Shoeboxes 2011!

Seventeen years ago Samaritan's Purse started a ministry called "Operation Christmas Child" the idea was to pack a shoebox with simple gifts; personal care items and school supplies and give those shoeboxes to hurting and needy children all over the world with the message of the good news of God's love for them. That first year my son was a baby and we did one box. The 2nd year I had 2 kids so we did two boxes. As our family grew we did more boxes to correspond with each child till one day those kids said "mom lets do more!" So we did 5 boxes. Then one year one of the kids said "Ya know mom, this would be great for shoeboxes, we should save stuff all year round so we can do more." That year we did 22 boxes. The next year I got my church involved, we did 30 something boxes the first year. The following year I had another gal start saving stuff all year round and we filled 70 something. The numbers kept growing till last year we did 276 boxes! And still...

Our numbers kept growing.

As our numbers grew I needed to find creative ways to support our projects. Being part of the crafting community I looked their for help. Scrapbook Expo allowed us to run their baggage check and collect supplies and have raffle tickets for a gift basket from At the Blue Barn and a new "Scrap-n-Easel" from Contain ya crafts. Many of my scrapbooking friends came out to help at the expo as well. Local crafters came out to an event again donating supplies for boxes and buying raffle tickets for another fabulous gift basket. Plus companies such as Unibind, Creative Options, Epiphany Crafts, Craftwell, Xyron, Fiskateers, Hydrangea Hippo, Contain Ya Crafts, Faithfully Yours, MemoryWorks consultant Kemi Foresteri, Close to My Heart Consultant Lori Brown, October Afternoon and more donated make and take items, door prizes, and goodie bag items to the event! All these events (and then some) helped gather not only supplies but funds to purchase supplies and help offset the cost of shipping shoeboxes.

It's no secret, I love doing shoeboxes. It's such a simple way to reach out. Things we take for granted like soap and a toothbrush are some of the kids favorite gifts to receive and for some kids this is the first present they have every received in their lives! I also love shoeboxes because of what it allows me to do within my community. When someone decides to be a missionary to another country. They start raising support, gathering their supplies etc. They get sent on their trip and we hear about it when they get back. With coordinating shoeboxes I get a chance to encourage my church, family and friends to be missionaries right where they are at!

It's incredible to be able to help kids not just my kids or my church kids, but my nephews, and friends kids and even other kids in the community to take that step to look beyond themselves to reach out to others. It's a privilege to be able to hear "wow this was so much fun...I love helping, I can't wait to do it next year." and "I'm so glad I came, knowing that one more child gets a present cause of what I did is AWESOME!"

Well I can spill the beans! This year we packed 351 shoeboxes!!! Thank you again to everyone that helped make this possible!!!

Wonder what I've been up to?

The holiday's are normally busy for everyone seems to be especially busy for crafters that have this NEED to personalize gifts, decorations, cards with their own two hands. This year for me was no different.

This year in addition to the typical crazy busy of life before the holidays I took on not one but TWO kids Christmas workshops.

For the first one I taught a class at Potter's Hand homeschool group. We are new members to the group and the kids and I have been thoroughly enjoying every minute of the program. Each December, they have a Christmas workshop. The older kids go off and make more intricate things, the younger kids have a class and rotate projects. This year they also rotated to "my" class where they learned about glass etching and etched their own ornaments. By the end of my hour and 45 minutes I had seen about 120 kids go through my area. (Yes I etched, and also did a negative image card with the remainder of the stencil with 120 kids) You will all have to take my word for it because I was so busy I didn't get a single picture of it!

The 2nd workshop was at my church. This was our first year for it. Normally during December I try to take a couple of weeks to let the kids make presents during kids church in addition to Christmas lessons. This year we were still working on finishing up curriculum so I didn't have the chance.

So we spent the entire day making candle screens, and tin can snowmen and covered notepads, candle trays and gingerbread houses (out of foam.) Ooh and can't forget a couple of types of ornaments and we even made and bagged peppermint cocoa with tiny marshmallows! After lunch we even spent time wrapping and making cards! I think the kids went home with 8 different presents for family and friends!

Miss Margaret helping to make

covered notepads

Emily with her "Snow Can"

Calorie free gingerbread houses!

Painting ornaments!

Looks like a bomb went off here

It's safe to say we had a BLAST, teachers and kids all enjoyed themselves (the teachers even had a chance to make a couple of things!) Something we will definitely do again!

Cards for Troops

I must admit, I tear up at parades when I see the veterans march past. I also tear up when I say the pledge of allegiance. I am so grateful for our freedom here in the United States and even more so for those men and women that have sacrificed so much to serve and protect them.

I love having opportunities to give back to the troops and when my friend Diane asked me if I would create some "card kits" for a cards for troops event at her church. Operation MOMS Cookies sends care packages to our troops and the cards would be a part of them. I was more than willing to not only put together card kits but help with the event as well.

Knowing I had small group last night immediately following AND knowing my jr/sr high girls love creating I asked if they could come with. Five of us left early grabbed a quick lunch at Micky D's then went to help make Christmas cards for our troops.

Tables were set up all over the room with supplies to make dozen's of different types of cards! They girls went from table to table creating and I stayed at mine helping those that wanted to play with the tools I brought (Fiskars squeeze punches, stamps, stickles and more.)

The girls and I were joined with about 30 Men, women, teens and children from Our Savior Lutheran. The ladies there had YUMMY oatmeal raisin (my favorite of the two) and chocolate chip (the girls favorite) cookies and lemonade to keep up our strength. All in all we spent 3 hours crafting cards. We had a blast!

When all was said and done yesterday afternoon, Diane was excited to share that they had 1502 cards! What a privilege it was to be a small part of it!

Eye on the Sparrow!

What's not to love about wet puppy kisses?????

Yorkville Travel Agency invites you for a much needed get away.

Trade in those heavy sweater for some warm fuzzies! Fun for all ages, Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, bring the kids for a "DAY TRIP TO POOCHLAND!" Special guests will be the guys and gals of Eye on the Sparrow dog rescue and their cast of fabulous furry friends (dogs)

Not only can you rub elbows and ankles with these sweet pooches, who knows, you may make a love connection, and end up adopting a perfect family companion. We will also offer a tantalizing selection of homemade, sweet delicacies(some call it a bake sale). In addition, perhaps you would like to take home a special souvenior from one of our many local artisans? (HEY THAT'S ME :) (aka craft sale), all at a very minimal charge.

Destination, right here in our very own quaint town of Yorkville, at the the Yorkville Travel Agency. The event will take place April17th, from 10-2. Free kisses will be offered to all participants! See you there!

Find out more about Eye on the Sparrow