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Well, I can’t believe I’m about to say this… but it’s officially almost time for me to head to the other side of the planet for my vacation! YAHOO!!! I’ve been planning this trip for over a year now and I am SO excited it’s finally here. I will be leaving this weekend to head directly to Paris where my 3 week adventure will begin (and ending in the UK)!! I am thrilled out of my mind for all the fun that will be had and will be so excited when I come home to share all of the fun memories. I absolutely LOVE Europe and I’m so grateful I am going back. I won’t have much internet access while away, so I wanted to let you know all know. I will definitely try to blog if I can, but I promised myself I would stay away from technology as much as possible. So no promises. ; )  Deirdre (assistant) will still be here in the USA helping me take care of everything so no worries of not getting your emails answered and orders picked up. : )

I will leave you now with a few pictures from some recent shoots. Be back soon!!!

So it’s been a while that I have been wanting to write this post. I’m not sure I can even now come up with the write words for it, but I am going to try. I know through the internet and blogs it’s sometimes hard to really get to know someone. I also know that I don’t spend enough time writing personal blog posts (something I get onto myself constantly about) but hopefully over time you will begin to get to know my heart better and better through my blog. Something that a lot of people may not realize about me is my passion for helping others in need. I know that I am so blessed to have been born in the United States. That is something I think about almost all of the time. It’s so easy to take for granted the little things. Fortunately for me I was moved to Peru, South America when I was 11 years old and spent most of my teenage years living in a foreign 3rd world country as a missionary kid. So it forced me to appreciate life and the things I am given SO much more. I could write a book about living in Peru… and maybe I will someday! But I know that if I hadn’t lived there, I would not be the person I am today. I know 100% without a doubt, it’s one of the main reasons I view life the way I do and try to constantly live in a state of gratefulness and appreciation for EVERYTHING God has blessed me with. You have no idea how much you have until you go to a 3rd world country and see the way the rest of the world lives. Children living on streets with no one to care for them… it will literally break your heart. There are so many people who are completely hopeless out there and yet we want to wine about the dumbest things. There is so much more to life than being selfish.

I have heard that some people ask other people who know me, “Is Courtney really as happy and positive as she appears on her blog??” The answer really is YES. In all honesty, there are definitely things that bug me, and I do have a list of pet peeves, but overall, I am happy because I am SO grateful for what I have. If I were to constantly compare myself to people who have more than me, then I would most likely be negative and unhappy. But I try to always compare myself to people who have less than me… and it makes me feel insanely lucky ALL THE TIME. I have NO reason whatsoever to not be happy! I would be such a fool if I were not.

About 15+ years ago, maybe longer… when I was really young, I heard about this organization called Compassion International. Growing up in church my whole life, I went to a lot of Christian concerts and I remember hearing about it for the first time at one of the concerts I went to. I honestly couldn’t tell you who the band was, but I remember them talking about it and showing a video about how this organization helps children all over the world. That people would sponsor a child for a small amount every month and help support a child somewhere in the world with school, clothing, food and medical supplies. I was of course too young to afford doing it then but I never ever forgot about it and knew someday I would sponsor a child across the world. I will admit, I waited much longer than I should have… but about a year ago I remembered about it and told myself it was way time to make that happen. It has been a dream come true to help a child and with that being said, meet my sponsor child: Duangdao

Isn’t she beautiful!?! Duangdao lives in the community Baan Huey Lu Luang (approx 400 residents) which is near Chiang Rai in Thailand. She is 4 years old and will be turning 5 this September!! Both of her parents are farmers and are together. She loves listening to music, singing, playing with her dolls and playing hide and seek. Compassion International is an INCREDIBLE organization that allows you to write letters back and forth to your sponsor child. I have been communicating with Duangdao the past year. She is still too young to write but she has drawn me a picture and her Sunday school teacher writes for her to me for now. : )

It amazes me that for only $38 a month I am able to help her so much. I know there are so many people that could help so many children. If you want more information about sponsoring a child, please go here to compassion.com. They also allow you to make extra donations every month or send money for birthdays, Christmas, etc. It’s so amazing!

Sponsoring a child has definitely been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I have done. I look forward to the day that I am able to go and visit Duangdao and see her beautiful smile!

By the way, Compassion is not doing anything for me because I am talking about this on my blog. I wanted to write it because it’s something that’s a part of my dreams and passions in my heart. It is my hope that you will be inspired to help others… even if it’s not through Compassion. There are so many people hurting in the world who need love and hope. How can you make a difference?