Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

members unite




Giving is a large value that both my husband and I wanted to make sure Austin knew a LOT about. We try to lead by example by tithing our 10% or more, regularly cleaning out our closets for donations, and giving away everything extra (read: baby items that tend to take up your house).



This past weekend, I included Austin in the "Clean the Toy Box Extravaganza!' This consisted of him emptying the entire toy box, while I organized everything into piles of give, discuss, keep. Everything in the give pile went into a donation box. Discuss pile? I would ask Austin, "Would you like to keep this or give it to someone else to play with?" I know what you are thinking...he demanded we keep all of them. No, he didn't. He gets yes and no pretty well and decided to give a lot of things away.



That's why, when given the opportunity to participate and share Members Unite with you, I was thrilled. Being a member is actually pretty fun. It works off of a voting process, one month at a time. What are you voting for? Where your contribution will go! For a $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00 contribution, you can actually unite with others for the cause you love!

 First up, a list of 9 meaningful project concepts, complete with details and photos explaining the cause. It is up to the members to vote and decide which 6 projects move on to Week 2!

In Week 2, we get to vote again to narrow our choices down to 3 projects. Need more info about the remaining 6? To help you make an informed decision, Members Unite provides us with more details and context about each concept, how they plan to implement it, and will be available to answer questions and give specifics! I love a good educated vote. 


Week 3 Now its time to focus on the TOP 3! The conversation really gets going among the members. This is your time to tell everyone why you are so passionate about your project of choice! 


Week 4 is when members will cast their final vote for the project they think should be funded. Exciting stuff if you ask me. By the end of the week, votes will be tallied, and a winner will be announced! 


Once the voting process is complete, Members Unite  keeps you updated on the progress of the project. If that's not impressive, I don't know what is. I love seeing where my money goes! 


I hope you will consider joining me during this first week of voting! We decided $5.00 was what we would start with this month. If that seems like a do-able amount for your family, head on over and get signed up! And let me know if you do, you will get a pat on the back from me! :) 




So, what did we vote for this week? 
Give the Healing Power of Man’s Best Friend to Wounded Vets
"American soldiers put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and we need to work together to do our part to help them when they return home. In the course of their work, US soldiers often see and endure things most of us cannot even imagine. As a result, nearly 20% of the soldiers returning from places like Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Research has shown that one of the most effective treatments for helping vets cope with PTSD is the love of a dog. Soldier’s Best Friend is a philanthropic two-fer: they provide canine companions to veterans AND simultaneously find homes for dogs in shelters. If this project wins, we will be able to provide funding to rescue and train two dogs to provide love and support to two veterans and their families."

Why was this important to us? Well, my brother in law just came back from Afghanistan, this wasn't his first time to go....and , as you all know, we are huge dog lovers in our home. Beau Dean was a rescue dog and I truly believe he has helped me through some tough stuff. Not to mention Austin was all over the word "dog" when I read it to him. He hugs the dogs countless times a day...right after throwing a Hot Wheels at them. :) 


For a limited time, Members Unite is offering my community a 50% off discount on the annual membership fee of $25! Use code “WELOVEMOMS” when you sign up! 



Monday, February 27, 2012

A Lenten Prayer for Monday



Hi, friends! If you are participating in Lent, how is it going? As you know, I have given up sweets and negative words. I shared this story on Facebook this weekend.






Loving God,
you call us back to you with all of our hearts.
I feel your call for me deep in my heart
and I know you want me back
as much as I want to return. 


Please, Lord,
give me the wisdom to know how to return.
Make my journey back to you this Lent
one of grace, forgiveness and gentle love.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Giving and Receiving {Winner Announced}


I want to start out by saying thanks to all who participated in the giveaway. Without you, the reader, none of this would be possible. I appreciate all of you who enjoy and support what I do.

So! Time to announce the winner!

The Feeding My Temple 100+ GFC Follower Prize Pack goes to

Bailee Taylor!!!

Congrats! I will contact you for your mailing address! Gosh, I love a good giveaway.


I would also like to share a few of the fabulous things that have come in the mail for ME!

First, I won this darling pincushion from Pineapple Lily and The Yellow Postcard (both fellow Okies, I might add!)


I also received two of my Christmas cards from the blogger card swap Cait hosted!

From House of Jeffers:




LOOK at her business card! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.




And second from What I Wore Tip to Toe:



Not only did she send a fabulous Christmas card and another beautiful business card, but she also sent me a snowman decorating kit-complete with carrot nose and hat!






























I apparently look like a snowman. Thanks?









Thanks, ladies!! 


As a reminder, the first Birchbox Beauty Bash goes live tomorrow morning! You can link up your Birchbox or any beauty related tips, tricks, DIY's, how to's, reviews, giveaways, you get the idea...


Help spread the word by tweeting, blogging, facebooking (yes, I just made a verb out of Facebook), and pinning! 


See you then! 





Pin It

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Ornament Exchange {and a cat}


Guess what??

THIS came in the mail yesterday!





My ornament from Jennifer at Vintage Gwen!! 

I seriously love it! I also wanted to thank Ashley from Eisy Morgan for hosting and organizing this swap! It was so much fun! 




It looks so good on our tree!! 




My husband: Our tree looks like an episode of Hoarders. 

Thanks. 










Beau Dean approves of the tree...






Meet Workout Cat.

Yeah...so she was a stray that was hanging around work...I probably made a mistake by bringing her home with me, but she is a really sweet cat. Just a little too clingy. 

Speaking of workouts, I had a great cardio/abs workout last night! Tonight its more cardio plus back, biceps, and shoulders. Want the workout? Hang tight, it will be up soon! 

Friday, December 2, 2011

give.

I'm sharing, with permission, something that we should all be focused on this Christmas. Christmas has a different meaning than it did when I was a kid. I celebrate Christmas. The birth of Christ. As a follower of Christ, I have been commanded to serve as my Savior did. What better way to celebrate Christ's birthday than to do just that. As soon as I read this, I adopted a boy the same age as my son.


Acts 20:25 NIV "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"







The following was originally posted by Hollie Takes Notes



I'd been thinking about helping a family out for Christmas this year and playing Santa since September. Yes, I start thinking about Christmas EARLY! As it got closer to December, I kept thinking how I'd love to participate. Yet, I had a thousand and one reasons that kept me from actually doing something about it. It was on my to-do list. Honestly, if Jamie hadn't written a post on it herself about how EASY it is to give in this day and age I don't know if it would have gotten crossed off my list. Jamie passed on a link to a JC Penny program that lets you pick a child in need in your area, gives you a list of what they need, and what they are asking Santa for. They will also give you FREE shipping straight to the Salvation Army. All you need to do is use the address provided to you with your angel number that links to the kid you chose! They will email this to you after you pick a kid.

Not to mention, almost everything on JC Penny is ALREADY marked down. However, you don't have to use JC Penny. You can also purchase your gift elsewhere.

I've always loved kids. I was a big sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program in San Diego for a year. I would drive an hour away every Wednesday to hang out with my little sister for an hour. Okay, AND to beat kids in handball. Yes, they would line up to play me. Even the kids not in the program. And no, I didn't just let them win. I'm not that good of a person ;) My little sister came from a "disadvantaged" home. She was one of six kids, and her mom worked at Pizza Hut. I can't imagine trying to feed, clothe, and provide for six kids on that income.

My little sister inspired me to want to help more kids. After looking at the MANY kids in my zip code that needed a Christmas, I chose a five year old boy who was asking for a tent. Uh, what kid doesn't deserve a tent?! I was a tenter myself as a kid, so I picked him. I got him this sweet pimped out Disney Cars tent with a tunnel attached, some pj pants, and a fleece pullover for under $50. If you can't afford $50, that's okay. But if you can afford $25 and you're a thrifty shopper, imagine the smile you could put on some kids face. Even something small could be something huge to someone else. A smile that might not have been there on Christmas morning if it wasn't for you.

Even if you can't participate, spreading the word could lead to more kids being "adopted" because of you. That is help in itself! I was really passionate and excited about helping my little friend and somehow got EIGHT other kids adopted through friends and friends of friends. This may have been the greatest contribution back I've done this year. It feels good to know Christmas will be better for eight more kids. Kids don't understand why Santa didn't come if they were good...and hell, Santa came for me even when I was bad.

Think about it. That's all I ask. And maybe tell someone.
Interested in adopting an angel? Click HERE!

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