Girls Extravaganza and Prayer Request

I  know a lot of you awesome readers expressed how much you loved the idea of praying for my youth group with me; 
so I've got a specific event you can pray for!

This Saturday, we're hosting the first ever Girls Extravaganza! 
I've been planning, preparing and praying for this for a long time, 
ever since God started nudging my heart in this direction 
after I attended an awesome clothing swap with my friend Becky. 

In the beginning I was just thinking of holding a clothing swap for my girls, but then I realized that there is rarely a time when I have audience with just the girls in our youth group. God began placing subjects and ideas in my heart. What started out as a good idea has matured into an event that I hope will deeply affect the hearts of these girls. We've invited several churches across Austin and are praying for fifty girls to attend. We are incorporating: worship through song with a female-led worship band; breakout sessions with topics very relevant to teen girls including true beauty, biblical conflict resolution, and healthy relationships; and a massive clothing swap which will encourage girls to focus less on materialism and consumerism. God has provided over and over again as I've prayed about and planned this event... everything from cupcake donations from my favorite bakery to speakers just hearing about it through the grapevine and wanting to come volunteer their time to pour into girls' lives. 

One of the biggest ways that God has confirmed His work in this event has been through the outrageous outpouring of generosity from the Etsy and blogging communities. Because of the donations from some sweet, sweet ladies, each girl who attend the event will receive a swag bag stocked with goodies to remind her that God deeply loves her. I've received everything from scripture prints to love letters to accessories and hygiene products. I will be writing some specific posts over the next week about the wonderful ladies who have donated, but for now thank you so much to:

Natalie at NS Pottery

Erika at Rouge and Whimsy

Amanda at moxiemandie

Lauren at Seek First

Amy at Amy Cornwell Designs

Andee at Bearing Fruit

Jessi at Naptime Diaries

Jackie at Willow of Wonder 

Becky at Petals, Lace and Pearls

The support of these women has not only provided 
some awesome goodies for the girls to take home with them, 
but also confirmation that God is at work here.

The theme of the Girls Extravaganza is

Trading Materialism for Generosity

Trading Self Preservation for His Provision

Trading Ashes for Beauty

Aren't those such beautiful and important things to pursue?

I'm excited and overwhelmed and in much need of prayer 
as this event draws close.

Pray for:

• fifty girls to attend
• that God would abolish stress and second-guessing from myself, speakers, and worship leaders
• that all of the electronics would work- sound equipment, tvs, projectors, etc
• that there will be clothes for every size girl at the swap
• that the event would transition smoothly
• that God would work in awesome and mighty ways to transform the hearts and minds of girls to be like His. 

Thank you so much, y'all!