…and I’m guessing you might wonder, am I still So. Totally. Psyched?
Yeah, I am!!!!!!
A fantastic weekend. Finally got to see a friend’s band live. Ruetschle. Very much way too fun.
And the World Vision BBQ? That lil’ thang? You’re wondering how that went, are ya? 
It was fantastic. My previously unspoken goal was to see $1000 USD raised for World Vision. We still have a couple more donations/Gift Catalog purchases coming in, I believe, but the current total stands at $906 USD for cash donations and Gift Catalog purchases. In addition, we’ve had three children picked up for child sponsorship. If you count just one year’s worth of sponsorship for those 3 kids (which most sponsors do sponsor for more than a year), that’s an additional $1080 for the year (3 kids at $30/month each). So, with the few other things we have coming in, that will put the donations at over $2000, I believe.
And, yeah, that leaves me So. Totally. Psyched. And so proud to be surrounded by the family and friends (new and old) who made it possible. All of you who encouraged the dream, whose gifts, abilities, time, prayers, hopes, and encouragement made it happen. All of you out here reading who let me know you were watching and waiting to see what happened and encouraging our efforts. Thanks so much.
And, you know, it’s not the dollar amount that gets me so excited and so full of joy that I think I might explode. It’s the thought of what that bit of excess that we have will do for someone who has nothing. For a mom who couldn’t feed her kids, who will be able to now. For that dad who didn’t know how he was going to get his child medical care, and now will be able to. For a young woman who was rescued from the sexual slave trade who felt like she had nothing to offer the world and who felt used up who will now have the truth spoken and shown to her—that she is loved, that she has value beyond measure, that there is still hope for a life of joy.
And, I’ll tell you a little bit about me here, that is what I believe I’m here for. To share hope with those who feel like they’ve lost all hope. I feel like that’s the message God is using me to share. I’m not always doing it, I know. Guess what? I don’t always do what I’m told. But I feel most alive and most like I’m doing what I’m designed to do when I’m sharing hope and love with those who have forgotten that they are loved and that there is hope of joy in their lives. Whether that’s one-on-one with a mom at her wits end, comforting a hurting child, or dreaming up a BBQ here in Dayton that will benefit men, women and children all over the world. Wow. I love that I get to do this. And I thank God for letting me join Him in sharing love to the world. I need to do it more often. 
And, AND, I am so thankful that YOU ALL join me in this. In all the ways mentioned before, you guys lift me up and encourage me and give back that hope to me that I’m not totally nuts all of the time. You are awesome. Thank you.
btw-If you’d still like to donate to World Vision, you can head on over to the Gift Catalog and pick out something fun. Three goats were bought this weekend! I love that. Or, if you’re interested, check out the Child Sponsorship page.
Karri: I have been working on my list of things seen at the WorldVision BBQ for my own blog. It’ll be fun when (if) I get it all done. Thank you so much for hosting this event. I had a good time, saw some good friends, ate some great food, and was able to do something I have felt the need to do for a long time. As I’ve said before, I don’t donate as much as I should and while I know it’s a bad thing to to say, without someone to encourage me, I just don’t do it often. Thank you for that encouragement!
Rantz: You’re welcome. I’m happy to pull money out of your wallet at any time and throw it toward a well. Okay, well, not toward a well, cuz then that would just like be throwing money down a well. That’s not wise. But toward the building of a well? That I can do. And I won’t even tease you for spelling my name wrong again.
Kerri: Sorry for the misspelling. Just not really all thinking at the moment. And so cool that I can own part of a well. I mean I’ve thought of digging one in my yard, but that’s just so too deep.
Good on ‘ya, babe!
Wow you guys did so well! Converted to rands (I know a lot of the work that World Vision do is here in S.Africa) that’s a whole lot of food etc etc, for those who really need it…
Rantz: You could dig an Olympic-sized pool in your yard, but that probably wouldn’t be so good for drinking, then.
Bald Man: Thanks, love. You did it, too!
Gill: Thanks so much. I think that’s one of the things we as Americans forget, too, that a dollar can go so much farther elsewhere than it might here. Thanks for sharing your input and encouragement.