30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge: Day 8

Day 8 Thanks: I am thankful that I live somewhere that makes me feel safe, happy, and blessed.

Day 8 Giving: I bought a CD by my friend Shannon Sergey that she is selling to raise money for a charity she created to stop Human Trafficking. www.foreverfound.org

Forever Found is a nonprofit Christian organization founded in 2010 by Taylor and Shannon Sergey. They aid in the full rescue of children victimized by child prostitution and trafficking by supporting aftercare homes around the world that are effectively rescuing and restoring these victims.

Forever Found raises this support through the development and promotion of the works of musicians, artists, and writers who are willing to donate all or a portion of their proceeds to help these children.

We cannot ignore the reality of the evil going on around us. Open your ears to the cries of these children and take a stand. It is estimated that today 2 CHILDREN PER MINUTE are trafficked for sexual exploitation. This is happening all over the world, including America. 200,000 American youths have been forced into the sex trafficking industry in the United States alone. (U.S. Department of Justice)

The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 BILLION (U.N.), with about $28 BILLION of this generated from commercial sexual exploitation (International Labor Organization).  Which shows  why this horrific  evil continues to flourish. (verse- hearts of men) 

In fact, After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the SECOND LARGEST CRIMINAL INDUSTRY in the world today, and it is the fastest growing (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

This is EVERYONE’S PROBLEM. 

Immeasurably More, by artist Shannon Sergey, is an album produced with the sole purpose of supporting the rescue and restoration of children victimized by child trafficking and prostitution.

The goal of this particular project is to raise awareness and monetary support (minimum of $100,000) for 3 Christian aftercare homes who are effectively restoring these victims; 100% of album proceeds will be donated to these aftercare facilities rescuing these children.

Shannon is an old friend on mine and her voice is absolutely incredible. You can hear samples of the music on their myspace page.

Click Here to Learn more about my 30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge.

30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge: Day 7

Day 7 Thanks: I'm so thankful that I got to spend time with my family today that I haven't seen in a while. 

Day 7 Giving: We helped my brother move some things out of storage today.

Click Here to Learn more about my 30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge.

30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge: Days 5 & 6

"If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of your own, because no one needs a smile as much as those who have none to give." ~ Samson Raphael Hirsch

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I forgot to write a post for yesterday! 

Day 5 Thanks: I'm thankful that I joined a "Mama Group" and met them all today. Yay for new friends for me and Brady!

Day 5 Giving: I started saving the Box Tops for Education to donate to local schools.

Each Box Top you save donates $0.10 to your school. That can add up very quickly!

Here is a list of products that have the Box Tops on them. There's tons! I checked my pantry and I have soooo many products with Box Tops on them. This is money for local schools that would have ended up in my trash can. I'm making it a goal to check each box or package before I throw it away. Click here to learn more about Box Tops for Education.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 6 Thanks: I'm thankful for my amazing momma!

Day 6 Giving: I brought Brady over to visit my mom to cheer her up. Also tried to help her with some meal planning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Click Here to Learn more about my 30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge.

30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge: Day 4

Day 4 Thanks: Today, I'm thankful for my amazing hubby and how hard he works to support our family.

Day 4 Giving: Kurt is filming a wedding Saturday. The bride called today and said that her venue cancelled on her 3 days before the wedding. I called her to offer any help in finding a new venue for her. Luckily, she was able to find a new one. 


Click here to read more about my 30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge.

30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge: Day 3

Day 3 Thanks: Today, I'm thankful for living in America and all the freedom we have.
Day 3 Giving: I found out about an organization that collects people's expired grocery coupons and donates them to military families overseas. The grocery stores or commissaries on these military bases accept coupons up to 6 months after their expiration date. So today I started saving mine to send to them. Hopefully we'll help out military families to save some money!

If you have expired coupons you want to donate, I'm going to start collecting them and sending them out every couple months. Click here to learn more about the Overseas Coupon Program.

Click here to read more about my 30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge.

30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge: Day 2

Day 2 Thanks: Today, I'm thankful for our most basic necessity- clean water
Day 2 Giving: I'm starting a campaign as my way of giving clean water to other people around the world. I started by donating $20 and setting up a website for other people to donate. I am trying to promote this to other people to donate as well. Please help me get the word out.

almost 1 billion people don't have access to safe clean drinking water. that's 1 in 8 of us.

my goal is to raise $5,000 in 30 days. will you help me?

Click here to learn more and donate

Click here to read more about my 30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge.

30 Days of Thanks and Giving Challenge

Last year during the month of November, I participated in writing on Facebook one thing I'm thankful for every day. It was a really great way to force me to think about the things I am thankful for and count my every day blessings. This year, I'm stepping it up a notch. I am giving myself a "Thanks AND Giving Challenge". Each day, I will write one thing I am thankful for. In addition to that, I will do one thing each day that involves giving to others. Now, we are on a major budget- so I can't afford to do a lot of financial giving. But giving to others can be in the form of giving money, time, food, clothing, help, and love to others. Thanksgiving shouldn't be limited to one day a year. This is going to be tough on me since I've got a 6 week old baby. He pretty much runs my life these days, and I don't get out of the house much. So I may need to get creative with how I am going to make this happen. 

I was inspired to create this challenge by this website- The 30 Day Giving Challenge. There are people all other the world participating in this challenge. I changed mine up a little to incorporate Thanks AND Giving. Who wants to join me in this challenge? 

After all, it is more of a blessing to give than to receive!

Click here to follow the 30 Day Giving Challenge on Facebook.

________________________________________________________________

Day 1 Thanks: I am thankful for all the joy my son Brady brings me.

Day 1 Giving: I am going to use today to make a plan and come up with ideas for how I can give to others. I am going to promote this challenge to everyone I know. I want to get lots of people involved. The more people are involved with giving, the more other people will be blessed. Will you get involved with me? 

Leave a comment to let me know who is participating with me. And while you're at it, why don't you mention your Thanks and Giving for today.