Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

He invites us in.

You guys. You have blown me away. Truly, I am speechless tonight. {But, you know me. I’ll try to find a few words..} 🙂

Let me tell you – when I originally had my little noonday show several months ago, I ended up with a $200 credit for product. My sweet friend, Corrie {who is a Noonday Ambassador} and I put our heads together and came up with this idea for a raffle to enter to win pieces from the fall collection.


Corrie {pictured left} on a recent Ambassador trip with
Noonday Collection to meet artisans in Guatemala.

We originally thought this would be a great fundraiser to help cover a small portion of our travel expenses when the time comes to bring “S” home.

Fast forward to the DGM suspension. Travel suddenly felt far away. {And, I felt crushed}.

And, then, I heard that these children whom I’d fallen head over heels for are hungry again. I received updates from trusted friends visiting the orphanage where our daughter spent eleven months of her little life. And, the updates were dire. I, along with other mommas whose hearts were aching, decided we needed to do something.

God reminded me that I had this Noonday credit stored away to use “later.”

Later was suddenly now.

And, this little idea turned into an amazing opportunity for friends and family members and people that I have never met or crossed paths with before this week to link arms, step forward and declare to the world that we will NOT turn our eyes away. We will do something.

I prayed about this fundraiser. I prayed that God would use it to bring full tummies to the 54 children at that orphanage. I didn’t know how much we could raise. I just wanted to do something, even if it felt like a drop of rain in the vast sea of need.

And, that my friends, is what I’m learning here…

Our something may feel small.

Our something may feel insignificant.

But, God.  God is big.

He will use what we offer up to Him.

He took this small step and turned it into a huge outpouring of provision. He opened doors to work with other passionate mommas and create a chance to feed not one but THREE orphanages. And, not just one meal like I had originally hoped for, but, at least a month worth of food for these 151 children. And, the donations continue to pour in.

Something that felt so simple – feeding children in need – transformed my heart to see His glory. This opportunity to lift my eyes and remember —

I am not walking this path alone. He will transform ashes into beauty. He is ONLY good.

I read these words tonight, “God does not call us into the deep water to let us drown.”

I’ll be honest. These past few years have been hard. This past year has been ache-with-every-fiber-of-my-being HARD.

God has called my family into deep water. He has broken {shattered} our hearts for what breaks His. He has called us to love the fatherless and to go against what this world tells us defines success and happiness.

And, He has reminded us over and over that He is faithful. That He is near.

These deep waters that we’re in? We’re not alone. He will not let us drown. He is holding us and drawing us closer to His heart.

These past few days, as donations for food for these precious little ones have poured in, I have been reminded in whispers from His Spirit… He doesn’t need me to do His work. Yet, He invites me in.

What an awesome, breath-taking privilege that is.

Thank you for giving. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for loving.

Continue to give…raffle ends Thursday, October 31st at midnight. Winner will be announced on Friday. Details and enter HERE.

feed their tummies + noonday giveaway.

Y’all know how near and dear these children are to my heart.

I’ve held them. I’ve looked into their eyes. Their faces are seared into my memory.

I’ve prayed fervently for them.

I’m heartbroken to know that they hungry today. With the exit letter suspension, fewer families are traveling and fewer donations are getting to the orphanage. I’ve been told that there are only a few days of food left at this orphanage.

My heart can’t take it. These precious ones need so many things…but, right now, they desperately need a meal to fill their empty, rumbling tummies.

And, I know that we CAN do something. We can make a difference. We can send tangible LOVE. Food equals love to these precious children.

A group of mommas have decided to step out and help these little ones. We are brainstorming and working on ways for long-term sustainable care solutions {read more HERE}. In the meantime, we are committed to sending food now.

My dear, dear friend {and servant of Christ in the truest sense}, Dr. Laure, has offered to purchase food and cook meals. I know exactly where the money will go. Directly to these little ones.

This is where you come in. I have some amazingly, gorgeous Noonday Collection items to raffle off this week. Think: Christmas gifts {for someone else or just for yourself:)}!

Never heard of Noonday? I love Jen Hatmaker’s description…
“I’m currently loving, and I’m currently still loving Noonday. Founded by my friend Jessica Honegger, Noonday employs vulnerable women in nine countries, and they make just GORGEOUS jewelry and accessories. I’m not talking about some janky burlap slapped together with twine. This is truly beautiful, artisanal work combining local craftsmanship with designer savvy and making us look awesome. ALL THE WHILE providing sustainable employment for vulnerable women, allowing them to parent and succeed and thrive.” – Jen Hatmaker

Here’s how this will work:

For every $10 donation, you will be entered to win the entire collection pictured below!! {$10 = one entry, $20 = two entries, etc}.

Simply, donate through the Paypal button at the bottom of the page to enter to win! This raffle will end, Thursday, October 31st at midnight.

For $10, you have a chance to win nearly $200 worth of gorgeous brand new Noonday collection fall pieces!!

1. Tasseled Ladder necklace – made in Ethiopia {this is such a unique necklace!}

2. Tasseled Bullet Bracelets {set of 3} – made in Ethiopia {these are so fun and will go with everything!}

3. Courtney Cuff – made in India {I’m currently addicted to cuffs. I need this}.
4. Charlotte’s Bag – made in Rwanda {oh my word! I love this bag!!!}
And, as of this morning, I’ve learned that we are going to make this a challenge for $1,000 with a matching grant of $1,000 to feed 3 orphanages!!  AMAZING!!!
 
{Details, including specifics on what food costs and what we will be purchasing, as well as other awesome projects we are working on for these children can be found HERE}.
 
Enter & Donate HERE:

 

I know. There is so much need everywhere.

I know how overwhelming it all can feel if you look at the big picture of the needs in this world. Instead of feeling like you can’t do anything to help, know full well that you can. With this $10 – you will feed 133 precious, precious innocent children this next month AND you will support Noonday artisans around the world. That is simply incredible in my book, friends.

Thank you all so much for living so generously!!!! {And, please help spread the word! We want to blow these kids away with love!!}
*if you would, leave a comment here after donating. Some folks have had issues leaving “notes” in PayPal and I want to be sure everyone is entered to win!!! 

a video thank you message.

Sometimes, words aren’t enough. They simply fall flat. Lacking the right emotion and depth. They suffice out of necessity but they don’t quite paint the picture the way you’d really like to.

It’s then that you need photos and videos and a little music. And, Voilà! The pain and sadness depicted alongside the joy and the hope allows the truth to shine through, even when words fail. 
Exactly what my Congo trip recaps needed. 
I made a little video from our time with S that I have watched approximately 5.5 billion times yesterday alone. I cannot, absolutely cannot, wait to share it with you. So, until I can share her sweet face and you can hear that silly laugh, I thought I’d share another video I put together from our trip. 
This is a Thank You for everyone that stood beside us as we followed God’s path to the Congo last month. Donors. Prayer warriors. Fellow adoptive mommas. Every single person who linked arms with us as we headed to serve and love on these precious little souls. We were immensely blessed by this trip. 
To each of you, I send a heartfelt Thank You. 









a weekend in brugge.

As we were booking our trip to the Congo, a friend recommended we stop on the way home for a long layover in order to give us time to take a deep breath and reflect on all that happened during our stay. {And, to rest before stepping back into the busyness of life}.

This was the absolute best advice. Originally, we were really worried about extending our trip…it meant more time away from the boys and more money spent on a hotel room somewhere else. In the end, the flight cost was the same and we found a great deal on a hotel from Priceline and we were so thankful we decided to stop. It was completely worth the extra few days away.

Our layover was in Brussels but we decided to take the train and spend the weekend in nearby Brugge. We chose Brugge because it is smaller, quieter and more quaint than Brussels {& ridiculously charming, in our opinion).

When we booked this trip, we knew that the last thing we would want to do is sightsee or spend time in a crowded city.

Brugge was perfect.

After a long morning getting really sick in the Brussels airport and passing out on the train to Brugge {it was as lovely as it sounds, trust me}, we made it to our hotel and I mercifully took my first hot shower in a week. I then proceeded to soak in a hot bath. I have never felt more pampered in my life.

Let me just stop now and give you a full recap of our weekend …

…we ate, we showered, we slept, we cried, we laughed, we reminisced and shared our favorite memories of S, we walked on every road in the city, and we ate some more. The end. 

See? Perfection.

Photo proof of the perfection …

Coffee? One of my favorite things. And, who knew that, in Brugge, serving coffee is an art form…and,  it is always served with chocolate. Amen and amen.

Italian Food? Another one of my favorite things. I really, really wanted this layover to be in Rome {my favorite city on earth} but, alas, Brugge brought a little Roma to me. Grazie, Brugge! 

Evidenced by the above, Dave enjoyed his Belgian beer while I cried tears of joy into my pasta…



Chocolate? Do I even need to elaborate, here? We were in BELGIUM. Belgium = Chocolate. I felt like I was in a living, breathing version of Willy Wonka’s factory. I kept glancing over my shoulder looking for little orange guys singing creepy songs.

Waffles? I had the misconception that “Belgium Waffles” were sort of like “French Fries.” I honestly have no idea if french fries have anything to do with France. {I could google it but I’m just too lazy to go through the effort}. So, I was beside myself to find waffle stands everywhere in this city. And, not just any plain jane Waffle House waffle. These waffles were light and airy and sweet… it felt like I was eating a cloud topped with sugar and chocolate.

Waffles in Brugge were the equivalent to Gelato in Italy or Crepes with Nutella & Banana in Paris for me. As in, I ate them all day, every day. I would argue that I ate my weight in waffles {but only took photos of Dave eating them, so there really isn’t evidence. Bahahaha}.

Laundry? Never in my life would I think that I would cry at the sight of a washer machine. Or, that I would put my head in the dryer to soak in the smell of freshly laundered clothes. I just never saw that one coming. But, I had never smelt clothes like ours after leaving the Congo before. I will not elaborate on the smell but I will tell you that this laundromat was a happy place for me.

Incredible scenery? Beautiful old buildings? Gorgeous cathedrals? Church services that brought tears to my eyes even when I couldn’t understand a word? Check and check. Brugge delivered. 




Spiritual moments? Love letters from my Savior when my heart was suffering? Absolutely.

Sitting at dinner on our first night in Brugge, I couldn’t hold back the tears as we dreamed about what S was doing thousands of miles away as we sat there at a little table in a little cafe in a little town in Belgium. I felt the urge to look up through my tears, and I saw this rainbow. A sweet reminder that God will bring beauty out of this pain.

Sweet note in Dave’s Bible {The Message translation} …

All in all, it was a perfect weekend for our aching hearts. We were able to breathe deeply and grieve together before heading back to life at home without our daughter.

And, another surprise was in store for us on our way back to the US. Remember Joyce? Somehow, she found a way to get us upgraded on our flight to Chicago! It was INCREDIBLE. We felt like royalty and laughed the entire time at how obvious it was that we didn’t really belong up there. We thanked God for loving on us… in the form of lay-flat seats and gourmet meals with wine pairings and a little toiletry kit and comfy socks and a quilt {that I really wanted to stuff into my backpack but didn’t – Dave said it would be embarrassing}. Truly, I almost forgot about my fear of flying. You may think I’m crazy to think that God arranged this upgrade but I know He did. He loves us that much. These details…they are reminders of how lavishly we are loved by the King of Kings.

 What a trip! {And, I kicked myself the entire time because I didn’t bring my “good” camera…note to self: just bring it next time} :).