Remnant

  It is time, again, for another spot light on a generous donor for our adoption auction!  I could not be more excited to introduce to you one of the founders of Remnant, Jen Griffin.  She and her husband, Hal, began Remnant in Wilmington, North Carolina.  I am so excited that "the lined leather tote" will be available to bid on via our auction website, 32auctions.com/HicksFamilyAdoption, December 1-8!

Here is a little background taken directly from their website:

Remnant is a husband and wife collaboration established in Wilmington, North Carolina that was born from a desire to be mindfully creative turning discarded materials into useful and lasting pieces.

All of our carry goods, accessories and furnishings are meticulously handcrafted using high quality salvaged and new materials.

  I dare you to go to their website and not fall in love with all of Jen's designs!  She has a variety of bags and accessories that are an eye-catching combination of new and old.  One of my favorite parts of her store is her KIN leather wrap bracelet.  All of the profits from the sales of this bracelet go to fund adoptions, both theirs and others.  I love their mentality and generosity.

  Jen's dad was in the Army, so she grew up in quite a few places but claims to be from Honolulu, Hawaii because that was where she was born.  She studied Spanish Literature at the University of Georgia and Georgia State.  Three words that best describe her are: optimistic, sensitive and determined.  Here are some more questions that Jen answered to give us a glimpse into the lives of Jen and Hal.  Enjoy!

Q: What inspired you to start your business?

A:  I was given an old sewing machine, & once I learned how to use it, it opened the floodgates to creativity & my love for making things by hand. This began my love for being mindfully creative, turning discarded into useful, all while making carry goods that are both beautiful & very functional.

Q:  What is your product?

A:  I make all sorts of carry goods from fabric & all leather bags to smaller pieces such as wallets, clutches, & leather key lanyards.

Q:  Where have you travelled?

A:  Korea, Hawaii, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Nicaragua, & I love exploring our states right here at home...

Q:  Which place is your favorite?

A:  Nicaragua might have to be my favorite place I've traveled to.

Q:  What do you like most about where you live now?

A:  I love living near the ocean & the slow pace of life that the culture of a smaller coastal town offers.

Q:  How did you meet your husband?

A:  I met my husband in a Patagonia store. He was an employee & I was a customer, & it was love at first sight.

Q: What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome?

A: Hal & I walked thru a very difficult stripping season in our lives that involved unemployment & lots of uncertainty for  a little over a year. During that time we lost our home & learned the true meaning of simplifying,  & enjoying the little things. It was incredible to experience God's miraculous provision during that time, to see our marriage of almost 10 years grow stronger than ever, & to see that season of our life being used now to help encourage & bring hope to others.

Q:  What is your ultimate last meal?

A:  My last meal would have to be Vietnamese Pho, my favorite soup in the whole world.

Landrie Lane Designs

  Meet Tiffany Rushing from Landrie Lane Designs!

  Tiffany is from Belmont, NC and studied Biology at North Carolina State University and then completed her master's in nutrition at Western Carolina University.  She is easily described as persistent and creative.  I met Tiffany at Western Carolina University in the nutrition program and was always impressed with her genuine heart and knack for fashion.  She started her own etsy store, named "Landrie Lane Designs," after creating a wreath as a house warming gift.  Her shop is named after her two daughters.

  When you visit Tiffany's shop, her creativity really shows in her wreaths and it doesn't hurt that there is an awesome tarheel wreath as well! She accommodates most requests and can change a design to fit your need if you like what you see and want to add your own twist.  Here is a shot of one of my favorites!

   Now, Tiffany does more than wreaths and ornaments!  Here are some fun questions Tiffany answered to let us know a little more about herself.  Make sure you head over to etsy to check out her store!

Q: If you could do anything or go anywhere right now, what would it be? 

A:Would love to take a 2nd honeymoon with just my husband!

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: Spare time?  What's that?!  Between working full time as an RD, being a full time mommy and part time crafter, I have very little "spare time".  My absolute favorite is walking around target by myself with a Starbucks treat.  Isn't that sad?!

Q: What is your greatest accomplishment?

A: My greatest accomplishment to date would be completing my masters this past year while managing a full time job and a young family at home.  Hands down one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I also feel quite "accomplished" when I take both kids out in public and they don't completely humiliate me :)

Q: What is the quirkiest thing that you do?

A: Quirkiest thing I do?  Hmmm.  I use a good bit of dry shampoo.  Call it a mom trick but it saves me time and my hair still smells good.

Q: What is the most important lesson that you have learned?

A: Most important lesson I've learned.  I can not do it all alone!  In the past I've tried to do many things at once and I learned that you just can't be the best at everything all at once!  Moms feel so much pressure to be so "perfect" and I've learned those are not God's expectations of me.  I put my trust in Him first and he works it out for me.  

Q: Who is your biggest fan?

A: Biggest fans-My husband has always been my number 1 supporter!  He is behind me 100% with every crazy idea I come up.  My 2 little girls are also pretty big fans of their mom. 

Q: Who is your biggest role model?

A: My biggest role model- The Duck Dynasty wives!  What awesome modern day role models we have in that family who puts God first.  I feel like they are using their fame and attention for God's glory and I can't imagine wanting to do anymore than that!

Q: Who is your favorite band/singer?

A: Dave Matthews Band

Fundraising Online Auction

  I cannot even begin to tell you how blessed I have been in this journey so far.  Really.  I have awesome friends and my friends know some awesome people too!  I put out feelers for who might want to donate to our online auction and I was stunned by the response.  People that I had not talked to for years were so generous and supportive.  I am very excited to host a fundraising auction online through 32auctions.com.  I paid a small fee to get the basic package and then the "Hicks Family Adoption" page was up and running!  I am slowly adding the items but it will all go live and run from noon December 1- noon, December 8.  I will be highlighting the donors who have businesses so that you can get to know them a little more.  So keep your eyes peeled, there are some creative people to find out about and great shops to explore!

Why adoption?

So, there were about a million different ways that I wanted to start this blog.  I have written this post several times in my head, only to feel frustrated and start over because it is impossible to convey all of the "whys" and feelings in a post.  Adoption is personal and so out there all at the same time.  It is beautiful and messy.  It forces you to your knees and lifts your eyes to God.  I can feel encouraged, scared, excited, at peace, and truly saddened to my core all at the same time.  I feel like I am holding on for dear life while being mercifully sheltered.

Technically, Ben and I started this process way back in high school before we even started dating.  I have always been passionate about caring for children and felt God calling me to adopt when I was on a mission trip in Jamaica working at an orphanage called New Hope.  I was a rising sophomore in high school.  Well, Ben and I started talking while scraping paint off a wall in Jamaica two years later and began our friendship.  I spent hours IMing (what we did before texting :) back and forth with Ben about life.  He was my best friend.  Somewhere in there, he ended up asking me out.  It took a few times and several months for me to say yes, but before I did, I had a few deal breakers to discuss.  One of them was adoption.  I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this was part of how God would form my family and I did not see any value in dating someone who couldn't at least see it as an option.  Ben saw it as more than an option.  He put words to some of the deepest feelings I had about it and felt that adoption was part of the plan for him as well.

Over the years we have come to God to ask about His timing for adoption.  Each time we were stretched a little more with our walk with God and with each other.  Each time we were given more clarity about what direction we were to go.  Each time we also heard "not yet."

This year, it was different.  This year our hearts could not settle in the waiting.  For weeks I willed myself to be patient and to look at things logically on paper.  Well that is just it.  I do not serve a God who does things based on lists and bank accounts.  Ben and I finally put our thoughts into words and realized peace once we decided to move forward with adoption.  We took a learning community class at church on adoption.  We have had some hard discussions and decisions already.  I feel a little crazy when I look at the finances required to adopt and have to remember that God is who He says He is and He has never been confined by what the world sees.

As far as the specifics? Well, we are planning a domestic infant adoption and we are currently raising money to fund our home study. We are at the very beginning.  It feels daunting and exciting.  We have been blessed by a church community filled with adoptive families.  God is in the details and He is the God of chocolate cake too.  I am challenged and encouraged. Please lift us up in prayer, it is the most valuable gift you could give us.

-Melinie