Several of you have asked what you can do for Erica Jones and her kids this Christmas. I cannot tell you how much that blesses me as her friend. I know we have cut back a great deal on our Christmas this year, but we’ve added 3 little kids to our list (and one mom). I’d rather go without something in order to bless someone else.

If you’d like to be a “Secret Santa” to Erica, Maya, Damien and Quinten, here are a few ideas. I’m collecting gifts or gift cards.

I’ll be at BOTH AM services Sunday, Dec 20 and at the Christmas Eve service at Living Word if that helps with delivery!

Maya (5th grade, age 11) likes books, art stuff, and she wears a size 14-16

Damien (3rd grade, 8 years) likes any sports stuff especially soccer and football. He also likes books he wears a size 10-12.  He needs a winter coat.

Quinten (4 years) is all about cars. He also likes music stuff because he loves to dance. He wears a size 5.

The basic stuff is good too, socks, under shirts, etc.

Erica (mom) needs a winter coat – so a gift card for Walmart, Lane Bryant or Kohls is great. She also would like a CD player.

Facebook me, email me at tina@marketingministries.com or call me at 919-457-7907 with any questions.

I was handed a business card and the back had this list of Core Values that I just adore:

1. Trust God
2. Love People
3. Cherish Family
4. Seek Truth
5. Share Christ
6. Expect Miracles
7. Be Grateful
8. Simplify Everything
9. Regret Nothing
10. Pray Now

What if all of your Christmas decorations were destroyed by fire?

As you know my good friend Erica Jones and her family lost all of their belongings in a fire. They have no Christmas decorations and no tree (they need to have an artificial tree due to her kids’ allergies.)

I am collecting $ toward an artificial Christmas Tree (or better yet, donate yours to them!) and Christmas decorations.

We need:

Artificial Christmas Tree – RECEIVED
Tree stand
Lights
Decorations

Make decorations with your kids, find an ornament from your tree to bless them, buy an extra ornament …

Living Word Family Church members can bring ornaments to the Ladies Brunch or contact me at 457-7907 or tina@marketingministries.com or on Facebook/creativetina

Thank you for blessing my friends!

Today I tackled my scroll of tasks with joy.  I love a task list. My house was quiet, kids and husband at the ballpark, I was alone to be with my thoughts.  While sweeping off the fall leaves off my deck I realized my wind chime was tangled.  The piece that balanced the chime was missing and the chimes were twisted. How long has the chime been tangled?  I had not even noticed the silence outside my door.  As I slowly untangled the chimes I realized how easy it is to get tangled when out of balance. How many times had my life gotten out of balance, the stuff of life twisted and the chime (or joy) silenced.  How did I bring the chime back?  Find the balance (which for me is my personal relationship with the Lord), work on untangling the stuff as the chime came back.  Wind is what creates the motion that causes the pieces to connect, making the chime sound. Wind is the “stuff” of life that moves us to and fro.  Too much wind is not a good thing, too little wind brings no chime.  I’m waiting, patiently to hear my chime again … and searching my life to see where I might be out of balance, where the stuff has gotten twisted and the joy has been silenced.

I’m not sure how true the story is but it made me take pause. Thank you Brooke (my niece) for sending it to me.  Awesome.

I’m so honored to be associated the Mordecai Brown Legacy Foundation. My life has been steeped in baseball. My grandmother, Beth McIlraith Henoch was a life-long Chicago Cubs fan wanted me to love the game as much as she did. Her enthusiasm as a spectator fueled my passion for the game.

If you love baseball, you will want to get a copy Mordecai Brown story and visit the website to learn more.

Visit the site: Mordecai Brown

Baseball is MORE than just a game.

Quinten, Erica, Maya and Damien Jones

Many thanks to everyone who donated, sowed, moved and prayed for the Jones Family!  They moved into their new home on Saturday.  Pictures below of their new home and some of the items you sowed!

I’ve been asked if they need anything else … the answer is YES!

Damien’s 8th birthday is Wednesday.  He would really like a bike to replace the one destroyed by the fire.

Here are a few more items which you can put in the box at LWFC or you can communicate with me and I’ll get it to Erica. Her kids are participating in the Children’s Choir, so they will be at the church from 7-8 on Monday.

• Floor lamp
• Alarm Clock
• Dish Towels
• Kitchen trash can with lid
• Magic erasers
• Cutlery drawer tray (the width of of a knife) – RECEIVED
• Paper towel holder – RECEIVED
• Can opener
• Cookie sheet
• Eureka Vacuum HEPA replacement filter cartridge 60285 (needs the full filter replacement kit for a used vac)
• Eureka Vacuum AA bags
• Kitchen rug for in front of her sink
• Back door outside mat
• Flash light
• SOS pads
• Microwave cover for inside the microwave
• Pizza stone
• Pizza cutter
• Dish drying rack with mat
• Kitchen baggies (assortment)
• Quinten needs size 11 shoes
• Boys socks size 11 (little boys)
• Boys socks size 2 (big boys)
• Girls socks size 8
• Washer/Dryer

Family Room - received sofa, entertainment center, book shelf, tv and vcr - still need a floor lamp, possibly a coffee table

Boys new bunk beds with desk!

Maya's new bed (notice the rug says "princess"

Erica's bed

Just wanted you to know that Erica Jones and her family have a home rented on Atlantic Ave (near Atlantic & New Hope) and will be moving in on Saturday, October 3.

The address is 3222 Atlantic Avenue. Park in the cul de sac as there is no street parking!

Can You Help? Please let me know!

• Need MEN to move furniture (meet at 1:45 on Saturday at the church or 2:00 at Sutton’s – directions below) – Jody Mitchell will be there with 1 pick up.

DIRECTIONS:

From LWFC to Sutton’s to pick up entertainment center & bunk beds

From the Church, take a right on the Star Road, then a right on Main Street, then a right on Rogers Rd (which will take you into Rolesville in about 4-5 miles).  You will come to a traffic light with Rite Aid on your right and Hardees to your diagonal right, which is Redford Place.  Take Redford Place into Village of Rolesville subdivision.

Continue until you see a bronzed–top dome in a traffic circle and take the first right in traffic circle onto Virginia Water, then make another quick right, which is Froyle Court.  Our house is the 3^rd one on the right in the Cul de Sac. (403 Froyle Court, Home:  Phone: 761-9370)

Directions to the Jones from WF.

Travel South on Rt 1/Capital Boulevard. Make a RIGHT at the light onto Highwoods Boulevard just before the Beltline.  Turn RIGHT at the light onto Atlantic Ave. Just after the office complex, look for a black mailbox on the RIGHT. 3222 Atlantic Avenue. If you are delivering items, you will want to back into her drive. If you miss it, turn right immediately into Merrill Ct and park or turn around. Parking in the office parking lot or on Merrill Ct is advised.

Erica Jones’ phone is 646-321-2820.

• Stop by the new place to help set up, decorate and celebrate!

Please post a comment here if you can help with the move or call me at 457-7907.

We still need:

• Full size bed (or donation to purchase one new) – NEED MET!
• Twin size bed (or donation to purchase one new) – NEED MET!
• Vacuum NEED MET!
• Shower curtain & rings NEED MET!
• Still need a Washer/Dryer

Blessings! Tina

Read the story on previous blog post. UPDATED 9/13/09

Kids Need: THANK YOU – WE HAVE TONS OF CLOTHES NOW!!!

Maya (girl) Sizes 12-14 – RECEIVED (good for now)

Shoe size (girl) 7 1/2 Women’s - RECEIVED

Damien (boy) Sizes 8-10 – some received!

Shoe size (boy) 2

Needs new underwear – received

Quinten (boy) sizes 5t/5 – RECEIVED

Shoe size (boy) 10 1/2 or 11

Needs new underwear – received

Erica (mom)

size 8 shoe – RECEIVED!!

Gift cards for Sears, Target, Kohl’s or Cato – 2 cards received & $$ for her to go shopping!!!

Friend at the Body Shop donated gift sets for Erica!!

School supplies - received!

* 2 – 1″ Binders – received
* Pencils – received
* 1 pack of 8 dividers -received
* post it notes – received
* 8 – 2 pocket folders with brads – received
* Glue sticks – received
* Loose leaf paper – received

Backpacks for kids – RECEIVED

House List: (Target move date is September 19)

ITEMS DO NOT NEED TO BE NEW!! WE WILL GLADLY RECEIVE YOUR USED ITEMS.

• * Microwave - received
• * Set of Dishes – received
• * 3-twin beds – BUNK BED received – just need one more twin bed.
• Bookcase – received
• * 1-full bed
• * mattress pads for all beds - full received
• * linens for all beds -some received/Full set received
• * comforters for all beds (2-Twin comforters received, 1-Full comforter received)
• * 4 pillows
• * 2-Shower curtains + rings
• * 4 sets of towels – received
• * Pots & Pans – received
• * Set of utensils – received
• * Cooking Utensils - received
• * Colander – received
• * Pitcher
• * Set of glasses – received
• * Dish drying rack
• * Dish towels – some received
• * Cleaning supplies
• * Mop & bucket
• * Broom & dust pan
• * Vacuum cleaner
• * Ice Trays
• * Tupperware
• * Can opener
• * Cookie sheet
• * Bakeware
• * Crockpot
• * Kitchen Table & Chairs - received
• * Hangers – received
• * Kitchen trash can
• * Alarm clock
• * Laundry Basket
• * Grocery cart (for walking to grocery store)
• * TV - received
• Sleeper Sofa - received
• End tables
• Coffee table
• Lamps
  

Here is a list of items lost in the fire  (not necessarily needs):

• Gaming system with games (kids lost their Xbox in the fire)
• Dressers for bedrooms - 1 dresser received
• House plants
• Books for kids – received & each child received a new Bible
• Bikes for kids & helmets
• Entertainment Center – received

Drop off at Living Word Family Church OR my house by placing clothing/items in plastic bags on at the side door behind the drive way:

3204 Long Bow Drive

Raleigh, NC 27604

Or Call me at 919-457-7907 and I’ll pick it up from you.

Thank you so much for sowing into this wonderful family!

Thank you from one very blessed single-mom of 3!

Tina Burrows (follow me on twitter @creativetina)

Please help a great family in need!

My friend Erica and her 3 beautiful children lost all their belongings in a house fire while living with relatives in New York. She and the kids are back in Raleigh to start their life over. They need a lot of things for their new home (working on finding a home now) but I know as my friend you will want to sow into their lives!  They are currently living in an extended stay hotel.  Erica has a job (yea) and the kids are enrolled in school.  They are members of Living Word Family Church.

(I know a few have asked if the house was insured.  It was insured and all of Erica’s belongings were accounted for by the insurance adjusters in the damage assessment … however, the person who owns the house, as of this writing, has stated they will not be providing Erica with any money from the insurance settlement.  We believe that this person’s heart will be transformed and they will provide Erica with a financial settlement equal to what she lost in the fire. In the meantime Erica and her children are in need of the simple basics to start their life over here in Raleigh.)

Kids Need:

Maya (girl) Sizes 12-14 - Some clothes received

Shoe size (girl) 7 1/2 Women’s

Damien (boy) Sizes 8-10

Shoe size (boy) 2

Needs new underwear – received

Quinten (boy) sizes 5t/5 – Some clothes received

Shoe size (boy) 10 1/2 or 11

Needs new underwear - received

Erica (mom)

size 8 shoe

Gift cards for Sears, Target, Kohl’s or Cato

Friend at the Body Shop donated gift sets for Erica!!

School supplies – Still need these items:

• 2 – 1″ Binders - received
  
• Pencils – received
  
• 1 pack of 8 dividers
• post it notes - received
  
• 8 – 2 pocket folders with brads - received
  
• Glue sticks - received
  
• Loose leaf paper - received
  

Backpacks for kids – RECEIVED

House List: (Target move date is September 19)

ITEMS DO NOT NEED TO BE NEW!!  WE WILL GLADLY RECEIVE YOUR USED ITEMS.

• Microwave – RECEIVED
• Set of Dishes – RECEIVED
• 3-twin beds
  
• 1-full or queen bed
• mattress pads for all beds
• linens for all beds
• comforters for all beds (2-Twin comforters received)
• 4 pillows
• 2-Shower curtains + rings
• 4 sets of towels
• Pots & Pans
• Set of utensils
• Cooking Utensils
• Colander
• Pitcher
  
• Set of glasses
• Dish drying rack
• Dish towels
• Cleaning supplies
• Mop & bucket
• Broom & dust pan
• Vacuum cleaner
• Ice Trays
• Tupperware
• Can opener
• Cookie sheet
  
• Bakeware
• Crockpot
• Kitchen Table & Chairs
• Hangers
• Kitchen trash can
• Alarm clock
• Laundry Basket
• Grocery cart (for walking to grocery store)
• TV
  

Drop off at my house by placing clothing in plastic bags on at the side door behind the drive way: 3204 Long Bow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604

Or Call me at 919-457-7907 and I’ll pick it up from you.

Thank you so much for sowing into this wonderful family!  Tina Burrows