Blood Water Mission | 40 Days of Water

I drink a lot of water.

I love water, and I don’t think twice about it when I open my fridge and fill my tumbler full of cold, clear, delicious water.  I should, however, be saying a prayer of thanks that I have the ability to do that, that I have virtually unlimited access to clean, drinkable water whenever I want it.

I don’t have to work for my water, or worry whether the water my kids have is safe to drink

 

40 Days:  I’m not Catholic, and I’ve never participated in Lent and the last time I gave up anything for any period of time was 12 years ago before Nathan and I got married.  I was concerned about how I’d look in my wedding dress, not how I was impacting someone’s life, or for the good of anyone else.  It was purely for the sake of vanity and the pictures 🙂

When I first heard about Blood Water Mission and the 40 Days of Water I was intrigued – the more I read, the more I felt driven to be a part of this.

As I browsed the site and read the information – the more deeply it hit me, just how blessed we are, how truly lucky to turn on a faucet and have water whenever we want it.

 

12 hours a week  just collecting water,  my kids probably spend 12 hours a week playing with their friends, playing games and watching TV.  I cannot fathom… I just can’t.

I’m always looking for a way to give back, I have a servant’s heart, and I want to teach my kids about giving back and giving more and showing them that one person, just little ol me down here in South Texas can make a difference in people’s lives at home and across the world.

The best way that I can think of to do that, is to lead by example and for me 40 Days of Water is the perfect way to do it.

The Challenge (and it’s definitely a challenge – at least for me)  is  to drink nothing but water for 40 days – from February 13th until March 30th.

This  means I will be giving up my morning diet drink, my sometimes afternoon diet drink and completely skipping any alcohol in the evenings . For each drink I skip, I will donate the money I WOULD have spent to the cause.

I (and you, should you choose to accept the challenge) can track my donations with the handy little widget on the Blood Water Mission homepage

 

I’m making a 40 Days jar for my house and each day (okay, I’ll be honest – it’ll probably be more like the end of each week)  I’ll add up my donations/savings and put them in the jar.  At the end of the 40 days, I’ll add that money to my account and I’ll donate it to the cause.

Let’s be honest, y’all – I’m human, I’m weak and I’m probably going to slip occasionally.  Now water really is my main drink of choice and I drink a LOT of it – but I am also a fan of diet soda and miller lite and red wine.  I am going to do my best to stick to nothing but water for 40 days*, but if and when I slip up – I’ll pay twice the amount of my drink to the cause.

*Sundays are feast days which means they are the day that we are allowed to ‘slip’

This whole 40 Days of water experience isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being aware, being human, giving and experiencing and being in solidarity with those in Africa.

I’m going to instagram my #DailyWater for #40days – so you can follow along with me on instagram @SthrnFairytale and @BloodWaterMission

I’m hoping to do my best, not only for the families in Uganda – but for myself and my children – I want them to grow into givers, adults with servant’s hearts and compassionate souls, and that definitely starts at home.

I hope y’all will join me and sign up for 40 Days of Water, it’s easy

If you want to learn more you can check out Blood Water Mission’s 40 Days of Water homepage.

I hope you’ll join me, just think – for every diet drink I give up each day – 1 child in Uganda gets clean water and for every adult beverage I skip while we’re eating out – SEVERAL children in Uganda have clean water to drink.  I can promise y’all, I’m going to be looking at my drinks differently for the next 40 days.   I’m not saying I’m going to be 100%  y’all, I’m just saying I’m going to try – why don’t you try with me?

 

In the interest of 100% disclosure:  prior to signing up for this challenge, I already agreed to a trip to Napa in March with lots of vineyard traveling and wine tasting – and I’m attending my 5th BlissDom at the the end of March – Adult Beverages will be consumed and I will be adding *bonus* money to my jar for both trips.

I’m thrilled to be a part of this Blood Water Mission experience and can’t wait to share my journey with y’all.