The WORLD VISION EXPERIENCE: AIDS – Step Into Africa is a unique, multimedia, interactive exhibit that allows visitors to step into the lives of actual children affected by HIV and AIDS in the hardest-hit region of the world: Sub-Saharan Africa.

It’s for all ages, days and evenings, and we’re so fortunate to be one of only several places in the U.S. where the exhibition will be touring this summer.  There are two short — but compelling — video clips on the BEADED HOPE blog  http://www.beadedhope.com/blog/ telling more about the exhibition.

We’re also humbled that BEADED HOPE has been invited to participate in this event.  So please stop by the BEADED HOPE booth and say hello once you’ve had the opportunity to explore Africa through the eyes of its children.

ALSO, to the AUTHOR BUZZ CONTEST ENTRANTS ~ It’s been such a delight to see your names come from all over the country.  THANK YOU SO MUCH for your interest!  You’ve made this Ohio girl smile.  The 5 winners of that contest are:

Marie from Pennsylvania

Elizabeth from Georgia

Barbara from Texas

Penny (like Mama Penny in the book, I just realized!) from Oregon

Wendy from Ontario

CONGRATULATIONS to all!  And again, much thanks to all who participated!

Lana (like banana) is a wife, a mother (of 5 kids!), home educator, voracious reader and prolific blogger. I met Lana recently after she wrote a review of Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett. She loved the book. Actually, that’s putting it too mildly. She L.O.V.E.D the book (check out her full review here) and after she wrote her review she started tweeting about it. She tweeted so much that I had to send her a note and thank her for all the kudos that she was lavishing on Beaded Hope.

Then a few days later Lana decided to enter her blog in a contest for mom bloggers. Little Remedies is giving away a top prize of $1000 to the mom blogger who receives the most votes between now and April 26th.

But, here’s the thing, Lana has challenged all of her readers to vote for her blog to win the prize and, if she wins, she will donate half of the prize to Beaded Hope. Lana has decided to get involved in a way that makes perfect sense for her….how cool is that!

So, I think you ought to run on over to http://tinyurl.com/ye9r5ay and place a vote for ILoveMy5Kids.  Seriously, get moving. And don’t forget that you can vote once a day between now and April 26th.

Then check out Lana’s blog at ILoveMy5Kids or follow her on twitter.

Thanks, Lana, for having such a big heart and for getting passionate!

First off, congratulations to Diana W. from New York who is the Week 4 winner in the Beaded Hope-You’re-A-Winner Giveaway! Diana, I hope you enjoy the goodies that are coming your way!

AND secondly, a special note to AUTHOR BUZZ Contest Entrants ~ All 5 Winners will be announced the week after Easter.  In the meantime, thank you all so much for participating.  It’s been great fun to see entries coming from all over the U.S.

DON’T forget ~ there are two more weeks to go!  Two more big chances to win!

Hope many others are signing up for Week 3 – with 3 items to win! The BEADED HOPE book, beaded bracelet and a cute beaded key chain too!

There’s still 4 weeks left to WIN!  Hope everyone keeps trying!!

Needless to say the morning didn’t go as planned. After cleaning the inside mess, my husband and I moved outside to try to fix our ice-blocked gutters. Naturally, one thing led to another. By the time we finished, I was really irritated. I’d had big plans for my morning off from work – and now all that time was gone! I grumped and whined — a lot. And then I thought of something — I thought about the women in South Africa. Every time it rains these women have to hold their very few possessions over their heads so they won’t get drenched and ruined on their soaked dirt floors. Thinking of them made me feel pitifully petty and self-absorbed…and obviously thankful, too.

Anything that’s made anyone else feel thankful lately?  Any hints of spring maybe?