Esther Fundraiser

Back in November, I made this bracelet:

to honor a precious little girl in Uganda.  At the time, many who were praying for Esther's "Forever Family" thought things were heading in ONE direction-but by the end of December, we realized they.were.NOT! For so many--especially Esther--the realization that the "hunt was still on"--was heartbreaking and yet--FAITH.BUILDING!!!  In the meantime, I have kept pressing in, praying for this precious little life--that God would bring to her the most PERFECT family . A family who was EQUIPPED--physically, emotionally, spiritually--in EVERY.single.WAY--equipped to be her Forever Family.

The.DAY.has.COME!

First, this week--I caught wind of the family---FREAKINGLY AMAZING FAMILY (I know--"freakingly" isn't a word--Google Chrome is making me aware of that......) that God has had in store for her ALL ALONG!

Then, Jenny, Esther's Mama--started her own blog.  Just 3-4 entries thus far, but each one has caused goosebumps to cover every.inch.of.my.body!!  Here's her first entry  but this one----THIS ONE--takes.the.cake!!!!!

I want to support this FREAKINGLY AMAZING FAMILY and want to invite you to share in this opportunity!  I have enough "Esther" material to make approximately 6-8 more bracelets.  If I can find more material--I will make more.....BUT, I have these two materials already commissioned for the Children of Uganda and will specifically pray over Esther's life and family as I make the bracelets from these materials, as well:

( 2011 is a dark dark chocolate brown--2012 is a linen cream w/ navy blue.)

Here's the info:
$20 a bracelet
--I will give $10-12 per bracelet sold to Esther's Forever Family, depending on what material (I just need to cover the cost of my material).  I have TONS of the Uganda 2011 and 2012 material--so I know I won't run out of that!

If you want to order one (or two or three...)--send me a message:  abridgeofgrace@gmail.com  regarding size (Children or Adult), how many, which material and I will send you my Paypal info.  Please indicate "Fundraiser for Esther" as I have another fundraiser going on right now.

THANK YOU.....can't wait to bless this family--even if it's only 2-3 bracelets I can make in honor of her--I feel so blessed to have been a part of interceding on her behalf since July 19, 2011 last year when I first "met her" online.

Please keep this family in your prayers as Jenny has to come back to the States for 20 LONG days without her Esther!!  And, pray that God will continue preparing this whole crew for this precious new addition to their growing family!

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!

"You Don't Know My Story"

This phrase has haunted my thoughts all week.


It began while we were in about hour 536 out of a 6 hour training course last Saturday for our fostering/adoption licensing we have to take. 


Social worker shared a story.  A story about "Junk Behavior" (any behavior of an individual that does not bring physical harm to an individual or property--i.e.-whining, rolling of eyes, cursing, name calling, etc.).....this story--made.me.CRINGE!  Imagine--LOUD 3 year old screaming at the top of his lungs in Walmart.  For 25 minutes. Social worker was encouraging us to look at said behavior as "junk" and to just.ignore.it.  Children want and need a response--positive or negative. 


BUT--that's not the point of this post.....THIS IS.....as she told the story--it was as if GOD (through the Holy Spirit) smacked.me.SQUARAE.in.the.face.  Seriously--I was feeling overly anxious just hearing this story (true story that happened to previous social worker w/ this organization with her adopted foster son).  "You don't know ______ story.  Why are you so quick to judge the parent of the ill-behaved child in the store?  Or why do you automatically assume that child calls the shots? You don't know (his) story."  I immediately had this "flashback" to the 100's of times that, after my Uncle's death-I'd see "READDY ICE" machines at Walmart or outside a convenience store and I'd begin to cry. I'd quickly feel embarrassed and think that the whole world was watching me....and want to scream "MY UNCLE DIED OKAY--THAT'S WHY I'M CRYING AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIME AND MAKING YOU FEEL AWKWARD!  HE WAS ONE OF THE THE MOST AMAZING MEN IN MY LIFE AND HE'S GONE...AND THE DAMN ICE FREEZERS REMIND ME OF HIM AND I CRY....OKAY?"    No one knew my story. And no one judged me---or at least---confront me and share their thoughts. 


Think about the many times you've been in a situation where you were quick to judge.  Did you critique someone's parenting skills?  Or how they spoke to their spouse?  Or responded to their parents?  Or their supervisor?  Next time you find yourself "jumping to a conclusion, " remind yourself--You.Don't.Know.Their.Story.  Plain and simple.  You don't know if they were abused as a child.  Or being abused as an adult.  You don't know if they are terminally sick and having a hell of a day and needed to get out of the house and just so happen to be "inconveniencing you" by their emotional melt-downs at Walmart.  You don't know if they were up all night with a sick child or dying parent.


What about the friend or acquaintance you think talks too much?  Or shares too much?  Or is overly emotional?  Or doesn't talk enough?  And doesn't share enough of what's "REALLLY" inside?  Perhaps THEY were abused and neglected as a child.  Perhaps they have been burned by tooooo many people and as a result have built walls around their hearts and lives to "protect" themselves. 


It was a sad, but beautiful reminder, from God--for me to just BE....to not judge others so quickly--to extend GRACE that Christ so freely extends to me--to those around me.....


We are going to find ourselves in situations w/ our future family that I hope and PRAY others will be gracious and forgiving to.  We won't be able to tell every child's story to everyone we come into contact with--not even our own extended family members will necessarily know all the details of our future family.  That's an okay thing.....just praying that the Holy Spirit will prompt others the same way It has me....."You don't know their story." 


Get your Grace Gloves on people. ;o)

Stay Tuned....

Hoping to get a face-lift here soon.

Hoping to catch up and post new items.

Hoping to add a PayPal button.

Life is SPINNING 100 mph--and THIS IS WHY!