Urgent Prayer Request

Here I am humbly asking for prayer. As this is a public blog, I need to keep details pretty non-existent since it isn't my story to tell, but I am asking you to pray and to trust.

A very special person in my life needs prayer. They are struggling with more issues than I could even list right now, and if they were to just open their heart to God, He would sustain them. I know He would. I have been praying for what seems like forever. I have a couple friends here and there who sometimes pray with me.

But I am here crying, literally begging for prayers. I KNOW what happens when a group of people stand united in prayer. I have seen miracles. I know it is possible. Please pray with me for the Lord to open their heart to Him. Pray that this person allows the Lord to carry their burdens for them and help carry them through this next phase of life. And please pray that the Lord so completely changes this persons heart, that they are invigorated with a new passion for life. That they no longer feel so beat down and ready to give up. Please join me in prayer for this.

Thanking you for your help, and trusting in the Lord.

Time for a change

I have a few different posts in the making right now...but thought I'd start off with the name change of the blog.  :)  When I originally started blogging, I had not really started my walk with the Lord yet, (though I was just going to church to go to church), I was suffering a bit of depression and the lack of a personal identity mommies can sometimes get, especially when they are stay-home-moms, we had just up and moved to an entirely new state with not a single friend or family member around, and husband was laid off.  It was  a difficult season of life, and I felt like I needed an outlet to try to reclaim my "old self".  I called the blog "A Little Bit of Me" because by blogging my thoughts and such, I was ultimately trying to find myself.

Now, 2 years later I have been on the journey that all started in the blogging world.  And I have started to find my own identity again, though it is a far cry from my "old self".  I have started to find myself first and foremost walking with the Lord, I have found a new appreciation of the gift of my children (though they always were my life...), I have found I have a true passion for the orphan and the least of these, and I have realized that the time is right now to truly live.

I have decided to call my blog "Live. Love. Matter."  I want to live right now, today and every day, a life that is full of love, a love that matters and makes a difference in someones life.  I want to strive daily to love as Christ loved us.  Whether that be by loving my children, my husband, my friends, parents, strangers, orphans, outcasts, or whomever. 

This quote by Mother Teresa sums it up pretty well....  "Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house.  Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor...Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

Love to Junk Posse!!!!

A few months back I had the opportunity to FINALLY order something for myself for Mother's Day from JUNK POSSE! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE her work!!  We worked together and she came up with this design for me.  The back charm says "LIVE LOVE HOPE PRAY"

Knowing how kind of a heart she has, and that most of her work goes to orphans and adopting families and such, I ventured out and asked about a possible donation to raffle off a necklace at our Recycle Love Festival.  I have to say how amazing she is!  First off, she didn't just send one necklace....she sent TWO!  Above and beyond what we had asked for.  Secondly.... I am IN LOVE with the necklaces she made!  Her are pics of what she did for us.... the first one is perfect and simply has our "Love is not for sale" that we used as part of our motto for Human trafficking awareness, and the second one has the dove the we used on our Beloved Be Free design and prayer team t-shirt, and on the back it says "Set yourself free and fly".  I am totally going to order a dove necklace!!  :)

Anyway....head on over to Junk Posse, look at her AMAZING stuff and help orphans and adopting families in the process!!! 

Recycle Love Festival 2010

At the end of the night on Saturday, a dear friend asked me how I felt. The word that came to mind was "humbled". That one confused her as it was the last thing she expected to hear. She was thinking I'd be breathing a sigh of relief that it was over, and excited that it went so fabulously, (and I did feel those) but first and foremost I felt humbled. The whole day we could just feel the Holy Spirit working and it was humbling. God doesn't need any of us to do things for Him. But He loves us so, and CHOOSES us to do His work. Well over 300 people showed up and hearts were stirred. People were in tears from the words of our musicians and speakers. The worship at the end of the night had a TANGIBLE feel of God's presence. Saturday nights Festival was an event not soon to be forgotten, and it had nothing to do with us. And I couldn't be happier!!

Being as we jumped into this head first with NO IDEA what we were doing....everyone rolled with the punches fabulously. Satan worked hard to deter us...as I posted about before. But by the time show time came along, we had everything we needed and MORE! We had vendors who were able to share about their organizations, fundraising, etc... Musicians were able to showcase their talents, and guest speakers we were so honored to have! Show Mercy International talked of orphans, starving children, lack of clean water and their Field of Dreams they are building. The Hope Center of Sweet Home was able to talk about how it helps LOCAL women in bad situations. I was able to speak up for 147 Million Orphans by running a table with the help of a couple of fabulous friends and helped to inform many of the state of the worlds orphan crisis. Jessica Richardson spoke as a former victim of trafficking and first truly stirred hearts, shocked almost everyone, and started the tears. Dr Bill Hillar, (who's story inspired the movie Taken) further stirred emotions. When he told point blank how his daughter was kidnapped, drugged, sold, raped, tortured, and literally mutilated for trying to escape, there was not a single dry eye or jaw NOT dropped on the ground. After all of that heart wrenching speaking, we closed it up with the most amazing time of worship ever that reminded us that we are all God's children and that he LOVES US!

The main goal going in wasn't to put on a great Festival....it was to raise awareness about Human Trafficking, the orphan crisis, and the unnecessary lack of clean water and food for much of the world. I would say that goal was definitely accomplished. And the best part is that it was all God. Gotta Love It!!!

Here are a few links to articles about the event, and some pictures to give you an idea of what it looked like.

Democrat Herald
Lebanon Express

Warfare

Time seems to be zooming by! There is less than a week and a half left until Recycle Love Festival! Behind the scenes EVERYONE involved has been hard at work doing their part. There have been car washes, speaking to churches, speaking with businesses, calling radio stations, giving newspaper interviews, putting posters and flyers up all over town and the neighboring towns, making those posters, a designer making us wonderful t-shirts, folding & organizing & selling & shipping t-shirts, meetings, networking....and I could still continue. But I think you get my point! ;) We are all busy. In the midst of all the "busy-ness" we are trying to take pause and remember....this is all God. It was His plan. He brought us together. It will be His spirit that will change hearts. It is only through Him that we are doing what we are doing. He is the one giving us what we need to make this happen. Without Him and what He is giving us to do what needs to be done, this Festival would not be happening.

While we are holding steady to the truth, there is warfare starting. We are being attacked by the enemy. People who have made commitments to the event are backing out, marriages are being attacked, friendships are being tested, expenses are piling up that were never supposed to be there, things are coming up that are preventing us from getting the help needed for things like car washes, people to help day of, etc... Satan is at work HARD trying to stop this event from being a success. The thought that Satan is working so hard in a way makes me rejoice.... proves that we are truly trying to love as Jesus loves us. This is now where I am asking for your help, though. Yes, I know I have asked you to buy t-shirts to give clean water to children. I have asked you to help spread the word about the event. But this is SO MUCH BIGGER! We need prayer. Prayer that through this all we stand firm in the truth. Prayer that everyone involved stays focused on what is important and is able to realize Satan is at work and not to let him in. Prayer that the Holy Spirit will be a tangible presence at the event and people will leave forever changed. Prayer that God's will be done. Prayer that hearts are changed. Prayer that lives are changed. Prayer that people who didn't know Jesus, come to know Him. Prayers over the speakers and musicians that they find just the words to use to truly make a difference in someones life. Prayer for our worship leader at the end, and the the Lord truly speaks through her and her amazing voice. Fact is...we need prayers. And I am asking for anyone out there to please join forces with us praying over this event.

Thank you for everything everyone has done thus far to support us! You are all fabulous!

Making a difference

In case you were wondering...we still have some T-Shirts left. :) I must admit, I am enjoying how widespread these shirts are getting shipped....California, Alaska, Florida, New York....very exciting!!! But what is even more exciting is that for every shirt sold, 3 children in Africa get clean water for a year!! If you are interested in a shirt that will make a difference in the lives of children, head on over to RECYCLE LOVE FESTIVAL and snag one!! Orders are shipped usually within 2 days, unless we are temporarily out of that size. In that case, you will get an immediate email from me letting you know, and also letting you know when we have that size expected back in!

In case you forgot how awesome the shirts are, here are some more pics! The pic of shirts getting ready to ship on my table is just to show the color difference. The crew and womens shirts are the darker grey, the V is the lighter. And I must add.... my shirt is totally my new favorite!! Seriously so soft and comfy! :)

Would you give this to YOUR children?

Charity:Water is the organization our Recycle Love Festival is working with on the sale of our t-shirts. Buying just one t-shirt will give 3 children in Africa clean drinking water for one year. At only $10 a shirt, that is a fabulous deal! They are super soft and comfy, and we just got the last of our shipment in! So ALL SHIRTS are here and ready to be sent out!! Head on over to the the RECYCLE LOVE FESTIVAL page and snag a tee and give clean water!!! And check out this video.... it takes what over 1.1 billion people in the world do daily and puts it right into our own homes.

Bring Baby Walser HOME!!

I am so excited!!! A wonderful blog friend just received a referral for a precious 4 yr old baby girl!! They were JUST placed on the waiting list officially on Friday, but they got an immediate referral as soon as they opened up their hearts to an older child. This precious girl has been on the waiting list for a while now, but older children are harder to place. The hard part her is that usually it takes a while to get a referral so there was going to be time to fund raise....but since the referral was immediate there is not that time. They have only 7 days to raise the $8300 needed to say "YES let us have our baby girl"! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE head on over to their blog and help this baby girl get a forever family!! Every little bit helps. I am so excited to watch God work His miracles to have this happen!

There are a few different ways to help out.... you can just drop by and donate even $5 (come one....that is the price of a coffee!). You could buy some of their adorable t-shirts they have, or you can sponsor a piece of this puzzle they are putting together.

And the last way you can help is by visiting my Etsy shop.... ANY orders that come in until August 6th, 100% will be donated to their referral fee. So if you need a birthday invitation, baby shower invitation, baby announcement, or anything like that, you get what you need, a baby girl gets a forever family, and the Walser's get help bringing their girl home....it's a win-win-win situation! :)

T-Shirts are IN!!!!!

The Recycle Love T-shirts are IN!!  And they look fabulous!!

$10 to get a shirt....and each shirt sold will provide clean drinking water for a year for 3 children in Africa!

Go to the Festival website to orders yours today!  www.recyclelovefestival.com

Any payments that are received today will ship out TOMORROW!  Anything ordered over the weekend ships out Monday!  

Give Clean Water!!!

Our design is finished for our Recycle Love Festival T-Shirts!! They are printed on American Apparel Tri-Cotton blend and will be super comfy!! The shirts are $10 and the best part is.....with each sale, THREE children in Africa will have clean water for one year!!! So instead of children drinking this....

You will be giving the gift of clean water!!



Here is the design for the tee...contact me if you'd like to help the children and pre-order one!!