures turn out perfect… 😉 )  and most of the time I was snapping pictures in a moving car but after all it is just a peek into my world.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge made me ecstatic.  My glee resembled that of a three year old on the verge of a sugar coma.  What can I say…it’s the little things that make me happy.

God granted us the most amazing weather.  It really was perfect.  This sunset was INCREDIBLE.  It took my breath away.  I wish you could have seen the mixing of the colors from buttery soft caramel and vanilla to swirled purples as well as the intensity of scarlet, tangerine, and fuschia turning all liquid flame in front of us… God really is the most amazing painter.

I loved how all the houses have such unique flare… 🙂

I think I’ll have to divide the pictures into more posts than I thought…

I smile. 🙂 UPDATE:  $36,831 😀  Just want to say that we have helped to open ELEVEN new orphan homes which means a whole new life for 110 orphans.  WOW. So grateful.  If you haven’t had a chance to join in the blessing please consider giving today.  Thank you and have a great weekend!

Well the verdict is in and our trip to California was: wonderful!  It was so lovely being with my parents and experiencing a new place for the first time.  I will be sharing pictures from my trip over the next few posts but here is me in San Fransisco on the dock near the farmers market… 🙂

The Lord gave me so many little and big gifts during our trip so I wrote them down and would like to give you a little glimpse into all the blessings I experienced.

~Pastures dotted with spotted cows.
~Hills in the distance that were different shades of blue and indigo.
~Trees draped and dressed in gauzy fog.
~Waking up to the murmur of shared prayers from parents while in the car.
~Entering California for the first time!
~Seeing Mount Shasta gloriously rising into a clear blue sky.
~At a lookout point above the city: Looking down was like seeing glittering jewels on a piece of black silk.  Alive and shining.  (This picture doesn’t even come close to the beauty of it)
~Church bells somewhere in the city chiming and tolling out the time.

I’ll save the rest for next time. 🙂

Check.this.out.  UPDATE:  $36,781 😀  Soooo only need 19 dollars to push it to the 800 mark. 😀  Will you be the one to make that happen?

So I have lived in Oregon since I was 2.  And California is our next door neighbor so to speak.  But in all the years I have lived in Oregon never once have I been to California.  Things are about to change folks.  Because today we are driving down to San Francisco!!! Helloooo ROAD TRIP!!! Even though it is going to be a super fast trip I am really excited and what makes it even better is that I am going to be going to my cousin’s wedding and he is marrying the sweetest lady.  AND I’M SO EXCITED!!! No biggie or anything I’m just CROSSING OFF ONE OF MY THINGS ON MY “DREAM” LIST.  Totally have my trail mix ready.  😉

Yippee I aye!!! UPDATE:  $36,689.56  Only need to get 11 dollars to push it to 700.  Will you be the one to feed 2 orphans for a month???

(This leaf broach was from my Yia yia. 🙂 )