Operation Christmas Child, Part 4: Getting Serious

I mentioned in my last post about OCC that my sister and I were going to a Countdown event and I am so glad we did!  We got lots of ideas and supplies plus I was able to get a little inspiration to make our event a success!

I am so excited, first, that my sister & Blake are working alongside me in this.  It means so much that their hearts are with me on this and that they feel passionate about these sweet kiddos!  Before the event Amy went to Michaels and got 162 activity pads and I think like 12 sticky hands for $14!! The deals are out there if you look for them!

Those of you who know me well know I am not crafty at all (sorry, mom, but really its OK I know I'm not!); therefore my donation box was well a cardboard box that I got Erica to write donation on because my handwriting is too messy!

I asked a friend, Daye, to come up with some ideas so that our cause would get more attention.  We moved our donation table from the foyer, where it was often by-passed by it was croweded, to the sanctuary.  She had lots of great ideas and I think it looks FANTASTIC!  My heart was so happy when the video about OCC played during church and many people visited our table for more information after the service! Many thanks to Erica also for making the cute poster board in the background too!

See what happens when the body of Christ uses their talents in conjunction with others - a cardboard box can become this!

To the right in the picture I packed two sample boxes for a boy & a girl to give an idea of what the finished product looks like. I've copied the list of contents from Word to show you that was able to pack a whole box with GOOD stuff, about 20 items, for less than $14/box.  That is someone's whole Christmas and for my kids, and probably yours, that is less than what is spent on their stocking stuffers!

BOY BOX
• 2 pc. Pajamas $3.00
• Long sleeved flannel shirt $1.00
• Truck sun-catcher $0.68
• Bowl $0.25
• Mittens $0.25
• Frog $0.84
• Slinky $0.19
• Bouncy ball $0.19
• 3 dinosaurs $0.14
• Dry erase board $1.50
• Scissors $0.74
• Puzzle $1.00
• Beach ball $0.50
• Sticker book $1.00
• Wooden boy $0.68
• Dinosaur pencil $0.12
• Toy car $0.68
• Stencil $0.08
• Chapstick $0.75
Total cost of Christmas gift $13.59

GIRL BOX
• SHOES $3.00
• DOLL $1.00
• BEACH BALL $0.50
• Scissors $0.74
• Puzzle $1.00
• Wooden GIRL $0.68
• Stencil $0.08
• Chapstick $0.75
• Toy BUTTERFLY car $0.68
• Slinky $0.19
• 2 BRACELETS $0.12
• RING $0.19
• ACTIVITY BOOK $0.09
• STUFFED ANIMAL KEY CHAIN $0.20
• DISNEY PRINCESS PEN $0.33
• CROSS SUN CATCHER $0.68
• CALCULATOR $1.00
• TENNIS BALL $0.50
• NECKLACE KIT $0.20
• HAIR BANDS $0.30
TOTAL COST OF CHRISTMAS GIFT $12.23

Softball Season Party

We celebrated the closing of another successful Warriors softball season this past weekend! I actually only played in one game this year.  Slacker I know!

But our vacation was in the beginning of the season and then Mason started school and I hated to keep him out so late.  I made it to the first and last game, but the first game I just held Faith! She's so sweet!!

We went swimming & grilled burgers at my parent's house and had a great time! I took lots of pictures but this is my favorite!

My little loves!

Muffins with Mom

Friday morning was the annual PTA Muffins with Mom at the boys' school.  We were very excited to go and have breakfast together at school! 

I almost thought we'd miss it because parking at our school is terrible!! I hate everything about the parking lot and this morning was no exception! Finally after almost ten minutes of circling the parking lot and almost running over lots of cars we were able to stalk a lady back to her car and grab her spot!

I think every mom at the school was there - it was chaos, but fun all the while to eat in the cafeteria with my babies! They loved it to because they got to be late to class!

Here is Conner sipping on some OJ!

Mason and his reflective back pack straps!

My babies! Conner would not look at Lisa no matter what approach we tried!

They had a fun day at school and I enjoyed some free time to do some grocery shopping and other errands!

Rain, Rain, Stay & Play All Day!

Conner has been dying to go outside and play but with this terrible heat it's been impossible! Finally - praise the Lord - RAIN!!

Conner and I had a great morning on Thursday playing in the puddles . . . driving his tractor . . . picking horse apples . . . and fun in the sandbox! 

So thankful for the rain and cooler temperatures!

Absolutely Nothin'

That's what I've been thinking that I had to blog about - absolutely nothing!! But then I got to thinking that is certainly not true!

I got to have a wonderful night out with my fabulous friend, Kelly, when we went to see The Help.  Seriously it is a must read and must see!

Celebrated my sweet friend, Nicki's, graduation from college with lunch at Tokyo! I've never been there before and normally steer clear of places that serve anything oriental/asian but my shrimp were surprisingly delicious! Thinking I may take the boys there on fall break so they can see what fun it is!

Met up with my BF since I was 4 years old, Elise, to check up on our dear friend Holly who FINALLY had Baby Max last Saturday!  I'm sure pictures of the cute little thing will soon appear here and here!

Had a fun Sunday afternoon after church with the other young adults swimming and eating shish-ka-bobs!

Tyler, Larry, Ethan, Conner, Ryan, & Mason getting serious about some volleyball

So glad I have such great friends & family!!

A CELEBRATION you won't want to miss!! Invite your friends, family, & neighbors!


Games for ALL ages! Dunking Booth, Bounce House, Inflatible Slip N Slide, Snow Cones, Cotton Candy, Food, & Music!!

There will also be a Life Share Blood Bus there for an opportunity to give blood and save a life!!

FELLOWSHIP COMMUNITY CHURCH
135 MEADOW DRIVE
GLOSTER, LA  71030

	Saturday, September 3 · 11:00am - 3:00pm

Operation Christmas Child, Part 3: More Than Toys

Yesterday I was able to speak with the Northwest Louisiana Operation Christmas Child Coordinator and she had lots of information for me about OCC and its impact around the world and in our community.  While I know that OCC is about more than shoeboxes filled with goodies I wanted to make sure you know!  She had a great term for the shoeboxes - G.O. Boxes, where GO means Gospel Opportunity.  All the children who are given boxes are also given Christian literature in their own language and invited to take part in classes to learn more about the love of Jesus.  Meeting their short-term need for a gift is opening up the door for long-term salvation!

She told me the story of Lejla Allison from war-torn Bosnia and how she had to wear her brother's too-big shoes that her dad wired the toe together because they were falling apart and how her mother put plastic bags over them to ward off the melting snow from her feet.  Lejla had given up hope but one morning she went to school and recieved an OCC shoebox and when she opened it - she found shoes! Brand new shoes that didn't need plastic bags or wire!  God's love for her became tangible and He had arranged just the box for her.  You can find her story on their website under Graphic Resources.

So today my mission was shoes! And I found them!  I found 4 pair of shoes for $3/pair!! I got 4 pair of shoes for $12!!  Then I found flannel shirts for $1/each!  So a shirt and shoes for one child only cost $4! Below you can see what $15 will buy - 3 shirts, 4 pair of shoes!

My next steal was an 8-pack of activity pads for $0.75 - do the math - I got three packages so 24 activity pads for $0.75/each - $2.25 total or appx. $0.09 per book! Index cards $0.64; scissors $0.74; magnetic dry erase circles $1.50; 2-pack mittens $0.50/pack or $0.25/pair; hairbands $3.00; 4-pack bouncy balls, 4-pack rings, 4-pack heart shaped braclets, and 4-pack slinky $0.75/pack, and a 12-pack of stencils $0.75/pack.

I'm excited to be going with my sister this weekend to the OCC Countdown Event at First Baptist Bossier, Saturday at 1:30 - everyone should come! 

I'm finding all the deals and I know now how easy it is to fill a box for under $10/box; therefore there really aren't any good excuses for not helping out! Some child somewhere needs love and basic essentials and we can provide!