Hello, Tuesday.

Hello, busiest weekend in a looooong time.

Hello, Sharon and Ozzy.

All aboard the crazy train.

Hello, beautiful bride.

I'll be recapping Jamie's shower in the Pintertest Kitchen this week.

It's this Thursday.

Are you going to link up?

I would love it if you did.

And I'm sorry that I don't have a cute new button for you.

Yet.

Blame Dave.

"Hey babe, we need to raise $25,000 in 6 weeks."

Speaking of.

Hello, MIRACLE.

Almost halfway there.

In TWELVE short days.

God is so good.

And His people are so faithful.

Hello, pastor friends.

Hello, irreplaceable gift.

Hello, awkward hand-holding that I didn't notice until now.

I love our triple dates.

Hello, Step Up 127: Dance Revolution for Protest Art

Or something like that.

I don't really know.

Such a tragically, terrible movie.

But with the BEST company.

Baby guuuuurls.

Hello, Hope Kids 5-Day Club!

All week long.

Local friends, come join us!

2 PM - 3:30 PM in Shoreview Park.

Games.

Snacks.

Jesus.

All you need in life.

See you there?

Happy Tuesday, friends.

Winners!

OK, people.

This is going to be short and sweet.

And not super fancy.

Jamie's bridal shower is tomorrow and I've got baking, shopping and prepping to do.

Both girls have sleepovers at different houses.

One has a party tomorrow and I still need to get the gift.

Also, the carpet cleaners are coming between 1 pm and 3 pm because they missed a spot.

And shower favors need to be picked up by 4:30.

Groomer wants Kobi to go in for a test walk up her new ladder before she'll book an appointment.

Today sometime.

Also, Dave and I need to look like Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne by tonight.

For an Olympics Opening Ceremony party.

Come as your favorite Brit.

The choice was obvious.

Dave will most likely be wearing eyeliner.

And I'm supposed to bring cupcakes for that, too.

It's one of those days where I wish there were 124 hours instead of 24.

I'm already exhausted.

Basically, it's 6 am and I'm in my pink polkas.

Picking your names, old school.

Because let's face it.

11 True Random Number Generator screen shots = SNOOZEFEST.

Ready?

I'm so excited to give this stuff away!

Julie's prints.

Four lucky winners.

And they are...

Susan

Laurie Hawley

Natalie

Kathy

 Email me with your choice.

Next.

Katy's prints.

Four more lucky ladies.

Denise

Jen Smith

Ashley Helenius

Leslie

Congratulations, girls!

Email me with your choice.

 One pair of Happy Days earrings.

Winner is...

Jeannett

Email me your choice.

Woo hoo!

I love giving away other people's stuff!

Next?

Daylight Designs Invite package from Mel Larson.

Super lucky winner is...

Melissa

Email me for claim deets.

 

And, last but not least, Make Pie $20 store credit goes to...

Cara

Again, email me for deets.

Congrats all!

And thank you, from the bottom of my busy, overflowing heart.

To date, we've raised $4,925.00!

With more fundraisers in the works.

Keep spreading the word.

We're just getting started.

Hi.

Happy Wednesday.

I feel the need to sandwich a post between my giveaway and winner announcement.

Be sure to ENTER.

Your chances are excellent.

Also, make these.

The frosting is super thick and heavy and a little stressful to work with.

And they are slightly awkward to eat.

But they are so delicious.

It's worth the stress and awkwardness.

Speaking of stressful and awkward.

My husband has a new cell phone case.

He has a habit of giving away his cases when people compliment them.

Weird, yes?

I'm sure it has some kind of diagnosis.

So he bought this super cool black hard case/trap door wallet combo.

And gave it away to anybody that said it was super cool.

He was on his third when Uncle Dave complimented last Friday.

So my mom gave him a orange and black camo freebie.

She said it reminded her of the Giants.

It reminds me of a white trash backwoods hunter.

And bad news?

No one is saying they like it.

Help.

This might be my favorite shirt ever.

Hands down.

And so fitting.

She is so chatty lately.

Putting things together.

I'm in awe of her progress.

I chopped my hair off yesterday.

According to My Fitness Pal, it weighed .4 pounds.

So that's exciting.

Also, we're getting our carpets cleaned today.

That's exciting, too.

I need to go move chairs now.

Don't forget to enter.

Winners announced this Friday!

Hope For Sudan Giveaway!

The response to my last post has been overwhelming.

Texts, emails.

Inquiries.

"How can I help?"

"What can we do?"

Brainstorming from afar.

Launching mini-fundraising campaigns.

We're excited.

Encouraged.

Feeling unable to properly thank you.

Your hearts are bigger than Africa.

So.

I'm hosting a little give-a-way.

In exchange for your help in spreading the word.

Wanna see what my huge-hearted friends have offered up?

Let's take a look, shall we?

Julie is giving away any one of her special edition Micah 6:8 printables to FOUR of you.

In between setting up cupcake stands for us.

Her heart is unreal.

Go check out her adorable, new shop.

All proceeds go to Hope For Sudan.

My favorite Katy is giving away one of each of her FOUR special edition Africa printables.

Coming to her shop in the next few days.

Above is a sneak peek.

She's burning the midnight oil in between nighttime feedings.

And I love her for it.

All proceeds from the sale of these Africa printables will go to Hope For Sudan.

Sweet Hannah is giving away a pair of earrings from her darling shop.

Your choice.

I wear mine every single day.

You want some.

Trust me.

Super generous Mel is offering a party design package from her shop.

25 invites & envelopes

25 favor tags

25 cupcake toppers

I won a similiar give-a-way last year for Kayla's 8th birthday.

And I'm so happy that I did.

Our faves Make Pie Not War are offering a $20 store credit.

I love Alana's stuff.

So creative and unique.

And those constellation earrings may just give Kayla the courage to get her ears pierced.

That's ELEVEN awesome prizes.

ELEVEN separate winners.

Here's the catch.

I'll share their stuff with you.

But you have to share for me.

We have a very little amount of time to raise a substantial amount of money.

Awareness is key.

I'm asking that you do the following:

If you have a blog,

Rep the Hope For Sudan button in your sidebar.

Mention my initial post in a post.

Mention this post in a post.

Direct people to the Hope For Sudan website.

Tweet it.

Facebook it.

Instagram it.

Use the #hope4sudan hashtag.

Have you already shared?

Tell me about it!

Those without blogs, don't tune out.

You probably have a Facebook, too.

Or a maybe a Twitter or Instagram account?

Use them for good.

Get creative.

I don't care how you spread the word.

Leave a SEPARATE comment indicating each SEPARATE way you've shared.

Even if it's telling your neighbor.

Multiple comments increase your chances.

Winners will be chosen randomly next Friday.

Ready?

Go!

And thank you.

Hope For Sudan

Many of you know Dave traveled to Africa in April.

I've been wanting to recap his trip.

But I've always felt it wasn't really my story to tell.

And sometimes that's the problem.

It's not "our story" so we don't talk about it.

We don't feel the need or urgency to share it.

And sadly, it dies.

The story I tell today is not about Dave's initial trip to Sudan.

But what he learned there and upon his return.

And about his plans to go back.

There is a devastating humanitarian crisis happening north of where he stayed.

Hundreds of thousands of people near the border region are starving to death.

Little children.

Babies.

Being forced, with their families, into the mountains during the rainy season.

Unable to make the trip to the refugee camps due to the weather.

Or weakness from lack of food.

Eating bugs and leaves to survive.

IF they survive.

Many are dying today.

Our church wants to help.

We'll be sending a small team into this region to provide immediate hunger relief next month.

And our desire is to continue to send groups of individuals in the near future.

Below is the complete 411 from our church website.

Please take the time to read.

Hard, heavy stuff.

It's not what you normally read here, on our family blog.

But when my girls read this post in ten years?

I want them to see that, as Christians,

we're called to ACT.

To HELP.

And GO, even.

And I am so very thankful the Lord burdened their dad.

And that they will read about our little church as an example.

A church that not only loves it's children.

But other children, too.

Bottom Line?

We have five weeks to raise $25,000.

And we need your help.

I'm asking that you click on the button below and donate.

Your donation is tax deductible and 100% of funds raised will go to Hope Church, directly for this effort.

I'm asking that you pray.

For the people of Sudan.

Pray for the safety of those going.

Specifically, for the logistics of this first mission.

It's not an easy one.

I'm asking that you please share this story.

Via Facebook, Twitter or your individual blogs.

Please grab a button in my sidebar.

We're not all called to go to Africa.

But we're all called to do something.

Thank you, in advance, for the something you will do.

I'm humbled and privileged to even be able to ask.

Kayla's 9th Birthday Party: A Nature Hike

Early May:

"KK, what do you want to do for your birthday this year?"

"I would like a nature hike, mama.  And Jon can be our tour guide.  Because he's great at identifying species.  And we'll need adventure kits.  With clipboards.  And I'd like cupcakes that are wormy, kind of dirty but also cute."

She's always knows exactly what she wants.

So party planning is easy.

It was 127 degrees that day.

Perfect temperature for a hike.

If you're hiking in a pool.

But my nature-loving girl and her adventurous little friends were unphased by the heat.

And ready to tackle the trail.

So was UCLA Biology grad and Kayla's hero, Jon.

The mini-explorers learned about buckeye butterflies, spittle bugs and banana slugs.

He explained, in awesome detail, everything they might encounter along the way.

And even scouted the trail a week beforehand to help with the clipboard checklist.

He's my hero, too.

 They saw lots of bugs.

And beautiful shrubs and trees.

Like the majestic Oregon Oak and the California Wax Myrtle.

Some even saw a California King snake!

On the menu?

Bottled water and juice boxes.

Sun Chips, granola bars and trail mix.

And "cute and wormy" treats.

Thanks to all for braving the heat and bugs and snakes.

And avoiding the poison oak.

You gave our girl a very special day.