Update on Mauro's Fundraiser

THANK YOU so much to those of you who have given generously to Rebecca and Mauro! I am blown away by your generosity. To date, we've raised $429.75. I'm going to be cutting them a check in the next couple of days...so there is still time to donate if you were planning to, but haven't yet.

I received an email from Rebecca saying that some of the surgery plans have changed (location, etc), but it will still be happening quickly...I think within a week or two. They also just found out that they don't qualify for any type of financial aid from state or federal government levels. Mauro is originally from Brazil, and he needs to have lived in the U.S. for 10 years in order to qualify for aid, and he has only been here for 3 years. So, they are still looking at paying everything out of pocket.

A prayer for their family...

Jesus...Thank you that you are in control of all things. Nothing happens without your knowledge. We come to you today with heavy hearts and a need for your healing touch. You are the ultimate physician and we know that Mauro is in good hands. We pray that you would bring a deep peace to Rebecca and Mauro, amidst the chaos. Calm them whenever they feel scared. Lift them up when they are falling down. Bring people into their life to bless them and to hold them. Bring sweet Bianca into your arms as her mommy and daddy are dealing with this hard situation. Keep their eyes on you...the author and perfecter of our faith. We know that in you, all things hold together and that you will use this event in their life for GOOD and not for evil. We pray for a miracle Lord...please let Mauro's surgery go as planned and that his health will be restored. In your name we pray...Amen.

Pray for Mauro

My heart is so heavy right now for one of my very best friends, Rebecca and her family. This week her husband, Mauro, found out that he has a brain tumor that will require immediate surgery. They are unsure if it is cancerous or not...they won't know until they go in. The tumor is in the part of his brain that controls personality, non-verbal motions, and many other critical functions. They also do not have any health insurance.

 

I wish you could all know this wonderful family...they are so generous and kind and full of life. Mauro and Rebecca run the Capoeira group in Des Moines. This is their livelihood, and they are unsure if Mauro will be able to teach again after the surgery. Bianca, their daughter, is like a sister to Bella. We spent so much time with them when we lived in Des Moines...you can see some of our fun times in the photos here and here and here. It's so hard for me to be leaving to go on the road right now in this time when they need their friends the most. Please join me in covering them with prayer as they walk down this path.

 

Our friends in Des Moines are starting to plan fundraisers...not so much to cover the cost of the surgery (which will be huge)...but to help offset the cost of all of the unexpected expenses when someone you love gets sick. My prayer is that those of you who are reading this will give even just a LITTLE bit to help this family. Even a few dollars...it will all add up and will be such a blessing to them. Sometimes I like to measure things in caramel lattes...so this week, let's all give up our caramel latte to bless this family.

 

100% will go to the Valadao family.

If you have difficulty with the button, you can Paypal directly to msjanssen@hotmail.com

Support The Live Lightly Tour!

As the Live Lightly Tour launch gets closer and closer…Matt and I are increasingly aware of our need for additional income! That is probably the most frequently asked question…”how are you making money?”. Well, this is where your help is needed. We are continuing to do photography and odd jobs while on the road…but it’s proving difficult to maintain a steady income. To supplement those professions, we have partnered with a company, Shaklee, that has wonderful, earth-friendly products for home and body. We’re going to be selling them while we’re on the road…and the great thing is that you can buy them directly from our new Shaklee website and support the tour in that way. Their products and their company values align nicely with what we are all about…and that is, helping people make healthy choices for the earth and for their home/body. They make it easy to be green!

Click here to see the “Get Clean” natural home cleaning line. They also have high-quality vitamins for kids and adults, and lots of other cool stuff.

Matt at Groovy Green did a nice little test and review on the Get Clean line. Read his opinions here.

The Get Clean line is getting lots of media attention…Shaklee in the News.

The other cool thing…Shaklee has “zero impact on global warming by offsetting 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions. For this innovative environmental leadership, Shaklee became the nation’s first Climate Neutral Certified company”.

If you are interested in our tour, and want to help us educate others about sustainable and simple living…PLEASE help keep us on the road! If you are already a Shaklee user…PLEASE start buying from our site! If you have been trying to figure out how to be “more green”…this is a great first step. You can even buy the entire line as a “kit”.

Other ways to help: I would really like to start doing more graphic design while we’re on the road. Here is a list of services I can provide…contact me directly for more information:

• Logo and business identity packages
• Business cards
• Posters and brochures
• Postcards and other advertising
• Birth announcements/Moving announcements
• Personalized holiday cards
• Blog headers

If you are interested in donating directly to the Live Lightly Tour Fund…you can use Paypal and send donations to msjanssen@hotmail.com

Thank you for all of your support already…we appreciate our readers so much! You make us happy.

*Note for Walk Slowly readers...you may be wondering why I would be promoting natural cleaning products when I blog about making your own. :) I love making my own...but I recognize that some people may not like making their own, may not want to make their own, or may not feel like they have time to mess with it. The Shaklee line makes it really easy to go green...and I love being able to offer a great alternative to making your own. Even before we were doing Shaklee...I still bought premade dish soap, laundry soap, and other cleaners that are harder to make. Don't worry...I haven't sold out :) Just wanting to offer lots of alternatives to the nasty, dangerous chemicals that are marketed as cleaning products.

*Cross-posted on Live Lightly