Saying Yes: How to Help Build a High School, Brick by Brick

Yes. It's such a hard word to say. But the ramifications are huge.

I had what I like to call a "flashing billboard moment" last Sunday at Mass. We had a priest from Rwanda visiting to share their hopes of expanding a high school there from housing and classrooms for 125 girls to space for 400. He was asking for help, brick by brick.

Twenty dollars could buy 300 bricks.

And during the service, I kept thinking: "We should do something in our Girl Scout troop."

After all, our troop is active at our church, and their monthly meeting was this week. It could work. We could ask them to earn money at home to help out.

After all, even $2 earned from chores could buy 30 bricks.

But I felt it laid on my heart to do more.

So I spoke with some friends after Mass, who run another troop. They agreed that it would be a great idea.

And then my daughter, who responded with a "Let's challenge other troops to do this! I know scouts at ____ and ___ and ___."

By Tuesday, the seed had grown to a full-fledged bake sale at our church this weekend. After our Saturday evening service, we had raised about $120 - more than 1800 bricks!

But what if I hadn't said that little Yes? What if I had thought, it's the first week of school, no time? Or, we have a project already at scouts scheduled, no time? Or, my house needs to be cleaned, no time?

What if the other leaders and parents who baked on a beautiful summer weekend said, no time?

Instead, we said Yes. And we might have changed a life a world away.

You can read more about the project on my scouting blog:

The Jesse Tree Project: I love these patterns!

This is the year our family will be doing a Jesse tree project. Sure, I'd tried it in the past, but it became little more than adding ornaments to the tree when we decorated.

And then I had a chance to review Our Family's Jesse Tree from Faith & Fabric. I love the fact these projects are do-able despite any crafting ability, are simple enough for children to create and come with daily devotions for our family. So we'll be revisiting this tradition in 2015!

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You can learn more about this book on my blog, Use Resources Wisely.

15 Minion crafts to celebrate the Minion movie launch

Today on my Girl Scout blog, Use Resources Wisely, I'm sharing 15 fun and unique ways to craft your way toward celebrating the launch of the new Minions movie. Check it out!

Christmas Gift Idea for a Girl Scout Troop: Custom Ornaments

As a Girl Scout leader, I'm always on the lookout for interesting ways to inspire the girls in our troop. I want them to believe that with time and effort, they can accomplish much. And, being that we are a church-based troop, I want them to always remember that faith is not separate from their actions.

I typically have not done Christmas gifts for my girls, though I've seen it discussed a lot on the leader Facebook groups I participate in. But I got a little divine inspiration recently from Pinterest. I stumbled on an image in my feed of an old prayer card with the Virgin Mary with Girl Scouts. The back simply stated the Girl Scout promise. I looked but didn't have much luck finding online - with the exception of finding a set of 100 in bulk. That, and if the other fourth-graders are anything like mine, no matter what the intention, the card would likely be lost in a corner someplace.

A trip to Michaels inspired me. There was a 1/2 off sale on porcelain ornaments. A little Modge-Podge, a printout of the image (scaled to about 3 inches square), and I had a unique gift that hopefully the girls will remember and keep in their homes as they grow up. All for roughly $1 per girl.

Getting my Girl Scouts Outdoors

Girl Scouts is adding one new badge for the Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior levels. Girls can take this short survey and help us choose the badge category. This survey runs through Nov. 30, 2014. You can vote as often as you like! The badge topic with the most votes wins!