My Etsy Shop!

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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bits and Pieces


I have a few new things listed in my Etsy shop-the link is above-so you should check 'em out! A few new bracelets and my newest item-rings! They are fun little pieces that are light as a feather, literally, yet are pretty tough and sturdy, too! I have had SO. MUCH. FUN. with the Mama Sheep stuff, I just really want to make stuff all the time. It annoys me when life interrupts my creating!! Oh well, to everything there is a season I suppose....

So, I leave in TWO WEEKS for Ethiopia!! Squeeeee!!! I cannot believe I will be there in 2 weeks, seeing/smelling/touching/hearing the smells of Africa!!! And I have been overwhelmed with donations from folks of all sorts of items for the kiddos I will spend time with on my trip-my living room is filling up with evidence of the generosity and big hearts of friends and strangers alike!! I have had emails from people I have never met and do not know how they got my email and they are offering me supplies for the children and all sorts of stuff-God is just SO. GOOD! Amazing. I am not even sure how on Earth I am going to get it to Ethiopia as I am certain it will not fit in my luggage, even with me taking my own clothes in just my carry-on, but who cares! God will make a way! And also, here is something-I have raised every cent of my trip, plus $$ for travel expenses and possibly extra luggage fees if necessary and I have never asked outright for $$ for my trip! Can you say yay God??!!!

I will do my absolute best to post from Ethiopia-I was able to do it when we traveled to adopt so I am hoping to do it this time, too. Since so many people have given to this trip, I feel like all of us are going so I will keep up my end by giving you all a virtual trip, 'k?

Well, gotta scram as I have 40 million things to do in the next few days...ok, I really want to go work on my jewelry, hee hee....

Thursday, June 17, 2010

You MUST Have One (or 3!!) Of These!!!

My friend Kelly is right now fundraising for their second adoption and a couple of AWESOME things they are selling-not your regular T-shirt fundraiser here! They have stainless steel travel mugs and cute tote bags with an AWESOME message right on them. Check it out:


16 oz. mug, $20 which INCLUDES SHIPPING!!!! what?! um, AWESOME!


Black cotton tote bag, $12 which INCLUDES SHIPPING!!!! yes, please!! Lightweight, roomy, super easy to toss in your purse too for when you need an extra bag (which for me is ALWAYS!!)


SO, go to her blog, The Minus 1 Project, and order like 15 of each...just think of the great Christmas gifts they will make and how you will be done with shopping WAAAAY before December. And even better, think of the message it will get out to anyone who sees you drinking coffee or shopping or going to the pool or the library or the mall or the grocery store or....EVERYWHERE. Can you just imagine how many people can get the message that there are kids out there in desperate need of LOVE and a HOME??? Oh yes, a coffee cup CAN change the world. Let's all get them and get this message OUT, friends!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Are You Tired?

This was sent in our church's weekly bylines, written by one of our elders, and it just struck so deep in my heart.  This past year has been a very very weary one for me both physically and spiritually due to the adoption adjustments, some kind of significant health issues, school board duties at my children's school, and just regular life with 4 kids! I pray it refreshes your heart as it did mine:
 
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."
They said to him, "We will go with you."  They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 
Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?"
They answered him, "No." 
He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some."
So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 
(John 21:3-6 ESV)

I was struck while reading this how gentle Jesus is with his tired followers.  These guys fished all night on the lake and caught nothing.  How tenderly Jesus speaks to them.  He, the resurrected Lord, says, "Children, do you have any fish?"  No thunder, no dolby soundtrack or special effects.  Just a question and a new little command.  What caught my attention is how he doesn't send them back out into the deep, or hundred yards this way or that, or give them some big task that they have no energy to undertake.  It's very simple, just put the net on the other side.  These weary men have nothing to show for a long night of work, but Jesus gets them to do one thing, a small thing really... they don't even have to move the boat.  And then, the ropes of the net tighten and sink rapidly with the great influx of fish.  There is certainly humor in this -- that there are zero fish on this side of the boat and a hundred-plus big fish on the other side of the boat.  But the point is, tired and empty as they are, he gives them one thing to do that changes everything.  Sometimes Christ's followers are so tired they can't even move the boat.  No matter, just do the small thing he asks of you and see what happens...

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Wanna Be Part Of A Miracle?


Hello? Anyone still stop by this here sheep pen? It has been all but abandoned by the Mama Sheep-but, speaking of the Mama Sheep (we WERE speaking of it weren't we??), I finished my first show and it was awesome!! A LOT of work, wow, but that is b/c it came up last minute and I had 6 days to put together enough pieces for the show. Can you say sleep deprivation?? But, I made over 100 pieces and sold about a third of them, which is really not too bad since there was only about 35 folks at this event. It was a knitting retreat hosted by our local yarn shop (AWESOME place, somewhat overwhelming in a sensory level, but in the good kind of way) The even was SO FUN!!! Beautiful yarn EVERYWHERE! Creative people who think in colors and textures and strange ways like me everywhere! Even though I knew very few of them, I felt very comfortable with them. Any they gave me very positive feedback about my creations and even some helpful ideas for future items. And I learned a fun new way to knit a sock b/ I got to attend one of the workshops so double bonus! I haven't knit in MONTHS so it was a lot of fun. But, sadly, I realized I really do need to bite the bullet and buy a little pair of reading glasses/bifocals b/c well, I cannot see at all when I am doing close up stuff. Wow, with my white streaks in my hair and my glasses and my knitting, I can be the first 34 year old granny in town!!! Ugh.


But, by far the best part of the weekend was all the folks I got to share with about Ethiopia, the plight of the orphan, and the fact that ANYONE can, and should, do something about it. God can use ANY thing you offer Him, even painting washers destined for the trash (the painted ones are reclaimed ones from a flood in PA-thanks to my Dad!!), to CHANGE the world FOREVER for a child. Think you don't have anything that seems like it will help? Take a look at my INCREDIBLE sign up there in the photo. It was GIFTED to me by some fabulous friends who own a sign shop, who believe all are called to be a part of caring for the fatherless in some way, and who used their gifts and abilities and business to contribute to a ministry dedicated to caring for God's children (and incidentally blessed my socks off-maybe why I needed to go to that sock knitting class). See? All He asks for is you to be willing and He will make it happen.


What do you have to offer?


ps-checked out my friend Kelly's blog yet??? Her most recent post will make you THINK. And then hopefully ACT-b/c just THINKING about the children with no families doesn't change their lives, just sayin' ;)