Homegrown Hospitality

Better Together..A Collaboration

This is one of my blessed friends, Lisa McKenney.  You may know her from Brave Girls Camp and/or from her ETSY shop, Love Squared Designs. Everyone should have a friend like Lisa because she is a prayer warrior, will look you right in the face and tell you just what you need to hear, remind you of what you already know but forget to remember and even laugh with you so hard you may cry..or pee your skirt. 

God has been working on the two of us for the past few years and once again, we have listened, said YES! have stayed "open" and have collaborated on a project that I am excited to share with you.  

The following are Lisa's words as she tells you about what we are doing...

We truly believe we are all BETTER TOGETHER… We believe that everything we have been given… all the resources, skills and gifts are to be offered in collaboration (not competition) to accomplish His greater plan. We are so thankful to be connected… to be able to support and encourage one another on our paths. And so we are praying that God will use this little offering to make a difference in the lives of those who wear them AND in the lives of those blessed by these very special organizations. His goodness is always so much bigger than we can imagine!

For the rest of the world it’s Cyber Monday but for me it’s Love Squared Designs 3^rd anniversary. As I look back 3 years ago to the fall of 2012 when God inspired me to open my little shop on Etsy I am in awe. He whispered in my ear… “Use what you have in your hand.” And so I took the leap and opened my shop on November 30^th… having no expectation… just a little bit of faith.  That first Christmas season I sold soldered photo necklaces and ornaments that I had been creating for friends and family for years. God allowed me to sell enough to fill in some gaps that Christmas and I was so grateful and thought maybe that would be the end of the story. But He had bigger plans…

#duh

In January of 2013 I chose a word to guide me through the year… or I should say God chose a word for me. The word He laid on my heart was YES. He also reminded me of the verse in Luke where Mary says "I am the Lord's servant…May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38) And so I made the same commitment… to say YES to Him even when I didn’t know what that would mean.  

That very month my friend Brandi launched a fundraising campaign to support organization fighting human trafficking around the world called She’s Worth It.

Stephanie designed the logo for that campaign and once again God whispered to my heart “Use what you have in your hand.” So I said YES and created soldered necklaces featuring Stephanie’s art to sell to raise money. I was hoping to raise $1,000 and I honestly wasn’t very optimistic that I would be able to do that BUT GOD had even bigger plans. He completely WOWed us!

Over 500 necklaces sold and we were able to donate over $10,000! That experience changed my faith… I discovered that my job is to SHOW UP with the gifts and resources God has given me and He meets me there to multiply my offering.

He wants to do this for all of us!

We all have something to contribute.

So it seems like a perfect way to celebrate my  3^rd anniversary is to release a Limited Edition soldered necklace AND a coordinating stamped bracelet design. Both of these pieces were created in collaboration with Stephanie to compliment the Documented Faith journey so many of you are taking with her. We hope these pieces of jewelry will be a reminder to each sweet soul who wears them to take another step closer to Jesus every day. 

But that’s not all…

There is even more goodness if you can believe it!

With each purchase, $12.50 will be donated to Beauty for Ashes Uganda (www.beautyforashesuganda.org ) for their “Veggies for Christmas” campaign which means EVERY PURCHASE provides 1 Garden per momma in Uganda and the ability to grow food for their family for a whole year! 

AND you will also receive this beautiful frameable 4 x 6 print of Stephanie’s art with your jewelry piece.  A perfect gift or a special treat for you! 

 

There are limited quantities of these available for Christmas delivery. (Additional pieces will be available to purchase but will be delivered in January. If you purchase this second option you will receive the 4 x6 print in the mail with a gift card for giving.)

Watch for more Documented Faith jewelry designs in 2016 all benefiting organizations serving women and children around the world!

Necklace
www.etsy.com/listing/121872036

Bracelet
www.etsy.com/listing/257367174

The WHY before the WHAT

This is going to be a long and "to be continued" post but want to tell you all the in's and outs of what I am going to share.

So dreaming big dreams, transforming and staying open has been in my heart and mind for over a year now (probably longer than that, I just didn't know it, duh.)  True "transforming" started for me in January (and again, probably longer than that, double duh) but the dreaming wide open has been a process, especially when you don't know what it is exactly you are dreaming about.

Confused?

Me too, but that is all part of the process. We are not meant to know it all so we have to trust.  It goes along with the saying I use alot, "I don't know where I am going but confident that I am going in the right direction" 

Whew.

So, I have had little nuggets of wishes here and there but to dream big GOD sized dreams is another thing.  Thankfully with wisdom & reminders from Lori,  Lisa and Holley and staying open to whatever it is that HE has planned has been my goal.

Things around here are going full circle and now I am able to start connecting the dots of my dreams and it is, well..really exciting BUT it is the WHY of my dreams, not exactly the WHAT. 

With all of that said, I want to introduce to you Hope Products International.

The WHY.

Here is the beginning of our story.

Here is our mission statement

Here is our team 

 

Here is our vision

First and foremost, for all of us, it is about the story of Daughters of Hope and Dylan, Molly, Cy & Lane, the team there on the ground serving, teaching, preaching and loving. 

The WHY for us is to do something for others. This is not all about having "this one great product" and then figuring out what to do with it.  It is all about having a common goal to serve. That is what we are supposed to do.

Okay, more to come.  I have to stop now because my heart is going to beat out of my chest any second and I need to go do my momma job and then hit the road.

I would LOVE for you to pray for these women, pray for our purpose, pray for people to understand.  I would love for you to share in our vision.  WE can all do this together and I am excited to share this with you because I know how you are!

and lastly...Thank you for being here so that I can share with you my big dream.  I hope that you can come along side me in this, oh and "eeeekkkkkk" (I say that alot when I am excited).   

Giving Up Is Not An Option

The title says it all.

It is not an option and if you are thinking of giving up, it is because you are tired.

Trying to do good is hard but we can do hard stuff.

I can.

You can.

But not if we are weary.

Get some rest.

Reboot your system.

Take a nap.

Go take a walk.

Breathe.

Pray.

Write your junk down.

Get it off your mind.

oh, and take a little time to doodle.

Your welcome.

download today's list  Download Donotgiveup

 

Monday and a List

If not now, when? 

PROCRASTINATION no more.

Get up and move...just do it.

It might not be easy (and is probably why you might be putting it off) and it most likely is not fun (or else you would have already done it, duh.)

stop thinking about it and do it, well after you Download Todayistheday and have written out what you have been putting off.

You will be glad you did!

Do Something - Brave Girls Truth Cards

Fridays are going to be dedicated to sharing ideas on how to help others and today I am kicking it off with a call for Brave Girls Truth Cards.  I love this idea that Kathy & Mel (and the BG crew) have developed and this is a really easy way to share with others that they matter and they are loved..in fact, I am planning to host a BG Truth Card Making Party for my friends and want to encourage you to do the same.  Here is a look at a few cards I made right after Kathy made the call for more cards... If you have taken my 52 Pickup class then you already know exactly what to do when it comes to creating cards, but if you haven't, there are easy instructions on how you can create cards by clicking here

If you are local (LA/Orange County, CA) and want to join in on making cards together, please email me at homegrown1(at)att(dot)net and I will let you know about my BG Truth Card Art Party!

We can do this together for others!

 

 

Radical Gratitude

Maybe it is just me but it seems that so many people practice sharing their gratitude only during this time of the year.

Here I go throwing myself under ye' bus...I am just as guilty of this.  It is not that I don't practice gratitude, it is just that I will be the first to say: "it's freezing out here!" instead of thinking that I am grateful for my warm coat or answering "I'm fine" instead of answering "great, how are you!" when someone asks "how are you?"

junk like this...do you know what I am talking about?

I am thinking that when I share it more online and in person it will create a habit for me and I hopefully will be able to influence and remind others to practice gratitude on a daily basis throughout the entire year....and guess what?

YOU can do this too, in fact, how about if we do it together!

My word for 2014 is going to be PRACTICE and I am starting now by setting good habits and one is practicing gratitude more verbally, publicly, mentally, spiritually, physically, relationally and I want to encourage and invite you to do it too.

Let's do this together, not only during this time of the year..but everyday.  Who's in?  Leave me a comment so that I know!

Serving & Gratitude = Happiness

In church this past weekend we were reminded that happiness is a choice and simply put, we are happy as we choose to be. Happiness is not something you seek, it’s not something you can find and its not something you can gain based on “if only…”, “when this…” and “as soon as this happens…” thinking.   Happiness does not come from status, salaries or success.  It comes from being grateful for what you have and serving others. oh yea, we were also reminded to be grateful and never grumble..to do everything without complaining or arguing.

gulp.

Hmmm..sounds simple enough but simple does not mean easy and if you turn on the news or read the paper, there is not a whole lotta happy happenin. We are negative by nature and conditioned by culture (thanks alot Adam..okay, and Eve) and the best antidote to all of this and the easiest way to remember not to whine, pout or grumble is to practice service & generosity every day...

every.

single.

day.

and that brings me to today's list.  Download Attitudeofgratitude It is a simple little fall-ish list that you can print out and can be used for your to-do's but maybe you can also make one as a list of things "TO DO" to practice serving and giving...
Simple ways to serve others can be as easy as smiling...holding the door open, listening to someone, complimenting others, volunteering in your community or maybe giving anonymously. Giving is a great way to serve others. 

Lastly (because there are a million way to serve) ...show and/or remind someone to choose happy:

"Happiness is something you must believe you can have and you then have to choose to be happy.  You can be happy with hardship and suffering all around you and under terrible circumstances in your life if you truly believe you have that choice.  For all those that need outside influences to be happy, you can provide that service and choose to be happy and to be an example of happiness for those around you regardless of the circumstances."

Kelly Rae & Mission Kindness

One of the blogs that I read each morning is Kelly Rae Roberts and yesterday was no different except for the fact that after reading "Calling all Possibilitarians And Kindness Warriors"  I jumped up, grabbed my coffee and headed out to the ol' shead-teau and went to work creating for my mission.

The process I used for making my cards reminded me of the 52 Pickup cards, but with a twist.  I didn't use playing cards, I used lined Project Life cards so that I could create art on one side and write messages on the other.  These cards also remind me of the Brave Girls Truth Cards and because I know what special meaning these cards brought to the girls Melody created with, I know these cards will be just as special.

Ya know what one of the best things about my mission prep was?  The fact that I was excited and pretty much LOVED creating each one of these cards.  Cards that would eventually bring happiness and cheer to others.  I am hoping that the feelings I experienced absorbed into the cards as I made them.

I added very simple but direct words onto the fronts of each card using the Tim Holtz rub on's and I am in the process of writing messages on the back, while I sit and look at them. So, are you in? Are you ready to go on a mission?  Make sure you let Kelly Rae know...and let me know too so that we can do this together!

Do Something

Today I hope to encourage and inspire you to do something.

Whether it be for someone or something, there is a whole lotta need in the world and it is our personal responsibility to help where help is needed. Whether it be with time, talents or financial means, every little bit helps. 

On my personal bucket list, I want to go give and help at the JBJ Soul Kitchen, but until I find myself in New Jersey, I will continue to show up, help and support The Jessie Rees Foundation, not just because it is a mile from my home, but because she created a shift in my life, without even knowing her. This photo below was the first image of NEGU that I saw as we drove to her memorial service.  It is a photo that I love and I keep as a reminder to never ever give up. You can read some of my blog posts about Jessie here, here, here. and you can also go check out the Jessie Rees Foundation at www.negu.org and find out how you can help! Every Wednesday, I head to the Joy Factory.  The place where all of the joy is lovingly stuffed into jars and shipped off to little and big kids with Cancer.
It is a bittersweet feeling because of the reason the Joy Factory and the Foundation exist but when I go there, give, help and go through the cards, notes, photos and letters from all of these sweet little ones and their parents that are thanking the foundation for the jars they have received, I am filled with an indescribable desire and passion to keep helping, supporting and sharing Jessie's dream of spreading joy.

Today, get up, get out and do something and please remember, never ever give up.  "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" Phil. 4:13

 

Do Something

Be positive, think good thoughts and remember we are equipped for hard things.