Joyce In Her Happy Place

It takes months to prepare for a sale like this one. An inventory of approximately seventy bags made in one's "spare time" is a labour of love that often means a cluttered house, less than perfect meals, and a suspicion that I'm slowly being buried alive.

But the rewards!
Pulling into Brandon on Friday evening after a full week of work and last minute prep, my daughters and I set forth to set up a booth. To transform a bland rectangle of the Keystone Center into an appealing shop.

And when it was done, and the doors opened Saturday morning- we were ready! All the bags displayed around me, all that work behind me, and the fun about to begin.

Feeling grateful that I was positioned beside a fragrant beeswax candle vendor, I breathed a big honey-infused breath and anticipated the day's customers.
I was not to be disappointed.
Brandon was generous and kind. I met some new friends, and connected with some old. I put a face to one of my online shoppers. I enjoyed the helpfulness of my daughters. And I sold a lot of bags.

Enough bags to anticipate the need to edit my "Darfur sign".
At the beginning of the sale, our sign read "Since 2008, bags4darfur has raised over $26,000!"

Thanks to the generosity of Brandon, and the resulting $1,700.00 donation, we are now approaching a total of 28K.

Your generosity and support means the world.
I like to think that someone will eat today as a result of it.
Thank you.