Thank you, Pinterest, for this idea and  this one and this one, and this one too.  They’re simple, but they gave me a little inspiration, didn’t cost me a penny and they add a nice touch, don’t you think?  (I’d also like to make a few of these and these.)  Anybody else out there having a Pinterest Christmas?

                          

Aside from not having internet & my camera malfunctioning (and therefore having to be sent back to the factory), I’m excited to have my photography business back up & running!  I feel like life has been somewhat of a comedy of errors the past couple of weeks as I’ve tried to get everything set up; however, I really enjoy photography and am excited about getting back at it!  If you’re on Facebook, but sure to look me up there, too.

I hope you all have a great week.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that our internet gets repaired tomorrow, so I hope to be back soon!

                          

NICOLE O’MEARA . . . Congratulations!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated & thanks to Krista with Noonday Collection for the opportunity to promote such a great organization!

Be sure to remember Krista when purchasing Christmas gifts, too!

She and her family will be returning to the U.S. this weekend with their new son!

CONGRATULATIONS Box family of four!

                          

If you’re not familiar with Noonday Collection, you should be!  They’re a great organization, and their products are BEAUTIFUL!  Here’s why Krista says she wanted to be involved with them:

I am an ambassador for Noonday because I want to make a difference. I love that I can use fashion to help meet the needs of the poor and the oppressed. Noonday makes it possible for women to use their purchasing power to help vulnerable populations.

You KNOW you want to win that gift certificate! All you have to do is leave a comment below to be officially entered for the giveaway. To be entered twice, post a link on Facebook or Twitter as well & let me know you did so.  The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, November 2nd at 9PM CST and will be notified via email.

Good luck!

                          

I’m excited to now be the proud owner of one of THESE beauties, and my sweet, sweet Riley bought me a lovely green bangle kind of like this one (on sale for $4) with his own money.  He totally snuck around and did it behind my back, wrote me the sweetest card, and hid it under the bed.  He was going to give it to me at Christmas, but he just couldn’t wait!  I seriously might wear it every single day.  Aside from my wedding rings, it might be the most special piece of jewelry I own!  He also bought one of these for himself with the money he had been saving.  (I had shown the boys some of the videos of the artisans making the goods, and they were SO interested in the process and the people.)

If you’re ever looking for a great organization to support, definitely check out their online store (they even have free shipping!).  Also, if you’re interested in hosting a house party like we did, I would highly recommend it!  Lindsey & Kate are actually traveling across the country doing them & we were Day 2 of an 8 week tour.

                          

Sara Groves is one of my favorite singer/songwriters.  I distinctly remember sitting with Brad in the auditorium at Hope Church in Memphis several years ago listening to her sing.  We were in the middle of some personal struggles that were doing a number on our marriage, and I’ll never forget Sara sharing about some tough times she and her husband, Troy, had walked through.  It felt so reassuring to know that we weren’t alone – that they had been there, too….and were on the other side of things.  I instantly felt a connection to her as a wife and mom, and I’ve loved her music ever since.  I appreciate her honesty and willingness to share her life without reservation.  Her lyrics (as well as her voice) are so pure and deep and genuine, and they’ve spoken to my soul time and time again.

Her new album, Invisible Empires, will be available October 18th, and I’m giving away a free copy on behalf of Fair Trade Services!  I’ve been listening to it tonight, and it’s a great album!  My favorite songs (tonight) are I’ll Wait, Open My Hands, Eyes on the Prize & Finite.  The whole album is really very good.

All you have to do is leave a comment below to be officially entered for the giveaway.  The winner will be chosen on Saturday, October 15th at 10AM CST and will be notified via email.

When asked what she hoped listeners would take away from Invisible Empires, here’s what Sara had to say:

Psalm 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, then the builder builds in vain.” That verse is what this whole record is really about… There’s two kinds of ways to go about our lives and that’s to do it ourselves or to rely and wait on God and I think the theme of the record is that, the things of God are real. They’re more real than things that we hold in our hand. So, we may not see them. They might be kind of seemingly invisible but that’s the real work of God.  So, a lot of this record is about being present, being aware that God’s at work and then joining Him……

Be sure to leave a comment!

                          

And because I appreciate good packaging, I even photographed the cute bag it came in . . .

Red Earth is affiliated with Global Support Mission, and this is how they work:

Everything we buy is 100% handmade. None of our products are mass produced. Each one is unique and special. Every item is purchased 100% Direct Trade. That means we buy all our products from the person who made it. We personally go to their shops and houses to place orders. We see the process of how everything is made and get to know them personally. We sit down with each artisan and agree upon a fair price for every item and pay in full for every order upon completion. Each purchase you make is 100% Life Changing, because our profits make a difference. We buy more product, cover our operating expenses and then give all of our net profit to further the work of Global Support Mission. Thank you for taking the time to hear our story. We hope you buy some stuff. Our friends who make it take pride in their work and we take pride in selling it!

A big thank you to Travis, Maggie, Kerbi and the rest of Global Support Mission & Red Earth Trading Co. for working hard to provide hope and change lives!  If you’re looking for great gifts or something unique for yourself, be sure to shop in their online store HERE.

                          

That being said, when I saw the house we’ll be renting in Memphis, I suddenly got inspired again.  It’s an old house with a quirky floor plan.  It has a lot of character and charm, and I had forgotten how much old houses inspire me.  While I know there are many “cons” about living in an older home, they “fit” me better than new houses.  They make me want to scavenge for cheap, old furniture to refinish in fun colors.  They bring out the little bit of inner craftiness I have and make me want to do some new projects.  And the thing I love is that you can do some really cute stuff to your house for very little money if you’re willing to think outside the box and get creative.

Pinterest goes perfectly with my new-found inspiration, and I’m excited to get out of my creative “rut.”  For starters, I’ll be making THIS NECKLACE sometime over the weekend (not exactly house-related…it’s on my DIY board).

Here are a few things on my “home sweet home” board:

Vintage Gas Station Metal Number 5 Sign (representing our family)

Vintage Metal Milk Crate

Aqua Family Rules Sign

Yarn & Felt Handmade Wreath

Mason Jar Hanging Votives (found on this blog)

In This House We Do…. (originally found on Etsy)

Mason Jars + Flowers

While I’m not necessarily planning on making these purchases (doesn’t quite fit with the “we’re moving in a month” budget), I will definitely use these images as inspiration.  So, if you’ve joined Pinterest, look me up & we can share ideas!

                          

Sometimes it’s the little gifts in life that mean so much.  Not the gifts we gave him.  But the gift he’s giving us.

The gift of caring about someone we’ve never met face to face.  The gift of learning to store up treasures in heaven.

If you’re looking for a way to invest in the life of a child in need, consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International or another reputable organization.  Umalu was the first little boy in Africa that I loved.  We began sponsoring him in the summer 0f 2009 as God started to stir my heart up for Africa.  I dream of traveling to Uganda one day to meet him.  Until then, his picture will remain on the fridge, and this new one will sit in a frame right next to pictures of Riley, Cole & Yohannes.  I’m confident that the $38 a month to help support Umalu is money well spent, and even though it seems so small, it’s making a difference in his life!

                          

At the suggestion of a friend, I’ve been reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I’ll admit that it took me a little time to get into it.  Ann writes very poetically, and I’m more a “get-to-the-point” kind of girl.  However, as I’ve read, I’ve come to truly appreciate her writing style.  Even it has caused me to slow down and appreciate the beauty of words written well.  I’m about halfway through the book, and it has encouraged me and challenged me, and so far I love it!  It contains some amazing truths about seeing and receiving the gifts God gives us and (as the subtitle says) living fully right where we are.

I’m sure I’ll share more of my thoughts when I’m finished with the book.  For now, I’ll keep reading and keep taking time to enjoy the little things – like birds outside my window – and keep pondering the countless things in my life for which I’m thankful.

{Now, if only I can keep my furry friend from scaring away the birds!}

What about you?  Have you read this book to know what in the world I’m talking about?  If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts!