We Are Here…And Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Yes, I am a little late to be wishing you thankfulness but it seems that the holiday came with a gusto and was quickly over, taking all my energy with it.  :) The girls started teething full force on Thanksgiving. Jon ended up at Walmart at 1:00 am on Friday morning, getting medicine for our sick little girls.  I didn’t process that it was Black Friday and I was sending him into chaos.  He handled it like a champ and actually found a few great sales.  ;)

We are in recovery mode now. 

A little update on life’s progress:

-Little J started walking about 10 days ago (video to follow as soon as I can get it figured out.)

-Both have about six teeth just under the gums

-The Littles can do so many animal sounds now and are starting to imitate everything.

-

I found a little stuffed frog and the girls LOVE to kiss it!  It hasn’t transformed to a prince yet, but that is okay by me, we couldn’t handle a relationship right now. :)

Let’s Talk About Lifesong…

A few weeks back, I announced I started a small series in honor or National Adoption Month, highlighting some very helpful resources for families interested in adoption.  Missed the first post about Loving Shepherd Ministries?  Click here to catch up on LSM or here to go to their website.

Another incredible ministry is Lifesong for Orphans. Lifesong has many facets to the way they care for orphans and specifically some much needed help for families facing the financial mountain of adoption.  On Lifesong’s website, families in the adoption process can fill out an application for financial assistance and that comes in the forms of:

-Adoption/Matching Grants

-Adoption Interest Free Loans

-Great Fundraising Ideas

(A really cool one is a service project that helps a widow and your adoption funding).

Lifesong has helped so many families and is a wonderful resource.  If a family has a Lifesong account, all who donate to it receive a tax deductible receipt for the amount they donated towards a specific adoption.

Interested?  Check out their website, it explains it much more clearly and is a wonderful resource for Christians considering adoption.

Some May Call It Crazy…

I prefer to call it spontaneous and adventurous.  My dear friend, Heather, had a baby and she lives about 2 1/2 hours away.  Another dear friend, Stef, suggested we visit Heather and sweet little Beckham.  So, we did a quick trip, Stef, the Littles, her little (same age as Little J and Little A) and myself. 

The girls were supposed to take naps on the way.  All three of them. And while they eventually did all take naps, we started with a chorus of three screamers in the backseat of the mini-van.  That is enough to make most lose heart but we pressed on in anticipation.  It was totally worth it. :)

The Littles didn’t lose anytime after arrival to start their terrorizing of the house.

Heather and 5-day old Beckham.  She is the only woman I have ever known that is wearing heels around her house, 5 days after having a baby.  Seriously, she is incredible.

Loving Barclay the dog. 

Heather, Stef, Brandy and I roomed together in college.  We have four girls around the same age and I was really hoping Heather would have a girl.  However, after thinking about it, all of our girls have to room together, 4 to an apartment. So, it’s perfect and one of them can just marry Beckham.  :)

Can I Get an Amen?

Okay, I have posted this multiple times.  I want you to listen to this sermon.  I know, I know, you are thinking, "When will she stop posting this?"!

Table of Nations: Are There Many Races Or One?

This is not just a message for families that have adopted children.  This is a message that the body of Christ needs to hear!  Just LISTEN. Please. The most clear, concise, Biblical exposition on this topic I have ever heard or read.

I guess what I am needing is to know that you have heard the message.  If I can get some comments-it can just be an "amen"-it will feel like I have made the world a better place and I won't post about this sermon again.  :) 

Love, Amy

We Have Five Winners!

Yay!  We ended up with 48 comments but I know my Grandma posted on FB and didn’t comment so I threw her in.  And because 49 is so close to 50….well, that of course meant I had to round up. :)

Little J and Little A interrupted their very busy play to help draw the winners.

 

Congrats to our five winners!

Aunt Meika

Grandma Shari

Suzy B.

Ashley B.

Sandra

Congratulations ladies!  If you would e-mail me at treasuresinjars@gmail.com and let me know your 1st, 2nd and 3rd preference, along with your shipping address, that would be great!

There are 9 scarves to choose from, number them 1-9 starting on the left.  Numbers 2, 6, 7, 8 are slightly thicker and have a small embroidered border.

Thank you all for your response and your orders!

Change the World

Wow.  Your response has been so incredible on the scarves.  You are so excited about shopping for a cause!  I updated my inventory list (at the bottom of this post).  I have a few more fun things!!! It is just so exciting to know that 100% of what you are giving is directly going to help.  :)  Love it.

Here for the giveaway?  Click here.  It ends tonight!  I know, it is a little early, but things have sold so fast, I had to hold back a few scarves from a few different varieties and I would love to be able to sell them!

Before I get to my updated inventory, I wanted to let you know of other places you can shop for a cause.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if a majority of our Christmas shopping helped others? 

Through the month of November, there is a family we can help.  I met Mindy in Middle School Girl’s Camp.  Yeah, a long time ago.  We didn’t stay in touch; however, through the wonderful world or adoption and blogs, we have reconnected and they are in the process of adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia.  Here is a picture of their sweet family. (Mindy, I hope you don’t think it is creepy that I found a picture of you!)

Ordinary Hero has a line of apparel and for the month of November, $10 of each shirt sale goes to support a family in the adoption process.  They have some really amazing adult shirts and cute kids shirts.

Little J and Little A modeling their Ordinary Here shirts, “I’m gonna change the world”. It is one of the softest t-shirts I have ever felt. 

(In case you are confused, this is not me modeling this amazing oatmeal hoodie :)).

If you look in the sidebar at www.ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com you will see the shirts and if you purchase, you can add a special note to seller where if you write “Michael and Melinda Anliker”, $10 of what you paid  goes towards their adoption.  Cool, huh?

MamaMimi has compiled an incredible list of gifts for a cause, and the gifts from her list range from helping orphans and widows to helping finance adoptions and has a large variety of items from tutus to cookbooks.  Check it out. It is amazing. Click here.

Now for the inventory

I am really thankful that the response has been so amazing!  I didn’t really want these scarves sitting around until Summer anyhow!  However, this does mean we are out of a lot of the styles of the scarves.  But the good news is that we had some other really cool things in the suitcase. 100% of what you pays goes to helping orphans. 

If you are interested in purchasing them, e-mail me at treasuresinjars@gmail.com.

Pillowcases

I really wanted to keep these.  They are so cool.  These are pillowcases for throw pillows.

Dimensions: 15X16

The designs you see are handsewn. You will need to add a naked pillow to fill the case. :)

Price: 2 for $30 or 1 for $20

Backside

These are cream, not white. 

Bags

There are two types of bags, the white ones have a zipper closure.  A few of the white ones need a soiled spot removed.

The black ones have a matching scarf included. (I have 3 of those)

White purses: $12

Black purses with cool matching scarves: $15

Scarves Left

Group F

All left besides Ethiopian flag colors and red

Group H

Orange stripe, pink stripe, teal stripe, yellow stripe left.

Shawls

SOLD OUT

Very warm! $15, perfect for a lap blanket or a child’s blanket.

I do add shipping to these orders.

Your generosity is blessing many!

Scarves, Scarves and More Scarves! Inventory pictures

Interested in the giveaway?  Click Here to enter and learn more about how this craziness all got started.

Your response has been awesome!  Do to your quick response, I am posting my inventory today! Remember, ALL proceeds go to benefit AIDS orphans and sexually exploited women in Ethiopia.  You are my test market, we have a lot of different kinds of scarves and I guess we can figure out here what sells and what doesn’t!

Scarves are $10 unless otherwise indicated.

A few suggestions of where you could give these:

-What women doesn’t love a scarf?!?

-An adoptive Mama, waiting for her child to come home

-Your child’s dress up box

-A great conversation piece to initiate talk about the world’s orphans where you can advocate on their behalf!

Little J and Little A were my models but Little A is in a lot more pictures because she was much more in the mood to cooperate for the camera.

Group A

SOLD OUT

Lightweight scarves

Approximate dimensions: 92X16

Group B

SOLD OUT

These are gorgeous, also lightweight, can be used to wrap around as a skirt, go around your shoulders, neck, head. Would be great table runners.

These look great around the neck with a sweater or shirt.

82X34

Or can be a great way to play peek-a-boo…

Group C

SOLD OUT

Gauzy, shimmery scarves.  Perfect for all those little girls in your Christmas pageants.

Dimensions:66X24

Group D

SOLD OUT

Warm, crocheted scarves, could fit kids

$7

There are also shawls made of this cream yarn.  These are very warm!  It is like wearing a blanket. It is the perfect size for a lap blanket, which excites me as lap blankets save our marriage in the winter on long car trips.  :) (Jon is always HOT and I am always COLD). 

Group E

SOLD OUT

Beautiful scarves with a sheen, made to be bunchy. Love these.

Dimensions:62X18

Group F

These are more traditional looking scarves, great gifts for any Mama in the adoption process!  Also a great way to celebrate Ethiopian holidays or for kids who love to play dress up! (I still love to play dress up!)

Dimensions:

Group G

Another set of more traditional scarves, the border has this color that is sheen and the middle is all cream.  Group F and Group G are very typical of what the people in Ethiopia wear.  These are very large, could make a skirt for a little girl.

Dimensions: 84X30

Group H

These are super soft!  Very bright, some have sheen. All have a small border. Also great around the neck.

Dimensions: 82X25

Group I

SOLD OUT

These are smaller scarves, either great for little kids as a neck scarf or an awesome headwrap!  I like to use one like this for boating or hiking.

Dimensions: 46X12

(and as Little A found, it makes you very acrobatic)
 

So, interested in ordering?  E-mail me at treasuresinjars@gmail.com

Include in the e-mail your mailing address, what group you are interested in purchasing from and what colors you prefer. (Maybe mention a few colors as I may run out of something).

If you live in my area, call me and you can stop by to purchase.

Yes, It’s Is Time! A Giveaway

Finally, I am getting around to this! 

As we have been sorting through strong conviction that we (Jon and I) need to be doing more on behalf of the orphan, widow and stranger, God has brought to mind some interesting ideas. I lay in bed one night, heavy heart and asking “what should we do?”.

I wish I was crafty, because I could blow you away with my cute crocheted hat, artwork or hair accessories and all proceeds could go to help the oppressed.  But I am not super-crafty.  You wouldn’t want to buy it.

I can make guacamole…and salsa…from there, the ideas flowed.  I have been researching local farmer’s markets and fair trade items since then and want to start selling these products at farmer’s markets in the Summer, but I can’t wait to get started!  So, for the kick-off the first of many products (we hope)  

While in Ethiopia, I was taken with the beauty of the scarves. Scarves are everywhere, on everyone, men, women and children.  They can be worn on your head, around your shoulders, around your waist, carry a baby, make a headband, be a table runner or keep you warm.

 

(Me trying to rock the scarf and cover my greasy head while in Ethiopia).

While there, we visited a micro-enterprise that made scarves. The women were previously fuel carriers and had to climb the mountains, bringing down heavy loads, literally back-breaking work, to survive.

 

We met the women who now sit at looms all day, making scarves to provide for their families.

 

Here is the part where we come in.  Friends just returned from Ethiopia and brought me two suitcases full of scarves!  Yeah, it’s a lot of scarves! And they are gorgeous.  We have traditional to contemporary looking scarves.

They are for sale, $10 a piece, with all the proceeds going to AIDS Orphan in Ethiopia/Sexually exploited women in Ethiopia.  Talk about a gift with a cause. 

(Not the exact scarves I have, just a fun picture of them)

Interested in purchasing one or ten (for everyone on your list)?  E-mail me at treasuresinjars@gmail.com.

But, you might not have to buy one because we are giving scarves away! 

For every 10 comments on this post, we will give away one scarf.  Even if you don’t want one, comment, because you up the giveaway.  :)

Official rules:

-Each comment before 11-22-10 is an entry to win

-If you facebook or blog about these authentic, Ethiopian scarves for sale, you are entered to win, twice!

-One comment per person

I don’t really have any other avenues of advertising, so if you could spread the word, that would be great!

Happy Birthday Babies!

Yes, that’s right, our babies turned ONE! 

Since we have been thinking about the girls’ first birthday party, I have been praying for their day and they did great!  I can hardly believe how big they are getting! 

We based the theme on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
   one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
   and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
   two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

 

When my Mom turned one, she ripped into a birthday cake with a doll in it.  My Grandma made the same kind of cakes for her granddaughters.  She continued the tradition with these cakes for Little J and Little A! So sweet!

Jon’s sister, Sarah, made this delicious, amazing cake for the rest of the partygoers. :) Notice the silver strand?  It is a “threefold cord” made of frosting!  I tell her that she could go into business for herself. 

They could hardly believe their good fortune.  :)

Little A was finished when she got frosting in her eye but she managed to get this delicious buttercream frosting all over her hair!

They had a great time opening gifts and kind of got annoyed that we kept taking their new toys away to give them the next gift.  They would follow their new toy.

“Hey, I just got that!”

Little A lets the world know that she is “all done” with gifts.

This scooter entertains two for the price of one.  It is hysterical to watch.  The girl in front tries to stand up and continually “puts the breaks one”  I should figure out how to post a video of this…The only negative is that when it topples, both babies go with it!

Oh Babies, we can only imagine the adventures to come in your next year of life! We love you!!!

The GIVEAWAY is still coming!  Stay tuned.