Judy Gets Her Wings ~ 2012 Festival of Trees

"There's an angel in us all

A little voice inside that answers every call

There's a joyous sound resounding in your heart

A ray of hope that shines as bright as any star.

Remember . . .

For each and every bell that rings

Another angel gets his wings

So show you care and share your light

And help an angel fly tonight

An act of kindness, a tender smile

These little blessings seem to make it all worth while

So try and do what's ringing true inside your heart

Remember . . .

For each and every bell that rings

Another angel gets his wings

So show you care and share your light

And help an angel fly tonight."

"Another Angel Gets It's Wings," by Trisha Yearwood

Barbara, Ardis, Paula and Carolyn ~ unloading the cart

 We arrived at the South Towne  Expo Center around 9:30 a.m. and it was already buzzing with creative energy and excitement.    A year of planning and preparing ~ and this is the big  day! Paula is our designer ~ she has a lovely artistic, creative mind and comes up with beautiful decorations and design.

Ardis, Carolyn and Lynn ~ reshaping the tree

 The festival has very strict guidelines by necessity.  These trees are viewed by thousands of people all week long, then on Saturday night, the whole display is packed up and delivered to the buyer.  Everything has to be reinforced and wired in securely so nothing is lost.

Lynn, Ardis and Carolyn ~ wiring decorations

Kathy and Barbara begin to decorate

 

Barbara and Paula ~ the lights go on, then the star is next

Carolyn, Ardis, Lynn and Barbara ~ wrapping gifts 

Kathy and Paula 

Kathy, Carolyn, Paula, Ardis and Barbara

  Bright lime, turquoise and red tissue balls, folded paper circles adorned with fairies, butterflies, dragon flies, red and turquoise birds and golden books filled with quotes of love and friendship for a dear friend adorn the tree.

 This beautiful tree is dedicated with love to our dear friend, Judy, who left us after a valiant fight against cancer.  She loved everyone and spent her time serving and helping others every day.  She was an angel and dear friend, who set a shining example of Christlike love and compassion.  ~ Judy has truly earned her wings.

Lynn designed and sewed the tree skirt

Paula, Carolyn, Barbara, Lynn
Ardis, Sandy and Kathy

  There is so much love in this building I am amazed the roof can stay on! As we visited with our neighbors and walked around looking at the amazing trees in various stages of creation, the artistry is amazing - but it is the love that is packed into each display that is so poignant.  Every story is touching and memorable. And every cent that is earned through the Festival of Trees goes to help children receive the medical care they so desperately need.

While we were decorating our tree, Carolyn noticed two Scouts walking by with children's books in their arms - she quickly caught up to them and found out it was the Eagle Scout that we had collected books for.  They invited us over to see their tree as well.  He has collected books for each of the children at Primary Children's Hospital and with his family, done this beautiful "Christmas Story" tree display for Festival of Trees.

Festival of Trees is open to the public from Wednesday, November 28 through Saturday, December 1.  Doors open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. each day.

 Tickets are available at the door for $5/Adults, $3/Children ages 2 - 11 (under 2 years old are free), $4 senior citizens.  Wednesday is Family Day where a $15 ticket will admit up to 6 immediate family members.  Discount tickets are still available at most Zions Bank locations.  Discount tickets are $4/Adults, $2.50/Children ages 2 - 11.

Children are an Heritage of the Lord

"Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3)

Monday, November 5th, we met at Heather's home for our monthly day of caring~  We cut, sewed and hemmed baby burp clothes that will be sent to the  American Fork Utah East Stake Center where Roseann Gunther's Humanitarian efforts stretch around the earth. From there, they will be placed in containers to be shipped in newborn kits to mothers in need somewhere in the world.   

Heather, Sophia and Carolyn at work on the bibs

Ardis ~clipping and  turning

  It is amazing how many items can be produced in a very short time with a few willing hands and lots of big hearts!

Barbara ~ steaming the seams

Carolyn, Ardis and Barbara

 There is lots of love and laughter shared during our get togethers.  These ladies have hearts overflowing with love and caring for others.

Heather, Patti and Carolyn

Sophia

We also collected new or very slightly used Christmas Books for Children to help with an Eagle Scout Project.  This young man is collecting enough Christmas books to give one to each child in Primary Children's hospital this Christmas.  Brandon is also doing a tree this year for the Festival of Trees with a Christmas Story Theme.

 "If we rejoice in what we have, if we feel joy and express it, we are happier." 

~ Quentin L Cook, Sunbeams, Public Affairs and Gospel Joy, 2012

Mothers Without Borders Annual Boutique

The boutique will be held November 2 & 3rd at the Greek Orthodox Church at

 279 South 300 West in Salt Lake City ~ Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..  

Morthers Without Borders Boutigue

October 2012 Joy in the Journal

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, 

you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Ardis and Rae Lee

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Our October We CAN meeting was held  Monday, the 1st at Kathy  home. We all brought items for the Socks for Soldiers, which were stuffed and delivered to the Humanitarian Center in A.F.

Paula

 We also made Journals for women who are staying in the Women and Children's Shelter.  When they arrive they are encouraged to look for the good each day and write it in a journal.  

Heather and Kathy

We had some creative artists ~ and were able to make over 40 journals

Handicraft items or gently used children's books were also collected to donate to the Mothers Without Borders Boutique  

The boutique will be held November 2 & 3rd at the Greek Orthodox Church at

 279 South 300 West in Salt Lake City.  

Upcoming September We CAN! meeting

"A book lying idle on a shelf is wasted ammunition. Like money, books must be kept in constant circulation. Lend and borrow to the maximum -- of both books and money! But especially books, for books represent infinitely more than money. A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold." - Henry Miller

 Our We CAN meeting will be Monday, September 10th at 10:00 a.m. at Barbara Eliason's home at 430 N. Loafer Drive in Elk Ridge.  We will be working on ornaments for our Festival of Trees tree.  

 We will also be collecting books for  Reading Tree. Books can be children's adults, paperback or hardback.  Children's books will be donated to schools, family literacy programs and International libraries.  Approximately 1.6 million books per year are donated to charity.  Some books are sold to pay for programs.  (Don't go buy new books, just donate books you don't need or want.)

We will have a potluck lunch. Come and bring a friend!

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you." - Mortimer Adler

Whatever We Learn To Do

"Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it; men come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just; by doing self-controlled acts, we come to be self-controlled; and by doing brave acts, we become brave." - Aristotle

Rae Lee and Ardis cutting out ties

 We met at Kristin's home for our August We CAN meeting.   We have found some successful items that consistently do well at the boutique.  We made 18 Missionary Christmas Stockings that will be sold at the Festival of Trees Gift Boutique at the end of November.  .

Kristin, Carolyn and Lynn assemble the stockings after they are sewn together.

 After the stockings are assembled with collars and ties, Lynn adds a black Missionary name tag to each one

The money that is raised at the Festival of Trees goes to help children at Primary Childrens Medical Center, who otherwise could not afford to get medical treatment, get the services they need.  We enjoy helping with this Festival every year because not only is it a worthy cause, but also because 100% of the money raised goes to help the children.  This year Festival of Trees will be November 28 through  December 1, 2012 at South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, Utah.
"One out of nine children who walk in the doors of Primary Children’s Medical Center cannot afford to pay for their medical costs.  Primary Children’s charity care program ensures that every child receives the best medical care possible, regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.  Last year, more than $14.3 million charity care dollars were used to cover over 14,057 hospital visits at Primary Children's Medical Center. In addition to charity care, Festival of Trees supports programs at the hospital such as music therapy.  A licensed music therapist works full-time at Primary Children’s using music for pain management, physical therapy, and emotional release.  Festival of Trees also supports research programs at the hospital for children suffering from cancer, heart disease, prematurity, and other illnesses and injuries." ~from Festival of Trees.org, 2012

Rae Lee, Krstin, Carolyn, Lynn and Ardis ~ and Sandy behind the camera

We always have a delicious potluck lunch, with a lovely variety of food to enjoy~ these ladies are great cooks!

"It is never too late to be who you might have been." ~ George Eliot

Upcoming August Meeting

“I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.” ― Charles Dickens 

For our August 2012 meeting, we will be collecting receiving blankets for babies, born at UVRMC to drug addicted mothers, who are placed in foster care.  The foster parents must be specially trained to care for these babies with special needs.  The babies must be swaddled  a certain way at all times and need more receiving blankets than the typical newborn.


The blankets need to be at least 30" x 40" minimum, but the best size is 36" x 36" or 45" x 45" as they can be used a little longer as the baby grows.  Carolyn has found 30" x 40" blankets at Babies R Us.  Most other stores receiving blankets are too small and cannot be used for this type of swaddling.  

The blankets can be home-made or store-bought.  Homemade may be preferable because 36" x 36" or 45" x 45" are the preferred sizes.  

Our August meeting will be held Monday, August 6 at Kristen J's home at 10:00 a.m.  We will be working on Missionary Christmas Stockings which will be sold at the Festival of Trees Boutique again this year.

Let The Festival of Trees Preparation Begin!

So here we are once more meeting at Paula's house for We Can on June 11th.

It all looks pretty colorful, don't you think?  We are making decorations for our tree for Festival of Trees this year.  The name of our Tree is "Judy Gets Her Wings" and it is to be dedicated to Judy Dimond, a member of We Can who finished her mission here last December.

Our tree will feature fairies and flowers and other garden delights.  Judy is a bright and happy soul, and we know that she will appreciate our efforts to honor her.  We LOVE you Judy!!

Bibs for Chinese Orphans

We Can met at Kathy's in May to make bibs for the Starfish Foster Home in China.  The home was started by a BYU graduate who was traveling in China and saw a need for handicapped infants who were given the lowest priority in Chinese orphanages.

We are grateful to RaLee for not only finding out about this orphanage, but for also designing bibs, meeting the requirements of the home.  We had a lovely day chatting and working on stitching, trimming and fringing the bibs, which turned out to be adorable.

In addition to the bibs, each of our We Can ladies brought laundry products that a local women's shelter which had a need for them.

Of course we also had the opportunity to share a lovely potluck luncheon.  Its always so surprising how we all think to bring different things, all of which are yummy, of course.  Thanks Kathy for hosting, and thanks to all the ladies who took out time to show they care about the lives of babies they will never meet.