AWESOME effort girls

We raised over $3000 girls once i paid all the expenses. Woo hoo. What an effort. On top of all that we scrapped 90% of all those photos too which means we will be able to give the two families an album of their memories each - they can sit down together and journal about the photos. Well done - there is no way I could have done any of that without your help. I am having fun shopping for goodies for their hampers too. They will both also get another $1000 as well as their album full of wonderful layouts that you did.

There are so many people to thank but please forgive me if I forget any of you.

Thanks to:
- ALL of you who wore their PJ's and to B1 and B2 for their huge effort.
- everyone who gave of their time and made a layout one/both of the families
- Richelle, Linda, Karni and Al for helping make all those little goodie bags out of paper - never ever again...... OK probably we will but I promise it won't be 2 days before a workshop....
- Winter Family for their awesome catering and for looking after our bellies again. We all look forward to what you have prepared for us
- Barry and David for moving all the church pews - its a horrible heavy job but we could couldn't do it all without their help
- Marelle - for getting her friends to do some pages for the families even before the workshop
- Chris Millar for donating some prizes
- Raqual for her generous discounts again and again
- Karni for making some jewellry for the raffles and give a ways
- Julie for donating movie tickets for the families (thanks heaps).
- for all of you who stayed behind and helped me clean up too.

Im sure I must have missed someone and if I have Im so sorry. I wish i was feeling a bit better on the day to sit down and chat to you all a bit more but maybe next time.

Its so nice to see you all starting to mix with each other and become friends too. Our core little group of 11 has grown some what hasn't it. The money we raise for the cause is the added bonus of the day but what means more to me is to see all you guys enjoying yourselves too.

The next workshop is on the 20th September - and yes i know if Geelong makes it to the finals we may have a few people short - but you know those two big screens - well if we make it for those of you who don't go Im sure i will be able to get it put up on the screens - so hoping that doesn't deter you.

Now as for the cause - i really are going to have you trust me on this one.... The money is going to go to someone who NEEDS it and it is someone many of you know from our workshops BUT... really want to keep this a surprise so please..... don't make me say. If you really must know personally email me but bear in mind I may just wan to keep it a secret....

Anyway here is a couple of snaps of the day -

Thanks again to you all for making the day so much fun and another successful Crop for a Cause.

love

Melissa

Last Minute Preparations

Hi Girls
just a quick message before Saturday - we are now well and truly BOOKED OUT - We have 88 people registered - what a hoot.
There will be lots of little extras and games.

We also have been given photos from the families and i would love to get an album finished for both famiies on the day. With 88 ladies, surely we could all do a couple of pages each. Cardstock for these will be supplied. We will have stamps and rubons available for journalling boxes and i would like to leave them blank for the families to fill in themselves.

COULD EVERYONE PLEASE BRING AT LEAST 3 PHOTOS OF THEIR FAVORITE THINGS - these will need to be cropped down to 6cm x 6cm (This is for a little surprise) so regardless of if you are doing the favourite things option for your kit - this is an little extra surprise - trust me on this one.....

ME album - if you are doing the ME album please start thinking about and gathering some photos of :, memories from your childhood, your favorite color, who inspires you, personality traits, loves, likes, dislikes, things people don't know about you, what you want to be when you grow up (if you haven't already - i know I haven't), dreams, hopes, things you would like your children to know. These are all examples of what could be in your album, there is no formulas for the pages as it is a book of YOU........ So think about what you would like to pass on to future generations.

FAVORITE THINGS: Well obviously you will need photos of your favorite things

Chandon Voucher

There have been many wonderful people who have emailed me to say they are going to send product to help support this cause and I will list them all afterwards to thank you but if you are one of them and reading this - please know that I am extrememly overwhelmed and thankful you for your kindness.

Again the beautiful Raqual has given the OK to give you all vouchers for discount at Chandon Craft up until the workshop (one time use though girls- and please don't pass it onto others as I am also giving her a list of people who have paid). So once you have sent the money to me and i have received it I will pass a voucher onto you.


There is limited places so only when payment is received are those positions CONFIRMED. Thanks to everyone for letting me know of their intentions to come along though - it has helped me plan.

Think WARM and COZY - think PJ's

It's going to be a Pajama party - OK not a party but close to it - and we are going to have heaps of fun and of course prizes for the "best" dressed. Was thinking of how we could make this workshop a little different and a bit more comfy and fun - so what better than letting you all stay in your PJ's for the day. Being in the middle of winter - think cozy, warm, hot chocolate.... yummmm...and being with lots of friends - that should keep us warm. Now come on girls- keep your slippers on - this will be fun. For those of you who really don't want us see you in your nighties or PJ's you can come dressed.....(and we won't hold it against you...)

Four kits to choose from. (apologies - these are just examples - I haven't finished the projects just yet but trust me you will like)

1. All about ME Kit: Many of us scrap everyone else except ourselves but who is going to tell your story... soooo you are... No one knows you better than yourself so get out from behind the camera and snap a couple of photos of yourself or hunt them out. In the meantime have a little think about the following: - Where you are right now..., Your personality, favourite things, people who have inspired you, things you love, some good advice, goals, dreams, what you are good at, basically just WHO YOU ARE..... The list could go on and on and naturally you can add pages to your album as you think of other things. (You will receive the Me album and Dbl paper collection: 2 sheets of each paper in that collection.)

2. Favourite Things. For those of you who don't want to go that deep maybe you have photos of your favorite things, people, friends, pets and just want to dedicate a little album to them then this kit is for you.
( You will receive little flip album and 1 paper collection: 4 papers)

3. Papers Please:- For those of you who just want to get some of the new papers and do your own thing (you will get 10 papers of your choice)

4. Scrap and Chat: This one has your dinner included but you just want to come along and do your own thing and catch up with your scapping and naturally chatting.

Remember you need to bring all own scrapping tools and any special little extra embellishments etc as the only products on sale are Kaisercraft. So if you know what you are doing and see something that matches - get it now.

Registrations are now open - I know some of you have given me your names - but to complete your registration and confirm position- the form downloadable on your right - NEEDS to be filled in,RETURNED TO ME and payment received as soon as possible.

Just want to leave a couple of photos with you for now. Sometimes putting a face to a name makes everything more real and these two people who we are supporting for the next Crop for A Cause as mentioned before have young families as many of us do. Being able to see them and think about if it was us in their situation brings things a lot closer to home - I know it does for me. I ask you keep these families in your prayers too.
love Lissy


The Guthrie Family
The Robinson Family

Its Time to Cherish - Workshop

Before you go any further - if you haven't pressed play on the U-Tube Video (right) press it now and have a listen.....this song is so challenging...

When it comes to choosing a "Cause" for a workshop it is a really hard decision because it appears at the moment whichever way you turn there is somebody needing a helping hand. YOu only have to open a newspaper or listen to the news and it is truly heartbreaking to hear some people's stories and you can easily become overwhelmed by it all.

I couldn't decide between two families in Geelong so we are going to help out both. Both of these families have young children and have been/will be effected due to Cancer. In both situations the prognosis is not good, though we can always keep praying for a miracle.. The details of these families (both in our local community) are as below:

The Robinson Family
Brett (43) & Marie (42) Robinson of Highton. They have 4 children, Ashleigh 16, Connor 14, Billy 12 and Deklan 8. Brett was diagnosed late last year with Terminal Gastric Cancer which is in stage 4 . He also now has secondaries in his spine and ribs.

The Guthrie Family
Kim and Tim Guthrie. They have 3 children, Meg (9), Stuart (6) and Jack (2). I believe Kim is in her mid to late 30's. They live in Grovedale. The husband had not long started a new job, so hasn't accumulated any leave as such, so Kim's mother has been doing alot to help out with the children, etc, etc. Not sure the name of her cancer, but it is in her spine, pelvis, breast, lung, liver and brain. I believe she has or is having chemo & radiotherapy, but not on the spine or pelvis, as there isn't a who heap that can be done when the cancer is in your bones.

Not sure how that makes you feel when you read this but these parents are around the same age as many of us and our children. For me and some of you it would be unimaginable what these families are going through. I know for some of you others, you know exactly how they are feeling as you have been there.

I am just hoping we, TOGETHER, can stand by them, show them we care and can help them in a little way to fight this battle.

So the plan is obviously to raise as much money as we can on the day. But also are in the process of trying to get hold of photos from the families, from friends, so that we can put together a couple of albums on the day for them to get one each. We raised over $2000 at the last workshop so would love to be able to give at least $1000 , an album and a lovely hamper to each these families. Just a small token to show them that there are people out there that care about them.

Start to think about simple page layouts that we you could complete (I will bring a number of examples) but I would love to leave journalling boxes on each page that the members of the family can fill in and obviously we don't know the personal details of each photo. In the event that we don't get many photos we can still put together an album but just leave a spot with a photo matt, that the family can then add photos later.

Now along with the serious side as per always there will be lots of fun and laughs and plenty of time to do your own scrapping. Dinner again will be included in the costs as well as an awesome kit. (this though is still be decided but as per usual there will be a choice between just papers or Beyond the Page- will put the choices up later)

Date: Saturday 21st June
Time: 10am - 10pm
Where: Barrabool Hills Baptist (entry now via the new roundabout in Scenic Road)
Price: $35 - $40 depending on kit chosen
Dinner is included. BYO Nibbles and lunch to share.
plus... other little surprises throughout the day... but they're secret for now...

Papers will be supplied to make the albums - though if you want to donate towards the cost of these you may. Raffles etc will be held throughout the day again to raise extra money

100% of ALL product sold on the day will go to the cause. Again we will have Kaiser product on hand during the day if you need any extra bits and pieces.

Feel free to invite friends, for those of you who have been you will be able to guarantee your friends they will have a fun day and of course meet lots of lovely new friends.

RSVP: Please let me know if you would like to be included in this day by 15th May and payments to me prior to 31st May. I will have choices for kits up well before then.... For now I just need an indication of numbers.

If any of you have any ideas or can get product or gifts for raffles or silent auctions to be held on the day I would love to hear from you also.

Hope to see you all there and in the mean time
REMEMBER ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN LIFE and hold on tightly to the ones that matter the most....

love
Melissa

Letter - Re Vavuniya Childrens Home in Srif Lanka

Hi
Just want to include this letter here for you all to read. It came addressed to me but want to share it with you as you all were a huge part of being able to raise the amount of money we did...



Dear Melissa, (and all you ladies who attended)

Thank you again for your hard work in raising money for Vavuniya Childrens Home in Sri Lanka.

As mentioned in my note to you, Pastor Kevin Hughes has just returned from a trip there. He has sent me a report of his time there. I have attached it, and thought I would give you the whole report because it’s interesting to read about the other homes and what life can be like there in Sri Lanka. I have also printed off four photos of the home at Vavuniya (one is of the well and water tower which has recently been completed).

I have told Kevin of your donation, and apart from the couple of things he mentions in the report, he has given me a more comprehensive list of specific items which he said “I do not have quotes for but I think the funds would go a long way to covering most of them”.

Shelving for the kitchen & store room
Blackboard and stand
12 chairs
Wok
CD player
Toaster
1 bicycle
sports equipment – cricket, soccer
Guitar
Maintenance – windows have to be sanded back and lacquered (need to employ someone to do this)

Fridge – approx. $500 to $600
Repairs to small motorbike used to take the kids to school – approx. $200


We really appreciate your support of the children at the home, and hope you will be happy with some (or all) of the items above being purchased for them to help fit-out the home with just some of the things we take for granted here in Australia.

Bless you

And here is part of a recent report from the Boys home in Vavuniya

BOYS HOME – VAVUNIYA
7 boys 4 staff

The children all seem very settled and look very healthy. One of the boys has severe eye problem and will need glasses. He will be taken for tests. There are some problems with the drinking water – the area is renown for high calcium content, and we are seeing what can be done to rectify this. Fruit and vegetable gardens are being established and look great. We will be investing in some chairs, white board, some extra shelving for the kitchen and some sports equipment and another bicycle. There is an obvious need for a fridge also.

The kids travel 3 kms to and from each day on the small motorbike with Ps Murali. Utimately we will have to purchase a 3 wheeler and/or van as the numbers of children increase. There are now some new regulations which we must meet prior to children being granted permission to stay at the Home – this is a frustratingly slow as there are many children in need.

Because of the military restrictions in place, no vehicles are allowed past the last major checkpoint about an hour south of the town. This requires walking quite a distance through a large checking area, presenting passports and identity cards for locals, and then cramming onto buses for the ride into town. There are two other checkpoints on the way – all passengers have to leave the bus and proceed through the area on foot and having thorough searches made of any luggage or belongings. This is quite time consuming and a little alarming for any newcomer. The same system applies on the way out. On the day before I arrived a motorbike bomb was detonated at a police checkpoint only a few minutes from the Boys Home, resulting in the deaths of two policeman and a soldier and 7 others injured.

As you can see the money we raised went a long way. I guess what we take for granted these kids have been waiting for people such as yourselves to raise some money for.

Thanks again for your generosity and I look forward to our next workshop

love

Melissa

Awesome Layouts

Again ladies I just want to thank you for the awesome layouts you did on the day. I have ordered an album to put them all in and this will be given to Stephen to take over to Sri Lanka on the next visit. Wouldn't it be great to be there to see the kids faces as they go through it.
Give yourselves a huge pat on the back- you are all very inspiring and I thank you so much for the effort you all put in to complete them.
Thanks