Coffee, GarageSales, and Airplanes

Adoption.  I think about so many aspects of it on a daily basis. I think about and pray for the birth mom of our baby a lot. Is she alive? What is her story? I think about the paperwork that we are swimming in, the health of our child, the changes for our biological children, choosing a name, and so many other important and not so important aspects of this new adventure.  But one thing I don’t feel like thinking about is money. Oh how I have a love- hate relationship with you.  We gave money a two second thought when having our other children, but that is not the case with adoption.  I now see why so many people think about adoption, but don’t actually follow through. It is just so expensive. However, these children are still waiting for families and there is no way that some green paper is going to stand in our way. 

There are ways. We can apply for grants. There are tax credits. We can sell stuff. We can sacrifice.  All things that we plan on doing. There is a part of me that just wants to sell my possessions and have a nice little quiet adoption. Not sure that will work though.  So for us, we are going to have a couple little avenues to raise some funds.  Here they are:

1.        Coffee!!!! Just Love Coffee’s mission is to help those in need! They help adopting families and non-profit organizations by donating a portion of their proceeds to those who need it, like us! AND their coffee is Fair trade! So basically, when people buy a bag of coffee from our “storefront” or little family page, Just Love Coffee will give us $5 for our adoption! So you can help by just being addicted to coffee. 

Click below to order some for you, a friend, your office, anyone you can think of! 

Videon Family Adoption Coffee Fundraiser

If you aren’t into coffee, you could get some other items. Here are the proceed amounts for those items.

13oz. Coffees (non-small lot): $5
(4) 6oz. Samplers: $7
Coffee Cupper's Sampler: $19
Ultimate Sampler (Santa's Helper): $19
Jamaica Blue Mountain (small lot): 4oz. ($3)  13oz. ($9)
5oz. Tin Colombian Cup of Excellence Lot #1: $5
6oz. Kenya AA (small lot): $3
T-Shirts: $5
Sale T-Shirts: $3
Sale Hoodie: $4
Beanie: $3
Hat: $3
Travel Mug: $3
Stoneware Mug: $1
Aeropress: $5
Coffee Scoop: $1

2.       A Garage Sale!!! How could I not do this one? It is in my blood! (For those who know my parents).  My plan is to have one this summer in NJ (at my parents’ house).  Right now, I am putting things aside that I think might bring in some money. If you want to help, but don’t want to buy our old junk feel free to donate items. Or just come by that day and say hi! It will be fun!!! (I don’t know a date yet, but I am thinking May or June right now).

3.       FFM!! AKA Frequent Flier Miles! Ok, this one I am not as confident about, but I am hopeful. I don’t know ANYTHING about frequent flier miles, but I have heard of people donating them for adoption/charity. Anyone know if this is even possible? We will be traveling to Ethiopia twice! So this one, if it works, would be a huge help!

4.       Mystery Fundraiser! That isn’t some clever title….I just haven’t thought of another one. I would like to apply for a matching grant and if we are approved we will need something for them to match!  So for now, I will just keep my eyes open for ideas that are fun and easy for all.

SO, if you feel led to help in any way , than that would be great! Any advice you have about this topic would be fantastic too. THANKS!!!!!

Home Study Visit #1

Ok, the date is set! THIS Sunday afternoon we are having our first home study visit. I don't have much to say in this post except PRAY! I don't really know what she will be looking for during this time, but I am just praying that in the short time that our social worker is here, she somehow understands who we are as a family and our love for this child that we have not met yet. Pray, pray, pray!!! If you have any advice, please share!

SO....Now you know.

When I started this blog 2 years ago, the purpose was to research for others and share the little bit I knew (and was learning) about the business of human trafficking. I was also exploring our role as Christians in this big mess. I knew that God didn’t want us to just hear the statistics, sigh and say, “Wow, that’s too bad.” The name of the blog, “Now You Know,” is intended to be a jumping off point. NOW. YOU.KNOW. So what will you DO now that you know? I never wanted this to be just about works.  BUT once you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ and you begin to understand His heart you WANT to DO. You WANT to LIVE OUT your faith.

So as my heart began to break for these girls (and boys) involved in human trafficking, it also began to break for the orphan.  These children are at such a high risk for human trafficking and have no one to advocate for them.

 The statistics are staggering.

143,000,000 ORPHANS:

“It is estimated that between 143,000,000 and 210,000,000 children are orphans. That’s at least 143 MILLION children in the world today. (Recent UNICEF report.)

To give you an idea of the enormity of this need, keep in mind that the approximate population of the US is 300,000,000; and the population of Russia is 141,800,000.)”  http://harvestministry.org/orphan-stats

Sometimes, reading numbers like that mean nothing. And for awhile, I heard the numbers, but still I just kept living my life as if they didn’t exist. I can’t say that there was ONE DAY that it hit me, but I do remember one day when I was holding Aaron and just kissing his chubby cheeks and hugging him telling him I loved him and all of a sudden my heart sank.  As he is giggling and drooling, feeling his mommy’s lips touch his cheeks, there are babies just like him longing for the same kind of love. The hardest part of that moment was realizing that most of these kids will never experience “being loved on” like Aaron, Caleb and Joshua experience daily. (Don’t let Caleb and Josh’s wiping of their cheek fool you, they love the LOVE).   ;)   They NEED it. All kids need it and too many aren’t receiving it.

So anyway, there are so many ways we can help with this problem. We can find a great organization that provides for the needs of orphans and donate to them. We can go on a short-term mission’s trip and visit these kiddos. We can get behind others we know that are adopting and help them throughout the process. Or we can actually adopt a child into our family forever. I am SURE there are thousands of other ways to help too.  For our family, we thought:

A child out there needs a family.  Our family needs one more child.  And so our journey begins!!! We are adopting!!!!

Some of you may think we are just plain crazy, some of you may think this is great, and others may just not know WHAT to think. All of the above are ok.  One thing I am learning while following God is that not everyone is going to agree with what you are doing, but amidst all of that, He gives an amazing peace when it is something He is calling you to.  Dan and I are both just so excited about taking our family on this journey and living out our faith by just “being a family.” 

Some people know that we have started the adoption process and this question always comes up:

“HAVE YOU GUYS WANTED TO ADOPT FOR A LONG TIME?”

Good question. Yes and No. Good answer? Probably not. J (I will answer for just me here) Ok, so I can trace back MY first thoughts to when I was 17-ish and on a mission’s trip to Russia with my youth group at church. (YEA! Breakaway!!!) I just remember my heart breaking for these kids that had no one to tuck them in at night or read them each their own story at bedtime. We were teenagers and these kids were calling us mom and dad. They were chasing after our van and crying when we left, after having lived in their orphanage for only 2 weeks. They were just longing to be loved. I vividly remember us driving away and thinking, “I wish I was older and could just take a couple of them home with me.”   I would have to say that was the first time I ever THOUGHT about adoption, but obviously it wasn’t anything I was about to  do at the time. After that, life went on and thoughts of adoption crept into my head here and there. Often, it was when I heard of friends adopting. Dan and I would casually say, “Maybe when our kids are older we will adopt.” What a “nice” idea, right?  I read somewhere (I think it was on Steven Curtis Chapman’s Website, Show Hope) that 98% of Christians think about adopting, but only 2% follow through. That hit me hard.  Why not? Why don’t they follow through? (Please don’t read into that. I don’t think that everyone needs to adopt, but I do think that all Christians do need to help the orphan in some way).

Anyway, so rewind about 2 years now.  I was researching more about human trafficking and throwing “Parties with a Purpose.”  The whole point of partying with a purpose was to raise awareness about human trafficking/ modern day slavery and to show others how to take the first “action steps” in advocating for these people that had no voice. I always said that I wished I could have traveled to these places and shared the love of Jesus with these people.  BUT as a mom, I also had a mission field here in my house.  My calling right now was to be a mom to my boys.  So, basically, having the parties was my “practical” way of being a justice advocate while still being a mom full time. J  As Dan and I began talking about adoption, I realized that in “just being a mom” I was able to help. How awesome!

So basically, over the last couple years, God was working on my heart as well as Dan’s  and we began to feel more recently that he was calling us to adoption. As we looked into it, read about it, talked about it, and prayed about it, God really gave us a strong desire to follow through on this. So cool!

Another question we are asked is:

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO ADOPT FROM?” 

When we first started thinking about this, we thought that we could just spin a globe with our eyes closed, stop the globe, and BAM that was where we would get our next child. We soon discovered that is not the case. J

The first decision in adoption is domestic vs. international. There is no right or wrong answer here. I think that it is just where the couple is feeling led.  There is definitely a need here in America as well as overseas. 

Dan and I have chosen International Adoption, but if someone from Chester County came knocking on our door with a baby in their arms we would love that too!

After deciding that we were going to pursue adopting internationally, we needed to choose a country. With so many different regulations (like number of years married, current ages of the couple,  income level, age of the children available, number of trips to the country, length of time you would stay in the country for the adoption process) we were quite limited.  

In short, we were “qualified” for adopting a special needs child from China or a child from Ethiopia.  Now, “special needs” might just be a cleft lip or palate or a simple heart condition that could easily be fixed here in America.  So now we had to decide. Which road would we travel down? It felt really hard to make this kind of decision, but we just kept praying, researching, and praying some more.  Again, I don’t think that there is a right or wrong decision here. We chose ETHIOPIA! (Which is funny because at the very beginning of this process I would always talk about China or Korea or Cambodia…notice a trend? And Dan would just say something like, “Lauren, what about Africa?”  Too funny ! J So now I am basically addicted to blogs about families adopting from Ethiopia, BUT I am trying not to get my heart too set on it because recently there has been a slow down of referrals coming from Ethiopia and I don’t know if that means that they will be shutting their doors to adoption at any time during this process. If that happens, I know that I will be crushed, but God totally knows the outcome and wherever we end up is where He wants us. (But I have to say that Africa has my heart already.)

Here are a few facts about Ethiopia that we have been learning: (Taken from one of many awesome blogs I read: http://www.pureandlasting.com/

*Life expectancy in Ethiopia 39 years for males and 42 years for females. The leading cause of death is communicable diseases such as malaria, typhoid, meningitis, cholera, AIDS, tuberculosis, yellow fever.

* One in ten children die before their first birthday.

* One in six children die before their fifth birthday.

* Woman have an average of 7 children and the maternal mortality rate is 1 in 14

* Ethiopia's neonatal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world - 49/1000 births with tetanus infection being the second major cause of infant/neonatal death.

* Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over half the population lives on less than a $1 a day. The average income in Ethiopia is US$100 a year. Almost 82% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.

* Ethiopia is home to 4-6 million orphans, or 12% of all children.

* That is the same number of children under age 18 who reside in Massachusetts, New York State, and Washington DC combined. If every parent in those places died tonight - that would be similar to Ethiopia's orphan crisis.  (CRAZY! Right?)

* More than half a million of these were orphaned as a result of AIDS.

* Only 42.7% age 15 and over can read and write.

* Only 18 percent of children reach grade five. That means 82% of children don't.

*44% of the population is under 15 years old

*60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition

I had to read these over and over to really grasp these statistics.  Just plain crazy.

But we could look at that and say, “Ok , that is really sad, but God, I have 3 kids already, a small house, small budget, and I am pretty comfortable right now.”  And let me tell you, when I am staying up until 11 pm to do paperwork and waking up at 5am to do some more, I am pretty much thinking that maybe it would just be easier to write a check. But as fast as that thought comes into my head, God just fills me with excitement about “caring for the orphans and the widows in their trouble.” (James 1:27) The process of adopting is daunting, but I think of it kind of like pregnancy. (Maybe because pregnancy isn’t “my thing.”)  It is hard work while you wait, but the end is such a miracle! This time around, it is my heart that is pregnant.

So for now, this blog will be where I can record thoughts and updates.  We are VERY VERY early in this process, but please just pray for us when you think about our family. While we fill out more forms and collect documents we are also brainstorming ways to fund this adoption. (Thoughts on this to come later, but in general I KNOW that God will provide and I rest in that).

I feel like there is so much more that I wanted to say (and I am sure that I will think of it in the middle of the night). I also feel like with all that I just wrote, it isn't even expressing how strongly I feel about this calling and how strongly I feel that we all are to be helping those who don't have a voice in this world. Each day, God is teaching me more about his heart and really WHY we are here. So as we start this journey, Dan and I are just praying that God will lead us. We hope that you will walk with us over the next 12-18 months (or longer!). J

This is a short little diddy that I read recently. I saved it, but I have no clue where it came from, so I may be arrested for plagiarism, sorry.

The Gospel of Adoption

The good news that orphan children need to hear is not only the fact that they will be adopted by a

loving family, but also the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross to make it possible for them to

become adopted children of God. Our adoption by God is the ultimate expression of His love, and was the

ultimate purpose of Jesus’ life on earth and death on the cross.

Coffeehouse for Uganda...Raise awareness. Send Nicole.

I think that anyone who thinks about modern day slavery and oppression of any kind is heartbrokem. Personally, I would love to just pack up my family and move somewhere where we could help out first hand. For me, that is why "Party with a Purpose" began. It was a practical way that I could help without uprooting my family. It is also a way of making others aware of an issue that isn't talked about enough. Even though I can't pack my bags and help out "in the field," my friend Nicole can! Nicole Matteucci (fellow Messiah alum) has the opportunity to help serve as an intern with IJM. She will be leaving for Uganda at the end of the month and needs as much support as possible. She needs prayer, prayer, prayer as well as financial help. Because Burlap and Bean (love that place!) is so cool, they are letting Nicole host a Coffeehouse for Uganda night on Wednesday, June 15th. You can come out and enjoy music, coffee, a chance to buy new items from Trade as One, learn more about the issue of modern day slavery, and an opportunity to help Nicole get to Uganda. I really hope to see you there. :) Let's send Nicole to Africa!

"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. :) 

Chocolate Slavery

I am contributing to child slavery?? Never thought about it like that until recently. I know that kids are sold, taken, and tricked into working in horrible conditions, but most of the things I think about are brick kilns or other slave camps like that. BUT in reality there are thousands of children along the Ivory Coast in Africa suffering all so that I can enjoy my chocolate at a cheap price. It used to be that only the wealthy could afford chocolate, but now we can get it for almost nothing and we can have it whenever we want it....makes you wonder why? Kids as young as 5 years old are being beaten each day. It really is pointless, especially since there IS fair trade chocolate out there. Yes, it is more expensive. BUT I think I can afford to pay more when I am guarenteed that slavery and harsh conditions weren't involved in its production. There are so many places to get Fair Trade chocolate now, so it really is just a decision I have to make and hope that you will make with me. I am also going to look for the email addresses of Hershey, Mars, Nestle, and M&M. They need to know that we are aware of what is going on, their lack of effort to CHANGE the way they use children, and that we will no longer buy their products if something isn't done. Hmmm, something to email ELLEN about. :) HA.

REVERSE Trick Or treating

So I was sent an email today from Not For Sale Campaign (LOVE THEM!) and there was such a cool idea inside that I had to just share it. Global Exchange is having their 3rd annual "Reverse Trick or Treating" campaign. Here is how it works. As you walk your children around to get their goodies, YOU or YOUR CHILD hands the adult answering their door a piece of fair trade chocolate and a piece of paper that explains a little bit about the slavery and harsh conditions surrounding the chocolate industry. For those who don't walk house to house, you can give these treats (with info) out to those who come to your house. This is such a simple way to make people more away of what is going on. Watch a little girl "Reverse Trick or Treat" HERE. If you order by TOMORROW (Oct 8th) than you get a kit FREE!!! Go HERE to do it, I just did. :) Or you can purchase your own Fair Trade chocolate and attach your own informational card. Either way, you are still raising awareness. And believe me, there are so many people out there that have no idea what goes on behind the scenes for these kids in the cocoa fields.

There is also ANOTHER campaign going on along the same lines. This one involves one of my FAVORITE chocolate companies...HERSHEY!!! So back in 2001 Hershey and other leading chocolate companies committed to take “immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor” to end this nightmare by 2005.  WELL, it is now 2010 and not much has changed. Come on Hershey!! You can read more about it HERE. Join the Raise the Bar Campaign, demanding that Hershey bring an end

to this abuse. I mean, they are Hershey, a HUGE corporation...they CAN afford to do this....especially since they pride themselves on supporting children. The few steps suggested are to write an email to Hershey, host a screening of the Dark Side of Chocolate (trailer HERE), and switch to Fair Trade Chocolate. Not too bad! :)

What a good idea!!

So I was just "surfing the web," not planning on blogging, BUT this was just too good. Again, there is always a way to help out. And yet again, it is an easy way for anyone to help. Polaris Project is a non-profit organization combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery. They work with victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking within the U.S. Well, Polaris Project set up a registry through Target to furnish the apartments of trafficking survivors. How cool (and simple) is that?? HERE is where we can all help out in such a practical way!

Any Talent Can be Used

It seems that every time I turn around, someone has another great idea about how to raise money or make people aware of the reality of sex trafficking and other injustices taking place in our world (and our own backyards). The article HERE talks about a Christian singer, Natalie Grant, and how she is using her singing talents to make a difference. (Man, I wish I sould sing! ) :)

Par-tay in (central) PA!!

Ok, I have totally been MIA this summer. Maybe that means we have been outside so much that I don't have time to sit on a computer? (Heat wave after heat wave would make that statement false). Maybe morning sickness, which really means evening sickness in my body set in each night this summer and the last thing I wanted to do was research?? (Yes, that would be totally correct). So now that I am feeling more like a human being, it is time to start blogging again. There are so many topics that have I have been wanting to write about all summer....so now I just have to buckle down. (maybe in September though).

FOR NOW, I wanted to invite you to another Party with a Purpose, but this time it will be hosted by the wonderful Heidi Mitchell in Central PA (New Cumberland to be exact)!!  It will be Saturday, September 18th from 7pm to 9pm. We will be learning more about the sex trade industry and what we can do to help innocent women and children caught in this modern day slavery.

Of course there will be food, chocolate, fun, chocolate, fellowship, and some chocolate. You are more than welcome to bring a friend!!!

Biggest Flop of World Cup

The girls were flown in. The pimps were standing by. The journalists were ready to report. And advocacy groups were ready to spread the word. Leading up the World Cup, I read several articles that documented the dramatic increase in sex trafficking in countries hosting this huge event. It really made me upset to think that there seems to be no place that traffickers leave alone. Can't they just let us enjoy a sporting event? In response to these fears, Not For Sale set up a "Red Card Campaign." They handed out red cards (the biggest offense in soccer) with statisics and Not For Sale's website on them. The video below shows a bit of their work.


Well, the World Cup is officially over and the results are in! The sex business actually suffered a LOSS over the past month!! Who would have thought? I don't know exactly why. I read one article that thought perhaps it was the remote location of South Africa. Not really sure. Perhaps it was the Red Card Campaign?? Not sure either. But I am hoping and praying that this trend continues for future games! HERE is an article you can read that has more information on this big "defeat."

High Heel a What?

I will keep this short. I want to do THIS to raise money for two organizations: IJM and LOVE146. The only problem is, it just might be too big of a task for me to plan on my own. So when I say I need your help, I don't mean I need moral support. I need actual PEOPLE who will sit down with me and plan this and make it happen. I have all of the will and drive to do it (trust me) but I just need "man" power. If you didn't click on the link above, it is an article about one of the many High Heel A Thons that people host to raise money and awareness about causes that are important to them. I think that this would be so do-able (and FUN)!  I am thinking sometime in the fall...possibly end of September or sometime in October before it gets too cold and close to holidays. I can't do it by myself. I have ideas and some plans written out, but more heads are better than this one. :)

Ta-Da!!!

Dan and I were JUST talking last week about how we would really love to know if the products we are buying are made "on the backs slaves" or not.  Buying in America, or at least in my middle class-on a budget world, revolves around finding the best deal. Well, now that we are finding out how many products are made by slaves, we would love to make informed decisions when buying. It may cost us more money, but at least it won't be costing others their lives. That's our little decision and then, TA-DA, there is a book that does exactly what we wanted. It is called The Better World Shopping Guide. You can read more about it HERE. Basically, it (in their words) tells you which companies and products are the "good guys" and which ones are the "bad guys". I am really hoping that some of my favorite places to get "cheap things" aren't on the list! We shall see!

Partied with a Purpose!

What an awesome night! Last night was the film screening/fair trade/anti-slavery party. AKA: Party with a Purpose. Leading up to last night, I had so many emotions. The initial planning phase was of course optiministic and dreamy. :) However, as the days passed I started to feel discouraged. I was afraid no one would be able to come and that those who could come would wonder why I threw such an event. It was not until about 30 minutes before guests arrived (when I was in the shower) that I officially gave the party over to God to do with it what he wanted. During my "discouragement days" I was praying for the party and wondering if I should just cancel. I thought maybe I just needed more help or time or some other excuse. Looking back, I realize that when you are doing something that God calls you to, attacks like that will happen because Satan obviously wants this business of slavery to continue. Anyway, I had such peace taking that shower ( and if any of you know me, you know that the shower is my favorite place and the place where I usually come up with ideas). So I knew the party was going to be a success at that moment with my Dove Shampoo.

        I posted some pictures below of the party. Overall, we ate lots of goodies, laughed a ton, watched "At the End of Slavery" from IJM, and came up with some fresh and creative ideas to move forward NOW that WE KNOW! See, our knowledge is causing action!!! :)   I REALLY want to take these ideas and keep going! I don't want them just to be plans that stay on a piece of paper. I also cannot accomplish these by myself. So if you can help, LET ME KNOW!

        The ideas ranged from fundraisers (like a heel-a thon) to film screenings at Burlap and Bean (a local coffee shop). We also talked about having the Trade As One merchandise at local cafe's and bookstores. I laid in bed after the party and couldn't stop talking about the possibilites with Dan, who eventually told me I had to stop talking so that we could sleep for a few hours. :) I want to start planning ASAP.

    The other thing I want to do is host more Parties with a Purpose. Obviously, I cannot keep having them at my house with the same friends and family (I would actually love to do that because I love everyone that came, but that might get a little redundant) :) I say all that to then say that if you want to have one of these parties at YOUR house just let me know. And I will bring all the goods and info!

  Ok, lastly, if you couldn't come to the party and there is something that you want from TradeAsOne, let me know by Wednesday. I will be putting together the order (and then you won't have to pay shipping). I will just get the item to you as soon as I see you! Otherwise, if you live far far away you can just order on your own and spread the word to friends and family so that more people can make a difference.

     THANK YOU to all that came last night. I can't wait to get started on the next event!! (oh and take notice of the red bowl holding the chocolate..how cute! You can get that at TradeAsOne too!!  See if you can find the youngest guest at the party! She was a trooper!)