Vessels of Clay

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the all-surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

2 Corinthians 4:7

I know that I blog a lot about Apparent Project and Haiti and how it is changing my life. Today is no exception.  Whether is be a sudden "Aha" moment or a slow process of God working deep within my heart, I am just compelled to share.  So, I sit here at my computer ready to put into words what God has been up to this time.

When I visited the artisan house in February, Shelley would introduce me to the artisans and to her friends and tell them that I had sold $10,000 worth of product in the last year.  I remember the first time she said that.  I was taken back as I had not calculated it - but she had been keeping track.  The party sales here in the states are the most beneficial for the artisans.  They wind up with the most return which means more money for them and their families.

After returning home from Haiti, I knew that God was going to do something big but I didn't know how.  My passion and belief for AP was only confirmed and I could NOT be quiet about it.  My church embraced it as well and they started talking about it.  As I have shared many times, the speaking opportunities and sales events have just fallen in my lap.  Strangers call me all the time wanting to see it - hear more about it.  Who but God knew that I would be traveling all over, speaking about it to churches and groups and selling ridiculous amounts of jewelry?!?

Between March and September of this year, I did another $18 - 20,000 in jewelry sales.  That was mind blowing.  It took me 14 months and two Christmases to make the original $10,000.  Upon this realization, I was humbled and amazed at God's providential planning and arranging of all of it.  I couldn't think long though, as I was gearing up for this Christmas.

It's not even December yet and I have had 16 different AP events with another $10,000 in sales!  $10,000 - in about 6 weeks time!  This makes about $40,000 in two years!  That's nuts!!!!!  Things are slowing down but there are still 7 events on the calendar before Christmas.

It was two years ago that I sat at my computer and wept when I read this blog.  God had been working hard on my heart and deep down, I knew that somehow this was His answer.  I just had no idea where it would take me.

Today, I sit here with a better understanding of what it means to be the jar of clay in the above verse.

Each of us were made for a purpose.  A plan to be used of God to bring Him glory.  So many times we do things because they are "good."  We say a prayer, asking God to bless our efforts and we plunge ahead.  We get tired and burnt out and we struggle because it's a "good" thing and then we feel guilty.

It may be a good thing - but is it the 'right' or 'most excellent' thing?  Is it truly what we are "called" to do?  Can we tell others that we know, that we know, that we know, that God has called us to this specific task?  Or do we just do it because it's expected or it will make us look good and spiritual to others or even to ourselves as we hide behind service?  Keeping ourselves so busy with good things that we don't have to really face what God is trying to do in our hearts.

I went through the "muck" two years ago as God prepared me.  He changed my heart about missions and the poor.  He held up my chin caused me to really see other parts of the world and then focused me in on Haiti. He gave me mercy and compassion for photos and stories of people I did not know.  As I began to pray for these people, they were no longer photos and stories.  They were people.  They were no different than me.  They have feelings, emotions, desires - no different than mine.

They are Haitian mothers and fathers who desperately LOVE their babies.  They don't want to give them to the orphanages - but they know it is the only way they will live.  They hold on to them as long as possible - by they time they get to the orphanages, many are dying.  I cannot even begin to imagine having to make that decision.

God showed me clearly that the solution to this is not more aid - but jobs.  Jobs that give them dignity, jobs that enable them to take care of their families - that give them pride in themselves and what they accomplish.

He made all of this a burning passion in my heart, confirmed it over and over and has given me a platform to share with others.

I am just the vessel.  I have not forced or manipulated anything that has happened in the last two years.  All of these opportunities have just fallen in my lap and they continue to do so.  I didn't just do this because it was a "good" thing to do.  I came back from Haiti willing.  It has been His all-surpassing power that has caused all of this.  I just obey.

As I stand in the middle of it all and look at all that God has done with this - I understand more about being the clay.  I could have NEVER done all of this myself.  It amazes me often that I don't get burned out.  Each time I talk about AP, a fire is ignited inside of me and I get so excited and passionate.  It fuels me to keep going.  I know that is His work - His power within me.  He keeps taking things to new levels and causes me to trust Him in new ways as I shuffle my Calligraphy and my church family and my own family around all of it.  Amazingly there is time for it all.  The blessings are greater than I could have ever imagined.

I have been pondering all of this for a few weeks.  I am guilty of doing things because they are "expected" or "good."  I have been burnt out and tired.  Not this time.  And now that I have experienced what it is like to be the clay - to let it be HIS work and not mine - to step back out of the way and just be the vessel as He makes all these amazing things happen.  Well - I pray I never go back to the other.  There is a peace and a joy knowing that it is His power - not mine.

Amazing things happen when we allow him to be the potter and we are willing to be the clay.  At times it is painful but ALWAYS worth it!

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." 

Jeremiah 64:8

When we allow him - He shapes us into a useful vessel. 

May He receive ALL of the glory. 

Now and forever!

Christmas!

I am so excited about Christmas this year!  I don't really know what the difference is - but I am a bit giddy.  Two years ago, I struggled through as God brought me to a place where He would introduce me to Apparent Project.  The rest has been an amazing journey!

We came home from Sasha's yesterday and got to work.  We always know it's Christmas when I find this:

Getting the Christmas stuff out of the attic.  How cute is that?

We took off to the lot around the corner and found that perfect tree!

Did you know Christmas trees grow about a foot per year?  I figure ours was planted about the time Anne was born.  It is always amazing to think that when that tree was planted, seven or eight years ago, God knew it would wind up in our house.

My helpers were GREAT this year!  Finally old enough that I don't have to micro-manage!

Our new additions this year.

All finished and ready for Christmas!

Now on to the REST of the house!  Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Season!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we do every year, we packed up (road trip for me, AGAIN) and headed to Sasha's for Thanksgiving.  We come on Tuesday so I can help Sasha cook all day Wednesday.  We have a lot of fun in the kitchen.

This year we had an additional guest -

Uncle Jack!!

Uncle Jack is my mom's (and Sasha's) oldest brother.  He's the oldest of all eight of them.  He lives in Illinois and for me, it seems lately, I only see him for funerals.  Not cool.  It's good to have him here for Thanksgiving.

Homemade noodles are a family tradition for us.  The recipe is passed down from my Great Grandma West and is a definite favorite!

 

Anne always "helps" by playing in the flour.

Anne & Sasha

 LOVE this - this is the first time they have met.

Every year my kids bring their bathing suit and BEG to swim.  We've already had MUCH cooler weather here in Florida for this time of year.  The pool temp was 66 - their swim time lasted MAYBE 10 minutes.

COLD!!!!

Anne also helps every year with the apple pies.  She loves to help to peel and core them.

Carving the turkey

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Post turkey coma......

So many things to be thankful for  -  not just today -  but everyday!!!  God has blessed us beyond measure.  Looking forward to 2013 - it's gonna be awesome!!!!!

Until next time......

New Family Photos

I am beyond thrilled at our new family photos!  We met with Ginny from Photography by Virginia Hobbs about a week ago and she came up with these!

Anne just makes this pic - this is so her!!!

His arms - my favorite spot in the world.  Love this pic....

So blessed by this girl.  Love her so much!

Love this!

I'm so in love with each of these and they were just the teasers on Facebook last night.  If you would like to see the rest - Click Here.  She even did a little piece on her blog about Apparent Project and the necklace I was wearing.  To see that - Click Here.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of them!  As you probably noticed, my blog received an upgrade as well. 

Ginny was amazing to work with.  I have known her since she was a little girl.  Her mom was my Sunday School teacher when I was in High School.  I simply love their family.  They have always been such a blessing and encouragement to me.  This has been no exception.

Thank you Ginny!  You were such a blessing to us and you have given us sweet treasures!

Thank You

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who came out and shopped this weekend!

I posted pics and reminders almost every day for six weeks.  You shared, invited and came and supported Apparent Project.

It was awesome!  This was an incredible weekend.  From the time it started until it finished, there were people in my house.  I don't think we had any down time.

In the last two days, you bought $4000 in products to support the Haitian artisans.  What an incredible blessing.

Add that to the $1000 I sold last week, and I am mailing  $5000 to them!  On top of the $3600 I sent in last month.  It just boggles my mind!

Once again I am truly blown away by God's plan with this, the generosity of others and the fact that I get to be involved.

Thank you all so very much!

If you missed this weekend and would still like to shop, or you want to come back for more - here is the next opportunity.

Feel free to spread the word and share with others! 

Girl Time!!!!

It was that time of year again!  Time to take off and visit Emily for a long girls weekend.  I visited for the first time last October and we decided then and there that we would make this an annual trip.  I had a very busy month, but finished it off in New Hampshire.

I boarded my plane early Thursday morning, with a layover in Newark on my way to Manchester, NH.

I purposefully chose my seat on the right side of the plane so I could watch the sunrise.  And boy was I thankful.  Such a beautiful morning.  The bad part was that as we flew into Newark, New York City and the Statue of Liberty was on the OTHER side of the plane.  Oh Well!

I had a 3 hour layover and wished I could have gone and explored NYC but there wasn't enough time.  The people watching at the airport proved most interesting though. 

I landed in Manchester and Emily picked me up.  We had a late lunch/early dinner and just enjoyed being able to actually talk face to face instead of on the phone.

Late Thursday night we make all the preparations to spend the day in Boston again.  It's much easier to take the public transportation than to try and maneuver it all ourselves.  So Emily checked the bus schedules and I figured out what subway lines we needed to be on.  We woke up early Friday and headed to the bus station feeling much more confident than last year because we had done it before.

 We spend the day wondering all over Boston and finishing the Freedom Trail Tour that we began last year.  This time it took us to the North Church, where the lanterns were lit.  "One if by land, two if by sea!"















Fortunately I didn't miss the Fall colors!  Boston was so beautiful.

Paul Revere's House

U.S.S. Constitution or "Old Ironside"

After a stroll through The Boston Common, we headed back to Cheers.  We ate here last year and it was so good that we decided to go again.

After dinner, we decided to go on a hunt to find Mike's Pastry.  We had been seeing lots of people with boxes from there so we assumed it was good.  We had to check it out for ourselves.  This meant some more exploration on the subways.  Last year, I didn't want to look obvious so I avoided taking pics but this time, having more confidence, I didn't care.

Besides - it's just so cool.  At least to this Florida girl anyway.

And it comes with it's own entertainment while you are waiting!

We made it!!!!  Wonderful Italian bakery!  Definitely a must if you are in Boston!

We found a spot in the park and enjoyed our desserts leisurely.  After all, Emily had checked the bus schedule and we still had plenty of time.

We hopped back on the subway and headed back to the bus station.  We took our time as it had been a long day of walking.  We arrived at 9:35 - a full hour before the LAST bus was to leave.  Or so we thought.  As we checked the schedule on the screens in the bus station, I could not find one leaving for home at 10:30.  I could only find the 9:30 bus.  It had just left. I looked at Emily - she checked the schedule in her hand again and it said 10:30.  We headed to the ticket counter go get it straightened out.  One the way, Emily discovered that she had been looking at the wrong line the ENTIRE time.  UGH!!!  The bus arrives HOME at 10:30 - not that WE arrive at the bus station at 10:30.

We missed the last bus home from Boston!  We were stranded!

All I could do was laugh.

I could totally throw Emily under the bus here - but I can't - it already left!!  She was horrified - I thought it was funny!  But - she won't live this one down for a while!

So - What now? 

We asked the guy at the ticketing counter - he said we could spend the night and catch the next bus in the morning or take a bus into another town.  Hmmmm.

Emily called Bruce.

His first question, "What did you do?"

Ugh - poor Bruce.  He had to come get us.  We two crazy girls stranded in Boston.

We sat in the bus station for over an hour and all we could do was giggle.  I think it will be a long time before Bruce can laugh about it.  We were very thankful for his rescue.  

We arrived back to Emily's around 12:30 am.  It was a day we will always remember!

On Saturday, we took off for Deerfield, Mass.  This time we had Emily's van AND the GPS!!  Bruce had already given us instructions that he was NOT coming to get us!

We were in search of the HUGE Yankee Candle Store there.  We spent the whole day and closed it out at 8:00 that evening and we each took one of these little guys home.

Isn't he cute?

By Saturday night, Russ was calling and telling me I needed to pay better attention to the storm that was approaching.  When we got home that night I got on the computer and realized that I needed to head home early.  My original flight was supposed to leave Manchester on Monday at 5pm - the exact time that the storm was to hit the area. 

I spent 3 hours on the phone - on hold - with the airlines.  No luck.  Never did get through. Sunday morning, I packed my bags and we headed to the airport.  I was willing to take any flight out that day.  They were predicting that Emily and Bruce would lose power and it could be out for days and expecting all of the airports to close.

The lady behind the counter worked and worked.  I got the last seat on the only plane out of Manchester on Monday morning.  The flight would take me over the storm to Charlotte and then home.  

Since I wasn't leaving until the next day, Emily and I hit the mall and made the best of our last day together.  That night, I made cupcakes for the boys.  Yep - I sugared them up and then left the next morning!

Bruce took me to the airport EARLY Monday morning and when I walked up to the counter EVERY flight was cancelled - except mine!  God is good.  My flight left on time - took me up and over Sandy and I was home by 1:00 in the afternoon.  So very thankful.

Emily wound up with cancelled schools, a lot of wind and rain, but they kept their power.  I came home exhausted and with a cold.  But an AWESOME time was had by all.  Well - maybe not Bruce.  Hopefully he will let me come back again next year.