Shouting Ground!

I can scarcely contain myself as I sit down to write.  My heart’s overflowing, my eye makeup is smeared from crying, and my thoughts are flying in all directions. I’m iffy on how this is going to translate into a coherent post, but I’m bound and determined to try. Let’s do this thing.

As many of you know, our 30 Days of Thankfulness Drive concluded yesterday on the last day of November. Our goal for the drive has been $9,600, the funds required to drill two water wells for needy communities with no access to clean drinking water. By the way, many of you have asked how and why I chose that amount. It’s simple really. The last time we raised funds together for this worthy mission, we drilled one well. All I knew was that I wanted to double that effort.

I went to bed last night knowing that we were short. We had raised just over $8,000.00. We could drill one well, but we couldn’t quite complete that second one.

I wasn’t terribly disappointed but nor was I satisfied. 30 Days of Thankfulness was over, but it didn’t feel finished.

This morning my home church made an announcement about the Water for Life drive concluding and a special offering was taken for it, (just as they have done each Sunday in November). Having their support in this effort has been such a blessing to me, but there’s more.

After the service the offering was totaled and found to be right at $800.00. I was thrilled. God wasn’t through and neither were they.

I’m ecstatic and humbled to announce that the church leadership decided to double that offering and put 30 Days of Thankfulness OVER THE TOP!  Two communities, two wells– and a lifetime supply of clean drinking water for men, women, boys, and girls!

Oh, to be there when they break ground. Can you imagine the euphoria, the celebrations? My emotional heart can scarcely contain those thoughts so I’ll momentarily set ’em aside to offer more thanks to each and every one of you who have joined me in this drive.

To the other authors who joined me in bringing the opportunity before your communities of readers, to my church family, to my immediate family, to the All Things Southern Community– Y’ALL ROCK!

I’m indebted to your kindness and I will double down my efforts to give back to you with regular offerings of humor, good cooking, and inspiration.

Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Jesus.

Hugs, Shellie