February 13, 2014

An Invitation to Fall in Love - Five Minute Friday


Happy Valentine's Day!

I know... for some, it's too sappy... too commercialized... too sweet.  For others it's too remind-y... too lonely... too exclusively not for them.  For some - for many... it's just another day! That's ok... I get it.

Not everyone has a Crafty Theme-Party heart and a Romantic Dreamy way about them. That's alright.  As Jen Hatmaker says, some people are spicy and some people are sweet. (She's spicy and she's good at other things!)

It's just that this Love day is my JAM, ya'll! This is my bent! I was this way long before Pinterest was ever a thing and while we were never the long-stemmed-roses-and-jewelry kind of couple, we could slow dance in our living room with the best of them!  Oh, and I am the first to admit that I miss (Oh how I MISS!) the classroom parties, the baking, and Valentine-making days back when my Girlie was a Little! I do... I really do!

I've still been known to cut out hearts and ink and glue myself in to a happy creative frenzy.  But it's more than that.  It's more than paper doilies and candy hearts... so much more!

I remember way back in the day, when our Only was maybe 7 or 8... In the midst of my romantic planning and the frosting of all the cuppycakes... God swooped in and lifted my vision for this 'holiday' higher. 



He whispered to me soft and invited me to celebrate Valentine's Day on a larger scale!  "Don't just make it about romance," He said. "Make it about Love!"

So we began new traditions that year... we included our Girlie and invited single friends. We set the table fancy. We lit candles and dimmed lights.  We ordered take out and took Communion. We laughed and enjoyed a meal and talked about the One who loves us best. We wrapped up with a little chocolate, of course... making sure we celebrated Love and shared it too.

It's been years... and traditions are nice... but our Little is working tonight and our favorite take-out place closed down and it was starting to feel a little less than lovely but then... well - then came this:



I know, right? Do you not just LOVE her?

Lisa-Jo has opened a door and invited us in and together we are falling in love... we are leaning in and being love... and we would be beyond delirious if you would jump in and join us, too!

Last fall, in 12 hours, we purposed to do laundry with our sisters across ocean and land and we built a water point in Maubane, South Africa. Twelve hours, ya'll! 

So today we invite you to Be Love...
to be someones' Valentine and help change the world.  








Our goal is to to build a safe place for sustainable food, child care, economic empowerment, job skills trainings, a gathering place for church, classrooms for HIV/Aids education, and a playground for their kids in the community of Maubane, SA.

This is an audacious project... we are believing God to help us fully fund each phase (there are 5) of this project, bringing in a total of $150,000. 

I know... that is huge.  It is scary. It seems ridiculous... but God, right?  But God is calling us and awakening us and we are realizing that we are never 'just Moms' and we have learned that every little bit adds up fast in the Kingdom of God!  He can take what little we have, and make much of it!





So between Valentine's Day (because, why not?) and Mother's Day, we are asking you to pray... to give... to join with us in audacious faith, believing that God will bless and multiply. 



Because if we believe that Love is more than a date on the calendar, this is our chance to fall in love with the world next door and pour out a gift that grows and gives all year long!  

When we give a garden, we can change a child's life... and this community of 400? There are 250 children, many orphaned or vulnerable, and having a Garden will not just change lives, it will save them.





You can visit PureCharity and read more about Phase 1 - "Help One Now - Veggies for Africa" where we are raising funds for a Community Vegetable Garden.  

And just in case you needed any extra incentive... there is this:


Seriously ya'll... check out these amazing Necklaces by Krafty Kash.  $12.00 from each purchase is going directly to help fund this project! I know this is what I asked for for Valentine's Day! (Win-win!)

So... here we are... a ragamuffin group of blogging Mama's stretching hearts and hands and wallets wide... inviting you to join us! We are about to get a front row seat in watching God do the miraculous... in watching Him take our small offerings and turn them into something BIG!  

Here is your invitation to fall in love with the world next door. Update - Phase one... in ONE day, ya'll - FULLY FUNDED!  But let's not lose momentum! You can continue to give to this project by clicking here:


There's room at the table! I'll save you a seat next to me!
Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.
~Karrilee~



So - technically this is not actually a Five Minute Friday post... Admittedly, this took me more than Five minutes tonight, but we are talking "Garden" and we are linking up - literally and virtually, on Friday and beyond!

If you are not familiar with Five Minute Fridays, here's the scoop:  Five Minute Fridays are hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  It is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE!  The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at 10pm Thursday night (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

26 comments :

  1. Because, why not? Yes me too. Because as RIDICULOUS as that figure is, because GOD. Oh Karrilee how much do I love how you've celebrated Valentine's over the years. It's one of my all time favorites too. And this ""Don't just make it about romance," He said. "Make it about Love!" oh that is so so good. Thank you for coming along on this crazy with me. Just thank you. I can't say it enough!!

    LJ

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    1. Thank YOU, sweet friend, for inviting us along... for opening the door and pulling up a chair... for making space - always making space - at the table! Love you so, and this? THIS IS GONNA BE BIG!!!

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  2. Anonymous9:08 PM

    To be someone's Valentine and help change the world! Yes, let's do this!!

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    1. Amen Holly! How exciting is this? To be able to watch and see what God does with this! To sow and reap such a harvest... literally! So glad we are in it together!

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  3. So with you on making it about love, Karrilee! I am still breathless about this. Have to wait just a bit to give, but looking forward to it. A little but my little, hoping God will bless. I am speechless, but just kinda wrote a poem- poetry is my defauslt when I don't know what to say! It's pretty amazing, what is possible with God...and through mothers !

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    1. Dawn, first off - LOVED your poem! Gorgeous! What a lovely default! Secondly - yes - the giving part. Can I say, I was praying because our budget is tight... as in paycheck to paycheck - but this was so on my heart, so I was praying about how and when and what to give. Out of the blue, I had someone show up on my doorstep and say that God had insisted that she give me a specific amount. It was more than I would have been able to scrape together and I told her right away that we would share in the blessing of sowing that money into the red dirt soil of South Africa! Oh friend... He will make a way!

      (And I think He's kinda fond of Mama's and those with Mama's hearts! One thing He told me on New Years Day was that He was pouring out the Maternal Heart of God this year... and this? Well - is this not what that looks like?)

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  4. I am so blessed to have such a loving friend in my life - God sure knew what He was doing when He connected our hearts. I'm joining with you here in delight and awe to watch His work unfold, and to watch Lisa Jo's dream for the community in South Africa come to life. I love reading about your traditions for years back and your words of encouragement for the ground breaking that is ahead. Love you girl!

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  5. Yay, Karrilee! Big yay from Pretoria, SA, Lisa-Jo's hometown where it's all happening today... Love Dalene

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    1. Dalene - How exciting it is for us - way over here! I can't imagine the excitement and anticipation in Pretoria today! Praying abundance and blessings and so honored to be partnering with you!

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  6. I can't wait to slow dance in my living room with my man who I am waiting for. Your post gave me such hope and encouragement, make it about love, that's what I tell everyone, just make it about love. Thank you for this beautiful post. Happy valentines.

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    1. I am so glad you stopped by Nics... and yes - it is worth the wait, and all the work in the before, during, and after too! Is this not our true call in all of life? To make it about Love? Happy Valentine's Day to you!

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  7. Happy to be joining you on this adventure of love. What a great way to spend this Valentine's Day than with those who have a heart bigger than this www can contain!!

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    1. Aaah yes - I love that... hearts 'bigger than this www can contain!!' Amen! It's as if as we give it away - He grows us bigger! We just can't ever out give or out love God... but how fun is it to give it a try anyway?

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  8. LOVE!

    Visiting from FMF!

    Love, Traci Michele @Ordinary Inspirations

    Here's my post:

    http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2014/02/garden-five-minute-friday.html

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    1. LOVE right back to you, Traci! (Off to read your post!) Thanks for stopping by again!

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  9. I am falling in love with South Africa, and with the women on this launch team! Stretching my heart, my hands, and my wallet! Love this, love you! Because WHY NOT?

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    1. WHY NOT!!!! Love this! So glad we are stretching together, friend!

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  10. Karrilee!! You have planted quited the germ of an idea in my head and hear for future Valentine's Days! (See what I did back?) Let's jump in with both feet and scatter those seeds wherever we can. I love some dirt under my nails. (See, did it again - you inspire me.)

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    1. LOL #Yeah #Iseewhatyoudidthere #TheQueensgottaHashtagitupnowandthen I love you and all your gorgeous purple hair!!! #hashtagmejealous #orderedmybrave so maybe soon!

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  11. I love that it's fully funded and we've barely even started. I cannot even. It's so amazingly beautiful to see. Valentines is meh for me this year being sick and having no energy to do anything at all after weeks of it but I will say that this has made my day. I love this the most---> Don't just make it about romance, make it about LOVE. Yes, that is so good.

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    1. OH My LORD - how much do we love this? Fully Funded - on Day ONE!!! Let's keep the momentum going! I know your house has been hit hard, my friend! Praying for health - for all of you... and you know, selfishly because - well... MARCH!!!

      Love you so!

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  12. Anonymous3:37 PM

    I found I couldn't stop smiling though out your whole post today. What a beautiful reminder that today is about love not just romance. As a single momma I understand deeply what love is and I treasure this gift from all those in my life who so willingly share it with me. Glad to be one of your (in)courage sisters!
    Valentine's blessings! Mary

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    1. Mary, thanks so much for stopping by today! Ah yes... I hope you read Jen Hatmakers post on Valentine's Day this week as well - for in it she addresses the Single Mama's and oh my stars - Yes - um, exactly what she said! (http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2014/02/13/to-those-for-whom-v-day-stinks)

      It's really all about Love anyway, right? Or at least it should be!
      Happy Valentine's Day!
      ~K~

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  13. Love this Karrilee! So awesome! I love Help One Now too and have been sponsoring two kiddos in Haiti after reading about them through Jen Hatmakers blog. Thanks for making a difference! Sending much love to you this valentines day!

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    1. Kendra, thanks so much for stopping by - and thank YOU for making a difference and changing the world! Isn't it so amazing that He partners with us and we get to play along! Love Does... so honored to be Doing Love with so many incredible people!

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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