Small things

“So the small things came into their own: 

small acts of helping others, if one could; 

small ways of making one's own life better: 

acts of love, acts of tea, acts of laughter. 

Clever people might laugh at such simplicity, 

but, she asked herself, what was their own solution?” 

― Alexander McCall Smith, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive

Monday, January 7, we met at Carolyn's home. We collected items for the Women & Children's Shelter

and worked on coloring pages that are put into small ABC books for children, who are learning to read.

Patti, Carolyn and Ardis

A sample of the small ABC books

These pages will be delivered to the Humanitarian Center in American Fork and the books will be completed there Wednesday , then packed into a container, where they will be sent somewhere in the world where school supplies are needed.

2013 We CAN Projects ~ A View from the Top!

“Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. 

Charity and love are the same --

 with charity you give love, 

so don't just give money 

but reach out your hand instead.” 

― Mother Teresa

2013 We CAN Projects

1. Donated napkins and paper towels to Food & Care Coalition
2. Donated coats for "One Warm Coat" project
3. Made Valentines for Payson Nusing Homes
   
4. Put together 40 sack lunches for Food & Care Coalition
5. Donated Hamburger & Hotdog Buns to Homeless Shelter
6. Sew Hooded Children's Bath Towels to donate to the Christmas Box House of Utah County
   
7. Made Fleece Blankets to donate to Project Linus
8. Toured Christmas Box Project Room of Utah County (help children in the foster system)
9. Stuffed Teddy Bears for the Teddy Bear Project (Children Justice Center)
10. Made Homemade Greeting Cards for Operation Write Home (for Deployed soldiers to send home to families)
    
11. Donated Bath Towels for Utah County Center for Women and Children in Crisis
12. Made Journals for Hearts Knit Together (Women's Shelters)
13. Donated Children's Bath Towels for Heart Knit Together (Women & Children's Shelters)
14. Donated School Supplies to Fill Backpacks (Tabitha's Way benefits local children)
15. Sewed Missionary Christmas Stockings  to donate to Festival of Trees Boutique (Primary Children's Medical Center)
16. Donated Boutique Items for Mothers Without Borders Boutique (orphaned African children)
17. Collected and Donated books to a high school classroom
    
18. Donated Boutique items for Doll House Boutique (Children's Justice Center)
19. Created & Decorated a Doll House which was Donated to the Doll House Boutique (Children's Justice Center)
    
20. Donated Laundry Bleach to Food & Care Coalition in Provo
21. Stuffed & Donated Doggie Christmas Stockings to Festival of Trees Boutique (Primary Children's Medical Center)
22. Filled 12 Christmas Stockings to be sent to U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan
23. Made Decorations for and Donated Christmas Tree for Festival of Trees (Primary Children's Medical Center)
    

Grandma Inga's Tree

*

“Twenty

 years from 

now  you  will be 

more  disappointed  by 

the things that you didn't do

 than  by the ones  you did do.

 So . . . . . . throw off the bowlines. 

Sail  away  from  the  safe   harbor. 

Catch  the  trade  winds  in  your  sails. 

Explore. 
Dream.  

Discover.” 

― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Our finished tree ~ we were thrilled to hear that it sold on bid night!

Paula, Kathy and Patti - ready to begin!

Monday, December 2, nine of us headed up to the South Towne Convention Center to put together our tree for the annual Festival of Trees. Carolyn, Lynn, Vila, Ardis, Kathy, Patti, Rae Lee, Paula,and Sandy were there and Barbara and her husband, Alan dropped by for a bit as well.  This year, our tree was designed with a Scandinavian theme in red and white.  Our tree this year is dedicated to Ardis' lovely Grandmother Inga, who came to the United States from Norway when she was a young woman.

We made some of the decorations during the year,

Rae Lee, Paula and Carolyn - working on decorations for the tree

Barbara with the pipe cleaner candy canes

Paula created some of the decorations and she painted the skates, skis, chair and table.

Tree topper ~ designed by Paula P

 Some of the items were also purchased this year.  Lynn created the lovely tree skirt in red with white block designs.

Patti, Rae Lee, Kathy and Paula starting to decorate

 As always, love fills the air in the center and the excitement and enthusiasm in the air is electric!  It is so fun to be at the Festival of Trees on this day.

Ardis, Vila, Carolyn and Lynn wrapping gifts to place around the tree

 As we visit with those designing trees around us, we hear stories that are so touching and others that are just fun . . . but all the trees are designed with the goal of raising money to help children receive the medical help they need.

Paula ~ putting on final touches

Ardis found these two cute porcelain dolls to go with the Swedish theme

Rae Lee, Ardis, Kathy, Sandy, Paula, Lynn, Carolyn, Patti and Vila

The Festival of Trees runs Wednesday, December 4th through Saturday December 7th at the South Towne Center at 9575 South State Street in Sandy, Utah, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Tickets are available at the door or discount tickets can be purchased at many Zion's Bank locations. All the proceeds go to Primary Children's to help children in need of medical care get the services that they need.