Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Fill The World With Love

In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise.

At a moment in my life when the world is new.

And the blessing I shall ask is that God will grant me,

To be brave and strong and true, 

And to fill the world with love my whole life through.

In the noontime of my life I shall look to the sunshine,

At a moment in my life when the sky is blue.

And the blessing I shall ask shall remain unchanging.

To be brave and strong and true,

And to fill the world with love my whole life through

In the evening of my life I shall look to the sunset,

At a moment in my life when the night is due.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer.

Was I brave and strong and true?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

~ from Good-bye Mr Chips, sang by Petula Clark

Our first service meeting for the new year, was held Monday, January 4th at Barbara's home.

Carolyn and Vila working on Princess Crowns 

We made  Activity Grab Bags, Princess Wands and Crowns and began putting together "Surgery Buddy Dolls" for children at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.  

Barbara & Carol putting together Activity Grab Bags

The Activity Grab Bags are used on the childrens' floor at the local hospital to help keep the children occupied and entertained as they are recuperating from illness or surgery.  

Vila cutting out Surgery Buddy Dolls

Some of the Princess Crowns

The Grab Bags contain plain and colored paper, coloring crayons, stickers, an activity book or age appropriate toy.  The  princess wands and crowns are given to the little girls to play with as well.  Surgery dolls are small dolls, dressed in bright colored hospital gowns and the child is able to mark an x on the doll where his or her surgery is going to be.  The child is able to keep the doll and take it home when they go. If you are interested in helping with projects for Utah Valley Medical Center, more information is available at Intermountain Pediatrics Service Projects.

We enjoyed a potluck lunch together and lots of laughter. 

Our February meeting will be held at Carol Goold's home on Monday Feb 4th.  We will be making Necessity bags for homeless women and making Valentines for the local Assisted Living Centers and Retirement Centers.

“Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.” 

― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Our drops in the Ocean ~ 2015 Our Year of Service in Review

January 2015

Projects:

1. Colored Alphabet Sheets for the AF Humanitarian Center School Kits
2. Covered Journals for Hearts Knit Together (serving Utah's battered women's shelters)

Collected: Matching Shampoo & Conditioner for Hearts Knit Together

February 2015

Project: Made 135 homemade valentines for Payson and Santaquin Nursing Homes

Collected: Items for birthday kits for the Food Bank.  Each kit had 6 things: cake mix, candles, matches, birthday banner, birthday card and a small toy.  We donated 23 Birthday Kits.

March 2015

Project: We met at the Food Bank in Provo for 1 1/2 hours service and a tour of the facility, then we went out to lunch.

Collected: Items for the backpack kits for the Food Bank.  School teachers put the kits in backpacks of school kids who will need food for the weekend.  We turned in 30 completed kits plus items for many more.

April 2015

Project: Made shape toys for school kits for American Fork Humanitarian Center.

Collected: Hair spray, shampoo and condition for the Center for Women and Children in Crisis.

May 2015

Project: Sewed 200 diapers for birth kits for the American Fork Humanitarian Center

Collected: White temple clothing for Tijuana Temple and items for troop support for Military Appreciation Month

June 2015

Project: Made flannel boards and felt flannel board figures for the Festival of Trees boutique for Primary Childrens' Hospital.

Collected: Premie and newborn clothing for Newborns in Need

July 2015

Project: Made ornaments for our Festival of Trees tree - pinwheels, lanterns, Tinkerbell clocks

Collected: Clothes for Ukraine and temple clothing for Tijuana Temple patrons

August 2015

Project: Worked on ornaments for our Festival of Trees Peter Pan themed tree

Collected: School supplies for school kits for the Food Bank

September 2015

Project: Made the garland for the Festival of Trees Peter Pan themed tree

Collected: Supplies for Days for Girls

October 2015

Project:Filled Christmas socks for soldiers and finished the tree garlands; made shape toys for the AF Humanitarian Center

Collected: Items to fill the soldier Christmas socks

November 2015

Project: Made 163 assorted neighbor gifts to be sold at Festival of Trees Gift Boutique

Collected: Muffin mixes for some of the neighbor gifts we were making

December 2015

Project: Set up our tree at the Festival of Trees.  This is the 7th tree We CAN has donated ~ we especially appreciate all of Paula's artistic design and hard work to get the tree ready.  This year's tree sold for $950.  With the tree, neighbor gifts and flannel boards that we made for the Festival of Trees Boutique, our We CAN group helped raise $1300 for Primary Childrens' Hospital.

A HUGE THANK YOU!!!! to all you beautiful ladies and  you kind gentlemen who work so hard putting a few more drops of love into the world's ocean of humanity.   2015 has been a Terrific Year!

Second Star to the Right and Straight on 'til Morning ~

“To live will be an awfully big adventure.” 

― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

This is the 45th year for the Festival of Trees and We CAN's sixth year doing a tree for the Festival.  This year, our creative, talented artistic director, Paula Perkins, took us to Never Never Land through the Darling's Nursery window.

Carolyn and Paula ~ getting us all started

We arrived at the South Town Center this morning on a cold, beautiful bright winter's day.  Our number was on the opposite side of the hall, so we all hoped that it would be a little warmer this year, but not to be - our booth was right in front of a big, OPEN  bay door and the wind was cold.  We put on our coats and mittens!

Paula and Carolyn decorating the tree

We are given a 9 x 7 space, which can be challenging when trying to fit two beds, a rocking chair, a Christmas tree and lots of presents! 

Rae Lee, Carol and Sandy covered the frames with fabric

 We spent a couple of hours on this cold concrete floor, stapling fabric to the frames - 

 Paula makes certain that everything is wired in and just perfect!  Everything on the tree must be wired in to the branches and there is re-bar going up the center of the tree that is connected to the tree stand below, making the tree solid and easily transported to the new owners after the Festival. 

 Carolyn, Paula and Sue working on the ornaments for the tree.

 Tinkerbell is the star of the show - she appears inside the paper lanterns and on the colorful clocks and takes the show on top of the tree

The bright colorful garland is all folded paper, wooden spools and ribbon 

 Second Star to the Right and Straight on Til Morning!

 John and Michael's beds are covered with bright home-made quilts and matching pillowcases

Carol's getting feisty with the electric tools! 

 Because of a few technical difficulties and rules that we were not aware of, Paula  had to re-design some of the background scenes . . . and they turned out beautifully.  There are silhouettes of  Michael, Peter and Wendy flying over the London Skyline. 

 All the banners add a personal touch and festive look to the Nursery

This year's crew minus Scott, who helped in spite of a recent shoulder surgery
Lynn, Rae Lee, Carolyn, Carol, Paula, Sue and Sandy 

All finished!  And what a fun Nursery 

  Ahhh, we were all cold (freezing cold) hungry and tired . . . it was so great to sit down at Olive Garden to visit eat  and relax Lynn, Carolyn, Paula, Sue, Rae Lee,  Carol  and Sandy behind the camera
Festival of Trees runs from Wednesday, December 2 through Saturday, December 5th at the South Town Center in Sandy, Utah. All proceeds go to help children at Primary Children's Hospital get the medical care they need.  Many of the trees done for the festival are dedicated to children or other loved ones and their stories are always inspirational and touching.   It is a great way to help children in need.  We work together on our tree and crafts that will be sold at the Festival Boutique throughout the year ~ so it feels like Christmas all year long!. We enjoy lots of laughter, fun and many hours of service together. They are all great ladies!