New ideas for next year

so as I am up to my ears in envelopes and bracelets, I am thinking of changing things next year for the bracelet campaign.
I will still love to do the hand written parts but I will be investing in return address labels or a stamp, I will cut down on the envelope decor, the letter will be signed by me and then photocopied (I will still address each letter and still write notes if needed) and I think I  may go all with one size envelope so that taping it shut may not be necessary.

If you are wating for bracelet(s), please be patient and know I AM working on it! I am a bit overwhelmed with not just the 2014 campaign but also we are busy with farm life (calving season, pigs farrowing, chicks are here, rainy weathermaking spring work hard to accomplish) family life (Sam moved out, his graduation and getting ready for it, Hannah is busy with baseball and Isaac with his music and art) cleaning up from winter messes in our yard.... I am beat! But I am getting this done!

Today I had some help from some friends and my mother in love! Three of these lovely ladies addressed and prepped my envelopes (marking them so I know how many bracelets, stickers, whether a survivor and/or caregiver, etc.) , another lovely stamped the envelopes and pinned  states/provinces/countries on my map! All the while I was writing on letters, filing out cards and stuffing with bracelets. (set aside to be taped shut later tonight). I was so glad to have the help today because addressing sometimes slows me down as names tend to sound familiar to me and I have to check if it was because I had already done their bracelets or from the year before.... usually it was because I had emailed everyone first ... **sigh**
All of this is why I need to make this a more stream lined project next year! So any and all ideas will be welcome!

A smiley thot is that I have all year to plan! :)

First time for everything...

 Well just under 2 weeks ago I sent an email to a FB group I belong to (Help Raise Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness) and told Dustin (the group admin) I had TBI awareness bracelets (and 100 Oak Leaf Stickers) again this year ....
Last year I received about 200 emails over the entire year and made my goal of a new country to send a bracelet to (that would be Russia) -- so to say I am just in awe and overwhelmed at the response this year is an understatement!
My last actual count of requests were 375 emails PLUS messages on FB and I have had many MANY more since then!
I have tried to keep everything as organized as possible by returning an email to all sent to me, along with a note to the sender that I am working on getting bracelets to everyone who emailed so some numbers of bracelets just wasnt going to be possible. I also wrote each mailing address in a notebook so as to keep track of where to send bracelets (and praying to not miss anyone!)
I have a few things to add to each envelope that I still need to do, along with addressing each envelope and putting our return address too. For the frist time ever in this awareness journey,  I have asked for a bit of help from people who live in our area but so far there is no solid help.
It looks like this could be a slow process and I pray for understanding and patience from everyone.
I will try to keep the blog up to date on the progress and on my goal (so far so good!).


I am going to ask for prayer for a few things (if you wouldn't mind):
1. Help in getting this next step done in a timely manner
2. Making sure I get bracelets/stickers out to everyone who has asked for one (or a few)
3. I also have a request that I will not put on here but God does know (well of course since He knows everything) but just that if it is needed that it comes to fruition.

And it begins again ...

So it begins again. My third year of giving out silicone Brain Injury Awareness bracelets! This year they are green with white lettering, a new font, a new leaf graphic! I am so excited to start getting these out into the public!
I also have 99 green oak leaves to give away. I am seeing what people think of these  to maybe switch it up a little -- just in case people get tired of the whole bracelet idea.  A local business made these up for me and we will see how they go. (the oak leaf is representation of survivors - there are over 600 different species of oak trees -- kind of similar to survivors in that there is no two injuries the same!)

I am starting to get my address book ready, the letter that I send out is typed out again and printed with a new leaf picture this year and I am busy with putting pictures out into the social media world to spread the word on this! If you are on instagram and want to follow me: @mb_farmgurl my facebook link is on bottom left side of my blog, my twitter account is @FarmGurl72

As in the past all I ask for with receiving a bracelet (or sticker) is that you let me know you got them and then to also post pictures of you wearing the bracelet (or where you put the sticker) and hashtag it  with brain injury support (please tag me in the pics on instagram or FB so I can see it and share with others too!)
I have two goals again this year and they are as follows:

1. Spread awareness that will encourage survivors and caregivers AND encourage the general public to GET EDUCATED on Brain Injuries -- it can happen to anyone at anytime anywhere!

2. To send some bracelets (and now also stickers) to a new country! Last year I reached my goal and sent bracelets to Moscow, Russia!!!  Bracelets wen to 5 provinces, 42 states, and 6 countries -- this year I want to see those numbers grow, grow, GROW!

I have approached a few "local" celebrities (local as in Canadian) to offer bracelets to them to wear but as of yet have not heard from anyone. (please keep praying that we will find someone to help spread awareness on a grander scale than what I can do in my little corner!)
If you have any ideas on spreading awareness or know of anyone that would like to help with this or if you just want to request a bracelet(s) or sticker(s) please email me at braininjuryadvocate@gmail.com

Here is to another awesome year of spreading awareness of Brain Injury!! GET EDUCATED!!!