Spread the HOPE

Growing up I was oblivious to the outside world. I thought that everyone lived the way I did – clean water, food whenever needed, toilets, a house, knowing about Jesus. But I was wrong. This past April I had the opportunity to attend 30 hour Famine (My experience during thirty hour famine was actually the first blog I ever wrote, which you can read right here). At this place I had the experience to live, do, and feel what people in Africa and other poor countries face every day. I couldn’t eat for 30 hours straight; this was one of my first times doing this. Boy was it harder than I thought. The night for me was the hardest because I didn’t have something to get my mind off the pain like I did during the day. I realized though that kids every night feel like this. The thought pained me. I couldn’t stand the fact that I had more food then I could ever need and others didn’t even have enough to survive. I knew God in that moment wanted me to do something about this.

So I did something about it. I started doing a little fundraiser in my mom’s scrapbooking store. People would come in handing us old, used, unwanted items, and I would resell them. I used this money and gave it to World Vision, which is a Christian organization that helps the poor in third world countries. And who knew, in three months I raised over $1,000 for World Vision. This money would feed a kid for 3 years! I was astonished that I could make such a big difference in this world and how God was using me in such a big way. 

I didn’t want to stop there though I knew God had even bigger plans for me. So I decided to buy these wrist bands, which I would sell and give the money to charity – all 1,100 of them. On them “HOPE” is written. This word has two meanings. One, we are giving money and feeding these kids for a day which in turn gives them HOPE: Helping Other People Eat. Second, World Vision (whom the moneys going to) helps spread the gospel to the people they help. Thus spreading HOPE to people who never heard the name Jesus before.

I just received these bracelets today and will be selling them for $2, which would feed a child for a whole day. My goal is to sell all of them. But this is going to be hard especially in this small town of mine. So that’s why I am writing this. I want to sell them to people like you reading this. If you want one of my bracelets you can buy one through my website. Just click the Donation tab at the top! 

Buy yours here: http://www.helpotherpeopleeat.org/

I know through Jesus I will be able to reach my goal, which will in turn raise over $1,000 for the hungry. But I can’t do this alone. I need your help in getting the word out. You can do this in multiple ways. You can RT my tweet to this link, you can post the link on your FB, or you can tell your friends about it and get them involved!

With your help I know we can reach hundreds of children starving, thank you for your time.

God Bless, Kirstin

To: The Most Beautiful Soul I Know

It started with a tweet
Reading your profile
loves, Britt, Jenna, Jamie, Court
My face curved with a smile
Some how I knew we'd get along
I clicked "follow"

Who knew we'd grow this close?

It was eight months
You told me you were proud of me
you asked me what i was recovering from
I sent you a link...

Who knew we both were recovering from the same thing(:

You facebook messaged me...

Some how we were exactly alike
Some how both our lives changed,
at the exact same place
Some how we were both going to
that place together in March
Some how God worked everything out
so we'd become friends

Who knew(:

Well... i think some one knew...

I am so happy we meet each other :D

D,

You make me a better me. How much you've been through, yet you're still standing strong in the lord. Everything you are facing you are defeating and not letting it get to you. Although you tell me you aren't strong... D you are... i couldn't have gone through all of that. But that's why i adore you. Seeing you go through all the pain you are facing, yet you still tweet about how blessed you are. You still are thankful. You still know God has your back. You still have faith through everything. That is amazing(: I cant even write how much i love you, its impossible. Honestly, every time when i feel like I'm having a bad day i think about your strength through everything, and it keeps me going. You are an inspiration to me and many others, girl. I cant wait to meet you!

Love you lots(:
-Kirstin

The Wedding Dress

           She stands, looking at herself in the mirror, eyes covered in tears, “this is it” she says, “I’m finally getting married.” This was the day my interviewee, Lindsay, had dreamed about ever since she was a kid.  Looking in the mirror, you saw Lindsay, standing in her gorgeous, white, laced, sparkly, strapless dress. Her make-up was perfectly done and her hair waved in a seamlessly natural look. Lindsay continued explaining to me about her dress, “The dress was literally the first one I tried on.”

Her wedding took place on the beach – the perfect setting. Wind flowing, waves crashing in a sequenced pattern, the sun just on the brink of setting, everything was in place. All of her friends and family were seated, patiently waiting for the bride. Brady, her husband, was standing in front of them, wearing his nicest suit. Heather, the maid of honor, was waiting eagerly at the altar, finally getting to see her best friend evolve from a woman to a wife as she walks down the aisle. Fixing the last piece of hair, Lindsay was ready to go down the aisle.

Everyone turned to see the breath-taking bride. Strutting down the aisle, Lindsay locked eyes with her dad, who was tearing up as she walked with him. The moment Brady saw his wife-to-be, his face immediately lit up. She stood in front of the reception in awe of the whole experience. Her old selfish ways of life would finally disappear with the words “I do”. Lindsay would no longer just be living for herself, but for another person. She explains “We now work together as a team in this world, rather than alone.”

Then the magnificent ceremony began. Friends and family watched in awe, they were finally seeing two people madly in love, come together “for as long as they both shall live.” The minister states, “Take hands and repeat after me: I, Brady, take you, Lindsay, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live”. After exchanging these words, Lindsay and Brady were now considered Mr. and Mrs. Closson.

“Perfect” were the words Lindsay used to explain her wedding to me. She was now not one person, but one of two. Lindsay enthusiastically explained to me about her amazing husband saying, “My life is so wonderful because of the man I get to share it with. He provides love, protection, grace, forgiveness, affection, friendship and respect. He treats me as though I am the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to him, and we enjoy the moments we share together.” I got the awesome opportunity to meet Brady not to long ago. All I can say is she is understating his awesomeness. Brady treats her like a princess, and Lindsay is so madly in love with him. They are the perfect couple.

Her wedding dress is a reminder of her breath-taking wedding, and her amazing friends and family. The dress symbolizes her “once in a lifetime partnership” with her great husband, Brady. This object shows her life evolving, from being single to becoming a team of two. This wedding dress is not just spectacular, but a memory that she will cherish forever.

For me, I take their partnership as an example of who my husband must be. He has to treat me like Brady does Lindsay. And like Lindsay is to Brady, I must be so madly in love with my future husband. He has to be my best friend and someone who will provide “love, protection, grace, forgiveness, affection, friendship, and respect.” I thank Lindsay and Brady for being an amazing model and influence on me and my life. Lindsay last words to me in the interview were simply, “I am so glad my wedding dress is in my life, because it reminds me I have a husband to share my life with. And for that, I am thankful.”