Back to School Sales are in full swing and our school supply bags need that-supplies.  At Walmart boxes of Crayola crayons are $.50 and some folders are $.15 a piece.  Which means that you can get 20 boxes of crayons for $10 and 6 folders for a dollar.     
       

       Each of you are very important.  The goal of Sarah's Butterflies is to spread hope to every person and family we give Blessing Bags to each year.  I heard a song last night called "Yellow Balloons."  The artist is David Dunn.  
          I wish I could give a yellow balloon to each recipient.  Yellow Balloons are symbols of hope.  They are often seen at funerals for children.  

      It is 11 months until we sort, pack and distribute Blessing Bags and School Supply Bags.  Our goal is 1,000 Blessing Bags and 400 School Supply Bags.  
        On November 15, 2009, I did not have the vision of this ministry.  All I could see was the pain.  My heart was shattered into a million pieces but it was on that day where God started putting me back together.  It was 7 months after Sarah's death when we began planning what has become Sarah's Butterflies.  
        I was recently watching NCIS and the lines of one of the characters struck me.  Jimmy Palmer was talking to a kid he had saved from killing himself and he told the boy that the boy's dad had poured himself into the son.  It struck me because I feel like we do this in Sarah's Butterflies.  We pour ourselves into each recipient of Blessing Bags.  Each recipient is a masterpiece.  They each have a story and it is our job to help them reach potential and let their stories be told.  
          Help us reach 1000 kids in 2017.  
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         Each year we have expanded our area of distribution and this year was certainly no exception.   We began with just houses the first few years.  In 2012, we began going to some housing projects in Sharon and Farrell. In 2014 we added another project.  Last year we went to Hermitage and Mercer as well as Sharon and Farrell.  This year, we added Sharpsville, Grove City and Fredonia.  
            2017 we hope to grow again with eyes on possibly Greenville, Transfer and West Middlesex which would encompass 3/4 of the county.    The Lord willing we can do this.
 

        Sarah's Butterflies is a venture that cannot be done without a lot of help.   I have many people to thank for their help.
Girl Scout Troop 30094       
Joe Bandzak
Jim and Noah Asche
Betty and Brooke Swartz
Becki, Jared and Ethan Clemetson
Dawna Cramer
Laura and Leah Nych
Ginny Richardson
Butch and Terri Merrick
Dan Merrick
JC, Tabitha and Aubrielle
Tonya and Nevaeh
Vernon
Richard Young
Philip Young
Jean Rabold
Sue Herr
Denise Gearhart and her sisters
Diana Reed
Audrey Wetzel
Virginia Riddle
Kess Tobias
Bill, Cindy and Josh Woodman
Joel, Stacy, Clark, Mason and Luke Tubbs
Logan-my guide at Glen Lakes Estates
Bruce Richael
Debbie-our guide at  Countryside
prayer warriors
Bob Rouse
Larry and Patty McAdams
Fredonia Presbyterian
those who donated to help us   

     Over the last two days we have delivered almost 800 bags.  Today we were delivering bags in Grove City and ventured into Glen Lake Estates.  After stopping at one house, we proceeded down the drive to find kids to give bags to and were met by Logan.  He rode up on his bike searching for someone to play with and became my guide to the where kids lived in the park.
       At eight he was full of life and at times I had to rethink traveling under 10 miles an hour because his little self rode almost too quick for me to keep up.  I will say that I met someone who actually has more to say than me.  
       At the end of the journey he had to show me just one more thing...how to ride a bike through huge mud puddles.  
         Thank you Logan, maybe next year we will come back and you can guide me again.  Enjoy your reward from us, Logan.  

    I was just reading the devotional for today from Our Daily Bread.  The story was about two friends at a retreat discussing their best Christmas present ever.  
   One guy talked about how he had dealt with the disappointment of not playing professional football and how one Christmas he went to a Christmas play to see his niece and while there he felt the need to meet Jesus.  His friend helped him accept Jesus.  For both of them that was the best Christmas present ever.  
       Monday when we deliver Blessing Bags, I want us to be vessels to give the recipients the Best Christmas Present Ever!

     The Sharon Herald on December 3rd had an article about the shootings in Farrell.  There is teenage victim who was shot while taking the garbage out before school a few weeks ago.  He lives near Love Christian Center. 
     Sarah's Butterflies distributes Blessing Bags in Sharon and Farrell.  Our path of delivery could look something like a Family Circus cartoon.  In our journey of delivery over the years, we have blessed the young victim with a Blessing Bag.  I remember meeting him one December 26th.  I had gotten back in my car when he came out of the house. I remember shaking his hand.  He is one of those special people who is blessed because of Sarah's life.  He is a beloved child of God.  
       I feel strongly that we need to cover the 26th with prayer for safety.  If the only thing, you can give to Sarah's Butterflies is your prayers, then please PRAY FERVENTLY!!   

      Whether you realize this or not, you are a blessing. I want to let all partners
know that I appreciate you.  I know that often when I meet people they apologize for what they are not able to do.  I want you all to realize that if the best you can give our ministry is prayer, than pray wholeheartedly.  If you can bake, sweeten the world.  If you are a talented artist, add beauty to our world.    
         You are a blessing!  Bless the world with your gifts.  On this Thanksgiving, I wish you blessings from God.  

         This week we launched Sarah's Butterflies.  The goal for 2016 is 700 Blessing Bags and 400 School Supplies Bags.     Last year we did 625 Blessing Bags and 300 School Supplies bags.