Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Yeah Shutterfly!

Every year I search very hard for FREE Christmas photo cards. I mean these things can add up if you’re not careful, especially when you’re sending cards to your Aunt's next door neighbor's Mother. After much searching…BAM! I stumbled upon a blog that was sharing exactly what I was looking for! Shutterfly is offering 50 FREE holiday cards if you spread the word on your blog. This is great because for the past 2 years my hubby and I have used Shutterfly for photocards and tons of gifts for the family ranging from calendars to wedding books. And we are excited to use them again this year for our Christmas card. In fact, we are about to cozy up on the couch and pick from the numerous choices. Wish us luck as we could be in for a long night but it’s worth it because Shutterfly is cheap and fast. So make a post on your blog! Spread the word, spread some cheer and save some money!

1. Christmas photo cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-card
2. Christmas cards to
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards
3. holiday cards to
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
4. personalized mugs to
http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs
5. birthday party cards to
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birthday-cards-stationery
6. holiday invitations to
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-invitations
7. Choose your favorite product from our
Cards & Stationery page


post signature

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Thumbelina

Last week I had 3 students submitted to a psychiatric ward for suicidal ideation and one teenage girl's aunt actually commit suicide. Looooong week. These young girls are so beautiful inside and out. It makes me angry that they are hurting so much. And it makes me sad because our teens today are dealing with too much way too soon! One student in particular, Thumbelina sticks out in my mind. I don't know Thumbelina too well. I spent 2 individual sessions with her and she came to 1 support group before she got admitted to the hospital. Thumbelina is so tiny and never smiles and even though she says she doesn't want to live I don't believe her. I went to visit her last week and I don't know if anyone who takes the time to read these boring stories has been to an adolescent psychiatric ward before but it's very "eery". Honestly, you can just feel the presence of darkness. I waited for 30+ minutes until a tall man entered the room and said in this deep voice, "you hear to see Thumbelina"? I walked the "white mile" went through several locked doors, had my purse confiscated, and finally entered a bare cold white room. There were two beds and in one was Thumbelina with her knees tucked up under her chin with her sullen vacant eyes. You start to think for a minute, "What do you say to someone who doesn't want to live"? I was overwhelmed with compassion for this young girl and as we begin talking you can hear the sadness and fear. The fear to live. At some points I can understand why she is afraid. Our world can be very scary, hard and unforgiving...but that's where faith comes in. Words of truth just started pouring out of my mouth. Jesus loves you, He has a purpose for you, He loves you even more, you don't need to be afraid, you are beautiful and you are loved Thumbelina. Tears well up in her eyes and she instantly shuts them off like every other emotion she feels. But I gently tell her, "Look at me Thumbelina, I'm not going to give up on you and I love you". I ask her if I can pray for her, she says, "It doesn't really matter, you can do what you want". I say, "You do matter and because this is true I'm going to pray for you". I asked her if I could hold her hand because I was desperate to touch this lifeless body. As I grabbed her hand I was shocked. The sterile room was freezing, I was freezing, plus she is underweight (meaning her body should be ice cold) but oddly her hand was on fire. It hit me, "There is so much life in this girl" and I hear God say, "fight for her". I tell her that I know this and her lip trembles, she shakes her head to rid the emotion. I pray, I hug, I leave and can feel a sudden lightness as I step outside. I get in the car and I pray, pray hard and you know what I realize...Satan is real and it makes me angry. So if you read this, please help me fight for Thumbelina and all the people who think this world would be better without them.

post signature