Amy Butler Bag, How I miss thee...

Oh Amy Butler bag, I miss you. You were stolen. You are probably sitting in a dumpster somewhere. You were so carefully made by one of my favorite etsy sellers...and then some mean person took you...took out everything expensive in you, and threw you out. I drove around the area for weeks hoping it might show up. It was one of a kind. Not that expensive. But it was CUTE.

Today I don't have to work. No screaming second graders. No taps on the shoulder, or the hip. No screams of (insert rude phrase here) to other students. No conflict management.

WOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!! Excited won't really cover it here. I will miss my second graders, but boy will I enjoy the break.

I digress.

I mean to tell you that when I was trying to make a shutterfly book for a Christma present for my mother in law and sister in law, I came across this pictures above from Europe this summer. I bought the bag especially for the trip, so there would be room in it for my Nikon D80 monster camera. Then, this fall, after my husband returned from Deployment #3, we went to do a midnight 5K...and someone smashed our truck window to get my hidden away purse. Mean people bum me out.

Anyway, I told my DH (darling husband) that if he wanted to look on ETSY, he could search for Amy Butler and he would find lots of cool things.
He called me later and in normal sarcastic (but true) fashion, he said, "Who is this AMy Butler and why didn't I know about her earlier? Her stuff is so cute!". This is coming from a really tough AG....who is not into 'cute'. Love him. I later got four emails of 'purchases' from etsy I had not made. Lucky for him I like surprises, so I didn't snoop.

I hope there is a new bag within them. :)

More soon! I've been doing little crafts!

So, Santa...

I don't really love Christmas gifts that people ask for.
I'm not saying they shouldn't ask, it just doesn't seem as fun when they ask.
I mean, as adults, we can purchase most things ourselves.
I want to be SURPRISED.
I much prefer something with much thought behind it.
Something that doesn't necesarily cost much.
Something that lets me know the giver cares.
Isn't that what Christmas should be about?
Giving.
Loving.
Sharing.
JESUS.

I just like cute. Fun. unique. I like ministries. I think some of the best gifts are giving life. You could give WATER...

or an animal... Heifer Intl...you can give a flock of chicks for $20 to help a family in need, or a Water Buffalo to a family to provide milk, manure for soil and a transportation avenue....

So, since I don't like Christmas lists, I'll just be a nice hypocritical person and show you some the things on my Christmas List:
From Etsy


Old WW2 replica poster:


THIS adorable poster, framed:

I've been asking for several years to begin my WILLOW TREE nativity set. I don't like cheesy ones, so I only have ONE in my house, in addition to a sparkly silver nativity silhouette I found at TJ Maxx this year. So, I want this:


Enough of that. Just wanted to share.

All who are needy...

So, I am currently thinking about Africa all the time...well, Africa and all countries that have the poor and needy (Second grade teacher speaking here....all countries included in this). I guess the Lord has put an immense burden on my heart for the poor and needy in this world. Can we really sit by and watch? Not because it's the trendy thing to help. Think about the cause. There are MILLIONS of people living in slums...no food. Brothers and sisters dying just because they have no clean water to drink. It is not something we can ignore. I just think that we are called to serve, to help, to give...

Not as a humanitarian mission, but to show the love of Jesus. In your own life, you probably know that if someone TELLS you something, you might pay attention and you might not, but if someone DOES something for you...you LISTEN. I think that ministry works the same. We cannot just tell the poor about the hope they can have in Jesus...we must show them. Several really amazing ministries have popped into my viewfinder lately. One of them showed itself through my FAVORITE blogger...she is amazing. I am pretty much IN LOVE with all she does...but one thing she has made me aware of is this neat ministry called water for christmas. Neat.

I am going to be going on a vision trip to Africa in June 2010. I am notoriously against short term mission trips (for myself), no offense meant to anyone who enjoys them. I just feel like I have exhausted my short term trips. I don't feel like I am helping and I would rather donate teh $3000 it takes me to go to help the country/place in need. I know this sounds cynical, but I was convicted of this in 2004 when I went on my last trip to Haiti. The Lord also placed on my heart a burden for the poor. I won't say I am the best at reaching out, (I'm ashamed to admit), and I am becoming more aware that it is my responsibility to do so. Back in 2004 I KNEW that somehow I would be going to Africa next. So...then this opportunity came up through my amazing church, ironically called MyChurch to get involved with this amazing ministry called "Vapor Sports". It is rare to find such a well organized, God-hearted, LOVING, GIVING ministry. Seriously awesome. Check their story out here. So, full circle, the Lord has told me to go. To renew my love for the poor. To follow the great commission. To GO to all nations and GIVE of myself...my resources. Because we all know that I will help serve. But in four full days there....who will be affected? I'm sure the sweet slum children will be affected, loved, clothed with new clothes and filled with good food but I feel confident that my heart will be the one broken...open....and ready to give. If you are interested in helping, I will be raising support for part of my trip...and would be honored for your support.

So, along with vapor sports, the WATER FOR CHRISTMAS group has an ETSY shop with some adorable merch. All proceeds going to water in Liberia. I am serious that I loved the shirts so much I tried to talk her into making an adult version. :)

So, for now...that's all.
Go to all the nations.
Love people.
I think it really is that easy.

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat,
I WAS THIRSTY and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in."
Matthew 25:35
:)