A Very Busy Week

What a busy week it has been!

Jarod was on the news on Wednesday and then he was in a Speech Contest at school where he took Third Place in his class.

He also had two of his pieces of art work chosen for the Clay County Art Show at the Orange Park Mall.  We picked the kids up from school on Friday and headed to the mall to check it out.

  His Grid Drawing of a Monkey

I love this one.  Abstract Self Portrait done in pastels.

He included things he loves like the basket ball, football and I really like the guitar for his mouth.  So creative.

While waiting for the Art Show Reception to begin, we did a little shopping.

Or I guess it should be called, a little playing.

Today was our church picnic at Hickory Grove.  We had bounce houses for the kids, played kick ball, tug of war and ate hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings.  They asked me to set up a table at the picnic so everyone could see and purchase ApParent Project jewelry.  I was excited to do it.  After all, they needed to see the end result of all the cereal boxes they have been collecting.

I set things up and was once again floored by the response!  I was non-stop almost the entire 3 hours!  The tables were surrounded and I sold just over $1000 for the artisans!  How cool is that????

I've been thinking about everything that has conspired in the last two months since I returned from Haiti.  I knew I was supposed to go.  I knew I came home more determined to spread the word - but why am I floored when God blows my sales out of the water or puts things in line for all the collection of the cereal boxes?

Right now this is my special assignment from the Lord.  I love it.  It is my heart.  My passion. This is His work - I am just a vessel.  I have made myself available and willing to do whatever - go wherever.  He has blown the doors wide open.  The fact that this thing just keeps expanding is continued confirmation that Shelley and Corrigan Clay are right where God wants them.  They are doing the right thing - the right way.  God is hard at work here in the states to provide them with exactly what they need for ApParent Project and the artisans.  He knows their need and is working to meet it.  I have the fun part of watching it all unfold.

Thanks to everyone who is saving and sending cereal boxes - and thanks to all who have purchased jewelry and continue to spread the word!  It is contagious!  May God bless you all!!!

Until next time.....

Teacher of the Week

Jarod was on the news this morning!  He nominated his teacher, Mr. Reynolds, for Teacher of Week.  Way to to Jarod AND Mr. Reynolds!!!!!






We LOVE Orange Park Elementary and all of the wonderful teachers that help make learning fun!

Those Women Can Shop!

A few weeks ago I was asked to come to the Clay County School Board to set up an ApParent Project jewelry store during their lunch hour.  I thought the idea was brilliant!  Not everyone can come to an Open House - we all have crazy schedules in the evenings and weekends.  So the idea of my going to them was appealing, although I had no idea what sort of turn out I would have.

Thanks to Chanda, who had spread the word and organized the whole thing!  She sent everyone to the AP web site and all the ladies got excited!  I arrived at lunch, set up and did NOT stop!  They just kept coming!  The room was filled and I spend the entire hour and a half collecting money.  $850 actually!  In an hour and a half!  Wow!  I was blown away.

The next day, Chanda called and said that all the ladies wanted me to come back.  In two weeks!  Really?  So soon?

They had all worn their jewelry back to work and it became contagious!  Women who didn't come before wanted to shop.  So we set up a date.  I went back today - a little earlier than before so the women with earlier lunch breaks could come in.

I arrived at 10:30 and they were shopping before I had everything unloaded!  It was amazing!  I saw familiar faces from last time and  new ones as well.  The room stayed full the entire two hours I was there. Everyone is totally amazed at the beauty that comes from a simple cardboard box. 

I didn't even have time to calculate how much was sold until I got home this afternoon.  But today's total outdid the last time!  Just over $1100 - for 2 hours!  I am beyond excited!

They are already making plans for my return in the Fall - they want Christmas gifts!  Awesome!!!!!

Thanks again to Chanda for making this all possible!  What an incredible day!  And thanks to everyone who bought jewelry!  You are helping to feed, shelter and educate some pretty amazing Haitians!

God is good!!!!!

****If you would like for me to come to your office/work place during lunch, please contact me and let me know!  Also - I would be more than happy to come and talk with your church, organization or school about Apparent Project.  I have a short PowerPoint presentation and lots of jewelry to sell.  Or - you can easily order your very own box and have your very own jewelry party!  It's easy!  It's fun!  And I promise - you will NOT be sorry!  For more info click here!

Until next time......

Easter

I'm finally blogging about Easter - aren't you excited? 

This year was a little different in that it was Russell's first Sunday at Hickory Grove.  It was an exciting day of new beginnings.

Of course, we began our celebrating with the kids decorating eggs the night before.  Another blog friend called it edible art - I love that!  Although I will say that after a day in the Florida sun, we did not eat these eggs.  That would just be weird.

I do love that the kids are a bit older and I don't have to hover over ever egg - and they don't have to sit in their underwear to protect their clothing from being Ty-dyed.  I will admit that it's VERY hard for me to be one of those fun, crafty moms.  The mess has never been worth the stress to me.  I fail terribly in that area.  But I've always managed to color the eggs each Easter - it's a must.  I just have to close my eyes a lot.

I do love some of the things that Anne and Jarod came up with this year.

 

This one never made it in the dye.  Jarod decided to only use crayons.  I thought it was very cool.

Oddly enough - I didn't get a photo of my children outside with beautiful trees or flowers behind them  and somehow we missed a family photo this year.  I'm slacking.  It was a busy day.  Sorry!

However, I did manage this photo of Russ in his new office.  He did the Sunrise Service for the Clay County Fair Workers and I caught him resting before our morning worship.  How cute is that?

Easter morning was very exciting at Hickory Grove.  Of course, the community is a buzz about the "new pastor" in town so we had several visitors.  After the service, our family went forward and joined the church to make things official.  It was a wonderful morning.

Afterwards, we spent the day at Nana and Papa's.  

 They will celebrate their 57th Anniversary next month.  Love these two!

CJ

Anne and Corrie hiding eggs

 

Jarod hid the eggs this year for the younger ones and then spent his day throwing the football with his older cousins, Steven and Christopher.  It seems funny for him to be old enough to hang with the big boys now.

Easter is a time of new beginnings.  Spring is here, Jesus has risen and gives us a great hope.  We can walk through life and all of it's ups and downs knowing that God loves us more than we can even begin to comprehend.  He has a great plan for us all.

It seemed fitting to start out at Hickory Grove on Easter Sunday.  We are moving forward with what God has for us with excitement and anticipation. This past Sunday was special as well.  Hickory Grove had a special Installation Service to officially welcome us.  It was a very nice evening.  Russell's parents came and they had a nice reception for us afterwards.

We are so excited to be a part of Hickory Grove and all that God is already doing in and through them in their community.  We are thrilled to be joining them.  We look forward to what lies ahead for us all.  God continues to confirm our obedience and we know we are where we are supposed to be.

God is good.

Appliance Bliss

So this weekend, God did another one of His "Exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or imagine" things (Eph. 3:20) in my life.  For those of you who don't know - that is our life verse.  We claim it often and we see God honor it left and right in our lives.  And I always LOVE to tell about each situation that comes about.  Sometimes they are incredibly spiritual things and other times, although there are lessons to be learned, I know it's just simply because He loves me.

This story starts about 3 years ago.  I had been wrestling with God for over a year about my house.  God gave us our house in a series of miraculous Eph. 3:20 things that only he could do.  Russ was teaching school, we were in between ministry and had returned from our trip to Oregon.  Russ was putting resumes out ALL OVER the country.  I dug my heals in hard.  I DID. NOT. WANT. TO. MOVE.     ANYWHERE!!!!!

Russ and I once had a conversation that went something like this:

Russ:  I'm ready to move to Zimbabwe and live in a hut if that's what God wants us to do, I don't understand why you are fighting this.

Me:  WELL WE ALL CAN'T BE AS SPIRITUAL AS YOU!!!!!!

As I storm off to take a shower.  I will tell you that God convicted me in the shower for speaking to my husband that way and when I came out, I apologized and we talked further - but I still was NOT convinced that I wanted to move anywhere.

The big hang up - my house.  God had given it to me - it was my first one ever.  I had waited years for our own house.  I had decorated, painted, remodeled and I was not about to just walk away and let someone else have it.

Boy - writing all of this brings back all the yuck.  It took me an entire year. (I'm slow like that) but eventually I understood that my house - God's sweet gift to me - had become my idol.  I cared far more about it than I did His calling on my life.  I had become complacent.  Comfortable. 

So about 3 years ago, it all hit me.  I got on my knees, asked for forgiveness and gave my house back to God.  I let go.  Such a peace and joy came over me and I can honestly say that Russ and I were on the same page again and I was ready to go to Zimbabwe and live in a hut if that's what God wanted us to do.

I laugh now, because shortly after that, Russ was called to Ocean Park out at the beaches and I literally had to put a For Rent sign in my yard.  But it was okay - I was ready!  And I wasn't moving to Zimbabwe - I was only going across town.  To the beach no less - how cool is that?

So - I was all spiritual and ready to do whatever.  I had given it to the Lord and I was good.  Then my oven broke.  Now I know to most of you, this seems really minor. But not me!  It sent me into a tizzy!  Like a call Russell - and when he stopped listening to my ramblings - call Emily kind of tizzy!

I could NOT believe my oven broke!  We don't typically purchase things just to upgrade - not until they are broken and need replaced.  I had been waiting for my oven to go (although there were no signs of it) so I could buy a glass top.  Oh how I wanted a glass top.  It was going to be the next upgrade in my kitchen.  Now I was moving!  I rambled on and on being so angry.  Emily (having spent many years as a property manager before all her rambunctious boys) advised me NOT to put a glass top in a rental.  Great.  Now I had to go out and buy another cheap, ugly oven and I would never get my glass top.

I was so pouty and yucky - I couldn't even think ahead that God might give me a glass top in my new house.  No  -  I was too busy being mad again about having to move.  That's what it boiled down to.  It's always a process for me.  The pendulum has to swing hard in both directions for a while before I finally find the balance in the middle.  It was swinging hard on this day.

Another great friend of ours, Chuck, called me that day.  He was looking for Russ but got me instead.  He got to listen to me whine.  But - being the kind of guy that he is, he asked me what the problem was with my oven and I told him that the heating element had burned up and broke in half.  He told me that was an easy fix and that I could easily get a replacement part.

Wow! What a concept.  I wouldn't have to buy a new one for strangers moving into my house.  I got on the phone and investigated.  I drug the kids all over town as we searched for the part.  Russ was working and so was my brother so Jarod and I worked together and I replaced it myself!  I was so happy!  (there goes that pendulum swing again!)


For the past 3 years, my oven has worked just fine and I have been very content.  Obviously we did not move at all.  The Lord never moved us to the beach and now that we are serving a church in our community, we understand why.  I now know in my heart that the Lord wanted my willingness to move.  My willingness to do what ever He called me to do - and to let go of all the STUFF!  It's been a long, up and down process full of broken heating elements and I even believe my trip to Haiti had a lot to do with that as well.  Seeing employed Haitians being content with so much less will easily put life into perspective. Amazing the things God uses to bring us closer to him.

Okay - so the icing on the cake in all of this came about this weekend.  God just shakes his head at crazy me, I am sure.  I have fought and kicked and screamed and finally complied and have become content.  I'm learning that it's in that contentment that He is able to REALLY bless.

My brother, Marc, is a painter, home repair, renovation kind of guy.  Property Services.  He had a client hire him recently to paint and do some minor repairs on a condo that they had just purchased.  They were closing on it at the end of March and they decided to gut the appliances.  Since they just get taken away by Lowe's or Home Depot - they offered them to Marc.  Marc and Sam replaced all of their appliances a few years back and knowing I had had an issue with my oven, he called me.

And guess what?

Not only was it a Glass Top Oven, but it was a microwave that gets mounted over the oven (hello --- more counter space!) AND a dishwasher!  The seal on ours was going bad and my microwave had just died.

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!  Could you just squeal!!?????  Marc came over on Saturday and installed all of them for me.  The dates on them are from 2006 - the year we moved into our house.  Everything is Whirlpool - just like the fridge we bought in 2006 and it all matches! 

Isn't God good?  The amazing thing is - He had this planned all along.  He desires to bless us and take care of us even with things like appliances.

He doesn't care about my house - where I live - what I live in.  He cares about my heart.  He wants my willingness to go wherever and do whatever.  To do those things that He has made me to do.  When we seek Him first - all the other things will be added.  They are bonuses.  He gives them to us because He loves us - we are His children.  He makes sure our needs are met - "exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine."  We just have to be patient and TRUST.

Isn't it pretty????

I think I need to go cook something......

Until next time.......

My Life as an AP Ambassador

A friend jokingly called me "Mrs. ApParent Project Ambassador" recently.  Even though that title has not been officially given to me by Shelley and Corrigan, I kind of like the sound of it.  I have been so busy lately with ALL that God is doing with AP here in my church and community that I haven't even had time to blog.  Russ asked me the other day if I had blogged about Easter yet.  Nope.  Not yet.

And not today either.  Today I decided to take a few minutes and let you in all all the stuff going on with AP and me.  It's crazy!

 As I look back on the past few months, I am completely amazed and blown away by God's timing.  When I was planning my trip to Haiti, I prayed very specifically about what week I was supposed to be there.  God kept leading me back to the week of Feb. 6 - 13.  So that's when I booked my flight.  

When I returned home, I had an even stronger desire to move forward and get the word out about AP.  I knew I would do this through my blog but had no idea how else this was going to happen.  I kind of felt like I had exhausted my own circle of influence and wondered if people were getting tired of me going on and on about it.  And maybe some of you are - but that's okay.  Isn't it crazy how satan can get in your head and make you feel insecure about things that God is doing?

What has happened lately can only be explained as one of my "God things"!

While I was in Haiti, Russ interviewed with Hickory Grove.  Talk about timing, right?  We would sit on the computer late at night and message each other on Facebook.  It was the only way we could communicate while I was there.  I would go all day wondering what was happening - what Russell was thinking - and what God was doing.  But even with me in Haiti, He was setting the stage for now.

Taking the position at Hickory Grove took a lot of prayer and faith.  Stepping out in obedience, not knowing how things were going to fit.  I did not want to just assume that they would be excited about AP.  Ocean Park had a history and a love for the Haitians. When I was introduced to AP, it was a natural fit for the church.  I didn't know what the response was going to be at HG so I went in prayerfully and cautiously.

The day that Russ preached at HG in view of his calling, I, of course, had some of my AP jewelry on.  That evening they put me on the spot and asked me to get up in front of the church and briefly speak about my recent trip to Haiti.  I spoke for a very short time.  I didn't go into GREAT detail (it was very hard!) - but afterwards I was surrounded by women wanting to look at my jewelry.  I was excited for the opportunity to introduce it to some new women, but NEVER dreamed about all that was to unfold.


Shelley contacted me a few weeks ago about tying to find some different shipping methods.  Maybe something quicker/cheaper.  They are in great need in order to keep up with the demand of jewelry.  I had not really mentioned this to anyone yet.  I was praying about it and doing my own research - not coming up with much.


When we went to church on Easter Sunday, Hickory Grove surprised me with a bin full of cereal boxes they had been collecting!  I no longer had to wonder whether or not they would embrace this opportunity.  I was thrilled!



A man approached me that day and asked me how I ship all of the boxes.  I began to explain it to him.  He let me know that he had been praying about the shipping method for a few weeks.  Really?  Why would YOU be praying about shipping my cereal boxes?  God is so good!  So he started blowing my mind by talking about tonnage and palates and large quantities.  Something about having connections with Christian truckers and that the majority of semis that leave Florida leave empty.  How he thinks we can get these truckers to take things to Rays of Hope for FREE!


Okay - awesome - but where am I going to get that many boxes??? 

On Monday, (the very next morning)  I received a phone call from Green Cove Springs Jr. High.  Their National Jr. Honor Society heard about me (through a church member) and wanted to incorporate collecting cereal boxes into their service project requirements.

I prepared a slide show of my trip and met with the students and teachers yesterday afternoon.  It was amazing!!!!  The kids were mesmerized.  They were so excited that they (not the adults) set a goal of collecting 2500 boxes before school is out in June!   I took jewelry with me to show them examples and as the mom's came to pick them up they shopped!

I found out also this week that

     Charles E. Bennett Elementary is collecting boxes

     Patterson Elementary on Fleming Island is collecting boxes

The amazing thing to me at this point is this:  God already knows Shelley's need for boxes.  He knows what is coming for her.  He is putting the right people in the right places and the boxes are pouring in.  I have had to do VERY little.  It has become so very contagious!  And the crazy thing is that the more people collect boxes, the more they are wondering about the jewelry.  I'm setting up to sell it left and right.

Many of the women at HG are teachers or work for the Clay County School Board.  It didn't take long and I received a phone call.  Chanda works for the County Office and had me come in to the School Board and set up during their lunch hour.  What an awesome idea!  Not everyone can fit an evening Open House into their schedules.  But - if I go to them during their lunch hour......brilliant!  So I went, set up a little store and they shopped!  I sold $850 worth in an hour and a half.  That was two weeks ago.  All of the women that came, wore it to work, spread the word and guess what?  I go AGAIN this Tuesday!  And they are already wanting me to come around Christmas time!

I am speaking to the Young at Heart ministry at the church this Thursday about Apparent Project.  Complete with my new slide show and everything.

The church is having a picnic on April 28 and they have asked me to set up a table so that everyone can finally see it and purchase it.

We are planning an Open House at the church for all the teachers in the area.  They can stop by the Fellowship Hall on their way home from work and shop for Mother's Day.

Many of the teachers are attempting to get me into the schools during their lunch hours because everyone is so curious about it.

The women's ministry at HG is ordering the fund raiser bracelets to sell and raise money for their trip to The Women of Faith conference in Orlando in October.

I came home with soooooo much jewelry from Haiti - it won't be long before I have to order more from Marilyn!  This week, I sent another $2000 to them!  The most exciting thing about that was that as I sat there doing all the paperwork, I could really see faces, personalities!  I could picture everyone at the Artisan House - the buzz that Pay Day creates!  Everyone receiving envelopes with their hard earned money.  Money that will feed, shelter and educate their children.  I could see Regnus doing her cute little jig.  It brings tears to my eyes even now.

So thrilled - so humbled - so overwhelmed to be a part of this.  Lives are being saved - changed - all because of cereal boxes!

Please pray with me as these boxes come pouring in! God is already at work and I am stepping out in faith to collect and get them to Haiti.  In the past, I have only dealt with several hundred at a time - now we are talking thousands!  God has a plan and I am along for the ride!  I'm excited to see all that is going to unfold and so thankful for his perfect timing in all of it!

Until next time....

Fair Day

The Clay County Fair comes to our area each Spring.  I don't think I have been since I was a Senior in High School.  We won't talk about how long ago that was.

I will admit that I am an Amusement Park Snob.  I am not afraid to say it.  I am not ashamed of the fact.  Disney has made me that way.  Everything about Disney is top-notch.  It's clean, it's safe - it's the "Happiest Place on Earth" and as far as I am concerned nothing - I mean NOTHING compares. So why bother with anything less - I'm always disappointed.

So each year when the Fair comes around, I turn my nose up and refuse to go and spend the money on rickety rides, greasy food and tons of crazy games where you win cheap, tacky prizes (like Goldfish).  See - I told you that I'm a snob.

Hickory Grove is very involved with the Fair each year.  Many of the church members work there and they even arranged to do a Sunrise Service on Easter morning for all the Fair Workers.  How cool is that?  Talk about a great outreach opportunity!

So, obviously when we were given free tickets to get into the fair, we couldn't say no.  We decided to go this past Wednesday after the kids got out of school.

I now have to admit how much fun we had - how wrong I had been all these years and how we are planning to go every year from now on!

Here are some highlights - you tell me whether or not we had a great time!

 Where else in the world can you find a pig made from hay than your County Fair?  How cute is he?

The kids LOVED the swings - I think they rode them like 4 or 5 times!

I stayed away from the Farris Wheel - I don't like swinging from high places in slow motion - but the rest of the family enjoyed it.

This was the best!!!!  I didn't ride so I could get pictures.  I was laughing so hard I was crying!  Jarod's facial expressions are awesome!

Love this one of Anne!

Playing one of those wacky games - they won two fish!  More about that later.

Okay - so Cedar River Seafood was there.  LOVE their fried shrimp!!!!

 I had to get on the swings at least once!

This one was my absolute favorite!  Could have rode it all night!  I felt like Superman!  It was awesome!!!!

They had to ride this one again!  Anne is trying so hard not to lay on Jarod.

LOVE this!!!

Of course Russ has to try the Fried Oreos!  YUMMMM!!!!!!

Those two fish I told you about - well, they actually scooped up an extra one so we wound up with 3!

We had to make a late night run to Wal-Mart on the way home.  Turns out everyone else in Middleburg has been doing the same thing.  Everyone is winning fish!  The fish section was totally picked over and we had to spend a little more than anticipated on a home for them.

But we like the way it turned out!

So as you can see a GREAT time was had by all!  We will definitely be making this a yearly event for the Franklin family.  I was wrong and am happy to admit it. 

Thanks for the tickets Rick - you have helped to break my amusement park snobbery!

Tomorrow is our first Sunday at Hickory Grove.  Russ will preach a sunrise service for the fair workers in the morning.  Very excited for this opportunity.  

I'm off to color eggs with the kids - Easter pics next time......