A New Stamp in the Passport

** This is the most exciting, yet difficult, post I have written in a while. Exciting because I have wonderful news to share, but difficult because of the great care I want to take in giving credit where credit is due.**

About 1/3 of the amazing Noonday Collection team.

So, last weekend I traveled to Austin (Texas, that is!) for Shine 2015. For those who do not speak Noonday Collection Ambassadorese, this is our annual conference and celebration. It has taken me several days to process all the things, and I'm just finding time and energy to make a feeble attempt at putting it all into words. 

To use the words "amazing" or "unimaginable" do not even begin to describe these days in Austin! I am so incredibly humbled to be one very small part of this group of world-changing women who not only empower one another in their businesses, but who are also working their boo-tays off around the United States to make life a little mo' better for thousands of talented artisans living in vulnerable communities around the world. 

As many of you may have read or heard me share at Noonday Collection trunk shows, I joined the Noonday tribe almost two years ago as a way to steady my heart and keep me from selling the farm and moving my family to Haiti. It has truly become an answered prayer in so many ways as I am seeing and hearing the difference my sales are making in lives around the world...Haiti included. 

Love these ladies who braved hours
on a bumpy bus, tarantulas, crazy
heat and so much more with me traveling
in Haiti and the DR in October.

Traveling to Haiti in October with a rock star cast of Ambassadors, hostesses and customers to meet Renal and the other artisans in the Haiti Design Co-op was amazing! Hearing from Moon, a seriously amazing Indian woman who is currently serving as President of TARA Projects, and more from Daniel and Jalia, the couple who runs the Ugandan company, African Style, that makes our paper bead pieces, has me ready to roll in 2015. Their stories about the hundreds for women who are being empowered through their employment by Noonday Collection's partner artisan groups makes me even more passionate and want to be even bolder (you've been warned, friends!).

Melissa Russell, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at International Justice Mission, spoke courage over our group and challenged us to be BOLD in our "ask." She advised us to play over the conversation with Jalia or Moon or Renal or any of our thousands of partner artisans as to why we couldn't ask someone else to partner with us through purchasing or hosting...

These two women who inspire me BIG TIME!
Laura Choy, our #2 in sales for 2014 and
the best roomie ever, and Jessica Honegger,
who leads this movement with
fierceness and grace!

"I'm sorry, Jalia. I didn't ask my friend Susie to host this season because it was just so awkward for me, and I just was too afraid she'd say 'No.'"

Wow. That's a hard pill to swallow, my friends. So again, you've been warned, and you better have some great reason when I ask! ;-)

(Or, don't wait for me to ask. Contact me TODAY and let's get your show on the book or head to my site now and purchase a piece that speaks to you!)

So, I was super excited to learn this weekend that I have qualified for an all-expense-paid trip to meet more of our partner artisans this summer! What the what?!!

New passport stamp coming in 2015 from one of the following:

Rwanda. 

Ecuador.

Guatemala.

EEEK!!! Yes, please! That's just nuts, y'all! 

But here's the part I need you to not to miss.

This accomplishment is not about me.

It's about the dozens of women who have opened their homes to their friends, family, colleagues and neighbors - and maybe even complete strangers - to allow others to join this movement. It's about a small YES here in the US that has huge impact for children around the world whose parents now have sustainable employment and hope for a future. Congratulations to my rock star hostesses for being a part of a Noonday record - 59 trunks shows in 2014! Y'ALL ROCKED IT AND THANK YOU!

It's about friends far and near who wear and gift Noonday likes it's their job! They wear the stories of these women who've been empowered to leave abusive relationships. They wear the stories of children who have HOPE through access to education. They wear ethically made jewelry because lives matter. Congratulations to all my amazing customers for being a part of record-breaking sales in 2014! YOU ROCKED IT!

My Noonday Collection "Board of Directors"

It's about my own personal tribe - some nearby, some far away but most of whom are also in the above two categories - who have loved me well during this past year. They have talked to me on long drives to help keep me awake. They have encouraged me when I was feeling overwhelmed and strung out. They have spoken truth and HOPE into my (thousands of) doubts and insecurities. They have traveled to Haiti with me and loved with reckless abandon there. They have connected me to other friends who have become hostesses and customers. They are my people, my tribe, my constant support - and they deserve much applause and many "thank yous!" as well. 

And lest I forget, the three most important boys in my life are the most deserving! My husband is the rock star! He has juggled ball seasons and homework and bedtime routines many a'night with our two rowdies alone. He has made displays and even tweaked them last-minute to make my life easier at shows. My precious boys who make my heart swell with pride when I hear them tell people about "the jewelry mama sells because it helps people" and my oldest who can probably tell you which country our pieces are from faster than I can! They get the credit...because they sacrificed most. Thank you for being patient, and "getting it" with me!

There were lots of people that asked me this weekend "How do you do it?" and many were probably met by awkward and uncomfortable facial expressions and attempts at humorous diversions because here's the thing...

I don't.

All these people described above are the ones who "do it." They get my heart and most importantly, they get Jesus' heart for the poor and the oppressed. They want justice in dark places, too. They want a world where children are cherished, women are empowered, people have jobs and we are connected! So, they wear and host and advocate. And many wear and host and advocate again and again and again. They are my tribe...my rock star, kick boo-tay tribe, and I couldn't do it without them. 

Amen and amen.

PS: If you were one of the ones that asked that question or some form of it, I'm really sorry. I'm so awkwardsauce sometimes.

Happy Nooniversary! {Spring 2014 Blog Train}

In just a few weeks, I will celebrate my "Nooniversary" ….and WOW! What a year it's been! 

As a Noonday Collection Ambassador, I have had the privilege of meeting so many amazing women at trunk shows all over the Southeast who love The Lord and who are incredibly passionate about making a difference in an often overwhelmingly dark and disappointing world. I have grown to love many of my Ambassador sisters as dear friends--from Montana to Texas to North Carolina and back to Mississippi. I am grateful for a network of poverty-fighting, injustice-hating prayer warriors…who are also great conversationalists during long car drives to trunk shows! 

I have learned so much about our great big world…including a much-needed brush up on my world geography (Why didn't I pay more attention during that class? Don't answer that, college friends!). As I have educated myself on where the countries are, and more importantly the conditions in them, my heart has been broken…and my worldly American spirit has been humbled. While I have only traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti to experience these conditions first hand, I am certain the bleak conditions and hopelessness I have seen and felt in those two countries are very similar to that of the countries where our artisans work to make our beautifully crafted pieces to support their families and contribute to the economic growth of their communities.

Guatemala artisans use looming &
dyeing traditions passed 
down through many generations.

It's no secret that I love Noonday and its mission. I love seeing the impact that YOUR purchases have made in the lives of our artisans...but if I'm being honest (which I really try to be!) there are nights and days when I just don't "feel" like Noondaying (Yes, it's now a verb, too…we're going google status, people). There are nights I'd rather be curled up on my couch with my sweet babies or on a date with my handsome husband…or sometimes, just anything else. 

Then I think about my Haitian and Dominican mama friends who often have no idea if they will be able to feed their families or when that meal might come. They pray to God to relieve their suffering, heal their illnesses, protect their children and provide for their needs…and they BELIEVE He will! 

But what if - just IF - my sweet mama friends (and millions of others like them) had jobs they could count on? Not a "go-to-the-market-and-hope-my-goods-sell" kind of gig...but a guaranteed income because the demand for their products was so great! What if they could lay their heads down at night under a roof with no leaks and know there would be food on the table tomorrow for their families? What if they knew their kids would be at school learning to read and write and make a better way for themselves? What if they knew they could afford medical care when their children got sick?

Oh, the joy and peace it could bring!

Peruvian artisans work on our new
jewelry line.

So, on those days and nights when I'm really not feeling the Noonday vibe - I go. I go and I advocate. I pray for that day when my mama friends around the world will have the same peace I have about my children's care and their futures. I drive my Facebook and Instagram and Twitter friends crazy with my posts (sorry - not sorry!). I get outside my comfort zone and and ask more people to host parties. I drive 8 hours in one day for a 2-hour show. I check labels before I purchase to make sure I'm spending my money on things that empower and protect.

Sham is a talented Indian artisan who is 
changing the way women are treated in
 his country - at home and at work.

I have come to understand that each piece sold makes a difference. A difference for one mom. One dad. Many children. A larger community. Each piece of Noonday sold gives HOPE to one mom. One dad. Many children. And their larger community.  

So if you see me on March 24, be sure to wish me a "Happy Noonivesary!" And if you've purchased Noonday in the last year or hosted a show or shared a post or connected me with a friend or family member that hosted a show….THANK YOU! 

Thank you for joining a movement to punch poverty right in the face and bring HOPE to so many! 

To help celebrate and say "THANK YOU!" to so many who've been a part of this journey, I'm giving away a party…an ARM PARTY!

 

Comment below with your favorite Noonday piece from the Spring 2014 catalogue and/or share this post to be entered to win all this loveliness!

Giveaway ends Friday, March 7 at midnight!

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don't forget to check out yesterday's post and giveaway from Cara and stop by and see what Lydia has to say (and giveaway!) tomorrow!

Don't miss the train!

It's a blog train...with giveaways!

See? As Eli would say, "I todeja." (AKA: "I told you.")

You do NOT want to miss out on the goodness that will given away over the next 34 days! The fall Noonday Collection launch is tomorrow and 34 rock star Ambassadors are sharing their blogs, their hearts and their favorite Noonday pieces with YOU!

Bookmark this page and check back daily for the link to the day's featured blog. Not only will you love the freebies - you will love the hearts of the women who will be sharing! Follow their blogs (and enjoy the freebies) and be ready to be inspired by women who've said "YES!" to God and whose lives reflect obedience to Jesus' command to "love the least of these." From adoption stories to fair trade fashion insights to mission experiences, these women are the real deal (Not sure how I managed to squeeze my way in, honestly!)!

Here's your line-up for the month-long inspirational freebie-fest! ENJOY!

Aug 28 Krista Box : www.thegirlwhosaidyes.blogspot.com Aug 29 Alicia Hale : www.raisingalittlehale.blogspot.com Aug 30 Stephanie Nunes : www.nunespartyofthree.blogspot.com Aug 31 Natalie Perry : www.perrysplate.com Sept 1 Laura Walton : www.runningwithapurpose.blogspot.com Sept 2 Amy Armstrong : www.lovingandlivinghisway.blogspot.com Sept 3 Cara Coleman : www.thefrontporchramblings.net Sept 4 Lilly Neubauer : www.pancakesandbeetjuice.com Sept 5 Cynthia Coppinger : www.cynthiacoppinger.blogspot.com Sept 6 Kristine Shafer : www.kristineshafer.com Sept 7 Desiree Thompson : www.hannahjamesblog.com Sept 8 Carmen Jonas : www.primroseandolive.tumblr.com Sept 9 Amanda Cobb : www.thecobbfamilyflys.blogspot.com Sept 10 Liz Sanchez : www.lizsanchez-insidemyhead.blogspot.com Sept 11 Kristan Roland : www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com Sept 12 Tesney Davis : www.oureyesopened.org Sept 13 Aimee Bell : www.raindropsonrosesblog.wordpress.com Sept 14 Annette Miller : http://mrsmiller2012.blogspot.com
Sept 15 Brandi Mendenhall : www.thefairtradefashionistas.wordpress.com Sept 16 Wynne Elder : theelderadventurers.com Sept 17 Jenna Beaugh : www.eatliverun.com Sept 18 McCall Aldridge : www.leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com Sept 19 Emily Hays : www.emilyhays.blogspot.com Sept 20 Lindsay Chambers : www.myvisionsofsugarplums.blogspot.com Sept 21 Elizabeth Bricknell : www.elizabethbricknell.blogspot.com Sept 22 Heather Keehn : www.teamkeehn.blogspot.com Sept 23 Katie Eller : www.cardiganway.com Sept 24 Candace McArthur : www.agirlwithredshoes.wordpress.com Sept 25 Jennifer Arnett : www.thestatewerein.com Sept 26 Emily Tilsen : www.lifeunfabled.blogspot.com Sept 27 Sara Mixon : www.mixonmania.blogspot.com Sept 28 Melonie Grover : www.veryeasilyinspired.com Sept 29 Carrie Glanzer : www.themotherspearls.com Sept 30 Debra Rice : www.turquoiseandlove.blogspot.com

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