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!

                          

Well……we’re hosting a RETCo House Party at our home in Midtown THIS Tuesday, October 25th!  If you’re in the Memphis area, feel free to stop by any time from 6:00-9:00 PM and peruse their amazing products.  You can even get some early Christmas shopping done!

I truly believe in this organization & all they represent and work for.  All of their products are made by artisans they know personally – people they’ve spent time with and have an ongoing relationship with.  Every item is handmade, uniquely hand-crafted, and 100% direct trade.

Please stop by and support artisans on the other side of the world & have something beautiful for yourself or a great gift for a friend or family member (email me or leave a comment & I’ll send you our address).  If you can’t make it or don’t live near Memphis, you can visit their website and order online.  They even have free shipping!

                          

“Love this, Katie!!! I can’t wait to hear her knew album!”

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway & thanks to Chandler at Fair Trade Services for the opportunity to help promote this new album.  I’ve been listening to the CD a lot over the past couple of days, and it’s definitely worth purchasing!

{Cool story about Erin…..she and her family live in Memphis & recently received a referral for a sweet little girl in Ethiopia from the same transition home where Yohannes was.  We have the same social worker from Nashville, and when we were getting ready to move to Memphis, Lisa said we had to meet.  We got together at the park a couple of weeks ago and were there for almost four hours!  I can’t wait to meet their beautiful little girl, and we are so excited for them!}

Stay tuned next week for a giveaway that Krista with Noonday Collection is offering!

                          

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!

                          

I just got a sneak peek of my new logo yesterday, and I can’t wait to finish all the rebranding work.  When Yohannes came home I took a break from photography, and I’m really excited about getting back at it!  {I’m sure my kids will be relieved, too, since they’ve been my primary subjects for the past year!}  See, he’s pretty much over it . . . .

                          

When I picked them up yesterday I never expected to see them close to tears.  They’re pretty easy going guys who make friends fairly easily.  I think it was all just overwhelming because EVERYTHING was new.  We’re proud to be at Snowden, and I really think that Riley and Cole will enjoy being there once they’ve had time to cultivate some friendships.

In other news, I’m ready for the weather to be cooler so we can enjoy our front porch!  Here are a couple of pictures I took with my phone today when I was out there sprucing it up a bit . . .

We also went for a walk on the Greenline after dinner tonight, and it was great to hang out together and just do “our thing.”

Again, THANK YOU so much for being so sweet and praying for my boys!

                          

Go to church Sunday & tell everyone goodbye….check.

Help the boys say goodbye to their friends Sunday afternoon (rip your heart out)….check.

Take the boys to Alabama Monday morning to stay with grandparents so we don’t kill each other this week….check.

Finish packing Monday night and all day Tuesday….check.

Load the truck Wednesday morning (with the help of some hard working guys) & do the happy dance because it all fit….check.

Go to Maggiano’s for dinner to celebrate good Nashville memories & exciting times ahead (thanks, Barry & Leslie, for the gift card!)….check.

Close on the house Thursday morning & hand over a cashiers check that makes you a little sick to your stomach….check.

Go back to the house to get the cat and say goodbye (and cry like a baby)….check.

Drive three hours to Memphis behind Brad driving the big truck, cry a little, sing a little, record a video because you’re kind of bored & overly sentimental, listen to the cat tell you how much he hates you….check.

Park the truck, board the cat, and head to Chateau Smith (your home for a few days while you’re technically homeless)….check.

Eat, sleep like a baby, wake up, drive to Midtown to hang out for the day where you’re reminded that it just feels right & you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be….check!

Here are some photos from my phone to document these glorious events….

And here’s the video I made on the way to Memphis…..I know….shame on me for doing such a thing while driving….

We’re still a little delirious, but we’re glad to be here.  We drove by the new house and went for a short walk on the Greenline earlier, and it felt good to be in Midtown.  God has confirmed this move in many little ways that speak directly to our hearts along the way, and we’re so thankful for the peace we have right now.  We’ll move in Monday, and the boys will join us on Tuesday.  I’m kind of ready for us to be together again and get settled!  Thanks to many of you for the prayers and encouragement along the way.  Your calls, texts, emails, etc. have meant so much!