"Benevolent Bandit"

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this time of year. The weeks inbetween Thanksgiving and Christmas. Putting up the tree, decorating the house, baking up a storm, hot chocolate after playing outside in the snow (or just in the freezing cold with two little boys), and Christmas shopping!!! I actually do LOVE Christmas shopping. I don't mind the hustle and bustle....except in the parking lots. I am one of those people that will circle around and look for the "best" spot instead of just parking far away. I even send out a little prayer here and there....ok, maybe I do it more than I think because whenever we pull into a parking spot Caleb says, "Thank you Jesus for this spot."  So if I there was a way to shop without dealing with parking spots I would be all over it. ENTER CYBER MONDAY. I think last year was the first year I took advantage of this wonderful day. So Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving....and Cyber Monday is that MONDAY. (So if you look at your calendar, that is in just 2 days!!! Yay!!!) There are tons of online deals and many places don't have shipping....so you really can shop from home without paying more, wasting gas, or circling a parking lot in prayer. Well, what could be better than finding great deals online?? Glad you asked. :)  What about getting great deals while at the same time helping others? making a difference? changing lives? You can do all of those things THIS MONDAY!!

My awesome friend Lauren (and former college roomie) is adopting! She is great mom to Izzy (her first adopted child) and Norrah (her biological child) and now they want to add another munchkin to the group through adoption. As you know, this is an expensive journey, so being the creative person that she is, she has formed a Cyber Monday fundraiser. I love this idea because everyone wins! Here are more details (I will just copy what she wrote so that it is all clear). :)

Here is the scoop:
" What could make Cyber Monday any better? Only one thing, BENEVOLENCE - or doing good - while making out like a bandit. SO, I think that will be our slogan "make out like a benevolent bandit." OR NOT.

Here is the deal: Come to LuAdopts (click HERE) on Cyber (Nov. 29th) to check out some of the cutest, coolest, most relaxing, enjoyable, loveable, amazing gifts of the season. We will offer great gifts from both local and distant vendors, business owners and artisans. The high retail-priced items will be offered on a silent auction basis. Which means you will leave a comment under the item of your choice stating what you are willing to pay for it. HIGHEST BIDDER WINS (even if the highest bid is well below retail value). For some of our midline or baseline gifts such as baby gear, gift cards and other great items we will host a raffle. Each entry will cost only $5 but the value of the items you are entering to win will be much more. The more you enter, the higher your chances of winning and the bigger your kindhearted donation.



I am guaranteeing you that there will be some amazing gift ideas hosted on LuAdopts Cyber Monday. You will not want to miss items like:



A Photo Session by the VERY TALENTED Photographer, Nicola Herring (includes 1 hour session, online proofing and $75 print credit) This gift will be in the form of a certificate that you can wrap and give to that lucky person in your life. AN AMAZING PRESENT. Or use it for yourself.



A Premier Jewelry Set (earrings, bracelet, necklace)



A 60-minute massage at Alicia's Massage and Wellness Center



A pie plate from Lion Paw Pottery.(Perfect for the Penn State Fan)



AND MY FAVORITE, handmade kids' items, like crocheted beanies, a nifty kiddie kitchen unlike any you have seen before, tutus and hair bands, frames, quilts. I am such a sucker for handmade.



There are adult gifts too like handcrafted wall hooks, stationary sets, gift cards to Pier1 and Target."


How cool right?? HERE is where you can see a sneak peek of these items. Be sure to check back HERE at LuAdopts on Sunday for all of the rules. I cannot wait for this fundraiser. It really will be fun and you will make out like a "benevolent bandit!"

The SOUND of Freedom

This post is just another example of how God can use anyone's talents to give a voice to the voiceless. It is obvious that lawyers, investigators, and social workers are capable of making a difference in the fight against modern day slavery. But what about artists? musicians? Well, the new "Freedom" cd is evidence that they can too. "Top musicians have united together for a single cause: IJM's work to bring rescue to victims of modern-day slavery, sex trafficking and other forms of violent oppression. Twenty-six of today's leading artists contributed songs to "Freedom," a new two-disc album that supports IJM's frontline work."

This CD is only $5 and every purchase helps IJM with the rescue and aftercare of victims of oppression. Personally, I love music and cannot wait for my CD to arrive. It is even a better feeling knowing that my CD purchase is for an amazing cause. What a perfect gift too? And a unique way to spread the word to so many that have never heard of this issue.

You can read more about the artists/song list HERE at IJM's website.

If you are ready to buy your CD, just go HERE.

On a similar note....my good friend Rachael from RedRoverStyle.com (a lifestyle and charity magazine that brings people together to dialogue and network with philanthropists and charities) is coming along side Rescued and Redeemed Ministries to host a Dinner and Live music Benefit to raise awareness about DOMESTIC minor sex trafficking.  It always blows my mind that this is taking place in our own backyards....but whether we are aware of it or not, it IS taking place.  Rescued and Redeemed Ministries is a non-profit organization raising public awareness on domestic minor sex-trafficking "through events that provide advocacy, education and training. RRM works alongside with law enforcement officers to provide self-defense training for girls between the ages of 13-22 years old. RRM is also working towards establishing a safe house for victims of sex-trafficking that would be the first faith-based house of its kind in the state of New Jersey." Read more about them HERE.

What better way to make a difference than by simply eating a nice dinner and listening to live music with your friends? This benefit dinner will be help on November 19th in Red Bank, NJ! Go HERE to order tickets.

“…Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17


Here is a sneak peak at two of the songs on the FREEDOM CD. Happy listening. :) (I tried looking up a lot of the songs, but most of them weren't on You Tube....or at least the ones I was searching for. :)