May 22, 2011 Joplin, Mo was hit with a devastating tornado!
These are our backyard neighbors!
This could have been us!
It could have been anyone!
My kids heard Mark and I talking about it....they wanted to see pictures!
As we showed them pictures of peoples homes completely lost.....
A boy, 2 years old, rescued from his destroyed home....
The kids started to grasp that these are our neighbors!
We have an almost 2 year old...what if that was Brady?
Mark travels for work to Springfield, MO, where many people stayed in hotels....he heard of one man who happened not to be home during the tornado....he is the only survivor of his street!
His family, his neighbors, his home....EVERYTHING...GONE!
This was when my kids asked,
"What can we do?'"
"We want to help?"
Dad said...."They need money!"
Immediately the kids went to work...making signs....
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and making plans for their lemonade stand!
They were determined to raise money for Joplin!
and making plans for their lemonade stand!
They were determined to raise money for Joplin!
It was a perfect day....HOT AND HUMID!
Our biggest obstacle was the traffic count .....we live on a street with a traffic count of 5!
My neighbor heard that the girls were going to try and raise money for Joplin, so she put the lemonade stand on the radio!
We made 100 lemon shaped cookies!
200 mini pink lemonade cupcakes!
Squeezed 100 lemons to make 5 gallons of fresh lemonade!
I am sure people thought we were crazy...how were we going to sell all of this on our little street?
The kids had FAITH!
Our first customers gave the even more FAITH!
And then came the FRIENDS!
All the kids in the neighborhood started to pull together to make the lemonade stand a success!
Umbrella was brought to provide shade for our hard working kids...and protect the butter cream frosting!
Donations were trickling in!
Then the kids really got to work...they carried those signs up and down streets!
They brought out their golf carts and hit the roads!
This was such an amazing example of FAITH....FRIENDS...AND FUN!
All working together to help others!
Love your neighbors....was shining through my neighborhood!
Every neighbor stopped to donate!
Luke was our photographer...and he did a great job!
I was busy squeezing lemonade....and frosting cookies...
the older kids were gathering and serving customers!
We served all the lemonade...cookies...and had a few mini cupcakes left! =)
The kids raised $300 and change!
EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I was busy squeezing lemonade....and frosting cookies...
the older kids were gathering and serving customers!
We served all the lemonade...cookies...and had a few mini cupcakes left! =)
The kids raised $300 and change!
EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
19 comments:
this post makes me smile... I love everything about it... everyone certainly can make a difference!
This post brought tears to my eyes. You must be so proud of your children! This is amazing!
WHAT AN AMAZING WAY TO BRING A COMMUNITY TOGETHER. THIS WAS DEFINATELY A LABOR OF LOVE.
LUKE YOU ARE AN AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER. YOU'LL HAVE TO GIVE ME SOME TIPS AT THE FAMILY REUNION.
AMAZING!! The whole thing is amazing - the kids initiative, their love to serve, the neighbors & friends pitching in to make it a success.... again AMAZING!!
All I can say is WOW! You are an amazing family and so thoughtful and giving!!!
How wonderful! What a fantastic lesson for your kids, too!
This is truky inspiring Sherri. Thank you for being an example of doing good. I am extremely proud of you all.
You guys are incredible! Well done!
That is just awesome. Everything about it. The way the kids wanted to help, the way the neighbourhood pulled together, the amount of money raised. Great job everyone!
That made me cry. You guys are awesome and such a great example. You are rock stars!!!
Way to go girls! Sorry we missed it.
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You have a beautiful family. That is so awesome that they wanted to do something so generous...
What a beautiful thing your children did (and you!). Such a good lesson for us all!
Beautiful post, beautiful children and best of all AMAZING hearts!!
What a fabulous thing to do for strangers. Very proud of them and what a great way to truly make lemonade from lemons!!
Happy Summer! (been blog slacking)
Kerri
I love your kids' hearts.... full of faith and full of kindness. We're praying that Jesus takes that 300 dollars like the 5 loaves and 2 fishes and multiplies it beyond belief :) Ask Luke about that.. I told that very story in Bible School this morning (only we used chocolate instead of bread and fish :) )
I'm in awe of those kids' mommy, too!
Oh my!! So touching! Your family is incredible, I really am amazed more and more by you at every post I read!!!
WOW!!! You and your kids are inspirational!!! Love your guts!
This post had me in TEARS the first time I read it. PURE TEARS of joy! All of your goodies are GORGEOUS... and fresh squeezed? OH MY! YOU and YOUR SWEET children are true inspirations for us ALL!!!!!!!
I did read this post before, but I did not comment. I wanted to let you know that your kids reaction is an awesome reflection of you and Mark. You two are raising an a great family. Love you.
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