Making a Difference In the Lives of Young Girls-With YOUR Help!

I've been inspired to use this family/personal blog to really make a huge difference. Check this out...

I'm interning at StreetLightUSA, an incredible organization whose mission is to eradicate child sex slavery here in the United States. You might not have known, that sex slavery is indeed a domestic issue, not just international. Blows your mind a little doesn't it? Well, my journey with this organization has really opened my eyes to all the obstacles these victims face in receiving quality care. There are few places in the US, let alone Arizona, that provide a safe home to these girls that have maybe never known what "safe" really is. Check out this video:

So here's where you and I can partner together to make a difference! I'm hosting a 9-day fundraiser where all the proceeds go directly to StreetLightUSA. But this fundraiser isn't just a "peeeeople, we neeed your money!" (ala Little Rascals) event. You get something from it! In fact, you choose what you get!

I sell a product called Scentsy-it's a wickless candle that warms wax rather than burning it. It's a safe alternative to flame candles and there are awesome warmers for every decor. There are college team warmers, girly warmers, neutral warmers-there really is something for everyone! Even my husband likes this stuff-no joke! During these next 9 days I'm going to give StreetLight all of my commission from anything I sell. Yes, ALL of my commission. So you're thinking, "Well Andrea, what do I do next?" I'm glad you asked!!

1. Check out the StreetLightUSA website to learn more about the issue of sex trafficking. These girls need our help!
2. Check out my Scentsy website and place an order under the StreetLightUSA fundraiser tab (on the right). You can also place an order with me in person if you prefer. Make sure to mention StreetLight.
3. This is maybe the most important part: share this with all the people you know! Post it on Facebook, Twitter, tell your work friends, people at church, the list is endless. The more people we can reach, the more awareness we'll bring to sex slavery here in our hometown. Think of how much we can bless these girls! I'm so excited at the potential of this spreading to hundreds of people with your help!
3. In just a couple of weeks your order will be in-just in time for Mother's Day, March Madness, maybe a reward for your Spring Cleaning (or just a little something for yourself)! Remember: all proceeds will go back to helping these girls find peace and a new life.

Are you up to the challenge? Let's make this huge!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me here.

My first children

We've been talking a lot about how the dogs will soon be "neglected" and replaced by Poppy (our nickname for the little one-because when we found out we were pregnant (s)he was only the size of a poppy seed!) I'd call her lime now, but it's not as cute. Back to my point! So Patrick has been preparing the dogs by saying, "Your lives are really going to change you know. You'll be replaced by a baby, and you can't be jealous or needy. You need to be understanding." No kidding, he actually says this stuff out loud to them. Duh they don't understand, but at least he's done his due diligence in warning them, ha!

I look at my friends' blogs and the ones with kids I notice blog lots about the kid and life as it's new...and then time passes....and they....don't....blog....anymore. This most likely will be me, even though I like to think, "I'll never be like that," or, "I'm different!" No, not really. But I can pretend :)

So this is my ode to Kiri and Ella, as they probably won't get as much "web space" as they once had.

Patrick and I were laughing at how different they are personality wise. Ella is loyal and slow to trust a stranger. Kiri will love anyone or anything that pets her. She also gets a lot more excited than Ella does at the little things. When you watch the video, remember Ella (the one we're calling) is the black one.

They also know key words like "dinner" "breakfast" and "wanna go for a walk." I love their expressions, so precious.

And so my furry children, know that we still love you, even though you dig, eat trash, barf up rocks (no more!!), run off when you're not on leash and bark at every poor person that walks by our house. We still love you :o)

A MUST see photo session...

So, I never got around to posting about Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Years...but I'm pretty sure you'll forgive me after this post.

You see, my friend Stefani Bullard has her own photography business, and she asked Patrick and I if we would model for her. Of course we said yes.

I know you're going to LOVE her work, so if you need some contact info here it is!

Stefani.Bullard@gmail.com
480.648.8319

**What you're about to see may shock you, as the news did to many people already. No, this isn't a joke. This is for real folks.**

       

And just in case you weren't totally positive...

a picture of Baby Jones at 8 weeks. :oD

Much Love,

Patrick, Andrea and Baby Jones

Choices

Just a quick note to say that our Thanksgiving post will be up probably next week, so stay tuned.

In other news, I could really use prayer right now. The semester is coming to a close and with all my "obligations" I'm realizing something needs to go. Please pray that God give us clear direction on choices we need to make coming up soon. I'm confident the Lord will carry us through as he always does!

Still busy, story of our lives

Quick update, because it's been a while since I've last posted.

The weather is absolutely beautiful lately. Finally, Phoenix decided to give into Fall's weather. Good thing too because I was SO done with summer.

We tore up the side yard in the front, and put in some beautiful plants. It looks SO much better than what it was. Feels more like ours now too. But seeing these pictures make me realize how nasty the brick walls and side of the house look. I'll add that to the list.

Last weekend we went to Flagstaff for the NAU Shrine of the Ages Alumni reunion and had a blast. I've kind of gotten out of the habit of taking pictures, so I don't have any. Ooopsies :o) But it was a blast. The alumni choir sang the National Anthem at the Homecoming game, and it was actually pretty good. That's saying something. I mean, there were 150+ people singing in a sports dome. Not exactly the best of circumstances for good sound. But I think it was pretty good. Of course the weekend would not be complete without an alumni concert. We sang together with the current Shrine and mamasita! It was like sweet honey to my ears. The last time I sang in a choir that good was...well, when I was IN Shrine in college! Of course some of the alumni were um...aged (I think 84 was the oldest?) and their vibrato was...wide...to say the least. HOWEVER, it's a small thing to overlook when sitting next to 4 current Shrine members. Those of you from NAU know what I'm talking about. Other than the concert, all we did was eat. I mean, what else is there to do in Flagstaff? We went to Beaver Street Brewery, Hiro's Sushi, The Lumberyard, Crystal Creek Sandwich Co., and other places I'm sure. Seriously, the whole weekend was about food. And I always feel a little nostalgic when visiting Flagstaff. Afterall, that is where I met the love of my life...(dang we were skinny).

Not to much else going on. I take that back. There's a LOT going on here, but it's no different than reported before. I'm still working part time at Phoenix Christian, going to USC full time, selling Scentsy, doing worship team at church, and working at my school internship. Patrick is working and taking classes as well. So we're busy, there's no doubt about that. But if all goes according to plan, this will only continue until September when I graduate. I'm really looking forward to having 1 job, this juggling schedules is getting old pretty fast. Worth the sacrifice though.

I hope this post finds you healthy, happy and loving life. Until next time!

You want me to do what?

1 Kings 17:7-16 says, “⁷And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. ⁸Then the word of the LORD came to him, ⁹"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you." ¹⁰So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." ¹¹And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." ¹²And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die." ¹³And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" ¹⁵And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

This morning I felt kind of like the widow. I think, “Lord, I'm not really sure why you ask me to make you bread, I haven't even had time to get groceries! The dishes are piling up, the pool is still not fixed, I tried to get the laundry started but it is a monster all of its own. I have an internship, teach 3 classes, teach 2 voice students, sell Scentsy, have a lot of church obligations, I'm a wife who doesn't have much time for her husband, a daughter who never calls her family (again, not much time), a friend who still hasn't returned a phone call from last week, and I'm going to grad school full time. And you want me to make something from nothing?"

I'm almost certain this widow's attitude was much better than mine. After I read this passage I think, "She is just confused as to how she's going to feed Elijah-she doesn't even have enough for her and her son." It's a simple dilemma-I haven't made any bread yet (it takes a while by the way) and I have very little flour and oil. My attitude on the other hand is more like, "You want me to do what?!" And yet, Elijah's response to this widow speaks volumes to me, "Go and make bread-first for me and then for you and your son. Oh and by the way, God will never let your flour or oil run dry." Wow. So not only is God reminding me that he must come first, I also have to trust him for the things I need. And how easy is it to just say, "How? How God, are you going to make this happen? I don't see how." And cue worship song...

Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other...

Yes, my God is greater and stronger, and higher than anyone, anything I could fathom. Today Lord I will trust in you. Today I will put you first. Today I will see how you provide for me, regardless of how defeated or beat down I feel. Today I'm relying on your truth.

A Good Reminder

I've been reminded, and brought back into focus, the reason I am where I am today. Lord, let me never forget what you've called me to.