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This was filmed by Terje Sorgjerd over the course of 8 days in El Teide where Spain’s highest mountain rises up.  Do yourself a favor and head over here to read what he has to say about it.  It is amazing.

You see this caught my attention because in the pitch black of night I love to throw my head back and look up at the stars and the beauty above.  You know where it looks like a scarf you could imagine from a fairy tale of Arabian nights?  All lush fabric glittering with jewels.  Looking at the stars and the beauty of the heavens leaves me in wonder and amazement.  It gets me so excited I want to jump up and down and never shut up about how incredible  it is.  It makes my soul want to do back flips… More than that though it leaves me awed.  At the beauty and majesty of it all.  (If I really get started this post will go on and on so I shall refrain)  Yet it goes far deeper than that for me because it reminds me of the One who I love.  The God I serve that spoke it all into being.  Literally countless number of stars that are part of countless galaxies.  Mind blown.  And then there is me.  A tiny speck on a little planet but the God of this universe loves me.  HE loves me.  He LOVES me.  He loves ME!  And that right there makes me feel what the most incredible of words cannot describe.  It makes me want to worship.  It makes me unbelievably grateful that I am his.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1-2)

Hey everyone! Just wanted to check in real quick.  I am going to try to get in to the testing center today to take a really big exam…if not today then Wednesday.  Gulp.  I really dislike tests.  Even though the worst that can happen is that I don’t pass I still get so nervous.  Stop psyching out nerves!!! By the end of the test my shoulders are like new earrings.  And frankly that’s just not fashionable. 😉  Seriously I think taking a test for me is good practice for if I ever need to hold my breath for something.  Just sayin.  Breath!!! Lol!

So I wore this outfit on Saturday when my mom and I were out and about and I got so many compliments on this skirt.  What I love is that it was my 91 year old Yia yia’s. 🙂  Yeah she was classy.  At one point during the day I had just gotten in the car and this gal tapped on the window so I opened my door not sure of what was coming next and then she said, “I love your whole outfit!”  It was really sweet of a complete stranger to stop and say that and it totally made me smile.  Go ahead and compliment a stranger today.  It’s fun and you will probably make their day.  What’s not to like about that?!  What’s something that a stranger has done to make you smile?

Also thank you to everyone that has written comments or emails.  I’m sorry if I haven’t gotten back with you and I will try to do it asap.

 I love the brave ones that step out and try something different and have fun with it.  Meet Bethany: This sweet lady left a comment that she was going to do a party.  And she didn’t just talk about it, she went and did it.   And then because she’s wonderful she emailed me the pictures so I could see.  Doesn’t it look like fun?!  One moment while I do a happy dance. …~…~..^^^^::::~~~vvvv (those are my cool dance steps 😉 )  O.K. now that I got that out…  This creative gal attached the raffle tickets to truffles and had an adorable prize. She made scrumptious looking food and put up signs about this project and Warm Blankets.  Also I love that since it was a girls party they all wore black dresses. 🙂  She said they had a great time and they raised $200!!!  Now that’s what I call productive.  If you want to see the rest of the pictures you can see them here.

Doesn’t that make you want to have your own party??  If so check out the party page and set a date.  Have fun with it!  This is the perfect time of year to have a pumpkin carving party or a trip to the apple orchard and you can just ask everyone to bring $5 to contribute to orphans.  It really can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. 🙂  Can’t wait to hear what you do and see the pictures!!!

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ~ Steve Jobs

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $36,644.56

(Photo credit: Duoimagery)

Have you ever had something/someone make your day?  I heard the front door bell chime and went to get it.  I was quite taken back at first since it isn’t everyday that you get flowers! There in front of me was a florist with a beautiful vase full of vibrant color.  I opened the note inside and found that it was from my very sweet friend Elizabeth.  From Australia.  She knew I was sick and wanted me to feel better.  So she had these beautiful blooms delivered to my door with an adorable polka dot bow (btw polka dots are very “in” this season…just a quick fashion tip off).  Gosh I have some incredible friends and I feel so blessed.  Elizabeth I am honored to be your friend and so thankful to know you.  Thank you for making not just my day but my whole week.  You’re such a gift in my life.

I love surprises.  Don’t you?  What is one of the most wonderful ways that you have been surprised?  Let’s hear about it in the comments. 🙂

Anndddd UPDATE!!!! $36,377.56  😀  Anyone want to push it over to 400?  😀

Thought you might like to hear another story about where your money is going to help the sweet orphans!  Your contribution really does make a difference so thank you!

Continued…

We put masks up for all different reasons.  Some people put them up to hide who they are or to show others what they think someone else wants them to be.  But just because we put a shield in front of our eyes doesn’t mean that something isn’t behind the facade.  It doesn’t make what we are trying to hide disappear.  In fact I think it compounds the problem.  Because we are living a lie.  And when we do that we lose the beauty of honesty and truth.  We hurt ourselves from truly looking out and seeing.  No…taking off the mask can be hard as the full light begins to hit the eyes of our soul but when we face the Light the shadows flee.  The obstruction that skews our vision of who we are and how we view others dissipates and the sparkle of eyes freed will be more beautiful than any mask could ever be.  Are you putting on masks?  Please consider taking it off regardless of what anyone thinks.  Isn’t freedom always better than a cage?  Let’s leave the masks for the theater…

What keeps you from taking off your mask?  Are you willing to take it off now?  Please leave your comments below.  🙂

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!!!

I love it when hands cover bright eyes and a game of peak-a-boo occurs.  It always amuses me how little children actually think they are hiding just because they can’t see you.  And of course it’s cute too.  Yet as we get older those hands that we used to cover our eyes with turn into masks that we hide behind.  Granted we don’t cover our faces anymore we just cover our souls.  It’s pretty safe to say that everyone has some mask…or masks.  With them you can change what you want people to see you as and depending on the time, place, or people around you might have enough masks to outfit a whole cast.  Are we really fooling everyone else or are we just deceiving ourselves?  Are those masks distracting people from seeing who we really are or are they just obstructing our vision?

To be continued…

!!!UPDATE!!!  $36,292.56 😀 Anyone want to tip it over the 300?

This is one of the children YOU have helped. 😀  Thought you might like to hear from this young gentleman yourself.

Akash – Tangutur Home

1.  What do you remember from your life before coming to the Tangutur home?

My name is Akash I am studying 6^th class, before I come to the Tangutur home, I use to play on the streets with street children.  I use to smoke and talk bad words.  I never go school and I never obey my elders.  I don’t know what life I am living.

2.  What is the best part about living in the Tangutur home?

I come to the Tangutur home through my church pastor. When I come to the Tangutur home, a few days I did not adjust with other children. I feel likeI want to run away from there. But one day my pastor told me, if you feel want to run away from here don’t run without telling us. God gave you a great opportunity to live here. So pray and ask God that your mind will be change into the Jesus.  Then I just started to pray as I am praying, really my mind get a some relief, and peace, then I stopped to smoke.  Now I get a fear of God inside of my heart.  I am going to school.

3. If you were going to describe God to your class, what three words would you use to describe God?

• Jesus is redeemer; he was done many wonders in my life.
• Jesus is our savior; believe him and pray to him.
• If you love your parents, you can love Jesus.

4. In ten years, old will you be? What do you want your life to be like at that time?

After ten years I may get 22 years old, that time I just want to see in my life wonderful for others.  I want to become a doctor.  Then I able to help poor children and struggling people

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It’s hard to believe that 100 days ago I was smack dab in the middle of wearing this dress and that it was Father’s Day.  Feels like a dream or that it happened to someone else and not me.  Do you ever feel that way?  We hadn’t even tipped the $5,000 mark.  And it was halfway through… yet praise the Lord here we are 100 days later and over $36,000 raised.  Sure some days I don’t think we will make to to the $50K mark but then I remember and can be at peace.  It never has been my project to begin with.  It was/is God’s and he will do exactly what he wants.  I don’t know what will happen in the next 100 days.  Maybe nothing that I would normally consider exciting but one thing I do know.  It will be exciting.  Why?  Because I am living it with the one I love, Jesus.  And he has given me this incredible thing called life.  And I don’t want to miss one moment of it.

In the last 150 days:

I wore the same dress for 100 days in a row…

I have blogged daily for 150 days

Approved almost 2,000 comments

We have raised over $36,000!!!!!

We have helped open 11 new orphan homes

We have fed children in need

Prayers prayed and blessing experienced…countless

Lives touched?  Well I don’t think I’ll ever fully know till heaven but I do know mine was changed and I pray yours was too

I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and humbled that you would all join with me.  Thank you.  I can never say that enough.

You may or may not find a post on here tomorrow… 😉

I pray this isn’t the last UPDATE I put in a post:  $36,257.56 😀 😀 😀

P.S.  Thank you to my sweet cousin Ben for thinking of me and bringing this beautiful scarf back from his travels abroad.

Tissues, tea, and vitamin C… Yep totally sick.   Thankfully I have no where I need to be and plenty of studying to do.  🙂  Sorry if I look a bit peaked in this pic.  It kinda went: Click, Sneeze, Click, Sneeze….

Sooooo….I won’t be having any more outfit pictures for a little while after tomorrow…  Frankly I need a break but at the same time if I’m completely honest I’m kinda nervous about changing up the blogging style and possibly breaking my streak of posting…the tiny part of me that is competitive (usually only with myself) wants to see how long I can go.  Kinda dumb but true.  Also I’m concerned that the money for the project might go from slowly dripping in to non existent.   Annnnd while I’m being completely honest I’m afraid all you wonderful people will just disappear….I’ve sorta become fond of you all. 😉  Comments??

Hope your week is off to a wonderful start my friends!

P.S.  Hope to have an Update for you soon and I hope you like day 150 tomorrow. 🙂