We stayed in Apex for the first 2 nights. I got to visit my brand new baby cousin Emmet.
Emmet was the inspiration behind my adoption project. I truly enjoyed this project and after the holidays, I will be trying to do this again! Thanks #EmmetAnthony for your inspiration!
We visited the downtown Apex area and had an amazing lunch as well as fitting in a visit to the firs station as any good homeschool student should!
And how could we visit any town that has a train depot and not visit! Duh! Plus, this is a picture we have taken already so we had to replicate.
My cousin and I have never lived in the same state. We try to see each other every year. She has been a huge inspiration along with her son Emmet, in my crochet business. We share a grandmother that was particularly amazing at crochet as well. I am so grateful for her and my friendship with her!
This round of adoption stories touched me in a way I never though possible. To be honest, I really wasn't thinking about how the stories would affect me when I started. I just knew I had a desire to serve families of adoption. I already know a lot of stories of adoption and even several close to home. But to get down and deep with people I don't even know and actually feel so intensely for what they were experiencing was way bigger than I anticipated.
This brings me to the second family's story. They are still awaiting their match; their baby! When they were choosing, they wanted something gender neutral because they don't know what they're having yet. So they chose The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I had been wanting to make this for so long, but with other orders and projects, I had not had a chance. I was thrilled to get to make this one!!
Check out the rest of the stories. If you are someone you know are adopting, please email your story to me at risenshinecrochet@gmail.com.
When I began this project, I had no idea how it would affect me. I really feel like I am on cloud 9! This has been an incredible experience so far and the idea that it is only going to get bigger and better thrills me to no end.
If you haven't been following this story, you can go back and see the stories and the reveal of the first family that participated.
I have already completed the project for the second family and I will be going live on my FaceBook to reveal the project that I will be sending to them. I was going to do a blog to show what they chose, but I kind of like the surprise factor. So we're going with that.
This family is still in their waiting period. I feel very partial to this story since my cousin is adopting and they also are in this stage. I know how hard it has been to wait for that perfect match; THEIR baby. I love their story and feel so privileged to be part of it.
Stay tuned for the big reveal! Know someone who is adopting and want to refer them to me? Email me at risenshinecrochet@gmail.com.
As you may already know, I have been working on a service project for families that are adopting or fostering. Check out my blog on this project. And be sure to watch the stories that came in after my announcement!
I had a huge surprise with the first family and so I had to get to work. But I had a minor mishap when ordering the yarn. They made a mistake that set me back about a week and a half. They were quick to rectify it...and by rectify, I mean they refunded my money completely and Express shipped it to me!!!! So here I am in the middle of a service project and I received the yarn for 2 of the families totally FREE!!!
I got to work quickly once the yarn arrived.
In no time at all, the hat was ready to be transformed into the Sly Fox!
This little fox and I now have a special bond. He is ready to go.
I will be sending him off today! Visit me on FaceBook to see my Live reveal and see the new Momma's reaction!! I feel so unbelievably blessed by this project and I cannot wait to see where it takes me.
If you, or someone you know is adopting or has adopted and would like to submit a story, please email me at risenshinecrochet@gmail.com. I will be taking on new projects soon so please spread the word.
One of the families has emailed me back with the most amazing news!
Their baby was born June 6, 2 months early, and the birth mom has already signed the papers. They have a brand new baby boy!!!
She has chosen a baby fox and diaper cover set! I have chosen to combine patterns. I liked the Sly as a Fox hat better but I am using the Croby Patterns diaper cover. I am really excited to make this set.
I will post pictures as I make it. Congratulations!!!!
After my initial announcement of my adoption project. Several people emailed me and I received responses from adoption agencies that shared my story. I wanted to read a few of these stories as I am completely unable to choose. If you want to read about the adoption project, you can read the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT blog that tells you all about it! Without further ado, I present you the first round of adoption stories!!
Here are some of the items I am offering and each family can choose which one they want!
I have to say, I always though this movie was such a cool project. When I saw the first trailer for it, my daughters and I cried! But now, I am actually a tiny part of it and I feel even deeper about it. I feel blessed to get to be involved in some little way. When I think of war, the first people I think of are the soldiers followed shortly by their families. But the children! I never think of what a war looks like to a child. We have studied the Civil War this year in our homeschool and this was the last war fought on American soil. It is abstract to think of those children running their own farms while their fathers were away fighting; or sadly enough, fighting in the war itself!
Europe has seen an enormously large number of wars. Mila's little face really hits home. I imagine my little, innocent girls witnessing war and its destruction and it makes me so sad.
I say all this because I love this cause. I love what it means and I am truly in love with this movie!
Help support Mila and get a really cool hat in the process! Not gonna lie! I love this hat!! And when I get a chance, after I make the ones that are on order now, I will be making one for myself!
I have been busting at the seams over this hat! I kept it a secret long enough. I now present to you, the Mila hat!
Please comment below and let me know what you think! You can purchase these hats through me as well and 100% of the profits are going to Mila. Visit my FaceBook and drop me a message if you would like to help! You can also DONATE HERE if you just want to send a few dollars to this amazing project. They also have some really great perks including fan art. It just so happens my kids participated in the fan art so you can also get their, one of kind, Kid's Mila inspired fan art postcards! You can purchase these postcards too. Click here and choose Post Cards a Plenty.
Last week I made the big announcement that I will be adding a service project to Rise N Shine Crochet to serve families that have or will be adopting. I have been in contact with several adoption agencies and been all over the social media world resulting in new contacts and lots of response! I have several stories I will be sharing this coming week from a few families! My heart is so happy. In the midst of all this, a long-time friend of mine reached out and asked if I would like to participate with some fundraising for her project as well that falls right in line with the path my service project is taking. Let me introduce you to Mila!!
Here is the director, Cinzia Angellini's description:
Mila is a CG animated short about a little girl whose life takes an unexpected turn during WWII. It’s rare that animation takes on serious, complex matters such as War. Still, I believe animation is the perfect medium to tell this story set in my hometown, Trento (Italy). Mila is the story of a girl and two women during Trento’s bombing in 1943. I wanted to tell a war story not centered on armies, soldiers, generals, battle plans. I wanted to talk about civilians, and especially the children. The girl who inspired me to create this movie was a child during WWII. That girl is my mother.
- Cinzia Angelini, Director
250 ARTISTS, 25 COUNTRIES, 1 GOAL!
All of the people working on this film are volunteering! The collaboration worldwide seems impossible but they all bring it together selflessness, dedication, and a common goal.
My long-time friend of <ahem> years, Andrea Emmes, is the producer for this film and as part of her job, she is fundraising. They have managed to get UNICEF to partner with them! How amazing is that!! Unicef works with children around the world adoption, fostering, emergency humanitarian services, and a multitude of other life changing acts. Imagine the war torn countries for current children. Pretty awful. Now imagine them, as Mila. I have always believed everything happens for a reason and God's plan will play out. By reaching out regarding service to adoption, I am now able to help here too!
I am making Mila's cute little newsboy hat you see in the video. I have completed one already and I will be posting pictures and video soon. You can also purchase these through me if you would like and I will give all the profit to Mila. You can also DONATE here. Visit the website for more information on Mila!
This story is worth telling. Children have such a small voice in this world. I am thrilled at the direction my plan is heading and grateful that God is taking control of this for me. It really is taking on a life of its own! Please share. SHARE!!! I mean just look how cue she is!
I have been working at crochet and blogging for a little while now. I must admit, it has only been scattered and half-hearted. But my intentions were there. What were my intentions?
I started off with basic selling of items. I made a few items and people liked them, so they bought them. Simple. I was learning and trying new things and I was making a little money while enjoying my hobby. Then I decided to begin a blog and try to reach out a little in the crochet world. Tutorials had become an option. I thought maybe teaching others would be a way I could help and serve others, but I have yet to get a great setting for this and it just wasn't working. Then I was led to try to use my crochet to give back. This was harder than you think. I wanted to do fundraisers but it is really hard to make a significant amount of money to give when you are one person. I teamed with other people, but this proved to be quite an undertaking. So where has this left me?
I have a cousin who is adopting and it has left a soft spot on my heart. Here is their story! I have decided...I am going to crochet for adoption! What does that look like? Well, knowing myself and my mastered skill of "Oh LOOK! A chicken!", I am certain this path is going to change. A lot! But this is what it will look like for now.
I would like to start making and donating items for families that are adopting or have adopted. If you know a family adopting or has adopted that could use a gift, please send me their story! For now, as this is just me, I will pick one story each week and send them a crochet item. I will post either a picture of one I have made or a link to the pattern below so you can choose an item. I am not sure how this will all play out. All I ask is for patience. Please share this with friends and family who may know someone.
You can email your stories to risenshinecrochet@gmail.com. This is where I will choose from.
I am really excited about this because it has been my goal to start to use my crochet as a way to reach out and give back. I have always felt like I was meant to serve in some way and I truly love crochet. My grandmothers were such a huge part of my desire to crochet. I believe with all my heart that God gifted this skill to me so now I would like to use it for something great!
Take a look at what I will be offering for now. When you send your email, let me know which item you are interested in. I promise I will do my best! Due to cost and time investment, I will not be doing blankets at this time. I would like to keep the projects smaller so I can accomplish more of them. Maybe someday down the line, I will team up with others who would be willing to participate!
Come check out my FaceBook page as well for pictures of a lot of my completed projects.
My sweet cousin has battled infertility in a major way, but that battle is ending and a new journey has begun. The journey of adoption. Read their story.
In an effort to help in what minuscule way I could, I used my crochet sale profits as donations. Now, I joined forces with 12 other businesses to create an event! The vendors are Myself (Rise n Shine Crochet , Jamberry, Usborne Books, Fashions for Your Little One, Plexus, It Works, Make a Memory Shoppe, Thirty One, Origami Owl, Young Living Oils, Keep Collectives, and Perfectly Posh. Not only can you support this amazing couple and help them on their way to bring home their new baby, but you can support these small businesses! I love how these people are so willing to give their time, their hearts, their businesses, and their compassion to a beautiful pair who are so deserving of a family of their own.
Each business will be featured for one day. Please join the event and see all the amazing things these businesses have to offer. The variety is wide and there is certainly something for everyone!
Meet Erika and Ed Hornbeck. Meet a set of parents that will do the world some good!
