You know those adult friendships that happen so easily that you wish you could be together more often? Not necessarily the neighbors or church buddies, or even that really cool mom you see at all the baseball games. I'm talking about the cousin who lives in another state, but every time you instant message, you literally laugh out loud. Or the wife of your husband's cousin ... how those holiday chats seem effortless and completely refreshing.Christy is a girl [read: grown woman, mom of 3] who went to college with me. I can't remember a single time we conversed one-on-one while we shared a campus, but we knew and loved the same set of people. So when we reconnected in Bloggerville, we realized we are delightfully like-minded. We read. We write. We parent. We minister. We opinionate and commentate and pray for grace to trust God more. We enjoy friendship from a distance in a peaceful, inspiring, easy way:)
Last year, Christy introduced me to Trades of Hope.
So many women live in poverty, not because they lack abilities, but because they lack opportunity. Trades of Hope works with female artisans and organizations that are helping women in difficult circumstances.
Trades of Hope empowers women to create sustainable businesses worldwide. The idea is that women everywhere possess the potential to be world changers, business owners, dream creators, and heroes of their own stories. Trades of Hope mobilizes American women to rise up and be the voice for the women who have no voice, empowering them to rise out of poverty.
Some women have been rescued from sex slavery. Others are raising handicapped children alone. Some are in war torn countries and others have AIDS. These women have never had the chances we've had, yet they are just like us in so many ways. They love their families and hope and dream of a better life for them. We are helping by marketing their products through the home party model, so they can put food on their table, a roof over their head, get medical care and an education for their children. We want to tell their stories to the world! (TOH website)I'm so grateful to know about this organization. When I have a gift to buy, I love purchasing from Trades of Hope. It feels like my dollars are going farther and accomplishing more. I order a beautiful scarf to give to a friend for her birthday, Christy is blessed, the woman who created the scarf is blessed, my birthday pal is blessed (AND is made aware of TOH) so the potential for blessing multiplies!
I hope you'll visit their site, see all the lovelies, read about the designers, and be blessed.
You might even see something that you would love to wear, or give as a gift.
And here's the REALLY GREAT NEWS!!! Christy has offered to send THIS bracelet as a special gift to one of YOU! (She has the best ideas!) I'll gather names for a drawing until midnight, THIS THURSDAY, June 27, 2013. (Winner announced Friday.)
There are MANY ways to get your name in the drawing MANY times:)
1. Visit Christy's Trades Of Hope page = 1 entry.
2. Share Christy's TOH page on Facebook = 1 entry.
3. Share Christy's TOH page on Twitter = 1 entry.
4. Share Christy's TOH page on your own blog = 1 entry.
You'll need to let me know about all your visiting and sharing so I can get your name in the hat. (That's not slang ... my kids and I will literally be writing names on slips of paper and putting them into a Texas Rangers cap ... cuz that's how we roll!)
6/29 update:***Congrats AmyJo C. !!!
Comment here on CDJ, write on my FB wall, email me, text me, send a carrier pigeon. I'm not picky. Let me know how many times to write your name so somebody special can be wearing this beautiful bracelet in July!!
Thank You, God, for friendship and good ideas. Thank You for being near to all your children and for never leaving and always working for our good.
