an exciting trip

I'm very excited to be leaving on a trip in the morning.  My DD#2 and I are travelling as part of a team with Samaritan's Purse to distribute Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children living in poverty in El Salvador. I have been packing shoeboxes every November to send overseas for

this for the last 25 years. This time I will get to hand deliver my carefully packed box and meet the little girl who receives it.  I wanted to make something special for this box - something that was a little bit of me.  So I appliqued a flower and made a little zipper pouch to include in my box.

 We will distribute boxes in 4 different communities and there is a service project we will also be taking part in but - I'm mostly excited to meet the children, to play with them, to let them know they are loved and special and that Jesus loves them.

 Here is the rest of my box contents - school supplies, hygiene items, toys, a t-shirt...  The box is so full I can hardly get the lid on.  My daughter Kristy likes to pack the boxes super full  :0) 

I don't know if there will be a lot of time to stitch on this trip but I have about 12 little 3 inch stars cut out to handpiece - I had to bring something to sew!

The summer has been very busy.  The older my kids get the busier my summers seem to be.  I did spend an evening with a friend stitching and I made another block for my guild challenge sampler.  The top left block is the new one.  I had to lay them out together now that there are 9 blocks.  I know I want 3 more at least.  The last 3 will be free choice blocks.

Happy Quilting!!