Seriousness...

Every morning I get an email from Proverbs 31 Ministries with my devotion for the day.  Todays devotion hit me hard.  Lysa TerKeurst, the author of todays devotion, recently visited the Dream Center in LA.  The Dream Center is a church-supported facility that houses over 700 people.  People who are homeless, people who are recovering drug addicts, people who are ex-gang members, people who have been used in sex trafficking.  People who are just like me and you, but made a bad decision, or were told lies, or felt lost and hopeless and turned to something that promised them more.  These people are finding  hope now, but it's not the end of their journey.  The way of life that they're used to, is a way of life that draws them back.  My heart is drawn to these people and aches for them.  But what can I do?  I'm thousands of miles away from them.  I'm one person.  I'm not equipped to reach these people.  But I serve an amazing God, and He has equipped others to reach them.  In Lysa's blog today, she shares her idea to reach these people.  So I want to share it with you.  She is asking her friends, and fellow bloggers to write a note of encouragement to someone at the Dream Center and include these three things...
*Your favorite Bible verse...
*A note from you encouraging them that Jesus hears their prayers...
*AND a gift card. 
(Here is Lysa's blog...check it out to learn more about sending a note and gift card to someone at the Dream Center.  She also includes a list of ideas/places about where to get gift cards.)

This is huge!  And it weighs heavy on my heart.  We could all have easily been in the same place as those now living at the Dream Center.  I hope that this post will resonate in your soul and encourage you to look outside of everyday life.  To look at the things we take for granted and see the blessings we have. 

Also, there are plenty of ways to help in and around our own area. 

The Rescue Mission
The R.E.A.C.H Cold Weather Shelter
Tides of Love
Convoy of Hope

If you want to know more about ways to get involved, send me an email and I'll give you all the info you need :)


Thanks for checking out my blog today!

A little bit of random...

Just a little something to catch you all up (since it's been so long).

Two weeks ago we went up to Concord, New Hampshire (Mike's hometown), to visit his family (his step-dad is really sick).  We actually got to go up without our kids for a change, so it was nice to have some couple time and check out places we've not been able to go before with three kids in tow.  We took walks around town (sidewalks everywhere!), and window shopped, went to the famer's market (all outside, downtown), checked out some local artists, and went to the Co-Op (lots of organic stuff...and they have amazing food and desserts!).

I love New England so much and would love to move there.  It's so organic and natural...makes me want to start a commune and live by the fruit of the land...or however that expression goes.

Also, I have a newfound (or renewed, perhaps) obsession with buttons. I used to love raiding my great-grandmothers button jar and sewing them to everything. But I haven't really had an interest in them since probably high school. So while we were in NH last week, we visited an antique store and I found hundreds of vintage buttons...and fell in love! I have been having so much fun making them into rings...

A close up of my two favorites

Mike made the one on the far right :)

These are actually two separate rings (and made with beads, not buttons)

And my last little bit of randomness...

SHOES!!!

I NEED these shoes...but I doubt Mike will agree with me...

(By the way, the crochet part is actually socks and not part of the boot...love it though!

And the website for these boots was not in English, but you can find similar ones elsewhere.)

And more shoes...

I LOVE moccasins!!!  And I love them in this color especially!

                                                             You can find them here

And of course, some super cute baby shoes :)

Check them out here

(Joyfolie, the company that makes these adorable baby boots, also uses organic cotton and eco-friendly materials.  And 10% of their profits go toward Giving Hope to Children, a non-profit org that refurbishes medical equipment to send to impoverished and disaster-stricken areas.  Check out their bio.)