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In general I can be pretty serious and I don’t know why that is since I love to laugh.  As I get older I’m learning to embrace being goofy and laugh at myself as well.  While I had a good time being silly in these glasses I think I’ll leave the wearing of them to my good looking brother.  🙂  Thankfully I had LASIK done on my eyes so I don’t need glasses or contacts!  The 15/20 vision isn’t bad either. 😉

In all seriousness though I was musing on glasses and how they help us see but only for the time we leave them on.  Same with contacts.  They correct our vision for a time but it’s not permanent and it’s not really the easiest either.  In fact it can be a pain. What if you loose your glasses or your contact gets scratched?  Let’s not even get into smudges on the lenses…  Isn’t that how good works can be if we do them in our own strength?  Things might look good for a while but in reality it hasn’t changed who we are.  We still need corrective help.  But when we have surgery on our eyes we can see clearly all the time.  In the same way, a heart change makes all the difference with our good works.  Do we do them to be seen and noticed by others or truly out of love for Jesus? Is it for aesthetics or permanent?

(Photos by: Christa Taylor) 

Just like a pebble thrown into a still lake creates ripples so our actions create ripple effects.  Today I want to share with you a pretty amazing story that began years ago and is still having repercussions.  I heard about an amazing woman, Sheena from The Uniform Project, who had worn the same dress for a year and styled it differently to raise money for children’s education in India.  My thought, “Wow that’s really neat but I could never do that!”  Ha! God has a sense of humor.  A few months later I was planning to wear the same dress for 100 days…mmmhmmm.  But when I didn’t reach my original goal I kept fundraising.  And brought in some more people to help me by doing the 12 days of Christmas project.  One of the lovely ladies, my lords a leaping, from 2011 is making her own waves now and I couldn’t be more happy or proud of what she has done.  For her senior high school project 17 year old Molly put on a fashion show and a silent auction! Yes, you heard me right.  She decided to continue using fashion to raise money for our kiddos in India! Can I get an Amen!?!  It was pretty incredible to go be able to watch all of her hard work pay off.  I have a huge update for you all because of Molly’s love, dedication, and hard work that she has been pouring into this for over a year.  It makes me excited that other people are catching a vision to help orphans and that they are doing something about it.  AH.MAZE.ING.  Someone pinch me.  I’m not dreaming right?  This one thing that I definitely want to be “contagious”. Molly, I’m so SO proud of you.  I really can’ say that enough.  I know it wasn’t easy, but you persevered.  I love how you got friends and family to model and that everything was donated.  Only you could get a whole team to make you that incredible runway. You’re an inspiration dear.  THANK YOU! The orphans thank you too…

(Pictures: 1 Me and Molly herself, 2 the models working the runway, 3 beautiful table arrangements, 4-5 some sweet friends and my mom who came with me to the fashion show.  I was so happy to have them come! They are lovely women inside and out.)

UPDATE!!!!!!  Drum roll please: $73,817.14   Feel free to add to that total and help some more kiddos! 😀

(It’s a happy numbered post today for those of you who know me and have been reading my blog you get what I mean!)

“The final test of a painting, theirs, mine, any other, is: does the painter’s emotions come across?” ~Franz Kline

Yesterday I had the honor of Skyping into a modern art class that my dear friend teaches.  We learned about the American painter Franz Kline.  The pictures she held up reminded me of brushed Chinese calligraphy…gone awry.  Their graphic strokes spoke loudly from the page.  While these bold pieces of art look simple enough they often took Kline several months to paint.  It got me thinking.  Maybe it’s the things that others find “simple enough” that are the hardest for us to be faithful completing.  It’s the routines that are important but lack the glamor.  But simple things can make a bold statement.  A statement that could effect someone’s life in a powerful way.  They may not even recognize it at first but that doesn’t detract from the value of it.  From far away Kline’s art looks simple.  Your action may seem small.  Yet up close the brush strokes show the detail taken and your little actions show what you really care about.  Just as the negative space in any piece of art is as important to the piece as the highlighted part so too what we leave out of our lives is just as important as what we put in.  What are we putting in our lives?  What should we take out?  What would our lives look like if they were a painting…

My dear friend Christa helped me style this outfit and we thought it would be fun to show you how you can change things up by just adding different accessories like the hat or scarf. 🙂

(Photos by: Christa Taylor) 

As part of my new blogging schedule I want to start sharing what books I’ve been reading.  Which means I need to read at least one book a month.  I love reading.  When I was a child I always had my head buried in a book.  No, really.  I would be reading as I walked, in the car, when I should have been sleeping…  As an adult I haven’t read as much and I want that to change.  Last month my new, sweet friend Rachel Coker (I introduced her here) sent me not just one book but two! Now that’s a good friend.  But to top it off she wrote them! Yes, she’s seventeen and has two novels published.  She writes historical fiction and to say that I was impressed with her work would be an understatement.  She writes a compelling story that had me turning pages as quickly as possible.  Her first book Interrupted: Life Beyond Words is set in the 194o’s and follows a young girl, Allie, through some tragic and life changing events.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Rachel weave in Emily Dickinson throughout each chapter.  It didn’t hurt that she had references to Debussy AND Louboutin in the same book too.  How could I not like it?! I had plenty to do the day that I started reading it but I just couldn’t bring myself to put it down and when it was over I wanted more!  Good thing she also sent me her second book Chasing Jupiter: When The World Around You falls Apart, Dreams Are All You Have.  🙂  In her second novel the main character Scarlet learns what it means to deal with family struggles and growing up in Georgia during the 1970’s.  Her relationship with her younger brother is sweet and touching.

I so enjoyed both of these novels and not because the books are written by an amazing friend but because Rachel is a wonderful writer.  She is cultured and it is evident in her composition of these books.  She writes with a depth that is a delight to read and she doesn’t shy away from hard issues but handles them with grace while still making her characters relatable.  But don’t just take my word for it! Go buy her books and read them! You won’t regret it.  I’m already looking forward to her third book. 🙂

You can find Rachel’s blog here and you can follow her on twitter as well.

Today I don’t have a traditional outfit post since I wanted to show you some pictures from a little adventure I went on a couple of weeks ago.  You see my cousin got engaged at the beginning of this year and then married his beautiful bride just six weeks later!  Even though we have lived across the country from each other all our lives we still managed to be good friends and so I knew I really wanted to be at his wedding.  They got married up in the north woods of Minnesota and I was so grateful to be able to celebrate this joyous occasion with lots of family I haven’t seen for a while.  We came from all across the globe to be there!  Did I mention that there was a blizzard?  And that I got to walk on water?! (Well a frozen lake) 😉  All in all it was nice to be able to take this trip and spend time with family and delight in all that snow! Can I just say I was really happy that I figured out how to only take one pair of shoes?!  I’m easily pleased. 🙂

(All pictures taken with my iphone: the bottom one of me looking like a dork by the car is when we drove out on the lake…)

UPDATE!!! $71,405.15  So I put a new goal up…I just can’t help myself.  I love those precious orphans in India.  Would you consider giving even $5?  It really does make a difference.  Also if you buy this amazing fashion illustration $20 dollars goes to the kiddos!  It would look lovely on your wall or even as a birthday present for a friend.  Hey it’s guilt free shopping! 🙂

Welcome to a new feature on the blog that I’ve been just giddy to show you!  We’re starting tips and tricks with fashion illustrations by my dear friend and incredible artist, Jeni.  Seriously this woman is way too talented.  She blows me away with every piece she does.  Anyways, we’ve been having way too much fun collaborating on this and now we can finally show you the first one!  And you want to know what makes it even better?!  You can buy a print (or a few if you really love your friends) and $20 dollars will go to the kiddos in India! So you can shop without feeling guilty.  Best.deal.EVER.  So shop away with the confidence that every purchase makes life a little brighter for an orphan.  Now that’s just peachy.

If you haven’t guessed already today’s tip is about scarves.  You can find them for pretty inexpensive and they change up an outfit or pull one together so fast.  Plus during these winter months they keep you nice and cozy.  I discovered this video on the web awhile ago and it’s too good not to share.  I hope you enjoy it. 🙂   And don’t forget to go buy yourself or a friend a print of Jeni’s beautiful illustration to help our sweet orphans in India!

(Art work by: Jeni Kubicek Art) Go check it out to see some more amazing art!

I don’t know how to write this post…  This is a post I prayed I’d never have to write.  I’m simultaneously rejoicing and grieving.  The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.  “Our” sweet boy, Hosanna, has gone to be with Jesus this morning.  He has ultimately been healed and now has a new body that is without cancer or pain.  He is in the arms of Jesus.  He is dancing and free…forever.  And because Hosanna is with Jesus I can rejoice too.  I love Hosanna.  Another piece of my heart has gone to heaven now.  Hosanna thank you for being a boy who loved Jesus with all your heart.  You were so brave and had such great faith.  You inspired us all.  We will miss you.  Please give Jesus a hug for me.  I can’t wait to hug the both of you someday.

Hosanna, now fully alive and dancing in heaven.

2002-2013

Thank you for all your prayers and care for Hosanna.  Please continue to pray for Hosanna’s mom and sister.  As you can imagine this is an incredibly painful and difficult time.  Thank you everyone.

There I was busily replacing all the strewn out clothing when I picked up that lace edged hankie.  The faded crumpled blue ribbon had fallen to the side and as I safety pinned the two back together my heart was pricked.  My heart bled a little.  As I sat there I wondered if your hands had placed that “something blue” on your wedding ensemble.  Was it your mother that lovingly added that?  Holding that hankie and piece of silk I wanted to cry right into it.  Because you’d seen it.  You’d touched it.  You may have even laughed at the funny marital superstition.  Now you’re gone.  I miss you.  My first thought was that I wanted to call you.  I want to hear your voice one last time telling me in your native Greek language that you love me.  I want to say it back.  Even though you’ve left these wedding raiments to me now I know you’re basking in the glow of your heavenly bridegroom.  Thank you for loving me the way you did.  I hope I can be like you when I grow up.  Yia Yia,  I love you.

Please go hug someone you love today.  Pick up the phone and call someone who is dear to you and tell them that you care.  All we have is today so let’s use it up well.

In these photos I’m wearing my Yia Yia’s (Greek for grandma) wedding under skirt.  I’m also wearing shoes, tights, and a jacket that my lovely new friend Rachel sent me!  Isn’t that the sweetest?!  She’s wonderful like that. 🙂  She had sent me a picture of Emma Watson in something similar and we did our best to try and recreate the look in the spur of the moment.  And my DAD MADE MY PURSE! Yes, more on that in another post though…(he’s amazing).

(Photos by: Christa Taylor)  Christa is a wonderful photographer and I totally recommend you book her to take your photos! 

I’m really excited about this post since I’ve been anxiously waiting to share with you a little of what’s happening with “our” beautiful children in India.  It seems like a fitting topic on Valentines Day because I love them so much.  Actually my sweet, wonderful friend Paige who has been living in India with her husband helping these orphans is guest blogging today!  Thank you so much Paige and Sean for all you do for these children.  I know you love them dearly and it shows.  Here is Paige:

In the last two years we have seen our 5 year olds turn 7, our 8 year olds turn 10, and our 11 year olds turn 13.  If you were to come to India now, you would see a group of children who do not look like orphans, act like orphans or feel like orphans.  They would tell you they have hope for a bright future.  When I look out over “my” kids, I see great leaders and a bright future for the next generation of India.

Without very many good leaders for role models, the staff thought it was important to teach a hand picked group of children about leadership.  They are youth who range in age from 13 – 15 years old.  Some are quiet leaders and some are outspoken, some are implementers and some are visionaries, but all of them love Jesus and want to grow in their leadership skills.

The leadership program began in September and we currently have 26 leaders.  Training takes place once a month and our staff does an amazing job teaching and challenging the youth to become all that they were created to become.  Our model is Servant Leadership; best displayed by the life of Jesus.

As they learn about leadership we also want them to put what they have learned into practice.  The leaders are used at our 2^nd Saturday daylong events that we have every month.  They also get to be leaders at our camps in May and October.  This past October was their first opportunity to put their training into practice.  They all had a great time but were very tired when camp was over.

We see the potential to have 3 or 4 different leadership training centers based on the locations of the homes.  Right now these 26 teens are our pilot project and we are very excited about what is happening with them and what they are learning.

In order to train these leaders once a month we needed funding for food and transportation.  The total cost for the training each month is $100.  We have a group of 4 college friends, who were on leadership staff as RAs together, who decided to sponsor this leadership program.  We are so thankful for them and for their belief that our children can make a difference in India!

Every time you give, you give to children who ARE making a difference in their village, their state, and their country.

Will you give today?  Even $5 dollars?  For Valentines Day let’s spread some tangible love and give to these children in need.  Will you love truly?

(Pictures: Leaders serving lunch at camp, Malleswari in Feb. 2011, leadership boys, leadership girls, First Day of Leadership Training, Malleswari in October 2012 Teaching Photography at Camp)

UPDATE ON HOSANNA…. Continue Reading →