12 Days of Giving: Continued!

Looking for organizations to donate too was so much fun!

Reading their information, checking them out on charity navigator, contacting certain organizations for more information.... it gave me a purpose the first few days of December. A purpose to spread the love, share the wealth... give back.

Besides the ones I shared, I found a lot more organizations that provide life, hope or an opportunity for a better life.

Heifer International: To end hunger and poverty by giving families a hand-up with gifts of livestock and training. Check out their gift catalog here and change some ones life.

Compassion International: Through their gift catalog you can purchase medical supplies, pay school fees, provide clean water or so much more for someone in need.

The Heart of Haiti: a line of beautiful handcrafts produced by artisans from Haiti. Fairwinds Trading and BrandAid have teamed up with Macy's and the artisans receive half the whole sale price of every item in the collection.

Roma Boots: Sort of like TOMS, this is a one for one company that distributes boots to children living in poverty. Their moto is "Selling boots to the fortunate. Giving boots to the less fortunate."

The Salvation Army: Not only do they accept your old clothes and household items, they provide disaster and emergency relief to your community. They also provide you with the opportunity to give Christmas to others through their Angel Giving Tree.

Your church's Benevolence Fund. In latter days before their were social programs to help the less fortunate, the church was the place needy people went for food, money for bills and encouragement. Today, your church still has a benevolence fund and while their may be more social programs to help people, the church provides aid to many people. After the volunteering we did at our home church and talking to our missions director at our church here in Houston, it is clear that the church is still a sanctuary of help, and hope for people.

P.S. Not that this is why you should give but monetary donations to places like The Salvation Army, churches and Compassion International are tax deductible.

And this is just a sampling of all of the wonderful organizations that make shopping for Christmas a little less me-me-me and a little more about blessing others.

From what we get, we can make a living:

what we give, however, makes a life.

-Arthur Ashe

3 Months Waiting

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it;

for it will certainly come, it will not delay."

-Habakkuk 2:3

I'm not exactly sure what I expected... that waiting for our turn on the wait list would be sunshine and roses? I certainly didn't think I expected that, but this month, our 3rd month out of only God knows how many just sort of stunk!

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. And hoping. There's always a little hope; for what the future will hold. For the little one or two that will eventually be ours. To love. To guide. And to teach about hope.

So that's where we are: waiting. And hoping.

12 Days of Giving: Day 12

On the 12th day of giving, my blog brings to you....Noonday Collection

when you satisfy the needs of the oppressed, your night will become like the noonday" Isaiah 58:1

From their website:

At Noonday Collection, we believe every child belongs in a family. While the owner is no longer raising money for their Rwandan adoption (though they think more adoptions will come), the vision remains the same. We advocate for the orphan by:

• Providing jobs that create a pathway out of poverty for women. A stable income means a family is less likely to abandon their child.
• Help families fund raise for their own adoptions. We give10% of trunk show sales directly to the adoptive family when they host a trunk show.
• Aside from donating 10% towards qualified adoptive families, Noonday Collection gives net proceeds towards orphan care and prevention. Watch the video to see one of our main beneficiaries.
• The dream: Take YOU on a trip to visit artisans and visit orphans in their distress.

Noonday Collection started from one families desire to raise funds for their adoption while helping women in Uganda have a sustainable income.

Meet their artisans that make the items while earning a fair wage, learn about the fair trade practices Noonday adheres too and even check out the Noonday blog!

And now for a few of the fabulous items Noonday has to offer:

beautiful note-cards:

Mango Wood Salad Servers:

Gorgeous paper bracelets:

Cute earrings (If I wore earrings, these would be it!):

Arm warmers - one of my favorite item they offer!

Beautiful Scarves:

And remember, all of these items and the rest found at the Noonday Collection are fair trade and made by women world-wide whom, do to the fair trade process are now out of, or working their way out of, living a life of extreme poverty.

Children's Museum Fun: Take One

Thursday, Gabe and I braved the crazy Houston traffic and headed downtown to the Children's Museum. It was our first time going but I documented it as Take One because I am sure we will be going again. Soon. Actually, it was so fantastic I'm contemplating a pass so that we can go as off as we like.

The Children's Museum of Houston was fantastic; and just as they state in the brochure; definitely geared to 2 - 12 year old children. The second we walked in Gabe's face was lit up with excitement from the little planes hanging from the ceiling, the Cree (Christmas Tree) in the entry way and the machines and gears ready to be played with.

We made our way through the are labeled "Mexican city on a hill" and checked out the different stores, house and roads available and then headed upstairs. Upstairs to the Tot Spot. And this was the place to be for Gabe. Available only to children 3 years old and younger, there was so much for Gabe to do and so much fun to be had. From little vehicles to thousands of blocks and balls, Gabe made himself right at home. There were gears to play with, light switches to flick and gross motor areas to explore. Coupled with the sand box outside, library area, ball pits and houses to explore Gabe was in little boy heaven! And I was in mama heaven as I watched him play, explore and learn. Gabe even made a few little friends as he climbed up next to them to play. Gabe sure does love playing with other kids, so he was tickled pink by seeing the masses of toddlers around to play with him.

The Children's Museum is definitely the place to be for Gabe to learn, play and grow! We can't wait to go back!

Gabe checked out the wheels that made the gears turn

and the bubbles and balls that floated in the multi-colored cylinder

Gabe sat in a pretend car (and a real car)

and explored stained glass flowers that spun. He would actually get 3 or 4 to spin at one time. Gabe also liked to look up close and see the world in a different hue.

Gabe crawled through tunnels and climbed up inclines,

played many different musical instruments

and did a lot more climbing!