Summer

Let’s start back into Writing Wednesdays with a big reality check!

My idea of a summer series about the different branches of health simply did not happen even though I outlined several blogs at the beginning. I thought I would have a time to get back here and at least schedule some out, but nope! And it has been a GREAT summer, truly.

Here’s what DID happen:

My book, Belonging & Behavior: 12 Weeks of Connection Training for Adoptive Parents, got put into high gear with a wonderful design/artist friend who is formatting the book. Now, thanks to her, we should have a book available on Amazon in September. This book is all about connection as well as correction, with five chapters of information/education/our story about what TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) is. Then the second part of the book, which is the largest portion, is 12 weeks of:

-1 Bible Study Lesson for the parent per week

-3 Student Devos per week that could be done together or assigned to the student, depending on their age

-1 “Connection Time” Activity to do per week, with many to choose from

There is a packet of beautiful worksheets, again thanks to the designer I hired – happy to share her info if you love it! – that can be downloaded and printed off right here from my website and put in a binder for each child. You can print off as many as you’d like, and having those student binders made ahead of time will set you up for the best success along the 12 weeks.

Also, this summer, I ordered more Sister Bridge items and already sold about half of my merch, so it’s time to order more! I have beautiful handmade mugs, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, purses of all kinds, zipper pouches, and backpacks. Soon I will also have ornaments and Christmas-related items and would love to bring the shop to your house or women’s meeting for a party this fall!

Sister Bridge is a ministry I started over 10 years ago, and now that I have a home office/studio for lessons and coaching, I have a little international gift shop right here, open by appointment! I have items from Haiti (Papillon Marketplace), Ethiopia, and Swaziland (Timbali Crafts) right now, but I am open to carrying more from different countries and ministries. I am not making any income from this, but the “profit” is being put in a fund for my trips to Ethiopia to minister with Embracing Hope Ethiopia, which is very dear to my heart.

Our family had many birthday grill-outs, movie and pizza nights, and time to chill. My summer flowers are beautiful…the tiger lilies were my favorite but as soon as they left, the naked ladies (I know) popped up and took their place in the spotlight. I’m thinking about learning how to compost and get better soil for next summer. We lost two trees which has made some sunny spots and I’m contemplating a garden??!! Am I crazy?

Oh, one more thing, my dear friend Heather and I are almost done with our Life Coaching (and fully done with our Mental Health Coaching) Certification, and we will have the fun of being in a graduation ceremony in Nashville this September, complete with cap and gown. I’m so proud of us! It’s been a wonderful experience, and we both are busy already using what we are learning.

Thanks for this opportunity to just sum it all up and start back fresh into this semester of Writing Wednesdays! I am READY!

Beauty from Ashes!

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There are some gorgeous things showing up in big boxes on my front step! That can only mean one thing…It is almost Sister Bridge time!

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I’m so excited that I get to do this! We are partnering for the 3rd year with Timbali Crafts, Cooperative Outreach of India, and Beads of Java, selling their handmade crafts for the wages of women in third world countries.

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All year the ladies have worked and as they have worked, they have gotten to hang out with missionaries and other believerswho care about them. They’ve heard the Gospel, and they’ve had a good, safe, job. We get to partner in their freedom and their joy just by helping them sell their handiwork.

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Like a quilt, they take pieces of material and magazine paper and bits of this and that and create something new, valuable, cherished…Just like God redeeming our scraps and seeing us as a new creation.

 

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