#styleforjustice

This year has been a journey for me personally.  It started reading when I read 7 by Jen Hatmaker and leading a Bible Study on it… and BOOM, I was hit with it.  The sheer abundance we are living in, when there is a world living in poverty.  Andrew and I used to joke about being poor- part-time preschool teacher and an intern campus minister, but we don't joke about it anymore.  We have so much.  
But, my sinful desire is still for more of everything- food, clothes, possessions, technology, etc, etc… and I am still sorting through this, our family is still sorting through this.  What does this mean in our family's life?  If more is not better, then how much is too much?   What can I do now?   What do I start with?   The rest of the summer, who am I kidding, the rest of our lives we will ponder these things.
International Justice Mission and Noonday Collection are two organizations that I have come across this year that are truly passionate about seeking justice.  One of the goals of these organizations is getting people to use their purchasing power to reach and help the poor.  Join me as I not only pray for, and spread the word about these organizations… but also start to see how I can contribute, to give sacrificially myself.  Maybe you can too!
International Justice Mission and Noonday Collection are teaming up for #styleforjustice campaign! A group of women is going to Rwanda in July to reach the people there… and I could be one of them.  I don't usually do contests where people have to vote for me… but I figure this is speeding awareness, and hopefully spurring people to action for a good cause… so I will go with it :). 

You can vote for me {HERE}

Now through May 28th… you can vote for me once per day.  Whether I go or not (and there are already 253 other people already trying for the spot) my hope is that  I will start to take real action to pursue justice.  That my family will start to take real action to pursue justice. And that some of you will start to take real action to pursue justice.

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My breakdown of how to do Disney… on a budget… with a baby!  :)

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When BD's two bottom teeth came in, I didn't even know she was teething… she just let out a few yelps one day and there they were.  I wouldn't say she is too fussy… but the 6 teeth that are trying to come in at once have been a bit of a game changer.  BD has never been much for actual "chew on these" teething products.  She just never keeps her interest in them, but I have found I love her amber teething bracelet and Hosie's Naturals teething cheek balm.  The bracelet is so cute… people comment on how "stylish" she is and then I tell them it is for teething.  We have seen an improvement since we have invested in these items :).

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BD is 11 months old… and I realized since February is so short, this is the shortest month we have… then she will be 1YEAR OLD!  It feels impossible.  I have been looking back at my Instagram #baileydrew with laughter and tears a lot lately.  How can they change this much in a year?  How do you make it slow down?

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Speaking of BD's birthday, planning is in full swing.  I am trying not to go to crazy with it… it is just a baby's birthday after all… but first birthdays only happen once.  I wrote this post a while back on our plans to do it on a budget.  Right now it seems like we will be under!  I will give a full report after!

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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:19-24

There is no middle ground here.  God really reminded me of that this week.  But he also reminded me that there is grace, and that this will be a daily battle with my own materialism.

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Not buying Carter's children's clothes.  Not until the company gets their act together.  See, in 7 this week we have been talking about clothing.  I have been convicted about the sheer amount of clothing all three of us have in our closets.  But I have also been convicted about the means used to make our clothing.  Check out Free2Work.  It goes through the policies, transparency, monitoring and worker's rights of different companies. So what did Carter's receive? D- go read about it… seriously.  Worker rights in particular… F… and the rest of their scores were not much better!  My thought has been maybe we all just need less clothes that are ethically made. One of the girls in our study said last night that it seems like "We have lots of stuff at the price of people."  It just doesn't seem worth it to me!  Have y'all ever researched this before?

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65 in 365 update… can't believe it is already almost March!

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We have a stander… when she feels like it.  I am actually convinced that she could get up and walk… if she wanted to… but she doesn't, crawling is quicker.  In true BD fashion, she will do it when she wants to, and not a moment before.  It is cute as can be to see here do it, because the look on her face is so unsure about what she is doing. And when she is clapping and standing… whew bless my heart… cutest thing EVER :)  

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Half marathon in Augusta this weekend with my sweet friend Jes.  She just had a baby at the end of September and is pretty much a rockstar.  I am not as prepared this time around, so pray I can make it! :)

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Oh… and did I mention we went to DISNEY for a day.  Don't worry… there is a full post coming, just as soon as I can get my head back above water.  It will probably be entitled… "one day at Disney… with a baby… on a budget…" Surprise Surprise… For now, here are some of my favorite pics :)

How was your week?

7, simplicity and food...

Food

I don't really love to cook, but I love to eat.

I think about food… a lot

I think whatever food I want, whenever I want it, as a right.

I love food… Enough said.

What I don't think about is that most of our world is hungry… truly hungry.

What I don't think about is that God intends for me to take care of my body and eat a certain way.

What I don't think about is how much of a distraction food can be in my life… a distraction from Christ.

This past week as part of our 7 Bible study we did a little experiment with food.  A fast of sorts.  What I learned from some intentional restrain from some foods…
* Matthew 25:35-40 what am I really doing to help those who are truly hungry… or am I too overindulged to even care or notice.

*Like I said, I am over indulged and compulsive- I can't just have one piece of candy, I have to have 5… or 10.

*I don't treat my body like a temple… I make excuses.  As long as I look okay I can eat whatever I want.

*I think about food when I should be thinking about God (like where are we going to lunch after church…)

*That there is a more natural way to eat that is most likely more glorifying to God.

So next steps…

* Give to kiva.org- a place that truly equips people

*Focus on God instead of food.

*Work toward eating more naturally with food from ethical sources like 

Zaycon

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Been living in a small town for 7 months now… here is what I have learned…

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BD at this stage is so fun. Seriously the personality!  The talking- mom, dad, uh oh, hi and bye. The games- patti-cake, waving and peekaboo.  The movement- crawling, cruising, and trying to stand.  I can't stand how amazing it is sometimes!!!

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I have not been a serious couponer in a while.  I decided to try again and saved just short of 40% plus almost $10 fuel savings...  Maybe I will get back into it!

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Next weekend we are going to see our grandparents in Florida.  It will be so fun to see them :)! We are also going to Disney for one day!  Andrew and I got passes for our birthdays, and BD gets in for free!  It will be a totally different experience going with a baby, but we are up for it.  We are currently taking suggestions and recommendations.  

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I keep looking at the calendar for the February and March and telling myself that I have to breath.  You know those months where there is something in your day planner for EVERY SINGLE DAY (or dots on your iPhone calendar:))  Praying that we can keep focus on the things that matter in the midst of being so busy!  

7 and simplify...

I have mentioned it before, but our word for the year is 

My heart is anxious with where the Lord is going to take our little family as we live more simply in order to be more like Christ.

This journey started as I stumbled upon Jen Hatmaker's book/Bible study The Seven Experiment:  Staging your own mutiny against excess

In her book, Hatmaker goes with her family on a journey doing a sort of fast on 7 things (thus the title)  we have an excess of I our lives: Food Clothes Processions Media Waste  Spending  Stress This was one of those books that I was so convicted as I was reading it... That I tried to move through it quickly so I couldn't respond to all of it (lame I know).  Good news… I will be going through it in depth this semester in Bible Study… so I am not off the hook.
Our heart is that this does not turn into some self help, Cleaner House, Less Spending, Less Stress in 30 Days mumbo jumbo (yes I just said mumbo jumbo). Our journey to simplify is to  1. Rid us of distractions and draw us closer to Christ. 2. Simplify for the sake of justice (like where else could we pour all of these resources). 3. Clear out the clutter so we can share Christ.
In our American Dream society we have been fooled into the delusion that more is always better.  But what if this is not the case?  We are truly excited to see where this journey takes us!

Do you want to journey with us? What is your word for the year?