Day 531 ~ The Blessed Spoon's First Campaign

!!WOW!!

Such a surreal experience.  

The last twenty-four hours leading up to delivering the ten Turkey Trot baskets to their respective families was an absolutely amazing expeirence!!

From collecting all the donations, figuring out quantities and making the shopping list, to all the price comparisons. . . not to mention all the strategizing implemented to use all donations wisely.

Then came shopping and delivery day!

My first stop was a meeting at 7:30 in the morning to pick up all ten turkeys!  This in itself was an exillirating experience!  All ten turkeys donated!  Thank you!! 

Throughout this campaign there have been "little miracles" (l.m.) strengthening my faith more and more, reassuring me that I was doing the right thing... for example if it wasn't for my envolvement in a project for my church I would have never met our turkey donor.  lm #1.

My first stop after picking up all the turkeys was Sprouts.  What a great store.  Our only health/organic store in all of El Paso!  That's right, no Trader Joe's or Whole Foods!  Even with Whole Foods being from Austin, TX...  That's ok  we have SPROUTS!!  And what a great store!!  The gave me a ton of food!!  Ok nearly a ton.. wink, wink.  Sprouts donated all the stuffing, turkey pans, yams, marshmallows, brown sugar, pineapple, cranberry sauce and 25 grocery bags.  Thank you Sprouts!!  You all rock!! 

After shopping at Sprouts, I was able to regroup, see what was left and off I went to Walmart.  Walmart donated two $50 gift cards from two different stores to help with The Blessed Spoon's first campaign.. Needless to say the bulk of the groceries were purchased here... milk, butter, flour, potatoes, green beans, mushrooms soup, fried onions, and rolls.  

The journey throughout this campaign has been and continues to be AMAZING!!  Everything came so easy for me and The Blessed Spoon.  It was as if God was rolling out the red carpet for me each day as I accomplished something or was about to tackle something.

Before I knew it. . .  it was 4:00 pm I was leaving Albertson's with 10 pumpkin pies and I was on my way back home with a car load of food!!

Honestly, it was an exciting day!!  Even when we started taking inventory, making food piles, and packing all the food!  We picked out our first set of 10 spoons going out with their Certificates of Authentication, planned our route . . .

. . . and were out the door at 9:00pm.

A happy Happy Thanksgiving going out to 10 "Blessed" families!!

I am thankful for having the opportunity and smarts to be able to to this for everyone!!

What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . .

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 530 ~ "D"(elivery) Day!! IT's HERE!!

IT'S HERE!!
All food delivered with love and care made their final destination(s).  
As a matter of fact I just walked in the door at 10:00pm 
Exhuasted needless to say.

I will fill you in on all the details tomorrow. 

the BIG DELIVERY ! ! !

I am thankful for all who donated ! ! !
We would not have been able to do it without you!

What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . .

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 529 ~ Countdown Winding Down . . .

COUNTDOWN TO 

1 DAY before the BIG DELIVERY ! ! !

I am thankful for VOLUNTEERS ! ! !

What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . .

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 462 ~ Giving Back with Food

Wow.. so excited right now!  I'm besides myself!

Tomorrow I take the first of many steps towards my goal of working with food and giving back.

I know I've mentioned to you all about my involvement in my Church..  well... I signed up to hold a themed fellowship meeting at my house each Thursday...

the theme...

FOOD!!

Yes... food!

As if I don't complain about it enough... or rather the after effects it has on my body!!  LOL!!

No.. but seriously...

Starting tomorrow... I am holding a Church fellowship meeting at my home each week where each week we will feature a new "healthy" recipe or a recipe where we will discuss how "WE" can make it healthy.

Soooo...
  
Tomorrow I will be sharing my Chicken Pasta Salad...  Ohhh this is soooo good too!  I'll think about sharing my recipe with you on Friday... wink, wink.

Okay.  I do have to admit to one thing.  About a month ago or so... I had NEVER.. yes never... made a Pasta Salad, let alone a Chicken Pasta Salad.  It wasn't until I invited my friend Kristen to come over and cook (we cook together all the time teaching each other new recipes) that SHE taught me how EASY it was to make a Pasta Salad... let alone how healthy it is.  Big smile.

So ... to be very honest with you... the only thing on my mind tonight is my Food Lovers' get-together tomorrow night and having my house just right...  dusted, swept, floors and windows cleaned and the yard intact!

{and} with that said...

There really isn't anything else that matters today!  wink, wink.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” ~Albert Einstein

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ~Mahatma Gandhi 

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 445 ~ Joy Comes With Giving Back

Funny... it took me until after church today, after a nap, that I finally felt somewhat fresh after being on my feet all day yesterday at the Rescue Mission.  

One word... wow!!  I can't even imagine their doing that day after day.  Well I did go beyond the call of duty with the fund raising as well...

I still feel as if I am walking on a cloud... so full of joy and happiness after yesterday's experience.

I never realized how rewarding it would feel to give back to others.  Sharing some pictures from our day.

This is me!  LOL!  Took time away from the fruit salad to take a few pictures to record the "historical" event.  

Here are some of the volunteers from my church, including my brother in law's girlfriend far left and my mom (mil) serving right next to her. 

My little Calley taking a little salad break.  Such a wonderful learning opportunity for her.  

More volunteers from my church.  A mom and dad in the background, while we had their three children and two of their friends are serving food.  Boy we really used this as a learning opportunity for them.  Mom and Dad thanked me after I spoke with them of the importance of an education. 

Picture of some of the wonderful people we were serving at the shelter.

My hope for the people that stay and use the Rescue Mission is for them to be able to get on their own one day and not have to turn to the Rescue Mission for their meals and a night's rest.  I even saw that there were even some families staying there as well.  My heart goes out to them.

I feel so blessed that even through all our tough times it never came to this for us.  I feel so blessed that we have a roof over our heads, utilities, television and internet, and not to mention food on our plates.  Thank you Jesus!

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. ~1 Chronicles 16:8

I am second..

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 444 ~ Success is Good for the Soul!

I was not tired all day until I just sat down!

Today was an absolute success!!! One thing is for sure... I would  we would never been able to do this without all the other volunteers today!

What an amazing experience.  Sure I had a handful on no-shows, but even so... everything could not have gone more perfectly!!

Funny... at one point it started to rain out of the blue... and the roof was leaking so bad that I was drenched!  Again... it didn't matter.  It had been so hot that the water felt quite refreshing.  

I had the perfect amount of helpers... I even had a mom and dad that brought the teenage kids plus two friends and we had them serve the dinner.  They did an awesome job!  I had an amazing amount of food thanks to Sprout's Farmers Market... and I was even able to leave the Shelter food for another two meals.  Thank you again for all the food!!

All I can say is that.. we may not have much, but compared to these people I have so much.  I have so much to be grateful for... and I am so grateful for having had this opportunity today!  I am definitely signing up again.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deedsand glorify your Father in heaven.  ~Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

I am second..

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 443 ~ Another Item Off the Bucket List!

Okay so we have arrived to the night before I go to the Rescue Mission to help feed the homeless.

I told you there's been a lot of life going on.  wink, wink...

You see what has been happening in the last six months is that I have really become involved at my Church.

I have gone through several of their classes to become an official member... I have signed on to have a food lover's theme bible study each week (starting on Sept. 13th- more on this subject at a later date)... and I also signed up at Church to volunteer tomorrow on a city wide restoration.  My group, {which I was assigned as its leader due to my experience in the food industry,} was to help at a local Rescue Mission feed their homeless for lunch and dinner.

I am really excited about tomorrow.  You see I have been wanting to volunteer to feed the homeless at Thanksgiving for years, but was always had family obligations.  I know it's not Thanksgiving right now, but I am getting to feed the homeless and that's the important part.  I get to cross this one of my bucket list, baring in mind that I plan to do this over and over again.

Oh...sure I have to gather the other volunteers, as well as organize the day... the best part is that I get to help plan the menu and get to do the grocery shopping as well.  I suggested taking a letter to the local grocery stores and possibly getting donations from them.  

l am sooo happy to share with you that the local Sprout's Farmer's Market donated $500 in food for the event!  Thank you Sprout's!! Sprout's has no clue about my writing this thank you... all of this is my opinion alone. I am not getting paid for this shout out to them.  I already shopped at Sprout's... love their produce and vegetarian/vegan products... but now I REALLY love them!!

SO... I bid you adieu for the evening knowing that I will need a good night's rest.

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’  ~ Deuteronomy 15:11 (ESV)

I am second..

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 435 ~ #27 of My 30 Days of Truth...

My 30 Days of Truth challenge   I will admit that I changed one question and changed a few curse words... other than that the challenge is intact. 

Day 27: What's the best thing going for you right now?...

I would have to say that the best thing I have going for me right now is ...

      my family and my growing involvement in our church and community.

Seems like the more I do for my family, the more involved I get in church, the more at peace I feel.

I don't know what it is about doing for others... maybe its the feeling of gratitude from them... or the smiles on their faces when someone does something for them...  whatever it is it is making me feel AWESOOMMMMEE!!

For people that have known me for years, well, they are probably seeing a huge change in me... especially the part about being involved in church, going to church and my growing love for God.  Maybe they are even calling me a Jesus freak.  {and} That's okay with me.

I don't mean that in a snotty or snooty way... but it really is okay with me.  All I know is that I am a child of God and he loves me, forgives me, and accepts me for all my faults without scrutiny.

Besides it is such a great feeling being a part of a family that works together, hangs out together, cares for the community together and worships together.

With God's will.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.  ~Galatians 6:10

Where I've been and where I'm going next...  

Day 01 : Something you hate about yourself.

Day 02 : Something you love about yourself.

Day 03 : Something you have to forgive yourself for.

Day 04 : Something you have to forgive someone for.

Day 05 : Something you hope to do in your life.

Day 06 : Something you hope you never have to do. 

Day 07 : Someone who has made your life worth living for.

Day 08 : Someone who made your life hell, or treated you horribly.

Day 09 : Someone you didn't want to let go, but just drifted.

Day 10 : Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Day 11 : Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

Day 12 : Something you never get compliments on.

Day 13 : A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days. (write a letter.)

Day 14 : Write a letter to a hero that has let you down.

Day 15 : Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you've tried living without it.

Day 16 : Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Day 17 : A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Day 18 : Your views on gay marriage.

Day 19 : What do you think of religion?  Or what do you think of politics?

Day 20 : Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 21 : (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Day 22 : Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

Day 23 : Something you wish you had done in your life. 

Day 24 : Make a playlist for someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)

Day 25 : The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

Day 26 : Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Day 27 : What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Day 28 : Name a decision you made that caused a chain of events that would not have happened if it wasn't for that decision.
Day 29 : Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 : A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

 Here's to 30 Days of Truth!

I am second.

[here's to you finding your... ]
Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.