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Dinner out back

05.13.13

We had a very full weekend of soccer games, a parade, coop building, and other stuff. Good stuff and exhausting stuff. Yesterday the weather was gorgeous! My dad and I worked on the coop…that is getting closer and closer to being finished. Yay. We also had our families over for a Mother’s Day dinner. Our picnic tables are hands down the most used furniture we own.

FireCracker and her cousin had their own special table. The boys hid out and ate in the teepee (c/o Playhaven). Little One wandered around the table and pretended like she was going to eat. She likes the idea of eating…not so much the actual food in the mouth part of it!

My mom has been asking for a photo of all her grandkids. Seven kids: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9….a bit impossible to get an “all smiling sweetly” shot. This was the one we settled on for Nana’s canvas. The lighting is splotchy, which was driving me crazy, but the kids weren’t about to make it if I tried relocating them.

Here’s some of the others we had to choose from…

I might need a canvas of this one. Oh my girl…she is a mess and a half.

The contrast between the excitement of my oldest son and my oldest daughter cracks me up.

My sister, Lesley and her family *** and Chris took this one of me and the kids.

the little girls * me & my sister * my mom * my grandma – 4 generations

I am so thankful for my mom, my grandmas and my mother-in-law. I have some truly wonderful women in my life. It is always wonderful to have them all together at my home, in the midst of the craziness of the kids, chickens and fiesty cat.

Little One and I ended the day together, keeping with a tradition I started last year when we were still waiting for her to come home. A letter. A balloon. A prayer.  A heart full of gratitude for her first mom.

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kate - The picture of all the kiddos is so hilarious and adorable. and that tradition… I’m totally going to have to steal it:)

-Kate
you know, the creeper (haha, follower) that left the accidental awful comment on your IG, who prayed late in the night you wouldn’t hate me, and is thankful that you left a sweet returning comment on IG, and that whole miss communication is cleared up:) phew. I was panicking there for a moment.

Thankful for you!

Stoich91 - How super sweet! I love the pic with all of your kiddos and you…so rarely get to see you all together! They love their mom! :D

kimberly oyler - your hair is getting so long! also the very last picture of you and little one just kills me. gosh, she is getting so big.

Kelly - 4 generations-precious!! Firecrackers polka-dot dress-adorable, please share!

Sarah - Ashley – that picture of all the women is amazing. Four generations is amazing. Everyone is so happy and beautiful. That one needs a permenant spot in your girls room!!

Laura - Hi Ashley!

Yesterday I saw this documentary:

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/documentos-tv/documentos-tv-entre-dos-mundos/1815768/

And thought about you and your Little One. It’s called “Between two worlds” and it’s about chinese girls that were adopted by americans and the questions they face about their origins when they grow up. Four girls speak about their feelings, you see that some of them really need to find their biological parents, others don’t feel that need… Some of them still feel the pain of being abandoned when they were just babies for the only reason of not being boys. I think you should see it!

The only problem is that it is translated to spanish! I don’t know if you speak spanish… Anyway, I just wrote them an email to ask if they can send it to me not translated buy I’m not sure if they can do it.

I’ll tell you!

Kisses and blessings,

Laura

Nicoline Bingham - Love your tradition of honouring little ones birth mom. We also have one adopted child that is 2, and just this Mother’s Day I was thinking I would love to encorporate her first mom into that day especially…..any thoughts or ideas, or can you share what you guys do a bit more?

Nicoline

Katie @mummydaddyme - I have been following your blog for a while now but I don’t actually know if I have commented before. For that I am sorry. I just wanted to tell you that you inspire me with your photos and the way you write. It’s beautiful. You have a gorgeous family.

From Katie all the way in the UK.

http://www.mummydaddyandmemakesthree.co.uk

Jessica - Firecracker is so, so amazing.

April - Ashley – C and H are getting so big! I cannot believe that they are 9 and 7 already. They look like they are growing into sound young men.

Molly - Beautiful! I love how you share the not so perfect pictures….because those are the ones that really tell the story! it is a good reminder for me not to worry about getting the perfect picture….just take the pictures.

and the tradition. oh so precious!

maggie may - what a fun day!
seeing that teepee made me think: what would you say your top 5-10 toys are for the kids? your kids’ kitchen set is adorable and the teepee looks like so much fun, i thought i’d ask!

AND: what are your favorite kids’ stuff sites to shop on for things like that?

Lynn - Love all the wonderful pictures of your family. Thanks for sharing and hope you all enjoyed your day together !!

Denise - Such lovely photos, as always. Would you consider a post on the coop when you complete it? I’d be interested in measurements, pics galore, and anything else. Been enjoying my way through A Chicken in Every Yard per your suggestion. Now I have chickens on the brain! But the coop is hardest to imagine…

Helen - It looks like you all had a wonderful day. I think the shot with all the kids with their backs to you is fantastic.
Although I am more than happy with just my one, whenever I see your five together I yearn a little.

donna - You are like the Martha Stewart of Bloggers.LOL Can you be any more perfect? What a lucky family you have.

kelleyn - I like that tradition of releasing a balloon for her bm. How sweet! It looks like you had a very happy weekend!

AshleyAnn - Kate – you are cracking me up. I’ve read worst comments…thank you so much for caring enough to clear all that up. Congrats on your adoption!

Lia - I love Firecracker. She makes me laugh!!! When I have kids I’m kinda hoping for a super spunky girl like her. I think it would be a blast!

Nicole C - Oh I was doing just fine until those last photos! Goodness, I got all teary eyed, what a beautiful tradition. I love things like that (you know that, after the whole fresh prince/mom comment haha). The last photo though is a total keeper!

Your oldest son reminds me of myself in photos, FireCracker takes the place of my brother. We have the same type of photos. One, where it looks like I was ready for a good photo and then, in steps my brother..and steals the show. It’s always been that way. :)

Sally - Great pictures!!

Victoria / Justice Pirate - These are so cute!! Happy Mother’s Day!

Reese - I love it: a heart full of gratitude for her first mom.

Courtney - wow. all those pics are great. i love the from behind shot! and firecracker is awesome. i wish i had her courage when cameras come out! good job lady!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - I really love that tradition. Beautiful.

Carla - Great Mother’s Day post @underthesycamore! We took a four generation photo as well with my daughter (who is 15), myself, my mom, and her mom (my grandma). Love that you honor your daughter’s first mom too!

Meg - I don’t know if you planned it or not but the cousin photo clothing choices are spot on! I love how they coordinate and not match and that everyone’s personality is represented without pulling focus.
As always beautiful photos. I have learned so much from reading your blog. You inspire and teach daily.

mother’s day is bittersweet

05.12.13

I absolutely love being a mom. Of course, there are hard days and days I need to get away…but goodness I love being a mom. I can’t believe those little babies I once welcomed in my arms are now a toddler and growing kids. As much as I treasure being a mom and am so grateful for the joy of experiencing motherhood, you would think Mother’s Day would be my favorite holiday. It is not. This day, this weekend always brings up hard things for me. A miscarriage. My grandma’s passing. Thoughts of my daughter’s birth mom. Thoughts of friends and strangers aching on this day because they want nothing else than to be a mom. This is a hard, hard day for so many. While some moms get celebrated, others are barely making it. While some women, like myself, find themselves surrounded with the laughter of their kids…others are hurting over hopes and dreams not yet fulfilled.

It is a bittersweet day for me.

I will celebrate the moms in my life. I  will delight in the little surprises my kids have planned. I will relish being a mom.

But, a part of me will also be breaking for those that ache deeply on this day….

Today, whatever your story might be, I hope that you find unexpected joys and laughter in surprising places…..

Happy Mother’s Day.

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Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Dearest Ashley, I didn’t realize you had a miscarriage. I am so very sorry for your loss. You are very loved and thank you for your beautiful words here. Happy Mother’s Day!

Kat - Thank you for this. I am surrounded by mothers & often hear how hard it is to raise kids (which it is!) and how they can’t wait until another stage in life (ie. when their kids are more independent). I am 27 and unmarried but am told all the time not to worry because I am “still young”. But that doesn’t take away the fact that my deepest desire is to have a child. I am trusting that God has that in my future, but sometimes it feels impossible. So thank you for writing this for all the mothers out there, the ones doing well, the ones just making it, and the ones that haven’t officially become mothers yet.

Happy Mother’s Day :)

Samantha - Ashley – thank you so much for sharing this. I am amazed at your compassion. My husband and I have tried for over 3 years and are waiting for our miracle. I always feel bad for dreading this weekend and making excuses not to go to the Mother’s Day service. I thought I was being overly sensitive it’s nice to know there are women that share the same struggle.

Gayna - Thank you….

Mary from tenn - Thank you. Simply that. You may wonder what I mean and I’ll explain. You get it. You get that today may be hard for those of us aching for a child. So many in my life don’t get it. That it hurts and this day is hard. You truly are a beautiful person inside and out. Never forget that. Happy mother’s day to a wonderful woman.

Liane - Such a lovely thought provoking post.
Happy Mothers Day! x

Heather - Thank you for saying the things that I try my best not to think on days like this. It is hard to not feel sadness on a day celebrating something that you have been unable to become. And then it’s hard to know that you are having a “pity party” about it when everyone else is celebrating loved ones. I love that you are so thoughtful and empathetic about others. I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day with your family and again thank you for acknowledging all the others who don’t get the celebrations today.

Andrea - You are an amazing woman with a huge heart. I wish I could know you, you have so much to share. Wishing you a wonderful day, from Auckland New Zealand.

Sarah - Thank you for this post, Ashley. You get it more than most people do.

This year, I suffered my first miscarriage of my first pregnancy. It’s a bittersweet day for me, too. I’m a mom, but not quite. But I am still a mom. But with no living children. I know I haven’t been trying for that long, in comparison with other people, but it is still so hard waiting.

For my first mother’s day, I bought myself a bouquet of flowers and put my lost baby’s ultrasound picture on top of it amongst the flowers. My husband is away on business and I don’t live close to my family, so I feel a little alone today. That’s why I was so touched to see this. Thanks so much again.

Kirsten - yes, yes, YES. Amen and amen.

Katie - Bless you for understanding the struggle of others. No doubt you will pass that virtue on to your children.And the world will be a better place.

Lyn - Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Hannah - I’ve been hopefully and faithfully waiting for 3 years to celebrate Mother’s Day with my babies in my arms. But my arms are still empty. It is a rough day, but I don’t grieve without hope. Thank you for wishing us a happy Mother’s Day. Means more than you know. :)

karen - so nice ashley

Emily - Such a sweet and thoughtful post that I know will be appreciated by many. Happy Mother’s Day, you are wonderful.

nicola - Thank you thank you. Thank you for seeing that for some of us this is the hardest day of the year. That being said you are a GREAT mom – please, go, enjoy a day that celebrates all of that greatness. : )

Mulling it over | Unwarranted Grace - [...] embodied in any holiday card – and who are often very easily invisible to the world. [Update this is another good one here, short and sweet, posted by one of my favorite bloggers on Sunday [...]

Angela - Thank you from someone who is aching today.

Erin - Ashley, you have said it all so beautifully. Thank you for continuing to share your heart. Happy Mother’s Day!

Jenna - From deep down inside I want to say thank you for saying that!

Katherine - Beautifully written sentiments. This is exactly how I feel about today. I am acutely aware of how blessed I am but also hurting for those who grieve today.

Crystal - Thank-you for recognizing those of us that long to be mothers. This day is very painful for us.

MJ - My FB status for today. Totally feeling this way as well. Missing my babies I have miscarried, even while celebrating being a mom to my wonderful daughter.

There is a beautiful inheritance to the women who aren’t mothers. Your calling is just as vital to God’s plan and I honor you today…

“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. – Isaiah 54:1-17

Michele - Ashley, Thank you. For the blog you write, and the joy you share through it. For your understanding and kindness. Mother’s Day has always been a time of celebration for our family. A time to celebrate my mom. Sometimes a time to celebrate the gift my Mom got when I was born on Mother’s Day instead of being born when I was due — on my Dad’s birthday two days before. In the last ten years it was also a time to celebrate the birth of my sister-in-law (the day before my Dad’s day). All fun things to gather together and celebrate. And yet, in the last 6 years it’s been bittersweet. A failed adoption. Missing the daughter-of-my-heart who lives another world away. Not really knowing how to respond when people wish me a “Happy Mother’s Day.” My mother’s day celebration came in April this year — two sets of photos of our girl. She is bright and beautiful. Smiling and healthy. Loved by her mom and brother there, and loved her mom and dad here. So loved. It’s been two years since we’d seen her last. Two years since we Skyped with her each week. Two years since we’d heard much about her. So this Mother’s Day truly brought unexpected joys. And this year when people wished me a “Happy Mother’s Day” I was able to smile and thank them sincerely.

Jen - my sentiments exactly. so well said. thank you again for sending a message of grace and kindness.

Val Strande - Very well said.

Debbie C - Happy Mother’s Day Ashley! Thanks for inspiring us in so many ways .

Amy - So blessed:). The picture of you and little one took my breath away. Happy Mother’s Day!

Sarah @ The Little Dove - I’m encouraged by your perspective, very honest and true! I used the word bittersweet in my post about Mother’s Day today as well, it just seems appropriate. My husband and I have been going through infertility and so today is always a reminder of that longing as well as a celebration of the moms we love and adore. Bittersweet. Blessings on you and your beautiful family!

Hannah - Thank you, so beautifully put. I hope you had a wonderful day surrounded by your beautiful family.

Kimberly Troth - Happy Mother’s Day Ashley Ann!! Beautiful post and so true about it being such a hard day for some!

Jessica - I couldn’t have said it better myself. <3

Jacqui - Thank you so much for such a perfectly worded post. Bitter sweet indeed for so many, and for so many reasons. I appreciate the time and thought you have put into writing this. I don’t think it could have been said any better. X

Aneta Nina - Great post, Ashley. Yesterday we had a sermon about how women, who have or have not born children, are mothers. Look at Mother Teresa. She never born her own, yet she is remembered as a GREAT mother to so many. Her love and compassion for others is a quality of a mother. Hope this is encouraging to women who are aching in a dream unfulfilled. Be encouraged that you are a mother and you are making an impact!

Frances - This is really beautiful. I feel the same way about Mother’s Day. I lost a baby to placental abruption when I was almost 8 months pregnant and I always think about that child on holidays like Mother’s Day. I try to focus on my three beautiful children that are here but it’s always in the back of my mind.

Jenni - Ashley,
I am sorry it is a hard day for you….. I can relate, but in a little different way. You see all I ever do on mothers day is think of my sister, she was a mommy of one precious little girl, Norah, that we now have. My sister only got one mothers day with her daughter and then she passed away. Some how, when mothers day comes around it is full of so much more emotion than I ever would have expected and all I can think of is how my sister should have been the mommy to our sweet little Norah.
By the way, your 2nd son, looks so similar even as an infant, totally amazed by that!

Candee - Thank you for your words today. For acknowledging those of us who want nothing more than to have a family of our own. My husband and I have been trying for nearly 7 years. Last week we had our first appointment with a fertility doctor where I actually had my first ever positive pregnancy test. That joy was short lived as I miscarried on Friday, two days before mother’s day. This holiday will forever remind me of the heartbreak of this year. But I hope that in the future it will also be joyful.
I’ve been a long time follower of your blog, but this is the first time I’m commenting. You have a beautiful family. I enjoy coming to see your gorgeous pictures and read your inspiring words. Thank you , again, for those.

jami - exactly. <3

Kristina - Lord have mercy, you are so right! It was the harest day I’ve had in all my years. Struggling with infertility my whole adult life, I’ve always tried to find the good in the bad but yesterday in church. I lost it. I broke down and had to leave and sit outside and cry my heart out thankfully to my girlfriends who understand, one a nurse and the other who was celebrating her first mother’s day after 5 years of infertility. It’s hard, it sucks and I’m still having a hard day. Thanks for sharing!

Aly - I just want to say thank you for acknowledging that Mother’s Day is bittersweet. Sunday was my very first momma’s day and it has so hard…my precious daughter was born in March and passed away the same day she was born. I watched as other moms joyfully celebrated the day and I spent the day tending to my broken heart. Thank you for shedding light on the bittersweet side to the day.

Emily - Oh that picture of LO makes me so teary. It’s amazing the bond that has developed in the last year! She looks so small in the first picture and so healthy in the recent. Happy Mothers Day!

Reese - I, too, spent time thinking of all the women aching to be moms this Mother’s Day. It was my first Mother’s Day since one of my children went to be with Jesus, and I spent much of a year dreading it. It turned out that I found myself mourning less and being grateful more. I prayed and ached for those with empty arms and thanked God for his blessings.

Sharon - I almost cried (at work) while reading your post. I couldn’t express why I felt so uneasy about mother’s day this year. I have a wonderful son and 2 (soon-to-be) step-daughters, I should be overjoyed. But deep down, I’m sad that I may not be able to have more and then feel selfish for not being happy with what I do have, as other people so desperately want just one child and can’t for one reason or another. I guess it’s an internal battle. Grateful and blessed for my kiddos, praying for those battling parenting situations. Thanks for posting…helped me understand my feelings a bit more.

Jamie - I so understand exactly what you are talking about. I love nothing more than being a momma. But like you, Mothers Day is a reminder of years of heartache over wanting children so desperately and the loss of several pregnancies.
Its a reminder that my children have birth mothers and there are questions that will be asked at some point and I won’t have the answeres too.
My heart hurts for friends and family who are still waiting for their babies to come, either via adoption or pregnancy.

Yet its full of joy, and laughter and love. I get to watch my babies be silly and my 7 yr old draw me cards and “make me breakfast” which is usually honey toast (because he loves honey toast) even though I am allergic to honey! It delights me to be their momma. There is no greater joy, deeper sacrafice, overwhelming exhaustion, or perfect love than to be theirs and they mine.
Praying for those still waiting.

Stefani - Hi Ashley, I have been following your blog for about 4 years now. I feel like I laugh with you, and cry with you, but I’ve never actually left a comment. I just wanted to say thanks for recognizing those of us who really struggle on Mother’s Day weekend. It’s one of the hardest days of the year for me since my miscarriage, and being told that I will never be able to carry a child to full term. And sometimes I feel like I’m the only one struggling during what should be a very happy weekend. Thanks again! You have truly touched my life!

melanie - Enjoy your children. They are beautiful. I have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren who are 5 and 6. I did get calls, cards or visits from any mof them. My grand babies live one hour away. I still have their Christmas presents. I don’t know what is wrong….I did nothing wrong. I spent all of mothers day in tears. You are very blessed.

it starts at home…then travels the globe

05.10.13

So many great ideas and book recommendations yesterday. Thank you for that. I need to get a plan together and organize some of those ideas so I’ll be sure to actually do them this summer. You guys are so great..I knew you’d be full of ideas. Thanks!!

There are so many things I love about this time in history. One is the trend towards paying more attention to how our decisions impact not just ourselves and our neighbors, but the greater world as well. We are living in a time where young leaders are rising up not just saying they are going to change the world, but truly changing the world. I’m not a fan of all trends, but this shift towards using our means and talents to positively impact others is quite a beautiful thing in my opinion. The internet has shrunk the world. Documentaries, blogs, twitter, instagram…all things that give us a clear picture of how our little decisions have ripple effects. We are paying more attention to the foods we eat, the industries we fund and we are believing we can be agents of change. I know that even this topic can be a issue of debate for some. I understand that even those with good intentions aren’t always making positive change. I get that. But I also get that beautiful people are using their voices and energy in unselfish ways. And while there will always be lots of sides to every story, I am still inspired by those that creatively and bravely decide to try to do something. For somebody.

We all know about TOMS and the get one/give one foundation it is built upon. I thought I’d take a day every now and then and share with you some more people/organizations that are doing their thing, but doing in it a way that aims to empower and heal.

Please click on the person/company name for more detailed information about their stories and missions….

Meet my friends the Hunters: Lissa, Selah, Kai and Brian

This summer they are headed to Mongolia for the summer. Brian will be running 1,500 miles across Mongolia with his family driving along supporting and being in the midst of the journey. They are headed on a beautiful adventure as a family to raise awareness and distribute necessities to over 3,000 homeless children living beneath the city streets in manholes in the capital city of Ulaanbaator. I love that their kids will be right there beside their dad. Seeing it all. Taking it all in. Getting to be impacted by the beauty and bittersweet aspects of it all. Lissa designed a couple necklaces that I wanted to share with you. The proceeds from every necklace will go to help purchase basic necessities like food, clothing, vitamins, medicine, sustainable care and housing for the precious little ones they are advocating for….

You can find out more about the Hunter’s trip here and more about the necklaces here

 

Noonday Collection


Noonday Collection

The passion at Noonday Collection is to connect you with the lives of artisans struggling for a better future while styling you along the way. Fashion and design are a vehicle for opportunity and change at Noonday.

My necklace is the La Jolla. I don’t wear much jewelry, but I wear this one a lot. Noonday also helps adoptive families with funding…good stuff.

Better Life Bags

Better Life Bags

Better Life Bags hires first generation immigrant women in their Detroit community who otherwise could not work outside the home.  They rent the women a sewing machine and tools while teaching them a skill set that allows them to become a primary or secondary provider in their families.  Each bag is lovingly made with their hands and each purchase gives respect and dignity to their lives.

I have a waterproof bag that I use all the time. All. The. Time. It went with us to China and saved me a lot of travel headaches with wet clothes and no way to dry them. I am sad to say, I don’t see it on the website anymore, but goodness they have some cute new bags! That black & white stripe one…killer.

 

No. 41

No. 41

No. 41 started with the intent of teaching young women from the Noel Orphanage in Gisenyi, Rwanda (ages 18-25) not only to sew, a culturally relevant trade that would always sustain them, but to give back to their community through a feeding program supporting local schools.

You have to read this post...it shows an in-depth view of how the bags are made. Goodness it is beautiful process!

 

Face to Face Organics

Face to Face Organics

For every tube you buy, face to face gives $1 toward a smile-healing surgery for a child in need.

Obviously, this hits very close to home for me. Smile-healing surgeries are part of my heart beat now. Love this organization and what they do.

What I love about these companies is that they are just doing what they can. Sometimes I hear friends and other moms talk about how it can feel like so many people are doing so much…and they have barely enough time to keep up with daily tasks. But the reality is all those that started companies, that are impacting others, that are making positive strides in society…they probably had someone pouring into them. Someone cheering them on. Someone supporting them. I’m guessing a couple had moms that once told them they could change the world if they wanted to. That they could be anything and do anything they wanted. So today, I’ll share these stories with my kids. I’ll show them how a couple of guys got together and created lip balm to help children with clefts. I’ll show them how some young girls traveled to Africa and started teaching sewing at an orphanage. I’ll show them that creativity is a beautiful thing and how loving your neighbor begins at home with your family….and your neighbors…and how it travels the globe.

***My little disclaimer: I do not typically post on companies, but these are all ones that for various reasons I wanted to highlight while talking about this topic. There is no way I could share about all the great organizations out there today, feel free to share your links in the comment section. I did receive products to use in this post but was not paid for this post. I am not personally affiliated with any of the above companies, but do support their work and am honored to share them here.

 

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Emily - Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been challenging myself to only buy ‘gifts that give’ for holidays and birthdays so I’m always looking for new resources.

And it is so incredibly refreshing to hear someone talk about the positive change that is happening in our world. Far too often we focus solely on the negative aspects of our developing society, I love hearing someone else recognize that there is GOOD in this world.

Jenna - This is probably one of my favorite posts to date. Will most definitely be checking out every single one of these organizations. Thanks for sharing!

Erin - These are GREAT for gift ideas! I just finished purchasing the Face to Face lip balm(s) for stocking stuffers! FYI, they’re having a buy one get one deal until Mother’s Day. :-)

Thanks for sharing these!

Sarah - LOVE this post and I know it comes from your heart!!

Taryn Smith - Love this post! Thank you, I just purchased some gifts for my Christmas list!

Marie - These are some great organizations….with some awesome products. Wonderful gift ideas, that give a gift in return. Thank you for sharing the links!

Nicole C - I love that you share these, I am always looking for good companies to help. Heck, I sponsor a beautiful little girl because you posted about LWB. So, you are also helping change the world just by sharing these types of things.

I went to REI the other day and noticed the chapstick and I believe it was face to face. Either way I will go back and check it out now that I know there is a good cause behind it.

Jessica - Oh my goodness, the Better Life Bags are beautiful. My mom is a nurse and has been looking for a new bag that she can take to work with a change of clothes, shoes, book ect and hasn’t found anything. This post couldn’t have come at a better time, I’m going to be getting her the Molly for her Mother’s Day gift.

Thanks for sharing, Ashley. As always, I am inspired by your blog.
Happy Friday and early Mother’s Day.

Kara - Thank you for this list! I will tuck it away for Christmas, when I never know what to tell people who ask me for gift suggestions!

Debbie C - Awesome gift ideas…thanks Ashley! Wish I had thought of Noonday earlier this month for moms’ gifts…maybe Christmas!

Annie Page - LOVE noonday – I have a friend hosting a party in honor of our adoption and I can not wait. LOVE what they do for adoptive families! I can’t wait to check out your other links – I think highlighting positive change and what just everyday people are doing to make a difference is especially inspirational! Making a difference doesn’t seem so hard after all!

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Julie - I love that you shared about No. 41. I met and visited with the No. 41 girls in Gisenyi, Rwanda while I was there earlier this year. Such a special company with an incredible impact on the people of Rwanda. The founder of the company is from OKC and an OU grad as well!

Rosalind - I just bought a yellow No.41 necklace! Thanks for highlighting these great shops and causes. I am a huge handmade fan so this takes it to the next level, shopping intentionally and supporting a wonderful cause.

Betsy Cain - Renew Project is another great organization! Awesome messenger bags. http://www.renewproject.org/

Amber Rhodes - Congratulations on the beautiful spread in Parents magazine! Nice timing with this post will be shared with lots of people.

brandy - The little bee company. They donate one cloth diaper for every diaper purchased. The diapers are adorable and they show tons of pics of the babies in orphanages wearing the diapers. They have recently started selling swaddling blankets also.

Georgia - http://worldcrafts.org/ develops sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world.

Joy - Your sweet daughter looks like the beautiful Amy Adams!
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