Coffee Bar Decor

I've had an idea for some wall decor for my coffee bar area since we first set it all up a few weeks ago (see it here).  I was able to purchase some burlap coffee sacks from our awesome fundraising partner, Just Love Coffee, and finally made a trip to Hobby Lobby to get a canvas.  This project was so super easy - I literally spent more time in the checkout line to buy the canvas than I did actually completing it!  Ok, in full disclosure, this was my brainchild, but my fantabulous hubby did all the work while I wasted time on facebook supervised.

I bought several of the Ethiopian coffee sacks, but this one was my favorite...I like the green lettering and the random red stripe on the left...

We slid the canvas inside (almost a perfect fit), then cut out the middle of the back so we could pull it tight around the edges.  Then it was time for the handy dandy staple gun!

Jon stapled all around the edges and here's what we ended up with...

And here's what it looks like hanging in our kitchen, next to the coffee bar.

 

I love burlap, love coffee, and love Ethiopia.  All 3 at once?  Be still my beating heart!  Know what else?  I spent a total of less than $20!

If you are a fan of great coffee, or if you just want to check out a really amazing business, head over the Just Love Coffee.  The link will take you to our fundraiser, where $5 from every bag purchased goes toward our adoption!

Linking to:  Tatertots & Jello, Whipperberry, Bubbly Nature Creations, Funky Junk Interiors, I Heart Naptime,Craft-O-Maniac, Today's Creative Blog, The 36th Avenue, Thrifty Decorating, A Turtle's Life for Me, House of Hepworths, The Frugal Girls,

Six million.

Dear Friends,

As you know, we have a huge heart for adoption, and especially adoption from Ethiopia.  Recently there have been rumors that Ethiopian adoptions would be greatly reduced.  Estimates vary on the number of orphans in Ethiopia, but I have seen some as high as six million.  Six million.  These children need homes and loving families.  Decreasing the number of adoptions will take away that option for many.  The following is taken from a blog I read of a family who recently returned home from Ethiopia with their son.....she gives more information and ways that you can help......

 {please read... and do all you can}

Visiting Hannah's Hope (the transition home where Tucker lived until we could bring him home) each day while we were in Ethiopia was something we always looked forward to. Walking into the courtyard found us surrounded by children of all ages... orphans. They were desperate for you to play with them, touch them, hold them... someone to care and to pay attention to them. One day I found myself surrounded by a bunch of little girls all with arms up to be held. I know I couldn't pick them all up so I walked over to the side and sat down on the ground. They all tumbled into my lap aching for my arms to wrap them up. I did my best to hold each of them and smile and talk to them. They needed me in the moment, but what they truly need for a lifetime is a forever mommy. Not just someone to snuggle them for a few minutes before they go eat lunch, but someone to snuggle them all day every day. They need a family and a home.

Right now that possibility is in jeopardy. There have been rumors floating around for a few weeks, but an email sent out from our agency confirmed our fears...

"Over the last two weeks there have been many rumors, and then an official announcement, stating that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has a plan to decrease the numbers of adoptions that are approved.  This proposal states that they have plans of only approving 5 adoptions a day—decreasing the number of approved adoptions by up to 90%.

Really, there is no way to put into words the negative impact this would have on Ethiopian children, if it is to become a reality.  Of course we all wish that these children would remain in their birth family, but, under the current system there are not enough resources for these families to allow this to happen. The Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS) is asking all of us to step into our roles as advocates and to participate in this cause.  Below is a post from JCICS outlining what you can do...

Joint Council: Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children

What You Can Do:

1)      Sign the petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi – and pass it on!

2)      Have you adopted from Ethiopia?  Please send us up to 3 photos and 50 words or less with what you would like the Ministry to know about your child – we’ll compile the information and send a book to the Ministry of Woman’s Affairs.  Send your photos and stories to advocate@jointcouncil.org by Sunday, March 12, 2011 to be included.  Please note that sending photos and stories gives Joint Council unrestricted right to use the information you provide.

3)      Share…Please send this Call to Action to family members, other adoptive parents, and everyone you know!  Post, forward and share your adoption stories via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.  Make sure you include us in your posts so we can all hear your stories!  Here’s links to our pages: Facebook, Twitter and our blog.

4)      Stay informed: Get up-to-date information regarding the situation in Ethiopia by signing up to receive information from us:  click here to do so, make sure you choose “country and issues specific information” and “Ethiopia.”  And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our blog!

5)      Help ensure our advocacy can continue: Joint Council is a non-profit and receives no government funding.  Please join us in ensuring more children live in safe, permanent and loving families.  Donate today!

Please help! Please sign the petition and spread the word. Do something! Lives and hearts are a stake.

Me again....here's another quote I just read from BeTheAnswer -
"The Ministry’s plan which calls for the processing of only five adoption cases per work day, will result not only in systemic and lasting damage to a large sector of social services, but will have an immediate impact on the lives and futures of children.  Moving from over 4,000 adoptions per year to less than 500 will result in thousands of children languishing in under-regulated and poorly resourced institutions for years.  For those children who are currently institutionalized and legally available for adoption, the Ministry’s plan will increase their time languishing in institutions for up to 7-years."
Pray for these precious children and for the many families waiting to bring home their Ethiopian child!!

Adopted for Life & 1000 Diapers

Two posts in one day?  Craziness, I know.  But I just had to share something I was super excited about today - and it involves the word free!  This book...

has been on my wish list for awhile now, and I just haven't gotten around to ordering it or getting it from the library.  Here's the exciting part - this month it is the free download at http://www.christianaudio.com/!  I started listening to it tonight while cleaning the kitchen and it is so good.  If you haven't been to christianaudio yet, each month they have a free download - Jon listens to his ipod a lot at work, so this is perfect for him!  I'm not usually able to listen for long periods of time, but for this book, I'll make time!

Since we're talking adoption, I also wanted to mention one of the blogs I read... http://www.poppielane.com/ ... this sweet girl is a mama waiting to bring her baby boy home from Ethiopia. When she was there for the initial visit, she realized the desperate need for diapers in the orphanage.  Please read her post here to hear more about her visit and to find out how you can help!

Mikiyas Daniel

For pretty much as long as I can remember, I have had a heart for Africa.  Back in college, almost ten years ago (*GASP!*) I was blessed to be part of a team that went to South Africa to serve at Bethesda Outreach for a month.  Looking back even further, I can remember as a child always circling the black baby dolls in the Sears Christmas catalog.  Could it be that even then, God was already softening my heart for Africa????  Maybe that's a stretch, but maybe not.
We hope to someday adopt and for awhile we were thinking about Rwanda - a few months ago, that door closed for now, because the country is currently working on becoming Hague compliant.  Over the summer, I read the book There is No Me Without You, (if you are interested in Africa, or adoption, or kids, or social causes, or anything - READ THIS BOOK!) which brought Ethiopia to my mind....and it has stayed there since.  (There are 5 million orphans in Ethiopia.  FIVE MILLION!)  So if we were starting the adoption process today - which we are not, though I'll keep you updated :) - Ethiopia would probably be #1 on our list.  We'll see if it still is when we are ready to adopt, or if God has other plans.
Anyhoo....back to present day and the real reason for this post:  Mikiyas Daniel.  I have always loved the idea of sponsoring a child from a 3rd world country, and we did sponsor Jhonny (who I met while in Bolivia) until he moved to live with family, but for a few years now we have not been sponsors.  We thought about it last year and even looked through the Compassion website, but I really wanted to pick a child who would be Jackson's age, so he could have a better connection with the idea, and at that time he was still too young. 
A few weeks ago, the kids and I were coming home from the mall and I turned on the radio.  Our local Christian radio station, WJTL was partnering with Compassion International to find sponsors for a group of children in Ethiopia.  (oooh....if we would sponsor a child in Ethiopia, and we adopt from there someday, maybe we would have the chance to meet him!) 
They began describing a child, Mikiyas Daniel, and said his birthday was in March, the same day as Jackson, just a different year.  (awww, too bad it wasn't the same exact day, that would be so cool!)
Then the radio guy said he had made a mistake, and when he re-read the new birthday, it was the same day, and now the same YEAR as Jackson's!  (!!!!!)  So I immediately rooted through the diaper bag to find my cell phone, but had no clue what the station's phone number was.  I kept listening and a few minutes later they said the phone number, so I called in hopes I would be able to sponsor this little guy.  I asked if he was still available, and the person on the other line said, "Actually his information was JUST put right in front of me."  Giddy with excitement, I gave all my info and happily became a sponsor.  Some people might think this was all an amazing coincidence - I think it was a "God thing."  :)
If you have ever considered sponsoring a child, please visit Compassion to find out more details.  It might stretch us a little more financially, but imagine the relief of this one's parents when they find out their child has a sponsor - that he will be fed, educated, and receive the medicines and vitamins he needs!