missionary spotlight: Amanda Herdina [Uganda]

hey yall, so for my FIRST missionary spotlight....I want you to meet my girl Amanda.  ya know how yesterday I talked about our very first man up trip [through Visiting Orphans] to Africa?  Well, that's how I met Amanda.  she works for VO and this was her first trip to africa too!  she has a beautiful story....so let's meet Amanda!  make sure you visit her website HERE.
[read more about why I'm starting this here.]

that's us, in Ethiopia [Korah to be exact].  we went on both of our first ever mission trip to africa together summer of 2011.  and she's my sister for life now.  it's been so amazing to see what the Lord has spoken over her + where He is leading her since this picture was taken.  She's so close to going for it.  and she has a story, she has needs, she needs a team! 

[Amanda on the Nile in Uganda]

tell us three words to describe your personality...

Only.Three.Words.?  ok, ok:  Spunky.  Freespirit.  Broken.

what's your absolutely favorite thing in the world to do? 

…Wynne.  That’s so not fair.  Between roadtrips, going to the lake, sitting at a bonfire, belting Disney in my car, cheerin for my Pats (do NOT say anything), going to live shows, watching movies and camping?  I’d have to say Living Life.  G’aw, I know that sounds so Miss America.  But really!  Every year for my birthday, I do something to make me feel alive.  Whitewater rafting, a tattoo (or 5), Skydiving, taking a trip...  There’s so MUCH TO DO in life.  So as long as I feel like I’m LIVING, then that’s my favorite thing in the world.

So, Amanda you are a dreamer.  When would you say that dreaming started? 

I was standing on my coffee table in a costume made from tinfoil, performing the entire soundtrack to The Bodyguard, at the ripe ‘ole age of 8.  Or maybe it was when I choreographed an entire figure skating routine to “Independence Day” on rollerblades.  Or when I wrote screenplays with my cousin and acted them for my family.  I can’t tell you when they actually started, I feel like I’ve been a dreamer since the day I came bursting into life!

what would you say to someone who didn't grow up dreaming big?  where should they start? 

Oh gosh, this hurts my heart a little.  I think if someone hasn’t been dreaming since day one, they need to first ask themselves, Why Not?  (and I mean that in all sincerity, not a condescending way at all).  What’s happening, or going on in their lives, that has been robbing them of the freedom to dream?  Every day, children are told they can’t be somebody or do anything with their lives, and they grow up believing it.  Are people living in environments where they feel uncomfortable to escape?  Financial burdens create vicious cycles that leave families giving up their dreams.  Even marriages will sometimes steal the truth that it’s ok to dream and people tend to settle for mediocre…

So where, you ask, should they start?  By taking one small step.  “Things” are always going to come up in life (where you live, who you live with, what you’re doing) and if you continue to put those in front of your dreams, your dreams will continue to stay on the back burner.  It’s OK to dream.  And that it’s always, always, always okay to go for them.  Small or Big.  And then surround yourself with positive people that believe in you!  But if you’re going to start now, you need to start by taking that step. God’s going to either crazy bless you in your own dreams or he’s going to show you another one, but you’ve got to take the first step!

It’s funny you asked this because as I was trying to put my thoughts together, this post came up in my newsfeed, and I think this is the BEST way of saying what needs to be said:

[amanda in Uganda]

when you were a little girl - what did you dream of?

I remember always dreaming as a little kid of being in front of people singing or dancing, entertaining in some way, shape or form.  I never had a shy bone in my body and I loved the spotlight.  (Loved.  Past tense……. Urrr. Right).  So when I dreamed, I always dreamed big.  If I wanted to be an actor, I dreamed of the Oscar or Tony.  If I wanted to be a singer, I dreamed of the Grammy.  I dreamed of designing the most exquisite bridal gowns on the planet.  I was going to win scholarships for sports and awards for school, travel the world… Honestly, I dreamed of everything.

But I will say this.  Every time.  EVERY time I ever dreamed BIG, it was so that I would have a decent paycheck to be able to travel the world to visit children in need and make a difference in someone’s life.  I didn’t want the glory that came with those awards, I honestly wanted the platform so I was able to do more, to BE more.

I literally remember it like it was yesterday.  Laying in bed as a 4^th grader, I woke up in the middle of night with this thought that I was supposed to “Coat our Country”, giving warm winter coats to children in freezing places around the US.  What??  A 4^th grader?  How in the?? … Almost 14 years later… partnered with Burlington Coat Factory & Cabela’s, we brought coats to over 400 children in need.  And THAT’s when I realized that no matter what you dream and how you strive to reach it, or how long it takes for you to get there, don’t ever. EVER GIVE UP on a dream… If it’s His will, God’s going to give you a platform whether you’re an Academy Award winner or not.

[WAC in beautiful Uganda]

 did you ever think you would end up in Uganda? is this a crazy life or what? 

hAHA! Yes, when I was 3, I sat on my front porch drinkin my sweet tea, dreaming of a life in a faraway world, stricken with poverty, disease, famine and ………  Okay sorry.  NOOoo! That just goes to show that, NO WAY EVER did I EVER think I would end up in Nashville, let alone be moving to Uganda.  I probably couldn’t even pronounce it until like 2 years ago!

so, you are moving to Uganda.  when was your first trip there? 

(deep breath) I am.  I went with this really cool, really fun, really awesome spiritually centered organization called, Visiting Orphans, with the very first ‘Man Up’ team.  It was the summer of 2011, and I met some pretty cool, pretty radical world changers on that trip that have inspired me to do more.  (cough, wink)

did it completely rock your world? 

I smile.  Thinking back how I felt after I returned from that trip, it’s almost silly now.  I was not only rocked, I was WRECKED.  Literally.  I see it definitely as a refining season now, but during those couple months that followed, I was ultimately miserable.  Couldn’t focus.  Couldn’t relate.  Couldn’t find my place… I didn’t want to work and yet I couldn’t sit still.  It was one of the hardest times I’ve been through, the waiting and wondering.  I probably wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around, and so for that… all my friends and family deserve patience awards, seriously!  Sorry y’all!!

when did you know that you had to go back? 

The second I stepped off the plane in Entebbe.  I knew I would be going home a very short 14 days after, but I KNEW I’d be back.  I knew right then and there that this was the beginning to the ‘rest of my life’.

[Amanda in Uganda]

so your dream & vision for heArts to hope...can you share that with us

Do y’all have a couple hours, can’t we meet for coffee instead?

Prelude:  It was a crisp and sunny October afternoon in 2010.  I was on my way to Georgia after a pretty intense argument.  I remember being so frustrated.  So tired and weary of the fight.  So aggravated that my point wasn’t being made and boy, was I mad…. And halfway into the drive, I felt, what I like to call, a Flick in the Forehead moment.  I had to pull over as the most random, unexpected, and yet totally vivid and clear thoughts began to take over… 14 journal pages later… ‘The Vision’ was born.

Why do I tell you all that?  To explain that this isn’t mine.  Because I was in a totally different place in my life at this time.  I’d never traveled to a third world, let alone knew what orphan ministry even was.  I was working in the Entertainment industry and was settling into that lifestyle, married to my pride and control.  So to say that this is definitely not my dream and vision is an understatement.  You couldn’t have paid me to write this script ….

heArts to hope was born that day as my saving grace.  I mean it.  It was then and there that I knew I needed a life change and it has since saved my life.  Visiting Orphans was introduced just weeks after.  One thing led to another and I was on a trip to Africa only 8 months later.

While there, I noticed how these kids just shriek and squeal with delight when you throw all your insecurities and inhibitions out the window and just… DANCE.  But what really stuck?  Is that every time we took out the guitar, every time we sang a song, drew a picture, took a photo, or threw a dance party, these kids came alive.  It was like we were feeding them HOPE on a silver spoon.  And the vision started becoming a reality that this isn’t just a fun time for us… this is a NEED for them.

heArts to hope strives to be a place where learning and teaching creative expression through visual art, performing art, film, fashion, photography, and music, can offer children affected by life’s damaging circumstances and vicious cycles of poverty with an opportunity to use their passions for long-term life change.  The goal is to build a ‘heArts Center’, an actual physical structure for Ugandan’s youth to come to and find solace—a safe haven to find freedom in Hope.

what's your plan now?

Haha…. Oh lordy.  That word is my kryptonite.  My ‘plan’ (knowing full well that when dealing with another culture on His timeline, anything could change at any given moment) is to visit Uganda at the end of February and talk with some of our ministry partners to see where this can best help.  I will gather details on where I’ll be resting my head, how much it’s going to take, where to build the facility, who will be involved, the timeline—basically creating the business plan for the next year.  Then come home to hit the ground running to finish raising support to move back in May and get started!

[Amanda in Uganda]

what do you need to get there? 

Wynne, that’s such a loaded question. J  I’m like a cliché Disney princess, so I say Prayers… but I really.do.mean.PRAYERS.  This is not going to happen alone or without them.

 And then after that?  Turns out, you need funds to move to a foreign country and jumpstart a project.  So if you’re anxious to help immediately (and I’m so thankful you are) here’s your chance!  I have about $1,800 left to raise for the February trip and then from there, I’ll need about $10,000 more to get me back there to live.  This is the biggest need at the moment and your help will go such a long way! (read amandas heart on this here.) 

what should people that are wanting to support you do to help? 

Set up a time where I can hug their faces!  I’m already feeling the love from people I’ve never met and it’s the most humbling thing ever!

I’m gonna need encouragement.  That’s what I love so much about you girl, and this Missionary Spotlight you’re doing.  Not for my benefit.  But for ALL the missionaries out there!  For those kids!  Because the times when we feel weary.  The times when we get discouraged, frustrated, afraid or feel let down?  THEY’RE going to be the ones that are affected, let down.  Those kiddos aren’t going to get the best of us like they deserve.  So let’s rally some cheerleaders!  Maybe we can have a sign up where someone sends all us crazies like, a singing skype telegram every other month or something!!  Or boxes of laffy taffy.  Endless boxes of laffy taffy….

If people want to know specifics on tangible ways to help, always visit my website www.heArtstohope.org and click on the NEED. tab.  I will keep that updated as much as possible on immediate needs, as well as long term dreams so people can pick and choose how they best fit in and where to help.  If they’re feeling led to donate, all the directions are on the to DONATE. tab.

And finally.  If you’re still reading this, all I ask is that you quietly listen to the little (or big) dreams that are whispering in your ear.  Just remember that no matter what your situation is, your dreams can come true at any given moment.  You just need to take one baby step towards the door…

[always full of joy and light...]

so what do you think yall? 

think we can rally around Amanda?! 

man up and GO! [a trip in June, lead by my husband + yours truly]

Our mission at Man Up and Go is simple:  To compel men to bring hope by GOING to the fatherless, widows and oppressed.  We are called to fight for the least of these (Isa. 61) whether that is in your neighborhood or 7,000 miles away.  It is time to stand up for those who cannot standup for themselves.  So I challenge you to stop...pray and think about where you are called to GO; fight and bring hope by taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the darkest and most hopeless places in America and in the World.  We are on the clock and it is time to do something.  Join us in the fight and do a canon ball into the Man UP and GO movement!!!  

[THIS is what Man UP is all about.  Stephen in Korah, July 2011]

I am really excited to share with you this morning that my husband will be leading a Man Up and Go mission trip to Uganda + Ethiopia June 5- June 15th.  I'm also excited (and a bit nervous) to tell you that he found his co-leader....ME!  So TOGETHER we will be leading a trip.  so, even though it's MAN UP, women can man up too!  

As most of you know, Stephen & I went on our first "man up" mission trip to Uganda + Ethiopia together the summer of 2011 and our lives have never been the same!  Stephen is now on the leadership team of Man Up [just got home from their leadership retreat!] and they have a few trips planned this spring/summer that I wanted to pass the info along to you or your husbands (or fathers, brothers, sisters, friends).  It's an amazing opportunity to get your feet on the ground in Africa, love big on orphans, and see God in a new way.  I have blogged a lot about our trips [you can find those posts here] but would love to help answer any questions/fears/concerns you have.  

[me in Korah on Man Up trip, July 2011]

[thanks Amanda for the pics, as I'm always taking them - I never get "real" live shots of us loving big]

Details about our trip::

 Ethiopia & Uganda Trip

• Dates: June 5 - June 15
• Leader: Stephen Elder (jselder05@gmail.com), Wynne Elder co-leader
• Application Due: as soon as possible - print, fill out, scan and email to: jselder05@gmail.com. If you'd rather physically mail the application with your check, that's fine too (see below). 
• $200 Deposit Due: February 15th
• First Trip Payment Due: March 15th (approximately 1/2 of estimated cost)
• Final Trip Payment Due: April 15th 
• Checks payable to: 
• Calvary Baptist Church (memo line write "Man Up Ethiopia/Uganda")
• Send your checks to: 
• The Sports Facilities Advisory, c/o Jason Clement, 600 Cleveland St., Suite 910, Clearwater, FL 33755
• Pay online. Instructions found here - http://www.manupandgoblog.com/submit-your-200-deposit/
• **NOTE** If you pay online, please let one of the Man Up Leaders know what name the payment was given under so that we may properly designate it

applications are due ASAP, so pray about it & see if God is calling you to GO this summer! 

Stephen can be reached::

email: jselder05@gmail.com

cell: 432-853-4623

man up site: http://www.manupandgoblog.com/

I can be reached:

email: wynne.elder@gmail.com

Where to start?

One of my biggest joys is getting to talk to adoptive mommas who are just starting the process.  

They are so expectant.  so excited for what God is going to do.  they have no idea that where they are now, will soon end with something similar to the image above.  beautiful, sent from god child(ren)!

one thing about these mommas is they are a sponge for information.

I remember when we decided to adopt, we didn't have any real life friends who had adopted, and didn't know the first thing to do!  It did seem scary & foreign and totally new. 

So I love getting to talk to moms, answer their questions, connect them with people/agencies/resources because when I didn't know anyone and I was calling random people I found online and friends of friends of friends & I loved it when people helped me.  and my general philosophy in life is to pay it forward!  people helped me - so I want to help people. 

So really there are about a dozen posts I have in my head to write, and I will get there.
they include: fundraising, choosing a country, fundraising, people raising, ha.

but I do have these nifty little pages on my blog that if you are reading from reader or bloglovin' you might not know about.  I have one called "adoption" and there you can find a little bit about our story, our timeline, a few videos, and some resources for you & your journey.

Here's just a little clip of the resource section (at the bottom)


Together for Adoption - amazing adoption conference, and outstanding resources
Noonday Collection - consider becoming an ambassador to raise funds for your adoption or simply host a trunk show!
Give1Save1 - features a different family each week to raise money for their adoption
147 million orphans - fundraising program & awesome adoption gear
Project Hopeful - education on adopting HIV+/AIDS orphans
Generations Adoptions - another amazing agency, specializing in Ugandan adoptions
Reece's Rainbow - information on adopting children with special needs
Show Hope - offers grants to adoptive families
Abba Fund - financial solutions for adoptions
Rainbow Kids - guidelines for each country, waiting children's lists

Stephen & I are conference junkies and our whole story from when we said YES started when we went to a Together for Adoption conference.  Something about worshiping, being taught from and meeting 900 other people who all had a heart for adoption that sparked something inside of us.  It connected us with several key organizations that have sense become a huge part of our story (noonday collection, Visiting Orphans).

But after that, we started researching agencies.  Every country has it's own requirements, and we quickly learned that out of all the African countries, we met the qualifications of Ethiopia.

If you are unfamiliar, these qualifications include things such as: your age, how long you've been married, how many kids you have at home, etc.  Ethiopia requirements are you have to be 25 years old & married for 1 (or is it 2?) years.

in the resources section, rainbow kids is a great place to get a good look at all countries agencies.  So if you are not sure where you want to adopt from, or what countries you qualify for - that is a good place to start.

so...that's really all for today.  just a quick glimpse into how our story started & some resources to hopefully help answer some of your questions.

Once I get my blog all re-organized + designed I hope to make it easier for you to find older posts that might be able to help you.  but until then....hope this helped!

feel free to ask questions & if I know the answer I'd be glad to help! 

ps - right now actually I'm at an amazing adoptive mommas retreat called Created for Care. so, you should look it up & look into it for march or next year!

*have a good weekend friends, I'm signing off through the weekend to be present at the retreat!  I'll answer all questions/comments next week when I get home!

a heart to connect.

If you knew me well, you would know I am a connector.  

I think it's a god given spiritual gift [I know it is]

I absolutely love to connect people!  that comes in a lot of ways, but recently I've been asking the good Lord how I can use that gift (and this space) for good.

and I think I found a way!

Something that my eyes have been open to since going on my trip to El Salvador in March of 2011 were the missionaries that have given up their life to be on the mission field.

see, on short term mission trips, you go to serve the local people of wherever you are going, but in reality you are there for the missionaries too.  

They need support, they need community, they need encouragement.

[Ken & Vicky Conway]

I remember the last night in El Salvador our team joined together at the Conways (the missionaries) home for a time of prayer and encouragement.  We all went around the room & shared with Ken + Vicky about whatever was on our heart to encourage them.  and then one by one we prayed for them.  it was an emotional night but a night of refreshment!

[shea's send off. shea is the one in green holding her nephew  sidenote: I went to El Salvador with her & 1 other girl in this pic in 2011]

reminds me of this morning: going to the airport to pray and send off my good friend Shea as she is going to serve with Mercy Ships in West Africa for 2 years! 

[alison]

rabbit trail...back to my story.  and as my good friend Alison, currently serving in Rwanda, told me tonight when they leave their home they leave their community!  think about that - they leave everything that they know to move to a country or culture that is unfamiliar.  no more church family, no more community group, no more family dinners, no more supper club or game nights.   they are there, a lot of times alone or with their small family unit.  can you imagine doing that? 

so they need encouragement and love.

but how do we know how to serve and love them well? 

that's where I hope this missionary spotlight segment will hopefully get your mind turning.

I have some pretty radical friends I've met over the years that have given their life to the mission field: whether thats in a village in Rwanda or in the inner city in San Diego.  either way, they have given up all they know and all that is comfortable to spread the gospel.  and I think you should know about them!

they all have some pretty amazing stories

and as you know, I love telling stories. 

SO I've just talked to 3 or 4 people lately that I would love to introduce you to.  they are all in different stages: some just released their mission & are starting to raise support, some are a year into living cross culturally, and some are about to be launched into their mission.

This isn't going to be a weekly thing or something I do on a schedule, just sort of as the spirit leads.  

I hope & pray that you will connect with one of these fabulous people and get involved.  get connected.   if anything, just pray for them.  support them - and a word on that,  supporting doesn't JUST mean financial.  they need to raise PEOPLE and not just funds.  people who will be a part of their team, support them, pray for them, encourage them, send them cards on their birthday - you know what I'm saying! 

(this girl, up first.  the one & only Amanda Herdina)

I'm excited to introduce you soon to a dear friend of mine who has a heart of gold and dreams dreams of hope! amanda ;) 

ethiopian roots run deep.

it's late Thursday night + I'm having one of my "in the mood" late photo editing nights.
thinking about the day.
seriously, adoption has changed our whole life.
it has expanded our world view ten fold.
people that we might never have had the opportunity to know, we now consider family.

I mean, when did we ever go over to our "ethiopian parents" house for coffee ceremonies?
or go to gotcha day parties + celebrate orphans no more being in their forever families?

it's insane.
and I love every minute.


we want our kids to KNOW all about their culture.
so we love when getanah & wosene speak to them in amharic + even oromo (their tribal language)
we love it when we participate in one of the greatest traditions of their home culture - the coffee ceremony.

we love it when they have friends who come from the same places as they do.

tonight, as our sweet friend Lana's daughter Eva Rose met Camp + Asher for the first time, Lana told her simply that they come from the same place that she does.

Eva just studied Asher and said in her 3 year old voice, "mommy she has hair just like me & Lomi do".  Yes, Eva she sure does.  and her skin is the same as yours.
Eva strokes her skin and says an enthusiastic, "yeah!"
"and her eyes are black too"

simple conversation but it still stole my heart.

I love that that four little girls who once lived as orphans in Ethiopia, can now call each other friends in Midland Texas.  they can relate to each other.  even at a young age.  

I'm so thankful for the adoptive families that we are blessed to call friends!

and those of you who are adopting & don't know ANYONE who's adopting in your area... rest assured, we didn't either when we started this thing.  the bond of adoption runs thick.  you will meet "your people"!  pray for an adoption boom in your city! 

Emme, it was an honor to celebrate your gotcha day tonight.  I can't believe it's been 1 year since you've been home.  I still remember so well sitting in YOUR room with YOU IN IT just in awe.  after months of no Emme in that room, that day you spun me around in your chair it all became real.
you are a beautiful joyful  and have the best-laugh-ever + I'm blessed to know you! (jennas blog here!)

camp + asher, may you never lose your Ethiopian roots.  

happy friday yall! 

 in case you missed it this week:

I guest posted over on my girl Tara's blog here. 

talking about my No. 41 bag! 

Noonday Train!

It's no secret that I am passionate about Purchasing with Purpose (link here)  Noonday helps me do JUST that.  not only sell jewelry and accessories (and home goods!) but TELL STORIES.  stories that change the way we think about shopping fair trade.  stories that change  US! 

{you too can be a voice for the oppressed!}

One thing that has been pretty major in my gloriously ruined life, is Noonday.  The very first adoption conference we went to (the one Stephen said YES to adoption!) I was instantly drawn to the Noonday display table.  You see, I love accessories.  When I go into a store, that's the first thing I go for.  and my eyes were beginning to be opened to purchasing with purpose.  I was so drawn to the beautiful pieces and more than that the stories (imagine that!).  I remember meeting Jessica (the founder) and just wanting to know more!  Once we officially started the adoption process, I contacted her about hosting a trunk show to raise money for our adoption (that is still one of my favorite things about Noonday!)  There wasn't an ambassador where I was, so she sent me a box.  and let me tell you, it took off like WILDFIRE.  Everyone loved it.  They loved getting beautiful pieces, knowing that they were making a difference in the lives of these artisans around the world, and helping me bring my baby (at the time, just 1!) home.  

precious friends who hosted my first party! 

well, from there it was all God.  I was asked to be a part of the brand new ambassador program and the rest is history.  One of the coolest parts of my Noonday experience is getting to go with the founder, Jessica, to meet and work with our artisans in Uganda + Rwanda last fall.  

Jessica is like an older sister to me, and so Noonday has meant that much more.  She is a strong role model, mentor and example in my life.  In fact, most of what I thought of when God put the ANYBODY campaign in my lap were stories SHE told me of her friends (and her!) living missionally right where they were.  

back to africa.  I traveled with her first to Uganda and we got to stay with the lead artisans there, Jalia & Daniel who run African Style.  I wrote a pretty raw post right when I got home here.  a little about them: 

They believe in miracles. They believe in healing & deliverance. They are God fearing. They love the name of Jesus more than their own name. Their lives are dedicated to serving others. They understand others because they’ve been there. They’ve been so poor they had to sell their only bible to buy food. They know what it’s like to be content: to be in want & to have plenty. They, like Paul, are content.

They set their minds on things above.

I also met Bukenya & Caleb.  and boy do they have a story.  I wrote about it here.  

they are making a huge difference to the kingdom of god, all through making the beautiful necklaces and bracelets we wear around town every day.

KINGDOM impact.  

I really could go on.  to the women I met in Rwanda that started a sewing school to make things for Noonday. and my girl Grace that we sponsor to get through school so she can make a good living. 

I sat in Jennifer's (in yellow) living room in Kigali and listened as Jessica poured her heart out to these women.  as she told them they THEY represent Jack (her adopted from Rwanda son) birth mother. 

I heard their stories, I saw their passion and excitement for learning and now I see them succeeding because of YOU! 

Grace. 

I just casually mentioned it, but on this trip I also got to go with Jessica + Joe to meet their Jack. 

Jack is the reason Noonday Collection is around really.  What started by a simple fundraiser to bring him home, has turned into a socially based company who empowers women (and men!) all over the world and creates a pathway out of poverty! 

the name Noonday came from Isaiah 51:10 "when you satisfy the needs of the oppressed your night will become like the Noonday!" 

then, this summer while I was living in Ethiopia I got the chance to meet and visit with our artisans in Ethiopia.  

I got to visit their homes on entoto mountain, have coffee with them and their families and hear their stories.  I got to hear + see first hand how their job making jewelry was changing their lives.  it was providing them indeed a pathway out of poverty.  it was helping their pay their bills, get medical care + prenatal care, not have to work night shifts, spend time with their families, education for the children and an all around accomplishment to know a skill & be able to provide for your family.  

(coffee ceremonies are a big deal in ethiopia!) 

read Embembet story & others on my facebook page here. 

so. you kinna get it now? 

I just want people to know they they can SUPPORT artisans all over the world & look fabulous while doing it.  "fair trade" isn't what what you always thought it was.  it's beautiful fabulous pieces that you would wear if you saw them at a high end boutique & had no idea of the story.

but the STORY is what makes it beautiful.

being able to speak on their behalf when you are at the grocery store or a football game.

you are WEARING their stories + advocating on their behalf just by purchasing their items. 

SO....you wanna shop?  You can always visit my Noonday site here.  (also linked on the sidebar)

but I thought I'd do a little giveaway to get your blood pumping!

You can WIN this fabulous bone carved polygon necklace (made in India) by entering the give away!  you have until Friday the 11th!  

worn here by Chloe Jordan.

visit my Noonday Collection site to look around!  and if you are in the Midland area, contact me to book a trunk show this spring. 

ps I'm totally tagging along when Jess goes to India!  jess, please! 

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continue the noonday blog giveaway train tomorrow with Katie Getz here.  


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embassy part 3- the plane ride home.

first off, let me say just sitting down to type this story almost makes me nervous.  The flight home was always a fear of mine since the beginning of the adoption process, but I refused to read any horror stories or even listen to them.  So, I don't want to terrify you. I just have to tell the story :)  SO - if you are going to be headed overseas soon to bring home your babies, read this with an open mind.  

We left the guest house, with a van full of my boys, and everything was dandy.  I was not looking forward to the goodbye at the airport - I don't like goodbyes, and I always cry in the Bole International Airport departure lot.  I just do.  But, it wasn't too bad.  GRACE.  

We get through security without any bumps or bruises and just mozy on through the elite line for ET air.  no, we aren't elite.  but I took a tip from mama kiki, and I went for it.  and it worked and they were extremely kind.  It was the first time really we were out around Americans with our babies.  Never knowing what to expect from people, I was plenty surprised by the kind and encouraging words we got from strangers.  Everything was so smooth - it's like we were pros or something.  

We get into the main holding area and settle in with the babies.  We were shocked to hear that our bulkhead seats were not fully reserved!  My husband knows how to take care of us, so he fought hard for those seats- and eventually we got em!  TIP: GET THE BULKHEAD if you are traveling with a baby (see pic below).  

While waiting, our babies made us all sorts of friends.  and I have decided that while I"m not a huge fan of flying, I do indeed love airports.  Airports are such an amazing place to watch & meet other people.  and on a flight back to DC, so many on our flight were headed home from court/embassy/mission trips. and plus, wendy/megan and the whole medical team from Visiting Orphans was on our flight!  (ps - we did that on purpose!  we found out our embassy date the morning they left the states!)  

So, we got on the flight.  look at the pic of all 4 of us - well, didn't last for long.  I never knew this, but if you are traveling with two infants you can NEVER sit on the same row.  In this case it was for the bulkheads but domestically it's because of the oxygen masks.  good to know....

So because the man next to us in our first row seemed really grumpy, I decided to take the other row.  bad choice.  With the bulkhead position, not only could I not see my TV, but I left my magazine in Addis, my book was in the checked bag and my phone was dead with no charger.  SO.  I had nothing to do for 17 hours but obviously take care of the babes.  I kept thinking about how I was going to tell people that I sat in between a 100% blind man & a 7 month pregnant lady.  pretty funny circumstances, right?  

well.  it was all going fine & dandy.  I was loving my role as a mom & getting to take care of the babies every need.  Asher was with me & Camp was with Stephen but it seemed i was on diaper duty.  Thankfully the people around us were all super encouraging (literally, speaking encouraging words!) and again, made more friends who had just come off the mission field.  it distracted me in a good way.

THEN.....

well lets just say the last 7 hours were traumatic.  one would cry and once I finished feeding/changing/burping/etc the other one would cry.  at one point they were BOTH crying and then I was crying!  We kept getting in the way standing around trying to calm them and I remember one moment so well when I was basically yelling at Stephen telling him I was a terrible mother & I didn't know what to do.  traumatic.  feeling like a whole airplane was watching your every move as a first time momma with two new babies on a 17 hour flight.  (did I mention that we found out when we got home that BOTH of them had double ear infections??)  Thank the Lord for Wendy!  At one point, through tears I handed Asher to her & said "I don't know what to do!".  And although she was emotionally and physically wrecked she stepped up.  and I"m forever grateful!! 

we made it to DC.  finally.  After getting about 10 minutes of shut eye on a 17 hour flight, we were both feeling utterly exhausted.  more than exhausted.  we both felt like we were hallucinating and I remember a few times saying, "I might literally fall over"  I felt like I had vertigo and i've never felt so strange in my life.  but we didn't have time for our next flight so I had to kick it in high gear.  Hurricane Sandy almost delayed our travel -- we ended up waiting for 1.5 hours in line to try to get our bags re-checked & then surprise surprise they were lost & we didn't get them until 3 weeks later! Thankfully, we had these 2 again.  Meet Megan & Wendy. 

these two saved the day.  broke all my "cocooning" rules right off the bat on that flight home - but you gotta do what you gotta do.  we tag teamed it while we ate at five guys (which we later realized made us all SICK!!!)  - bottles, changing, me changing, medicine, etc.  but we did it.  and they went their way and we got on our flight to Houston.

This angel of a woman, who was on our first ethiopian flight, approached us at the gate and told us if we needed anything to let her know.  She's originally Ethiopian but lives in Canada and was going to Houston to visit her sister.  but I think she was just an angel sent to us.  turns out, she was on one of our rows (remember when I said we couldn't sit together).  SO - she took my middle seat, held Asher the whole way so I could sit by my hunny and take care of Camp.  Oh praise you Jesus!  I finally got a few minutes of shut eye and Asher was happy as a clam.  (and I know that the real cocooning doesn't start until we get home - thanks to a few of my adoptive momma friends for giving me that advice!)

made it to Houston.  ran into some really excited Midland friends at the airport, had a few more friends  on our flight ;)  both babies slept the whole way home.....

ahhhh.  next post for all the airport party pics...
stay tuned!