Whatever you do for the least of these

The last post was about trying to ensure our money doesn't go to enslave or harm other people. Now I want to talk about how we can use it for good. It's easy to live in our own little world and wonder really how much our daily choices matter. I'd like to present the argument that they matter more than we could ever know. Matthew 25:34-40 says, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ "

In the spirit of honesty, I am going to let you know I am pretty new to the whole fair trade scene. So many phrases get tossed around in our culture, sometimes we don't give any thought to them. Or maybe I'm the only one like that. Anyhoo... That being said, I don't have a lot of favorites right now as I don't have a ton of experience in this area. I do, however, have a couple companies and a few resources I like to use.

Land of 1000 Hills Coffee - You can read their story here: https://landofathousandhills.com/ourstory, but basically, after the genocide in Rwanda, they went in and taught survivors a trade - growing coffee. The farmers are paid fair wages and have a dignified job. Plus, the coffee is fantastic. I haven't had any in a while (because no one here sells it and I don't plan ahead well enough to have it ordered before I run out of coffee in my house), but I will be ordering some soon. It's good stuff. Besides, their motto is "Drink Coffee Do Good". Can you think of a better motto??? Me either. I have two of their shirts. (I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my eye on another one.) I like this company. I like their coffee. I love their purpose. *Update* Since I started working on this post, I discovered Land of 1000 Hills has a special Adoption Journey blend for the month of November (National Adoption Month). $5 of every bag goes to help with the financial burden of adoption. You can purchase it here: http://landofathousandhills.com/index.php/adoption-journey-do-good-blend.html. I bought some yesterday. :)

Noonday Collection - I admit, this one seems a bit self-serving (as I am an ambassador for this company) but that is not my intent at all. I loved Noonday and who they are before I joined; that's WHY I joined. Noonday works with artisan groups in countries all over the world and brings their pieces here to create a market place for the artisans and their products. The artisans are paid a fair wage for their work and have a sustainable income due to the orders coming their way from people like you and me. Not only are individuals given opportunities, but entire communities are being changed, as artisan groups are able to hire more people to keep up with demand. Stateside, Noonday gives people like me a way to not just earn an income, but also the chance to be an advocate for orphans and families across the globe. Additionally, Noonday helps families here raise money for their adoptions with the option of using trunk shows as adoption fundraisers. Noonday Collection - style {made with love} - check it out at www.jenniferhostetler.noondaycollection.com. (Two of my favorite Noonday pieces? An adorable black clutch made out of upcycled VHS and cassette tapes by a special needs artisan group in India and a cool fringe paper bead necklace named for a former homeless man who is now building his own home. So cool.)

www.fairtuesday.org - I've just recently learned about Fair Tuesday. It is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (and Black Friday and Cyber Monday). The website has 150 fair trade brands. Their purpose (directly from the site) is this: #FairTuesday is an ethical shopping movement created in response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The goal of #FairTuesday is to inspire conscious consumerism and show how an everyday purchase can change lives in a whole community. #FairTuesday features fair trade, ethical, and eco-friendly brands all dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change.

www.free2work.org - I mentioned the free2work app in my last blog, but apparently the app is no longer available. Not sure what's up with that, but they do have a website with great resources.

Super fast and with the hopes of avoiding offending unintentionally, let's discuss the differences between charities and fair trade companies. While charities are wonderful and have their place, they cannot be counted on for sustainability. The old adage "give a man a fish"? Don't get me wrong - we support some charities. We sponsor a little girl through Compassion International and I am confident that our giving is changing the course of this little girl's life. But what happens if Andy loses his job? All of the sudden, a little girl in India may not be able to continue on in school or get medical care. Fair trade companies create work for people; and the more we shop these companies and advocate for the ethical treatment of workers, the more demand there is for the products. More demand = more work and possibly more employees. A dignified job has a better chance of sustainability than charity. I think it's two-fold; 1) When possible, buy fair trade (or at least from aboveboard companies), and 2) If you have extra, consider sending it out to others who may not have the opportunities we do. To quote Hello, Dolly, "Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it is spread around, encouraging young things to grow." Let's just make sure we are trying to grow the right things...

 

 

Black Friday: A Paradigm Shift

Those of you who know me well (or even only slightly well) are probably aware of my knack for finding good deals. I regularly find items at 75-90% off their retail price and get pretty excited about them. I've often said that the red clearance stickers at Target were designed for people like me. I'm drawn like moth to a flame to a sale - especially when I have a coupon in my purse to go along with the sale. And Black Friday is hailed as one of the most exciting days of the year. I plan for it. I am one of the crazies who begins shopping on Thursday well before midnight and stays out until lunch Friday. And I love every minute of it. And never have I given any thought to the people who make my bargains possible. Until now. And my heart is heavy.

After going through both 7 and the 7 Bible study by Jen Hatmaker and gaining exposure to the world of fair trade and ethical working practices (through Noonday Collection and various other companies and organizations), I have begun to wonder what my bargain shopping has really cost. Maybe not anything - to me. But what about the single mom working in an unsafe factory? What about the children who make the children's clothes I have purchased? What do my good deals cost them? And, really, how much do my choices even matter in the grand scheme of things?

We hear a lot these days about modern day slavery. It's easy to put it out of our minds, though. No one wants to think about that. But it's out there. And it's here. We can't hide from it, but we can fight it. 

First, let's talk about women. While I have never been one to jump on the uber feminist bandwagon, I am very aware that women are oppressed in many cultures. In places all over the world (including our own country), women are forced into hard labor with pitiful pay and working conditions. They don't make enough to care for their children and are forced to make decisions no woman should have to make. I believe all women - and men - should have the opportunity to have a dignified job and fair wages. But when I buy a shirt or pair of jeans from a company that abuses the people making their goods, I am - at the very least - saying I don't care enough about the welfare of others to pay attention to the supply chain. The more we wealthy folk - yes, wealthy (if you make 35k/year, you are in the top 1% of the world's population) - purchase from these companies, the more they are comfortable with the way of doing things. It's time to rock the boat, people. 

Second, let's talk about children - child labor, orphans, etc. 1) I am not ok with children making my clothes. I am not ok with children making my child's clothes. 2) Poverty is one of the major contributors to the global orphan crisis. When laborers don't earn enough to feed their children and care for their basic needs, they grow desperate. The result? Children in orphanages who have living parents. To *loosely* quote Jen Hatmaker (one of my favorite people, as anyone who has read this blog before has probably figured out), "It is not ok for me to have your child just because you can't feed him." And again, the more we keep silent on these issues, in the name of a good deal, the more we fight against children and families around the world. 

What can we do? Can I really make a difference? Or should I be sad for a bit and then continue on, life as usual, because it's a hopeless cause? Well, friends, our dollars speak. Loudly. Maybe not so much individually. But when a bunch of us begin to speak with our dollars, corporations will listen. We can determine to - as much as possible - purchase fair trade products from companies who are transparent - with their supply chains, worker rights, policies, etc. 

I hesitate to name names and call out companies on here, because that's not really what I'm wanting to do. I'd rather you do your own research and see it for yourself. Don't just take my word for it. I will tell you, though, some of them will surprise you. We're not just talking discount stores. We're talking expensive brands at upper end department stores. There are some great apps out there that help consumers make ethical choices. Free2Work and Call & Response are two that I have begun to use. Also, www.sweatfree.org and www.laborrights.org are websites that are helpful as we decide where to send our dollars. 

Micah 6:8 says "What does The Lord require of you, but to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." I want to act justly - not only with to my neighbors here, but the men and women and children all over the world. Even if my voice is alone and comparatively quiet, I want it to be merciful and just. I want to walk in humility; we live in a strange world and we navigate some difficult waters. I want to raise my voice, not in judgment of myself and other consumers, but in defense of real people who are hurting because of our collective choices. 

So Black Friday 2013 - will I be out in the midst of the other crazies? Probably. But let me tell you - my planning this year will include much more than who opens when and where to find the best deals. As I flip through ads and make my lists, I'll be vetting companies and carefully deciding where to spend my money. Will I miss out on some "good deals"? More than likely. But I'm tired of other people paying a high cost for my spending habits. My heart is changing and my eyes are opening. While it's not a pretty picture, I can't just turn away from it. I've seen it. And I can will make a difference. 

 

Isaiah 58:6-10

"Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
 
Stay tuned. Another blog highlighting companies who have ethical practices and fight for the dignity and rights of laborers will be coming in a couple of days!

Clothing Week

Food week went really well for our group! Next up is clothing. Technically, clothing week should have started Thursday, but I had a migraine and lost a day and am behind. Oh, well. My clothing week will start today (Sunday) and run through Saturday. 

Once again, the goal is a simpler life, a conscious reduction of my options. This week I have reduced my clothing choices to 7: a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a dress, my Red Wolves shirt, my turquoise kids ministry shirt, my red Drink Coffee Do Good shirt (Land of 1000 Hills) and a button down shirt. 

We have a group project this week, too. All week, we are collecting items from our closets and dressers. We will take them to church Wednesday night for our class and decide how we want to go about donating them. I'm excited about the group project! There are lots of things we can't all do together, so having a common activity this week is great! 

Once again, in our class video, Jen Hatmaker got us thinking - beyond our own lives and how our choices here affect others' lives around the world. The apparel industry, unfortunately, involves a lot of trafficking and maltreatment of of workers. This is not across the board, but there are many companies that use forced labor, child labor, extremely low wages, and awful working environments to make a profit. What can we do? We can try our best to make sure what we are buying comes from a safe and fair working environment. How? Doing a little research. Or using an app like Free 2 Work. It gives companies a grade on their transparency and ethics. In short, try to buy from companies that don't use forced or child labor and that provide fair wages. Check it out. Join us. The more people who step up, the bigger the impact will be. 

Clothing week begins: now!

7, Take Two

      So apparently I'm about as good at blogging as I am with keeping an orderly, uncluttered house. (In case you are wondering, there are about two weeks worth of mail on the dining table and the cardigan I wore Sunday morning is on the back of a chair. But I mopped the floors today. Please tell me that counts for something.) Anyway, I'm back in my blogging mode after surviving the beginning of school and a crazy August. And I'm super excited about my reason for being back!

      My friend, April, asked me a couple months ago if I would want to co-lead a 7 Bible study for women at our church on Wednesday nights and we kicked it off a couple weeks ago. We weren't really sure what to expect as far as who would want to be involved in it. I mean, 7 can be pretty intense and extreme. But there was lots of chatter about it the weeks leading up to it and our first night, we ran out of books! So more were ordered - and we ran out again this week! This is totally not a pat-us-on-the-back-look-who-came-to-our-class thing. It's the opposite, actually. I've already found myself slipping into old habits. Buying crappy convenience foods. Walking through the mall and finding things I "need". Looking at my phone more than the people around me. It's so sad to me how quickly it all comes back and the things that I learned begin to fade. So, basically, it's time for me to refocus and have another go at it. And this time I have a great group of other women to walk with me! Yay for accountability and sisterhood!

      The 7 study is broken down into weeks instead of months, but deals with the same seven areas. This week is food week and I'm going to approach it a bit differently this time. The first time I did the food thing, my family only ate certain foods for the month. My biggest take-aways from that month were 1) I get a lot of praying done when I am doing a food fast; 2) A person can grow weary of chicken in roughly 1.62 days. What I have really come to realize, though, after watching the Bible study video this week, is how much food I waste. It hit me Wednesday night that even sometimes when I am EATING my food, I am wasting it. How? If I have already eaten my meal and have more - because I WANT it, not because I am still hungry - I'm wasting that food. My body doesn't need it. I could have saved it for tomorrow's lunch. And in my eating 2-3 meals worth of food at a time, I'm wasting time and money spent on more food. Not to mention the food that is in my refrigerator that I decide I don't want so I buy more while what I have goes bad so I throw it out. I've never thought of waste in these ways before, but I haven't been able to shake it the last few days.

      So this is how my food "week" will look this time: I am going to "fast" from soda, candy, desserts, and fast food, while simultaneously paying more attention to the foods I AM eating - specifically how processed they are and how much of it I am eating. I will be on the "fast" portion of if at least through the end of September - possibly October. The "watching what I'm wasting" part? Well, I'm hoping it becomes my new mindset. It's not ok for me to waste food every time I sit down for a meal when others are wondering if there will be a next meal. There are ways to get involved in hunger issues, as well. I don't want this to just be about me and my family. What can I do, from where I am, to be an agent of change for the vulnerable? Here are some ideas:
         - Donate the money I am saving by not buying extra food to a local food pantry or backpack ministry
         - Invest in micro loans to grow small businesses in impoverished areas (Jen Hatmaker mentioned kiva.org in the video.)
         - Get involved with an organization like World Vision or Compassion International
         - Shop with companies that provide economic/job opportunities for vulnerable communities (i.e. Land of 1000 Hills Coffee and, yes, Noonday Collection!)

      I'm ready to get started again - but in a new way, with a new outlook. Here's to a fresh start!

***Caveat - College football season just started. The fast will be put aside for game days. Mainly because you pretty much need coke and chocolate to properly cheer for your team... :)

The Seven Pauses

     Ok - Stress Month. I figure there should be plenty of stressors over the next few weeks. Andy and Elisabeth will be getting ready to go back to school. I'm trying to get two businesses off the ground. We are adjusting to one (guaranteed) income. There's more, but you get the picture. Our family has its fair share of stressors, just like yours. And I'm so ready to finally implement the Seven Pauses. Let me explain.

     We will have seven particular times throughout the day to deliberately take our focus off ourselves and place it on Christ. We will use the layout given by Jen Hatmaker (who credits Seven Sacred Pauses by Macrina Wiederkehr). The seven pauses are as follows:

The Night Watch (midnight)

The Awakening Hour (dawn)

The Blessing Hour (midmorning)

The Hour of Illumination (noon)

The Wisdom Hour (mid afternoon)

The Twilight Hour (early evening)

The Great Silence (bedtime)

     The Night Watch will probably be the hardest to keep, but I'm looking forward to that one. In 7, Jen says "The Night Watch advocates for others in a dark night of soul: the suffering, abandoned, oppressed, lonely." Readings for The Night Watch: Psalm 42, Psalm 63, Psalm 119:145-152 

     The Awakening Hour - beginning the day with thankfulness and praise. Readings: Psalm 19, Psalm 95, Psalm 147

     The Blessing Hour has two purposes. The first is remembering the presence of the Spirit. The second is remembering the sacredness of our work - whatever God has called us to do. Raising children, working at the office - wherever God has placed us to use our gifts; despite what we may be tricked into believing, our work is a sacred calling and whatever it is He has given us, we should do as "working for The Lord not for men" (Colossians 3:23). Readings: Psalm 67, Psalm 84, Psalm 121

     The Hour of Illumination - remembering Christ going to the cross and asking Him to fill our hearts with with His light so we can be a beacon in our world. Readings: Psalm 24, Psalm 33, Psalm 34

     The Wisdom Hour "embraces the themes of surrender, forgiveness and wisdom, and the impermanence of this life". It is seeking wisdom to live with urgency, knowing our time here is limited. Readings: Psalm 71, Psalm 90, Psalm 138 

     The Twilight Hour - expressing gratitude for the day and transitioning from the hustle and bustle of the day into the evening. Readings: Psalm 34, Psalm 139, Psalm 145

     The Great Silence - evaluating the day and praying protection over the night. Readings: Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Psalm 134

     In addition to the seven pauses, we will also be intentional about observing the sabbath. Our culture doesn't allow for rest. Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and even sometimes church activities, our families are pulled in so many directions, we can't catch our breath. This isn't what God intended, friends. Worship, family time, time spent with God - these don't belong on a to-do list. Our family is going to begin guarding a specific day as our sabbath. We will worship, rest, and enjoy spending un-rushed time together. 

     Sigh. I'm looking forward to it. Anyone with us?

Hi, my name is Jennifer and this is the blog I have neglected...

     Well. It's been a while. Like, over 2 months. But I have some good excuses reasons - and I will get to them shortly. But, first, a recap of Media Month (May):

I really missed Bob Newhart. That being said, our family wasted much less time watching TV and we took some walks and read a bit more. We watched some VeggieTales and What's In the Bible? in May. If you aren't familiar with the What's In the Bible? series, you should be. Phil Vischer is the mastermind (and a whole slew of voices) behind a crazy cast of puppets making their way through the Bible. You will learn about such things as the canon, the cycle of apostasy, and the difference between ethical and ritual laws. Maybe that doesn't sound awesome to you, but I promise you, it is! They are fun and full of truth; the Gospel is presented exceptionally well in a kid-friendly way; and my family absolutely loves them. Go check them out - www.whatsinthebible.com - and, no, I have not been paid to say any of this - these DVDs are really that good. :) All that to say, what we did watch in May served to grow us in our faith and knowledge of the Bible. (Confession: we cheated one night and watched Fiddler On the Roof. I had a migraine and felt like poo. Sue me. Besides, Tevye talks to God all throughout the movie - so that makes it spiritually uplifting, right???)

     So...that was Media Month. During May, Andy and Elisabeth both had end-of-the-year school activities and there was a lot going on at church. June brought with it Sunday School promotion, VBS, and a 12 day oversees mission trip. Life has been crazy around here. But that's not all that made it nuts. At the beginning of May, I resigned as the preschool ministry director at our church. After 8 years of serving in that role, I decided to come home and change my focus a bit.

     I want to be able to spend more time on being a wife and mommy, on running my household and making it a place of peace (not chaos) for my family. Our home is open (through DHS) for adoption and our family dynamics could change at any moment. Having me work from home will provide a more flexible schedule and allow us to more easily make adjustments as needed.

    Work from home? Did I say that? Yep! I have two things (other than taking care of my family) that I will be doing from my home. My first new venture is baking! I love it! You can check out my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CupcakesAndWhatnot to see a menu and pricing. Between now and September 30th, mention this blog post and get 15% off your order! :)

    My second business venture is something I am very excited about for numerous reasons. I am an ambassador for Noonday Collection. Noonday Collection is a company that carries jewelry, scarves, bags, etc., - all handmade by artisans around the world. Noonday has provided a marketplace for these artisans' work, thereby creating income and helping boost the economy in impoverished areas. I talked about orphan prevention a few months ago (read it here), and Noonday is a way for me to get involved in a cause that is close to my heart. Another cool thing about Noonday is that when a person hosts a trunk show, there is an option to use it as an adoption fundraiser. I love this company! We are working on both ends of the orphan crisis: helping first families provide for and keep their children AND helping cover the cost of adoption for those children who need second families. Awesome.

     As I am just getting started with Noonday Collection, and since it isn't extremely well-known, I am going to do a little giveaway! Go visit www.jenniferhostetler.noondaycollection.com, check out the products, read some of the artisans' stories. Then - comment and tell me what your favorite piece is and why AND share this blog on your Facebook page. (You can comment under the blog OR where I shared the blog on my Facebook page.) The prize? A $50 Noonday Collection gift voucher! Remember, you have to comment AND share to have a chance to win! The deadline to enter the drawing is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 14th, and a winner will be randomly picked Monday, July 15th. I'll notify the winner via Facebook.

     And now, back to 7: ironically enough, next up on our 7 list is stress. I know. Anyhoo, June was supposed to be Stress Month (bwahahaha) but in the mad chaos that was May, I never had a chance to get it all planned out. Sigh. I will sit down and get it all figured out this week - Stress Month begins Sunday. You heard it here first, folks. I need some online accountability to make sure I get this done. ;)

     I'll be back soon with the layout for our next 7 experiment... Until then, check out Noonday Collection (and maybe try a cupcake)!!!

May = Media Month

Well, May is here and that means it is the long dreaded awaited media month. I have been looking forward to this month knowing it will be good, but dreading it because I know it will be hard.

I am an American woman, wife, mom - I carry a small computer in my purse (otherwise referred to as a smart phone or a leash). I use it to text, update my facebook status, pin recipes and crafts I may or may not try, check my email a bazillion times a day, and look up random trivia online - all while pretending to be present with the people who are actually in the room with me.

In addition to my iPhone, there are movies, TV shows, and Wii games that desperately need my attention. Sometimes their cry for attention can be louder than that of my daughter's. "Shh, Elisabeth, I'm trying to hear this." "Hang on, babe, I'm checking my email." What am I teaching my child? Father, forgive me. And thank You for not shepherding me like I attempt to shepherd my child.

Before you assume I am on my phone and watching TV 24/7, let me assure I am not. We don't even have cable, for crying out loud. (It is amazing how much time one can waste on Hulu, though...) We take family walks and play games together. But screen time takes up far too much of our time. And my personal little screen takes my attention (and heart and affections) away from those around me far too often. This month will be different - and will hopefully put us back on track to handling the media around us better, long term.

These are the "rules" this month:
        - Facebook - work-related only (and that is legit, people!)
        - Pinterest - retrieving recipes/ideas I've ALREADY pinned for a specific purpose
        - Movies - limited to 2-3 nights this month (Saving them for when all of us have had long days and just need to crash - please tell me other families have those nights!!!)
        - Wii - only when all three of us are playing and interacting together
        - iPhone - calling/texting only - no web surfing/shopping/time killing

You know what I will probably miss the most this month? The Bob Newhart Show. No joke. I will miss Mr. Carlin's toupee, Howard's stupidity, Bob's dry humor. I like to watch it while I work out with my kettle bell. Sigh. Bob will be waiting for me in June. (And I'm somewhat ashamed to admit, in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "Thank goodness Biggest Loser isn't on right now!")

What I won't miss this month: the stories my husband and daughter are telling me because I won't be on my phone while "listening" or an extra hour of sleep because I didn't choose to watch one more episode. I could keep going but I think you get the picture.

I fully expect May to be the second hardest month of the whole 7 experiment. I mean, (and I probably shouldn't say this out loud) but can anything be harder than food month??? Something tells me, though, media month will be a very close second. Hard. But fighting addiction is hard. I think I just realized that as I typed it: I am addicted to media. News, stories, shopping, shows. Addicted. It's time to break the addiction. I'm fighting back this month; going to battle. My time with screens steals from my time with God and my time with my family. And. I. Let. It. Happen. Over and over again. No. This is NOT what I want - for me or my family. It's time to break the chains that I put on myself. Hard? Yes. But hopefully a "good hard".

Here goes.

April = Clothing Month

I'm just going to go ahead and say it and get it over with: spending month didn't seem to be too difficult. I feel like it should have been harder. Andy says it's probably because we "cheated" during the Branson trip and because we aren't huge spenders anyway. My best friend says it's because after food month, anything will seem easy! I'm sure they're right. Plus, I didn't even let myself walk around Target and see those red clearance stickers that always call to me and end up in my basket, whether I need the merchandise or not. It's been a good month, just not exceedingly difficult.

Cue clothing month. I've debated how to work clothing month. I don't want to fast for fasting's sake and I have already pared down my wardrobe considerably, thanks to possessions month. However, the overall goal of the year is a simplified life. I can't tell you how many days I try on three pairs of pants and four tops before deciding on an outfit and walking out the door. And then I come home and find them laying all over the bedroom because there wasn't time to put it all away. But not in April. For my "going out of the house clothes", I have settled on three pairs of jeans, a pair of red pants, 4 t shirts (Compassion International, VBS, Awana, and kidz ministry), a black sweater, a 3/4 button down, and a short sleeve button down. The three pairs of jeans is only because one pair is actually a bit too small, so I'm challenging myself to get into them. Two of the t shirts are "uniforms" for some events this month and the different tops are allowing for crazy April weather. I'm not limiting my shoes because I don't generally wear a ton of them anyway. Undergarments are considered freebies, as are my running clothes (I am running a half marathon on the 20th).

I am hoping to spend less time worrying about what I am wearing and how cute (or not so cute?) I am going to look. (Although I just realized I don't have anything pink to wear this month. Sad day. It's a good thing my running shoes have pink on them and glow in the dark. Yes, you read that correctly.)

Thus begins the month of less laundry and dramatically reduced clothing choices. And hopefully I'll learn a little something about focusing on caring for my heart and attitude more than my outward appearance. Month four starts: now!

This blog isn't about spending...

Andy and I were able to attend a Lifeway Festival of Marriage this past weekend. It was so nice to get away and actually *gasp* get to converse with my husband! Brandon and Jen Hatmaker were a couple of the speakers at the conference. Jen, you'll remember (I'm sure!) is the author of 7. While I was tempted to chunk the book her direction, I gathered myself and instead asked her to sign it. I also acted a bit stalkerish and got a picture with her. I like her.

The Hatmakers first did a general session about the way God moved them both in a certain direction and on how to follow Christ, not just as individuals, but also as a couple. And how to lead your family that way. Their breakout session that followed was spectacular: Marriage + Adoption. Right up our alley. For those reading this who don't know, Andy and I felt the call to adopt shortly after we got married. We heard and committed to that call, but we were still in college. Then Andy went to graduate school. Before he graduated with his Master's, we had Elisabeth. To make a long story very short, 9 years of marriage, a kindergartner, and a hysterectomy later, we have taken steps to be ready to answer this calling. About a year and a half ago, we missed an opportunity to provide a home for a little girl who went straight from birth at the hospital into DHS custody. We decided then in order for us to be ready at any point, we needed to open our home through DHS. Funny, actually, because I ALWAYS said I wouldn't go through the state. You know what they say about never saying never... At any rate, our home officially opened for adoption in early August.

Some interesting things came out of the Hatmakers' breakout.
1) We don't want to limit God in how He wants to use our family to provide a home for children who need one. International, private, state - we are game for any avenue He chooses to use.

2) As we broaden our horizons overall, we also need to broaden our DHS terms. I emailed our social worker last night and increased our maximum age by 18 months. (As a side note, we did talk with Elisabeth about it before we contacted our SW. This is a family deal.)

3) The concept of orphan prevention - something that had never crossed my mind. I get so caught up in my own perspective, I sometimes forget that I don't see the whole picture. Many children are "orphaned" (without parents) not because their parents are dead or don't want them, but because they can't take care of them. I can't even begin to comprehend having to choose to keep a child in my home, knowing I can not feed or clothe her, or to send her to an orphanage where I won't get to be with her but I know she's cared for. An awful, inconceivable choice. Despite my blindness to this problem, it happens. A lot. And before we all go put on our self righteous hats, these parents more than likely aren't lazy. There is no work. Or they aren't being paid fairly for their work. So what can I do? I live in Arkansas. I am far removed from this issue. Or am I? I think not as far as I would like to hope. It's in our country, too. But what can I do?

While we were at the conference, we picked up a Compassion International packet. We are now supporting a little girl in India. She lives with her mother and father; her father works when work is available and her mother takes care of things at home. A measly $38 a month will ensure she has food, clothing, education and chance to hear the Gospel. And it means she will be able to live with her parents. There are companies like Noonday and Land of 1000 Hills that provide women work and fair wages. And dignity. Despite what we may think, there ARE things we can do. It might take a little research. It might cost a little (maybe a lot). But we can be part of the solution.

Jen said there are seven Christians for every one orphan. This is sad and embarrassing. But adoption is only half of the answer. It catches the problem on the back end; let's stay back there but stretch to the front. Let's work to alleviate the problem. Be a mentor for teen moms. Seek out companies that pay fair wages. Support a Compassion International child. Be Jesus to the least - on the mission field AND in our own backyard. Radical? Maybe. Worthwhile? Absolutely.

This is what I desire: Please, Jesus - soften my heart, open my eyes, and use me.

Spending Month Begins

Actually, we are a few days into spending month; I just haven't had a chance to blog about it yet. Spending month is all about consumerism. It sounds like such a dirty word. We all like to think we are above it, but I don't think we are. It's not just people who don't know Jesus, either. American Christians have grown comfortable in our freedoms and cultural excess; in many ways, we can not be easily differentiated from the world. I'm guilty of it, I know. Just last month I saw a pair of pants and a shirt that I HAD TO HAVE and within 24 hours of discovering them, I had them in my closet. I didn't need them and I wasn't out looking for them. I saw them, wanted them, bought them. Done. Granted, I very rarely do that. However, if I keep doing that, I'm going to be right back where I started in January: my house crammed full of so much stuff I don't even know what I have. No thank you.

This month, we are consciously limiting our spending to specific places/things:
1) church
2) bills
3) Elisabeth's school
4) Kroger/Walmart (groceries/necessities/gas)
5) Hobby Lobby (if I get a cupcake order and need supplies)
6) Subway and Truly Asian (We know we have a few very hectic days, so we built in a couple of "cheats" this month. We know we can get nutritious food fast from Subway and Truly Asian is a stellar Asian restaurant owned and operated by friends of ours. We know we can get quality REAL food there while supporting a local family business.)
7) emergencies (doctor, vehicle, etc.)

My friends Target, GAP, and Shadrach's didn't make the list. If you see me wandering through Target, make sure I'm not carrying anything to the check out, ok? Thanks.

When it comes down to it, I don't want to look like the world. I want my marriage to look different because of Jesus. I want my parenting to look different because of Jesus. I want my spending habits to look different because of Jesus. I want my closets and cupboards to look different because of Jesus. Sound crazy? Maybe. But I'm pretty sure Jesus never said, "Follow me so you can live like everyone else and then go to heaven." Nope. I should look different. Just money and things? Nope. What else can I do with my GAP and latte money? Give more to charities. Save for Angel Tree this Christmas. Give more to church. The possibilities are endless, but not our bank account. It all comes down to priorities and the heart. I want my heart to more easily follow Jesus and not the things my eyes see.

Just like possession and food months, I hope we come out of this one with a new perspective that sticks with us. Here we go.

The End of Food Month

Today is the last day of food month. This month has been hard and we have cheated more than I thought we would. Overall, though, we have done well. The biggest thing we have come away with from food month isn't as much spiritual as it is physical. We have eaten well this month. Good foods, whole foods, real foods. Our bodies have responded well to this and we are excited to continue it. I've already blogged about that, so I won't go into it in detail. We are going to take better care of our temples. We are going to rid our diets of processed junk as much as possible. (I, for one, am super excited that my smoothie tomorrow will have berries in it instead of just a banana! And I'm going to try to replicate a pasta from the Cheesecake Factory for dinner...)

March awaits us tomorrow with a new challenge: spending month. Our spending will be VERY limited to a few places. I'll post the list tomorrow (we are still working on it!). Spoiler alert: Andy and I are leaving town for a couple of days and we will most likely call a short hiatus on spending month so we can eat out and enjoy a latte or two... Here's to a new month!

Real Food

Well, we are halfway through food month. I'll be totally honest; there has been some cheating. Overall, though, we have stuck with it. One thing I have noticed is how GOOD I have felt this month. I believe it is directly tied to the foods we have been eating. Or, more accurately, the "foods" we haven't been eating. I use the term "food" loosely; many of the things we eat have been so processed by the time they get to us, the only resemble food. Velveeta? Oreos? Easy Mac? (And I'm not judging! We love this stuff, too!) I'm coming to realize just because something is "made with" real milk, cheese, turkey, you-name-it, doesn't mean it is real food. Chemicals and "nutrients" have been added. The fat has been removed. The sugar has been replaced with something that comes from a machine in a factory. We have been sold the idea that a company can better prepare meals for us and our families than we can. We've let them do it, and we've paid a high price for it.

Andy and I have been talking quite a bit about it for the last few days. When March rolls around, we want to definitely add more foods back to our meals - but we want them to be FOODS. And as little processed as possible. I know it is going to be more difficult that I am anticipating. But so totally worth it. My migraines have been virtually nonexistent this month. I have a husband and a six year old who need more than food-like products. It's going to take us being more deliberate about our grocery choices. It's going to take time. I'm sure there will be setbacks. But this is a battle my family is ready to fight.

In other (and far more important) news, Elisabeth trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savior this past Sunday afternoon! Andy and I are so excited for her! Andy will have the privilege of baptising her this Sunday - and we are very excited about that, as well. (And in the the spirit of honesty, we will be celebrating with pizza and cupcakes. Yes, I'm aware it is still February. I'm a work in progress, ok?)

Various thoughts about food month thus far

Day 2 
3:30 p.m. - The roasted apple and sweet potato soup is pretty good. We're going to be eating quite a few sweet potatoes this month. I hope we don't turn orange... (Elisabeth's complexion got a bit orangish as a baby because of her baby food favorites. You can understand my fear of turning orange, right???)

8:39 p.m. - The black coffee lasted almost two full days. I just can't stomach it. I am drinking a cup right now with a touch of sugar and 2% milk. Sue me. At least it's not heavy cream. Or a macchiato. Besides, Andy put marshmallows on his peanut butter toast and is (not so) secretly hoping we go to a Super Bowl party tomorrow so we can "be polite" and eat the food that is served. See? Compared to that, a little sugar in my coffee isn't too bad! :)

Day 3
2:49 p.m. - There are brownies in the oven to take to the Super Bowl party where we plan on eating whatever the heck we want. So there it is - we are caving in on day three. Pathetic? Maybe. Back on track after tonight.

Day 5
12:41 - I had Subway for lunch. 9 grain wheat bread, oven roasted chicken, and spinach. Tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, and sweet onion teriyaki sauce have never looked so good to me. That being said, my sandwich was still pretty good. Just dull. 
P.S. - No one has turned orange yet. :)

Day 6
6:15 p.m. - I told Andy if he would go get cheesecake, we could eat it after Elisabeth went to sleep and I wouldn't blog about it; it would be our secret. He refused.

7:30 p.m. - Andy pulled out banana chips. They are crunchy. I didn't realize how much I have missed crunchy things. All of the sudden, I have a love for banana chips.

Day 7
9:02 p.m. - We have made it through one week. We are already a bit tired of some things, but overall it's been good. Hard, though. Andy and I are going to a Lifeway Festival of Marriage in March and Brandon and Jen Hatmaker (author of the book 7) will be there; at this point, I'm not sure it would be a good idea to meet her. She might walk away with a black eye...

 

One month down

Today marks the end of possessions month. It's not really over, though, for two reasons. 1) Due to bronchitis, a few migraines, and a pretty hectic January, we still have a few areas in the house to finish sorting. 2) I (we) want this to be more of a lifestyle/heart change than a one time "fix". If things go back to the way they were, this month has been for naught. As we move on to the next phase of our version of the 7 experiment, I pray we take this month's lessons with us. I don't want to collect more closets full of stuff I don't need (or even want). I don't want to teach my daughter by my choices to chase the American dream instead of Christ. I want my new motto to be "Just because I can have it doesn't mean I should."

In other news, food month begins tomorrow. I really enjoyed today. As in, crab cakes, cupcakes, pasta... Sigh. So long, cupcakes. Hello, spinach and sweet potatoes...

Food month is coming...

February is quickly approaching, so I thought I'd go ahead and post about food month. Just in case anyone wants to join in and needs to plan a little. ;) The premise of food month goes right along with the rest of 7. In our culture, we have all we need and then some and still pursue more. Case in point: today, instead of eating the food we had at home like we had planned, we decided to pick up something else because it sounded better. Bad thing? Not necessarily. But we're spoiled. Don't like what you have? Get something else.

So for one month, instead of eating anything and everything I want based on cravings, emotions, and convenience, I will eat only 11 specific foods and limit my liquids to water and black coffee. Jen Hatmaker did quite a bit of research on nutrients and whatnot to come up with her 7 foods. I swapped salmon for avocados and added a few more foods. (And coffee, for crying out loud.) Here's my list:

Chicken
Salmon
Eggs
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Apples
Bananas
Oats
Whole wheat bread
Peanut butter
Greek yogurt
Black coffee
(Salt, pepper, and olive oil on a limited basis)

Andy will be participating in food month. Elisabeth will be, as well, to an extent; as in, she will eat what I cook for dinner. Or when she says pizza sounds good for dinner, she will be told, "No, we are eating what we have."

Before anyone says anything: this is NOT a diet. (Believe me, if it was, it would last about 3 minutes.) This is a deliberate choice to fast from excess. The pizza and chocolate I turn to after a long day. The gummy bears I eat when I am stressed. The latte I get to reward myself. The Chinese take out I get when I just don't want what is already in my kitchen. I'm looking forward to it - choices will be easier to make. I'm dreading it - choices will be limited. I like food; I bake and eat as a hobby and stress reliever. Andy and I readily admit to being food snobs. This isn't going to be easy but I have a feeling it will be worth it.

Here's to the approaching food month. (And on March 1st, let there be cupcakes!)

Plodding

Plodding is the best word to describe how I've been going through our house. So far, I've gone through three closets, most of the kitchen, the guest room (with the closet and laundry area), and both bathrooms. The most daunting of rooms remains: Elisabeth's room. It scares me...

So just a day or two after my last post (about the lady out of rehab), Andy got an email saying a coworker's house had burned down. She has a son Andy's size, so he went through his side of the closet and was able to take a lot of his clothes to the son.

Last night, Andy and I packed our Explorer FULL of boxes and bags jam-packed with perfectly good kitchen gear, clothing, books, games, puzzles, and house decor to a local place called Abilities Unlimited. AU is basically a non-profit thrift store that works to improve the living and working conditions for people with disabilities. 

The kitchen and dining room closet have probably been the most shocking so far. I mean, really, how many potato peelers and spatulas do I need? Don't even get me started on the coffee mugs. I literally packed up at least 25 of them - and still have no fewer than 20 at home. (We kept a good selection of at-home mugs and travel mugs, in case you are wondering why I kept that many!) I got quite a few for Christmas, making it clear that 1) I have a problem, and 2) my friends and family all know and encourage it. So basically, I kept what I was given, but for every new one, I pulled one or two out of the cabinet to give away.

I'm closer to being finished than at the beginning of the month, but there is still much to do. As I was cleaning out the dining room closet last night, I filled two large boxes with "give away" stuff and one BIG trash bag to throw away. One closet. How have I accumulated all this stuff and not noticed? I'm hoping my eyes will remain open and I can prevent it from happening again. If you've seen me out at Target lately, you probably have heard me say things (out loud!) like, "Jennifer, you don't need that" or "You don't even really like that - put it down!". Please, Jesus, keep my heart soft and my eyes open. I'm ready to walk out of the "things" trap and stay out of it.

We are making our way quickly through January, which means food month is fast approaching. Details about the food month layout will be coming soon. For now, I suppose I need to gather all my courage and step into Elisabeth's room...

And today, I almost cried...

Today's plan was this: finish the kitchen cabinets and finally start on the dresser in our room. I thought I'd come home at lunch and work in the kitchen some more. God had other plans.

When I got to the office this morning, I asked about a lady with whom our church has recently become acquainted and whether or not she needed any clothes. As it turns out, she had already been given some clothes, but there was another lady who was in need of help. As in, she had nothing. She was sleeping on a mattress she pulled out of a dumpster. (And she has a 2 month old daughter.) I was given her name and phone number so I could find out what size she wore. After getting over the "this is going to be so awkward!" feeling, I called the number and her mom answered. I was eloquent (or not). "Umm, this is a strange phone call, but a guy from my church said your daughter needs clothes. What size does she wear?" As God would have it, she wears pretty much my size! I had SO. MUCH. FUN. going through my closet and drawers picking things out for her! Pants, skirts, cute tops, casual tops, dresses, shoes (I'm hoping they fit), jewelry, purses, Bath and Body Works stuff. Another friend brought some clothes. I had been planning on just taking it to Goodwill or Salvation Army (totally nothing wrong with that), but instead got to give them to someone I can pray for by name. How cool is that???

My heart is overwhelmed today by how God works - how my little plans change and how He allows us to be involved in His Work. I don't know that I've ever had a better lunch hour. I'm praying the clothes work and that this precious lady will be able to continue on her journey with God in better living conditions - and raise her daughter to know the God Who loves her, as well.

Please know, the last thing I want from this blog post (or any others) is a pat on the back. There are others in my church collecting furniture and kitchen items and bedding and all kinds of things for this family. I have been humbled today by God's timing and planning - that He would place this family in my path at the beginning of possessions month and that she is my size is just like Him. I'm not surprised, but I am amazed. Thank You, Lord, for choosing to use Your children.

P.S. And we can scratch the title. While typing out today's events, I did cry... :)

Day One: Possessions: Go!

Confession: Day One began with me rolling out of bed and joining approximately 2.5 million other people at Dillard's for their New Year's Day sale. I was hunting a purse and I got one. :) Let's just be clear - this is possessions month, not spending month... :)

Jen Hatmaker's goal with possessions month was to give away - you guessed it - 7 items a day the whole month. It sounded daunting until she hit the month's quota after going only through her closet. By the end the month, her family had given away more than 1,000 items.

Our family is tackling this project a closet, dresser, and cabinet at a time. We will have a few piles - Goodwill, Twinkle Twinkle (a local, twice-a-year consignment where I sell Elisabeth's clothes so I can get her the next size she will outgrow quickly), "I know a great place/person for this", and, my favorite, the "why do I even have this crap?" pile. You know the scene in The Sound of Music when Maria gets to the von Trapp mansion and they ask about her clothes? She says she gave them to the poor. Captain von Trapp asks her about the one she is wearing and she replies, "Oh, the poor didn't want this one!" So far I've only gone through one closet and I've already seen that pile build up and be thrown out. Sigh. Housekeeping has never really been my thing...

Today, I took on the coat closet. The one where things are always falling off their hangers and scarves fall on your head when you try desperately to find matching gloves. I was saddened when I found a jacket I'd forgotten I had because it was buried by ones I never wear. In the end, I pulled out 20-30 jackets, sweaters, and coats (from 3 people!) and distributed them among the piles. A bonus for today's work? If you come to my house, I now have a place for you to hang your coat! :)

I won't be posting every day, but will get on to tell you how God is using this time to work in our family. Tomorrow, I will be taking on a few dresser drawers and kitchen cabinets. If you haven't heard from me in a couple of days, I have probably been buried under VBS t-shirts and a various assortment of kitchen gadgets...