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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}

I think some perspective would be good.  You see without my knowing it Warm Blankets Orphan Care decided to open ELEVEN new orphan homes in India.  The time of this project coincides perfectly with what is happening with this dress project.  It takes $3,000 dollars to open a home…times that by 11 and you need $33,000 for this incredible work they are doing.  If we reach our goal we will have helped all those homes open.  Isn’t that amazing?!?! If you chose to donate even $5 dollars today then you would have contributed to building a home for these sweet children.  Think of it…you could buy a couch for $3,000 dollars or you could help open an ENTIRE home.  Just some perspective…that’s all.

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

Remember how I said one of the perks of this project is meeting some amazing people?  Well guess who I bumped into the other day? Cue the beautiful and vivacious woman named Lisa Warninger from Urban Weeds.  She took these photos and we talked and laughed.  Can’t you see how happy I am?  That’s because this lovely lady is so fun. She asked me about my story and I also had the privilege of hearing part of hers.  We both are health conscience, style enthusiasts, and photography lovers.  You really need to check out her site…It’s addicting and her photos are amazing! Thank you Lisa for taking time to stop and hear my story, featuring me on your blog, and spreading the word about the orphans!

{Photos by: Lisa Warninger}

One of the great things about doing this project are the people I get to interact with.  I got interviewed by the sweetest lady for an article in the Oregonian!!!!! How exciting is that?!? Yeah by the end of this project I am going to have a choreographed happy dance. For real.  It amazes me how so many people can come together for a common cause.  It’s like one of those flash mob dances on youtube where people out of nowhere just start doing the same dance at the same time.  Join in for some serious fun!  Plus I’m sure the children in India will dance if we raise $50,000.  🙂

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

Yesterday’s agenda included relaxing and dear friends.  Today’s schedule: Fun, exciting, and new adventures.  Meeting with two amazing bloggers in the area this morning (more on that later 🙂 ) and I am getting interviewed by a reporter!!! Scary and stimulating at the same time.  Let’s hope I bring my A-game… Whenever I get nervous I just remind myself that this is my story becoming intertwined with the orphans whom I love.  Perfect love casts out fear.

Raised: $1,456

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothing borrowed from Michelle}

So many exciting things are happening!  Great day yesterday although to be honest I am thrilled to have today off. I’m exhausted and my body is screaming at me.  It’s not happy and despite how much I tell it that it REALLY needs to get with it…well let’s just say its not getting the memo.  Maybe the sunshine will help appease it?  Looking forward to warm, golden sun rays, contacting amazing people, and dinner with dear friends.  Hello to all you lovely people out there! What are you doing this weekend?

Raised $1,406

Also it was extremely exciting to be retweeted by the editor of 17 magazine, Ann Shoket!!!

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothes borrowed from Michelle}

You know how you pray about things and don’t always get to see the results?  Especially not the exact thing you asked for?  Well, I am proof that it does happen sometimes just how you prayed, but better.  Several months ago when this blog was in the works I asked that God would send me a camera.  Not just any camera but a digital, SLR, Canon camera.  Yeah I was THAT specific.  Anyways I prayed and then let it go trusting that if I was supposed to have it then he would send it to me.  Later while talking with some friends (David and Cheri)  I mentioned that I needed a camera.  Fast forward several weeks when I received a huge box from them filled with…accessories for the project AND a digital, SLR, Canon camera with TWO lenses.  I may or may not have done a happy dance…and almost cried and talked faster than any human should.  😀  Oh, and did I mention this was after having a “horrible, no good, very bad day”?? I have some amazing friends, and an INCREDIBLE God who takes such good care of me even when I don’t receive exactly what I want.  He always gives me the best.

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

{Clothes borrowed from Michelle}

I’m watching the squirrel as it scampers and scurries across the thin tightrope of a telephone line.  He disregards the height.  Sure of himself he places one paw in front of the other.  He looks so clever, so perfectly perched at the top of his world.  In our lives it is so easy to become like this little creature.  We become engrossed with to do lists and pay no attention to the cost of a hurried life far above and aloof from what truly matters.  It isn’t about gathering more and more stuff.  If we become like the squirrel we will miss what we should see.  Don’t miss something beautiful today just because you are in a rush.  So this is me pausing to say: I am thankful for all of you.  YES YOU.  The reason is because I need you.  I don’t want to walk this journey alone.  Thank you for “gathering” and giving with me so that we don’t waste what we have been given.

Raise so far: $1,106.00!!!

I also want to add a HUGE thank you to Christa Taylor for not only taking these pictures but for lending me her clothes to play with!

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}

Day 10.  DAY TEN?!?!? Wow, I am 1/10th of the way through this already.  Raised $986.00!!!!!! Yay! Who wants to tip it over the $1000 mark?

O.K.  So you all should know something about me. I am not a techy person.  I repeat, NOT techy.  As in I have written my blog “consultant, tech guy, fantastic friend” so many emails that he has had to send me enough responses to write a “For Dummies” book.  Not even joking.  There is a reason I never had Facebook, Twitter, or a blog…and now I have all three.  Oh dear…add to that a personal Facebook account and emailing and my head just fell off.  (My mom just looked over my shoulder and says that “fell off” sounded violent.  She suggested “exploded”…Ummm, sounds too gory to me…) 😀  I guess we can compromise with spinning…which makes me think of a bobble head.

{Photos by: Christa Taylor}