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      Sunlit Sunday 2

      January 24th

      Fundraising again
      Those that follow the blog may remember that my 15 year old daughter travelled to Kenya last year to help in an orphanage for 10 days. Kenya experience at 15 Along with 11 others they had to raise the money for the 12 months leading up to their visit to fund their travel, accommodation AND any charitable projects they wanted to help out with.  Every week for a year there was some form of fundraising and they managed to raise over twenty thousand pounds.  It was hard work and the youngsters learnt much about themselves, each other, working alone and in teams.  They began to realise the value of money and once they travelled to Africa, began to realise how privileged they are.  This is of course just scratching at the surface about what they learnt, did and experienced and how it changed, I think all of them, from youngsters to young people.  The next generation. 

      Why mention it again?  This group of exceptional characters, I am of course biased, are the first group that this ten year old charity have led, have decided collectively as a group to return to Africa. To continue fundraising and to help as much as they can.  I am immensely proud and tearful about it all. Many who have been return as individuals, but not one group has returned in it's entirety.  These young people are now not led by a teacher or mentor.  They are now not reminded about deadlines for fundraising or helped to think of ideas, but as a group of now 16 year olds they are organising everything from flights, dates and money raising.  They have worked out how much each individual has to raise a month and how much as a group on top of that they need to raise a month to reach the dead line of returning in the summer of 2017.  Fundraising has begun again in earnest and they are in conversation with the charity about which projects they will undertake this time. 



      My daughter as her monthly individual fundraising is offering to paint people's nail with gel polish and needs to make sure that every  month she has a minimum of five 'clients'.  So far she is on track having also painted several teachers nails, friends and family.  One lovely teacher posted a picture of her nails on Instagram recommending her and from this she has a few more orders.  All the money will go directly into the fundraising pot.  This may not be the 'norm' for a sunlit post, but it warms my heart that there are so many more 'good' people in the world than not and I just need reminding of that sometimes. 


      Elsewhere in life it's the small things that cheer me.  We've had a mixed bag of weather this past week from crisp clear blue skies to -8 degrees and deep frost, that's not so usual for us.  Each brings it's own beauty.  It's looking out for these small things that help my well being, are you the same?  They are so easy to miss, but Sunlit Sunday posts really focus me in.  Below I share with you my photos from out and about and at home that have warmed my soul for one reason or another.  I hope they do the same for you...



      Saved some of the daffodils from
       the garden before the heavy frost

      Tulips are now in the shops, I love these flowers

      The sun streaming in through the windows

      Crisp cold clear blue winter skies
      The snowdrops are out in abundance and Snowdrop
      walks with afternoon tea are advertised everywhere around
      here, a great Sunday afternoon treat
       
      Amazing colours in the sunset and the days
       are slowly becoming noticeably longer!



      This week at school we gathered all the children into the hall and watched the 'live' space walk. It brought back memories of my childhood being marched into the hall in anticipation of big world events to watch on the screen.  Memory making moments.   It's so magical and frightening at the same time to think that someone is up there on that beautiful moon.  It generated much talk amongst the children all week. 
       
        
      This week saw the first UK space walk by Tim Peake, but
      let's not forget Helen Sharman the first UK
      person in space in 1991 though
       
      And then the cold came in and we lit the fire... although I may just have
      put on a log slightly too big for the study fire place, oops!
       
       
       
       
       
      ...and just yesterday I noticed the first buds of blossoming opening up.  I have mixed feelings about this though, on the one hand it means Spring really isn't far away but on the other it is far too early and nature really has been confused by the mainly mild winter we are having...


      The blossom is bursting out


      Joining in with Karen for another sunlit post. Pop over and see what everyone is sharing to brighten up the winter months:  Karen
       
         Until next Sunday, have a very 'sunny' week    

      36 comments:

      1. This is the perfect story for Sunlit Sunday and so full of sunshine moments - well done to your daughter and her group of fellow volunteers - they're the citizens of the world we all wish we had in our neighbourhood!

        Oh to be in England When the snowdrops are out - I would love to partake in the Snowdrop Walk and afternoon tea - what could be nicer!

        Shane

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        Replies
        1. Snow drops are such a wonderfully strong plant I adore them Shane but all nature is a little confused here at the moment

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      2. What a wonderful post, sunlit literally and figuratively!
        Thank you for sharing and have a lovely new week!

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      3. Your sunny pictures - especially the flowers - are of course beautiful, but like you, what your daughter and her friends are doing really fills my heart with great warmth! They have obviously learned a great deal from this experience about themselves and others and this will stand them in great stead in life. A wonderful achievement for them all. I wish them all of the very best with their endeavours! xx

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      4. It was heartwarming to hear about your daughter and her friends, hope they manage to raise the funds needed.

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        Replies
        1. So do I. They have 18 months, so hopefully they will x

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      5. Eclectic is a great way to be!

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      6. What a lovely inspiring post, hoping your daughter and friends raise their target amount.
        Love the Sunlit Sunday idea, one of these days I will start an instagram account..then maybe I can join in.
        Maureen xx

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        Replies
        1. Maury, you don't need an IG account to join in with Sunlut Sunday. Click on the link name Karen and it will take you there and explain how to join in

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      7. Wonderful story for Sun Lit Sunday. This would "light" any mother's heart. Lovely flowers. I adore daffodils. Happy SunLit Sunday!

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        1. I shore daffodils too Snap, it was just a tad early for them to be out this year though.

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      8. That is so impressive about your daughter's group. All the parents must be very proud.

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      9. You have every right to be so proud of your daughter and her group of friends! How wonderful that they have been so inspired to return and continue to help out however they can. Best of luck to her fundraising! Loved all the photos of your sunny skies and flowers ... plants here were confused earlier in the winter with sprouts coming up out of the ground. Thankfully, we got a cold blast to stop them in their tracks before they were damaged. Happy Sunlit Sunday to you!
        Wendy

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        Replies
        1. Glad nature sorted itself out Wendy. Strange weather we are all having its true.

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      10. Your daughter and her friends are truly amazing. such wonderful young people that will grow up to change the world. If I lived closer she would be painting my nails!
        Meredith

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        Replies
        1. Meredith she would have loved to have painted your nails. Xxxx

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      11. Great to read your sunlit post and see the lovely photos. What an opportunity for your daughter and the excitement for the schoolchildren watching the space walk. x

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        Replies
        1. It has been a great week Karen. Did you watch the space walk too?

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      12. Several of our grands have done missionary trips and what a wonderful opportunity for them. It makes my heart sing to hear about your loved ones experiences. I have done a few and for sure it gives you a completely different outlook on life. Your photos bring joy to me today. We finally have some sunshine in Ky. Healing to our bodies and souls.

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        Replies
        1. Sun is do very important to our body and souls isn't it Peggy. So glad you understand what my daughter is going through and has experienced. It has changed her for the good, but she started from a good place too. I'm biased but she's s special one x

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      13. It's so good to read about young people like your daughter - giving and working hard to make a difference and to raise awareness of the global need.
        I think that a fire at the end of a winter day, not matter how sunny the day was, is a lovely thing!

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        Replies
        1. I think they give us 'hope' as you mentioned in your Sunday post Honora. Oils t agree more about the fire at the end of the day too

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      14. Glad to visit you through our Sunlit Sunday!
        What a wonderful story to know about the volunteer works your daughter and her friends have done! You must be proud of your daughter. You have shown us beautiful views and fresh flowers in your place.I enjoyed all of them.

        Hope you have a good new week!

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        Replies
        1. Thank you for visiting. I loved seeing your photos of Japan too. Hope you have a good week also Tomoko

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      15. What a wonderful post, you must be so proud of your daughter. Fundraising is slow hard work, I'm doing the London Marathon in April and fundraising for that, so I know how much effort goes on 'behind the scenes'. Have a great week,
        Jillxo

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        Replies
        1. Oh good luck with the London marathon, I couldn't even manage a 5k I do t think, am super impressed. Yes, behind the scenes fundraising is pretty hard work Jill x

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      16. There are many wonderful light-filled moments in this post. How great for your daughter and her friends to feel compassion for others in need and then act on it to improve lives. You must be swelling with pride (the good kind) for her.
        Oh, the daffodils - I think they will be out here soon and I can hardly wait.

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        Replies
        1. Daffodils along with sunflowers can't help but being cheer I feel. Daffodils also bring me hope, I think because they are early in the year it makes me look forward to the season ahead. Hope they come out for you soon Lorrie x

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      17. I do remember your daughter's trip to Kenya and the work she did there. She must be an ongoing bright spot in your life, given her kind heart. I enjoyed seeing your flower photos as well. It will be some time before I see snowdrops in my garden! It's a grey day here, so I turned up the volume and listening to your crackling fire. Lovely!

        Karen

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        1. Glad you enjoyed the fire Karen. She certainly is our bright spot, how right you are. Hoping the grey dats disappear for you soon and sunny weather blue skies come your way

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      18. What a wonderful group of young people. We hear so much negativity in the news about the youngsters of today but as you say, there are more good people in the world than bad so it's good to hear of the brilliant things that some of them are doing. Good luck to them all, I hope they reach their fundraising target. I read the post about Agatha Christie, it was very interesting.

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        Replies
        1. Thanks Jo. Yes it's easy to focus in on the negative but we mostly have good people in this world. Need to hold onto that. X

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      I will always read all comments and will try to reply but it may take me a couple of days, do please pop back and lets get a conversation going...