guest post - Meg - cards and a giveaway

Meg is another one of the amazing women behind the scenes
at the Trendy Treehouse blog.
She's got her own blog full of wonderful, amazing ideas as well.
Read her incredible story and then check out the amazing giveaway!
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Years ago, I remember watching a video of an older woman, who lived alone in a farming/woodsy area, and didn't have any immediate neighbors.
EVERYDAY, this woman waited for the mail to come, HOPING that someone (probably her children, or grandchildren) was thinking of her and would send a note to say so. That note never came. I remember vividly, the look on her face, day after day as it looked more and more sad and she felt more and more alone. I remember feeling so sad for her and thinking "why would it be so hard for someone to mail her a little card to say, "I love you, I'm thinking of you, or I miss you". "How unfortunate that this woman, who probably dedicated her life to her family, feels like no one cares."

There was a time in high school, when I felt those same feelings. "No one cares....no one knows what I'm feeling or going through.....no one loves me....." It was a dark time in my life and as I look back, I think, all it would have taken to give me some "hope", is a small gesture of love. A smile or a hug. A little note, saying "you're worth a darn!", or "I'm thinking of you, I'm here for you"....."you mean something to me".

Jumping ahead..... I love to craft. I love creating with my hands and having a finished product that "I made." Something that I spent my precious time on, put my love and creative thinking into. And it's an even better feeling to be able to give it away to someone. Homemade gifts say so much more than anything you could buy. They say "I took time to make this for you. I put my heart into it, and now I want you to have it.....a part of me."

Making cards is no exception. The excitement I feel when I have a handful of cards that "I created" is so satisfying. ESPECIALLY when thinking of the people that I get to mail them to. I love sitting down with my newly made cards, my address book and some cute colored pens. ;)

You don't ever have to have a "reason" to mail someone a card....caring about them is enough. I, personally get so excited when I see a handwritten envelope addressed to me, amidst ALL the junk and bills in the mail box. I LOVE getting mail. Knowing that someone took the time to pick out a card, sat down and wrote me some of their feelings, and just THOUGHT enough of ME to do it, makes me feel so happy and LOVED. And couldn't the world use more LOVE????

So my challenge to you..... Sit down with some paper, cards, "whatever" and WRITE to your friends, your family....those you haven't talked to in a while....in ages. No emailing them, no texting, facebooking, or blog commenting them. Show them you care by writing them a quick note, letting them know you are thinking of them. You'll never know what difference you are making in someone's day. You might bring a smile to their face or you might bring someone out of their darkest hour. The power might be in your hands.....

With Love,

Now for the amazing giveaway!!!
Meg is generously giving away
10 homemade cards, with envelopes, a mini pen,
and a cute hair flower/brooch, for good measure!
to 2 people!!!!
What a generous and thoughtful gift!
So there will be two winners!!
Wish I could be one of them!!

To enter this giveaway which ends on July 19th....
Leave a comment telling me why you want to win this and
who you would send your first card to.

Extra entries:
1)Follow Pure Joy (1 entry) through google friend connect.
2) Follow the MBellished You Blog (1 entry) through google friend connect.
2)Go to MBellished You blog and leave a comment, THEN
come back here and tell me where you left a comment. (1 entry)
3) Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to your post (1 entry)
4) Put the Random Acts of Kindness Button on your blog
and let me know where it is (2 entry)

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Spread kindness everyday!