Insta Sunday

A glimpse into my week...

I crave winter.

My favorite season of the year.

I miss boots, scarves, fireplaces, hot coco and the smell of cinnamon.

I was given my grandmothers sewing machine with so many awesome goodies

just waiting for me to start a new project. Now I just need to lean to sew.

I made this wall and table banner for a friends birthday. 

I was pretty excited the way they turned out.

I blogged about my new favorite Starbucks coffee: Tall Skinny Peppermint Mocha

Next thing I knew, my husband surprised me with one at work. I adore him so much.

We officially have a sophomore. That's right, first day of school this week for

our oldest Rachel. I just realized she learns to drive this year. Freaking out? Yes!

Ended the week with a beautiful bouquet of red roses 

delivered to me at work. My husband spoils me rotten. :)

Happy Sunday and remember to SHINE!

One CAN Make A Difference!

be the change you wish to see.... The Shine Project

Photo by Rachel Lauren Photography

For a few months now I feel God has put something in my heart to somehow giveback to the community, but I was never sure just what. I prayed about it a lot. A few weeks ago I was sitting in church reading the bulletin and something just jumped out to me. It was called "A Heart for the Hungry". Our church's food pantry was empty. The pantry that used to feed hundreds of families, now, there’s a sign on the door that says “Sorry, there are no food bags available at this time.”

That was it! That’s what my heart wanted to do. Fill those pantry shelves until they’re overflowing! Could I do this alone? No. I need help. The biggest question was could I break out of my comfort zone of the quite one and become a leader? Yes, but only with God's guidance.

I had this idea of having a table set up in front of a local grocery store collecting non-perishable food donations. Then the idea grew to having one specific day and time where each grocery store in our city {all 5} would have a team of volunteers out front hosting a food drive. The thoughts went through my head... Could I pull this off? Can I find volunteers? Will people donate?

YES to every single question. We were approved for 4 of the 5 grocery stores since one already booked for the day. Then out of the blue, I get the call the other party cancelled and we have their spot. We have all 5!

Volunteers? I created a Facebook event page which went live just yesterday and volunteers have been coming out of the woodwork. People I don't even know asking to help. I have a team of people set up already for each location!


We needed the collection bins. The church two had but we needed at least three more. When I went shopping for them, found out they were $50 a piece. Ouch! That same day I received a call from a couple from our bible study, they had found 10 at a second had store for $1 each. What!? You better believe we bought them all!

I sit here today in aw. Every single obstacle that was set in front of me, God removed the barrier.

As for the donation part, we'll just have to wait and see. With what God has provided so far, I can't even fathom what He has in store. Our event is this Saturday. I ask for prayers. Prayers of encouragement and hope, that people will start a transformation from their old ways, and start a new. Putting others before themselves. We can't get discouraged. We can make a difference one person at a time.

I recall an synonym for the word JOY.

How to be joyful was to put these in this order:

Jesus, then Others, then You.

Jesus should be first in our lives no matter what.

He is our perfect example of how to live our lives.

That is the very definition of being a Christian.

Paul tells us at the beginning of Romans 15 this very thing.

We out to put other ahead ourselves; in doing so we will be emulating the actions of Jesus.


Let's SHINE!

Photo by Rachel Lauren Photography 

Meet & Tweet with a Twist of SHINE

Yesterday I woke up to this...

400 Facebook followers & 400 GFC's! 

Sounds like I should have played the Lotto!

I thought today would be a perfect opportunity to celebrate by blessing someone else.

Bless someone who has been very supportive in helping my blog get off the ground.

Someone who is very dedicated to making a change in the lives of other people.

You know, "Pass It Forward."

If you don't know who I'm talking about yet, it's Ashley from The Shine Project.

She's currently trying to get on The Ellen Show to get more people involved, 

more lives changes, and more students get into college.

Now here's how we can help! 

Ashley is asking us help get Ellen's attention buy Tweeting to her a couple times today:

 @TheEllenShow @theshineproject needs your help to change the world #shine 

{then link to her post HERE}  

Ready. Set. GO! Start Tweeting!
One lucky person will WIN

Medium Ad Space on Our Reflection for April!

The Rules

It's mandatory you follow your host HERE.

Here's how to enter (leave a comment for each)
Follow Our Reflection via GFC
Follow Our Reflection via Email
Tweet about this Link Up on Twitter {post the URL}
Tweet to get The Shine Project on Ellen as mentioned above {post the URL}

Please link up your Twitter account below 
{not your blog}


Be friendly and visit at least 3 other new blogs via Twitter
{Or more!! Don't be shy, introducing yourself is a wonderful
way to make new friends.}


Spread the word of this weekly event!
Grab the button & add it to your blog.
Tweet & Facebook about the linkup!
{This is not necessary, but kindly appreciated!}

<div align="center"><a href="http://our-reflection.blogspot.com/" title="Our Reflection"><img src="http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/_laurahernandez/MeetTweet-2.jpg" alt="Our Reflection" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Drum roll please....

Last weeks Meet & Tweet winner is: Brooke from A New View 365!

Congratulations!

Win a SHINE on Tee from Ashley at The Shine Project Today!

Headband- Just Lovely Things

My mom went and dropped off dishes at one of my student's houses this weekend.

They're probably the only family that speaks English in their run-down apartment complex,

and there are 5 kids and 1 mom crammed in a small, two bedroom living space.

I know that they don't have couches (last time I was there, they had beds)

we try to buy this sweet friend clothes when we can,

and the mom is always always sick; due to circumstances she can't control.

Yesterday my mom was telling me how she found a couch for them, 

and that I need to go and pick it up today.

Then she said,

"Did you know that they don't have beds anymore, because they had to leave them at 

the old apartment? All of the kids sleep on the tile floor, I don't think they even have pillows.

When I asked the mom what else she needed, she said that she loved the tangelos that I took

them from our tree, and would love more.

But that's not the part that made me cry three times yesterday.

The part that made me cry was when I walked up to their door, and saw a long extension

cord running from their house to their neighbors.

I knocked on the door and the little girl answered. She smiled and yelled, "Ashley's mom is here!"

She was wearing the shirt you gave her for Christmas, and it was filthy.

The bike you got her was leaning against the wall, with a popped tire.

I asked her what the extension cord was for, and she said,

'Our neighbors electricity got shut off, so we're letting them borrow ours.' "

This family who literally has nothing, was allowing their neighbors to use their electricity.

If that isn't an image of love and the way things are supposed to be, I don't know what is.

Tomorrow is BE THE CHANGE day. You can go to the event page HERE.

There is SOOOO much need in the world,

So many people that just need to borrow a little electricity from you.

They need you to help light their lives.

Even if you feel like you have nothing to give,

reach deep within yourself, and find it.

I'm challenging you this week to be the change.

Make an effort on Tuesday to go out of your comfort zone.

Come join us in our efforts to change the world.
And go ahead, let the world see you shine.
************************************************
Thank you Ashley for this amazing story of generosity!
You can check out many more like this on her blog here.

Ashley also has a fantastic store filled with
T-Shirts, Jewelry and the famous Pass It Forward cards.
You can check out her entire line here.

Today I'm offering one of my readers a chance to SHINE
by winning a SHINE T-Shirt! Don't you want to rock one of these?

Now you can enter below to win!

**Your must be a public follower of Our Reflection via GFC to enter our giveaways.**

Mandatory:
The first THREE entries below are MANDATORY.
All 3 must be completed in order for you to win this giveaway.
After you do that, you unlock more ways to get more entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pass It Forward... with Portraits

Last week when The Shine Project launched their new SHINE bracelets, I ordered one right away. When it arrived in the mail yesterday, to my surprise, included two Pass It Forward cards. Man was I excited! My mind started running with thoughts, then it hit me.

I'm a photographer, and there are a lot of families that want to have professional portraits taken but just cannot afford it. I have a photo session next week for an amazing young couple just making ends meet. When the session is over, instead of collecting payment, I'm going to give them one of the cards and say, Pass It Forward. How cool is that! {The result will be next weeks post.}

I'm beyond excited to find the right person to hand my second card to. Plus, I'm still waiting for the pack of cards I ordered to come in! I see a lot of random acts of kindness in my near future. 

If you haven't already read about this project Pass It Forward, click here. 

If you want to order cards of your own, click here.

Come on, let's SHINE!

Linking up with...