Off to St. Judes!

Let's just start by saying that the Lord has been ever more faithful to this ministry than I have been to the updating of this blog :) 

In May, I was able to get in touch with an organization called the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which is based out of Houston, Texas. This foundation is dedicated to young cancer patients, as they work with hospitals across the nation and plan events and parties for the cancer patients to attend. They responded right away to my email and were very excited to receive the headbands and hand them out at their next hospital party! We were able to send them a box of headbands mid May. If you would like to read more about the foundation, you can access their website at http://www.sunshinekids.org/

Shortly after hearing from the Sunshine Kids Foundation, I received an email back from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital! They were also thankful for the offer and thrilled to hand out headbands to their patients. Andrea and I just sent the box to Tennessee this weekend!

40 headbands! They requested that each headband was sent in an individual bag and made in a pet-free/ smoke-free environment. I had to thank my sister for resisting my many requests for a pet at our apartment :)

Notice the cute baby bump on Andrea :)

120+ headbands have been donated to cancer patients so far!

Thank you, again, to all who continue to support this ministry through prayer as well as financial, time, and fabric donations! 

July's box destination has been planned! Please keep those prayers coming.

God bless!

Sara's inspiration continues to spread

As I sit down to update my blog, I realize I need to write more often because I know I am going to forget to share something wonderful that has happened this past month.

The Lord's hand has been so incredible evident in this ministry and His faithfulness has blown me away. Every week, something new comes along, someone generously gives, someone lends encouragement and support at a needed time, and new doors open. 

A wonderful parent at my school, Kathleen Rauch, saw the blog and wanted to get involved, so she asked for a supply of flower clips and headbands to take to work. Many headbands and clips were sold, but more importantly, Sara's inspiration was spread.  Shortly after, I met up with a good friend, Katy Drake. She asked about the ministry and showed a headband to her sister, Amy Drake, who is next year's President on Corban's ASB (Yay, Amy!). Katy and Amy's excitement led to ASB promoting the ministry and the Corban bookstore is now selling the headbands as well. 

I have a goal to send a box to a hospital every month. Mid-April, I sent emails to hospitals, but didn't hear a response and wondered where I would send my April box. Shortly after praying about it, I received a letter from Sara's oldest sister, Heidi. She asked for a box to hand out to cancer patients in a hospital in Pheonix, Arizona. There was my answer! 

Andrea and I were able to send her a box last Monday. 

The Lord has provided a couple more leads and I'm excited to watch how He will continue to open doors. The Swensons have generously given and supported this ministry which has been such a blessing and encouragement to me and Andrea. 

So many others have given time and financial assistance, which I am incredibly grateful for. I love that it's a ministry that involves and blesses many, many lives. 

Enough writing, I want to show off some adorable girls wearing their headbands!

Here's my beautiful cousin, Julianne, who names the headbands!

Sweet Taylor Russau, who may have the most adorable giggle ever 

One of my Kinder Cuties :)

Lovely 7th graders at DCS, Joy and Savannah

Some more cute cousins!

Rachel Hoffman, a good friend of Sara's from Corban. Andrea, Sara, Rachel and I lived in the same hall for a very fun year :)

A couple of first grade buddies

Bethany Emmert, another good friend of Sara's from Corban

and gorgeous friend/little sister of sorts, Ashley Buller :)

Again, thank you so much to all of you who have supported this ministry. I'm not sure if this is the climax or if we are just getting started, but I'm forever thankful for this opportunity.