Yesterday I posted on Impress Your Kids about a new Christmas tradition we started. The four of snuggled on the couch and picked out presents for Jesus–out of gift catalogs from World Vision and Samaritan’s Purse. I wasn’t going to share about it over here but then something happened last night that I had to tell you.

We got a letter from our Compassion daughter, Alizeta. Earlier this year we had given her family a monetary gift. This letter was a thank-you. It came with a picture of her family with the supplies they bought with the money–a bicycle, a bag of corn, a dress and some shoes.

Alizeta is in the middle.

I almost started crying just looking at the picture. Alizeta is so beautiful. And the bike and corn are just so—I don’t know. They are big, but also just so meaningless. I have a broken bike in my garage. Lydia has a balance bike that she never rides. We have a car, a truck and a trailer. I have a ROOM for my car! I’m literally in tears as I write this because while I was feeling all this, I also noticed that her family looked different–then I read the letter and understood. Her little sister, Sadiatou died on August 25.

Alizeta and Sadiatou. In their home.

Sadiatou was just a toddler. And wore braces on her legs. We’ve talked about her with Alizeta several times because Lydia and Alizeta are both big sisters.

I immediately got tears in my eyes and a knot in my stomach. Lydia and I sat down on the kitchen floor and prayed for Alizeta and her family.

Then I realized how important that gift of the bike and corn were. Over and over in the letter she said “thank you, thank you” and asked for God to bless us for our kindness. I know a small gift like this doesn’t replace or take away the pain of losing a family member. But I believe it added a little joy and ease to their life. And I am so glad that we have the opportunity and ability to give them even small gifts.

This morning we are going to write Alizeta a letter and tell her how incredibly sad we are for them. And how we are praying for them. And how we know that God is close to their broken hearts. And how we feel blessed to be a part of their family.

So, this Christmas I’m asking you to please give a gift to someone. Not another toy to your kids, or baked goods to your neighbor. Think about the kids and families who would rejoice over a bike and bag of corn. Think of the families that have to rely on the kindness of someone in another country to live. Think of someone who just lost their daughter and can’t provide for their other children.

This same day I got an email from Shuan Groves encouraging us to blog about Compassion’s Gift Catalog. So, I couldn’t resist. I am compelled to ask you to give. Look through Compassion’s Gift Catalog. Or World Vision. Or Samaritan’s Purse. Each of them are ministries I have worked with and give to on a regular basis. Each of them will use your money exactly as you ask. And God will use it to do even more than you imagine!

:: :: ::

I forgot to tell you, I bought our goat! Remember, I opened ohAmanda up to private ads. And with that income I will be giving to an organization or group on behalf of you, my ohAmanda readers and friends. So, thank you for clicking on my partners. (I’m calling them partners, not just sponsors because they are partnering with me in this!) Thank you for visiting ohAmanda and being a part of this small gift.

Thank you to my partners, Savings Lifestyle (the one stop shop for saving, couponing and giving) and MiMi’s Babies (special gifts for special babies) for partnering with me! I’m honored you’re here!

A Plea. is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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What are you doing tomorrow night?

Wanna go to a concert?

Wanna help some people in Haiti?

How ’bout do both? Compassion is hosting Help Haiti LIVE tomorrow night (February 27) 7:30CT. There are tons of performers: Big Kenny, Alison Krauss with Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Jars of Clay, Mat Kearney, Jon Foreman, Matt Wertz, Brandon Heath, Dave Barnes, and NEEDTOBREATHE. If you’re in Nashville you can head over there but I think it’s sold out. So, you can just snuggle up on the couch and tune in LIVE on their website: HelpHaitiLive.com If you’re on twitter you can live tweet it with the hashtag #hhlive.

And if you want to do something NOW, you can bid on an autographed guitar, text DISASTER to 90999 to send $10 or donate any amount directly to Compassion’s Haiti fund.

OK. So, that’s Haiti. Now about Kenya…my friend (ok, so I’ve exchanged one paragraph of a real live conversation and I read her blog. So, I consider her a friend), Kristen from We Are That Family is going to Compassion’s next Blogger trip to Kenya. Oh, I got tears in my eyes when she announced it! She’ll be there from March 4-10 and if you don’t read her blog or have never followed one of Compassion’s trips, I encourage you to do so! It will be life-changing.

And while we’re at it, I just wanted to let you know about Compassion’s Child Survival Program. It’s so cool—they provide pre- and post-natal care for moms and babies (including skilled birth attendants), they give regular food, teach parenting classes and kids’ classes for moms and kids up to age 3. For $20 a month you can partner with one of these programs. I just started supporting one in Fauche, Haiti. You need to check it out. One of the coolest ministries I’ve seen. And it’s got me thinking about something I want to do…I need to think about it a little more. But if this touches your heart, email me. I want to talk about it.

Ok. That’s all. Lydia is pulling on my arm because we’re going to a museum with some friends today! YAY! Have a great weekend!

Haiti & Kenya and Compassion is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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I know you’ve heard about the earthquake in Haiti. I have to admit that when I hear about devastation far far away, I tend to think of it as FAR FAR away. It’s hard for me to imagine horrible things happening to real people. It’s hard for me to imagine normal stuff happening to normal people all over the world. I mean, really, people LIVE in Iceland? It’s just hard to fathom because I’ve never been there.

Anywhoo, I got an email today from Shuan Groves (well, it wasn’t to me personally, just to all the Compassion bloggers). In it he encouraged us to give money to Compassion for Haiti—and to encourage you to do the same. Even though the email was an informative email full of directions about widgets, links and money, you could hear the pain in his voice. He doesn’t have a hard time imagining the devastation in Haiti. I could hear the horror in his voice–he was thinking about real kids and real moms and real dads that are dying, that are without food, water and basic living supplies.

And my heart just squeezed. Or expanded. Or whatever. It just hurt. It makes me think about my sweet Alizeta in Burkina Faso and my little Lydia here at home. What if something happened to them? What would I do? Move a mountain. Or at least to the best of my ability.

Today I’m letting you know that I’m giving money to Compassion. So Compassion can help people affected by the Haiti earthquake. And I’m asking you to do the same. You can update your facebook/twitter/blog with info from Compassion. And you can give. Look at the breakdown of what a little money can do:

•$35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.
• $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.
• $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.
• $210 gift helps care for two families’ needs.
• $525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.
• $1,050 gift helps care for 10 families’ needs.
• $1,500 helps rebuild a home.
• $2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.

Yall. $35 is nothing. I just spent $22 at the Disney Store today because they had Minnie Mouse pajamas on sale 2 for $20. Like Lydia needs more pajamas.

The devastation in Haiti is huge. And it is still being assessed. Now I’m imagining the kids being orphaned, hospitals being destroyed, churches and schools wiped out of every resource and tool, babies without proper care. And if you can’t imagine these kids or these families, please watch this. See their faces. Imagine it.

Now give. Give what you can. God will multiply it.

:: :: ::

More Compassion links:

• Give specifically to the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
• Compassion’s Crisis Update Page.
• Compassion’s blog, twitter and facebook.
• Banners for YOUR blog or facebook.
• Sponsor a child.
• Shuan’s email to Compassion bloggers. You can be one, too!

Compassion asked me to share this with you. I am receiving nothing in return. Except opened eyes and a more tender heart. Here is more information about Compassion and their financial integrity.

Haiti Earthquake: Compassion International Responds is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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There is a Compassion Bloggers trip in El Salvador right now. Oh, it makes my heart hurt (in the best way!) to read their stories and see their pictures. I just love Compassion. I love that they send bloggers to open up the world to those of us sitting at home.

Please follow their blogs this week: Kelly, Heather, Molly, Keely, Shuan and Patricia.

Your heart will be changed.

And maybe you’ll decide to change the life of a child.

photo by compassionbloggers

Compassion is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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In keeping with my one-word New Year’s Resolution, I want to do MORE for our Compassion kids, Alizeta and Rasmane. (Have I told you about Rasmane? Oh, he’s so cute. After Asa was born, we decided to support a little boy, too. We chose Rasmane because he goes to the same “church” as Alizeta. So, hopefully, one day, when the kids are big enough, we can go to Burkina Faso and meet them! How cool would that be after years of supporting and getting to know them?!)

So, Lydia and I made gifts for Alizeta and Rasmane this week. And because I’m super creative, I stole this idea straight from No Time For Flash Cards. But here’s my mini-tutorial, just for the record…

Supplies:

leftover glittery craft foam (or regular craft foam works, too.)
glue
string
adorable picture of children

Directions:
1. Cut a piece of regular craft foam (or cardboard/cardstock would work here, too) to the size of desired frame. This will be the back.

2. Place photo in the middle.

(so I can’t cut straight…)

3. Cut glittery craft foam into same size as backing. This will be the frame. Then cut another hole in the middle…big enough to see the picture.

(yes, she has a runny nose…)

4. If your craft foam is sticky on the back, simply peel off the plastic layer and place on top of picture and backing. If not, glue in place. (I cut the frame small enough that it stuck right to the picture and the backing. So, I didn’t even glue the photo down.)

5. Use leftover foam pieces cut into shapes to decorate.

6. Attach string to back for hanging.

Cute, right? I’m pretty sure Alizeta and Rasmane are going to like them! I would! Who doesn’t like glitter?! Plus, when sending something to your Compassion kids, it can only be 1/4″ thick, so I think once I smash these a little, they’ll be the perfect gift!

Lydia loves to talk about Rasmane and Alizeta. I pray little things like this craft will keep them in her mind and keep her heart tender towards others.

This is my contribution to Impress Your Kids’ New Impressions Carnival! If you have something fun to do with your kids this new year, please link up and show off!

New Impressions (a Craft Foam Picture Frame mini Tutorial) is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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Nope, not the one in my tummy. (Still haven’t had the first ultrasound. I go next week.) We got our Compassion girl. I don’t even want to think about how I posted about sponsoring a kid over two weeks ago and I went to a spa and a cruise in between…

Anyway, yesterday Les, Lydia and I sat down to look through some of the pictures of kids needing sponsorship on Compassion’s website. I told Lydia that these little kids need our help because some of them don’t have clothes or food and they don’t know Jesus. I told her we’d pray for them, send money and even write letters. She was very interested!

She pointed to so many and would say, “I want that little girl!” Then she found some dollar bills on the table (along with 50,000 other things that need to be put away) and was trying to put the money inside the computer for “the kids”. How cute!

When we finally picked out a 5 year old girl, Alizeta from Burkina Faso (see adorable picture below!) and I was about to put my credit card information in, Lydia said, “I want a little boy, too!” I told her when our new baby gets here, we’ll sponsor another little kid, too.

I can’t find all her info again online, they’ll be sending us a big packet all about her soon. But I do remember she just had her birthday this month, she likes to play hide and seek and play with dolls. She lives with her mom and dad who are both sometimes farmers. I’m pretty sure she had at least 2 siblings and one of her responsibilities is caring for them. (She just turned 5!!)

If you look over to the left, I’ve got a new banner you can click to sponosor a child through Compassion. I chose that one because it’s something I say all the time. I WANT to change MY perspective of poverty. Go ahead and click around, you might see a little kid you can help, too!

If you haven’t read the Compassion Uganda Blog Tour posts, please do! (Start with Shannon & Sophie!) We’re already praying for little Alizeta and believing that our measly $32 will have an eternal impact on her life.

We’ve got a new little girl! is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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