I'm not ready

...to go back to work.  I really thought that 5 days post D&C that I would be ready to head back to work.  My Christmas vacation was spent laying around and enjoying my kids which of course I loved so much.  Now I am back to work tomorrow and thinking that I still need a couple down days.  I am normally a fast healer but this time around I am a little sluggish, guess it is a sign of my age.

Leaving you with a precious pictures of my life's inspiration...

Don't forget about Harper's fundraiser, can't wait until I can see a picture of her with her sisters!

GIVE

My friend introduced me to having a word for the year last year.  I didn't really pick a word for this last year, we had so many things going on, life was really at an overwhelming point.  How could I choose just one word.

I have been so excited for 2012.  For weeks I have been thinking about all that is in store for our family in 2012 and the word GIVE has been so deeply in my heart.  I was thinking about my word for 2012 and I could feel the Lord impressing GIVE in my heart even deeper.

I have been thinking about all the ways we can GIVE to others.  Not just in a monetary sense, while that is really important, we can give so much more than all the money we have.  I am talking about giving with all of you, walking through the day looking for all the ways that we can give to others, our family, friends, strangers, etc.  Seeing that person in the store parking lot that could use some help loading something into their car, they could probable figure out a way to get it done themselves but just imagine how much you could bless them by lending them a hand.  Walking into work with your coworker who is carrying a few to many things and grabbing the cup of coffee they have perched on top.  Seeing someone on the side of the road who could use a little extra something, a few years ago I drove around with some coats in my car and handed them out to people I saw that could use another layer, time to stock my car again!  The mom in McDonalds that has her hands full and could use two more hands as she gets her kiddos bundled up to go.

All these ways of giving may seem so small in our day to day lives and easy to forget but they could also be the best part of someone's day.  Just think of all the Jesus has given to us, we may be showing a little Jesus to that person at just the time in their life that they need it.

As a parent I know that my daily actions hold the biggest impact on my kids.  I pray that by modeling a giving heart to my kids they will be more giving in their days.  My oldest daughter gets citizenship awards at school, "dragon eyes", for doing things that we should really be doing all day every day.  She is on a quest for dragon eyes and will come home to tell me how many she earned each day.  While I love that the kids are recognized for their actions I want these to be a daily part of our lives without recognition.  I have been following a family that did something very similar this during Christmas.  It was awesome to see some of the things that they did and how small they may seem but what a huge impact they can have.

What an amazing year 2012 will be!  What is on your heart for 2012?

Fundraiser for Harper Skye!

Introducing the Ost family!  I am so blessed to be helping this family fund raise for their beautiful daughter, Harper Skye, who is patiently waiting for them in China.

Look at this sweet little princess with her legs crossed.  Now doesn't that just say "Mom and Dad, I am patiently waiting for you, now get that paperwork done and get over here!"

I am holding a Thirty-One Fundraiser for this family from now until January 11th.  Click on the link above and you will go directly to their fundraiser and be able to shop from our current catalog.  We have our famous thermal tote sale going on right now, if your resolution is to save money, eat healthier lunches or both this sale is just for you!  

Do you have a favorite retired print that you would love to find, check out our Outlet Sale and you might find it.  Items are marked down 50% and your purchase from the sale also helps Harper come home.  Send me an email let me know that you made a purchase to support Harper's fundraiser from the outlet sale.  

If your closet is full of gifts you can still help bring Harper home.  Check out their blog and see all they have going on and see a precious video of this darling little girl.

Blessings to you and yours in the New Year!

Yipee, Thank You Jesus!!!

I am so excited, Kalia is almost home.  Kalia's family was the first family I partnered with for a Thirty-One fundraiser way back in February.  Kalia's wait for her family is nearly over, thank you Jesus!

Read all about it here.

Ready for 2012

The only time I have wished time away was when we were waiting for our babies to come home from China.  However, we are not waiting for a baby (as much as my heart longs for another little boy) but I find myself wishing time away.  I am ready for 2012, a new year, a new beginning.  I have no idea why the calendar changing to 1-1-12 will make a difference but in my heart I feel that there is great opportunities for our family.

The last year and a half have been hard, really hard emotionally, financially and physically.  Hard on me and hard on my family.  I am ready to live a simple life; we started cutting back, coupon shopping, searching for things that we can do without.  Searching for more ways that we can live on less but have more in a non-material way.  I know this doesn't sound like the American Dream but it is my dream.  I dream of spending my days with my children and I am looking for ways to make this dream a reality.

Today I made a call to cancel a service that is a luxury that we don't need.  As they were offering me great deals to keep me as a paying customer, all the way up to free months of service I was so tempted to accept.  But then my heart and my head caught up with each other and I did the right thing, I said no thank you - we need to cancel our service.  I have a feeling that I will be challenged in this way again as our standard of living keeps changing, in the right direction!!! but I am ready for it.

While I am very excited for Christmas and spending time with friends and family, boy am I looking forward to the new year and all it has in store for us.

Give me your book recommendations...Please!

We almost have all the kids presents purchased and ready to wrap (we have impatient little peekers so that won't happen until the last minute) but we are still missing one gift for little Miss S.  At first I was going to find some baby doll clothes as she loves her babies but then the other day I realized how much she loves her books, they are the last thing she has at night and the first thing she gets out of bed to get in the morning.  I am a book lover myself so this brings me so much joy to know that we share the love of books!  I was known in my family to live in our claw foot bathtub when I was in the middle of a good book, draining the water when it was cold and starting over again.  Nothing like enjoying a good read and a long soak in the tub!

We have a pretty good sized collection of books to include Dr. Seuss, all characters from PBS kids, The Bernstein Bears and of course a good size collection of adoption themed books.  I am looking for some recommendations of books or book sets that would bring such joy to our little Miss S on Christmas morning and that we could add to as the year goes by.  She will be three very soon, so keeping that in mind I would love for you to share your recommendations.

Thirty-One Fundraiser for Olga - Updated Giveaway!

As many of you know my heart breaks daily for the orphans.  My friend Kenlyn shared about a precious little girl that is in need of her family a few weeks ago and she has been on my mind since.  She posted about Olga and her needs here, take a moment and read about her and she will move right into your heart too.

As Kenlyn's has continued to share about Olga I have been asking myself what can I do.  I believe that we can all do something for orphans, we don't have to all be willing to bring the child into our home, it could be as simple as sharing their need for a family or helping a family that has come forward to bring the child home in their fundraising efforts.  In my thoughts of what I can do my Thirty-One business came to mind, the reason that I became a Thirty-One Consultant was to help families fundraising.  At the point that I was thinking about this Olga didn't have a family that was able to bring her home but she does have a Reese's Rainbow fund so the idea of this fundraiser was born.  There is now a family petitioning to bring Olga home however, like so many the funds are not there to pay the immediate fees and they will need our help.

I will be donating all commission (25% of sales) to Olga's Reese's Rainbow adoption fund for all orders placed on my website in November and December.  If you would like to place an order you can go to Olga's Fundraiser on my website and place your order.

To thank you for helping Olga I am giving away the hostess benefits for this event.  Spend $50 $25 your name will be entered into the drawing 1 time.  However, the more you spend the more entries you get!  Spend $50 you get 3 entries, $75 gets 5 entries and spend $100 and you get 7 entries!!!  Now here is what the drawing is for:

1) $25 in FREE Thirty-One (number given away determined by amount of participation)
2) 1/2 price Thirty-One (number given away determined by amount of participation)
3) Opportunity to purchase the Extend-A-Day Tote for $10 ($49 Value)
4) FREE Organizing Utility Tote ($25 Value)
5) Opportunity to purchase a Hostess Exclusive of your choice (number given away determined by amount of participation)

All orders will be placed by Dec 12th in order to allow for Christmas delivery.  As soon as we have $600 in orders I will be placing the ordering and opening a new event and a new giveaway!  Wouldn't it be great to have your gifts give TWICE, once to your loved ones and again to Olga!!!

Please visit my website at: mythirtyone.com/MandieMetier to view the catalog and place your order, email me at acupquitefull@cableone.net if you have any questions.  We have a great array of customer specials: spend $31 get your choice of an All-In-One Organizer, Soft Wallet, Cinch Sac, Zip-Up Pencil Pouch or a Flat Iron Case for $5!

You may have wondered how this fundraiser did, I am very sad to report that there were not any participants.   Olga is still not far from my mind, I know the Lord has big plans for her and with the help of Reese's Rainbow her family will get her home.