Friday, March 23, 2012

Honestly

As I type this it is 5:12am. I'm not usually up this early and I've been up since around 3:30am (due to a serious of unfortunate events) so I'm not sure how this post is going to turn out. I've been feeling lately though, a prompting to be more honest and open about my life onto my blog. I probably offered more of my personal thoughts on my first blog Blue Moments, but since creating Unearthed Roots with my hand crafting business in mind, I've not been as forthcoming. Or maybe I should say as in depth with how I'm perceiving and relating to my life as it is now. Blogs are tricky. You don't really know who is reading them...and not knowing who the reader is means you just have to write it out just like it is. Challenging, but in a good way. I hate to ramble, but I do that a lot, and I guess my biggest blogging fear is rambling and wasting your time. I don't want to waste time, yours or mine. So, hopefully some of what I share in the near future will be relatable, but if it isn't that's fine too. We can learn from each other. I would love to have more interaction and feedback on my blog. I love when my friends (which is you friend, reading my blog) respond. It helps me to know that this is not in vain and that you are there (here.  whichever). I am humbled and amazed by the support of so many wonderful people and I feel extremely blessed an honored that you took the time to read this.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Who Needs Toys?

What's New

I know that I've been busy when my mother in law (who lives 15 minutes away) calls me and asks what's new? and I start telling her and some of it is brand new news to her!  So, here are some updates (well, some of these she knew of course):
Josh turned 16
Tyler turned 13
Brielle started Preschool
I now have this vehicle back in my driveway
(after a year without it)


The Hunger Games
I read this book.
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
My sister loaned me this book (love it)

Miles comes in the afternoons now

Josh is also now running for the Track Team.
Brielle is playing soccer.
I am finishing my career as a leaders in MOPS (Audio/Visual is where I served this past year).
Will & I are playing softball.
I plan to sell my homemade goods at the Downtown Market starting in May.

...and I am living off of coffee and sweet Love of Jesus.
 
So, What's new with you?

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Adoption ~perspective~

If you are on Facebook then you may have been able to follow updates to the Rathes' Adoption Blog: Worthourtime.com. It has been an incredible experience to be a part of, even just from my perspective of being a supportive friend. They have been friends of ours for almost seven years now.
When the Rathes (Grant & Amanda) first began fundraising for their adoption it was amazing to humbly realize the height of the funds that they were attempting to reach - because adoption (whether domestically or internationally) is so costly. I wanted to help them out - and since I'd just launched my Etsy Store, it seemed the best way was for me to donate 10% of all earnings to their Adoption Fund. I also sold Adoption Bracelets for $5 ($2 of that going to them). Some people actually just gave me more money for regular purchases and said, "just give the excess to the Rathes' fund." I was so amazed that during such a short time (three months?) that I was able to give them $102.40! People are so generous. People who didn't even know them would donate (sometimes a lot). It amazed me because we were all believing in something that we could not see. We had no idea how everything would eventually turn out. 
And now here they are - only a few months later - with little Miles comfortably and happily in his forever home and with his Mom & Dad who love him entirely and completely.
It was a beautiful, beautiful experience to witness. To be a small part of. To hold him and know God's plans are perfect. I love it! I am able to keep him for a few weekday afternoons in the overlap of their work schedules and my heart is full of joy for it! God is so good.

That being said, my sweet sweet friend from MOPS, Mandy Avery, and her husband Terrence are currently fundraising for their Adoption. You can check out what they are doing here:
http://averysadopt.blogspot.com/.   And since 10% of proceeds from my Etsy shop (and outside sales) were already in the habit of going to adoption funds, I've decided to give that 10% now to the Avery family.
Praise God for adopting us into His family!  Praise Him for faithfully providing couples with the means to adopt His children into their families also!