joy to the world.

ok. ok. I know it's still 2 months until christmas. but I love the holiday so much that when the air starts getting crisp and the year starts winding down, it's hard not to start getting sentimental and longing for the joy that encompasses all that christmas is.

christmas is so many things, and one thing. joy to the world, the lord has come. let earth receive her king. I celebrate for one reason, and that's to rejoice in the birth of our savior jesus.

for god so loved the world that he gave his one and only son.


he gave. and so, we give too. 


we do as he did.

christmas is a season of heart-giving. (ok. it should be a season of heart-giving). my love language is giving - I love to show people how much I care for them by giving them things I know they will like. things that will make them happy. a note. some cookies. or an extravagant gift I know they wouldn't buy themself.

I love to give. and I am also passionate about giving to the causes I care about. I've been know to bemoan misguided giving... see my open letter on facebook to hilton hotels in the aftermath of haiti, and my twitter rants to don miller about seeking donations for a feature film to be made. not much gets under my skin faster. I've also got to be careful not to (shop) and give too much, to be able to pay my bills each month!

so in the spirit of the upcoming season of giving, as you're seeking and scavenging online and in stores for the perfect gift, I wanted to compile a short list of some of my favorite organizations and companies that you can give to or buy from - and also get something back.

because isn't that one of the hard things about "making a donation in someone's name" to an organization. you really want to hand something, to give something, to the person you're honoring too. or maybe that's just me.

you too? well, then I hope these ideas help!

the A21 campaign
www.theA21campign.org

I found out about this organization through christine caine, who is a global ambassador for hillsong church, when I heard her speak at newspring church earlier this year. christine is passionate about abolishing sex-trafficking of women and this organization is her platform. they run safe houses and rehabilitation centers in vulnerable areas of the world to protect and give new life to these precious women. the campaign has created a key 2 free necklace that you can get with only a $15 donation to A21. I think it's simple and lovely, and the symbol of the key always makes me think of unlocking the future and freedom possible for these hurting women.

kiva gift cards
www.kiva.org

kiva is a micro-finance loan organization that supports developing world entrepreneurs. small donations of at least $25 per gift are added into a crowdsourced fund to meet the loan request from the entrepreneur. kiva offers gift cards so that you can donate $25 or more, and give the card to someone else, who can then enjoy the gift of giving themselves. the recipient can browse on the kiva web site by country, gender, and type of business. for instance, you could support a bus driver in africa or a cosmetics saleswoman in peru.

31 bits
www.31bits.com

ok full disclosure. I found out about 31 bits by reading tenley molzahn's tweets about them. tenley - anyone with me? she was on the bachelor... anyway, she got me interested in what the heck she was tweeting about (marketing goal accomplished!) so I checked it out. it's a company out of california that sells the beautiful ugandan bead necklaces you have surely seen before. they're doing a nice job of marketing, and have a lovely web site that tells the stories of the women who make the jewelry. I ordered the mallory white bracelet for only $10! pictured below. and it came in a cute little pouch made of colorful african fabric. so, you can give someone the gift of this piece of jewelry and support women artisans in uganda. that's a deal.

TOMS shoes
www.tomsshoes.com

I mean, this listing was inevitable. not only for their famous buy-one-give-one strategy, but also because of my endless love for TOMS. here's the deal. they're trendy, affordable, super comfortable, and when you buy one they give one to a kid who needs shoes. you don't have to convince anyone that's a winner. I even bought some for my mom already. they have some awesome new designs out this season. I love the plain jane classic black and grays. I also LOVE the new map design they partnered with charity:water on. so, not only does a kid get a pair of shoes, but they also donate to charity:water to help build wells in ethiopia. nice. and BONUS - world vision is a TOMS partner for distributing shoes to kids. more on world vision below.

world vision gift catalog
www.worldvision.org

you are very likely familiar with world vision's campaign to sponsor children in need around the world. it's only $35 a month and you should do it. I sponsor luis in colombia. he's 2 and lives in one of my favorite countries in the world. and my donations are going to help him have a better life. he's darn cute too. but I digress. because world vision also has a gift catalog that they do in the spring and at christmas. you can give to all sorts if different programs, like education, agriculture, clean water, and disaster relief. one of the cool things about world vision's gift catalog is that they also have little goodies that you can get back for your donation. like for instance, you can make a a donation and get the lovely thai bracelet below. so, consider making a donation in someone's name, giving them the honor card AND this awesome bracelet. now that's a cool gift.

philanthropy
www.philanthropyfashion.com

this one is for the locals. for my friends who live in and around nashville and franklin, TN - my favorite boutique in downtown franklin is philanthropy. the store is 1. affordable and 2. focuses on fashion that gives back. it's full of candles and t-shirts and bags and necklaces and other goodies that all have a deeper purpose that just their prettiness. their products are often associated with a good cause, which makes it double fun to shop there. check out their web site and their blog, and give them some shopping love if you happen to be perusing downtown franklin with your sweet cece's in hand! you might pick up these brand new bags made from recycled coffee bags, or a franklin flood t-shirt.

wine to water
www.winetowater.org

my friends started wine to water to use the platform of wine tastings to gather people together and educate them about clean water - and then to raise money and clean all the water in the world, basically. I'm super proud of all they've done. there are quite a few giving strategies you can engage in with them, but I want to recommend their delicious wine! wine to water offers a red zinfandel and a chardonnay. I like the red best. and when you buy the wine, proceeds go to clean water. what an awesome gift for the wine lovers on your christmas list (hello, dads!).

bridgewater candles
www.bridgewatercandles.com

I just learned about this candle company. I am obsessed with my house smelling yummy (see previous post on favorite smells for the full story) and I love that this company has engaged in giving back. they have made these beautiful special edition "solitude" candles. you can buy them online for only $20. each one has a child's handprint on the outside of it, and the child's story on the inside that you have helped to feed for one week. one candle equals one week of food. they're simple and lovely, smell amazing, and feed kids. great idea.

the mercy house
www.themercyhousekenya.org

I learned about the mercy house kenya from following sweet, christian blogger kristen welch at www.weareTHATfamily.com. the mercy house is a home that serves as a safe-haven for pregnant girls in the slums of kenya. I love an organization that cares for girls on the vulnerable fringes of society and shows them love and helps makes them whole. they have some lovely things for sale in their etsy shop (search for shop name wearethatfamily) such as unique, colorful, beaded necklaces.

the body shop
www.thebodyshop-usa.com

the body shop, makers of every girl's favorite body butter and fabulous makeup, has partnered with ECPAT and the IOCC to combat and raise awareness for the issues of sex-trafficking and exploitation of children and young people. they are offering "soft hands, kind heart hand cream" in stores and online, with 100% of net profits going to these organizations and the cause. at a price point of $7 and $10 - these would make a great stocking stuffer for a good cause. and they smell good too!

new addition!

amani ya juu

www.amaniafrica.org

how could I forget about amani when making this list? a late addition but a great one. I found out about amani because samaritan's purse partners with them in africa. here is info from their web site about them: Amani ya Juu (meaning “higher peace” in Swahili) or Amahoro ava Hejuru (in Kinyarwanda) is a sewing-marketing-training project for marginalized women in Africa. The main center is located in Nairobi, Kenya with sister centers in Rwanda and Burundi. The women involved in the project are learning to work together through faith in God who provides a higher peace that transcends ethnic differences. these are two of my favorite items on the site right now. check out the bag and bracelet below!

fashionABLE

www.livefashionable.com

just found out about this non-profit on twitter a few weeks ago. they empower women in africa to make lovely scarves to provide them with income and help break the cycle of poverty. the fashionABLE mission is to create sustainable business in africa so that the women are not dependent upon charity, but instead are a vital part of the developing economy. the scarves are named after the women who crafted them. they are offering 3 different designs right now, with more to come soon, very likely. I love the meselu which is handmade in africa of 100% cotton and lovely blue and grey stripes.

 

I know that these gifts will bring joy to your gift recipient, and also bring joy to the world. 

now, that's a gift.

top 10 tuesday | things real adults can do that I need to learn

one day late. typical!

here are 10 things I think real adults can do that I need to learn how to do better.

1. apply makeup better.

2. cook real food, like, a chicken, or make a soup.

3. use coupons and buy in bulk when things are on sale.

4. dry my hair every morning after the shower. no more buns!

5. clean the floors of my house. at least once a year.

6. charge my cell phone every night so it doesn't die on me. all the time.

7. pray for people other than myself once and a while.

8. take work notes on the computer instead of on paper. cut down on work.

9. make my bed. every day.

10. save more money. yeah.

any tips on accomplishing these things would be happily received and possibly implemented!

word.

let me mention briefly what great thing relevant did for my heart (among others. but I felt compelled to blog it after my slightly negative post below. ahem.)

the conference encouraged me in my conviction that I haven't been spending enough time in the word.

in fact, I left my bible in a friend's room overnight and found myself scrambling around my room looking for those darn gideon's before I went to sleep. hungry for a word.

where are the gideon's when you finally need them?!

I think me and jesus' words will be spending a lot more quality time together for this season and always.

relevant.

I just got back from a blogging conference in hershey, pennsylvania called relevant. the point of the conference was for all the christian bloggers (particularly women and moms) to gather together, fellowship in the spirit and learn about how to do their blogs and lives better.

I was representing my company, and so for me, it was a business trip. even though I do blog, I have to view blogging conferences as work because 1. they paid for me to be there 2. its the perfect target audience for our brand and 3. if I didn't put some emotional space between me and those women I would consider myself a complete failure of a person...

{emotional space injected}

don't get me wrong. every single one of them is lovely and amazing. I had more meaningful conversations and met more great women of God at relevant than I have in a long, long time.

but. I am not a wife. I am not a mom. I am not a homeschooler. I am not a blogger - in their sense of the term. I am not like them. its hard to be the different one.

so many of those girls are my age. a little younger and a little older. but their lives are so different than mine. I stand and listen in AWE of how much they are able to accomplish in one single day. in one single HOUR! I can barely get up in time each day to dry my hair for work. and it's just me.

so, in the midst of some slight self-loathing that relevant dug up in me, I decided to think about all the things that I am. the things I like about myself.

rather than dwell on what I am not.

I am a loved daughter and sister.

I am a loved friend.

I am doing a job I love.

I am well traveled.

I am not a cook!

I am addicted to shopping.

I am not a reader but I love a good indie film.

I am really good at speaking spanish to kids.

I am fond of tacos and thunderstorms and good photos and margaritas.

I am looking for a hot christian music playing kind husband.

I am going to adopt someday soon.

I am in love with music that has good lyrics.

I am a good decorator.

I am a beloved daughter of the most high king. that makes me a princess. and he knew me before I was created in the womb. and he set the times and dates for all things. and he works all things for good for those who are called according to his purpose. and he has a plan. and he is good to those who wait patiently for him.

so, I'm liking who I am.

and *bonus* I don't have to worry about re-applying make up before my husband gets home each day.

rain.

come slip quietly in the door
that I left cracked in hopes you would join soon
and take caution not to slip
in the dark room where my suitcase contents are strewn about
creating a haphazard maze to the foot of the bed
only the small light from that candle
the one that smells like fallen leaves and cinnamon
will guide you
into the warm grey sheets
where I've been resting
erasing memories of the lonely plane
and replacing them with home
lift up the duvet that smells of lavender
and snuggle
wrap your legs around my cotton striped pajama pants
and touch my toes
and let me run one hand through your hair
because you know I like your face close
and let's count the seconds between lightening and thunder
and wonder what sirens dare sound into the perfect night
and volunteer to check if I closed my car windows
and debate if the candle would burn itself out
if we left it burning
when we fell asleep
to the sound of the rain

1000 words.

ecuador girl

photo credit: paul sherar www.thegoodlight.com

flags.

I patiently and excitedly awaited the release of brooke fraser's new album, which came out in the u.s. about 2 weeks ago. I can't remember who turned me on to her music, but I fell hard for it when she sang with hillsong united - my fav worship jams from AUS. 


she's a brilliant lyrics writer. and she's got that moody, whispy, melancholy sound I love.


her new CD flags doesn't disappoint. this is my current favorite. the title song, flags.


Come, tell me your trouble 
I'm not your answer 
But I'm a listening ear 

Reality has left you reeling 
All facts and no feeling 
No faith and all fear 

I don't know why a good man will fall 
While a wicked one stands 
And our lives blow about 
Like flags on the land 

Who's at fault is not important 
Good intentions lie dormant 
And we're all to blame 

While apathy acts like an ally 
My enemy and I are one and the same 

I don't know why the innocents fall 
While the monsters still stand 
And our lives blow about 
Like flags on the land 

I don't know why our words are so proud 
Yet their promise soothing 
And our lives blow about 
Like flags in the wind 

Oh oh oh oh 

You who mourn will be comforted 
You who hunger will hunger no more 
All the last shall be first 
Of this I am sure 

You who weep now will laugh again 
All you lonely be lonely no more 
Yes, the last will be first 
Of this I'm sure 

I don't know why the innocents fall 
While the monsters stand 
I don't know why the little ones thirst 
But I know the last shall be first 
I know the last shall be first 
I know the last shall be first

underground.

I had a really good cry last night.

I could feel it coming on for about a week now. a culmination of emotion that's been building up from various events of late. nothing earth-shattering. just life.

a wedding of good friends. there is not much comparable to the beauty of a bride. a fresh love. a fresh life. and when it's people who you love very much, all the better. all the more emotion.

and the miners... I spent 2 nights glued to the television, watching them come out of the ground, one by one. I wept with joy with all of chile, and the world, as the operation turned out safe. all alive. all healthy.

and then finally, I let my thoughts turn selfish. I laid in bed last night and I imagined... if I were stuck underground for 2 months...

what would I think about? 

the answers I told myself, as I searched and scraped the depths of my own heart, were not surprising.

I would think about my family. and I would hope they would be there waiting.

and I know they would be.

I would probably think about how I can maximize this.

I would think - how nice, a forced diet.

I would think - I really want a taco. I want to change clothes. I wish for my bed. my lovely bed.

I would think - what if they don't come to see me. what if I am the only one who has no one come to see me.

I would think - I wish I could post this to facebook and twitpic it. 'cause this is crazy.

I would likely compose poems about the situation in my head, repeat them over and over again, and kick myself for not having something to write them down on. (you see - I have to write things down to remember things...)

can you just imagine what the miners went through? all these similar thoughts, and more. and much more real. and much more tangible. and much more cutthroat. life-or-death.

I'm rejoicing in their freedom this morning.

and wishing for freedom from the thoughts and emotions that sometimes keep me 2500 feet underground.

how silly in comparison to the chilean miners.

top 10 tuesday | why I tweet

as an observer, student, and professional engaged in the development and use of social media, I've engaged in a few conversations lately about the value of twitter. why do I tweet?

I have an ongoing row with a friend about how I "tweet to much." my response always has been and always will be - if you don't like it, unfollow me. I feel like you can't judge a tweeter by their tweets. twitter exists for the very purpose of tweeting.

so, to further explain myself, let's see a few reasons why I tweet.

1. I tweet because I like it
2. I have things to say, and not always a person to say them to
3. I get my news from twitter more than any other source these days
4. I appreciate the presence of thoughts, ideas, dreams, visions, and wackiness you can find there
5. I can follow my favorite people
6. I can learn new things every day
7. I can keep my family and friends from far away updated on a regular basis
8. I can engage in conversations that I could not anywhere else within my current capacity
9. I can share with others the things I think are important
10. I can tell people if and when I like a new kind of coffee of when a store I like is having a sale - just because I can

tweet. tweet.

idol.

God's been working on me for a while now with the subject of idols. 

an idol, by definition: i-dol (noun)

1. an image or other material object representing a diety to which religious worship is addressed.

2. an image of a diety other than God. (Bible)

3. any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.

4. a mere image or semblance of something. visible but without substance.

5. a figment of the mind. a fantasy.

6. a false conception or notion. a fallacy.

God does not like an idol. just take a quick glance through exodus, leviticus, deuteronomy, and judges. God gets a bit ticked, jealous, and destructive when His people put up idols and worship them instead of Him.

and rightfully so. He is the author and creator of our lives. He did allow His one and only son to die in order to show us how much He loves us.

my idol is love. the idea, the notion, the dream, the fantasy, of being in love. once you've tasted that, let's be honest, it's hard not to have it anymore. it can be an obsession. it's thought consuming. it's the very thing I want the most yet have absolutely no control over. the lack of control makes me crazy sometimes. it's my idol, plain and simple.

---

recognizing the above is a good first step. but action must be taken to restore God to his proper place of the most loved, the most longed for.

there's a song on the latest hillsong united CD with a simple refrain that goes something like this..

"my heart will sing no other name. Jesus."

that's my prayer. for my heart to sing no other name but Jesus' name. when you want something to be true. start acting like it's true. and say it's true. and eventually, hopefully, it will become true. so this is the prayer of my heart.

---

in church this morning the pastor started his sermon with this brief exercise. "think of the person you love the most, and write down a few things you do to show them how much you love them."

I wrote:

1. profess my love

2. serve and sacrifice

3. give gifts

4. spend time together

then the pastor launched into a long sermon about Luke 14:25-26. I gotta tell you, I tuned out. the beginning half of the sermon was very erudite. too many references to what professors think Jesus' words mean. I get a little lost in that.

I pulled out my notes page and started to draw waves on the top. started to doodle. my pen scanned the top of the page where the Bible reference was listed, and the topic of the lesson. "the incomparable love of God" and right about then, God grabbed my attention yet again.

in verse 26 Jesus is saying that those who are his disciples will love him more than anything else. not hate, literally, those others mentioned (parents, spouses). just in a comparative sense. that you will love Jesus so much that the weight of that love will pale in comparison to the love we have possible for anything or anyone else.

it means that we love Jesus first and most.

that He will be the priority of our love lives.

when we are Jesus' disciples, it will re-orient all other earthly relationships.

Jesus knows that what we long for - to fill our hearts and touch our souls - can only be found in him.

and as the pastor pointed out, even Jesus' disciples in the Bible - the 12 - didn't really adhere to this. they didn't put him first and most. they were sleeping and betraying him even in his hour of greatest need.

so, we shouldn't get all worked up and anxiety-ridden that we find it hard to love Jesus that much.

it wasn't until the Holy Spirit came and filled the disciples, and began working in their hearts and lives, that they began to exhibit signs of Christ being their first and most love. we can't love like that either without the Holy Spirit.

and finally. what's more important in this whole deal is Jesus' love for us. 


He loves us first and most. 


this we know through his sacrifice on the cross. we should be more concerned about His love for us than failing in our love for Him. because nothing can ever separate us from his love.

---

I'm feeling like that sermon was just for me. it was God's little way of reminding me that idols are not worth it. no love is greater than his love.

"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday the sea. We are far too easily pleased." {c.s. lewis}

---

my heart will sing no other name.

sweet disposition.

my favorite part of 500 days of summer is when they both end up on the same train going to a wedding. they have coffee. they catch up. sweet disposition is playing loudly on the soundtrack. they dance. she catches the bouquet. it's shot in the good light - outside around 4 pm. lovely.

then she invites him to the party at her place. "he believed that this time, his expectation would align with reality."

me and tom have a lot in common.

if you've seen the movie, you know what I mean.