take a moment to be santa claus!

Its Holiday season - the lights are on the trees, holiday songs are on the radio, snow is on the ground (in Denver, at least). In the office, HALO elves have been preparing our gift catalog that represents holiday gifts for the children we support along with around the year needs.

One would think its Christmas morning every day at HALO homes. The excitement and gratitude at the dinner table, the art table, or on a walk to school overwhelms visitors with a powerful warmth that makes the heart feel like it has grown a few sizes.

It is the season of giving. At HALO that means giving a brighter future to children in need.  It means giving a family's love to children who have no parents to wake up to each morning. Join us in making this holiday special for a HALO child.  Click here to step into Santa's shoes by flipping through the HALO gift catalog and selecting a gift in honor of someone you love.  Go ahead, be Santa for a day...

thanksgiving

this year we went out to eat at figlio's on the plaza.

my plate (no turkey!)

it was a huge buffet and they had the full thanksgiving spread including prime rib, ham and turkey. also, lots of italian sides. they had a seafood station with shrimp, salmon and tilapia. a breakfast station. and a fruit and salad station that was a whole spread in itself. and of course a full dessert table.

JR's plate

asa got pizza, shrimp and cheese.

and had seconds of the shrimp!

my dessert plate: cheesecake, apple crisp, molten chocolate cake and a HUGE chocolate covered strawberry.

no pumpkin pie for me!

she is her mother's daughter:

alister ate his whole piece of pumpkin pie!

although not in one bite as the picture suggests!

asa, natalie and silas had so much fun together!

we love our annual visit with the scheffler family!

every time she comes, granny wears a locket that has natalie's baby picture in it. natalie loves looking at it.

i adore seeing the two of them together!

that evening we went to the gallery for cookies and hot chocolate.
and a warm place to wait for the plaza lighting ceremony!

my brother brian and his adorable kiddos!

there is a countdown and then they flip the switch to turn all the lights on. it is so beautiful and festive!

then fireworks!

too loud for the little girls though.

then back inside for more playing.

sometimes when we get bogged down with the daily stressors, it's hard to remember that there really is so much to be thankful for. i'm thankful that our country and culture takes a day to remember those things.

natalie made a turkey at school that said she is thankful for her dog.

thankful for friends

we went back to kc for thanksgiving and got to see some friends.

we just adore the cowie girls!

urban living

one of the great things about our building, is the long hallways.

they're fun for riding bikes

and letting tinsley get some exercise.

we used this cart to transport supplies for our party for the bears game.

natalie loved riding on it for its return to the lobby.

we had a great turnout but my only proof is that ozzy was here!

first snow

as soon as natalie saw the snow she wanted to get bundled up and go outside!

it seemed like it took forever putting on the tight clothes, snow pants, jacket, hat, scarf, mittens...

the great thing was, i was still in pajamas indoors!

it was 8am on a saturday afterall!

after dance class she got to really play in the snow.

eventually she got to make her first snowman!

 she was disappointed that we didn't have a carrot for his nose!

a guest post by rebecca of HALO

A Meal a Month

When I was growing up my 4 siblings, dad, and I would scurry out the door in the morning to school and work, each of us grabbing a personalized brown bag of lunch.  My mom drew pictures every morning of each of us on our bags (which were many times embarrassing) that referred to something we had at school that day like one of us passing a test or playing a sport.  

Patrick and Kevin enjoying a morning snack and tea (Kenya).

There is nothing like sitting down with a table full of kids after they have been outside playing or at work in the classroom.  At HALO supported homes there isn't a lot of talking, just milk running down the sides of mouths and light speed peeling of oranges, which makes the dinner table a place of pure joy.  These are children who have been without many meals in their lives and their gratitude is evident in each bite... there are no complaints or special requests, just pure gratitude.

We have started a new campaign called A Meal a Month where donors can sign up to provide one meal for a HALO home (25 children) for just $10 per month.  Join us by brown baggin' it for a day a month (you may even draw yourself a picture) and spend that $10 you save on making 25 kids smile... It is a small reminder of how fortunate we are and the impact we are able to make with a small sacrifice.  Click here to give A Meal a Month!

a tiger

i love her shirt: it's fun to be me. i wish i felt that way more often.

Urgent HALO need - can you help?

PLEASE READ THROUGH, GIVEAWAY AT THE END!

The HALO Foundation is committed to enhancing the living conditions and providing art therapy for orphans worldwide. HALO provides American youth with opportunities to learn philanthropy and volunteerism by seeing the world through the eyes of the less fortunate.

 There are over 120 million orphans in the world today. Orphans supported by HALO are provided food, water, shelter, clothing, education, and art therapy. HALO works with orphanages in Mexico, India, Uganda, Kenya, Nicaragua and residential homes in the United States. Children from these homes submit their artwork to be sold at events in the United States, and aid in raising funds for continued support.

I am writing to share an urgent HALO need with you. 
 

If we don't take action now, it will affect our ability to provide support for HALO children in need.

The good news: HALO has an opportunity to raise $100,000 for basic needs of our children and $100,000 for scholarships. The HALO Hero program is a MATCHED giving opportunity where the donor gives $1,000 per year ($84/month), with the first year matched by the Woodland Foundation. We have until May 2011 to find and secure 100 HALO Heroes. So far, we have secured 17 HALO Heroes. (c'mon people! we are missing out on free matching here!!!)

$84 equals 6,525 kenyan shillings, enough to buy milk for 19 children for one month in kenya.
 
$84 equals 177,250 ugandan shillings, enough to buy 10 meals for an entire orphanage in uganda.

  We need your help: The harsh reality is if we fail to secure 100 HALO Heroes by May 2011, we will be forced to cut programs, saying no for the first time to the children we support. However, if each of us asks and secures ONE donor, we will reach our goal of 20 by the end of this year and 100 by May 2011. We need 10 HALO Heroes this month and 10 in December. Would you be willing to help us by asking yourself, friends or family to become a HALO Hero? 

I know we can do this!! Could you commit to finding just one person to become a HALO Hero, providing basic needs and a scholarship for children we support? Can a group of your friends go in on it together? your book club? your dinner club? your bunco group? your small group? your youth group? girl/boy scout troop? your girls' night out group? your playgroup? your cubicle friends? If you had four people it would be $20/month. 8 people would only be $10/month. (It's tax deductible too!) If so, please let me know or contact the office. We will do everything in our power to support you.
 

One HALO Hero provides basic needs for a child and a scholarship that will change the course of their future.

More information about HALO Hero and the link for donors to sign up:

http://www.haloworldwide.org/give/dream/

Thank you in advance for your support.  I am so grateful you are willing and able to be a part of the HALO family. 

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FOR EVERY PERSON WHO SIGNS UP TO BE A HALO HERO, MY FAMILY WILL DONATE AN ADDITIONAL $20 TO THE HALO FOUNDATION.

leave me a comment that you donated and i will also enter you in a giveaway for a $50 giftcard to the store of your choice!
winner will be chosen randomly on january 1st!

if you can not commit to $84/month at this time, you have until May. if you can't make it happen by then, please consider a one-time donation.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
read my last HALO post here.

10 on 10 :: november 2010

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. Then share your beauty with us!