Lighted Christmas Balls

A new video - with a nice tune to go with it

2012-02-15T12:44:00.001-05:00

And the tradition spreads thanks to a new 'friend' in Durham

2012-01-23T16:09:00.001-05:00

We have an update from our 'new' friend in Durham Rhonda Karg who wrote in December to share her hopes and dreams of making lighted balls there and spreading the food drive to benefit food banks in GA and eastern NC
Here are photos of her nieces and nephews and her letter of January 16th. Way to go!!! This is so gratifying.

Hi Anne,

Happy New Year! I’m writing to share updates and photos from our food drive, which was a huge success! Contributions from this event equated to 2531 nutritious meals for our neediest neighbors in NC and GA – amazing! Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the loving kindness of special friends, and for the opportunity to be part of a truly awesome experience that we will not soon forget. The food banks in Durham and Atlanta were blessed and impressed by our donations, as well. I’ve attached photos of my nieces and nephews helping me with the food drive and proudly displaying the beautiful lighted Christmas balls they made. I plan to make these activities a family tradition, so look for more updates and photos from me in December! Thank you again for your service and inspiration! J

Lighted Christmas balls at Woodrun on Tillery

2012-01-05T21:58:00.001-05:00

Lovely photo at Papa Bill's home on the lake

Food Drive & Census

2011-12-31T14:31:00.000-05:00

Please let your friends know or post to your facebook that we will have the food collection through next weekend(3 locations - Rolling and East Greenway, Madison and Ridgeway, and Rolling and Ridgeway. We estimate the present collection to top 6000 lbs and $1035. We had people drop off $200 in checks and cash in 2 nights last weekend as we were sitting around with friends at the 'firepit' in the front yard.

The census response has been overwhelming so I haven't had a chance to do the tally - If you have not done so, please send me your address and the total number of lighted balls or other shapes you have hanging in your yard.

I don't think the neighborhood has ever looked more lovely. So many of our streets are magnificent with the polka dotted evening skies. Magical and amazing.

THANKS to all of you who continue to make it so spectacular.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Jonathan and Anne Smith

This makes it all worth it!!!

2011-12-15T18:38:00.001-05:00

This note received from Amanda via her iPad
Loved driving through the streets and seeing the lighted balls!!! We were bringing mom home from Forsyth Medical Center and took a detour through to see the lights... They are amazing! It really made our day/night...thanks, guys!!

Lunch hour at Toad Hall

2011-12-15T17:07:00.000-05:00

This is what we did today (joyfully) on our lunch hour. We emptied all the little bags of cans of beans, soup, tuna, fruit and other wonderful things into boxes - put them into the suburban and get ready to go to Greensboro Urban Ministry. When you come by this weekend (or anytime) be SURE to drop off your non perishables for the food banks. They have assured us that they can use all you can contribute. THANKS Greensboro and beyond for all you do.

Drop Off location in Lake Jeanette

2011-12-13T09:58:00.004-05:00

Our friends Gary and Diane Upham have set up another collection point for the Shine the Light on Hunger Food Drive. Thanks for setting this up. Here is a map to their home. http://g.co/maps/g7sfv
Now there are 4 spots in greater Greensboro for drop off. We will share out totals so far on this blog soon. Please pass this along to your friends - please drop off a can or a bag of cans each and every time you drive by.

Happy bride to be from Durham decorating for Christmas

2011-12-13T08:08:00.001-05:00

This photo from precious Ally who will marry our nephew Matthew in May. Two photos from Durham in 2 days

A post from Durham NC

2011-12-13T07:59:00.001-05:00

We received this email Sunday- Thanks for sharing this with us & thanks for embracing the idea and making it your very own. I love this!

Thank you for the awesome Lighted Christmas Balls that you are sharing with the world. Like many others, your gift has inspired me to organize a food drive to benefit NC and GA Food Banks (www.foodbankcenc.org; www.acfb.org/). I’ve recruited my nieces and nephews who are helping out with this awesome even! They are collecting food in their communities and will help me shop, sort, and box up the items, and then take them to the food banks. We are simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of loving kindness in our communities! Here is a link to the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/237396179659123/ I’ve attached photos of my first three Lighted Christmas Balls.
In return for their help with the food drive, I’m going to help my nieces and nephews make their own Lighted Christmas Ball for the holidays! We are all very excited!

Thank you again for your service and inspiration!

Rhonda Karg PhD

THREE, COUNT THEM, THREE DROPOFFS

2011-12-12T11:33:00.000-05:00

Three drop off points for food donations in Sunset Hillls

There are 3 places to drop off your canned goods for the local food banks.

We have already delivered about 600 pounds of food and

we plan to deliver more than that today.

Click on any of the addresses below for a map.

2205 Madison Ave (corner of Ridgeway Drive and Madison Ave)

206 East Greenway Drive North (corner of East Greenway North & Rolling Road)

222 Ridgeway Drive (corner of Ridgeway Drive & Rolling Road)

The food banks can use all we can collect - so when your friends are coming to your home for cocktails, dinner, or a party, just let them know we are more than just a bunch of 'pretty lights' & consider putting a box out in your foyer, collect some food, and drop it off in any of the trailers or bins and we will take care of the rest. We will do everything in our power to make sure the food gets to the hungry as quickly as possible. THANK you for making this work.

Merry Christmas !

Fallen ball

2011-12-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

1st fallen lighted Christmas ball of the season. #LightedChristmasBalls to the rescue.

Lighted Christmas balls at Woodrun

2011-12-07T18:25:00.001-05:00

Star & Angel

2011-12-06T20:27:00.000-05:00

A gorgeous 3-D star (seven feet tall with a Lighted Christmas ball innard) and seven foot tall angel frame in five lighted Christmas balls at a home near the intersection of Saint Andrews and Carlisle.

Doing the most good

2011-12-06T15:31:00.000-05:00

George Arnold, Grayson Smith and Snoopy the bell-ringing mutt in front of Macy's in Friendly Shopping Center. Seriously, folks saw these bell-ringers, did about faces, returned to their cars, refilled their wallets and purses, and came back to stuff the red kettle.

Share an idea, then get out of the way

2011-12-06T12:15:00.000-05:00

Shuttered businesses. High unemployment rates. People struggling to feed their families. That could be Anytown, USA, but to one person who doesn't like that diagnosis, it's Eden, NC.

Dr. Rod Mortenson knew exactly what Eden needed — Christmas balls. He rallied his colleagues, they rallied Eden Rotary Club, and then Tim Kimrey, Gardner Sheffield, Mebane Ham and Jonathan Smith.

Click here to read Myla Barnhardt's story in the News-Record and see what's happened, at least so far.

Happy

2011-12-06T11:40:00.001-05:00

This little girl sure looks pleased with her accomplishment.

2nd Food Collection Depot now on Rolling Road

2011-12-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

Jamey, Phil and Jonathan Smith fidget with the string to hang the last Lighted Christmas Ball from the tallest branch in the highest tree at the home overlooking Greenway Park.

Rolling Road has been transformed into a work of art. The neighbors are campaigning a 2nd food collection trailer in the 2100 block of Rolling between Chapman and East Greenway Drive, North.

Come see this adventure unfolding, bring your friends and bring non-perishable food items for NC Food Banks.

keeping food dry

2011-12-05T23:26:00.001-05:00

With rain in the forecast tonight and tomorrow, thought we better clear out the trailer put it in the garage to keep it dry. Tonight's catch included peanut butter, tuna, high protein beans, one canned ham, soups, green beans, collard greens and yams. Also pasta, rice, mac and cheese and big containers of oatmeal. Thank you, friends of lighted Christmas balls, for coming out on a dreary night and for helping nourish hungry folks. Come back often and bring your friends and show them how easy it is to share with those in need.

Boys help out

2011-12-04T21:25:00.000-05:00

Daniel, Jonathan, Phil and Jamey help neighbors light up their yards. Fun times with friends.

Dango likes the Christmas Balls

2011-12-04T21:17:00.001-05:00

My friend Lindsay shared this on her facebook page. It looks so much like the photo at the top of our blog, I wanted to share. Silly kitty - Dango.....

All the way from Atlanta

2011-12-04T21:09:00.001-05:00

This from Alex Wright in Atlanta - "This is our third year of hanging Christmas balls down in Atlanta.
Our first year we did 5, we expanded to 10 the next year and this year
we went up to 16." Here is the photo Alex sent. THANKS for sending it along!!!

Alex they look amazing. I hope you get more neighborhood participation. For several years we were the only 1 and after about 3 years some others finally joined in. It may take a workshop or two to get it off the ground so to speak. Come see us when you are here.

This amazing photo in from Wake Forest

2011-12-04T21:01:00.001-05:00

We love to receive photos from folks who enjoy the lighted Christmas balls. This from Christa Greene in Wake Forest. It is a photo of her husband's creation. A 30' Christmas Tree made from the lighted Christmas balls. Jonathan has always wanted to do something kind of like this so we may want to take a little road trip over to wake forest just to take this in. See an excerpt from Christa's email below.

" I wanted to share my husband’s creation with you: a lighted ball Christmas tree! I wish you could see how big this really is because the photo does not do it justice. It is about 30 feet high at the top and contains 40 lighted balls. Everyone asks about the balls and I direct them to your site. Your Christmas tradition has now become our Christmas tradition.

We look forward to our Christmas Eve drive through Sunset Hills! Merry Christmas to you all!

Christa & Ricky'

Orbs in my Oaks

2011-12-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

Check out Orbs in my Oaks, by contributing editor David C. Bailey, in O. Henry Magazine's December/January edition. Click open publication, turn to page 53 and enjoy.

Open publication

Moon shot

2011-12-04T17:19:00.001-05:00

Come see Liam & Graham's enormous lighted Christmas ball @ W. Market Street & Ridgeway Drive and donate canned food to NC food banks.

The mailbag

2011-11-30T23:42:00.000-05:00

Of the many treasures illumined by the Lighted Christmas Balls are the many cards, letters and first-hand accounts of kindness we get to pass on. This "light season", known as Advent by some, starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25th and ends on January 6th, known as "Epiphany" to others. Our "Advent" kicked off on November 20, a bit earlier than usual. It was the 15th anniversary of the Lighted Christmas Balls and the 9th Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas Balls party and workshop. All this to say, this 47 days of Lighted Christmas Balls overcomes a whole lot of darkness from the other 318 days of the year.

From today's mailbag:

"I just got off the phone with my wife. We turned down an “offer” to help a friend host a Christmas cookie party. I don’t have anything against cookies (obviously), but we’re trying desperately to remember what Christmas is about for our family. For us, that means buying the kids just 3 presents, it means we go down to the Ice Skating Rink as a family, it means buying a stack of Bill Mangum Honor Cards to send to friends and family and stocking up on Wendy’s gift cards to hand out to the homeless and hungry, it means I spend one night this month as a chaperon at the winter emergency shelter, and (gasp) it means even telling my 4 year old what happened in Bethlehem more frequently than I mention what happens at the North Pole. I’m not saying we have it right, but I would encourage all of you to think through what is important for you and your family this next month…and then do it."

I'm not saying the rest of us have it right either, but my friend hit on something we don't hear a lot about. The note had a post script. I can't resist sharing:

"And for all things Lighted Christmas Ball, go to: www.lightedchristmasballs.blogspot.com"

Lighted Christmas Balls are lighting up all around the Triad. The food collection depots are filling up with non-perishable food. Already, 600 pounds of food has been given to those in need.

"The life-light blazed out of the darkness, and the darkness couldn't put it out." John 1:5 The Message

Whatever you believe, don't leave any life-light turned off this season.

UP in Northeast Greensboro - Beautiful !

2011-11-29T16:36:00.002-05:00

Stephanie and Lewis Apple came by to see us on Sunday just to pick up a few more hints about how to wire all the balls together to get them going. They examined everything, launched the orbs, and sent photos from Parnell Drive this morning at 6:30 AM. Now that is dedication. They are beautiful - thanks for sharing.

Cashiers Year 2 - LIghted Christmas Balls Up and secure!

2011-11-29T16:33:00.001-05:00

Our friends Jerry and Melissa discovered the challenges of putting up the Lighted Christmas Balls in high winds last year. The winds actually pulled the electrical cords free from their plugs. This year, Melissa defined a new way to put them up. They are up and shining bright. Beautiful, aren't they?

Rolling Road is all lit up

2011-11-29T16:30:00.001-05:00

I am happy to report that I cannot imagine another spot for a lighted Christmas ball in the block of Rolling Road in Sunset Hills between E. Greenway N and N. Chapman. I mean they are EVERYWHERE. Good job Rolling Road neighbors with a special thanks to Jamey and Phil. I know you guys do a lot to make that happen.

kindness compounds

2011-11-27T11:48:00.000-05:00

I took Monday off, following our big Lighted Christmas Balls workshop last Sunday. Fellow light ambassadors Gardner Sheffield, Daniel Hassell, Jamey Presson and Phil Bullington did the same; throughout the day, each could be seen in his yard, hanging up strings from which to suspend the balls.

Daniel walked over to see how I was doing. He pulled out a large manila envelope, clasped and sealed. It had no markings. Said a man in an old pickup truck stopped and asked, "who's in charge of all this?" nodding toward the few lighted Christmas balls up in the trees. "We all help each other," Daniel said, "but he folks across the street started it all." He handed over envelope to Daniel, said "please give this to them," and left as quickly as he came. And so Daniel handed me the envelope. We turned it over, shook it, and patted it down, felt what could have been a kitchen sponge inside. Deeming it safe, "what's the worst that could happen?" we opened it.

A hand written, unsigned letter:

"I heard of a teenage girl who celebrated her birthday by trading in her presents and converting them to canned goods for your food drive. How special. Please accept this gift as an addition to her efforts. So refreshing to see a selfless act, let alone by a teenager. She obviously is being raised by parents with a solid sense of values. Her parents must be very proud - and lucky!

Thank you and the neighborhood for all you are doing this and every year. We all have things to be grateful for."

And an envelope packed with dollar bills. Not your just-fresh-from-the-teller-machine cash. No, these were older, saved up bills, straightened, all face up and sorted into $20s, $10s, $5s and $1s.

One young person's generosity, canned goods instead of birthday presents, multiplied by an anonymous $300 gift, which under the stewardship of Second Harvest Food Bank of North West North Carolina, compounded further; each Second Harvest dollar buys $12 dollars worth of food. That's the miracle of compounding. One selfless act compounded, transformed into $3,600 worth of groceries. I guess that's why compounding is called the Eighth Wonder of the World."

Happy Birthday Hannah

2011-11-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

Wendy Cousins - emailed us before the neighborhood workshop for making the Lighted Christmas Balls. Her daughter Hannah was planning her 13th party. Instead of gifts - Hannah asked her friends to bring canned goods for the "Shine the Light on Hunger" food drive and lights to make a lighted Christmas ball. We of course welcomed the group and we were all touched by her generosity and happy to see the fun she and her friends had at the party.

the season's first gift

2011-11-26T18:50:00.000-05:00

25 lighted Christmas balls up and on, food collection trailer on station and lit up and the first provision for the hungry is just in. Let the season begin. Friends of lighted Christmas balls are grateful we get to do this for our community. Come see us soon.

LCB in News-Record

2011-11-25T21:21:00.001-05:00

Today's paper mentions look for LCB in Saturday's Life section.

Lighted Christmas Balls at High Rock Lake

2011-11-25T19:45:00.001-05:00

These five Lighted Balls add to the beauty on an already superb Thanksgiving day at High Rock Lake.

Lighted Christmas Balls - Southern Workshop

2011-11-22T14:58:00.000-05:00

The public is invited to a Lighted Christmas Balls workshop in Salisbury, NC on December 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. The event will take place at the Fellowship Hall at John Calvin Presbyterian Church (Overman and Brenner Ave. across from VA Hospital) and participants are asked to bring a can of food for Rowan Helping Ministries.
More info here.

Get those Lighted Christmas Balls into the trees!

2011-11-20T20:33:00.003-05:00

Three teens in the neighborhood will shoot your Lighted Christmas Balls into the trees. See the phone numbers on the wagon. If you cannot read the print, the numbers are 336-691-1414 or 336-370-9692.

LIghted Christmas Balls on Lake Huron

2011-11-15T15:38:00.000-05:00

Teri Nelson writes "I just wanted to let you know that my parents were so impressed with what you have accomplished, they are carrying your tradition to Michigan. They hung their first balls last year and stunned the neighborhood- this year they imitated your fundraising event and had 20 people come to learn how to make the balls!" "Above is their house on Lake Huron (Port Huron, Michigan) last Christmas. And to the left is a photo from their Christmas Ball party this October (they have to start early because it gets too cold with the north wind coming down Lake Huron)!

Nothing is more fun for us than to see this Sunset Hills tradition taken far away. Thanks for sharing Teri

Whether you are nearby or far away, if you will send us your photos - we will post them and credit you with the accomplishment.

I'm excited - it sure is getting close to the time to repair ours and get them up.

"Where Oh Where can I buy those Light Balls"

2011-11-15T13:22:00.001-05:00

Yep - that is the questions we are always asked. Well they are for sale, some Christmas Tree lots, some scout troops, some youth groups, even some enterprising folks have taken the model - bought the materials and put them online for sale. Just so you know - if you see any for sale - it isn't us! We have a 'day job' we love so we don't have time to make and sell them :)

Some helpful information for you: Chicken wire costs ~ 1.00 per ball. Lights costs ~2.50 per string - you need 2 of those - and the time cost about 5-10 minutes per ball. So depending on your billable rate - let's just take minimum wage for this puzzle because most of you are making these balls at a time of day when you normally aren't paid anything - so 1.00+5.00+1.21 = 7.21 per ball.

The going rate for a ball seems to be around $25 and if you are buying it online that $25 does not include taxes or shipping. I would encourage you to spend the 7.21 per ball make them yourself and contribute the balance ~17.79 directly to the food bank.

Look on the right sidebar for printed instructions. Also on the right sidebar is a video showing how it is done. Folks this is a simple process and it is a fun thing to do with friends, kids, and neighbors.

Please remember the food trailer will be out at 2205 Madison Ave Greensboro accepting canned food donations starting Thanksgiving and we will get some lights up after that.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving -

2011-11-12T10:39:00.001-05:00

Northern NC Workshop November 13th @ Morehead Hospital Eden, NC

Our friend Rod Mortenson asked us what we thought of installing Lighted Christmas Balls at Morehead Hospital in Eden. The Eden Rotary Club was excited about the possibilities and invited Jonathan to speak. Quickly they established a date for the workshop - rallied the people - made 60 Lighted Christmas Balls - and installed them with the help of a bucket truck furnished by xxxyyyy. The tree will be turned on December 6. The food drive has already begun. Here are some photos from the Morehead Float in the Eden Christmas Parade November 25th.

Greensboro's Lighted Christmas Balls glow all the way to Washington, DC

2011-02-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

It's two weeks till Daylight Savings time and it's like we're still opening Christmas Presents.

Congressman Howard Coble called last week to thank us for spearheading Shine the Light on Hunger, collecting donations of money and canned food for Greensboro Urban Ministry and Second Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina, and last but not least, the beautiful Lighted Christmas Balls. The Congressman is, at heart, a "good finder."

Washington, DC could use some cheer

I've been thinking about Washington lately, how the mood there can turn on a dime, in fact these days, the mood up there is as bleak as bleak can be, what with the threatened shutdown and all. Maybe I should gather our army of volunteers and fill a truckload with Lighted Christmas Balls and go and brighten the place up. Washington could use a dose of hope and cheer. See artist's rendering, to right.

My relationship with the Congressman goes back a few decades and my admiration and respect for this man of integrity is deep. Let me know when Congress wants to host a Lighted Christmas Ball workshop; it would be our privilege.

Thanks Howard; your call the other day was a Surprise Joy.

Greensboro Running Club

2011-02-23T16:20:00.006-05:00

Lighted Christmas Balls have all been put away for next season, the Groundhog missed seeing his shadow, but folks keep telling us how the Lighted Christmas Balls have touched their lives. This one, just in, touched our hearts:

Dear Shine the Light on Hunger,

The Greensboro Running Club has been enjoying the Sunset Hills' Christmas light display for several years now. Each year we marvel, not only at the festive display, but also at the community spirit that works so hard to impart the beauty of Christmas throughout their neighborhood.

This year we would like to thank you with a donation to the Urban Ministry in the name of "Shine the Light on Hunger". Please accept this gift as a small token of our appreciation for making our December-Tuesday runs a bit lighter and whole lot more joyous!

All the best in the New Year!

THE GREENSBORO RUNNING CLUB

Jim Halsch
President

If running causes the men and women of GRC to look at life so closely and see so much what the lights are about, I say we all better take up running.

More information about The Greensboro Running Club may be found here.

Thank you Greensboro Running Club!

Rescued Lighted Christmas Ball #1

2011-02-04T16:54:00.007-05:00

Friends Walker and Dabney Sanders know a good thing when they see it. And there it was, curbside, light strands tangled, a gigantic slinky looking thing looking like a garbage truck ran over it. And just like bringing home a stray puppy, they took it to their home. They cut non-working mini lights. They straighted bent chicken wire. They pushed and pulled and patted the disfigured lump back into a glorious sphere. They finished it off with 200 brand new clear mini lights. And they hung it up for all to see.

"We should form a non-profit, Lighted Christmas Balls Rescue," said Walker, half joking.

I thought he was serious, "What's the worst that could happen?" I chimed in. "People giving us their dead Lighted Christmas Balls, us restoring them, including a certificate of authenticity, and in exchange for a tax deductible contribution, install said rescued Lighted Christmas Ball in the donor's honor."

It wasn't until I saw the first rescued Lighted Christmas Ball, hanging in all its splendor. Restoration is good for the soul, and its easier than you think. So take the first step, follow Walker and Dabney's lead. Ask a few friends join you. Be heroic. If this is you, drop us a line. We'd love to see how we can change the world. One Lighted Christmas Ball at a time.

Food Drive Totals

2011-01-05T15:48:00.007-05:00

Final Count as of 1/12/11

2nd harvest 12/6/10                                  369lbs
2nd harvest 12/13/10                                483lbs
Greensboro Urban Ministry 12/23/2010 1427lbs
Greensboro Urban Ministry 12/27/2010 1300lbs
2nd harvest 1/06/2010                              510lbs
TOTAL FOR 2010                                 4089lbs

Thanks for all you have done to 'Shine the Light on Hunger'
Anne and Jonathan

Ridgeway Drive in snow
Photo Julie Stahr

Julie Stahr a neighbor who lives on West Market Street was kind enough to share these photos with us today. Julie, these are just absolutely fabulous.

Photo Julie Stahr

Red lights in snow
Photo Julie Stahr

WFMY visits Sunset Hills, 1,427 pounds later, Sunset Hills visits Greensboro Urban Ministry

2011-01-01T15:42:00.024-05:00

Aaron Glancy

Early Thursday December 23rd, WFMY's broadcast truck was out in front of Toad Hall. Coffee mug in hand, I trudged out into the cold darkness to greet Aaron Glancy, WFMY's videographer, who was trying to pick up the satellite. Friends Rod and Gardner soon joined us. We were scheduled to appear on The Good Morning Show with Tanya Rivera, but as Aaron explained, an unexpected shift in the satellite was preventing the live uplink, so we reconvened at WFMY's station. Barely awake, I'm there:

A bit later, Gardner showed how to make a Lighted Christmas Balls. His fingers work so quickly you may have to hit replay.

Here's the last segment:

Aaron snapped this shot of us before we left:

from left, Gardner Sheffield, Jonathan Smith, Rod Mortenson

Following our trip, Rod left for work. Joined by Johnathan North, Gardner and Jonathan loaded the contents of the food collection trailer into Gardner's SUV and took 1,427 pounds of non perishable food to Greensboro Urban Ministry.

Merry Christmas to All

2010-12-25T12:45:00.002-05:00

Just two days before, we'd taken 1,427 pounds of food to Urban Ministry, but with snow in the forecast, Justin, Gardner and Jonathan thought it best to start the weekend with an empty trailer just in case donations of food kept rolling in.

Justin separates cans from dried goods

We'd filled 12 big banana boxes with canned goods when the snow started falling. Snow adds a sense of adventure to whatever you're doing, and today's was no exception. Snowflakes got bigger and fell faster. Three year-old Grayson came outside to see the snow and what Mr. Gardner, her Dad and Peeps were up to. Justin hoisted her up in the trailer among the cans, bags and boxes. Our adult children have been talking with their children about sharing. Grandchildren seem to get it; sharing food with hungry families matters and this was just one one of those moments to convey a bigger truth, that God has a real fondness for the poor. So Grayson jumped in alongside and gave the boys a hand.

Here Mr. Gardner, I have a bag of cans for you.

It was then that Jonathan spotted a small, white paper bag, decorated unmistakably by a child, with four hearts and these words: God loves You.

God loves You

We stopped unloading the trailer. Each one held the bag, looked inside and passed it around. The giver had filled the bag with warmth and hope: three boxes of raisins, two packs of Nabisco crackers, one pack of spreadable cheese & crackers, two granola bars, one bottled water, and a hand written note, folded into eights, about the size of a postage stamp, with a picture on the other side.

1 Peter 5:7

He cares for you

This was just one of many blessings we've found tucked inside the trailer.

Merry Christmas!

John Calvin friends light up Salisbury

2010-12-19T00:45:00.004-05:00

Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop
John Calvin Presbyterian Church
December 11, 2010

In the spirit of true fellowship, Richard Browne of Salisbury, NC, led a workshop at John Calvin Presbyterian Church to teach friends how to make and hang Lighted Christmas Balls. Richard and Kellie, formerly of Greensboro, brightened that part of God's kingdom known as Salisbury, NC in July when they made 209 Overman Avenue their home. Rather than tell 200 curious onlookers how he made and hung the Lighted Christmas Balls, Richard instead launched a workshop. Click here to see the Christmas Ball equivalent of 'teach a man to fish.'

Funds and Food Collection Update and brand new Lighted Christmas Balls

2010-12-14T11:20:00.046-05:00

Due to the brrrr cold weather, on Monday, Gardner took another load over to Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC. With the temperature hitting nightly new lows, we emptied the trailer Monday and Tuesday night to keep the food from freezing and swelling the cans.

Totals so far -

Funds:

Second Harvest: $415.00
Greensboro Urban Ministry: $5,272.00

Non-perishable food:

December 6 - Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC: 483 lbs
December 13 - Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC: 369 lbs

Thanks to all of you for doing the hard work of installing and maintaining the Lighted Christmas Balls to share the joy with Greensboro and beyond and even more to "Shine the Light on Hunger"

Ridgeway Drive got a little brighter this past Sunday when Daniel Hassell and Betty Hunt raised seven georgeous Lighted Christmas Balls high up in her oak trees. Looks like Betty's going for record height.

Betty Hunt

Lighted Christmas Balls go up for Glenwood Tutoring Program

2010-12-06T17:35:00.000-05:00

A dozen friends gathered early Saturday morning on the lawn of Grace Community Church to make ready and hoist 40 Lighted Christmas Balls up high in beautiful 100 year old Oak trees. Grace is home to Glenwood Tutoring Program, a peer tutoring/mentoring initiative for kids in Glenwood neighborhood. Saturday's outdoor project coincided with Glenwood Tutoring's Christmas Dinner and Celebration for over 50 kids and their parents. Here's a shot of Brad, Jeff, and Rod Jeff, Rod, and Brad checking 50 non-working strands of mini lights for missing or broken bulbs and loose connections. It's about 35 degrees. Anne brought a traveler of Starbucks coffee, three dozen Biscuitville party biscuits, and a dozen home made blueberry muffins. Yum.

Pictured: Jeff, Rod, Brad

Walter and Daniel prepare to pull their first of 13 Lighted Christmas Balls suspended in a beautiful old Oak. These guys had pull lines in their tree long before anyone else.

Pictured: Walter, Daniel

About 11:45 am, light snow started falling and the temperature started falling. By 2pm we had about 2 inches.

Pictured: Brad, Rod, Isy, Daniel, Miles, Walter, Jeff, and Gardner
Not pictured: Clay, Allison, and Scott

These four braved the cold and wisely left sister Marlee at home to recover from a bug:

Pictured: Miles, Isy, Daniel, Walter

Grace Community Church at night
Photo: Suzanne Mathis

Grace Community Church about 11:00pm Saturday night

A little hope goes a long way in this neighborhood. Marshall Benbow sent a note this morning - he said the night was simply beautiful. Thanks guys for making it happen.

First load of food taken to Second Harvest

2010-12-06T16:38:00.001-05:00

Gardner and Jonathan unloaded the trailer today for the first load out to Second Harvest. It was 483 lbs of food delivered to Second Harvest today. Now that is a great start and the trailer has just been out for 5 full days. We took it early because it is colder than usual for December and we didn't want anything to freeze. Jonathan and Gardner will check the trailer nightly for the next few nights and bring the donations into the house to protect them from the bitter cold. This early cold weather is really hard on folks who live outside. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Shutterfly deals

2010-12-05T23:19:00.000-05:00

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Lighted Christmas Balls in Salisbury, NC

2010-12-02T00:00:00.058-05:00

"The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." John 1:5; The Message

When John Calvin Presbyterian Church called Kellie Browne to be its minister, Kellie and Richard knew in their hearts that her decision to answer "yes" and their decision to make Salisbury home had already been made.

Devoted to inclusive fellowship, these friends of God started making Lighted Christmas Balls, right then and there in the neighborhood, and hung them up in trees at their home. Located within a stone's throw of Catawba College and Bill Hefner VA Hospital, one can only imagine how bright the glow of hope and cheer from those Lighted Christmas Balls. Don't be surprised to see Lighted Christmas Balls lighting up Salisbury.

When I think about Kellie and Richard leaving their Greensboro home and putting down roots in Salisbury, I'm reminded, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish." John 1:14; The Message. And so the Browne's moved right into the neighborhood.

You can check out Kellie's sermons on John Calvin's blog here.

Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas Balls

2010-12-01T21:12:00.000-05:00

We have been working hard making and hanging the Lighted Christmas Balls in Sunset Hills
and beyond. About half have gone up on Ridgeway Drive, a bountiful supply on Rolling between
East Greenway and Chapman and as I looked up Woodbine a nice selection could be seen there as well.

We put out the food trailer today and already the first layer of donated non perishables has
been put in by the generous folks who live in Greensboro and beyond.

We will put the Lighted Christmas Balls up at Grace Community Church for the Glenwood
Community to enjoy. If anyone wants to join in that effort, meet us at 643 West Lee Street
9 AM this Saturday December 4 th

Photos of Grayson, Finley and Jonathan, Daniel, and Anne with Lighted Christmas Balls.

This time last year......

2010-11-23T21:48:00.001-05:00

....we made 5 lighted Christmas Balls with Paulette and Bill...and hung them in the trees overlooking Lake Tillery. This year, Paulette is in Heaven and we spent this afternoon with Bill making 4 more Lighted Christmas Balls and hanging 8 total in the same yard. It was a lovely day. We toasted Paulette and all of our parents when the work was done. A lovely day and a lovely tradition. Bill is a stong and sweet man we have been privileged to know for 33 years.

Update from the 8TH Annual Lighted Christmas Balls Party

2010-11-22T09:49:00.000-05:00

We had a lovely day for the ball party yesterday. We had approximately 125 famiies there making 170 Lighted Christmas Balls.

We had a good start on the food collection ( trailer in our carport if anyone wants to drop off any additional food)

We collected monetary donations of:
$415 for Second Harvest &
$272 for Urban Ministry

If you want to drop off any additional monetary donations you can put them in an envelope in our front door. I will send whatever is dropped off today to the food banks tomorrow.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Anne

Purple balls to be displayed for Alzheimer's awareness

2010-11-21T22:44:00.004-05:00

Purple lightedChristmasballs will hang in downtown Greensboro to aid in awareness of Alzheimer's disease. Check the window next to 223 S. Elm. Pictured with the new purple lightedChristmasball is Mebane Ham.

Block party 11/21/2010

2010-11-11T22:36:00.003-05:00

Sunset HIlls 8th Annual Lighted Christmas Ball Block Party

Sunday - November 21st 2-5 PM

Ridgeway Drive between Madison Ave and West Market Street

We will have chicken wire for $1/per ball (RSVP to me with your name & number of LCB you want to make @ lightedchristmasballs@gmail.com

You bring:

200 mini lights any color any style for each ball you want to make

Beverage and snack to share

Your neighbors and family

Can of soup for 'stone soup'

Non Perishable food for Food Bank collection

Cash of check for Food Bank Collection

Please get the word out, we want everyone in Sunset HIlls to be included

A Very Special Lighted Heart at Lake Tillery

2010-03-17T21:04:00.002-04:00

After we received the photo of the COOL heart from Colorado, it wasn't long until Jonathan's wheels were turning. We have left our red, pink, and clear lights up till February supposedly to celebrate Valentine's Day but we all know that we just weren't ready to turn the lighted balls off

Jonathan rustled up some red lights, cut out a pattern from newspaper and made what we call a 'puffy heart' because it is 3 dimensional. I of course wanted a BIG BIG heart to take to Paulette. So the next night we had some friends over, had dinner, and made a HUGE 3 dimensional heart but realized that it was too big to fit in the car to take to the lake. So we hung it over our front door with the hook our nice friends from MS sent to us and we tethered it down - and left town - taking the smaller heart (about 10" x 18") to Paulette.

Bill hung it carefully with the 3 remaining balls just so that it would come into perfect view from 'her chair'. I know she really loved it and knew we loved her every time she saw it for the next couple of weeks. It got a special viewing and 'toast' from Bill, Jim and Rich at the family dinner Friday night March 2nd.

Bill says he plans to take the balls and the heart down as it IS daylight saving time. Saturday is the first day of spring. We find the longer days and more sunlight help encourage our souls.

This just in from Colorado - Happy Valentine

2010-02-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Jonathan & Anne,

I saw your lighted balls at Lifehacker. They are super. We made three for Christmas this year. Then I had the idea to do a lighted heart for the month of February. It stands about 5 foot tall and is just outstanding. The pictures do not do it justice. We used twinkly red, white and blue lights. It can be seen from a long ways off. And yes, cars are slowing down to take a look. A man even stuck his head out his truck window to say it was beautiful. Thank you so much!
Jane Hamilton
Corvallis, Oregon

Totals - Finally - Is it February already?

2010-02-06T15:25:00.001-05:00

As you have all surely noticed we have been extra busy and haven't taken down our lighted Christmas balls - we haven't even taken down or turned the 'all but Valentine's colors' maybe this week. We have so enjoyed them in the snow/sleet/ice etc. Here are the grand totals of food and funds collected. Thanks for your generosity, hard work, & dedication to this Sunset Hills Tradition. This is a wonderful neighborhood indeed.

4158 lbs of food AND $6190

More Lighted Christmas Balls Lake Jeanette

2010-01-09T17:09:00.020-05:00

Stephanie Skordas wrote in November but I didn't receive this until yesterday or today. These are their lighted balls in Lake Jeanette. She also writes that they put some up at her Mom's house in New Irving Park (which had a very nice collection this year as a neighborhood). We never get tired of getting these photos and putting them up so if you have some of your collection, please send them on and I will put them up when I have a minute. Life is busy now with our newest granddaughter Finley Cate Smith born Thursday the 8th here in Greensboro.

Lake Tillery LIghted Christmas Balls

2010-01-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

These are some special effect photos by our dear friend Bill Humphrey. The show up their Lighted Christmas Balls overlooking the lake. They are the first in the Woodrun neighborhood there in Montgomery County but I bet they won't be the last. Bill and Paulette are very precious to us as we have 'raised' our kids together and now we all enjoy grandchildren abundantly. We are blessed to count them friends. We are just waiting for some snow so we can go cook some hamburgers together soon.

Shine The Light on Hunger - 3,831 pounds so far - still a ways to go

2009-12-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

Gardner Sheffield keeps a close eye on the food collection trailer, the yellow food collection bucket, and the weather. He called to say that with wintry mix in the forecast, we better empty the trailer, "Why don't I take half the food to Second Harvest Food Bank and half to Urban Ministry?" With Second Harvest's partner agency demand up 75% this year and Urban Ministry's pantry overflowing at the moment, we made the executive decision to allocate 100% of this trailer load to Second Harvest.

First the good news. This installment weighed in at 943 pounds, bringing the Shine the Light on Hunger total so far to 3,831. As of this moment, the food's been inspected, sorted, and is on its way to needy persons.

Now the bad news: nearly 50 million people -- including almost one child in four -- struggled last year to get enough to eat. You can read how America's economic pain has brought on hunger pangs here. After you finish that, get a copy of the USDA's report on food security (insecurity) in America). Warning: it's not for the faint of heart, but go on and read it anyway.

In 2007, Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls in Sunset Hills collected 2,976 pounds of food.

In 2008, we collected 4,000 pounds, up 34%, during a recession I might add.

This year's goal is 10,000 pounds. I don't know where we got a goal that's 2 1/2 times what we collected last year, but there it is.

At 3,831 pounds we're not there yet, and that's where you come in. We would love for you to gather up all the non-perishable food you can fit in your car, truck or backpack and come see the lights, and donate food here or here. Tell your family, friends, and co-workers. If you're retired and your home is a retirement center, fill at least one seat on the bus with non-perishable food. If you run, get everyone in your running club to grab 2 cans of food and run to the yellow barrel or food collection trailer. Just come and bring food. You'll be glad you did.

Now seen in Sweden - Lighted Christmas Balls

2009-12-29T10:22:00.000-05:00

Jonathan was asked to give a program for his Gate City Rotary Club in place of a speaker who had to cancel last minute. He is always glad to talk abut the Lighted Christmas Balls and a Rotarian here on business from Sweden did a make-up meeting at Gate City. He was quite taken with the Lighted Christmas Balls and visited Sunset Hills at night, took the instructions home to Sweden and here are his photos from his home there. It is fun to see them all over Greensboro and fun to see them cross the oceans to other countries. It has blessed us beyond measure to see the excitement and fun they bring.

Tater Tots !!

2009-12-28T20:01:00.003-05:00

Last week, Jonathan ran into someone and they told him that they had made the Lighted Christmas Balls and put them up but they looked a little more like Tater Tots than anything else - I had to laugh because honestly some of ours looks a little tottish themselves.

This week, we went on Aycock to Lee Street to eat dinner at St. Luis - a wonderful little Mexican place. We took two cars as we were meeting there after work and we both almost ran off the road looking back into College Hill at some Lighted Christmas Balls way up high and plenty of them. After dinner, we took the opportunity to take in South College Park Drive. WOW - it was splendid and beautiful - Go over to see them. They are wonderful.

That inspired me to try to find a single street in Sunset Hills which didn't have a ball or two or twenty. Did I find one? No, not one! Every street, place, way, or drive had some form of Lighted Christmas Balls hanging from trees, awnings, porches or something. Some of them looked a bit like Tater Tots but they all looked grand.

It made me happy to live here in Sunset Hills and have you driven to Glenwood on Lee Street, Gramercy off Westridge, Round Hill in New Irving Park, Lake Jeanette, or the many streets in Starmount, Hamilton Lakes, and even Old Irving Park? We know there are dozens more neighborhoods which I have not ventured to and would love to know about them.

A couple from Laurel MS is coming to see us in a couple of days just to see the Lighted Christmas Balls and meet us and some neighbors while they are here.

Shine the Light on Hunger. Food Drive going through the 3rd at least. Tell your friends to come by and drop off some food. It is easy and fun.

Australia - Lighted Balls there !!!

2009-12-28T19:56:00.001-05:00

Here is an email I received from Geoff in Australia:
Hi,

I came across your Christmas balls on the internet, and thought they would be a great project - which they have been for our whole family. Here are the two we have in a poinciana tree out the front of our house. Please keep up the good work.

Regards,
...Geoff, Rockhampton, Australia

The trailer keeps on filling up

2009-12-28T08:15:00.001-05:00

Here's a shot taken Sunday night of the trailer at 11pm. Seeing the trailer and it's companion, the yellow barrel, fill up again and again has been a tremendous joy to each person who's helped redistribute the food to 2nd Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina and Greensboro Urban Ministry. I'm sure each person who's left left a can, box, or bag in one of the collection points has felt the surprise joy of being connected with other persons, even strangers, with a common heart of kindness.

While it was still daylight, Harold, a person who's worked in Sunset Hills yards for decades, and a man of few words, was out blowing leaves out of the gutter and around the trailer. I was at the trailer rebalancing boxes and bags of food. Harold saw me, cut off his leaf blower and peered inside the trailer. A long pause later he said, "It's a wonderful thing to live in a town where there's so many people who want to do good and share with others." Wish I could say that's been my reaction for all of 2009. Maybe hearing Horace's pronouncement will help me change that.

Gardner called this morning as I was leaving for work. I could hear the smile in his voice. He was already in Winston Salem and had already taken 870 pounds of food to 2nd Harvest. Christmas Eve, Gardner and his son Daniel and my son in law Johnathan and my son Justin and I took all the food that had piled up, filled his car till the springs started sagging, then put the rest of it in my Suburban. I told him I was taking what we loaded in my Suburban that night to Urban Ministry. I did. It weighed in at 742 pounds. So far, we've taken 2,888 pounds of food to 2nd Harvest and Urban Ministry. And the week's just starting.

I love how The Message translates Proverb 19:17. It says, “Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.

It sure is a wonderful thing to live in a town where so many people who want to show mercy and do good.

Christmas Day evening #2

2009-12-25T17:37:00.002-05:00

The view from the intersection of Rolling and Ridgeway looking across Gardner and Beth's front lawn and down Ridgeway Drive.

Christmas Day evening

2009-12-25T17:33:00.003-05:00

The view from the intersection of Rolling Road and Ridgeway Drive looking across the park onto Rolling Road.

Rolling Road after the Blizzard of 2009

2009-12-25T17:14:00.001-05:00

Pictures of Lighted Christmas Balls on Rolling Road after the Blizzard of 2009. Rolling Road neighbors totally led the way in hospitality and in bringing the light.

photographs Jamey Presson

New video from Lighted Christmas Balls workshop 11/28

2009-12-25T16:55:00.002-05:00

Thanks

2009-12-23T23:42:00.001-05:00

Thanks, friends of the poor and of the Lighted Christmas Balls. Your generosity touches many. The food collection trailer looks like it's ready for one more trip to the Food Bank.

Arrow marks the Food Donation Trailer

2009-12-23T23:35:00.000-05:00

We rigged up an Arrow with blinking lights to drive more traffic to the trailer.

All the way from Long Island Sound

2009-12-22T18:44:00.000-05:00

A dear couple from Long Island came all the way, "just to see the lights," the Grandfather grinned.

When I saw who was carrying the armful of canned goods, I knew the real reason for their visit to Greensboro, two granddaughters, one grandson, a daughter, maybe more.

What a joy to be on the receiving end of from folks filled with the joy of giving.

The little trailer is filling slowly but surely, albeit a little more slowly than I'd like to see. If you're out and about, pick up an armload of non-perishable food, come visit the trailer, and see if the Lighted Christmas Balls don't burn more brightly than usual.

788 pounds of non-perishable food given to 2nd Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina

2009-12-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

It was after dark when I pulled into the driveway Thursday after work. In the distance, just past the trailer, I saw two persons rummaging thru the cans, bottles, boxes and bags that had been slowly accumulating.
I've wondered what I'd do if I encountered someone taking food from the trailer when the idea is to put food in. (If they asked for my scarf would I give them my coat, too? I'm not so sure.)

Jesus words in Matthew 5 crossed my mind, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

I nudged my Suburban around to the front yard only to find Janet Watford and Gardner Sheffield, unloading, sorting, repackaging, and reloading everything into Gardner's car. They were almost done. I jumped in alongside and we finished in a few minutes. I didn't tell them I thought they were food rustlers.

The next day, Gardner drove his food filled car to Winston Salem. With the help of three hard working volunteers (pictured above), a grateful 2nd Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina reported that Sunset Hills Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls had donated 788 pounds of non-perishable food.

We're still a long way off from our goal of 10,000 pounds. If you're out touring Greensboro's beautiful Christmas lights, put a friend or two in your car, pack a sackful of non-perishable food, and come find one of the collection sites for food for NC food banks. Thanks.

Shine The Light on Hunger

2009-12-14T16:24:00.001-05:00

Everyone else's yard sign is at ground level. You can't miss this one - in a raised pot - it's at eye level. And everyone is asking WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE TERRIFIC SIGNS PRINTED? The answer is - of course- our buddy Matt at Bravo Signs did a dozen of them for us, just for the cause. He is all about shining the light on hunger. He does great work and is fun to work with.

In all truth it's really fun to be in the spot light....

2009-12-13T23:06:00.000-05:00

Anne here: late one afternoon last week, Jerry Wolford photographer with News Record, and Wes Beeson dropped by Toad Hall, and found us wrapped up with the big Lighted Christmas ball, a three foot diameter sphere loaded with 1,200 multi-colored mini lights. Jerry took tons of pictures while Jonathan roped Jerry and Wes into helping us into raising the big ball. Once aloft, Jonathan's next task was to Huck Finn our News-Record friends into helping him launch three more pull lines high up in an Oak tree along Ridgeway Drive. That done, we said goodbye, set about lifting a few more Lighted Christmas balls, and had no idea where Jerry's project was going. We saw a photo on the front page of the paper but didn't go to the website to see the slide show because we were trying to get the house decorated and get closure on some other projects around the house.

About mid-afternoon, friends Linda and Rod called to invite us over to watch the launching of a Christmas decoration Rod dreamed up (literally). Fortified with peppermint mochas, Rod, Linda, Jonathan and I fastened seine line, parachute cord, and one pulley to Rod's beautiful star, a five foot high three dimensional, handmade, wrapped in 800 clear mini lights. Once launched to its full 75 feet (you can see it from Cornwallis Drive and from other points in Irving Park), I called the boys to their reward: Jerry Wolford's multi-media interpretation of the Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas balls. Jerry nailed it, it's about the fellowship, community, and sharing the abundance of our pantries with others.

Come see the lights. Bring food. Bring friends and if our front door is open, stop in.

Food Bank Service Entrance

2009-12-08T23:01:00.001-05:00

Jonathan here: We stuck the trailer (see right) in our yard with one wheel on the curb and the other on the lawn, tilted toward Ridgeway Drive. The forecast was for rain, so friend Phil brought over their Harris Teeter tailgate tent and together we popped it up and tied it down with tent stakes. About 5:00am rain set in, so hard it woke me up. I got up and went outside to check the trailer. Water is the enemy of non-perishable food, especially boxed cereal, rice, and pasta. The trailer was about half full, and fortunately everything in it was still dry. I found a polypropylene tarp, lashed it over the top and sides, and went back to bed. I was so cold my teeth were rattling.

As in years past, the majority of LCB traffic enters Ridgeway at the north (Friendly Avenue) and drives south (toward Market Street). Three fourths of cars turn east on Madison; the rest continue to Market. This year, in an attempt to get folks to drive the length of Ridgeway, we thought if we parked the trailer on Ridgeway that might make things easier. As it turned out, drivers seemed puzzled when the trailer wasn't in its usual place, between the sidewalk and Madison in front of Toad Hall. Navigating to its new location seemed hard. Some parked alongside Madison, as in years before, got out, and walked around the corner to the trailer across from Marlene's home. Others stopped on Marlene's side of the street and walked across Ridgeway to access the trailer. Not safe. So friends Jim and Janet offered to meet us at home after work to move the trailer to safer (and more accessible) ground. We arrived home to find the trailer, neatly and safely parked right on the curve of the corner, in plain view, complete with Harris Teeter tailgating tent tied down with tent stakes, safe and sound. Thanks Jim and Janet.

People kept coming Sunday and Monday nights, bringing gifts of non-perishable food. By Tuesday morning the trailer was about half full and the forecast was for rain, so before noon I stopped by, transferred bags, boxes, cans and jars to my Suburban and drove over to Potter's house.

It's been a year since I had been to Potters house. A mid-day weekday visit is as busy as it gets. Men and women, some going some coming, some new to street life, some tired, faces worn and eyes blank; I saw a high school aged kid with a backpack and a mixed race couple. The homeless rarely walk side by side, like my wife and I do; one walks in front, the other ten or so feet behind, like a wounded person on a litter or a deer being hauled back to camp. Truth is, they're exhausted to the point they have nothing left to give each other; couples who've lost a child feel like this.

Antonio and two other men whose names I didn't get met me at the dock before I could ring the buzzer (see sign, right). Antonio, I learned, played football for Grimsley and graduated in 2001. Greensboro needs more men like these men, strong, focused, servant-leaders.

All totaled, Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls, which includes Sunset Hills neighbors and friends who attended the 7th Annual Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop, had given an abundance of nourishing, life-sustaining non-perishable food to Potter's house.

Our goal is 10,000 pounds this year. Help make it so. We've got a good start, but that's where you come in. If your life has been blessed with abundance, consider making a grocery shop using this suggested shopping list, stopping by one of several food collection points in the neighborhood, or investing cash in 2nd Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina or Greensboro Urban Ministry. Come enjoy the Lighted Christmas Balls. Bring your friends, family, and co-workers, and bring a bag of non-perishable food. And share your hope with those whose hope has run dry. Here's a map, we'll have other collection points mapped out by this weekend.

You can't read the dial on the scales just above the big box on the right. It reads 488 pounds.

It's raining where we live, hard. It's 37 degrees cold. I just went outside to check the trailer, it's already starting refilling itself. I can't believe folks brave cold and the wet and dark of night just to put a few cans of groceries in a wet trailer. But then, my faith is pretty small.

Lilac Drive

2009-12-07T22:36:00.001-05:00

We saw these 5 Lighted Christmas Balls with clear lights made. Photo looks like an Ansel Adams. Map: http://schmap.it/kuwkur

Llamas come to Sunset Hills, see Lighted Christmas Balls

2009-12-07T17:53:00.000-05:00

Jonathan here: Mama Llama writes a blog titled Little Llamas. She's also a raving fan of the Lighted Christmas Balls. After a long day chasing her own little llamas around the house, here's how she likes to relax:

"I recommend making some hot cocoa...putting a Christmas CD on in the car...blasting the heat and rolling down the windows...and enjoy the Magic!
She authors the Little Llamas blog and you can read what will probably be the first of many blog posts and photographs right here.

I like her blasting on the heat and rolling down all the windows idea. We did it a little differently when our kids were little. We played a game that went like this: It's really, really cold and we're going down the road and one of us says to the other, "so, you think you can stand the pain?," and which ever of us accepted the challenge would unroll his window and stick his bare hand outside. Followed by the one who made the bet. Suffice to say that experiencing 30 degrees farenheit at 45 mph for 10 minutes and you can probably take getting your teeth drilled with no Novocain.

Hey, Grace Community Church has about 40 Lighted Christmas Balls lit up, thanks to Allison, Clay, Gardner, Johnnie, Justin, and Scott. Why don't you put all your friends in your car, head on over to 643 W. Lee Street, and challenge your passengers to a little friendly game of freeze your fingers off.

More pics from Lighted Christmas Balls workshop #7

2009-12-02T00:10:00.002-05:00

more pics from Sunday afternoon's workshop here.

Kerrie Orrell has a dear friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. So she and her daughter set out to make a bow, cover it with pink lights, and hang it from a tree in her friend's yard.

(Ross Martin, background, wonders if making a lighted Christmas ball while using his cell phone improves reception.)

Coming the distance to make Lighted Christmas Balls

2009-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

This is Jennifer and her husband. I can't spell his name, but it's pronounced "chess-mir." Anyway, Jennifer lives in Tampa, hangs Lighted Christmas Balls in Tampa, and visits her parents in Greensboro where she grew up. This is maybe her third year attending the workshop. Chesmir (sp) gets the award for coming the farthest distance to make a Lighted Christmas ball. He's from the Czek Republic. There area where he's from is rich in Moravian faith, history, and tradition.

If you can't be on time, be early

2009-12-01T23:41:00.001-05:00

My friend Buck Campbell, pictured left, was the first participant to arrive for Sunday's Lighted Christmas Ball workshop. He made four, had enough lights for more, and was one of the last guests to leave. It wouldn't surprise me to drive out to his home on McKnight Mill Road and see a dozen or more Lighted Christmas Balls. The truth is, Buck is a kid at heart, and there's no point in telling you his age because you wouldn't believe me. Buck is a member of Summit Rotary and maybe the first Chartered Life Underwriter in North Carolina.

More photos from Sunday's party

2009-12-01T09:10:00.002-05:00

Sunday afternoon we met new neighbors and we all had a great time making the Lighted Christmas Balls - recently referred to as a tumbleweed of wire and lights. Neighbors and folks who came to the party contributed $5080 to Urban Ministry and $1058 to Second Harvest. That's a great way to kick off the food drive. The food contributions were significantly more than in past years. Thanks to all of you who came and many of you who simply stopped by and made a contribution of food. ( Photos from Jan Lukens - on Kensington)

On Line Photos 2009

2009-11-30T19:27:00.001-05:00

The photos from November are online. More photos will be posted as I turn, crop, reduce size etc.

Hard at work making Lighted Christmas Balls

2009-11-30T16:46:00.003-05:00

Newcomers and experienced Lighted Christmas Ball makers gathered side by side to bend chicken wire, push, and poke into a roundish shape. Lights go on next and voila.. all one has to do is connect the ball to power and get it into a treetop.

Now seen in Beaumont Texas - Lighted CHRISTmas Balls

2009-11-30T11:02:00.000-05:00

We received this happy email from a new friend in Beaumont Texas on Saturday - I uploaded his photos in collage format. Nice work (is it work?) maybe we should say Nice Play! They do look terrific.

Jonathan and Anne,
I saw a link to your site on how to make the balls on lifehacker.com.
I watched the video and was so taken with the story that I had to bring it down here to the Gulf Coast.
I hope it catches on here like on your street!
Merry CHRISTmas.

--Steve Dallas Johnson

Fun on Ridgeway Drive

2009-11-28T17:11:00.000-05:00

When Alison Hassard said she wanted to make a potato launcher, she wasn't just kidding. A trip to the internet, Home Depot and this is her creation. It makes a very cool whooshing sound and as the Englars exclaimed, we can now get the string up higher than ever before and all the friends came out to play. We now have many strings in the neighborhood. There will be Lighted Christmas Balls up soon. Nice Day!

Lighted Christmas Balls in Historic Charles B. Aycock neighborhood

2009-11-26T23:18:00.000-05:00

Four generations of women bask on the porch following an awesome Thanksgiving feast. Mamaw and Susan went back to Raleigh, Grayson went down for a nap, and Millie and Anne watched Justin and Jonathan use a super-sized slingshot to pitch an 8 oz. canvas throw bag over high limbs in one of Historic Aycock's pecan trees to pull binding twine up and over its branches before finally tying it off.

Next steps: connect grounded extension cords to light balls, tie each binding twine "halyard" to its respective ball, hoist, and tie off.

Last 100 visits to LCB

2009-11-26T00:45:00.000-05:00

World map showing last 100 visits to Lighted Christmas Balls blog. 'afternoon, Australia.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T00:31:00.000-05:00

Peeps renews the mini lights on Toad Hall's light sign. MayMay puts new multi-function lights on Show Off ball. River the Golden Retriever, long passed out on ottoman. Georgia the Boykin, she disappears when her eyes close. She's next to MayMay. Excited about making preparations for Sunday's Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop in the morning. Lighted Christmas Balls already appearing in the neighborhood already. Lots to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving.

And there was light !

2009-11-24T18:57:00.002-05:00

As I drove home down Market Steet I thought I had better swing by Rolling to see if Jamey and Phil had their Lighted Christmas Balls on and they started shining through the trees as I turned onto Greenway. They are beautiful and bright. I love the lights just like a little kid. I will drive by them everytime I leave the neighborhood or return. Let the fun begin.

Lighted Christmas Balls Host Families Coverd Dish Supper

2009-11-22T23:00:00.001-05:00

With the Lighted Christmas Balls Party one week away we wanted to get as many of the host families as possible together for a short meeting to tie down loose ends. Gardner reportred that the hunger problem in NC is showing no signs of letting up. Second Harvest, which distributes donated food to more than 400 non-profit partner agencies that serve people at risk of hunger and others in need from Boone to Burlington, is experiencing its second consecutive year of unprecedented demand for food. Last week, WFDD reported that one in six North Carolinians worries about running out of food sometime in the next seven days. Documented research shows one out of every five children in North Carolina experience food insecurity.

Sunset Hills Neighborhood is committed to doing something about this. Jamey and Phil are providing a 2nd food collection trailer at the corner of Rolling and West Greenway North, and can safeguard donated food from the elements and redeliver it to food banks. John Englar suggested yard signs signs with a simple catch phrase could go a long way to helping connect the experience of enjoying the lighted balls with the bigger purpose of shining a light on the problem of hunger in North Carolina. Triad sign maker Bravo Signs, who helped sponsor our last two workshops/food drives, will make signage for 2nd food trailer and our new yard signs. More later.

Jonathan announced that Glenwood Tutoring Program will have their Christmas party December 7, and they'd love us to be part of their effort. For the last two years, Sunset Hills neighbors worked with the program's tutors and students to make and hang over 50 Lighted Christmas Balls. Neighborhoods like Glenwood live on life's margins. Poverty, drugs, and prostitution are in ample supply. Stability, hope, and joy are scarce. Glenwood may be on the margins, but it benefits from a huge multiplyer affect: any good done there gets so much bang for the buck. Just imagine what Greensboro will be like if each student of Glenwood Tutoring Program hangs a Lighted Christmas Ball in their yard 40 years from now, offering stability, hope and joy. Jonathan will send around a signup memo with some possible dates.

Everyone signed up for all the working parts of the party. Despite that the City of Greensboro has offered us an optional "rain date" for the following Sunday, we said if we could take last year's nasty weather, we can take anything. Besides, our statiscian says, it's rained the last three years and we're overdue for a clear day. The forecast for next Sunday indicates cold and clear, but that could change. Stone soup is in the offing again so remember to bring your canned vegatables to add to the pot. If we have more vegtables than we need, they will be added to the food drive trailer.

As always there was lots of stories and lots of laughter as this is just the start of the season when we all meet new neighbors, get to know neighbors better and make new friends. The Lighted Christmas Balls no longer just Christmas decorations, they are the cord that binds a neighborhood, one more thing that makes living in Sunset Hills so very special.

While we adjourned to the living room to enjoy an open fire, a glass of wine, and friends, Janet and Jeff took over the kitchen and scraped, scrubbed, and washed evey pot, bowl, plate, fork, spoon and glass in sight, and left us with a spotlessly clean kitchen. What a wonderful treat. What a joy. Thank you, guys.

When the going gets tough, the tough hang Lighted Christmas Balls

2009-11-22T09:17:00.000-05:00

We had an absolutely wonderful day joining our long time friends Bill and Paulette for lunch (we had yummy lunch by Wendy Cardais - caterer extraordinaire). After lunch we rolled out the table protector covers and started cutting chicken wire right then and there on the dining room table. We gathered in the living room with football playing on the big screen and made the chicken wire balls. I am not 100% sure they believed they would ever look like anything other than a wire 'foot stool' but to the amazement of all (including us) they do finally take shape and when you wrap the lights around them, they suddenly are magical.

Next step take them to the front lawn, put the strings up in the trees, attach those strings and power to the Lighted Christmas Balls - then just at dusk, we hoist them up - you can the lake beyond them and I am sure the boaters can see them from the lake.

Paulette is supervising the whole hanging operation from the porch and by now it is 5 and time for an afternoon glass of wine. Our dearest friend is fighting a very aggressive cancer and we are praying for God to intervene with a miracle and extend her time with all of us and her dear family. The day was special and full of joy.

Bill emailed and said Paulette asked him to leave the them on all night, in case she wakes up and wants to see them. We understand that fully. We leave ours on all night and when I get up in the middle of the night, I always peek out the upstairs window.

"The life light blazed out of the darkness and the darkness couldn't put it out." John 1:3 The Message

FAQ - Lighted Christmas Balls

2009-11-14T11:26:00.010-05:00

Why are the Lighted Christmas Balls so important to you? It has been a great neighborhood project for Sunset Hills. We know more neighbors than we ever would under 'normal circumstances.' Lighted Christmas Balls are beautiful (in the dark), they encourage the old, thrill the young, amaze all in between. We have laughed with our neighbors and family and spent hours of enjoyment putting them up, keeping them lit, and eventually taking them down for another season.

What have you enjoyed most as this tradition has continued? We love that they are used in the spirit of increasing fun, joy, hope, beauty, and encouragement. We like to help people make them. We are touched that the regional cancer center in Greensboro sends their cancer patients, who have just recieved chemo, radiation or other therapy, to our neighborhood for an extra dose of hope. Many of the retirement communities in the area drive their little buses through the neighborhood to delight their residents. And finally - people who want to show gratitude to the neighborhood for the lights leave canned food in a trailer in front of our home and other collection points in the neighborhood. Those canned goods are then taken to 2nd Harvest Food Bank and Urban Ministry in Greensboro. Last year we collected close to 2 tons of food thanks to the generosity of those driving through. This year we hope to double that amount.

Do you care that other neighborhoods have also done this? We love that most of all, we would love to see them all over the city, county, state and beyond.

What else is fun about them? The emails and phone calls we receive from as far west as California, as far south as Florida, and as far north as the UP of Michigan. We have put those letters on this blog, look around for them with their photos. This week we received a box from a family in Laurel Mississippi who sent over some equipment and new ideas about getting the balls installed and getting electricity to them. We can't wait to share them with you at this year's workshop.

The photo of Jonathan with the box of goodies from Mississippi is shown above.

This Hope's for you

2009-03-21T21:22:00.011-04:00

David Pike was a champion. A champion for his family, his friends, especially his cancer fighting friends, for his fellow Rotarians, for life, and for Christ.

No stranger to the Moses Cone Regional Cancer Center, David gave life to everyone he met: fellow cancer patients, nurses, doctors, even those in waiting rooms. Never a complainer...always an encourager, abundantly generous in hope.

Not long before David went to be with God, he said, "You'll never know what a ministry of encouragement your neighborhood is to everyone at the cancer center. Patients, nurses, doctors, and visitors, that's all they talk about. Promise me you'll teach them to make the Lighted Christmas Balls."

David and his cancer fighting friends encouraged everyone at the Regional Cancer Center, after chemo therapy, to drive down Ridgeway Drive into the land of wonder, where each and every Lighted Christmas Ball is transformed into a beacon of hope, in a world long on suffering and short on hope.

We told David and Patricia and Kris and Roman that we'd keep David's light on, seven days a week, twenty four hours a day, in memory of him and every person fighting cancer. (David's light is a gigantic Lighted Christmas Ball with 1,400 mini Christmas lights wrapped around a 36" diameter sphere.)

So if you're reading this, and you or someone you know is fighting cancer, this Symbol of Hope stays lit, day and night, for you.

This image taken 12/28/2009 just before midnight without a tripod

This image taken after the big snowstorm of March 1, 2009

"God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life." Psalm 62:5; The Message

Food Drive totals

2009-01-11T14:39:00.000-05:00

Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls donated 3,729 pounds of non-perishable food during December 2008; this is 753 pounds, or 25%, over 2007's total!

Twin brothers from different mothers

2009-01-10T18:57:00.011-05:00

Atmore News (AL) contributing writer Bonnie Bartel Latino keeps her eyes open, at least on one side. And when she sees something that needs just a little more looking into, well, she starts connecting the dots...or in this case, the gumdrops, and before she knows it, there's a story. Though she's never "seen" Sunset Hills' Lighted Christmas Balls per se, what she "saw" through the eyes of Master-At-Arms 1st Class Fritz Currie, United States Navy, Reserves, was as clear as if she had been on Ridgeway Drive herself. Currie, it turns out, touched down in Greensboro to see friends (Sunset Hills' Blake and Robin Conklin), enroute to Atmore, AL from the Middle East, and got bitten by the Lighted Christmas Balls. Fritz "took" the Lighted Christmas Balls to his native hometown, where they grace 305 S. Pensacola Avenue. I can't wait to meet him. He can't wait to light up the whole town.

Treat yourself and read Bonnie's feature article which was printed in the Atmore News New Year's Eve edition.

We'd love to hear from you, in person, email, or comment box below...

Lighted Christmas Balls on Current TV

2009-01-03T18:28:00.013-05:00

fcproducer's producer/editor andy coon and and blake faucette, dp, came to see us Christmas Eve with their video cams, spirits of adventure, and filmed this treasure of a documentary (with no rehearsals or retakes). Truly they captured the spirit of Christmas, but hearing their stories about how the Lighted Christmas Balls brighten their lives was a real gift. Thanks Andy (and Blake), for sharing your gifts and talents, and for spreading the Lighted Christmas Balls.

enjoy it, share it, and tell the folks at current tv how you like it.

if you haven't already seen it, check out video andy made in 2006 of the Lighted Christmas Balls.

today's offering

2008-12-23T09:14:00.006-05:00

The utility trailer sits parked and open, as would one with outstretched hands, ready to receive gifts of food, providing nourishment and hope for the under-nourished and hope-less.

within hours of having its 686 pounds of food taken to Greensboro Urban Ministry, the little trailer began filling up all over again. Since last

night:

Thank you Greensboro

2008-12-22T21:00:00.003-05:00

Several angels kept watch over the food collection sites at Ridgeway and Rolling and Ridgeway and Madison this weekend. Rain, high winds, and bone-chilling cold took their tolls on donors over the weekend but that didn't stop folks from giving. Brenda, Sean, and Anna Bowman stepped up to take the "harvest" over to Greensboro Urban Ministries Food Pantry today. What a joy to have them jump in to help, especially with the thermometer dropping into the mid teens tonight. And I know they were blessed, too. It's a little overpowering to drive past S. Eugene Street, turn right into the back parking lot, and drive past faces of real men and women living on the margins of life. It's something else altogether to back up your minivan to the loading dock into hands that will weigh it, stock it, and distribute it to those in need.

December 8th - Second Harvest (747 lbs)

December 19th - Greensboro Urban Ministry (572 lbs) and

December 22nd Brenda, Sean, and Anna Bowman - Greensboro Urban Ministry (686 lbs).

So when your friends tell you that they are coming over to see your lights, be sure and tell them not to come empty handed :)

Merry Christmas to you all. Anne & Jonathan

rain doesn't slow food drive

2008-12-17T23:49:00.003-05:00

It rained Monday and Tuesday and drizzled off and on all day today. That hasn't slowed visits to the yellow barrel at the four-way stop sign at Ridgeway and Rolling and the utility trailer at the corner of Madison and Ridgeway. People put dry goods in the big red Rubbermaid tub and secured food-filled plastic bags to keep the rain out. I didn't take pics of each night's haul, but now that it's Wednesday night and my Suburban is full, I need to drop it off at the Food Pantry and get ready for the weekend. Anne and I are going to do a little adding up this weekend - she has one of those little counter things that ticket takers use to count attendance at concerts and sporting events. We'll let you know the count...and also how much food has been contributed so far.

LCB's are glowing all over. There's an extra special 13 Lighted Christmas Balls on Cardinal Wood Drive. It stays lit day and night keeping vigil, encouraging all who pass by and those who live there. If you're over that way, check it out.