A Call: Light in the Darkness

Sometimes, as darkness spreads out across the horizon and threatens to encompass my entire sky, I stand beneath it, fearful, feeling almost helpless.

I wonder where, when the light will break through, streak the landscape with its brilliance and hope.

And then I feel Light stirring in my soul:

I believe in Light in the darkness.

I believe in a Light that shines in the darkness, and that the darkness can never extinguish it*.

And I believe in clinging to a Flashlight, being a conduit for its light and stepping out into the darkness, letting Light shine brightly.

I know there are people in Joplin today who are standing beneath a stretch dark sky, praying, hoping, wondering when the light will begin to stream in through the darkened clouds.

Friends, today we clutch the Flashlight, hold it against the darkness and let it shine.

Today is the day that we stand together as a community and wrap our arms and hearts around Joplin.

When we show Sarah and her town that they are cared for and loved, and that we take seriously the words Light -- to love the Light and love our neighbors as ourselves.

Charity Auction for Joplin

Please head over to Bigger Picture Blogs where the auction is being held. Every hour 8am-6pm today and tomorrow a new item will go up for auction. The bidding on all items starts at $10 {or more, if you choose}.

We have 26 items {list updated below!} that have been generously donated from business big and small, companies and Etsy owners we have worked with, friends of ours and Sarah’s. All these companies came together at a moments notice and offered to help. If you don’t have the ability to help now, please keep these companies in mind when you make purchases in the future!

Bidding will remain open on all posts until 7:00pm on May 27.


Here is the schedule for the auction, we will be updating throughout the day as best as we can with the links to the posts.

Wednesday May 25
8am Assorted Watercolor Note Cards from Cards Direct ($40 value)
9am Art of Doing Nothing Poster from Tammy Lee Bradley ($28)
10am Gussy Sews Shop Credit ($25)
11am Thai Silk Pillow Covers from Jaime Shaw ($40)
12noon Hand Knit Market Tote from A Soft Landing ($35)
1pm Secret Hope Necklace from Create Beauty Daily ($38)
2pm Busy Body Book Bundle from Busy Body Books ($40)
3pm Handmade Ring Sling from Prairie Mama ($75)
3pm Flutter Sleeve Ruffle Peasant Dress from Smashed Peas and Carrots ($36)
4pm {So} Sack from {So} Sartina ($29)
5pm $100 Sweet Deal Credit from Mamapedia ($100)
6pm Pair of Spring/Summer Shoes from Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes ($100-140)


Thursday May 26
7 am Dragonfly Pendant from Sandi Ratch ($35)
8am Strength and Hope Necklace from Shinning Stones ($20)
9am $25 Stonyfield Organic Product & Cookbook ($43)
10am Fractured Glass Print from Tammy Lee Bradley ($25)
11am DaySpring Collection ($40)
12noon Monster Softie from Samster Mommy ($35)
1pm Vintage Fabric Fat Quarters from Sew Lovely Designs ($20)
2pm Love Print from Beth Fletcher Photography and June Afternoons ($25)
3pm Headband and Skirt from Rosemary's Cuppa
4pm Camera Strap Cover from Eclectic Whatnot ($38.50)
5pm $50 Gift Certificate from The Vintage Pearl ($50)
6pm Logo Design from NW Designs ($100)
7pm Ultimate Fan Pack from Discovery Channel ($200)
8pm {One of two} Stainless Steel with Silver Accents and Embedded Diamond Bracelet from Ayala($120)
8:30pm {Two of Two} Stainless Steel with Silver Accents and Embedded Diamond Bracelet from Ayala($120)

Friday, May 27
8 a.m. $300 Gift Certificate to Maine Arts Camp

Don't see anything you want to bid on? There are other ways to help:

• Donate directly to the Salvation Army


• Spread the word about the auction


• Post our button on your blog, Facebook or Twitter


• Tweet using the hashtag #Help4Joplin

Copy and paste Code
<a href ="http://www.biggerpictureblogs.com" target="Help4Joplin"><img src="http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/PBinmyHair/helpforjoplin.jpg" alt ="Help4Joplin"/></a>

Please be as generous as you can and keep Sarah, her family and Joplin in your hearts and prayers.

Please head over to Bigger Picture Blogs

*John 1:5, NIV

A Call: Being the Mouth that Helps Mobilize the Hands and Feet

This spring has been one of devastating storms and destruction.

The most recent tornado stuck very close to our Bigger Picture Blogs Family.

Last night, Joplin, MO was hit with a massive tornado that has destroyed more than a quarter of the city and left many families without homes.

One of our writers, Sarah, lives in the town of Joplin.

While her family didn't not lose their home, close family members, friends and others have.

The town has been completely split into two by the vast path of the tornado.

Yesterday, after our family, both mine and the Bigger Picture Blogs family, heard the news, we prayed.

We prayed for help for the people of Joplin, MO.

For our friends Sarah and Justin and their family members -- prayers of thanksgiving for their safety, and also prayers of peace and provision in the aftermath of a deadly, destructive tornado that ripped a path through the middle of their city.

Today, as the images flash across screens, showcasing the devastation, giving faces to the hurting, the need for relief and rescue has become clearer.

So we continue to pray.

But, today?

Today we also respond.

As rescuers and organizations rush to the aid of families in Joplin, we have the opportunity to make a difference.

Some of the original founders and writers of Bigger Picture Blogs and our awesome community members came together this morning through myriad e-mails to help organize a large-scale relief effort in order to best help mobilize these hands and these feet by providing funds.

Thus, Help 4 Joplin was born.

Copy and paste Code
<a href ="http://www.peanutbutterinmyhair.com/2011/05/standing-together-help4joplin.html" target="Help4Joplin"><img src="http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/PBinmyHair/helpforjoplin.jpg" alt ="Help4Joplin"/></a>

This Wednesday through Friday, we'll be hosting an online auction to raise money for The Salvation Army in Joplin.

Items for the auction have been lovingly and generously donated from many, many businesses {like A Soft Landing, Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes, Shining Stones and Stoneyfield Farms, just to name a few}.

All proceeds from the auction will directly benefit relief efforts in Joplin.

So do you want a tangible way you can help families who've lost everything, families who have suffered huge devastation and families who have lost more than a quarter of their city?

Be the mouth.

Use your blog or your Facebook page to post about the Help 4 Joplin auction.
In your post, be sure to state:
1. The site and dates of the auction -- Wed., May 25 through Fri., May 27.
2. A few of the businesses who have donated auction items with links {list posted here}
3. The Help 4 Joplin button

Copy and paste Code
<a href ="http://www.peanutbutterinmyhair.com/2011/05/standing-together-help4joplin.html" target="Help4Joplin"><img src="http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af151/PBinmyHair/helpforjoplin.jpg" alt ="Help4Joplin"/></a>

Let's spread the word about the auction so together we can raise substantial funds to help moblize responders and quickly deliver relief efforts.

Afterall, when tragedy strikes, this is what community does -- we come together.

Please, since we can't all be hands and feet in this response, let's be a different yet equally important part of the body.

Be the lips, friends -- be the voice.

IMPORTANT: Once you write your post, please come back and link your post through Friday. {And please note -- part of the point of this link is to show a VISIBLE united support front from our community for Sarah and the Joplin community.}

Each link gets an entry for a chance to win a $25 Starbucks gift card and a beautiful hand-knit coffee cozy from A Soft Landing.