37% to Goal; 100% to Awesome

We are raising money this summer to fund the refurbishing of a well in Haiti.  It's been crazy awesome to see our friends, our family, our neighbors, and even folks from our days in Puyallup give generously.  When we put up the Give Well page about a month ago, we had no idea what to expect.  Twenty seven days later, we are overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and awesomeness.  Add to that the events of this evening, and this family has a TON for which to be thankful.

Tonight was the boys' combined birthday party at J.J. Jump in Clackamas.  It rocked.  We arrived at 5pm and had the entire place to ourselves.  And this is a big place, people.  Two huge rooms with four bouncy houses apiece and only eleven kids!  It ROCKED!  Did I mention that J.J. Jump gave us a cut rate so that we could donate more money to the well?  They did and we did!  After an hour and a half of jumping, it was time to head for our party room.

Somebody else, a saint in my opinion, had set our tables and put out our food.  The kids arrived hungry.  They ate pizza and watermelon while the grown ups enjoyed a lovely quinoa salad made by yours truly.  During the meal we showed this beautiful video produced by Living Water International.  The kids were super attentive.  When the video was done we let them know that they are now a part of this project.  They are helping to fix a well in Haiti so kids can go to school, so moms and dads can go to work, so people can hear about Jesus Christ, the source of living water that never runs dry.

And then we opened the "gifts."  It's in quotes because these fabulous kids brought their own money to stuff into a jar to help fund a well being refurbished in Haiti.  Nine kids brought $76.50.  People.  That's SO much money in their worlds.  It's a lot of Lego, a lot of pizza, a lot of My Little Pony.  And they gave it away tonight.  THEIR OWN MONEY.  I just love it.

Sidenote:  We homeschool, right?  So my kids will never sell cookie dough or magazine subscriptions.  They won't ask you to buy a wreath at Christmas or a plant at Easter.  They are going to raise money to give people in the third world clean water and help them know the truth about Jesus Christ.  I think that is so cool.  Okay.  Enough with the preaching.  Pictures?  I thought so.

 Our goodie bags were largely filled by Jeff at Living Water International.  Bracelets, stickers, window clings and cool brochures with great pictures.  I bought the shiny blue bags, glow sticks and sticky frogs at the dollar store.  Frogs because we were jumping.  Glow sticks because they are cool. :-)

The finished products.  Is it me or does that kid's face make these pintrest worthy? ;-)

 Awesome kids on their way to the party place!

 This was a super fun activity that I don't really understand.  Stuff shines on the floor and the kids interact with it and it responds to them.  Oh, technology.  You amaze me.

Super awesome seven year old at his birthday party!

 Sweet awesome guest stuffs the jar while Luke watches and eats pizza.  Cool party?  I think so.

 More jar stuffing from fabulous guests!

 Dividing the money between herself and her little brother so they can both stuff the jar.

 Paul clapping with his hands and feet while people stuff the jar!

 Final jar stuffers.  Excellent.

 The boys received this gift to share and one other small Lego set individually.  It was the perfect amount of presents.  They were thrilled.  It was so good.

Paul with his Lego.  He's pretty ecstatic.  This cost $4.95 at Target.  It doesn't take much.

Final sidenote:  I have no doubt that at some point, Paul will realize his birthday is over and there are no more presents.  He's not some sort of saint people.  He'll get a little grumpy that the gifts are done.  I already have a plan for that moment.  We will pull out my computer.  We will watch a few Living Water videos.  We will pray for God to provide the folks who will give to get us to our goal.  We will help him refocus.  I understand Paul's heart.  I am so like him so often.  I want a new kitchen or at least floors and counters that aren't white for the love of Magic Eraser sponges!  But I watch these videos and I read these testimonials.  Suddenly white counters and cracked linoleum matter less.  Giving life, giving clean water, giving opportunities to hear about Jesus matter more to me when I take the time to think about it and refocus my heart.  We will prayerfully help our kids do the same.