A Time to Build

A Time to Build: Family, Business, FUTURE HOPES and DREAMS......

I have gone through some BIG and MAJOR changes lately.  I cannot indulge in all the details quite yet, but in the process, I have been POURING my heart out to my Precious Heavenly Father, begging Him to USE ME, use my GIFTS, my heart, my PASSIONS, for His GLORY.....and to also allow the gifts and passions He's given me to become a way to earn some money too (!!!!!).  I have huge lists of things I desire to create, to build "A Bridge of Grace," as a business--a lot of "Upcycling"--which ties into my heart and vision for aBoG--using tattered/used/worn pieces of clothing to create beautiful new garments or decor (see vs. 11 below!).  In my head, I keep hearing "There is a time and season for EVERYTHING under heaven."  Wanting to include that passage from Ecclesiastes in my post here, I looked it up in it's entirity (LOVE biblegateway.com !!)  and I just sat here GRINNING at the BEAUTY of this "all too familiar but so often forgotten" nugget of TRUTH! I will put emphasis on my favorite parts!

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under heaven:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

15 Whatever is has already been, 

    and what will be has been before; 

    and God will call the past to account.[a]

Would you mind helping me to share about my business and heart for orphans and foster children?  Any way I can get the word out in sell one.item.at.a.time, will aid in my heart's desire to put more energy into THIS CAUSE and not "Corporate America."  THANK YOU!

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Bracelets Available-Already Made

Here are bracelets that are already made--all are Adult sizes, unless otherwise indicated.  

Bracelets $20

 Child (Haylie)

 Child (Jessi)--can do this in Adult

Bayside Uganda Fundraiser

A local church, Bayside Community Church, is sending a team to Uganda June 16th.....just weeks away from leaving, I realized, I CAN HELP--I can't go (or afford to go!! LOL!)--but, I CAN HELP!  So, from now through June 30, any bracelet sold and memo'ed "Bayside," I will give ALL profits ($10-12 per bracelet) to the team!  I have "Commissioned" the two materials below to represent the families and children adopted from Uganda in 2011 from our community (I know about 7 of them, myself!!) and the other fabric-Uganda 2012 is in honor of all orphans being adopted this year, as well as the incredible group of men and women who will be travelling to this country this year, to serve the orphans!  

Here is an example of the bracelets that I make--honoring a child who has been adopted, needs to be adopted or is in the foster system.....OR, the Mama who has adopted or fostered them.  This bracelet is named after a precious little one in Uganda, waiting for her Forever Family. 

Bracelets are $20 for adult or children.

Here's what you need to do, if you'd like a bracelet (or two...):

1.  Email me at:  abridgeofgrace@gmail.com  with the # of bracelets you desire, indicating adult or child and which fabric you would like me to use.

2.  I will send you a confirmation, along with my PayPal information and make "drop off arrangements" if you're local.  If you need yours shipped, I will need to charge $1 per bracelet to ship--and will get your address at that point.

3.  You will make payment to my account.  I will make your order within 4 business days of receiving your payment.  

(I am attempting to keep the "middle man" out (Etsy) as it charges fees per each transaction.)  

Make ANY purchase from ANY of my already made bracelets or choose from my selection of fabrics and all profits will go to Bayside.  Do you have a Mama or adopted/foster child you'd like me to commission a bracelet after?  Indicate in your email, individuals name and a short description of him/her so that I can pray for them as I create the bracelet.  I pray specifically for a child or mother as I create each bracelet!  

Selections of Fabric

See a fabric you'd like?  Email me your order at:  abridgeofgrace@gmail.com and indicate which letter (Fabric) you'd like and size (adult or child). If you'd like me to commission a fabric/bracelet for a specific child or Mama, please give me the name of the individual as well as a little "history" so that I can know how to pray for the individual!  I pray for each individual I'm creating the bracelet after! 

Bracelets:  $20

All profits of any sales memo'ed "Bayside" will go towards THIS FUNDRAISER through June 30th. 

"Esther" made from Fabric H

"Eliana" made from Fabric K.  

"LIKE" us on Facebook!

I switched ABridge OfGrace over to a business page, last week.  If you haven't already "LIKED" us--please do so now!  I have a "freebie" offer out there that no one has yet to claim---refer SIX friends to the page and you get to pick out one bracelet of your choice!

I'm ETSYFIED! :)

I did it!

I said I'd wait until after Christmas! Well.......I couldn't wait any longer.....

I'm on vacation in VA....and today.....after an exciting reunion with some sweet friends, family and their children--had.NOTHING.to.do for FIVE PLUS HOURS....so, I have spent the evening uploading, writing descriptions, pricing, etc.

PASS THE WORD ALONG!

A Bridge of Grace is now on Etsy! 

Prices on Etsy are a little higher due to the extra fees I'm charged to use their site, as well as Pay Pal.  If you are a personal friend--message me regarding delivery (in SRQ), etc.

More exciting news and products to be announced shortly.....stay tuned! :)

Welcome!

I am Jessi Cooper Bowditch and Bridge of Grace is the idea of a home based business that I have been mulling around in my head and heart for several years combined with my love for "all things crafty" and then....add the newest dynamic--an 18 month long heart-conversion and developing compassion for "all things orphaned." As I create each item-I am spending time praying for specific children that I personally know who have been adopted or are in the process of being adopted. I pray for the children in my life who are in the foster care system or are living with legal guardians. Through the past 18 months, I have seen at least 7 children under the age of 5 adopted by friends and acquaintances and 2 placed in the guardianship of their grandparents.

James 1:27: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Through "A Bridge of Grace" I desire to help others in their adoption endeavors as well as minister to the children and families in our community who are orphaned or are ministering to the orphaned. BUT, first and foremost I want to have a way to earn extra income to pay off debt so that we, as a family, are FREE to fulfill the callings God places on our lives, to minister to the orphaned AND the widowed in our local city! (Yes-this may sound a little selfish-to make money for MYSELF-but for those who know me-it will not, because this is NOT how I usually operate-BUT....I feel our first duty and responsibility as a Christian,  is to become financially free so that we are then FREE to serve FREELY!). I want to be sure all KNOW this from the get-go....this is a home-based business that will first be used to pay off debt--and in the meantime--I will host fundraisers for specific adoptions and give all profits to those individuals.  (No purchase will be designated towards a specific adoption unless a fundraiser is under way for that particular adoption/family.)

Recently, I participated in a small fundraiser for a friend's beginning stages of adoption. Eight-nine small orders raised $100, which will be enough to cover one of MANY application fees. This is one way that I am willing to help friends in their adoption process. Or, friends of friends. ;o)  Contact me about a potential fundraising opportunity. I will prayerfully consider the opportunity to serve in your adoption process. email: abridgeofgrace@gmail.com , subject "Fundraiser Opp"
The name, A Bridge of Grace, was chosen as this is what I desire for my life to be--a bridge of grace....one that helps to lead others over the murky waters of life and to the grace that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Each of my items are handcrafted by myself and no two items are identical. Just as I have sat and prayed for each individual child and adoptive/fostering parent individually, so you will find each of my items to be: unique and one.of.a.kind. A tad "Shabby Chic" and "rough around the edges" combined with bright and bold colors that "POP", define my cloth covered bracelets and hair clips. This, in essence, is the sum of me.
Purchase an item via PayPal, from my items listed here. Help our family, as we aim to be DEBT FREE (other than mortgage!!) by December 2012!
Pass the word around. Send your friends to me.
I'll be happy to spend my evenings at my sewing machine and not on FB!            

My "Little Monkey"  "I"-this kid stole my heart the moment we met. Every.time.we see each other-he embraces me and wraps his arms around my neck in the biggest squeeze his tiny body can give. He pats my right shoulder and says 'JESSSSSIIIII" (his Mama is still trying to convince him it's MISS JESSI.....but I.do.not.care.  He can call me anything he wants, as long as he continues giving me those hugs!  Adopted by some dear church friends, "I" is from Zambia Africa and came to the States in July afer his WHOLE family (3 siblings included) went to Africa IN SEARCH of him!  I love this little man so much!