• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

July 15, 2014

Will You Help?

Blogging is fun. REALLY fun! We’ve had some seriously amazing opportunities come our way through blogging.

We get to work with incredible companies reviewing their latest products.

We’ve traveled the around country, spoken at conferences, been given an all-expenses paid trip to NYC, toured the HGTV Smart Home, been featured in magazines and met so many wonderful people along the way.

It’s a pretty great gig!

But, as much as we enjoy all of those thing, what we love the most about blogging is that it allows us the opportunity to shine the light on issues that are near and dear to our hearts.

Issues like infertility and adoption. And healthy living.

Christmas in July graphic

And even bigger issues. Issues like vulnerable street children. Children with no parents who are living on the streets of Brazil.

Children who were being systematically killed because they were deemed a ‘nuisance’.

Thanks to Susan from the blog ‘My Place to Yours‘ we were made aware of an incredible organization called ‘Hope Unlimited for Children‘.

hope-logo-med

Here’s a little bit of their story…

Hope’s vision for Brazil was launched in 1991 when thousands of vulnerable street children were being systematically killed by gunmen largely hired by local business leaders. Their purpose for these killings was to eradicate a “public nuisance”— street children. 

img_his1

In the rescue phase, children are referred to Hope by the Brazilian courts, who have determined that these children are at mortal risk. Hope staff provides immediate emotional support, psychological and medical care, and spiritual healing. In the transformation phase (four to eight years), the child is guided through educational programs, and vocational coursework, within the context of family life. In the re-entry phase, Hope’s young men and women intern with local businesses for a year and live at a transition home for six months. Upon graduation (around the age of 18) each Hope student is guaranteed a job and is given ongoing support through the Graduate Center. Each graduate receives basic household furnishings and a complete set of tools for the trade he or she has learned.

img_model

Since Hope was founded in 1991, thousands of children have gone through our residential programs. Hope Unlimited currently cares for children at four primary locations and serves graduates and family members through various outreach programs. Most important, 85% of our graduates are in stable living situations, meaningfully employed and active in a local church.

Recently we were contacted by Balsam Hill with an exciting offer. No, we weren’t asked to talk about their latest wreaths or whether or not we were gearing up for the holiday season and wanted to review a Christmas tree.

christmas ornaments

In fact, this had absolutely nothing to do with us.

Balsam Hill is celebrating Christmas in July in a very special way!

Not only do you have the opportunity to give but also to receive.

We have a goal…a dream…of raising at least $1,000. And if we do, Balsam Hill will match that amount!

For every $5 you donate you will be entered to win a beautiful set of Mistletoe and Holly Christmas ornaments.

christmas ornament

But for every $25 you donate you will AUTOMATICALLY be sent one ornament from the exclusive Mistletoe and Holly ornament collection!

 Would you consider helping these children?

 CLICK HERE to donate and make a difference in the life of a child in need!

And on behalf of those whose lives you are impacting, we say THANK YOU!

Vanessa signature

9 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « A Coast By Any Other Name
Next Post: A Recycled Bird Feeder …from a fondue pot! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. martina says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:35 AM

    So sad…this is a great cause! Thanks for sharing the info with us!

    Reply
  2. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    July 15, 2014 at 7:39 AM

    Oh this story is so disturbing and just breaks my heart in two!!!….Thanks for putting this story out to us!. Hopping over to donate and to hug my granddaughter and count our blessings!!…

    Reply
  3. Ashley @ Cherished Bliss says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:38 PM

    This is just fantastic!!! Such a great way to celebrate “Christmas in July”

    Reply
  4. Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours says

    July 18, 2014 at 4:46 PM

    It’s good to see a few of your readers joining us! I forwarded your link to our social media person, and she’ll get it up soon (if not already). Hopefully that will send a few more your way to help get the matching funds. Thanks again for doing this for the kids!

    Reply
  5. Stephanie Fig says

    July 22, 2014 at 10:58 PM

    https://www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedfigtree

    I would love to donate! There is at least one person a day that comes to my shop because they were perusing your beautiful blog. Thanks Heather and Vanessa for giving back for the online community.
    Stephanie Fig at The Enchanted Fig Tree on Etsy

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 23, 2014 at 7:40 AM

      Oh Stephanie thank you sooooo much!!! 🙂 Blessings to you!

      Reply
  6. Dagmar Obert says

    July 28, 2014 at 6:13 AM

    Hi Vanessa!

    Just wanted to drop a note and say that I’m really inspired by your kindness. It’s rare to see a person who does acts of generosity simply just to help other people. It’s great to know that people with your heart and spirit are actively doing something to improve the lives of children.

    I also want to thank you for doing your part to make us aware of the situation in Brazil. A lot of people don’t know about the conditions there. With this knowledge and information, I’m sure more people will join the effort to give assistance to these kids.

    -Dagmar

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. A Recycled Bird Feeder …from a fondue pot! - At The Picket Fence says:
    July 16, 2014 at 4:30 AM

    […] We also want to remind you of our “Christmas in July” Balsam Hill charity event! We are raising funds to help Hope Unlimited for Children.  Won’t you consider making a […]

    Reply
  2. Inspired by Summer says:
    July 17, 2014 at 7:15 AM

    […] friends Heather and Vanessa over At The Picket Fence are celebrating Christmas in July with Balsam Hill Christmas Tree Co. – and they’ve asked us to join them!   I’m […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Lessons From Growing Out My Bangs March 12, 2021
  • Painted Staircase Handrail Makeover March 4, 2021
  • A New French Country Dining Table February 3, 2021
  • Open Now December 17, 2020
  • Tradition and a Christmas Home Tour December 9, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence