Some Truths

I am claustrophobic.

I am waiting for myself to do something more creatively.  I'm not sure what this is.  It's nagging at me constantly.  Although, I'm anxious to understand what this is, I must try to find peace in now.  In today.

Being around plants makes me happy... really, really happy.

I badly want to learn to play the piano.

I love writing and although I've only been blogging for a few years, I have been writing since I was a child.    I really want to do something more with this.

I am a homebody and a night in with my family in comfy clothes makes me full.

I am still friends with the girls I went to junior high and high school with and knowing them so well and for so long makes them feel like family.  There is a lot to be said about comfort in friendships.  The peace in not trying to be friends, just being.   We are all different, but we are us.

I am in awe of my son.  His personality, his strength and determination.  I am often surprised that he did not come from my body...almost have to be reminded that at one time we did not know each other.  It's amazing how close and how much love you can have for someone that at one time was a stranger.

I love Africa.  I love the colors, textures, cultures.  I would love to spend some time there with my family.  Pushing pause on our life here for awhile and working with a community or children there.   Just the thought is fulfilling and exciting to me.  I think this should go on my bucket list.

I don't watch scary movies.  Anymore.  I used to all the time and then decided that getting scared when the sun goes down and thinking someone is outside going to kill me every night is a bit much for the ol' nervous system.

Although, we are outnumbered by pets at our house and it's a lot of upkeep and time, I still want some chickens.  :)

Truths. Feels good to let them out and share them.  Any truths you want to throw out there about yourself?

Have a great weekend!

Reaching Goals

I'm excited to share this fundraising project in Malawi.  I was contacted a few weeks ago through my Etsy shop about a sale of some of my necklaces.  The necklaces are to be given as thank you gifts for donations made to a school construction project called The Beehive School in Malawi in Africa.  I was commissioned to make a quantity to send on its way and was so excited to do so.  I love stuff like this!  The cause, the giving....the making of jewelry for something bigger.  The exact reason I started Morning Sparrow jewelry.  The best part...the sale of these has allowed me to make my first Kiva loan through Morning Sparrow!  I was getting antsy that I hadn't been able to make a loan yet, so this is very exciting stuff to me and is inspiring me to get busy in these next few days and weeks and get some more pieces made for my Etsy shop.  Right now, all my jewelry is at Fashionista Exchange & Boutique in Overland Park, KS for holiday shoppers.  So, I have my work cut out for me to get busy and get some pieces back up on my Etsy shop to keep raising funds.
   
Check out the Beehive School project:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/beehive-school-project-mzuzu-malawi/beehive-school-malawi-holiday-newsletter-2011/10150472858886202

Morning Sparrow's first Kiva loan went to a group of women in Uganda that own a shoe store business.  These funds (combined with other lender's funds to reach the target loan amount) will assist this group in growing their business and paying for school fees for their children.  Here is info about their business and loan needs: http://www.kiva.org/lend/362924.  If you are interested in contributing to this loan, it just takes $25 to get started in lending.

It's refreshing to see my original goals of my jewelry designs come to life.  It's been almost a year since I started this and at times I was overwhelmed with all the other responsibilities & projects in my life , but now I see how much balancing it all means.