Give A Little, Get A Lot (And Win!)

If you can't tell, I'm obsessed with those little chip-in counters on the right side of my page.  I love to watch them grow!  Seriously.  I will bust the cache on my browser (sorry, I work on the internetz) just to see if there's an update and I'm not seeing it.

I noticed that it's been a little bit slow going and I can understand why!  It's Christmas time.  You've got presents to buy and people are coming over and everything is just so hectic.  It's a hard time of year.

But I'm hoping that I can sweeten the deal...


Earlier in the year, I gave away $50 in gift cards to anyone who donated to the chip-ins that I had on my page.

Well, guess what?!  My husband said I could do it again!!!  Though I wanted to do it before Christmas, but that seems a bit outrageous (and we're going to be out of town, so that would make it hard).

But then I noticed that most of those chip-ins have an expiration of January 1st.  So that's how long this is going to go!

You've got until January 1st to donate (whether it be $1 or $100) to one of the chip-ins on the right side of my counter OR to Livin' In A Fishbowl.

A random person will be chosen using random.org (of course!).  The first person chosen will be given a $50 gift card and the second person chosen will receive a $25 gift card.  The gift card will be one of those Mastercard/Visa ones that you can use like a credit card, that way you can use it for anything!  Even those Christmas credit card bills.

Once you've donated, comment on THIS post.  That way, I don't miss anyone.  I will choose the winners on January 1st.

So now that I've laid out the rules, let's meet everyone!

Chip-In #1:
Baby Be Blessed's Give A Blessing To Maria's House Of Hope
I love Baby Be Blessed!  They are some of the sweetest women I know.  Every other month, they try and raise $1,000 for someone who deserves it.  This month, they want to bless the orphans in China's Maria's House Of Hope.  With this $1,000, Baby Be Blessed is hoping to purchase medication, preemie diapers, teething gel, pajamas and more!

An added bonus with this one: if you donate for this one, you're in the running for my contest AND the winner at Baby Be Blessed will win a Cinderella doll!

Credit: Baby Be Blessed

Chip-In #2:
A water buffalo to India through Gospel For Asia
Sarah from Splashin' Glory has always wanted a water buffalo and this year, she's determined to get it!  All donations will go to the purchase of a water buffalo for a family in India. 

Chip-In #3:
Pass It Forward Adoption Fund
Building The Blocks received help with their adoptions and they want to pay it forward.  They've been able to give $10,000 to a family to help with their adoption and the want to be able to give another $10,000 more.  Help them raise that money through Chip-In #3!

Website Visit:
Livin' In A Fishbowl's Adoption Fund

Credit: Livin' In A Fishbowl

As you can see from Chip-In #3, adoptions are expensive.  Now, imagine that you have a contested adoption and the legal fees that go along with that.  I've been following Livin' In A Fishbowl since it was just the Rock Star.  Now the family of three is a family of four!  It's a fun and insightful blog and they deserve as much help as they can get.

There you have it!  So what do you need to do again?

1) Donate to one of the 4 places mentioned above.
2) Return to this site and comment on THIS post.
3) Return on January 1st (but late!  I get back to my home that day, so it might be a little bit late)

Best of luck!

Praying In Color

Prayer puts God’s work in His hands – and keeps it there.
~E.M. Bounds


I used to pray in our bathroom (since the rest of our apartment is simply in one room), in the dark.  Sometimes I would fall asleep.  Most times, the cat would scratch at the door and I couldn't concentrate.


Then, at church, we had a prayer station service.  I felt so close to God as I walked around to each station.  And each station was something I could touch and something I could hold onto.  After the service, I talked to the woman who had put it on and she told me about a book that she had just received called Praying In Color.


I decided to try it.  It's about singing a song without using the words and I love it!  


I was going to put up a picture of mine, but I decided not to.  Instead, here's a drawing by Sybil MacBeth, the woman who wrote the book about it:

 

Credit: Sybil MacBeth

Here are Sybil MacBeth's words about Praying In Color:
"If you are word-weary, stillness-challenged, easily distracted, or just in need of a new way to pray, give "praying in color" a try. Men do it, women do it; teenagers do it; and children do it. All you need: paper, a black pen, colored markers or colored pencils, and Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God.

1. Draw a shape.
2. Put the name of a person for whom you are praying inside the shape.
3. Add lines, squiggles, and dots.
4. Add color.
5. Think of each stroke of the pen and each daub of color as a moment of prayer.
No words are necessary; no artistic skill is necessary-only a desire and a longing for the presence of God."


If you would like to read more about it, please visit here.

My Day

This was my day :)

Do not wish to be anything but what you are.
~St. Francis de Sales

Why It Matters

I don't understand where all the ugliness comes from.  Sarah Palin is just mean, as well as Ann Coulter.  But please, it's on all sides, it's just that Michael Moore hasn't made a movie in awhile.  Why is everyone so mean?  Sure, we can say we're standing up for what's right, but does calling someone fat mean that you're defending what's right or being petty?  My mom always told me not to judge and she always said that adage that your mother, I'm sure, may have told you and it made you grit your teeth..."If you don't have anything nice to say..."

You know how it goes.

And sure, it takes all kinds, but...why are we all so mean?  Maybe it was worse when everyone just thought it instead of thinking it...or maybe not.

So here's Sara Groves lyrics to "Why It Matters."  There's enough meanness in the news without us adding to it (and believe me, I know that I've added to it).  So today, I'm going to try and focus on the beauty. 

Sit with me and tell me once again
Of the story that's been told us
Of the power that will hold us
Of the beauty, of the beauty
Why it matters

Speak to me until I understand
Why our thinking and creating
Why our efforts of narrating
About the beauty, of the beauty
And why it matters

Like the statue in the park
Of this war torn town
And it's protest of the darkness
And the chaos all around
With its beauty, how it matters
How it matters

Show me the love that never fails
The compassion and attention
Midst confusion and dissention
Like small ramparts for the soul
How it matters

Like a single cup of water
How it matters

Foodz

An Interesting Observation

Someone asked me for directions today while I was walking to work.  This led me to an interesting observation.

Before

This is my before picture.  People would often stop me and ask for directions.  I was actually walking with a friend from out of town and she couldn't believe how many people would stop me to ask for directions.  I'm somewhat small, I don't normally look mean and I'm female (Seriously).

After

Some of you may know that I shaved my head in June for St. Baldricks.  Once this happened, no one asked me for directions.  In fact, I walked into the pantry with my boss and she jumped - she said I looked like I would mug her.  People did stare.  A few asked if I had cancer.

Now

And I have hair again now!  And I've also had at least two people ask me for directions this week.

Love

I had to post this somewhere.  I asked my husband a question on gchat and he agreed to it like this:

Steven:  Okay

Since you's is cute

 

 Personally, I think he's pretty cute.  ;)

So Much!

So much is going on in my life right now that I haven't posted about!  So sorry.  I ate a two pound cheeseburger.  I got to meet a cousin and see my nieces for Thanksgiving.  Ate at MELT in Cleveland.  I just visited a culinary school and I'm going to try volunteering (if they'll let me!) at a bakery in Jersey City called Feed Your Soul.

I'm preparing to go to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to visit my parents, then to England to be the best man in my friend's wedding.

But, for now, all I want to ask is that you'll maybe watch this video:



(sorry this video is so big.  Boo.  I was trying to make it smaller, but it's okay)

And, if you could, vote for Covenant House for Pepsi Refresh.  They are in the running to win $250,000 and here's what they'd do with it:

Goals

• To provide food to 1000 infants & toddlers in our Mother/Child program
• To help homeless mothers build a future for themselves & their babies
• To stay open 24/7/365 to any kid who comes to our door

If you'd like to vote for them, please visit here.

And hopefully I'll be updating you with my Christmas cookies this week!