Pillowcases for Africa {the details}

How the pillowcase party came together:

Handmade invites.

I found a few ideas on pinterest & made something that worked for me.

LOTS of pins.

There was another full pin cushion & a whole container too.

Good thing I happened to have hundreds of them around...

Why? Jury's still out on that one.

Everyone who attended the party was asked to bring 2 pillowcases & 2 packages of bias tape.

And I supplied anything they might want to use to decorate their pillowcase...rick rack, ribbon, fabric scraps, you get the idea.

Of course I really only had a few packages of rick rack & a couple things of ribbon.

But fabric scraps?

Um. Yeah. Plenty.

Blurry sign for the work station.

Long table for prep work...cutting, pinning, measuring...

and plenty of 1/2 inch elastic.

I went ahead & supplied that too.

Cheap & easier on the girls coming.

I also had an ironing board & 2 irons set up behind that table.

It was needed for ironing down elastic encasings.

Needed another one...

Blurry sign for the sewing machine table.

We had 3. And then Sheri showed up with hers.

Lifesaver. 4 was perfect.

Or maybe 5 would've been better.

Hindsight. It's 20/20...

The directions for making pillowcase dresses.

Straight out of the Craft Hope book.

Friendly sunflowers (or, ahem, weeds....).

And super, enthusiastic friends...

that made this party a lot of fun.

I really appreciated that everyone seemed so happy...

& so willing to slave all night...

to bring little girls some joy. And love.

And the best part??

Drum roll please....

We're doing it again!

We have time for another party before the Africa team heads out, so... plans are underway!

I hope you guys are up for another night of hard work, but all the dresses we'll be able to send will be SO worth it.

Let me know if you're up for it....yay!

Pillowcases for Africa {a party}

I had a party on Friday.

It involved sewing, friends, & food.

A girly party- only you didn't have to buy anything before you left.

A party meant to give.

To orphan girls in Africa.

The idea started when I read this post- by my blog friend. :)

(ok...technically, we're not friends. But I read her blog everyday...)

Good friends make a party great.

They were awesome & made dresses like crazy.

I was so thrilled to have people actually show up.

I knew a sewing party would be scary to some, but they came anyway.

Awesome.

Good food makes a party, too.

Lasagna cupcakes.

Veggie cups.

Martha cupcakes (they were dry- waaa- it was my fault).

Joy's Hope Puffs.

In the end, we had 30 dresses.

30. In one night.

For little girls.

To show them love.

I wish I could be there to watch the party when they're opened.

God's love wrapped up in a dress.

I think this is one of the most favorite parties I've ever had.

It feels good when there's a greater purpose.

*Don't worry girls who came to the party that are reading this.

I was very careful about the way I hung up those dresses.

They are actually all washed & safely back inside their own bags again;).

More party details to come...

Sweetness in quiet times

Back from a night away, celebrating 8 years of marriage.

And a break from the chaos that was our life this past week.

Enjoying that our tv is in need of repair.

My 4 year old is not begging for movies all day long anymore.

Only a few times a day now...

The quietness that is my house is oh so peaceful.

And taking time to breath again.

It's been crazy. And at times overwhelming, this week.

But, He reminds us, it's all for His glory.

And that we have it pretty sweet.

God is good. Even in chaos;).

For someone else

This year, I decided to make weekly goals for myself, my kids, & our family.

One of those goals is to do something for someone every week.

It's a goal for Parker & for me.

I wanted the opportunity to show her how we should always be thinking of others. And to show her how sometimes something very simple can make someone feel very loved & special.

I've found that being intentional is a very important part of motherhood for me. When I'm thinking ahead to the bigger picture, it helps me make wiser decisions.

My kids will only be young & impressionable once. And I want to make every opportunity to learn about God's love, how we are to give it & live it, real & practical to them.

She's learning to be a giver & I really like that. She has a precious heart & God WILL use it for His glory.

embrace the camera

Ok. So, I love blogs.

It's part of my daily routine.

Wake up. Nurse a baby. Make breakfast. Clean the kitchen & read blogs at the same time;).

Or...if I'm being really honest...

forget that you were cleaning the kitchen & get lost in the land of blog.

Then come back into reality & finish chores & play with some cute kids.

Well. One of the fun blogs I wander over to every now & then:) hosts "embrace the camera" every Thursday (like the button says).

She started the fun to get us parents (mainly us moms) out from behind the camera & in to the front of it.

I really like that.

So...here's my most recent favorite dad picture. (I know, it's of Mitchel & not me, but I LOVE this picture...)

Taking encouragement from another favorite blogger, I've been trying really hard lately to change my angles & get pictures I wouldn't ordinarily get, shooting a typical picture of Parker & her daddy.

I loved how this one came out. They were looking at giraffes at the zoo.

But what I see is a sweet little girl, with her arm wrapped around her daddy's neck without a care in the world.

She has a daddy she knows loves her, that she can trust, that is strong, & can do anything.

I love that.

And I love that this picture, to me anyway, portrays that.

:)

That was fun...

Just things

Busy.

Doing things.

Planning for a garage sale.

Ugh. Not a fan of the process...but of the money? Yes!

Parker's becoming a lego builder.

As long as it's her Jessie legos.

She's really good.

Her shirt says "Turtlie Awesome."

:)

A goofy dad.

A baby boy chewing on a bracelet.

I don't know.

Normal. Right?

Happy.

Always.

I love my family.

Kids Clothes Week Challenge is almost over & I haven't finished a thing.

Grr.

Almost done with a little green dress...that's a sneak peek for ya. But it's a terrible picture.

Our camera was in the car & I was lazy & took one with my phone. Blah.

Anyway. Back to the dress...it's actually coming along pretty well.

Just wish I could finish it...

Vitamins

Yesterday I found a post on a favorite blog.

Many of you may have seen it too.

You can read it HERE.

She was asking for something so simple.

For children who come from poverty & hurting.

It spoke to my heart when she asked for vitamins.

I have a girl who begs for vitamins everyday.

However...she gets 3 full meals everyday, that she can most certainly count on.

Not to mention the snacks that often come once or twice a day as well.

Seeing the faces of so many babies who will have nothing more than some form of corn meal or mush each day, & one egg, & 2 vitamins once a week truly breaks my heart.

Something about having children, softens a heart to hurt.

I can only imagine what it must feel like to not have anything to give your child to eat.

So...we went on a hunt for vitamins.

Not that you have to hunt that hard:).

And, I thought you might like to have that chance too!

Having a happy heart to give freely to others is not always easy.

I'm learning more & more everyday how so rich I really am, & how so many are so poor.

But I want my kids to know that helping is not so hard.

In fact, helping is what we're called to do.

And when it comes to sending hungry kids vitamins, to help build up stronger bodies that will one day reach more for Jesus...

that should make us all giggle with joy.

Go read Meg's post & send her an email if you want to help out.

And if you can't...don't worry:).

Prayer is the most powerful thing of all.

Project 9- delivered

Pillowcases.

For kids with cancer.

My friend Jennifer joined us.

Her little boy, Slade, is 2 1/2.

I'm sure he loved the Lightning "a-Queen" pillowcase as much as our resident 3 year old.

Seeing the face of your child beam at the thought of a pillow covered in their favorite color, person, thing...really made the reality of what we were doing sink in.

Soon these cheerful cases will cover a typically peaceful, comfortable thing.

But as I was ironing out the seams, tears filled my eyes thinking about what they represented.

Parker watched me iron & we talked one more time about the kids who needed some cheering up.

Then we prayed for each pillowcase's new owner.

And their families.

Parker really wants one of her own.

I told her we'd make her a healthy girl pillowcase.

Because we're so grateful to have a healthy, happy girl.

She giggled & skipped on her way.

But I really am grateful.

Grateful in more ways than I can count.

And hopeful.

Hopeful that the kids ConKerr Cancer touches will be blessed.

Blessed by the Master Healer.

I know He knows them & loves them.

Grateful for a chance to remind them of God's love & the hope He brings.