Well, it's not just about the accessories, though I do love a good pair of earrings and a statement necklace. Noonday crossed my path through a fellow adoptive mom. As I read the artisan stories and became more familiar with the mission and heartbeat of Noonday Collection, I knew I had to be a part of it. But to be a part of it, I had to start a job in sales. The more Noonday rolled around in my brain, the clearer it became that providing for marginalized men and women around the world was far more important than me not wanting to be one of those pushy sales-people That helping adoptive families fundraise to bring their children home was more important than me being a little uncomfortable.
You see, my life has been rough here lately. And I mean really rough. We are almost two years into an adoption that had a TOTAL projected timeline of 12-15 months when we started. That means 12-15 months from application to precious child in your home. Well, almost two years later, we are not even close to being MATCHED. My world has been breaking, falling apart, unraveling. All of my plans have evaporated, all of them. And I am helpless to do anything about it. I am stuck.
And then Noonday.
I have been fighting so hard for my children. Doing everything I can do to bring them home and keep them safe and sound forever. But God has us in this place of waiting. This place where I cannot be doing more to bring my children home.
But I can help other families bring their children home.
I can help men and women around the world keep their children in school and healthy.
I can do something while I wait.
And so I became a Noonday Ambassador, and it has brought so much beauty into my (currently) very messy life. I have the opportunity to advocate for our artisans, work with adoptive families and give women here in the U.S. the chance to support hardworking men and women around the world simply by purchasing accessories.
I am so grateful for the opportunity.
And I want to share the Noonday love, so I am going to GIVE AWAY one of my favorite pieces from the new line. Allow me to introduce the Athena Cuff.
I can do something while I wait.
And so I became a Noonday Ambassador, and it has brought so much beauty into my (currently) very messy life. I have the opportunity to advocate for our artisans, work with adoptive families and give women here in the U.S. the chance to support hardworking men and women around the world simply by purchasing accessories.
I am so grateful for the opportunity.
And I want to share the Noonday love, so I am going to GIVE AWAY one of my favorite pieces from the new line. Allow me to introduce the Athena Cuff.
This beauty is made from mixed metals with a brushed finish by our talented artisans in India.
So how do you make this jewel your own?
Leave a comment below with your name. And I would LOVE for you to tell me about how God has moved in your life to make things more beautiful. A comment will get your name entered in the drawing.
Book a trunk show to get your name entered TWICE more!
I will draw the winning name on Monday night and post it here.
And check out Stephanie's blog for yesterday's give away and tomorrow, go to Tesney's blog for another giveaway! Noonday, Noonday everywhere!
Love,
Baylor
I am learning to choose to be thankful in ALL things and then I am more likely to see His goodness and beauty. Loved reading your story, Baylor. Your long wait in this adoption process must be so hard but is honored by God. There is much beauty in that!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mindy O. The forgiveness of a loving God has made every difference in my life. Without a shadow of a doubt I know that I would not be where I am today without his mercy and love.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Baylor! This is Jessica Kime. Part of what makes my life more beautiful right now is being surrounded by other adoptive friends like you who remind me that I'm not alone in this. Your blog is beautiful and a blessing in my life. God's timing is so perfect. Love you!
ReplyDeleteHi Baylor! I'm Courtney! God is working in my life right now in ways that I haven't allowed him to before. It's amazing how alive you feel when you stop trying to control everything, and let him take over and do his thing! Recently, I've felt drawn to adoption stories. I have no idea what this means, but I'm certain that he has a purpose for it. I'm not sure if it's his will for me to adopt, to help raise funds/awareness, or what, but I'm just letting go and trusting that he will show me in his time. Praying for you and your husband as you wait for the next step in your adoption journey. Your blog is beautiful... and Noonday is just awesome. :)
ReplyDeleteHello! I am a friend of your friend Caroline. I have been following your story now and am praying for ya'll. I can't wait to meet you in person and hear more when you come to Selma next month! God is the biggest and the best. He is showing me that more and more. He is really teaching and revealing HIS fearless LOVE. Love the cuff and the line, looking forward to seeing more in a couple of weeks!!
ReplyDeleteHi Baylor, I'm following the blog train :) Thanks for the post and the giveaway! God has moved in my life through redeeming specific relationships in my life -- ones that I thought were way too far gone. It is a great reminder how He is able to redeem all and use all for His glory and our good.
ReplyDeleteHe allows me to teach ballet to beautiful little girls with special needs!
ReplyDeleteHi Baylor, I am following the Blog train and am good friends with Brandi, here in NC. God makes my life more beautiful by turning my ugly into his beauty and showing me daily how to worship Him through it all. I have 5 children so its a constant reminder of God's goodness and my need for Him!
ReplyDeleteHey sweet friend!!! Love the cuff and can't wait to host show in Selma in March! I see Rayne commented:) God has made my life more beautiful by showing me how he disciplines me like I have to with EK. He is really teaching me what it looks like from his perspective to mold a child to walk the narrow path of righteousness!! Love you!!!
ReplyDeleteGod has given me more patience recently in regards to my children. I have found that with this heart change in me I am better able to see the many beautiful moments as I walk daily life with my girls.
ReplyDeleteGod has given me the ability to be level-headed and calm despite stressful circumstances, which allows me to see the beauty in whatever He takes me through!
ReplyDeleteYou know that I'm loving that God is using you as a Noonday Ambassador! :) Praying for all of you during the hard season of waiting with no specific deadline in sight and for adoption in Ethiopia! God has moved to make our family a little more colorful, and I'm so thankful for that!
ReplyDeleteFollowing the Noonday blog train! God moved in our family's life to bring us to special needs adoption!
ReplyDelete6 Years ago we packed up (sold actually) "comfortable" and moved to the inner city to intentionally do life and share Christ with what America would consider "the least of these" but bringing them into our own home to model family for them. Not only has God completely revealed His heart to me, but He has also been developing my heart as well, finding beauty in situations that are pretty ugly, drawing out light inside of children that have only been told they have darkness, executing justice when it is in my power and position to do so no matter what that means I will have to sacrifice, and lately really breaking my heart for the kids that are aging out of the system and have no true family. He has been building a strong foundation for our own family where we are truly in a position to pour out His love on everyone around us because we are so strong in Him!
ReplyDeletethis is one of my favorites from the new line! but of course love everything! and then how do you stop buying at just one piece or two when you know that every.single.dollar.spent. is HELPING! I mean, piercing heart stories from artisans around the globe- helping children be HOME- whether that's helping their parents continue to provide for them, or helping them get to their forever families who are anxiously wait-wanting. I love this company- so so much, and have attended trunk shows, and made purchases online, but this next month I will be hosting a trunk show for family who has had the rug pulled out a bit from underneath them with their adoption, helping them re-raise funds and my friend who's an ambassador is also raising money for her own adoption of two littles! Just so grateful for this company to allow us to create these opportunities to help so many people with something so simple!
ReplyDeleteHe gave me the three beautiful kids that keep me going every day.
ReplyDeleteGod blessed my husband and I with two wonderful boys. Our oldest son suffers from severe bi-polar disorder as well as a learning disability. He just turned 24 and we are still his legal guardians and conservators. He's a wonderful young man with many challenges in life. Many times when days (months, years) were especially difficult, we would often ask, why us? Although I couldn't hear it then, and sometimes don't hear it now, I know that God is telling me that he chose my husband and I. He knows, even when we don't always believe it, that we are the best parents for this wonderful young man. We love him unconditionally and always will.
ReplyDeleteGod has given me a season of time with my husband and precious girls. What a gift.
ReplyDeleteMaking do with less so that we can share more with others!
ReplyDeleteGod has blessed me with an amazing husband. Our path has not been the one that we would have chosen - 3 miscarriages and 2 broken hearts, but he has walked through it with us and shown us that we can be content and love on children that don't belong to us. The opportunities that He has allowed us to experience blow our minds when we stop to think about where we have walked and where we are going.
ReplyDeleteExhale...your question sure has come at a crossroads in my life. In fact I feel as if I've been lingering at this junction for far too long. Recently I built a friendship with several women in my community, women who seemed just like me. Beautiful women with talents, hopes and dreams ... as I grew to love and know each of them more deeply the reality of how dark life can be for American women, women who live in my suburban neighborhood, was shocking and now it seems the impetus to move me from my stagnation. These women live secret lives of abuse and shame and I am unhinged and moved to become an advocate and a resource for equipping and change. So what does this have to do with God? I am been praying for purpose with passion and this is my burden. One I would have never chose. So pray for me, sisters, as I enter into this service field and receive the social training I need and that I may bring Christ into the darkness. This is what change is going on in my heart. I am terrified and exhilarated at once.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your story of patience, but mine comes in the form of miscarriage, infertility, and then in the beautiful redemption of my daughter which came at the end of a long 6 year journey. There were times I wondered if God remembered me, seeing everyone else's prayers being answered, but it wasn't in his timing. I needed to go through a process of brokenness, healing & complete trust that God's will was far better than the plans I had laid out for myself. Today when I thank God for his blessings I do so with a deeper understanding. Prayers for you on this journey that he will sustain in this time of waiting.
ReplyDelete