Headed to Honduras!

“True religion is looking after orphans & widows and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world”

James 1:27

This September, I will be traveling to a girl's shelter in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This shelter houses girls and young women from the ages of 8 to 23. Among them are victims of sex trafficking, drug mules, as well as abuse in countless other ways, Some are  orphaned.

I am encouraged to say that you & I can make a difference- as of now, all 120 girls at this shelter SHARE 2 bathrooms!  Can you imagine?  Our mission team will be constructing a wing of bathrooms that will positively impact every girl and future resident that comes to this shelter seeking refuge.  

In addition to providing physical needs, we will also be addressing the hurt & devestation these little survivors have been through with discipleship training for the young women, and a joyful Vacation Bible School for the young girls.

I know your heart breaks just as much as mine does for these girl's souls.  Will you consider finding a way to support this work?  Any monetary donation will go a long way.  Does your company match donations?  If so, what an easy way to make a huge impact!  

I am also seeking fervent prayer partners who feel called to the cause.  Will you please let me know how/when you can pray for me as well as our Honduras team?

Lastly, I will be holding a yard sale June 22nd, 2012.  Would you look around your home and see if there is anything you can donate to raise funds for these girls?  I would be very grateful!  Please share this with at least one other friend- 

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.Theodore Roosevelt

Small, furry, and de-fleaed!

This is Marion.

Marion found us on a night out at the park.  These boys kept walking around the park yelling out, 'free cat!  Cat lovers, come get this cat!'  At first I thought how odd, but then decided to talk to them.  It is not normal to take a tiny kitten to the park and try to peddle it off to anyone who will take it.  Well, come to find out, their older sister is in charge of them (parents? who knows where!) and she told them to 'get rid of it.'  Nice.  They'd already been milling about the park for an hour when I took pity on the kitten.  After all, it was flea ridden, and hardly old enough to leave its mom.  

So, Marion is home with us- fed, de-fleaed, & happy.  Searching for a nice home for this sweet kitty :) 

Homeschool Review- Updated!!

Homeschool Review of Time4Learning!


Hey everyone :)  Isaac has been using Time4Learning for a month now and has LOVED it!  The best part is, he has not only loved it, but it has actually helped him learn a lot of phonics lessons that he was having a hard time with.  I am not a huge fan of most curriculum, because I feel that they can be redundant and overly exhaust the attention span my wonderful ADHDer has!  We were able to break up learning into 'chunks' and go back and forth between activities.  We decided to take a break and really just have a fun summer with reading and some writing/skill building worksheets, but other than that, we are relaxing!  


I plan on using Time4Learning this fall when we offically start 2nd grade :)  It is such a well thought out program and very reasonably priced.  Isaac loves it because he can work independently, but also get help from the hints buttons, or from me :) 


I would recommend at least trying it out for the trial period to see what you think.  We have been very pleased :)


Thanks Time4Learning for the free trial- we will see you next school year!!

Heather & Isaac






I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Seed Sharing & Knowledge

There are just some things that you have to learn by doing.  For me, this is gardening.  This year I literally cleared out the garden section at our local library and devoured each book.  I oohed and aahhed over the re-purposed containers, thought how clever the garden pea tent was, and then it happened- all my dreams were dashed by my precious, if not precocious dog.  In an hours time, she tore and chewed up all my fresh soil, including the plants & seeds.  To say I was devastated was an understatement.  But it's okay, because I've since recovered and found a whole new way of gardening- with containers.  Hanging high.  Very high!  LOL.  And to this effect, I found how useful it is to not only read the books, but to chat up the terrific gardeners in your area.  You know who they are- the homes that you purposefully slow down and perhaps drive by a bit to much just to sneak a peek and dream~  Thankfully I don't have to go very far, because I have two delightful neighbors who are bursting with garden knowledge.  Throughout early spring they've been watering me with knowledge on when to plant what, the actual names of the plants, and really, the science behind gardening.  There is a lot to know!  I've learned so much this year, and I plan to build on it each successive season.  Since I didn't have a lot of knowledge to give (except reciting back my textbook findings!) I did share what I had- which was a lot of seeds.  Way too many seeds, because I got a little over-excited while at the store late winter :)  So now I have my happy container garden, and my two green-thumbed neighbors have plenty of seeds, which are growing wonderfully.  And to think they are offering up their produce back to me is just too much, really, isn't it? :)  I'm always thankful for nice neighbors and good friendships.  


Here's to sharing~

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

While power shopping at Walmart, Isaac & I came across a super fun coin donation for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  Besides it being super fun to race a million tiny coins all at the same time, everyone's change adds up to a lot of money for a great cause.

About Children's Healthcare of Atlanta:
Enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education

At Children’s, we strive to enhance the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Whether treating an injured toddler in an emergency or supporting a teen through a series of chemotherapy treatments, we take our commitment to care for each and every child who comes through our doors very seriously. It’s through teamwork at every level of our organization and with you, the family, that we are able to achieve a high level of excellence in pediatric care.

www.choa.org

So, save your change, and next time you see one of these- have fun & help out at the same time :)  Donations are also accepted at their website: www.choa.org


Have a happy day!

Laundry Day!

Laundry always overfloweth at the Hall household... 

Between our daily clothes, work clothes, exercise clothes, towels, and our lovely, if not dirty, doggie, we have a significant amount pile up.  This is why I invested in a large front loading washer.  It's great!  

Instead of hogging all this washing room to myself, I have offered it's large capacity to one of my dear neighbors & friend that also has lots of pets and King sized comforters.  Instead of her having to haul all her things to the super-expensive laundromat, I offered her my laundry services... She accepted

:)

It was nice and also humbling to be able to offer a service as small as washing someone's laundry.  There have been times where Chris & I early on in our marriage didn't have a washing machine.  Friends of ours, despite being in the laundry situation we are now, would find the time to help us.  Let us all remember today that yes, we all have too much to do.  But so does everyone else.  Let us simplify and take up a task that offers hope and love to someone else.  All those other 'things' will be there tomorrow.  I promise :)


Happy cleaning- stay fresh!
Heather :)

Hosting a traveler~

CouchSurfing´s Vision Statement:

A world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter.


In the past, when travelers came through town, it was common courtesy to have a little sleeping area and provide some provisions for those going through town.  Today, there are expensive hotels that offer little in the way of welcoming.  As a kindness this weekend, we hosted a sweet girl who was in town training for a marathon hike which raises money for cancer awareness.  Isaac decided the right thing to do would be to let her sleep in his room on his nice cozy bed, and for him to take a sleeping bag, which he loves, by the way!  We made her a raw food dinner to support her lifestyle, and also tried our best to facilitate what she needed.  We have had so many generous hosts during our past travels, that it was nice to give back.  If you want to know more about couch surfing, check out their site: www.couchsurfing.org.  

Happy Travels!

One Woman Snack Attack!

Greetings friends & family :)

Having been vegan in the past as well as having a passion for vegetarian food, I like to offer the small bits of wisdom that I possess when people ask for it (and sometimes don't! LOL)

While shopping at Trader Joes, my favorite place to grab healthy snacks, I came across a very confused & lost looking shopper.  I overheard her talking to her friend about how it has been hard changing their diet, she just didn't have any ideas, etc.  So, while reaching for my dried mangoes, I casually mentioned that I used to be exclusively vegan, and that i'd be happy to give her some ideas while in the store.  Believe it or not, she had never tried a mango!  To me, that is insanity, but to each their own ;)  I promptly ripped open the bag and offered her one (yes, I'm the person you see snacking as they shop...!).  She loved it.  We proceeded to wander down the isles and I gave her some tips on easy, and healthy vegan meals.  Being vegan is great, although it does take a bit more planning and creativity.  She seemed quite a bit more relaxed and encouraged.  And that's what it's all about :)

Summer Hiatus!

What I am looking for is not out there; it is in me- Helen Keller

Greetings!  I have missed writing the blog and so appreciate everyone who has been inspired and lifted by One Woman Blessings.  In order to continue blessing others, I need to take time and bless myself :)  Each summer I take a hiatus from most everything in order to recharge and rejuvinate my body and mind.  What will OWB be doing during this time?  Thinking of new and improved ways to help the community, praying, starting interval training to get my body and mind in better shape, and spending lots of time with my family and newest addition- Juno!  Our beautiful Weimaraner puppy. 

Blessings & Peace to all during the last few weeks of summer :)

Heather

Day 66- Hot Dog!

Another reason that I love our local discount movie theatre, The Picture Show, is that even though they charge next to nothing for movie tickets, they actually give back quite a lot in the community.  So, we happily settled in to watch Rango quite happy with our $1 hotdog and knowing that the entire purchase price went to help kids get to camp.  What's better than that?!

Each year Picture Show partners with Younglife to send disadvantaged kids to a Younglife camp to experience the best week of their lives. During the summer months Picture Show sells hot dogs in it's theaters for $1.00 and donates that $1.00 to the Fill the Bus Fund which helps Young Life areas take more kids to camp. In addition, we accept donations from our patrons to support the Fill the Bus Fund. Over the last three years Picture Show has contributed over $200,000 to send kids to camp. http://www.pictureshowent.com/community-involvement

Day 65- Soles 4 Souls

Today I am one pair of shoes lighter!

Soles4Souls has a simple concept: we procure shoes and get them to those in need.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.

A few months later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and through our continued support, we have sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

It has been that simple: changing the world one pair at a time.

Thanks Northstar Church (www.northstarchurch.org) for hosting this wonderful event!

Day 64- Bitter about Litter!

I thought this sign was hilarious- but seriously, litter stinks.  Isaac and I went on a neighborhood scavenger hunt to see how many pieces we could collect just from yards and the sidewalk.  Can you guess how many pieces we got in 30 minutes?  44 pieces!  I was really surprised.  I had guessed 20, and Isaac had guessed 8.  Way more!  I'm proud to say our neighborhood looks a lot nicer since the hunt.  This is also a great way to teach your kids about environmental concerns and get active during the summer.

Where are you going to pick up trash?

Day 63- Lucy-Goosey

While most of the geese from our neighborhood pond migrated last winter, one goose couldn't- we affectionately named her Lucy- Lucy-Goosey.  Something happened to her wing that made it impossible for her to fly or get around very well.  She doesn't appear to have any sort of infection or be in pain, but she is limited to the pond area mostly.  Normally I would call the animal dept. to come help her, but their policy with fowl is to humanely euthanize.  And since she looks to be happy, we didn't call.  We did start regularly feeding and checking up on her though...

Today, I'm happy to report that we saw Lucy and she looked very plump and happy!  More geese were in the pond, but Lucy will always have our hearts.  She enjoyed some whole wheat bread today ;) 

Isaac was able to pet her :)



Day 62- Words of Encouragement

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. "

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Today I sent a handmade card with some words of encouragement on it to someone who is at the end of his rope, so to speak.  It is amazing how getting a card in the mail with helpful words can really boost someone's spirit and give them enough renewal to continue on.  We've all had hard times, and it is good to remember those who are having them right now.

Day 61- Drops of Good.

Maxwell House has a really great community project going on right now.  Each day, you can vote for grants that will assist various local and national organizations that are changing communities for the better.  Explore each one to learn more, and then vote! 

www.facebook.com/maxwellhouse

http://www.kraftbrands.com/maxwellhousecoffee/drops-of-good/Pages/default.aspx

Day 60- Brew-lanthropy- Great Coffee for Great People!

I voted!

Day 59- Ink Cartridges

Today I took my empty ink cartridge to the local staples store for recycling.  The best part is that it's super easy, and for every cartridge you recycle, you get a $2 credit! 

Staples encourages our customers to take advantage of our ink and toner recycling services and help protect the environment. In addition to reducing waste going to landfills and saving resources, our retail customers in the United States receive $2 in Staples Rewards^® for any brand of ink or toner cartridge they return to our stores, up to 10 cartridges each month.

Day 58- Locks of Love

God has gifted me with freakishly fast growing hair that doesn't get split ends, and always seems to be shiny and healthy.  I am constantly getting compliments on my hair!  While that is nice and all, I am actually not very attached to my hair.  Because of these two things, it made it very very easy to donate all that hair I had to Locks of Love.  It's been my favorite donation so far :)

Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children.

To see what a difference it can make to a child, check out these before and after pics from http://www.locksoflove.org/:

Isn't that fantastic?  I was able to donate quite a lot of hair, since this is my new haircut!

And yes, for those of you who don't know me, this is the hair model :)  Want to shout out to Priscilla (a One Woman Blessings fan!) for doing a fantastic job.  Here's to the start of your fabulous career ;)

Day 57- Stamp out Hunger

Today's kindness was super easy thanks to our local postal worker- We slipped some soup into the mailbox, and that was it!

On Saturday, May 14, Campbell Soup Company will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to Stamp Out Hunger across America in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger.

Now in its 19th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive. In 2010, a record-setting total of 77.1 million pounds of food was donated, which brought the grand total of donations to more than one billion pounds of food collected over the history of the drive.

http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/

Day 56- Freecycle

I have been on a cleaning binge lately... while cleaning out our kitchen, I found several extra stainless steel bottles that have seen better days, extra rice that was coming up on it's expiration, and lots of organic tea that was also getting close to it's date.  Instead of throwing them away, or letting them expire, I decided to post to my local freecycle network to see if anyone was interested.  It never fails to surprise me what people want and need!

"Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."

Please visit www.freecycle.org to find a group near you!