Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Bidding Summary for the Water Raffle

Interested in seeing which raffle items have more/less bids (and which ones you have the best chances on if you donate to The Adventure Project and bid???!!!)

go here!  

$3,317 away from a BIG God sized $15,000 goal 

to bring a piping system to four villages in Uganda where there would be clean water taps outside schools, etc. for people to get clean water rather than hauling water from dirty puddles or other contaminated water sources.  

Plus!  That $15,000 will be matched by One Day's Wages.

Already, women in Uganda who are so excited about the possibility of clean water for their families are raising money by taking on extra jobs themselves to make this a reality!  Read below from Mandy's blog.  

when water for people was visiting western Uganda and trying to figure out the best system for getting water to these 4 villages, two women over heard the plans to pipe water closer to their families.

they immediately sought some extra work at a nearby farm and in 5 days they each proudly contributed 10 dollars toward this new piping system.  becky straw (co-founder of the adventure project) says that each family from these villages is giving what they can to make this piping system a reality. 

these brave, hard working women gave what they could in 5 days, and this raffle is going to follow their lead.

5 days. 15k.

because of an astounding match from one days wages, every dollar raised starting today will be matched. turning our 15k into 30k. 

you know, in heaven none will be thirsty.  and so today, this week, we fight to restore a bit of order to this old, dusty earth. 

we fight to bring heaven here.

may these loaves and fish multiply into miracles.

you will find the bidding page with all of our amazing raffle items here.

after you look through the items and submit your bids, go here to donate.

music camp!



I would love to offer your kids or your grandkids (this would make a GREAT gift!!) a music “camp" experience (4 mornings one week to be determined between the winning bidder and I) at my home in Colorado Springs (if you live in a city I might be visiting this summer it could potentially be open for travel, leave a comment).  (a $100 value per child!!) 

I will work with the winner to tailor the camp to the ages of your kids (best for preschool - early elementary) AND you can invite friends of similar ages, up to 8 children!  


This music camp experience will provide your kids with great opportunities to sing, play instruments, dance and learn other musical skills such as learning to read music all while having a lot of fun with friends and siblings.  The kids will also enjoy confidence building as they build on the skills they are learning throughout the four days.

I am offering this music camp in the 
that my friend Mandy is hosting for World Water Day TODAY!!!


Bid here (on music camp and lots of other fun prizes!)

Then total your bids and donate here!

Happy World Water Day Wednesday everyone!

Kelly


Sunday, March 19, 2017

Water!!!

Photo disclaimer:  All of these photos are old.
😊   Most were not taken in Colorado.  And no, I am not pregnant again.  ðŸ˜Š ðŸ˜Š ðŸ˜Š 

Also, this post is a long one, be sure to read or at least skim on if you are interested in putting your kids in music lessons, like to win things, have gifts to buy or want to hear about incredible HOPE being brought to Uganda!  




It's March!  Spring is on it's way!  Things are beginning to green.


Today, March 19th, marks 9 years since this wonderful man asked me to marry him!  

Do you have any special occasions coming up in your life?  


Today is also the day that I want to tell you that World Water Day is coming up!!!  



Wednesday, March 22nd is World Water Day and once again I am joining The Adventure Project to change lives in real ways in Uganda, Africa!  The Adventure Project doesn't exist just to give hand outs or build wells that can then fall into disrepair.  They are all about jobs and providing for LONG TERM success and hope!!  





My dear, dear friend Mandy (we actually met through The Adventure Project's fundraising for World Water Day when I had first moved to town and discovered that someone in my new home was fighting for clean water the same way I had been and our friendship has blossomed and grown and she is now a mentor and life-giving encouraging friend to me!) has been hosting a water raffle to raise money for clean water and JOBS and HOPE in India and Uganda for several years now.  Each year the raffle and the money raised gets a little bit bigger and a little bit bigger.  

All of that "little bit" - items donated by friends, services offered, Mandy putting it together and getting the word out, encouraging us to share as well . . . all of that "little bit" has raised A LOT of money (in the tens of thousands!) over the past several years.  

Mandy got to meet Diana, the well mechanic we have been working with these last several years!  She talked about HOW BIG these small gifts are to them!  I tried to upload the video but it won't load.  You can check it out here!  

When Diana was four years old the well in her village broke and she can remember her dad and others standing around trying to figure out how to get clean water back for their village.  A desire within her at a young age was born to be a fixer for this problem and that is what she is doing today!  


Heaven is coming to Earth!  

We love, we care, we give because we love Him and because of what He has already given to us!!!  

If you desire to donate you can do so here.  

And the fun thing about donating through Mandy's fundraising page is that she hosts a REALLY SUPER FUN raffle!!  


Do you have any gift giving occasions coming up?
Birthdays, Easter baskets, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Teacher Gifts, Graduation, Wedding???

You could potentially win a really awesome present to give or have a fun something for yourself!  

Check out these offerings!!    

There are BUNCHES of things you can bid on!!



(and if you like reading "favorite things" lists my friend Melissa has put a GREAT one together with this offering!  Check it out in the link above!)  




can be bid on on Wednesday!  Special reserve raffle item for World Water Day itself!
scroll to bottom of post



AND you don't have to live in Colorado Springs to participate in the raffle.  Many of the prizes can be shipped!


It is such a joy and honor and privilege to be able to bless other families with what we have soo easily!  Clean water, jobs, ways to provide for their families and the HOPE that their water sources will be around for their whole lives because people who are in their own communities are trained and equipped to fix them and keep them maintained.  

Here is the specific scoop on this year's project in Mandy's words from her blog: 

when water for people was visiting western Uganda and trying to figure out the best system for getting water to these 4 villages ( Bubare, Muragyi A, Muragyi B, and Kabuye, in Western Uganda), two women over heard the plans to pipe water closer to their families.

they immediately sought some extra work at a nearby farm and in 5 days they each proudly contributed 10 dollars toward this new piping system.  becky straw (co-founder of the adventure project) says that each family from these villages is giving what they can to make this piping system a reality. 

these brave, hard working women gave what they could in 5 days, and this raffle is going to follow their lead.

5 days. 15k.

because of an astounding match from one days wages, every dollar raised starting today will be matched. turning our 15k into 30k. 

you know, in heaven none will be thirsty.  and so today, this week, we fight to restore a bit of order to this old, dusty earth. 

we fight to bring heaven here.

may these loaves and fish multiply into miracles.

you will find the bidding page with all of our amazing raffle items here.

after you look through the items and submit your bids, go here to donate.

if you are the very first one to bid on an item, your name automatically goes in twice for that item!

we will draw winners at 8pm mountain time on world water day, wednesday, march 22nd. 


So if you have made it this far in this blogpost, here is a little something more to tell you about.  



Two years ago I knew that besides just giving money and getting the word out, I wanted to offer something to be raffled also.  God gave me the idea to offer a music camp to last year's raffle.  I had no idea who would win it or how it would work out but I committed to a four morning camp in my home for whoever won it.

I didn't know the winner at all but she gathered several of the families from their small group and these women and their kids were a complete delight and blessing to me!  We had SOO much fun and they are now treasured friends!!  










I mean look at that!!!  


So, again this year, I would love to offer your kids or your grandkids (this would make a GREAT gift!!) a music “camp" experience (4 mornings one week to be determined between the winning bidder and I) at my home in Colorado Springs.  (a $100 value per child!!) 

I will work with the winner to tailor the camp to the ages of your kids (best for preschool - early elementary) AND you can invite friends of similar ages, up to 8 children!  


This music camp experience will provide your kids with great opportunities to sing, play instruments, dance and learn other musical skills such as learning to read music all while having a lot of fun with friends and siblings.  The kids will also enjoy confidence building as they build on the skills they are learning throughout the four days.

Soo . . . would you like to get in on all this goodness???

Bringing Heaven to earth?


Maybe even music camp for your kids or grandkids?  













ALL Mamas want clean water for their babies!  

photo: Iceland when I was pregnant with Cora



People don't want our handouts.  They want JOBS.  This provides them jobs, clean water, a package deal . . . teach a man or woman to fish . . . 



Again in Mandy's words:  

There is something magical about the way working toward peace and hope on behalf of someone else invites the very same peace and hope to seep into the cracks and broken places of our own lives. 

We were made to give. 

We were made to be a blessing and made to receive a physical and emotional benefit from serving and sacrificing and advocating.  This is beautiful and extraordinary and we all have known this abstract principal to be true in our own lives, but it's easy to forget when you are walking through the hard. 

The pathway to joy is in sharing the gifts we have. 




We have it, let's share it!!!  

p.s. in the past $150 has been donated from this little circle of you guys!  What if we did even more this year??!!!  

Kelly

Friday, March 10, 2017

ten on ten - March 2017


eating


pottying


bed making


strewing


playing


lunching outside


homemade granola making


sharing reading


listening


strengthening


hanging


swinging

We love frozen fruit from Costco!

Taking the time to read a book in the bathroom after most meals is what is working for us right now. So thankful for a pretty bathroom to be spending the time in AND we are getting in more reading aloud time so win/win right?!

Making beds and tidying rooms is NOT a strong point at our house!  We do laundry together nearly daily like champs but I'm just not sure what time of day to make this a priority.  Our days feel full already between meals, schoolwork, reading aloud and just having lots of time for PLAY!  It is so important.  I'm interested in hearing any tips + tricks you have!!

And while we are not great at picking up, we are pretty expert in making  messes.  :) 

Cora playing downstairs in our family room.  Our preschool is TRULY the best!  Her preschool teacher sent home with each kid a paper "Mt. Sinai" that they painted and folded and stapled and a fluffy tissue paper cloud like the one that God used to lead the children of Israel.  There were also folded paper tents for the Israelites to live in, etc.  We added our vintage Fisher Price Little People and she was busy for quite a while acting the story out that she learned from her amazing teacher!

The kids really love to eat outside.  It is good for their immune systems and allergies also to mix a little dirt, twigs and leaves in with their food.  ;)

In a continual effort to keep from eating sugary foods at least three times a day and to keep our grocery budget down so we can spend money on travel and other fun things, I tried my hand at making my own granola after reading about my friend Rachel doing it on instagram.  It wasn't nearly as time consuming/tricky as I thought and dates cut up into it were plenty sweet enough for me without adding other sweeteners.  And making it look cute only adds to the fun.  :) 

Can I just say that I love her in those overalls and that stickers on furniture has long (like pre-kids) been a big pet peeve of mine?  But him reading to her out of his really cool habitat book that he made at our one day a week classical homeschool academy was super sweet indeed!

This spring has wrought a new habit of me taking late afternoon walks while Adrian is finishing up work, Cora is napping and David is reading/playing legos in his room.  I have really been drawn into listening to podcasts.  Happy Hour with Jaime Ivey is one of my regulars as is That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs. I am really thankful to be regularly exercising again.  This is the most consistent I've been since my Jazzercise days pre-marriage.

Tricep work in front of the washi tape collection.  :) 
Adrian and I have also been doing some strength training together - different things but at the same time.  It is just a short snippet - less than 15 minutes a day but good time spent together and taking care of ourselves.  

Piles of folded laundry ready to be put away after my little monkey finishes hanging on our trapeze!  A Christmas gift from Nana and Ducca, this has proven to be an amazing asset in our home this winter/spring.  The kids have taught themselves so many different ways of using it and strengthened their bodies.  They have gained confidence and just have so much fun on it.  

I am really thankful for our life and our ordinary days at home.


Kelly

















Friday, March 3, 2017

Friday fun

Back in March we had a downtown date with Daddy.


The kids and I parked and walked about ten minutes to La Baguette where Adrian was already working.  We went through Acacia Park and played with the metal sculpture with moving parts, watched the busses at the depot, stopped to look at bobble heads in store windows, checked the map, etc. 



Then we met Adrian for pastries, coffee and school work.  He had picked up books for them at the Little Free Library on his way.  



It was a fun day and special in it's out of the ordinariness.  

Kelly