would you consider this?

Almost two years ago, I had the privilege of meeting some beautiful people in a slum of Kenya called Kibera. People in the slum live in absolutely devastating circumstances with little opportunity to recover. One of the solutions to this problem is microfinancing, offering small loans to those who live in the slum to start a business and thus create enough income to move out of poverty, or at least fulfill some needs that were not previously fulfilled. One of those businesses is jewelry making. We have been taking orders from the jewelry makers (technically working with the man who started the bank and microfinancing business, Michael Nyangi, for about 1.5 years now.
*Click on Michael's name for a video that amnesty international made about life in the slum and what Michael is doing to change it

Please consider purchasing very reasonably priced jewelry to help change lives. All proceeds go back into the jewelry makers' business or goes home with them to their families as income.

This order will be placed by October 1st and will be received in time for Christmas gifts. I know it seems early but ordering now ensures that they will be here in time.

Please take the time to look through this online catalog.

You can then download and complete this order form and email it or any questions to KiberaJewelryInfo@gmail.com. Checks are payable to ANAW-USA.

Any of those of you who have already purchased the jewelry and would like to speak about its quality or process, please leave your comments!

I want to remember this...

I bought a travel, ceramic Starbucks mug three days ago. Its pretty weird but mugs have this ability to significantly brighten my mornings. For the last two days, I’ve been making my coffee and putting it in my new mug, feeling happy that I get to enjoy my coffee in a ceramic cup on my way to work before the day starts to turn to chaos. And let me tell you, something making me happy before 8:00 a.m. is colossal as, it is, without question, the most difficult part of my day, and likely the most difficult part of the day for anyone around me :)

As I was coming home around lunch time yesterday, my mug slipped right out of my hand onto the cemented driveway. Two days, TWO days, that’s all it took for my mug of happiness to slip from my grasp and shatter. I was upset. Actually, almost felt like crying that I spent my limited spending money on this mug and it lasted two days. Kevin cleaned up the mug for me. I went back to work.

When I came home in the evening, I looked to the counter and there it was. A brand new mug, three days newer than my old one, waiting for me with a Starbucks gift card saying that I was my husband’s favorite.

Yup, tears welled up in my little baby eyes. I love being someone's favorite. Particularly, I love being his favorite.

...stuck in the in between...

I've been feeling stuck for a while now. I guess meaning, the last time I felt absolutely purposeful has not been in the last couple months and trying to remember when it was that I felt purposeful is hard.

Don't get me wrong, there have been a lot of great things that have been going on:

We moved into a house that, albeit is not the house I would choose to live in forever, its a house, above ground (we have a habit of living in basements), has beautiful sunlight, hardwood floors and some great old house details. Its our own (while still renting) and it feels nice.

I have a job that is consistent, has a great schedule, is only 10 minutes from our house, and I work with pretty great co-workers.

I have a husband who quite simply is perfect for me. It truly has been such a gift to be able to see how well we fit, like we were made for each other. We even both firmly dislike mornings and know to not engage each other until after our morning cup of coffee.

My husband is thoroughly enjoying wrapping his passion into his job, photography, and is really good at it.

We attend a church that feeds our souls and that we feel proud of. A church that really cares about God's truth and loving people fully for who they are.

We have had so many visitors this summer, leaving us feeling loved up and in good company.

Yet still. I have this feeling that I need to be doing something more, something more purposeful. And maybe its not even doing something more but heading somewhere where I know I need to be. You know, the sweet spot, where you are sure this place was created for you and by being there you are, in essence, completing the final piece of the puzzle? For that period in time anyway.

I'll let you know when I find it, half joking here. For now, I'm a bit stuck in this season, in between, trying to, each day find more purpose and clarity on where God wants me and my family to be. Its strange, even as I write this, I feel just a bit thankful that I'm not going to be the kind of person who sits in this forever, because I can't. I want so much more for myself, for my family, for those around me. I will move from outside the in between. Even if its one step in the right direction, I'm moving. See you later yesterday.

Its Important

Kevin and I recently went through a personal hardship that has been pretty heavy on our hearts. We've been sitting in something, knowing that we don't deserve it and knowing that its not fair. We've had a few people say things like "its actually quite common" and then provide statistics which are somehow supposed to make us feel better. I've even tried to convince myself that it really is not that big of a deal and it will all be okay.

We went to church last weekend and our pastor talked about the first miracle that Jesus performed: turning water into wine. Jesus was in attendance at the wedding of a couple whose names didn't make it into the bible, meaning they likely were not royalty or holding some sort of great power. Even so, he chose to, as his first miraculous way of meeting a need, turn water into wine when their supply ran dry. This couple, who likely felt embarrassed that their "lowly" status became even more obvious to their guests, had a hardship. I'm sure that Jesus thought very carefully through this first act that would set him apart from all other people. Jesus chose to meet this need, when comparatively could have done anything. Maybe moved a mountain. Cured an illness. But he chose this.

The fact is, it's not okay. Its really not okay. And this is our big deal.
So I'm learning, my hardship is important.

Happy Easter

*Photo by Kevin
While driving to work yesterday I was listening to a song that my dad and I sang at my great aunt’s funeral. It goes like this:

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise, I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

I started singing along with the radio as I might have the day of the funeral. But as the song approached “And I hear the voice of many angels sing…” I was overwhelmed to tears. Maybe it was because it was the significance of Good Friday, or maybe I was just extra emotional. All I know is it gives me so much hope to know that when there is pain, someday we will be celebrating along with the angels and the Creator.

Happy Easter.

Ignorance Is Bliss

*Photo by Kevin


Ignorance is bliss. Isn't it? I used to fight ignorance. The more I knew, the less uninformed I could be and the less opportunity to turn a blind eye. I'm beginning to feel these days, I mean really feel, how much easier it is for my heart and general sanity, to remain untouched by the wrongs in the world. After all isn't this why we choose to watch The Bachelor instead of the news? I'm not pointing fingers here. I DO this.

I've been working for a year and half in a field where people lie to me, a lot. The fact that they lie to me can often mean that they are fighting, the only way they know how, for the ones they love. After some time, however, this becomes tiresome on my inner most parts, on my soul. I really love people. Like one of my favorite things to do is be with people who I love, my husband, my family, my good friends. And I really trust them. I have no reason to question their intentions or their desire to be honest with me. There are, however, a lot of people in my life who are not this for me. I'm finding that because I know that people lie, and in particular, to me, I've started questioning people's general reasons to do what they do. I question a person's intentions, I question their truthfulness, and I question my ability to be trusted. Ugh. Sitting in this feels awful. So I have to move on...

I'm learning that I have to trust in what I know. I cannot take any responsibility for those who aren't honest. All I know is that each day, I wake up because God intended for that to happen. I get ready in the morning preparing myself physically and emotionally for a pretty long and generally hard day. I pray in the car ride over that God will give me strength that I know I don't have. I get to work and work, as best as I know how, with as much energy as I am able and with as much respect and love for others as possible. I go home and I love my husband, who was made for me (and may I add, what a good match that has been for my soul).

And then reflect.

What did I do with my day that was purposeful and filled with love, grace, and compassion? At the end of the day, I need to know that somehow I made a difference, whether it was eventful or mundane, filled with "are you kidding me? did that just happen?" moments or "wow, I'm getting no where" moments. I can know that I have purpose because I'm living for the One who can fulfill all needs.

Ignorance sure is bliss, kind of. Life really is not life if you are not living in reality. Right???

Its Christmas

It’s Christmas. One of the parts about Christmas that is inspiring to me is that people seem to be a bit more generous. Food banks are more fully stocked, shelters have people serving food, and families receive gifts from others who can supply them. It’s consistently the one time of year that people are more apt to spread tidings of comfort and joy. It reminds me of why we celebrate. Over 2,000 years ago, as a way to honor his arrival on earth, a group of foreign kings brought a sweet baby gifts. His name was Jesus.

Most would not argue that Jesus was born, grew up to become a carpenter, and then died in his 30s an excruciating death. What is argued, is if this man was God. Although this is the pivotal point in whether or not one would identify as a Christian, I love that no matter our belief, Jesus did some pretty sweet stuff during his life on this earth in meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. Here’s one of my favorite stories.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge in east Jerusalem. While in the temple courts teaching, a group of religious men walked in with a woman who they caught having sex with someone who was not her husband. The man they did not bring in. The religious men stood her up in front of Jesus and all others present so that she could be cast away and stoned.

Jesus, seeing the pain on her face, bent down to the ground and wrote in the dirt with his finger. It is unknown what it is that he wrote. One theory: maybe he wrote the sins of those standing there: murder, gossip, greed, pride. Then he said to them, any one of you who has never done something you regret, never missed the mark, or never made a mistake that you wish you could take back, you stay. Stay and throw the first stone. He began writing on the ground again. Rage, lying, jealousy.

One at a time, the oldest first and the youngest next, walked away. Until Jesus and the woman stood side by side.

Jesus asked her, “Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir”
“Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

When others had reason by law to chastise this woman, Jesus offered grace and provision. "Go", be free, but make some changes so that you will live life abundantly. One where your joy will increase and where you will be who you were created to be, God's daughter, whom he picked since the beginning of time.