• 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
  • Shop My Home
  • 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 to Inspired by Summer Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

How to Make Framed Fabric Wall Art with Target Kitchen Towels

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence