brief update and a GIVEAWAY!!!!

well... i'm the worst blogger ever. oh well. I've been a tad busy... so there's that. sorry.

here's a brief update.

store = good

we've had some great months and some greater months! i'm truly blessed and thankful for this crazy opportunity.

judson and sarah = in love

judson bought an adorable house. we're in the process of fixing it up a little... not too much though. before and after pics will be posted at some point... some point.

so basically, life has been a mod podge of business and busyness. and honestly, i couldn't be happier!

Now to some really fun news....
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I've recently become an Ambassador for Noonday Collection. Noonday Collection is this amazing company that provides pathways out of poverty through the power of work. Noonday is not a charity. Noonday is about entering into partnerships with artisans from around the world and giving them an avenue in which to sell their BEAUTIFUL handmade pieces.

The premise of Noonday Collection is found in Isaiah 58

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

…satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.

You see... Noonday is based upon the foundation of who God wants us to be IN HIM. To love and serve others... and it will start to grow and heal our broken hearts in the process! I don't know about you, but I read all of this and decided I HAD to be a part of this incredible group of women.

When I went to my first Noonday Trunk Show, I was still living in Austin. My friend Emily invited me to go to her friend's house for an adoption fundraiser. Little did I know that I was going to be walking into a beautiful landscape of handmade jewelry!! I learned that a percentage of the total sales from the trunk show were going to this family that was raising money for adoption.

So, I'm a small business owner. And, y'all, it's hard. I'm so thankful to have my parents give me shelter and food and Judson pick up meals for me. I'm, thankfully, able to pay bills, but with very little to spare. I know that it's the first year of business, and I won't be in a place to have extra cash for a very long time. But, I also have a heart for the orphan. And, it is my hope one day to adopt. I want to start saving money for that, along with paying off my debts.

In July, I was kind of in a low state. Really questioning what my next steps needed to be regarding the business. I wasn't ever going to close, but I knew that some changes had to be made. After lots of prayer, Noonday popped into my head and heart one night. I started to research and realized that I could afford to start out as an Ambassador. Therefore, helping me to make some extra income, as well as start saving for a special little guy or girl to join my family one very sweet day.

More than anything, I'm so excited to educate those around me about Noonday and its mission. I'm excited to show off beautiful pieces of jewelry and accessories that add a little twinkle to a woman's eye. I'm excited to quite possibly help families with the craziness that is raising money for adoptions. I'm excited to advocate for those in poverty and truly see lives changed by something so easy and convenient.

 I truly hope you'll join me in this journey. It's such an amazing and unique opportunity! If you don't know anyone adopting, but want to host a trunk show... YOU get a percentage in a Noonday voucher. When I hosted a trunk show a few weeks ago at the store, I got a voucher to buy 4 different pieces!!! So... think FREE Christmas gifts for friends and family!!!

OK... If you're still reading... now is the FUN FUN FUN part!

I'm doing my FIRST NOONDAY GIVEAWAY!!!! That's right.... YOU could win this BEAUTIFUL "Bling Collar" Necklace, made with love in India. It's the PERFECT addition to a Christmas holiday outfit...

How do you enter? Comment on the blog... repost it on Facebook... Instagram about it! Whatever... just make sure that I am tagged!!! (@sarahkdecker on Instagram or Twitter)...

I'll pick a WINNER at random on Thursday, September 26th at 10am!!!