Products with heart: Krochet Kids (Hats)

It's starting to get cold again in Kentucky. Not my favorite time of year but I do love one thing that can be brought out of my closet when I start to see my own breath in the air...my Hats!! I have yet to get anything from this company but I had to post about it after seeing a commercial on TV last week that featured what it was doing. These guys learned how to crochet in high school and eventually ended up in Uganda together teaching that skill to people there. It provides these people with a job which in turn allows them to provide their families with education, health, food, etc. I love that this is not a hand out but a hand up  It's a project that gives the people working at it ownership, it is sustainable, and best of all it's mission is rooted in the love modeled from Jesus:)  Neat idea right? and it started with just a couple of boys!  

Here's the website--->krochet kids

Worship music comes in all genres.

I grew up in a church that sang hymns all of the time. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love hymns but I also love lots of other genres and sometimes it's nice to change things up.  I have heard people complain about the Christian songs that are not traditional, that might have screaming or rapping or drums.  I do think a lot more people are not as harsh towards it but still have a difficult time changing things. I'm not in love with some types of music...but I love the fact that people can have music they like with a different and positive message. I love that people can enjoy worshiping in a way that enables them to express their uniquness with God.  Because everyone is different, we are all unique, and our worship is no different...I'd imagine that God enjoys it when we are happy while praising Him. :) And who can complain about something that helps reach out to those that might have never come to God otherwise??!

 The other day there were these two kids riding with me. The one boy had asked to listen to Lecrae and Trip Lee (Both Christian Hip-Hop artists). The other kid was angry, he wanted to listen to REAL rap. It was so neat to hear the comment from the first boy who I thought might have backed down from the topic... but like many other times, I was humbled by his answer. He told the other boy that it was real, that it was good and he liked it, and that the only difference was that this guy rapped about God. We rode the rest of the way with Lecrae blaring. Both boys listening. I'm not sure if the one that wanted to hear the "real" stuff was content with this more positive version, but I know that it made him think and it at least introduced him to a better alternative.



Here's some Lecrae that I love!!






AND here is His story. It's long but it's so good! Just click on the link and watch it!! :)

Home - I Am Second

products with heart: Toms.

I really love to find products that help others with your purchase.
Now, I do not believe that this excuses excessive shopping...because we all know how much we really don't need that 500th shirt to add to our already full closet... but if you're already going to buy a shirt or pair of shoes you might as well get it from a place that provides the workers with a safe and fair environment, that gives back to the community, that helps sustain programs, empowers the makers, and helps struggling communities/people grow. And you know, even if this is some way to boost sales or to "fit in",  it's cool to think of our market place promoting giving to others and thinking of new ways to do that.  Soooo, I have found several companies I like and I'll share them here every once in awhile.

  The first one is Toms!
 Here's the Website --Toms
 

I was first introduced to Toms a few years ago when no one had heard about them. Today, I'm pretty sure I see them on the feet of over half of my friends. So as I'm sure you know...Toms gives Shoes (and now other things like glasses) to people around the world that don't have them. A pair for a pair. You buy a pair of Toms and your purchase helps buy a pair for someone that probably needs them more. When I went to Haiti I found a little boy (the one on the left) with baby Toms on!! How cool is that?!  I love my Toms and definitely recommend a pair!

All girls are princesses

This little girl reminds me of Becky from The Little Princess. I used to love this movie! It's about a little girl, Sarah, who is forced to live in a boarding school while her dad is away at war. Anyway, at this school, there was a servant, Becky, who lived in an attic alone...and that no one was allowed to talk to until Sarah befriended her. Becky stood the same way as this girl...seemingly shy/afraid/not used to someone noticing her. Only until someone believed in her, gave her attention, and loved her was when Becky became full of life, joy, and confidence.

 And this is one of my favorite quotes from the movie....

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us"

We ARE princesses...that doesn't mean we can act privileged or snooty. It means that we are all daughters of the most high King...And need to represent His kingdom accordingly :)

Zumba!

Zumba has spread like crazy and I love it! The class is full of Latin songs... salsa, merengue, bachata...stuff I love. So not only is it a work out and you can get healthy, it is showing some Hispanic culture... which makes me very excited! In the last class I went to there were Latinos, Whites, African-Americans, old people, young people, boys, girls....all shaking their booties to some Celia Cruz, definitely made me smile :) I love to dance so this is a fun way to be silly, to not go to a creepy night club, and to lose weight all while spicing up my life with some Spanishness...(which I really miss). I have even thought of becoming an instructor and doing some classes for the women I know downtown...We'll see if I can ever get up enough courage...and coordination....to do that!
Here is an example!!

cute song

oh boy

I am so glad that I stayed single for as long as I did. I am so glad that all those other guys were wrong for me. I am so glad I did not have to lower my standards, change my dreams, feel guilty, or compromise my character with him.  I am so glad that the plan I had all figured out was in fact not all figured out...and that things are happening in God's perfect timing. I am so glad that I have someone that helps me see God, that helps me become a better person...I am so blessed and thankful for the man God put in my life, at this moment in my life. I'm not sure what's in our future but I'm happy with the right now.

the kind of woman I want to become

So, I heard that when you have a clear picture of what you want and you aren't wishy washy you might actually get somewhere. So I made a list of the kind of woman I want to become and work towards.



1. A Godly woman.
 I want my whole life to be centered on God. On having a strong relationship and growing my character in Him. On following His will for my life. On submitting my faults, worries, problems...everything to him and falling completely in love with Him.


Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised!  

2.A loving woman.
I want people to feel the love of Jesus through me. I want to be intentionally thinking of each person I meet daily and how everyone needs a little lovin'. ;) I want to love my family like never before. I want to love strangers. I want to be a better friend. 

3. A positive woman.
no gossip, no talking about people if it isn't uplifting. I want to try and get rid of negativity in my life and my thoughts. I am beyond blessed and I want to live like that every day. I want to think more positive about myself and what I can do. I want to make people feel like they can do anything they believe they can do with God's help.


4. A wise woman.
 This is out of Proverbs--->

The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands (14:1).

She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (31:26).

The opposite of the godly woman is the woman of folly.

The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive, and knows nothing (9:13).

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion (11:22).

I want to be wise in my decision making and I want to do this by studying and applying the Bible to my life.


5. A thankful woman.
I want to be more expressive with how I feel. I want to be able to tell people what they mean to me. Send cards, call, spend time with them...etc. I want to be able to give back and share my blessings with others. I want to be more generous. 

 6. A strong woman.
I want to be the kind of person that stands up for what I believe in no matter what. I want to fight for those that can't, I want to be a shoulder for people to cry on and the person to talk to when no one else listens.


7. A passionate woman
I don't want to become complacent. I want to be able to find the things God created me for and put my whole heart into them. I want to work at everything as if it's for my Lord. I want to be willing to look foolish for things I love and believe in. I don't want to give up on people, on my dreams, on what I yearn for.


8. A woman with self control and dedication
I don't want to comform. I want to remember that many things take work, time,patience, sweat, tears. I have to be able to deny myself of things that are ultimately only temporary forms of gratification for something more permanent. I want to be more reliable. That I do what I say and fulfill promises, work toward goals, and pray and fight through tough times when it might be easier to give up. commitment!

9. A  selfless woman
I want everything I do to not be for me or to glorify me at all...it's about loving others and loving Jesus. Humility, no boasting, giving credit to my God. :)


10. A proverbs 31 and Romans 12 type of person.. <3
proverbs 31      Romans 12

Oh How He Loves Us.

This is one of my favorite songs. Oh how He loves ME. :)

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. and the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."

crosses

Matthew 20:28
"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 5:10
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...

1 John 4:9-10
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

.

Today I'm thinking about Haiti. I'm ready to go back.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor." 1 Samuel 2:8...  I love to imagine this little boy on a throne :)

I will wait for you.

I came across this today and just had to post it. I LOVE this kind of stuff.

Even though this is a girl talking about waiting for the right guy...I'd say it can apply to anyone. If you're single, boy or girl, it's okay to wait... if you're dating, do they have the characteristics she speaks about at the end? If you're married, are you being that kind of spouse to each other?...





For the Guy:
I will know you because when you speak:
I will be reminded of Solomon's wisdom
your ability to lead will remind me of Moses
your Faith will remind me of Abraham
your confidence in God's word will remind me of Daniel
your inspiration will remind me of Paul
your heart for God will remind me of David
your attention to detail will remind me of Noah
your integrity will remind me of Joseph
your ability to abandon your own will, will remind me of the disciples
but your ability to love selflessly and unconditionally will remind me of Christ
...and His Word will be tatted all over your heart

For the Girls:
you will find me where the
the boldness of Esther
meets the warm closeness of Ruth
with a hospitality of Lidia,
is aligned with the submission of Mary
which is engulfed in the tears of a praying Hannah
I will be the one drenched in Proverbs 31 waiting for you----(Proverbs 31)

and most importantly...to my Father, my heart is content with you.