Necklace Update:

I am excited to announce I sold all but 2 of my necklaces. The good news is I have another box on its way. It should be here next week. So...if you want a necklace, please let me know! I wish I could personally show all of you but believe me when I say they are beautiful!

Leave me a comment if you are interested. Thanks!

Still looking for the perfect Christmas Gift?

Purchase a hand-made necklace and help women in Uganda
Only $20.00!

How it began...
The Suubi (hope) project was launched in 2007 while the Hansow family was living in Jinja, Uganda for the adoption of their daughter. At the orphanage, they met Anaso Grace and Adong Santa selling paper-beaded necklaces. And after they visited the original 60+ women who met each Sunday to bead together under a jackfruit tree in the village of Walukuba, Suubi was birthed - merely a response to a talent and a need.

Who is Suubi...
Suubi (the Lugandan word for HOPE) is a project run by the non-profit organization Light Gives Heat. Suubi is the name of the self-governing community-based organization of beautiful women that make the jewelry, as well as the product name here in the West.
HOPE is the essence of the Suubi (hope) project and our vision is two-fold:
1) The Suubi (hope) project is about creating consistent weekly incomes in otherwise unemployable areas in Uganda through the purchasing and reselling of these hand-make necklaces. Thus, allowing for women to provide food and pay school fees for their children.
2) In Uganda, we have been shown a HOPE that doesn't make sense and has changed everything. Therefore, we simply want to spread HOPE - sharing the stories of these amazing women and getting people across the world to look outside of themselves and respond creatively.

What we do...
In addition to buying each week (and tripling their usual profit), the Light Gives Heat volunteers also run weekly Literacy and English classes for the women of Suubi and simply spend time with the women. The majority of the 120+ women are Acholi widows who have been displaced from Northern Uganda because of an over 20-year-long war that has directly affected their tribe and homeland.

Despite the tragedies they have seen, the hardships they face, and the unpredictability of life in Africa, these beautiful women of Suubi have joy on their faces and hope in their hearts.
As some of our volunteers have said, “America’s Next Top Model has nothing against these women.” They truly are an inspiration and they have taught us so much about life and choosing hope (daily).

PAPER- yeah we're not kidding!
Each necklace is made of hand-rolled Ugandan paper beads
- First cut into strips, rolled, glued, lightly varnished, & strung -

100% recycled paper from Uganda
(made out of old posters, advertisements, magazines, & newspapers)

Email me or leave me a comment if you are interested in buying one!

My 2 other babies

I realized recently that I never ever blog or really even mention my other two babies.  My babies are not really babies anymore as they have been apart of our family for many years now.  They are our two Bichon dogs, Toby and Sebastian.  Maya just adores them and they well...tolerate her.  We are one happy family of 5! 
 
Here is Sebastian all cuddled up on the couch

Toby loves to lay on top of the couch, any couch

Aren't they cute? 

Naartjie

While visiting Seattle with my family, I came across this fabulous kids store call Naartjie. I found it to be very unique, very colorful, and addicting. I ended up visiting it 3 times during my long weekend visit. On my last visit, I finally asked the store clerk about the store. She told me it originated in South Africa and much of the design work is actually still being done there. It is such a great store and you can shop online! Here is Maya wearing one of the outfits.


Do you have a favorite kids store? Please share!

Fun right before bed-time

I know I'm biased, but Maya is so adorable. Tonight we had some fun before bed-time. Maya used daddy as a jungle gym. They have so much fun together and Maya was laughing up a storm!





I did get a picture of Maya and I as I didn't want to feel too left out :)

I need Africa more than Africa needs me

Dave came across this wonderful video on our Ethiopian adoption message board yesterday. Dave has posted it to his blog here. I thought I would share it with you all as well as I think it is exceptional. It really hits home for us. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it makes you think.

BURR! It's cold outside!

This afternoon my co-worker/friend and I volunteered for the Salvation Army and bell rang for 2 1/2 hours in the cold. Our company takes part in this each year and this is my second year participating. Thankfully I am prepared and had triple layers on of almost everything. I also bought my wanna be Ugg boots from Target ($19.99 on sale) yesterday. By being dressed in layers and enjoying a complimentary Starbucks hot chocolate, I survived as did my friend Angela. Maya and I are now home, early, and enjoying some mother-daughter time (minus my quick blog entry here). Speaking of my daughter she is yelling "mommy, mommy". I guess that is my cue to sign off. Have a great night everyone and STAY WARM!