What an incredible day

As mentioned in my previous post, a couple of friends and I had decided to take on a Friendraiser for our mutual friend, Elisa Watanabe.  She has been gravely ill and non-responsive for several week now :(

I met Elisa while taking dance lessons.  She is super adorable, genuine, entrepreneurial (she launched a business) and kind.  She also went to school with my cousin, and they remain friends to this day.  So you can imagine how heartbroken I was to hear that this beautiful young woman was struggling significantly.

Not knowing what to do...I knew that I had to do something. Soooo...I was inspired by the Scrapbook Royalty Blog that I've been writing for and asked some friends to help me host a crafting Friendraiser.

Today, I spent 12 hours making cards to sell at our dance studio.  My other friend Elisa (same name) and Katwanya cranked out as much as they could, and by the time we had left, we had easily made at least 100 cards to start our sales.  The proceeds from our participation fee at the 12 hour scrap also went to a local school - so it was a double dose of goodness.

We met several amazing scrapbookers who were so inspired by what we were doing that they gave us the first donations.  UNBELIEVABLY kind of them.  Although, I strongly believe that if you try to lead a happy and good life, that good will follow you.

Additionally, I have to chuckle at the way the world works.  This past week, I passed up an opportunity to purchase a Cricut Expression that was on serious sale.  Well....it looks like I'm going to get one at an even better deal!  One of the women at this 12 hour scrap had bought a bunch of them (probably at an insane sale) and wants to sell me one at a ridiculously low price.  It's not only the machine but also two cartridges and some tools.  She's even happy to hold onto to it for me until December (where my budget allows me to purchase it without feeling guilty).  I think she was so touched by what we were doing that she wanted to help us do more.  Soooo amazing.

By the time the 12 hours of scrapping were finished, Elisa and Katwanya and I must have made at least 100 cards!!!!  And we're all still planning to make more this weekend.  Sales will start this week at the studio and will continue through the holidays.

To top it all off....I came home to the news that our Elisa has made significant progress today and that she was being responsive. 

I am not the most religious person in the world, but even I have to thank God for this amazing turn of events.

Elisa still has a long way to go, but a tiny step to a healthier path is all we ask for...may the forward steps continue!