Feed their tummies.

I have been so amazed throughout our adoption process at the ways God has worked to connect me to others with a little one in Congo. But, I can honestly say that no one has blessed me more than my friend and mentor Jenny. Jenny's daughter came home this past summer, but Jenny's heart is still yearning to do more for the children in the DRC.
And I'm so glad it is. 

Jenny and her husband are the founders of Feed Their Tummies, a program that works to provide food for orphaned children in the Congo. 

And a little over a month ago, Jenny brought tears to my eyes when she suggested providing food for Emily's orphanage while I was in country. 

I cried happy tears that day,
but I cried so many more on the day we were able to deliver the food to those most precious babies. 

I have to be honest and say that food is something I often take for granted.

I've never gone to bed hungry or known that heartache. 

But, I see food differently now. 

Food is life-giving in so many ways. 

A warm meal is good for the body and soul. 

Food brings comfort. 

Food heals wounds. 

Food helps us grow. 

Food refreshes us. 

Food gives us energy. 

Food creates hope. 

And these babies can't grow without it.

Having access to good nutrition-giving foods can literally change their lives.....

and save them. 

Want to get involved with Feed Their Tummies? 

Please do. 

Visit their website, learn more, donate, and change the life of a child in the DRC. 

Community: Where I Find Mine

Community. 

We're created for it. 

We long for it. 

We need it. 

And I don't have it.

At least, I don't have it where I live. 

Lee and I are somewhat stuck-- we live in one town (meaning our house is here) and really LIVE in another town (meaning we go to church, work (Lee), preschool (Hollyn), and dance there). 

Hard to keep up? 

Yup, I think it's pretty complicated too. 

As a result, we have very little community where we live-- no people to live life with, share our burdens and joys with, and help along this road we call life. 

And it's hard. 

It's lonely. 

It's basically no fun at all.

And our house? 

It's not selling. 

And honestly, I'm not sure that I really see it selling any time too soon. 

Thankfully, God knows my needs. 

He hears my prayers, and although He doesn't always answer them in the way I initially intended (aka OPERATION SELL THIS HOUSE), He DOES answer them.

And He has met my need for community... in a way I never expected. 

When I first became a Noonday Ambassador, 'a close group of friends who understand my heart' was nowhere on the list of what I thought I'd find while working with Noonday. 

In fact, I somewhat expected the opposite. 

A large group of girls working together? 

I expected drama. 

But that's not what I got. 

These women? 

They are amazing. 

They inspire me. 

They support me. 

They encourage me. 

They hold me accountable. 

They love me. 

And I love them. 

And although it's a little unconventional, seeing as how we aren't neighbors in the traditional sense of the word, THESE are my people. 

These are the girls I call when I need help, 

when I can't see clearly, 

when I need reminding of just how big and how good and how mighty our God is. 

Do I wish they lived closer?
Absolutely. 

Could I possibly love them any more if they did? 

Absolutely not. 

Community may not always look the way you expect. 

It may not fit into the mold you expect it to fit in. 

But God hears our prayers and meets our needs....even in ways we least expect. 

Today, I'm joining my precious friend Rachel and linking up with Community Brew. Of all the link ups, this one is my favorite. 

Join us? 

Sunburns, Good Reads, and Best Friends

Last week was perfection. 

I ignored my emails and focused on the sun, the sand, the water, and the best friend. 

When your best friend just so happens to live at the beach, what's a girl to do but make the absolute most of it about twice a year? 

We laughed, stayed up way too late, and lived in our swimsuits. 

We overdosed on Sonic slushes (peach vanilla and atomic lemon for the win). 

I read until my heart was content. 

We sobbed our way through' The Fault in Our Stars' sans kiddos.

We danced in the car way too much and ate way too much frozen yogurt. 

In a world full of rushing and responsibilities, 

it was exactly what I needed to tackle what is almost year #2 of the adoption process and all of the areas of my life that continue to be in a constant state of limbo. 

It was all kinds of wonderful.

Now the big question is...

WHEN CAN WE GO BACK? 

Created for Care: Adoptive Mamas Unite

Oh, how I needed this time. 

Time to be with other mamas who know what it's like to wait and fundraise and fundraise and wait. 

They understand how it feels to love a little one you haven't yet met. 

They get it. 

And being around the them brings out the best in me. 

I honestly believe every adoptive mama needs an adoptive mama friend...or 449 adoptive mama friends. 

Some of my all-time favorite people came together to hear God's word, reflect on all that it means to be a mom, and chat about the in's and out's of adoptive and all that it entails. 

Tobi (Ivey Handcrafted) 

Candice ( thehyde2family.blogspot.com) 

Courtney (Faithful Adoption Consultants)

Wynne (wynneelder.com) 

Lindsy (Light Breaks Forth) 

Emily (Anderson Family Crew) 

Some of my favorite take-away's from the weekend:

* Waiting is a spiritual weapon of warfare.

*The word of God should always be the star of my story. 

*When we take our stories and our circumstances into our own hands, we love in state of chaos. 

*Am I dressing my sin up in pretty clothes? 

*When we say YES to where God wants us to go, He will silence the storms in our lives. 

So grateful for Created for Care, for time to reflect on the big, crazy mess that is my life these days, and to spend time with the One who matters most. 

Jesus is the Reason (A Guest Post)

Hey friends! Crazy busy week wrapping up the Noonday season and whatnot, so today I have a SPECIAL treat for you! I'd like for you to meet my precious friend Rachel. LOVE her heart for Jesus, her desire to make her marriage work, and her passion for making her home the happiest of happy places to be. I've been there, and let me just tell you-- it's one of the happiest places ever. And today she's going to share with you some ways you can work to keep Christmas focused on Jesus. LOVE her heart and LOVE her ideas even more!

Hello there everyone. What a joy it is for me to be able to join my sweet friend McCall over here today to share my heart with you all. It is kinda funny how McCall and I came to know each other. We actually met via Instagram, crazy but such a blessing. All of you know about Noonday, thanks to McCall and her passion for the company, but McCall came to my house and allowed me to host a trunk show and we clicked right away. Social media is the best. So again, I am grateful for McCall and her allowing me to do this.

 Anyways, I guess a little bit about me. My name is Rachel Cox, I am a recent college grad, and newlywed. I didn't think graduating college was a big enough change so I threw marriage in there two weeks after graduation. But really, I am married to my best friend who is working on his PhD in Civil Engineering at Mississippi State University. We live in Starkville, MS in a super old Victorian home that has been divided into apartments...old things make me happy. I work for a new church plant here called Redeemer Church, and I work primarily with college students at MSU through our college ministry called Four Corners Mission Network. I love Jesus with everything that I am, and I strive to make my life about making his name known and proclaiming his true gospel to those around me. I love to create in my free time, and thankfully I am married to an engineer with a passion for woodworking and using his hands so I call on him a lot.  Also, I love to blog, check out my random thoughts, recipes, and our latest projects over at Oh Simple Thoughts. But enough about me...let's get to the reason I am here. Jesus.

In the midst of Christmas, I wanted to provide some perspective or encouragement about what it is we as Christians are called to really observe and celebrate during this month of festivities. Many of you have heard of Advent I am sure, and you may have a million different thoughts or opinions on what you think it is. I know some people celebrate Advent by giving candy or gifts each day to their children to get them more excited than they already are about Christmas day, or some use the Jesse Tree to celebrate this time leading up to Christmas. I am not going to use this post to say one is better than the other...but I want to challenge us to stop and consider what we do during this holiday season and why we do it. 

Christmas for the believer is a time of true celebration. Why? Well I can tell you it is not because of decorations, lights, hot chocolate, presents, or even time with family, though all these things are so wonderful to enjoy. No, Christmas is about celebrating that our Savior God, who is almighty and so worthy of our praise, became flesh, and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) He became fully human, "so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17) So for this reason we celebrate. We were a people without hope, dead in our sins and carrying out the passions of our flesh (which these things by the way do not have to manifest themselves in what we may consider "obvious sins", the passions of our flesh can be glorifying ourselves through a perfectly decorated and clean home, or an excessive amount of spending on gifts, or become self absorbed and making life about us...) But despite all this God sent his son, to become our hope. (Ephesians 2)

I could go on and on about the importance of this idea, but I encourage you to preach the gospel to yourself daily, whether you have been a Christian since childhood or for only a few years. We all need to be reminded of the hope that only is found in the person of Jesus Christ. We are filled with hope, so we celebrate Christmas out of the overflow of joy that comes from being filled with that hope of salvation. So where does Advent fit into all this? Well I think that it is an excellent thing to do, that practically can prepare our hearts for a celebration rooted in hope and not materialism. Advent is simply a time of prayer, fasting, and anticipation of what is to come. For Ben (my husband) and I we made an Advent calender and filled each day with verses about Jesus' birth. Some are prophecies and some are directly from the accounts of Jesus' birth. We read these most every night and talk through them together. We also included various Christmas activities for each day, such as take a baked item to a neighbor, drink hot chocolate, sleep under the Christmas tree, make a Christmas ornament. 

We want to enjoy all the things we love about Christmas too so please do not read this post and think you can never do fun Christmas things again without feeling guilty for not focusing on Christ's birth. No, out of the overflow of hope, rejoice, and drink some homemade hot chocolate with your sweetheart and kids. I think this is a time to be enjoyed and a time for us to slow down. However, the reason we enjoy and slow down is not because of family, time off work and out of school, gifts, giving, or amazing food...it is all rooted in the gospel, just as everything in our life should be. In Acts 20:24 Paul says, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." That is a powerful statement...our reason for life is to testify to the Gospel. The gospel that begins in the hope found in a baby's birth, Jesus Christ. So why not make Christmas about Christ, and not us. Why not teach our families and children to rejoice in the Lord during this month and not gifts. This is such a prime time to teach the gospel to others.

So I encourage you all now, to stop. Praise the Father for sending his son, born of a virgin, in a humble manger, to become the redeemer for us and our ever increasing sin. He is worthy of our praise today, friends, praise him, not gifts, or activities relating to Christmas, but praise HIM. I hope and pray this encourages you the way it encouraged me. As I have been pondering what to write I have become so excited about the Gospel and my amazing Father God. I pray you experience the same excitement. 

Would love to hear from you all, and to meet some more social media friends just like McCall. Check out my blog, Oh Simple Thoughts, if you have some time and say hey! Blessings to you and yours this Holiday Season, and Merry Christmas!

xoxo- Rachel Cox

These are My People

A few weeks ago, I had one of those really great days. 

It refreshed my soul and stirred my heart. 

I was invited to come and set up a Noonday table at a fundraiser

 for a home for abandoned baby girls in India. 

Little did I know I'd never want to leave. 

It isn't often that I'm surrounded by people where words like Dossier and Visa are just part of regular conversations with no explanation necessary. 

The room was filled with missionaries, adoptive mamas, and people with big ole' hearts for serving others. 

These are my people. 

And every once in a while, a little time with your people can do a whole world full of good. 

We have adoption news. 

It's big. 

And we're sitting on go. 

But waiting for one more email before we can share with all of you. 

Prayers would be appreciated; a girl can only keep good news a secret for so long. 

Just What We Needed

So sorry I've been MIA this week. 

Ever have one of those weeks where you can't seem to keep you head above water? 

Between adoption errands and car troubles and Noonday goodness and playing catch-up from being gone all weekend, I feel like I've been living in fast forward the past few days. 

That being said, last weekend could NOT have come at a better time. 

My getaway with Libby was nothing shy of perfection. 

She spent time with her favorite person on Earth. 

They caught up and made lots of new memories. 

And my girl and I agree that alternative birthday was the way to go this year. 

Oh, and I might have had a good time too. 

Maybe. 

Possibly. 

Sorta kinda. 

Time with my best friend is priceless and precious and more fun than I can handle. 

Okay, that's not true. 

I can handle it and only wish we could see each other more often. 

Here's hoping your week was way less crazy than mine has been.

Tomorrow we'll be celebrating Libby's birthday at home....no loud party, no last minute planning, no stress. 

And I can't wait. 

A Birthday Alternative

 Next week, my little Libby will be nine. 

Nine. 

No, I don't want to talk about it...or think about.

I want her to be little.

But, nine it is.

And this year, we are having an alternative birthday. 

Usually, we go all out-- big party, lots of people, lots of fun. 

Well, we're still planning on having lots of fun....just with no party and way fewer people.

Instead of a party this year, Libby and I are headed out of town this weekend for a girl weekend with our best friends. 

Libby cannot WAIT to see Lily. 

And I cannot tell you how good some Kara time sounds right now. 

Alternative birthday sounds all kinds of awesome. 

There will be late night giggling. 

There will be Sonic. 

There will be a kitchen dance party. 

And I am so stinkin' excited. 

Signing off 'til Monday. 

See you then, friends. 

A few weekend reminders: 

-The Noonday blog train is in full swing. Don't miss out on a chance to win some Noonday!

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 

Sunday

- Sunday is the LAST DAY to request a little house for Emily! If you'd still like to request one, it's not too late! Just e-mail me at littlehousesforemily@outlook.com, and I'll send one your way. 

-This week's Sevenly cause is going strong! I'm so hoping they break a record! And remember: when you enter their site through my link and place an order, a portion of your order goes to our adoption fund! LOVE the idea of helping others while funding our adoption! 

Juggling and Dropping and Guest Posting.... OH MY

Hey, friends. 

This morning (by that I really mean this week), I'm feeling like one of those clowns at the circles, who in an attempt to juggle about twelve different things, drops them all on his head on his head. Yup, that's me...juggling and dropping and feeling a tad overwhelmed with all the adoption and family visiting and crazy kiddos who can't play outside because it's raining. None of these are terrible, but the combo is not working for me today...like pizza and peanut butter. Apart? Delish. Together? Not so much. 

So, I'm taking a little blogging break today and bringing you some words from my friend Laura. 

She blogs here and is happily awaiting the arrival of her first son next week. 

He will join their family via domestic adoption, and I'm waiting to see his little face like I'm waiting on the premier of the new season of Parenthood. 

Here are some words from Laura. 

Check out her blog. 

She's funny. 

Adoption: Not for Control Freaks...Or is it?

As McCall recently said... Adoption is hard, y'all.

I'm going to go ahead and admit something right here:  I am a control FREAK.

Anyone that I knows me is probably throwing some Hallelujah Hands up. 

It's true though. I tend to be very particular, and I like things to go according to plan. My plan, preferably. I like my ducks in a row, my eggs counted, and my socks in the dirty hamper. (Do you hear that, husband?) I think this is probably my reaction to some pretty life altering events: growing up with someone with a mental illness, my mother's death, even my house burning down a few years ago. The more things that "went wrong," the more I tried to control everything else.

Adoption was a wake up call. 

My husband and I have known for years that we wanted to adopt, regardless of our fertility status. It was something we felt called to. We always assumed it would be international. Wrong. We also assumed that we'd have the luxury of time to prepare. Wrong.

Let me just say that God was working here. 

We finally decided one day a few months ago that this was the time to get our "house in order." We were going to start putting money back and find an agency. The best laid plans, y'all.

That night, we received a phone call about an expectant mother wanting an open adoption. What?!  I didn't hesitate to say yes.  A week later, we were in an open adoption plan for a baby boy to be born a short 120-odd days later. We had no adoption savings built up, no baby things, nothing! We had been taking for granted that our calling was International Adoption and a long wait. But we heard God calling for this immediate need. This baby needed us. This situation needed us.

This entire journey has been a lesson in releasing control, enjoying the experience, and trusting the Lord. He, literally, brought us to it, and He, definitely, is bringing us through it. We are overjoyed at how it has been fitted together, knowing completely that domestic open adoption is a perfect fit for us right now. 

So if you think, "Gosh, I could never do that..."  Think again. If you feel the calling, jump in with both feet. The time may never be perfect. The money may not be right there. But God is.

Cutest. Wedding. Ever.

In case you don't stalk me on Instagram (in which case you are surely missing out), this past weekend I was the matron of honor in the wedding of one of my nearest and dearest. 

And when I say it was the cutest wedding ever, I tell no lies. 

Don't believe me? 

See for yourself. 

Cutest decor ever. 

Cutest way to display the bride's new last name ever on the cutest dress ever.

Cutest location for a ceremony ever. 

Cutest centerpieces ever. 

Cutest display ever. 

Cutest drink bar ever. 

Cutest idea ever. 

Cutest mugs and straws combo ever. 

Cutest food set up ever. 

(BTW, hamburgers and fries are the cutest wedding food ever.)

Cutest ring bearer sign ever. 

Cutest bride ever ever ever. 

Cutest picture of us ever.

Cutest pose ever. 

Cutest A TEAM ever (maid and matron). 

Cutest dancing shoes ever. 

Cutest bridesmaids ever. 

Cutest remake ever. 

Cutest cake ever topped off with the cutest little lovebirds ever. 

Cutest group of college friends ever. 

Cutest idea ever. 

Cutest end to the cutest night ever. 

Pinterest, eat your heart out. 

Secret Church 2013: Some Thoughts

God is so good. 

Last Friday night, I had the opportunity to attend Secret Church with my husband and my parents. 

Ever since I attended last year I have been looking forward to this night. 

Seriously. 

Secret Church is one of my favorite things EVER. 

I just love the idea of an intense, scripture filled study on such an important night in the life of Jesus. 

I love the glimpse it gives me into the lives of those who risk everything to worship our Maker. 

I love the idea of joining in prayer with 60,000 of my Christian brothers and sisters. 

Have you attended? 

Did you miss it? 

If you'd like to see what all the hoo-ra-ra is about, check out David Platt's website. You can watch all of Secret Church in small segments. 

What a great thing to do throughout the next month or so with your family! 

Headed out of town this weekend to watch this dear friend of mine get hitched. 

Want a front row seat to the cutest wedding ever? 

Follow me on instagram. I'll be posting throughout the weekend. 

Here's hoping it feels like spring where you are today. :) 

The Friends We Find Along the Way

So, there are a lot of things I love about blogging. 

I love getting new ideas, relating to others, and being inspired. 

But my favorite thing about blogging? 

The friendships that are formed. 

Blogging has helped me to see outside of my little circle of friends and connect with women from across our country, women who share my convictions, my heart, and even my quirky sense of humor. 

And I have met a girl who has truly become a close, close friend. 

Ladies, today I'd like to introduce you to Tobi. 

What started out as a random Instagram following, has since grown into a late night, facebook chatting friendship. 

And can I just say that this girl is awesome? 

Maybe incredible is a better word. 

And she gets me. 

And I get her. 

We are FRIENDS in the truest sense of the word. 

And though we haven't (YET) met in real life, it so doesn't matter. 

I know she's there-- getting my jokes, understanding my desire to serve, and ready to share her stories and her life with me. 

Sometimes it's easier to share things with someone you don't see regularly 

or won't risk running into at the store. 

In that sense, I like to think of Tobi as my free online any time therapist,

 and I know she feels free to do the same. 

I have no doubt that God allowed our paths to cross at this perfect season of our lives. 

And the fact that we haven't yet met in real life is just a minor detail in the big picture 

that is our growing friendship.

Not only is Tobi seriously one of the most talented people I know

 (take a peek at her facebook page and see for yourself), 

but she's also a soon-to-be mama. 

You see, Tobi and her precious husband Corey have been trying to adopt... for eight long years. 

Their story is full of heartache and disappoint, but God has given them hope. 

And they trust in Him. 

And sometime soon (I just KNOW it will be soon), they will bring home their long awaited, very loved daughter, 

IVEY. 

They just reached the one year waiting mark for Ivey, which Tobi wrote about here on her blog. 

I seriously can't wait to love on this baby girl. 

She and Hollyn will be friends; it's a given. 

I plan to send her hand-me-downs and encourage Tobi when Ivey refuses to sleep. 

It will be great. 

But first, she has to get home. 

So, Tobi and her husband are selling what HAS TO BE the cutest adoption t-shirt in history. 

Check them out and try to contain yourselves. 

Precious just barely touches the surface on this one. 

They're navy (which I just love) AND v-neck! Even better, right? 

I think you need one. 

They even offer a second design for the guys in your life. 

Check out their online shop here. 

And keep searching-- the world is full of awesome friends you simply haven't met yet.