THANK YOU!!

It all started with a phone call from my friend Jenni. "A family needs help, what can we do?" My OWL funds were tapped out but I told her - don't worry, we'll get this done!

Together we got the word out and WOW! WOW! WOW! The community came together. I know none of those involved in making Christmas brighter for this family need or want to be acknowledged but I must say thank you to each and every one of you.

First off Jenni Botto who kicked this whole thing off. Jenni - had an army behind her (Jenni, feel free to send me their names to add to this list!) She even had someone on Freecycle contact her, this woman met Jenni to shop for the family!

In no particular order....

Jenni Botto
Mireya Spitsnaugle
Karren Adams
Caitlyn Carhart
Nona Jones
Sarah Garcia
Stephanie Bauer
Sarah, Matt & Ella Lucas
Kristine Sprague
Stacy Dempsey
Hope Davidson & her Women's Group

I would also like to thank Julie Schwaiger and Angela Putulowski for helping get the word out to others regarding what we were doing.

*if I missed anyone or misspelled your name, LET ME KNOW!!!

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!! Merry Christmas to all!

Wish List Items still needed for adopted family!!

Friends! We've adopted a family in need and now need help making their Christmas bright! This family of four girls lives a very modest life. They were doing OK until tragedy struck them a couple of weeks ago. They need and deserve to have a nice Christmas. If you can help with anything on the following list or would like to donate some money - please let me know ASAP! Thank you so much!
michelegsmith@ca.rr.com

6 year old girl:
Justin Beiber Doll
Barbie Car
Shirts size 7
Jeans size 7
Shoes size 11

8 year old girl:
Tangled Doll
Black boots size 3
Jeans size 12
Shirt size 10/12
Shoes size 3

16 year old girl:
Jeans size 3
Shoes size 7
Shirts s/m


18 year old girl:
art supplies
chuck movies
British flag t-shirt
jeans size 3
shoes size 7.5
shirts size S

MOM *** Note: Mom didn't ask for a thing. I had a friend ask her for me. The list is a bit vague, I'm hoping to get her a gift card so she can buy something she wants/needs***

socks
make up
slippers

Family in need

So many families are in need all year round - the Holiday's just highlight their needs even more. Imagine for just a moment, your life is OK, not great but things are fine. Then in an instant, the income you depended on (you were living a modest life as it was) was gone. You have rent, clothes, gas, utilities to pay for - oh and it's 23 days until Christmas.... GULP.

Sadly this is a family's reality.

If you are able to help, please email or call me. I'll make sure the funds go to the right place. Whatever you can give will help!

Hoo Hoo!

Thankful for little people with BIG hearts!

On the last day of school before Fall break, Ava & Stella Adams were at it again... The girls each brought me $20.00 to be used to purchase Christmas presents for the family we adopted. They didn't just hand me over the cash, they handed it to me and told me it was for kids who aren't as lucky as they are. Their Mom Karren has done such an amazing job teaching them.

Thank you Karren, Stella and Ava!!

Hoo Hoo!

In just one day....

Gifts from 3 Sycamore Academy students...

First I get a message from a parent/friend yesterday telling me she told her daughter Jayden (1st grader) about the Book Fairy and Jayden said she wanted to donate $5.00 of her Birthday money.

Then today Cassidy receives an OWL ponytail holder from students, Stella (1st grader) and her sister Ava (3rd grader). Karren their Mom told me they saw the OWL and wanted to get it for Cassidy. They each plan to donate to OWL as well!

Lastly while out at 1st grade PE, Raymond (another 1st grader) gives me a dollar bill. I hesitated to take it from him and tried to refuse but he insisted. I haven't told any of the kids about what we are doing but he acted as if he knew... Raymond's Mom - if you see this and that dollar wasn't meant for me, I'll give it right back!! :-)

So in one day, all before noon 4 kids gave something to our cause. Thank you Jayden, Stella, Ava and Raymond!

Hoo Hoo!

The Book Fairy is Coming!

Thanks to my friend Hope's fairy idea, the Book Fairy will be visiting some kids this week!! I've sent an email out to the teachers of our school and asked that they let me know of any kids who walk through the book fair wishing for a book but are lacking the funds.

Why not do the same at your school? You don't have to spend a lot of money. One or two books - that's it. Some of these books cost the same as a Grande Gingerbread Latte - not that I'd know ;-)

Hoo Hoo!

If you can dream it, you can do it. ~Walt Disney

Today feels lucky. Maybe it's the date... 11.11.11 or maybe it's just this feeling I have. Either way - it felt like a good day to start what Cassidy and I have been talking about for months.

We are in the very beginning stages so I'm sure over the next few months, weeks and years we'll tweek things as needed.

For now, this site has been created to first, help children and their families that go to our school, Sycamore Academy in Wildomar. Second to help surrounding families and lastly to help anyone who asks or is referred.

In case you didn't know, I'm not a millionaire so this is starting SMALL! I haven't thought everything through but I didn't want to wait, I can adjust things as I go. Right now, I have families that need clothing, school supplies and with Christmas only 43 days away - Christmas presents!

If you would like to help, please email me at optimistwithlove@ca.rr.com