My Beautiful Mess

I think back to that long walk I made from my village to school that windy spring day. I thought it was going to be like every other day but it wasn’t. There were men in important clothes walking around my school. We knew what they were there for. You never knew when they were coming and most of the time only took a few kids each time. Our parents would tell us which one of our friends was now having to work in the factory or the fields for the next few months. Some never returned. This day was different though. You see I live in Uzbekistan. It is harvest time for cotton. A decree was forced and everyone had to follow it. The decree mandated everyone in my school to pick and harvest all the cotton in the fields around us. I am 12 years old and I don’t get to go to school anymore because from dawn until dusk I am in the cotton fields. My wages are about $0.26 a day. Most days I don’t get that though because I end up getting so hungry that I have to ask for food. If they men in charge feed you, it comes out of your pay.  In the beginning my teachers would come to the fields and teach us but it became harder and harder because we were all in different areas of the fields. I wasn’t given a choice. I was forced. If I don’t work or if I get tired, I am beaten. Today was a really hot and I just wanted a sip of water. The water line was rather long though. I knew that if I stood in line that I would only have to stay later. I was ready to get home. I didn’t want to be in those fields another minute. One of the bosses, left a water bottle near me. As I looked down at the clean, sparkling water, I felt even more parched then before. One sip. No one is looking. I don’t want to wait in that line. It was impulsive. It was not a smart decision. I am now regretting ever leaning down to grab the tall drinking glass. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a whip coming right down over the spine of my back. “Wait in line, like everyone else!” I wish I was given a choice. I wish that I wasn’t forced to do this day in and day out. I wasn’t given a choice though. I am slave.  The year is 2013. The cotton that I am harvesting is being sent to factories that will then be sent to stores in America.

This is not a real story. Could it have been? Very easily. Children are forced daily to work in factories in fields as slaves as over the world.

Check these articles out. http://www.uznews.net/news_single.php?lng=en&sub=top&cid=31&nid=23121

http://www.uznews.net/news_single.php?lng=en&sub=hot&cid=2&nid=22740

This cotton could have easily gone to any of the following stores that have gotten D’s and F’s for their worker rights, policies, transparency, and monitoring. Here is a list of just a few that I have found that have gotten D’s and F’s.

Hollister

Abercrombie and Finch

Roxy

Quicksilver

Walmart-Granimals, Faded Glory, Just one you

Target-Child of mine, genuine kids

Aeropostale

Forever 21

Express

Osh Kosh B’gosh

Lacoste

These are just a few.

January……

Doesn’t it make you excited? I always love this month. I love it for many reasons, mainly because it is my birthday month. Have I told you how much I love birthdays. Celebrations of any sorts. It does not have to be about me. I just love it!

You know it is never too late to plan your reading list for the year. Here is mine so far.

Ungifted by Scott Barry Kaufman

Playful Learning

Social

A long walk to water

Chivalry by Zach Hunter

The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soul

The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman

Speak love by Annie F. Downs–You can get the kindle edition now for 2.99. I have started this one. Our words are so powerful. I am reading this one because I will one day have a teenager. I think all teenagers and moms of girls should read this one. Ok…maybe women period.

A million little ways by Emily P. Freeman

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequest

It is never too late to decide what dreams you are going to work toward this year.

Our family is praying that our house sells. We are also praying for the house, community, school, and neighborhood that we are going to be in soon.

Passion City Church (our church) has a vision statement “that we may”

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You once had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Our family has embraced this as well.

That we may

be a family that loves each other

that is generous to others.

That loves others because He first loved us.

That walks in truth and not in fear.

That shows grace and mercy like He shows grace and mercy.

That we may.

It is never to late to decide that you are going to love your husband more than ever.

I’m going to hug him like I mean it.

kiss him every chance I get.

pray for him daily

put him first before our children (kids need to be reminded they aren’t the center of the universe. A child centered universe is a recipe for disaster in any marriage)

Speak Love and encouragement over him daily.

It is never too late to pray for guidance over decisions you will make this coming year.

-Here are just a few of ours…..

Adoption-When? Where?

School-What district?

Buying the right home?

Parenting

What are you dreaming up this year? What are you praying about? What are you wanting to accomplish this coming year. Don’t forget-It is never too late.

This is Jad’s room. It started out with a map, a few globes, a few pieces of artwork, and hanging lanterns. I wanted it to have a global feel. I didn’t want it to be to “theme-y” When he turned 1, He had an “UP” birthday. I added a few of the birthday pieces in his room decor. I felt like it became a little more Pixar’s UP inspired. It suits him well because our little boy goes on an adventure every day.

Pottery barn bookcase- I purchased this one at a yard sale. I bought one off Etsy for Ella for  95.00 with shipping. When I found this one for $3.00 I couldn’t pass it up.

Mod-podged map letters made with maps. (letters came from (Hobby Lobby) I attached them to the wall using my favorite 3M/Command products. I love that you don’t have to nail to walls and the adhesives come off the wall so easily.

The globe in this pic was ordered off ebay. It is also a night light. I ended up getting it for free because the post office damaged it. You can’t see it but there is a huge crack. I still use it because when it faces the wall, you can’t see it. I Just have to keep it in the same place all the time.

This print is from Uganda, Africa. We bought it at a Helping Hands Gala.

The lamp shade was bought at a yard sale. The lamp stand was from Kirklands. I used the ribbons to make the shade.

This print He’s got the whole world in His hands can be found here. (it is another site that has amazing prints) Frame sold separately

This red long book shelf can is another pottery barn yard sale find. I paid 5.00 for it. It was another one of those finds that I wanted to get my money out as quickly as possible before they changed their mind. 

The lanterns hanging in room are from the knot (a wedding site) They run about 2.50 each. When I got them they were on sale for .99. I bought several and hung them in both Ella’s and Jad’s room.

I love the adventure awaits bunting over the nap in Jad’s room. I got it from an Etsy shop called Earmark. This shop has so many lovely things. If you like pencils then this would be the perfect place to buy a bouquet of sharpened pencils. I love that line in the movie-You’ve Got Mail.

The map was ordered off Amazon. The house shown below was painted by me. I tried to make it look like the Pixar “UP” house. It was a party decoration that also ended up in Jad’s room. I bought the house at Hobby Lobby.

The glass globe was a pottery barn ornament that came out several years ago. The other globe hanging was a beach ball that came out of a happy meal.

The canvas below was made by me using vinyl letters from my silhouette and a vinyl globe sticker. 

“When poverty isn’t just a word anymore and you can put a face to that word……”

When you purchase from She does justice this month a percentage goes to Sole Hope. If you haven’t visited this website, you must check out what they are about.

I plan on having a shoe making party this month or next month for Sole Hope.

Here are a few of my favorite things on the She does Justice -handmade hope giving site.

Don’t you love this turban headband?

You can get this at she does justice.

How cute are these infinity scarves for little girls?!?

I also love these bracelets! Each one is $10.00. Get them here.

I am reminded even more about adoption as we enter into the advent season. We talk so much of Mary during this time of year that sometimes Joseph’s calling goes unnoticed.

I read a book titled Adopted For Life by Russell D Moore. I came across a journal today where I took notes about Jesus’ earthly father.

Joseph

-No DNA of Joseph went to the Son of Man.

-He might not have been his biological father but he was his real father.

-Joseph’s fatherhood is significant for us precisely because of the way the gospel anchors it to the fatherhood of God himself.

-Joseph was called to provide for and protect the Christ of God.

-God spoke to Joseph in a dream to tell him about Jesus. Matthew 1:21-24

-No one else was called to adopt the Christ child, but he was.

-He taught Jesus how to saw through wood. He taught him his trade.

-He taught him how to recite Deuteronomy in Hebrew.

Joseph (or Jofish as my daughter Ella calls him) gets overlooked at Christmas.

Jesus also adopted me. He chose me. He loves me. I am His.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

My cousin Dave wrote this adoption poem for his wife Bethany for Mother’s day. I love the words. It was on the back of their Christmas card with Lola’s birth announcement.

We are adopted because He adopted

She was chosen because we were chosen

We love because He loves

She is ours because we are His

And now forever for her life proclaims an adoption story in Jesus name!