Squeaky clean.

There has been a bug going around at our house- a cleaning bug. This is a good thing seeing as we still have lots to clean! We have laminate wood flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms and they have been in need of a good scouring ever since we moved in. I like the idea of natural cleaning products and try to buy less chemical-filled stuff a much as possible but I can also appreciate products (more so the toxic ones) that get the job done. Everything in moderation, as my grandmother used to say. 

I decided to make my own cleaner today because I didn't have anything I thought would really do the trick. I searched online and found the same "recipe" on a few different sites.

1 gallon water (I used very warm water)

A few squirts of dish soap

1/2 cup vinegar

1/3 cup rubbing alcohol 

 The claim was shiny, dirt and streak free floors- so I took before and after pictures for some extra satisfaction. 

Before:

After:

I was happy with the results- plus Taylor even noticed and commented that the floor feels cleaner :) Despite vinegar being his least favorite smell in the whole world. Does that make me a mean wife? ;) I went Cinderella in my technique and used a bucket and a rag and scrubbed on my hands and knees because it was that kind of dirty. (Then I went over top with a clean wet rag followed by a dry towel). But, for a lighter job you could use a regular mop or swiffer mop, or a spray bottle and microfiber cloth. (The spray bottle combo is 1 part of each: water, alcohol & vinegar and a few drops of dish soap)

I'd love to learn about more natural cleaning tips and tricks- if you have any send them my way!

Happy cleaning!

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Before and After!

Here is the first installment of before and after... Guest bathroom edition!! 

With the help of my friend Currie, this was a quick makeover. (Thanks Currie!) We painted the walls with Valspar soft gloss paint in 'granite dust.' We still need to re-paint the trim and doors, and change the outlets and switchplates to white instead of cream. (Taylor will be doing the electrical work- not me! For good reason.) We have much more painting in our future- but I need to ice my wrists before picking up a brush again :)

Before:

After:

This soap is my new favorite thing.... I found it at Target, my other favorite thing. 

And of course, this towel is from Target too. I'm loving their new Threshold line- also very dangerous to our budget. Good thing towels aren't too expensive. :)

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Updates.

Wow! A lot can happen in 3 months!! It's been awhile since I've posted. We've had some friends' weddings, a vacation, family events and work among other things. Plus, we have 2 fun updates to share!

We bought a house! God provided us with a wonderful home that is just the right size and came on the market at just the right time. We were able to get a showing after it had been on the market for only a few hours. We'd been looking for a place since December, and if we learned anything in the process, it was that the good ones go fast! The accepted offer came to us on the last day we had to either confirm or withdraw our lease at our current apartment. Talk about divine timing!! God is so good to us. We close in 2 weeks and are having so much fun planning and preparing to own our first home. We are going to go a bit paint crazy; our goal is to get it all done as soon as we can. We've enlisted the help of my dad, who is Mr. Painter himself. Here are the colors we've picked... I wanted a cohesive color scheme that would flow throughout the whole house, instead of separate colors/styles in each room.


We'll see how these look when they're up on the walls. Can't wait to decorate that place!! I'll post pictures of our adventures as the projects get underway.

Another big blessing in our life is that Taylor got accepted to Family Nurse Practitioner School!! He begins his studies this fall and will complete them in 2016. (if you want to learn more about the role of an NP, here is a good website.) The program is almost entirely online so he will be able to continue to work until clinicals begin.

The study tables will be turned... he was my big encourager and study buddy during my last year of nursing school when we were engaged, so now it's my turn to be that for him. Or at least to try. :) I have to admit, he's a much harder worker than me. I preferred studying for a short amount of time, taking a break, and then going back to it. If I had to make myself study for long periods on end, I would more often than not get distracted and have to take a break anyway. Ha! But as I try to explain to Taylor, I like to take my time, enjoy the process and not rush things. My husband, on the other hand, prefers to put in his earbuds, hunker down with all his study materials, and plow through whatever he has to get done, however long it takes. He tries to tell me that the less breaks equals less study time and more fun time. Makes sense... but doesn't sound that appealing to me. ;) Truth be told, I envy his ability to concentrate and his determined work ethic. But, I suppose we balance each other out quite nicely. This fall, when Taylor is hitting the books, I will be making him snacks, making sure he has clean study clothes, helping to edit his papers and cheering him on. ;) What a blessing to have a husband who is committed to using his God-given gifts to provide for me. Thank you Lord for this opportunity!!

A couple of dear friends' weddings!
David & Ellyn got married in May. Taylor is standing second from the far right.

Me and the gorgeous bride, Ellyn!

Beautiful Jenny and me in Steph's wedding. We all met at Purdue after getting involved in our dorm's Cru Bible study freshman year.

The lovely couple on the dance floor- Steph and Wes!

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Good?

On this Good Friday, I was reading the Gospel of Matthew in an attempt to prepare my heart for Easter (How is one supposed to do that?? How can a sinful soul truly comprehend the weight of Jesus' sacrifice??? No idea.) I read a verse that struck a new chord in me. I had never read it and understood it in such a way.

"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" Matt 27:39-40

The verses continue as others insult and mock the crucified King- right to his face. He was dying, but he was listening. Of course, I don't know what he was thinking, but while I was reading today I felt like the Lord gave me a glance at how Jesus' love would have been displayed in this instance. Jesus, in his Holy perfection, probably looked down with love at the people walking the ground at the foot of his Cross... defaming the spot with foul words and gestures. Through the sweat and blood dripping into his eyes, I'm sure tears also gathered there as he gazed at the very people he was about to die for. Love overwhelmed him as the weight of His sacrifice grew. As those continued insult him, he might have thought, 'If only they knew my love for them. They will have another chance to come back to the foot of this Cross to be forgiven, to be saved. I love them, Father. Forgive them, for they know not what they do.'

Who can comprehend this kind of love?? It's only from the One who is Love. And I am that person at the foot of the Cross, so in need of Jesus' forgiveness and grace. Every minute of every day.

Eagerly awaiting Sunday morning. There is Hope!!


A fun Good Friday tradition with my parents and sibs- out to eat after the Good Friday service. Yum.

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C.G.I.

Last Sunday at church (we attend Common Ground West) an organization called Center for Global Impact was highlighted during the service. I had heard of CGI before but hadn't made the connection. This group is a faith-based organization out of Greenwood, IN that seeks "to creatively connect financial and human resources with people who desperately need them." They have several different projects: a culinary training center and 2 other skills-based training programs specifically for women. All of these projects are based internationally- mostly in Cambodia.

 
One project caught my eye- CGI daughters. The girls who are a part of this program receive training in dress making and learn to create beautiful prom and bridesmaid dresses that are then sold in the States at partnering retail stores. As they learn this trade they embark on the path to building a self-sustaining life, one that is marked by freedom and light, not by chains and darkness. They receive other care, counseling and training as well. I thought this sounded familiar and then remembered a bridal store my parents, sister and I visited last year. It's called Sophia's Bridal in Greenwood- I'm not sure if they offer goods made by the Daughters yet (the website said coming in 2013), but it's worth checking out if you're in the market for prom or bridal wear. My sister Meg found her maid of honor dress there and it was absolutely gorgeous on her!!






Check out more about CGI Daugthers here. There are some really neat initiatives you can take part in, including sponsorship of a girl in Cambodia. Sponsors are encouraged to meet their 'daughter' by traveling to Cambodia- wouldn't that be a dream?
If you're trying to be more intentional about where your money is going- if you want it to have double impact- why not check out places that offer fair trade goods such as Sophia's. There are lots out there. I'm going to investigate local shops that offer these goods and post a list.

Love,
Annie

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The Daughter Project.

Did you know that Toledo, Ohio is one of the largest gateway cities in the U.S. for child sex trafficking?
Yep. Just 230 miles from where I'm sitting right now.

When I learned this a few years ago, I was blown away by the reality of the U.S. sex trade. I remember thinking, 'doesn't this just happen in 3rd world countries, like Cambodia? Certainly not here in the States.' My ignorance became more obvious as I dug deeper, learning more about human trafficking all over the world. And since my mom grew up in a suburb of Toledo, my siblings and I grew up visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins there for years. This made the fact that the Midwest is a gateway to this unthinkable trade hit very close to home. Literally.

What is human trafficking?
It's a form of modern-day slavery and it's a federal and international crime. Making persons be a slave (in any way) to another person is illegal, and has been for a long time. But in this recent day and age, it has just taken on different forms, and is growing. There are many different estimates, but it is thought that around 100,000 people, women, children and even men, are being sexually trafficked and enslaved in the United States.

Click here to learn more about what human trafficking is and is not.

As well as the increase of human trafficking in recent years, awareness has been increasing as well. And that is the good news!! I first heard about this issue when I attended CRU's Christmas Conference a few years ago. One of the directors of International Justice Mission (IJM) held a breakout session that I went to. He told stories of little girls and boys (and their families) in countries overseas who work 16 hour days/7 days a week, without pay, in the worst conditions, and without a choice. Their pictures and stories brought tears to my eyes, and immediately made me feel guilty for my complaints about "long" 12 hours shifts. (Not to mention getting to be a paid employee in a clean & safe environment with rights and choices that these people only dream of).

Later in the conference I heard Amy Sieffert speak while she was wearing her 1 dress for 6 months (see previous post). She spoke of a group starting to form and take action near her home in Ohio. This group is lead by a high school math teacher named Jeff, and the dream was to build a house in which girls could live, be loved, and recover from the life of being sexually trafficked. They named it the Daughter Project (TDP), and the Lord has greatly blessed their efforts. An amazing house has been built and furnished, girls are living there, and are receiving love and support- all provided by God through generous people all over the country. One of my dear friends just found out she has been accepted for a position as a house mom! I'm so proud of her and how she is going to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the girls- and everyone she encounters!!

Check out their website and blog.

From TDP's website. Read about their mission & purpose:

"The Daughter Project is a God-inspired non-profit organization in Northwest Ohio that exists to help girls recover from the trauma of sex trafficking and to help prevent others from being trafficked."

"Our goal is to provide holistic healing services in an extremely safe, home-like environment to girls who have been freed from sex traffickers. The services will include; abuse & addiction counseling, family/friend restoration, health & nutrition education, medical/dental/vision care, legal counsel and spiritual mentorship. This help will be provided by caring & competent professionals and volunteers. More specifically, we have recruited doctors, counselors and other professionals to provide medical services to our girls. We are also developing plans for art, drama, equine and music therapy. In addition to medical services, we have begun to contact various local community organizations to provide healthy, educational opportunities for our girls. Some of these include the YMCA, the Zoo, the Symphony and others."

Praise the Lord for people doing His work here on Earth!! Please pray for the Daughter Project... the girls, Jeff, the man who started it all, the house moms (my friend Jenny), and all those involved in their lives. The goal is to build another house this fall, and expand from there to other parts of Ohio and across the country. There are other "inpatient" homes for girls, similar to TDP, but not very many compared to what's needed. How exciting would it be if one was started in Indy?? That is my hope & prayer!

There is so much to learn about human trafficking- I've only cracked the surface. But the more we learn, the more we can tell others, and the more justice can be brought to the cause. Read a book or an article, watch a documentary, or attend a fundraising event. There are plenty to choose from- learn something new this week!

Here's to acting justly, loving mercy & walking humbly with God. {Micah 6:8}

Love,
Annie

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Mindful March.

What I've dubbed this new month- Mindful March.

I love firsts. They're so exciting to me. First day of school, first light of the day, first minute of a New Year... The fresh new-ness of something always gets me, no matter what it is! I remember clearly when my friend Zheng had her very first S'more- it was a big moment, and I might have been more excited than her! And I just love s'mores. All that to say- I also love the first day of the month. There is something wonderful about a new month. On that first day there is a lot to look forward to. It could mean a changing season, another birthday, a goal reached.

Speaking of firsts... had a wonderful first married birthday celebration! So special :)

So this month of March I've decided to focus on being mindful. While at Purdue I was involved in CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) and during this same time last year CRU was involved with International Justice Mission and sponsored a "Justice Week." The focus was on bringing awareness to the reality of modern day slavery. Forced and bonded labor, sexual slavery and trafficking, and other human rights issues were the main topics. Throughout that week there were daily challenges (like for example: go to the website slaveryfootprint.com and discover how many slaves work for you.) A group of girls and I even wore 1 dress for 1 week to symbolize the "uniform" that trafficked girls wear daily, without choice, in the sex slave trade. It was an eye-opening week. It all culminated with a 5K run/walk with all the proceeds going to IJM. And this year since I'm not up in W. Laf to take part again, I thought Mindful March would be the next best thing!

A few things I'm planning this month:
1. No new clothes or shoes this month. Give the $ in the clothing budget to IJM or a similar group.
2. Be extra creative with (and more grateful for) the clothing I have. The challenge: don't wear the same outfit twice for the whole month (with the exception being my work scrubs). I am going to try to switch it up and wear clothes I forgot that I had in new ways. It's pretty much going to be like Christmas. ;) And I might post some pics!
3. Learn more about the reality of human trafficking, and share what I learn by posting it on this blog, bringing it up in conversations, reading books and articles... however I can!
4. Get people to join me! Anyone want to take part in Mindful March with me? We could do another 1 dress 1 week challenge?? (p.s. check out Amy Seiffert's story- she wore the same dress for 6 months. Amazing.)

Dwelling on this verse this month.... Micah 6:8 (NASB)
"He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?"

How do I act justly, kindly and humbly? And if I do, is it only to glorify God? Hmm. Convicting.
May you be blessed this March! And may you be mindful. Of God's goodness, grace and gift of Jesus.

Love,
Annie

P.S. I haven't touched the computer for the purpose of posting a blog entry since October.... can you tell I now work full time?? Ha wow! Now I understand how busy real life is.... and I don't even do that much besides work and sleep. Hmm- going to be mindful about spending my free time more wisely. Who's with me??!

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