Service with SMILES

"I love to serve!" It isn't just something Katy Carlson says, it's also how she LIVES.

Katy leads the awesome Meri Majesties team, and is also a mother of five, volunteer carpool patrol leader, church youth group leader, and volunteer yearbook teacher at a local school. She loves kids and is such a devout guardian of the safe and happy childhood, even her license plate reflects it:

So when Katy and her team learned about Close To My Heart's commitment to Operation Smile several years ago, Katy put her usual zeal on a mission. She organized a springtime crop to benefit Operation Smile that (now in its fourth year) is taking on epic proportions. Together with Meri Majesties team members Sandy Herring, Carolyn Wheeler, and Arabella Littlepage—who really are royal majesties in their own right—these amazing women and their customers raised more than $11,000 this past spring in a single weekend.

Katy involved some of her school children in the design of unique posters, with hand-drawn happy faces—a new face was added to the poster each time the crop weekend hit another $240 in donations, so that everyone could translate their efforts into the real faces that would be served by their generosity.

Understandably, the effort caught our attention at the corporate office, and we knew we had to do something to thank these awesome folks for their service. This past weekend, Monica and I (Kristine) flew to the D.C., area to cast a vote of our own: a vote of gratitude for all of the wonderful croppers, customers, and these four Meri Majesties who together are responsible for a cumulative 90 surgeries! For those of you doing the math at home, that's nearly $22,000 contributed over four years.

We held a daylong workshop complete with four layouts, two gift boxes, and six cards. Appropriately, each of the projects had a gratitude theme. Here are the layouts we made:

The projects were wonderful, but the day was exceptional. Thanks again to Katy, who truly does love to serve (And have fun—here's a shot of classic Katy, mugging for the camera).

She provided all the food for a gourmet lunch and plated dinner, prepared and served by her 16-year-old son, who is also an AMAZING chef! Special props to Katy's husband Chris, who was also slaving in the kitchen.

For lunch, we enjoyed "North Shore Salad," featuring market-fresh field greens, feta cheese, candied pecans, and the most incredible blueberry vinaigrette, which Katy happily shared the recipe for so you can make it on your own:

Blueberry Vinaigrette 

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tablespoon honey*

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup frozen, wild blueberries

dash of cinnamon

Combine vinegar, oil, sugar, honey and salt in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Whisk until sugar has dissolved.

In separate bowl, crush blueberries with a potato masher so that the juices flow, then add to the vinaigrette mixture. Add cinnamon and whisk until well blended. Let stand at room temperature for a couple of hours to enhance flavors, then store in refrigerator.

* Adding honey aids in the emulsion, keeping the oil and vinegar from separating.

Dinner was Swedish meatballs, hearty scoops of mashed potatoes and green beans, and the most singularly incredible Swedish cream with raspberries I've ever tasted. When Katy announced she had a few more servings to spare, there was a literal stampede to the kitchen! 

I was so hungry to plunge into my dinner plate (and so was Moni), that neither of us remembered to take a photo of the food. Sorry! If you want to savor these yummies for yourself, Katy suggests a getaway to Lutsen resort in her home state of Minnesota, where some of these tasty morsels originated. 

But here's not only a photo of the Swedish cream but a recipe so you can surprise, delight and serve those you love, too:

Swedish Cream 

1 1/2 teaspoons Knox unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup cold water

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups light sour cream

Put cold water into small glass or bowl and sprinkle unflavored gelatin on top. Do not stir. Let stand for 5-10 minutes.

Combine cream and sugar into saucepan. Using rubber spatula, blend gelatin mixture into cream mixture. On medium heat, bring cream to a low simmer (180 degrees). Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Add sour cream, vanilla extract and almond flavoring and blend with a whisk until smooth. Immediately put into individual serving dishes. Chill and serve with fresh raspberries or lingonberry jam. Makes approximately 8 servings.

We loved every minute—Katy's friends and customers raved about her kindness, her enthusiasm for Close To My Heart, and most of all, her commitment to bettering children's lives through the support of Operation Smile. Clearly, it's a vision all these great ladies share, and as Katy said,  "It's taken on a life of its own!" Their 2013 event is already sold out, and the donations and support are literally pouring in. Thank you to the "VIPS" and "Princesses" and other royal court we met this weekend:

We admire your work and thank you for your service. You make a majestic difference!

Such a Beautiful Smile

When Consultant Pam Thor was little, she didn't smile much. Teased and self-concious about her teeth (which were small and yellow, due to a childhood injury), Pam always kept her mouth closed—she comments that even when asked to smile for a photo, she kept her lips pursed tight. 

It was a painful and difficult time. As an adult, she's had the blessing of having her teeth repaired, and now enjoys a beautiful smile, something she shares often and freely.

But she hasn't forgotten how lonely she felt, or how cruelly others treated her, when her smile looked different than those around her. Perhaps that's why the Operation Smile Make A Miracle Challenge has resonated so deeply with Pam. Just a few days ago, Pam remitted a significant donation to the challenge, collected from a charity crop, silent auction and other wonderful activities. My heart was so touched by the sweet e-mail Pam sent along with her donation, sharing the story of her painful youth and her commitment to better the lives of others.

She wrote: 

"Last June, I quit my 19-year career as a chemical engineer. I wanted to spend more time with my children. And something in my gut was telling me that there was something else I was supposed to be doing at this stage of my life. Spending time with my kids has been wonderful. I am finding wonderfully rewarding opportunities being a Girl Scout Troop Leader. I've also been enjoying working more on my CTMH business. And now, I am getting a great deal of joy out of raising money for Operation Smile. Knowing I am helping other kids, kids who have FAR WORSE facial and teeth problems than I ever did, is providing me with a sense of peace and satisfaction. I am looking forward to continuing to help Operation Smile however I can in the future.

Thank you again for supporting this wonderful organization, reminding us how blessed we are, and giving us easy opportunities to help these children."

My dear Pam, I want you to know how much your e-mail means to me. For several children, your donation will literally change their lives for the better. As I look at the photos you sent in, I can only think that you have ALWAYS had a beautiful smile, and the beautiful spirit to match. Thank you so much!

The Countdown Has Begun!

The countdown to the end of our Operation Smile "Make A Miracle" Challenge has begun. There are only a few more weeks for you Consultants to collect donations and remit them in order to win the opportunity to participate in an international mission with this life-changing charity. We've been watching the donation totals at the corporate office, and I can say with confidence: It's still anyone's contest to win!

This really means two things. One, even if you haven't spread the awareness much of Operation Smile nor submitted many donations, don't give up the effort! This is such a worthwhile chance of a lifetime, and even if you don't earn the mission trip, it's a wonderful reward to know that you've changed a child's life through your generosity.

Two, this does mean that we haven't seen the level of participation that we hoped to. We know our Consultants and customers truly are the most generous and caring people on the planet, so we have been a bit surprised by the soft response. We can do better! There are still two weeks left in the challenge, so I encourage you to rise to it! (To be eligible for the contest, all donations must be submitted before midnight on Thursday, April 5, the end of the five-day grace period.)

I received a great message from Consultant Sharon Esau recently who held a Scrap & Stamp event that raised $1,000 for Operation Smile (way to go, Sharon!). She writes: "What an opportunity you have provided to us! It would mean so much to me to win this contest, but if I don't, I am so glad to be a part of collecting money for Operation Smile on Close To My Heart's behalf. I will always believe in giving back to the community that has supported me in so many ways. I guess you might say I am selfish because I learned a long time ago that it is me that benefits from helping others. Thank you for being the kind of company I am so proud of."

Thank you, Sharon. And thanks to all of you working to Make A Miracle—I'll be watching the countdown and the donations and wishing you well in your efforts!

Q&A: Choosing Smiles

QUESTION: Prior to the Make A Miracle Challenge, Operation Smile was on my mind and ideas going through my head about how to raise some money for this wonderful charity. With so many deserving and noble charities that CTMH could have sponsored, what were the factors that lead you to selecting Operation Smile over all the others? --Submitted by Tamytha, January 19, 9:31

ANSWER: You're right, Tamytha, there are scores of wonderful,deserving charitable organizations and it really was tough to choose just one. (Just like it may be tough for you to choose just one stamp set or paper packet as your gift for submitting your question! Send me an e-mail to me@jeanettelynton.com and I'll send you your gift.)

And yet, when we did our research into cause marketing, we really learned that choosing just one is essential to success -- those organizations that "charity hop" from one meaningful organization to another, in the hopes that they will be able to serve many, statistically have a lot more trouble gaining traction than those who commit to one charity and stick with it. Take Yoplait yogurt -- without even missing a beat, most people can tell you that Yoplait supports breast cancer research, right down to donating money for their famous foil lids. We wanted to be able to have that same strong, instant, long-term connection with our charitable partner.

As we looked at a variety of charities, it was important to us that it have unimpeachable integrity. We wanted to state with confidence where our donations were going and know that they were directly helping people in need, not necessarily funding lots of administrative or advertising costs. Outside of a small office staff, Operation Smile's workforce are volunteers, including the highly trained surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses who give their considerable skill to the work. Operation Smile strives to follow Better Business Bureau guidelines (not all non-profits do), which means they are exceptionally diligent in following donation practices and auditing checks and balances to protect donors and provide great reporting.

We liked a charity with a global reach, because we wanted to do good wherever need existed, not solely in our own backyard. We sought a charity that had been functioning for a long time, and that was well established. We also wanted to partner with a charity that was impacting real people, in real time, right now. Operation Smile fit the bill on every single count! We love that they are fulfilling missions around the world, teaching in-country surgeons new practices to improve healthcare in developing nations, have been operating for 30 years, and that a child can walk into a hospital with a facial deformity and literally just a few hours later, walk out with a new smile and hope for a new life.

Ultimately, when I met Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile's founders, that cinched the deal. Their tireless energy and fierce commitment to the work changed something inside of me. At a time in their life when many of their peers would be relaxing with grandkids or vacationing in exotic locales, these two are sweetly caring for other people's children and "vacationing" in exotic locales -- like clinics in Ghana or remote Chinese villages. We may not all be surgeons or world travelers, but when we support Operation Smile, we CAN participate in a truly great work!

Already Smiling

Last week, I invited Consultants to write in if they are working to support the Operation Smile Make A Miracle Challenge with a specific event or incentive—I love sharing good news and creating additional awareness for people truly passionate about this worthy endeavor. A few great Consultants took me up on my request (even though I hope there are many, many more of you working to build donations for Operation Smile!), and I wanted to share their stories with you.

First, I heard from Holly Veselenak of Michigan, who writes: "as a mom of four children, I can't imagine what it would be like to have a child who wasn't able to be fed or nourished due to this type of (facial) birth defect… From the moment I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Dr. Magee and his wife, Kathleen, I have felt compelled to do whatever I can to help raise awareness for their efforts in saving the lives of thousands of children around the world."

Holly, I couldn't agree more! Holly and her team will be holding a charity crop and auction on Saturday, March 31 (the last official day of our Make A Miracle Challenge!) at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel and Banquet Hall, located at 2108 Auburn Road, Shelby Township, Michigan. Even though the crop itself is sold out, Holly encourages anyone in the area—or the state!--to swing by that day to see and participate in an amazing silent auction with dozens of donated artwork. All proceeds will benefit Operation Smile. Holly says "It would be a lifelong dream to be a part of an Operation Smile mission. So I'm going for it! And even if I'm not the #1 contributor, I'm thrilled that my team and I could be a part of something so worthy and help as many children as we can." For more information about Holly's event and future charity events, she can be reached at hollymv1@comcast.net.  

Next, Barbra Otten responded. I love her fresh and creative approach to raising funds for Make A Miracle. She has been designing and raffling layouts; she also sells cards for $5-$10 on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages. I've included a few samples of Barbra's cards below—aren't they beautiful? 

She notes that even her husband has gotten into the act, offering cards and Operation Smile information to those he works with. Barbra says, "I'd never even heard of Operation Smile until I joined Close To My Heart in 2008.…I was really unaware how a short and inexpensive operation could completely change a child's life. When I heard about the Make A Miracle Challenge, I knew I might have the chance to experience that miracle with my own eyes. I know there are many Consultants trying to win the trip, too, so I have been concentrating on just one $240 operation at a time, knowing that if I don't go, I am still able to make a difference!"

I love Barbra's attitude of service and her creative approach to driving donations. If you'd like to learn more about Barbra's artwork or incentives, you can visit http://barbraotten.com or visit her on Facebook at facebook.com/scrappingwithheart.

Finally, I heard from a pair of Consultants who have teamed up to work together. One of the things I love most about Close To My Heart is the camaraderie and community we share, and I think a spirit of collaboration in Make A Miracle is particularly touching. Elizabeth Mindemann (the blonde in the photo) and Stephenie Zdrojewski are longtime friends but fairly new members to the Close To My Heart family. Elizabeth writes that when she signed up as a Consultant her "initial thought was how can I use this business and my gift of creativity to benefit others." Wow! What an impressive mission!

In the past year, the pair have hosted events to benefit their local food bank and other efforts. Elizabeth says, "Why Operation Smile? We are both mamas of young children and realize that when our children smile it brings a smile to our faces and the faces of those around. I admire the work of Operation Smile and the efforts to give a child confidence."

Stephenie and Elizabeth will be hosting a crop on March 17 in Lancaster County, PA and will also be working on a "smile-a-thon." To find out more about their plans and to support their efforts, you can visit www.ejoym.blogspot.com/2011/12/operation-smile-all-day-crop.html

I wish all of you well—Holly, Barbra, Stephenie, and Elizabeth—and all those of you who are also working consistently to raise funds for Operation Smile, whether the Make A Miracle mission is in your sights or not. Remember that every dollar makes a difference, and every donation is needed no matter how small.


Are you working to Make A Miracle happen too? If you'd like me to share your story, I'll make an effort to do it (space and time permitting, of course). Just e-mail me your details at me@jeanettelynton.com. Together, let's change the world one smile at a time!

More Reasons To Smile

As many of you know, Close To My Heart is a long-time supporter of Operation Smile. I LOVE this organization and have seen first-hand the extraordinary miracles they do to change lives. Right now, we are in the middle of our "Make A Miracle Challenge," where the Consultant who raises the most in donations for Operation Smile by March 31 will have the opportunity to participate in an international medical mission.

Are you participating in the challenge to make a miracle? If you are, I'd love the chance to share your efforts and plans, or even details of upcoming events you may want the world to know about. Just send an e-mail with the details to me@jeanettelynton.com so I can spread the word!

Also, I wanted to share with you an extraordinary story that Operation Smile recently shared with us. It really hits home how very desperate many children with facial deformities are to find help. Click on the link below to learn a little more about Fuseina, the 11-year old girl from Ghana who traveled by bus for more than 10 hours—ALONE—in the hopes that she might be a patient selected for surgery. It touched my heart, and I know it will touch yours. Her simple story reminds me to give thanks for the blessings of ready medical care and well children in my life, and reminds me how essential it is that we help Fuseina and the thousands of other children just like her.

 http://www.operationsmile.org/living_proof/from-the-field/2011/11-year-old-travels-alone-in.html

Let's Make Miracles!

I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Last week, Close To My Heart announced our "Make A Miracle" Challenge in partnership with Operation Smile. I absolutely love Operation Smile and have deep admiration for Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, its selfless, humble, hard-working founders. 

A few years ago, I was able to serve with the Magees on an international medical mission where skilled doctors and nurses volunteered their talents to repair facial deformities on children in Mexico. They worked capably, they worked fast, and in just the space of a few days, scores of children—and their grateful parents—left the hospital with big, genuine smiles to last a lifetime. David and I were so honored to be a part of that mission; it truly changed my life as I wept with joyous parents or bonded with these sweet, beautiful children. I will never forget that experience and it has made me a lifelong advocate for Operation Smile.

More than anything, I want to share that extraordinary opportunity with someone. And thanks to the Make A Miracle Challenge, IT COULD BE YOU. 

That's right! With support from Operation Smile, Close To My Heart will be sending one Consultant on an Operation Smile international medical mission to work as a volunteer later this spring. It is my hope and prayer that every Close To My Heart Consultant sees this as an opportunity to learn more, to get involved and to make a difference in the life of a child who so desperately needs to be given a chance. There can be only one Consultant who "wins" the trip, but I promise you that we all win when we contribute to this exceptional organization. And unlike many of our contests and promotions, this one is not founded on top sales or top recruiting—it's founded on PASSION. If you have the passion for the work of Operation Smile, you have a great opportunity to share in it first hand.

Here are some great facts about their recent accomplishments: in 2011, Operation Smile completed 164 medical missions in 124 different sites around the world. With more than 300,000 volunteer hours, they were able to provide life-changing surgery to a record 18,086 patients last year! What I love about this organization is their tireless zeal—they are determined to touch even more children in 2012, and with your contributions, WE can make that a reality!

To learn a little more about Operation Smile and Close To My Heart's Make A Miracle Challenge, I invite you to watch this video. Then let's work to make MANY miracles together!

A (Nearly) Million-Dollar Smile

This has been a pretty extraordinary week—the founders of Operation Smile, my friends Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee—were in Salt Lake City to accept a donation from the LDS Church. It’s always good to see them, and I so admire their energy and tireless dedication to the children of the world. They are always joyful people, but their smiles were even bigger on Wednesday. At a press event with Church leaders, the Magees accepted a nearly one-million-dollar contribution from the Church’s humanitarian services that will deliver life-changing surgeries to nearly 3,800 children in Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Jordan. Can you imagine? Nearly four thousand kids will know a chance at a better life because of this incredible donation.

As I spent the morning with the Magees as well as leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I felt overcome with gratitude. I am so grateful that there are people willing to help others, regardless of where they live, who they are or what they do. They just see a need and respond to it. The Magees are among the most Christian and selfless people I have ever met, focusing their time and talents on others.

This was a sweet followup to Senior Executive Director Sheri Rottler’s Leadershare event, held in Utah last Saturday. Our team reported that attendees had a blast creating adorable projects and getting business insights, but that a highlight of the event was the Operation Smile silent auction. Sheri encouraged anyone who wanted to participate to create and donate projects. The response was amazing! Attendees vied for more than a dozen beautiful pieces, from mini-albums to an advent calendar, to an incredible, complete Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and a “Sparkled” tree skirt. At the end of the day, the group had raised nearly $800, enough for THREE “smile” surgeries for deserving children.

It wasn’t one million dollars, but I couldn’t have been more touched—it came from the heart and makes a HUGE difference. Thank you to all who participated; selfless people who see a need and respond to it. I’m excited to see more Operation Smile events and together, change the face of the world, one smile at a time!

A Day of Joy

I received an amazing e-mail today from Operation Smile that’s left tears in my eyes and a prayer of gratitude in my heart. I wanted to share it with ALL OF YOU, as you are the reason Close To My Heart is able to be a major contributor to Operation Smile. The message comes from one of our friends at Operation Smile’s corporate headquarters, and it had the following subject line: “A big thank you message from the children of Rwanda!”

Here’s an excerpt from the e-mail:
Thank you so much for your extraordinary support. Once again and despite the economic downturn, you and the fabulous team at Close To My Heart seem to find a way to rise to the occasion and exceed your goals. With great pleasure, we wanted to share this tribute message with you in hopes of reminding you just how special you are to so many, especially the children around the world!

If you look closely, you’ll see some of these children are only a day or two post-surgery, while others are anxiously waiting their big day.
By now, I’m sure, their smiles are as full and bright as the possibilities in their futures.

The following photo was included with the e-mail—if a picture is worth a thousand words, this one could write a book:


Life is good. YOU are good. Thank you for making great things possible.

Hearts for Haiti—A Chance to Give and Get Back

Just when I think I’ve seen everything, the Consultants and customers of Close To My Heart surprise me again and again with their creativity and generous spirits. Following the earthquake in Haiti, we worked to create a campaign that would generate significant contributions for relief efforts in a way that also benefitted our amazing customers. Voila—we announced a buy one, get one free offer on our sumptuous textured cardstock, with Close To My Heart donating $2 for every promotional pack purchased to Operation Smile.

I am privileged to serve on the board of the Utah Chapter of Operation Smile, and last night, I attended our board meeting. I learned in even greater detail the incredible, timely, absolutely essential service that Operation Smile medical personnel are providing to the injured and hurting in Haiti. Many people may not realize that after the initial casualties are reported, the death toll typically climbs rapidly—as infections, dehydration, and illnesses due to poor sanitation set in. I learned that Operation Smile volunteers have performed over 100 amputations and flap surgeries to date for those in Haiti who might otherwise lose their lives to unchecked infection. This is just one very real way that Operation Smile is making a difference in this stricken nation.

Because of the worldwide network of surgeons and specialists that Operation Smile connects, they are poised to respond immediately when disaster strikes and also stay longer term to support these ongoing medical needs. I feel so grateful to be aligned with a wonderful, committed charity such as Operation Smile and to know that we each one of us can do our part to help.

It’s only been 10 days since the campaign began, and sales of our textured cardstock combo packs have soared—well exceeding our expectations. I guess that’s because YOU regularly exceed our expectations! The offer is a wonderful opportunity for everybody: you can choose from any of our five colorful combo packs, and at the reduced price, each sheet of cardstock is only about 30 cents! It’s an awesome value, and best of all, we are raising thousands of dollars, 100% of which will go to Operation Smile’s dedicated medical aid efforts in Haiti. I’ve included a few photos courtesy of Operation Smile, of the work their doing in Haiti. If you’d like more information on their efforts, check out: http://www.operationsmile.org/haiti/ … and thanks for your wonderful support!

You Make Me Smile

There are a number of things that make me smile: family, friends, scrapbooking are among the top of the list. But there is something else that touches my heart like almost nothing else—the beautiful face of a happy, healthy child. That’s why the charitable organization, Operation Smile, is SO important to me. This amazing group provides life-changing facial reconstructive surgeries to children around the world who were born with cleft lip, cleft palate, or other deformities. Surgeries average only about 45 minutes in duration, they typically cost only $240, yet they change the life of a child FOREVER.

Last year, Close To My Heart announced a partnership with Operation Smile with a goal to raise $150,000 by our Leadership 2009—that surgery for 625 needy kids! We are well on track, thanks to the efforts of so many of our great Consultants! Just this week, I heard about an extraordinary effort made by two Close To My Heart Consultants in California, Mary Thompson and Sue Nielsen, and I was so thrilled with their efforts and the results, I just had to share.

This past Saturday, the pair held a National Scrapbooking Month event at a local school. They had more than 100 participants, and the daylong event was filled with goodie bags, projects, prizes, and treats. The school gym was festooned with great artwork and décor, and throughout the day, the duo talked about their event goal: to raise $2,400 for Operation Smile. As the culminating presentation for the day, they showed one of the Operation Smile videos Close To My Heart offers to its Consultants. Sue commented, “When we presented the video, you could have heard a pin drop in the room. … a few minutes of just one family’s story is all it takes to understand how important Operation Smile is.” Thanks to Sue, Mary, and their great team members, including Shauna Nuttall, Kelly Morris, and Kelly Robinson, the event was a tremendous success—not only did participants enjoy a creative escape and amazing projects, but together, they raised $2,800 for Operation Smile! They exceeded their goals and will change the lives of 11 beautiful little children.
Mary, Sue, and team: THANK YOU for your efforts. And thank you to each and every Consultant who has embraced the mission of Operation Smile as their own. Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with actress and Operation Smile spokesperson Roma Downey. I was moved by her commitment to the children of the world and her tireless dedication to so great a cause. But I am just as moved by the efforts of each of you to make this world a kinder, gentler, happier place where children laugh and sing and smile. YOU make me smile.

The 13th Day of Thanksgiving: Operation Smile

I was honored to spend time recently with Bill and Kathy Magee, the founders of Operation Smile, at a gathering for the Utah Chapter of the charity. We had quite a party! The Osmonds Second Generation performed. They were such good performers—they sang everything from oldies, to hip-hop, country, and fun dance music. We had wonderful food and fun, but best of all, Dr. Magee spoke and shared his passion for this work. For those of you who heard him speak at Close To My Heart’s Convention, you know what a powerful message he gives. The highlight of the evening for me was when they announced I would be joining the board for the Utah Chapter of Operation Smile! I am thrilled to do my part making good things happen for this incredible charity in our corner of the world. I am deeply grateful to be associated with Bill and Kathy Magee and have the opportunity to serve these children, changing lives one smile at a time.

The Worth of a Smile

I was looking through my scrapbooks and photos the other night, enjoying all the smiles grinning back at me on the pages. I saw silly smiles, awkward smiles, shy smiles, jolly smiles, toothy smiles, and the best one of all, the sincere, tender smile (these are the ones that make me sigh…) and a thought occurred to me: A smile is such a small thing and yet it is everything. If no one smiled in the world, it would be quite the depressing place! Gladly, life is full of smiles—everywhere you go you see millions of them if you look for them; that's how I choose to live my life: look for the smiles, the happiness!

And that's what Close To My Heart is all about: preserving your smiles, your happy times, the important people in your life, for generations to come. So, I pose a question: If smiles make such a difference in life and are so worthy of preserving, just what is the worth of a smile? Thanks to a couple of people I met in the past few years who have become great friends of mine, Dr. William and Kathy Magee, I now believe smiles are worth so much more than ever. Let me share with you my "smile" journey.

Four years ago I knew that my company needed to give back to the community, but how? Where do you start—there are so many important causes! Then a friend of mine told me of a new charity called Operation Kids®, an umbrella organization for many children's charities. This was a great place to start. From there I learned of an amazing charity called Operation Smile, and during the last few years I've come to know that I will spend the rest of my life working on behalf of this worthy charity—a charity that gives children their smiles back!! (In case you aren't familiar with them, Operation Smile sends volunteer medical teams around the world to fix facial deformities in children whose parents cannot afford the surgery or don't have access to the expertise. I encourage you to visit their website at operationsmile.org to see all the wonderful things they do.)

I have become close friends with the Magees. They have my heart and my commitment to help as many children as possible receive their smiles. My company now donates a portion of the proceeds from stamp sales, and we encourage customers to round up their order totals and donate the difference, to help this worthy cause. Bill and Kathy have told me incredible stories about children born with cleft palates, cleft lips, and other problems, and how their surgeries have made such a difference in their young lives and their families' lives, too. Watching the efforts of these wonderful people, and seeing first-hand the joy that comes with this healing has taught me what the worth of a smile is.

If you'd like to read more about my Operation Smile experiences that I shared with my Consultants at our Convention last summer, click here.