Friends | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Oct 4

Prayers for Our Children

I pray…I praise…and I live a Christian life, or should I say I attempt to. Strength in my Christianity is something I struggle with at times, and yet at the same time, my faith in prayer is always strong.

Today I want to ask you to join me in prayer for two very special children who are going through challenges. One of these young people has become special to me even though we’ve never met, and the second is one who desperately needs the world’s prayers now, even though we haven’t even seen her face.

The first is a sweet little man whom I’ve only met through a video and yet I love him already. For those of you who read my blog post “Red Fred Project – Join Me”, you’ve met him too. This is the quote from Dallas Graham’s Facebook page today: (Dallas is the creative genius behind the Red Fred Project)… Guys: Our Nathan, from Red Fred Project, broke his back coming home from school today. His mom, Rachel Glad, says he seems in less pain as long as he’s on his back. Please send love, thoughts and prayers to our incredible little man, Nathan. We love you, Nathan. He has a Facebook page: Nathan Ryan Glad Foundation. Drop him a message! … Let’s all say a prayer for this little man and his family. And if you haven’t yet, join his foundation, and join the Red Fred Project so we can meet more young people like Nathan and can give them a voice too.

The second is a little girl who desperately needs our prayers at this very moment in time. She’s a little one year old who saw her Mom being killed by police officers in Washington D.C. yesterday. A little girl, innocent to this world’s troubles, innocent to her Mom’s troubles that caused this horrible situation…a little girl innocent. I pray that she be surrounded with love, I pray that she be safe, I pray that she have no memory of what happened yesterday, and I pray for her Momma…may God take her to Heaven and lay peace in her troubled heart and mind. And may she now be a special angel for her little girl.

Amen.

Patty O

Picture credit: Pinterest, Teresa Kogul

Oct 2

12 Comments

A Tiger for Elena

Little Miss Elena loves tigers.

Not just any tigers, she loves the tiger at the zoo…and I think the tiger loves her.

We all went to the zoo on her last birthday so she could introduce us to her friend, and while we were there Elena stood on a ledge to point out her tiger, who was pacing back and forth. One moment he was pacing, and the next he’d reared up with his front paws on the glass to literally look at her eye to eye.

I’m not sure if he was thinking ‘lunch’ or not, but I quickly told her he was saying “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” The poor little peanut turned her wary look into a big smile and off we all went to see the next animal…and her love of tigers remains!

I decided a week ago to get rid of an old dresser I’d been hanging onto. I mentioned it to Elena’s Mom, Jen, and she said she didn’t have one for Elena yet and maybe it was time.

Well…I couldn’t just sell her the plain old dresser, not for our little Miss Elena. I had hoped at one point to paint a beautiful flower on the front and then sell it, but had decided to just get rid of it…needless to say…the idea came back to me. I asked Jen what animal I could paint on the dresser for Elena and she immediately said a tiger. I should have known.

A few days later little missy appeared in her favorite t-shirt adorned with what else, but her favorite animal. So I convinced her it was dirty (it actually was), so I could borrow it.

Here is my weekend project, done with lots of love, for a sweet little girl who loves tigers…

(This is where my oldest daughter would say “Ta-daaaaaa!”)

Elena got to see her new dresser yesterday and her smile said it all.

Patty O

ps…this is absolutely one of my favorite things to do…so if you know of anyone who wants an extra splash on their decor, whether it be for a child’s piece of furniture or an adult’s, just give me a call!

Sep 27

4 Comments

Just Hanging Off the Grape Arbor

Yeah…don’t mind me…

It was just another day in my so-called sane life. Actually it was last week. Read more

Sep 26

5 Comments

‘My Mommm Said Sooooo’

So today was another daycare babies day…and of course we had more than a few fun moments. The funniest of which was after we picked up Elena from school.

We were still in the car when she said, “I’m hungry…my tummy is empty!” I told her we’d get a snack at the grocery store.

That’s when she made her announcement…

“Food goes in your belly and your butt!”

I scowled and said “Nooooooo, just in your belly!”

Elena: “My Mommm said sooooo!”

Let’s just say I dropped it rather quickly.

HOWEVER,

When Jen showed up to pick up the kids, I couldn’t resist telling her what Elena said (now mind you Jen was changing Nicole and I had just left Elena in the bathroom to go potty). Jen just laughed and said “I did tell her food goes in her belly, but someone else must have said it comes out your butt!”

And from the bathroom we hear Elena yell… “Mommmm – youuuuu said itttttttt!”

Boy they get sassy fast! It seems just yesterday she was just starting nursery school!

🙂

Patty O

Sep 16

3 Comments

The Red Fred Project…Join Me

Have you heard of this project yet?

If you’re like me, you haven’t. It was just introduced to me by my good friend Karen, who knows the creator.

I don’t think there’s much I need to say beyond…please, please take a moment to click on the link and watch the video, then read what this project is all about. You may want to grab a kleenex…

The Red Fred Project: 50 Books by 50 Critically ill Children

My heart is filled with love for this project, from the beginning of working with a critically ill young person and their family, to the end result of the book and book sales, which The Red Fred Project gives to the family to help with their medical costs. This truly is an incredible project. It’s not just about life or death…it’s about giving a child who is chronically ill a chance to be creative, a feeling of purpose, about leaving a legacy and an incredible memory for that child’s family to cherish.

Loving & empowering children, and helping families in need. This is what life is about.

I’m going to send in a donation…do you want to join me?

They need $75,000 by Sunday, October 13th to move this project forward – so please – donate soon! If they are short of their goal, by a penny, none of the funding happens for the project — no one’s donation goes through. Even now, the people who have pledged will not see their money leave their account UNLESS The Red Fred Project hits its goal in October. Give now, give generously, give what you can…every little bit helps!

And then share their link on your facebook page, twitter account, and every other account you’re on…copy it and hand it out at work, church, the dog park, the laundromat, local restaurants, on the bus, in the subway, to your mother, to your brother, to your sister, to your mother’s brother’s sister-in-law…just share it with everyone!

Patty O