Anyone that knows me knows that I love art!

I love thick textured paint on canvas. The way a painting or a sculpture can evoke emotion, or stir us to action.  I love art galleries, and almost anything homemade.

I do not like to shop. Why am I telling you this?

Because

Art Inspired Outfits III by georgina-m on polyvore.com

I found this really cool site that makes clothing inspired by famous art. It is too cool not to share!  So enjoy!!!!!

Why Ethiopia...

We realize that there are many people who will never understand why we have chosen to adopt a child from a foreign country. Many have commented that there are lots of American kids who need homes. 

Yes, we know. But we feel called to adopt from Ethiopia. We encourage people who have such a strong opinions about our adoption to keep their comments to themselves---or go adopt an American child if you feel that strongly about it. We believe that no child should grow up without a parents. We would love to see every orphan in a home. But if you aren't going to be a part of the solution yourself, then please don't critique our choice. 

We do realize that this is going to be a major undertaking. We are bringing home a 6 year old child who has lived in extreme poverty for her entire life. No water. No food. No parents. We understand that we will be dealing with some major trauma. There will be a language barrier. Cultural differences to overcome. And let's not forget the non-stop opinions that will be offered by on lookers. 

   But we believe that LOVE is a universal language. We speak LOVE. We believe that God cares for orphans and he commands us to care for them too. We have seen a need, and chosen to respond. Orphans are so easy to ignore when you don't know their names. 

We know alot of their names. We HAD to respond. 

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? 

-- Proverbs 24:12

Here's what else we know......

Struggling to survive on an average annual income of $280, many families in Ethiopia lack access to nutritious food and clean water*

• 5 million children in Ethiopia are orphans or have lost one parent.

• More than half of Ethiopians lack access to clean drinking water.

• More than two in five children who start primary school in Ethiopia do not complete fifth grade.

• Approximately half of children under age 5 in Ethiopia suffer from stunting as a result of malnutrition.

• 1 in 5 girls in Ethiopia are married before the age of 15. Some as young as 7. Average age of husband, 25

• Leading cause of child death in Ethiopia--diarrhea due to poor sanitation.
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We cannot ignore these facts...or the children that we have met living in these conditions. We chose to make a difference for one child. 

Can you imagine if everyone else did too?

Meet Ohio’s ServeNext Organizer | ServiceNation

Meet Ohio’s ServeNext Organizer | ServiceNation

Here is the interview I did recently for ServiceNation. Check it out! I am so excited about the work I am doing with ServeNext/ ServiceNation!

Advocacy Is For Everybody! | ServiceNation

Advocacy Is For Everybody! | ServiceNation

Check out the blog post I wrote for the ServiceNation Blog! I am really proud of the great work being done in Ohio by Americorps Members.http://www.servicenation.org/blog/entry/advocacy-is-for-everybody

Why Africa?

I love Africa.....

Not because I feel like I saved the world after a visit.

But because I feel like Africa saved me.

      For many of you wondering why we have chosen to adopt from Africa, the truth is Africa chose us. The people in Ethiopia are so warm, and so generous.  All of the education in the world could not have taught me the simple lessons I have learned there. 

 Material possessions mean nothing without community, without love,  and without the joy that comes from knowing the Lord.

 I want to dance like them. 

I want to love my neighbor like them. 

I want to worship like them.

I want to partner with them.

And most of all---I want you to know about the Africa that you won't see on CNN.

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I  love this video!

This summer I began work with World Vision as a Child Ambassador! My goal is to find sponsors for 100 children this year! If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child, please email me for more information! Our family sponsors a little boy in Kenya, who is Aidan's age and a little girl in India who is Mia's age. We just love the updates and letters we get from our sponsored children!

When I grow up....

When I grow up.....

I want to be more like my kids. 

They see beauty in everything.

They laugh non-stop.

They accept others with open arms, hugs and high fives.

They dance.

They wake up singing.

They make art.

They find treasures.

They love with reckless abandon.

They never stop learning.

They are always exploring.

They make me smile.

They play with cardboard boxes.

They make mud pies.

They skip.

They love the Lord.

They are mine.

I will love them always.