Well, it had to slow down at some point and this cold weather has brought it to a halt! I have just rented some studio space in an attempt to drum up some picture-taking sessions and donations and am hoping to earn an additional $100 before the start of the new year. It's an ambitious goal considering I have no actual appointments at this time, but felt it was the thing to try so I'm going for it! If no one shows at least I'll take some great pics of my own kiddos, which is always nice to have as well. I continue to pray for this project and seek what steps to take next as I go. I am still amazed at what has happened so far and am thinking about some projects to pursue for the spring. I plan to enjoy Christmas with my family and to celebrate the birth of Jesus with much thanksgiving for all the blessings in our life!! Have a wonderful Christmas and I'll see you in the spring :)
Studio Session: Sunday, December 11 2:30-4:30 pm @ Studio M in Belleville, IL
e-mail or facebook me for more information julielhanna@yahoo.com
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Three Months = 1/5 of the way there!!!
Well, it's November 14 and I am just $25 away from the first $1000 towards the water well project. I realize that soon I will have photographed everyone I know and the remaining $4000 will be a bit more challenging to raise but I'll keep on working on it!! Our church just held a Potato Drop and the organizers made up T-shirts that simply said "I Refuse" on them. The point is that someone will ask "What do you refuse" and we could reply "I refuse to do nothing!" I LOVE this!!! I hope that you are all currently praying and thinking about what it is that you want to work towards. As my daughters like to say (and I really have no idea where they got this phrase from!) "Let's do this thing!!"
Friday, November 4, 2011
Amazing!!!
I have received $700 in donations for Works4Water as of today!! I am completely blown away by the support I've received for this goal!! As I've said before, this will take quite a while to achieve, but it will be worth every hour spent! Thank you to those following my progress. Thank you to those who have entrusted me with your family's photos. Thank you to those who have shared my information with others. I am so blessed and hope to bless others through all of your support!!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Pictures, Pictures and More Pictures!
It's mid-October and I have now raised $375 to date!! I am taking pictures every Saturday until mid-November and still loving it!! I feel very blessed to have such wonderful support from friends and family as I continue to work towards the $5000 goal for the water well. I recently photographed a family of 14 (and a dog) which is my largest photo session yet. They were so kind, cooperative and patient and the weather could not have been more beautiful! Thank you again to all my supporters!! Here are a few new shots of my kids. Have a great week!!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
What a Week!
This week has been a successful week as I am $225 down. My goal of reaching $500 by Christmas is looking good as I've got three more picture sessions scheduled over the next several weeks and two more in the works. I've had several people ask me how I chose the water well as my goal, and all I can say is that God brought this idea to me. There were many things that took place that lead me to the Charity:Water website and in turn the video (posted in my first blog) that really effected me. There are so many causes out there to choose from and I think what I've realized is that if everyone just chooses one and goes for it we can change the world for the better! I, like most, prefer immediate gratification and this project does not provide that as I see a long road ahead of me to reach this goal. However, it is achievable and the fact that one or two years of my life dedicated to this can in turn positively effect 250 people by giving them clean water for 20 years sounds like a pretty good return! I'll keep you posted :)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Fall = Beautiful outdoor pictures!
Well, the fall weather is here and the trees are beginning to turn. I had two photography sessions this morning with beautiful weather and even more beautiful children!! I am so enjoying this experience and have set a goal to earn $500 of my $5000 by Christmas. I'm continuing to spread the word and am praying for many more picture sessions in the coming weeks.
Now, to turn to the water crisis for a moment as I'm reminded of why I want to achieve this goal in the first place. According to Charity:Water's website 1 in 8 people on this planet drinks unclean water!! I look at my life and realize how truly blessed we are!! I never worry about my children's water, food, shelter, clothing...and can't imagine how not having clean water would effect every aspect of a person's life. I want to achieve this goal because it is achievable and I believe it is my responsibility to do something!! I'm learning that as I do this small act to help others I am gaining so much and my life is being blessed in return. Something that starts out for others has become something I am passionate & excited about and truly enjoying!! Thanks for your continued support and prayers and please spread the word or set up your family's pictures today!
Now, to turn to the water crisis for a moment as I'm reminded of why I want to achieve this goal in the first place. According to Charity:Water's website 1 in 8 people on this planet drinks unclean water!! I look at my life and realize how truly blessed we are!! I never worry about my children's water, food, shelter, clothing...and can't imagine how not having clean water would effect every aspect of a person's life. I want to achieve this goal because it is achievable and I believe it is my responsibility to do something!! I'm learning that as I do this small act to help others I am gaining so much and my life is being blessed in return. Something that starts out for others has become something I am passionate & excited about and truly enjoying!! Thanks for your continued support and prayers and please spread the word or set up your family's pictures today!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
$75 and counting!!
I've officially received my first two donations and have $75 towards my $5000 goal. It's exciting to see that, although it may take me a while, this is actually achievable!! I have two upcoming photography sessions scheduled and with the weather cooling and the leaves beginning to change I foresee business picking up even more. I still feel very positive and motivated to see this through and am enjoying every opportunity I get to photograph!!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
One down..
Well, I'm on my way!! I just completed one photography session yesterday and am looking forward to completing many more! It's exciting to actually begin and see that this can be done.
I want to put a challenge out there to get some of you thinking...What are the works4water that you can complete? We all have talents, skills, God-given gifts. How can you build your own well (or whatever it is you feel compassionate about)? I'm also trying to involve my children a bit and thinking about how they can do "works" as well. I'm thinking about taking my oldest daughter (who's 8) along with me as a photography assistant. I've also thought maybe my kids could do a lemonade stand to earn some money or help some neighbors with odd jobs. They have viewed the Charity:Water video clip several times and ask me a lot of questions about this new thing I'm doing so why not involve them as much as possible too? Anyway, the seed is planted. What can we all do to change the world?
I want to put a challenge out there to get some of you thinking...What are the works4water that you can complete? We all have talents, skills, God-given gifts. How can you build your own well (or whatever it is you feel compassionate about)? I'm also trying to involve my children a bit and thinking about how they can do "works" as well. I'm thinking about taking my oldest daughter (who's 8) along with me as a photography assistant. I've also thought maybe my kids could do a lemonade stand to earn some money or help some neighbors with odd jobs. They have viewed the Charity:Water video clip several times and ask me a lot of questions about this new thing I'm doing so why not involve them as much as possible too? Anyway, the seed is planted. What can we all do to change the world?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
My first photography session
I have my first photography session set up for this Friday! I'm truly feeling excited about this endeavor and looking forward to the entire experience! This has so many perks: *Charity *Developing and improving on my photography hobby *Seeing friends and their families!!! Thanks for checking in and for all the kind words of encouragement and support!
Monday, August 8, 2011
What can you do?
Hello,
Today it begins...I'm officially taking appointments for you or your family's picture sessions! Please e-mail me at: works4water@yahoo.com
I can come to your home to photograph in your own yard or can meet you at a park of your choice. I only ask that you bring a disc for me on which to save all your photographs and that you pay whatever you wish after you've received your disc. If the pictures don't turn out well, feel free to give nothing. If you like them your donation is up to you - $20, $30... I will collect until I earn the $5000 to build a well and will keep everyone posted via this blog. I prefer to do outdoor photos only so you may want to think of a beautiful fall setting or a Christmas card shot! Thanks for helping this cause and I look forward to photographing you soon!!
Julie
Today it begins...I'm officially taking appointments for you or your family's picture sessions! Please e-mail me at: works4water@yahoo.com
I can come to your home to photograph in your own yard or can meet you at a park of your choice. I only ask that you bring a disc for me on which to save all your photographs and that you pay whatever you wish after you've received your disc. If the pictures don't turn out well, feel free to give nothing. If you like them your donation is up to you - $20, $30... I will collect until I earn the $5000 to build a well and will keep everyone posted via this blog. I prefer to do outdoor photos only so you may want to think of a beautiful fall setting or a Christmas card shot! Thanks for helping this cause and I look forward to photographing you soon!!
Julie
Who, what, where & why?
Hello and welcome!
Here goes my first post and once I hit "publish" my quest has officially begun! This all began when our church, Christ United Methodist in Fairview Heights, IL, suggested that the entire congregation read "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. I read the book and did a group study with some wonderful women and we all said in the beginning that we were hoping we would read this book and actually act on it as opposed to most books we read, are temporarily motivated, but never act on. Throughout the study I felt compelled to do something, anything - my part. I realized how out of touch I was and how I had truly assumed that the majority of people in the world lived similar lives to my own - wrong!! But, as all book studies go, we finished and went on with our busy day-to-day lives and again I did not act. Until now...
Just last week I began to feel that there was something I was supposed to be doing. It wasn't more laundry, dishes or cleaning. It was something bigger. Something that would actually help others. So I began to pray. I also got out my "Hole in Our Gospel" book and flipped to the back cover where I found a website: www.sixweekquest.com.
I went to the website to search for ideas for what to do and started reading about the plight of so many around the world with a lack of clean water. I also noticed a video clip put on by Charity: Water, which I watched and felt that this was it!! I then went to their website and found information on the need to build wells in African villages. One well could provide clean water to 400 people for 20 years at a cost of $5000 to build. There it was!
I then went for a walk while I continued to pray on how I was actually going to collect $5000 for this well to be built and whether or not I should just forget it or move forward. I asked God to give me a sign as to what I should do next. As I walked and prayed I came up with the phrase "Works 4 Water" and the idea that I could do "works" to earn money for the well. But what kind of works? I then began thinking about any talents I might have. My husband can attest that I am no Martha Stewart so crafts and cooking were out! I have no musical talents either - out! I do, however own a very nice camera and catch wonderful pictures of my children outside playing. There it was! I could take pictures of families outdoors and ask them to donate money for the building of this well rather than paying me for my "works."
As I walked I continued to pray and ask for a sign as to whether I should actually pursue this idea. When I arrived at home, sweaty and exhausted I sat down at our dining room table to be near the air vent. When I glanced on our table I noticed two things. The first was our son's sippy cup filled with nice, clean water and the second was my new issue of Reader's Digest with the word "WATER" in huge font on the cover. There it was!
I was feeling fairly confident about this idea, but I am one who needs a lot of convincing. As this day progressed and all my children were either napping or playing on their own I decided to get out a book I hadn't picked up in months and read a bit. It was a book having nothing to do with charity. I had read only two chapters of this book months prior and hadn't picked it up since, but as I opened the book I noticed I had placed a bookmark at the point where I had stopped and when I looked it was a Richard Stearns bookmark that read "What Can I Do Now?" And there it was!! And here I am.
My goal is to earn $5000 to donate to Charity:Water to build a well in Central Africa. This may take me a year or two but at least I'm finally acting. I'd love to hear from others who have advice or suggestions on this undertaking. I'd also love anyone in my area to contact me to set up an appointment time for your family photo session!! Thanks for your support and prayers!
Julie
Here goes my first post and once I hit "publish" my quest has officially begun! This all began when our church, Christ United Methodist in Fairview Heights, IL, suggested that the entire congregation read "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. I read the book and did a group study with some wonderful women and we all said in the beginning that we were hoping we would read this book and actually act on it as opposed to most books we read, are temporarily motivated, but never act on. Throughout the study I felt compelled to do something, anything - my part. I realized how out of touch I was and how I had truly assumed that the majority of people in the world lived similar lives to my own - wrong!! But, as all book studies go, we finished and went on with our busy day-to-day lives and again I did not act. Until now...
Just last week I began to feel that there was something I was supposed to be doing. It wasn't more laundry, dishes or cleaning. It was something bigger. Something that would actually help others. So I began to pray. I also got out my "Hole in Our Gospel" book and flipped to the back cover where I found a website: www.sixweekquest.com.
I went to the website to search for ideas for what to do and started reading about the plight of so many around the world with a lack of clean water. I also noticed a video clip put on by Charity: Water, which I watched and felt that this was it!! I then went to their website and found information on the need to build wells in African villages. One well could provide clean water to 400 people for 20 years at a cost of $5000 to build. There it was!
I then went for a walk while I continued to pray on how I was actually going to collect $5000 for this well to be built and whether or not I should just forget it or move forward. I asked God to give me a sign as to what I should do next. As I walked and prayed I came up with the phrase "Works 4 Water" and the idea that I could do "works" to earn money for the well. But what kind of works? I then began thinking about any talents I might have. My husband can attest that I am no Martha Stewart so crafts and cooking were out! I have no musical talents either - out! I do, however own a very nice camera and catch wonderful pictures of my children outside playing. There it was! I could take pictures of families outdoors and ask them to donate money for the building of this well rather than paying me for my "works."
As I walked I continued to pray and ask for a sign as to whether I should actually pursue this idea. When I arrived at home, sweaty and exhausted I sat down at our dining room table to be near the air vent. When I glanced on our table I noticed two things. The first was our son's sippy cup filled with nice, clean water and the second was my new issue of Reader's Digest with the word "WATER" in huge font on the cover. There it was!
I was feeling fairly confident about this idea, but I am one who needs a lot of convincing. As this day progressed and all my children were either napping or playing on their own I decided to get out a book I hadn't picked up in months and read a bit. It was a book having nothing to do with charity. I had read only two chapters of this book months prior and hadn't picked it up since, but as I opened the book I noticed I had placed a bookmark at the point where I had stopped and when I looked it was a Richard Stearns bookmark that read "What Can I Do Now?" And there it was!! And here I am.
My goal is to earn $5000 to donate to Charity:Water to build a well in Central Africa. This may take me a year or two but at least I'm finally acting. I'd love to hear from others who have advice or suggestions on this undertaking. I'd also love anyone in my area to contact me to set up an appointment time for your family photo session!! Thanks for your support and prayers!
Julie
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