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