Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

Personalize Christmas Light Bulb Ornaments

I used a white Liquitex Paint Marker
to personalize ornaments
with names of friends and family.

Eight (8) non-breakable ornaments come together,
and cost only $3 per package at a Dollar store.

The white Liquitex Paint Marker
costs about $7 at craft stores
like Michaels and Hobby Lobby.

Look for paint markers in the art department.

I tried Sharpie markers in other colors,

but I prefer the white paint marker on the ornaments.

The personalized ornaments are beautiful...

hanging on the Christmas tree,
dangling from floral arrangements,
and used as gift tags on packages.

I hung the ornaments from stems

on the floral arrangement that sits

in the center of the round table in our entry.

They dangle over the sweet

collector Christmas plates

that I found at a thrift store.

Do you shop

at your local thrift shops or flea markets?

Try it!

I paid $1.25 each

for Christmas collector plates

at a local thrift store.

The plates sell online (when they can be found)

for 10 - 20 times what I paid.

I also found a Limoges Collector Plate

for $1.25 at the thrift store!

Marie Ange: Children of Paul Durand, Limoges Plate

Look for sweaters in your closet,

or at thrift stores, and recycle/upcycle them

as Christmas ornaments.

Better Homes & Gardens magazine

had a great article, Sweater Set,

in their December 2014 issue

on how to make crafts and ornaments

from old sweaters. There are great projects by

Paul Lowe, crafter and stylist.

Page 44 of the magazine suggests we visit

BHG.com/Sweater

for more projects, plus free templates,

and complete DIY instructions.

I was really looking forward to downloading

templates for paper wraps and tags,

but I never found them.

Good luck finding them at their link.

I did find ornaments already made from

sweater-like fabric at Dollar General.

They cost $1 per ornament.

I love handmade ornaments,

but I also love a bargain...

especially when it's well made.

Here are some other ornaments

I purchased this season

at craft and hobby stores, and dollar stores.

One of my handmade Pencil Angels

hangs in the midst of the sweater ornaments.

My friend, Tammy, gave me the gorgeous,

breakable, red and gold HEART ornament.

Ornaments made from wire

add to the rustic/homespun decor!

Christmas we celebrate the birth of our savior,

Jesus Christ, and give gifts in His name.

Looking for a worthy cause this Christmas?

Prayerfully consider a donation to

Mission Mobility.

http://missionmobility.org/about-us/

I learned about Mission Mobility

from my friends, Holly and Brad Clark.

I met Holly and Brad in Changsha City,

Hunan Province, China, in December 1999.

Holly and Brad's hotel room was right next to ours

at the Grand Sun Hotel, on what has come to be known

as The Miracle Hallway.

Holly and Brad were in China

to adopt their first daughter, Caroline.

We were there to adopt Sarah,

our first daughter from China.

Our families adopted through different agencies.

God brought us together,

and 15 years later - we still keep in contact.

Holly and Brad have three beautiful daughters:

Caroline, Sarah and Mia.

They are an amazing family.

International adoption

in China and Guatamala opened their eyes.

They are lending their hands to help others,

and making an impact around the world.

I love the stories and photos

on the Mission Mobility blog.

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://missionmobility.org/blog/

Holly told me that Brad collects wheelchairs

all over Louisville and Cincinnati and INDY.

Broken or donated wheelchairs are sent to Guatemala.

I asked how Brad got involved,

so I could share the information

with YOU, my readers, around the world.

A MESSAGE FROM BRAD CLARK

It all goes back to the first night in Guatemala on my first mission trip in 2009, while eating dinner at Pollo Campero.

I asked Chris Mooney, (Director of Bethel Ministries International) what he needed.

Chris said, "Friends."

After much prodding on my part, Chris re-emphasized that more than anything, he needs people who believe in him, and what Bethel is doing in Guatemala. I took that to heart, and have been collecting wheelchairs ever since.

Rick Fulton had that experience several years later. Without knowing about what I was doing in Louisville, Rick thought that there must be others who are doing the same thing. After finding out about me, we began working together to build the Mission Mobility network, and the website.

http://missionmobility.org

The network has been steadily growing, and we have shipped many containers of wheelchairs to Guatemala. We are always collecting wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and supplies.

We need volunteers to serve as points of contact across the United States and Canada.

Anyone who is interested in donating equipment or joining our network of volunteers can contact me at bradups0301@yahoo.com.

Blessings,

Brad

Got Wheelchairs?

http://missionmobility.org/about-us/

People spend their time doing things that are most important to their heart. Some would call it a “passion”, others a “hobby”. We believe that God gives us unique skills, abilities and opportunities to be used throughout our lives, to bring Glory to His Name and to help others around us.

All of us became involved helping in Guatemala for different reasons. For some, it was International Adoption, others was an invitation to go on a mission trip. We all come from different backgrounds and locations. We are farmers, businessmen, moms, dads and friends.

We help in different ways: some have time to call hospitals, businesses and nursing homes to ask for equipment donations; many have time to go and collect the chairs; others have a truck; some have the financial means to make it all happen. Whatever the reason or level of involvement, it’s all necessary to make this “Network” a reality.

Gallery

http://missionmobility.org/gallery/