$5 project

Bella, my 9 year old who is such an amazing thoughtful person already (you can learn more about her here and here), came home from school yesterday with the most fabulous assignment. Her teacher won a pie contest at the local state fair and instead of keeping the money for herself she is giving each of her students $5 to do something for someone else.

This morning while talking to Bella about what she might do she told me her teacher read of few of the past essays from other years and some of the students were able to raise more money by asking family members to match the $5 donation. It definitely got my wheels spinning and I thought about the blog community...what if I wrote about this on my blog and she was able to get donation from all over? Other than she would be able to give much more with more money, she would also have something very interesting to write about in her essay.

Forgive me. I never do things like this...ask for money. Ever. But I thought it was such a great assignment and would love for her to learn how a mere $5 can grow and really make a difference to someone or to a community.

Here is what we're asking...
Be apart of something and donate to this project. It could be as small as $.50 or you could match the $5 she was given or you could give more if you are so inclined. If you would like to donate please send money using paypal to afmphotography@gmail.com. Please include somewhere in your donation the words $5 project so I know it's for this & your address (I know she'll want to send a personal thank you). The catch, her assignment is due on the 28th so she would need you to donate as soon as you can.

Please please please do not feel like you need to or feel any obligation to donate to this project. I know we are all struggling right now and saving every penny with the economy being like it is. If you are unable to donate and would like to do something you could always spread the word by adding a link on your blog to the post. However, if you are looking for a way to give (and can) my I suggest this little project. It will not only help someone, but help Bella, and hopefully her sisters too, learn a great lesson in service.



Where will your money go?
She has not finalized what she wants to do, I think it will depend in the end how much money she receives. Here are two of her ideas she brought up this morning.
1) do something for animals, like donating something to the humane society
2) put together Thanksgiving dinners for families in need
3) buy flowers and deliver them to individuals living in an Old Folks home
I would love her to do something like that so she can see first hand the difference giving can make to someone, but in the end it will be her decision.

When it's all said and done, I will post about the whole experience (included her essay) so you can see where your money went and the difference you made to someone in need and to a 9 year old trying to make a difference herself.

Thank You!

april giveaway

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
- Mother Teresa

When I heard this quote at conference a couple weekends ago it resonated with me and brought me back to the reason I chose the word give to focus on this year. When I was younger I always thought I would do big and important things, only to grow up and wonder where are those big and important things? The older I've gotten I've realized doing great things don't need to be big and loud. In fact, most often great things are done quietly, behind closed doors, and done with love.

I believe we can all do great things which can make a huge difference in someone's life...a difference we may never know. Think of what it feels like for a total stranger to give you a warm smile while you're in the middle of a very bad day or to get the mail only to see that there's a hand written envelope with your name on it or someone takes the time to comment on your blog post or a co-worker buys you lunch. It feels big and great and meaningful. Wouldn't you want to give that same feeling to someone else? I know I run this list through my head when I'm not in the mood. It helps me to remember how even small acts can mean a great deal to someone.

Sorry to get carried away in my thoughts, I guess it's just been on my mind lately. Without further ado on with my April giveaway. I'm giving away another set of 10 cards including envelopes.


here is the original photo. I feel like the picture of the card doesn't do it justice even though it printed beautifully.

You know the drill. If your interested comment. I'll post the winner Friday afternoon.

Good Luck!

edited to add: I meant to say Saturday afternoon I will post the winner. So you have til then.

giving back

#1
This weekend it's mine turn to give a break to someone else. Unfortunately it wasn't for Jill or Robyn, who helped me out last weekend, I'll get them another time, but it's for my friend and her husband who desperately needed a get away.


[Adam let me sleep in and I woke up to a clean kitchen and 6 paper cups all lined up with initials and one still eating. ]

We had a couple incidences in the night, but I must say it's all going fabulously well as long as I don't look at my house. I'm taking advice from the best, Jill, and am letting the mess prevail until the kiddos leave, which will be later this evening.

#2
I mentioned before in an earlier post that I've been thinking about ways I could GIVE this year. I decided one way I could give back to all you bloggers who read my blog is to do a give away once a month. Each month it will be a different handmade item and hopefully this will also help me with another goal of mine to try new things.



This month I'm going to be giving away a set of 10 greeting cards (shown above) including envelops. If you want to be included in the drawing comment on this post. I will post the winner on Monday.

Thanks for helping me give and for all you give to me.

one word

I hadn't really thought about my new word for 2009 until the last day of 2008. I laid in bed that night thinking about what I wanted to focus on for the next 12 months. I come up with several words (many words that some of you have already picked), but nothing really seemed to fit just right. I guess that's when I unconsciously decided not to worry about it and hoped it would at some point find me.

And it did.

Last Sunday while I sat in RS it was this quote that captured my attention.

The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness is that charity, “the pure love of Christ”, is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes. -Dallin H. Oaks

When I heard this quote I knew I wanted charity to be a focus of this year. I don't think I am a completely selfish person that never does things for others, but I do feel that condition or conversion Elder Oaks is talking about isn't something I possess either. I also realize Charity is a big word and not something you attain in a year, it is what Elder Oaks said, something you become.



So while making dinner one night last week the girls and I broke out in song singing, “Give, said the little stream” (I have no idea why). After about the tenth time through I realized that was it...give. I have been given so much in my life and want to focus this year on giving back. I love the part in the song that says, “I’m small, I know, but wherever I go the grass grows greener still.” I feel small in this big world, but I also feel like I have a lot to give. I want to give of myself, give of my heart, give of my talents, and give of my time. In doing so, I'm hoping to capture, if even a little glimmer, of what Elders Oaks is talking about and begin to really understand what it means to be charitable.