Girls Day Out

Girls Day Out ... It is like raiding your best friend's closet!

We had such an amazing day!! 

There are so many hours that go into an event like this and a fair amount of anxiety and we could not have asked for more!!

One of the first few times I was giving the "introduction" of what was located in what area of the room and how the "shopping" would work, I started to say:  "The girls will help you find your size.  You just keep an eye out for those things that are going to ..." and I paused slightly ... when the quiet girl in front of me finished the sentence ..."going to help me feel happy."

STRAIGHT UP BABY GIRL!!!

You shop until there is a smile on your face!

I spent a few minutes talking with a single mom ...

She has spent the last few months relying on a battered women's shelter to help her provide for her daughter and get back on her feet.

Last Friday, someone ran a red light and struck their vehicle.

She had to take the money that she had been putting aside for school shopping towards her deductible to get the vehicle fixed.

She talked about pouring her heart out to God for help.

Two days later someone handed her a flyer for the "Girls Day Out" and her prayers were answered.

We met a young woman and her little sister ...

Their family has fallen apart during the economic downturn.

Both parents lost their jobs and have since divorced.

She took three AP tests and received three perfect scores!!

I must have told her twenty times how crazy incredible that is!!

While we shopped, we talked about school and grades and college and the importance of an education to set the foundation for your life.

She talked about praying to God to help her family get back on their feet and maybe even back together.

She received a "Girls Day Out" flyer from a friend.

Two girls in foster care came in ...

Their foster mom has nine kids and according to them has the heart of an angel.

She was recently diagnosed with cancer and has been too sick to do much of anything with the kids.

She is terrified that she will die and the kids won't be taken care of.

The girls said she has prayed to God every day that they would find a way to get the kids ready for school.

Their social worker brought over a flyer for the "Girls Day Out" event and her prayers were answered.

So many people contributed to bring a little sunshine into the lives of these people and I am grateful for the opportunity to share a moment with each of them.

We watched them come in the front door ...

Shy and nervous

Feeling like they needed to show me a flyer so we would accept them in

Quiet and unsure

We watched them walk out that same front door

with a bag full of great finds

and a smile on their faces ...

and most importantly,

a light in their eyes and

a heart full of hope!

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