Scarves Kick-Off Sale

Spring comes slowly, then all at once. Sap and chlorophyll-life twisting into grass and shrubs.

Waiting for tallest trees to wake and fill skies with skirts of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We tied and twisted our own color to limbs. Fumbling fingers. Trying to get the best light. AJR assisted me and was such a good sport with the wind. In between shots he was a human scarf hanger.

It’s overwhelming to consider where clothes and accessories come from – to cut ties from sweat shops and human slavery through forced labor.  I try to shop second hand, use the Free2Work app, and stay in budget. Sometimes it feels impossible. But the decision to partner with CGI to distribute their fair trade scarves was an easy one.

I met Whitney, a sales rep, at an anti-slavery event. We hit it off and AJR and I decided to partner with them. We were impressed with the quality, pricing, and stories of changed lives. This partnership helps 42 women support themselves and their families in Cambodia. It also helps us to fund our music and writing.

These are just a few of the seamstresses. Strong, talented, beautiful women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To kick off the opening of my online store – get 25% off these beautiful scarves - normally $20, now only $15 (includes free shipping!), but only through Tuesday, May 14th. This is a great Mother’s Day, graduation, or ‘just-because’ scarf.

 

 

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Awake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I gazed absently out the passenger window. I never noticed THAT before.

The gorgeous eight-story brick structure grew up behind tired residential houses. Oh wait, there is an entire industrial park back there? What? I had traveled that road for three decades and never saw it before.

Maybe it was recent New England architectural finds along the coast that helped me spot this gem. Maybe today I was awake?

This once furniture factory from the 1800′s and later a car factory, as the owners cracked the floor lungs wide open. Pulleys would lift cars between floors. I could almost see the ghosts of past tradesmen.

A walk in the welcome bright chill led to other unexpected side roads.

Brick implosions and a historical site that I had put off until “someday”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicing walking new roads, in new skin. New eyes. Living awake.

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so LOVE ly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year’s Valentine’s Challenge turned into a girl party. Since Chantel’s “Friends” post, I knew I wanted to plan something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie Brown’s Sally says “I can’t fold, or cut, or paste!” (Me neither!) Here we go anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The evening ended with good food, good friends, and a project to give away on Valentine’s Day.

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Paper Tigers

Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. But now that you know the real God—or rather since God knows you—how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers? For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years. I am afraid that all my hard work among you has gone up in a puff of smoke! (Gal 4.8-11 MSG)

Resolutions, goals, even traditional holidays… I’ve thrown them out.

We didn’t do Christmas, well not the normal way.

No Christmas tree.  I can’t stand saving the boxes of tree decor. It reminds me of when I was sooooo sick and put up the tree anyway. And I have released my hubby from the expectations of gifts. He’s not good at this, and I would rather cuddle than send him out clueless into a mall – we go on vaca instead. Yes, we celebrate with family and friends, just on other days. We did decorate the INSIDE of our house – with lights, lights, lights on every window and staircase (Who-ville had nothing on us for a few days).

It’s always fun to see people’s faces when they ask us what we “did” over the holidays. Our answers are never normal. Or when they ask me about my January resolutions. Some years I have goals. This year I don’t.

Traditions that comfort can become burdens on backs. Rituals turn to regulation. But no matter how you celebrate in 2013,  join Lindsay and me  – don’t cave to the expectations of others.

Paper tigers only roar inside the shredder…

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Gifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a child, Christmas never seemed to come. When we pieced together the plastic tree after Thanksgiving  – it seemed so long. The most torturous wait – Dad reading the true Christmas story before tearing into presents. Sometimes getting what I wanted, sometimes not.

My most cherished present was in middle school.  I begged…..begged…..begged… for a brown leather jacket.  It was a stretch to the parents’ budget for that jacket. And after that “long” wait, it finally came.

As an adult,  I don’t usually have my heart set on much, but there is something this year. There are 3 kids on the Compassion International website who have been waiting for a sponsor for at least 388 days. I can’t fathom how long 388 days seems as a child.

And they aren’t waiting for a cool leather jacket. They are waiting for hope. For an education, for health care, for spiritual training, to be the first member of their family with a vocation.

Would you consider this? Would you consider another one if you already sponsor one? Blessings multiplied?

In the darkness of days following the Connecticut tragedy, we turned off the news reports to not be entertained by someone’s pain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let us not mourn only in spirit, but resolve to prevent childhood tragedies. Especially to invisible children. And the beauty prevails. Despite population increases – child poverty is down 20, 30, 40% in developing countries in the last two decades.

Love works, love pushes back the darkness.

UPDATE: All three children were sponsored within 24 hours of this post!

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