It's a very special day...

Today is the day I turn 29. 

Again.

Growing up my mother always said her 30th birthday was the hardest of all, and that stuck with me. So, I declared....ahem....a few years ago....ahem...to never, ever turn 30. 

source

My true age is sometimes even a mystery to me that I have to stop and count since I've played this game so long. But, ask my five year old, he'll tell ya every time...."Mom's 29!"
He's such a good boy! :)

However, I thought that today my lovely friends here might like to help me celebrate. 

Are you game???

Here's what I want to do for my birthday....I want to knock the socks off of a friend of mine who has made a way to use her gifts, talents, business, resources and every ounce of free time a mama of a large and busy family could possibly have, to GIVE BACK! A lot of which is completely done behind the scenes and may go unnoticed by most. That's right, she gives with everything she's got, and today I'd like her to know that she is making a difference!!! She is making a difference in the lives of children in need and a difference in the lives of those of us witnessing it. Her name is Shasta, and she is the beautiful person and heart behind Create H.O.P.E. Designs.

If you've been around Hopeful Threads for long, you have heard me talk about Create H.O.P.E. Designs. It is a project that has been near and dear to my heart since before it even had a name! Create H.O.P.E. Designs exists for the sole purpose of giving back to those in greatest need....orphaned children and their communities. This is done through the sale of unique, high-quality PDF patterns provided by some top name designers, for only $5 each!

Clothing, quilts, children's items....you name it! It's a wonderful, growing collection of patterns!

If you aren't familiar with Create H.O.P.E. Designs, please take a moment to get to know the purpose, designers and patterns behind the outreach. If you design patterns or have ever considered doing so, I'd also like to ask you to consider contributing some of your work. Create H.O.P.E. is always looking for new patterns to add to the existing collection! (New one just added this week!) You will always be recognized as the designer of your unique patterns and the difference your contribution can make is huge!

I know that overall sales from the pattern shop have probably slowed a bit since the launch and big push to get the word out. Today however, I would like to remind Shasta that the work she did to get Create H.O.P.E. Designs to this point, and the work she continues to quietly do to help others HAS NOT and WILL NOT be forgotten!!! Will you help me???

If you can purchase a pattern from the shop today in honor of my birthday, please do so!

Don't sew? Don't need another pattern? So what! Consider the $5 a donation to a really great cause and make the day of a couple of busy mamas! Whether you can purchase a pattern or not, will you at least take a moment to leave a comment on any post at the Create H.O.P.E. Designs blog just telling Shasta and the contributing designers THANK YOU!?! Sometimes that is just the kind of encouragement we all need to tackle what's ahead of us for that day!

So, will you help me celebrate???

Go stir up a little birthday hoopla over at Create H.O.P.E. Designs in honor of me today!

And thank you in advance! It's just what I wanted!!!