March Madness: It's not just for basketball

If you know me, you know that March Madness is observed with holiday like status in my house. However, madness can also be used to describe the past week or so in regards to my journey to China.

First, yet another roadblock was hit. And unlike the other that required new paperwork or more official stamps this one has no clear ending which means a teaching visa isn't in the cards right now.

That leads us to plan B (or C, F, J who knows at this point!) A tourist visa!

So what does all is this means?

1. Most importantly, it means that I can go to China soon! In fact I have purchased plane tickets and will leave on April 24th!
2. Tourist visas are normally issued for 30, 60, or 90 day time periods. They are also either single entry, multiple entry for 1 year, or the new multiple entry for 10 years.
3. I have round-trip tickets for 89 days which means they will hopefully give me at least a 90 day 10 year visa.
4. I will be making a trip to Chicago in the next week or so to the Chinese Consulate to get my visa.
5. After the first short trip home to attend a family reunion and a friends wedding I will return to China. I will then have to leave the country again every 90 days in accordance with my visa.
6. This means that there is the added expense of travel for visa trips. At this point I don't know exactly how much more this will be, but I anticipate it being at least an extra $100 a month.

What can you do?

1. Continue to pray! Pray that the rest of the visa process moves smoothly and there are no snags that delay anything. Pray as I wrap things up here and prepare to move to China. Pray that the extra funds I need will come in.
2. Donate! Maybe you haven't been able to or couldn't give as much as you wished. Maybe you can't give a big chunk but something as little as $25 a month adds up! I treasure all of my supporters and know this isn't possible without them.
3. Donate! (yes, again) Maybe you don't want to give money but you want to give a tangible thing. One benefit of coming home for a short trip after three months is I don't have to pack everything at the beginning and will have more room for donations for New Day. If you are interested please let me know and I'll give you a list of most needed items!

I am continually seeing God through this journey and am so excited He is the one leading it. It hasn't been easy but it is so so good! It does feel like complete Madness at times, but isn't it more fun when the underdog wins :) 

I'm going back to China!!!!

Over the past several years I have had amazing opportunities to serve God throughout the world. God has led me on so many adventures both internationally and domestically and has really ignited several passions in my heart. As many of you know, once I set foot in China I immediately fell in love with it, and my heart was continually captured through my experiences there.  While teaching and serving at orphanages in Mexico, South Africa, Swaziland, and China I fell in love with the children and found it to be such a privilege to care for those the world has forgotten.

Those experiences and passions have led me to my next journey, serving at New Day Foster Home outside of Beijing, China. New Day truly serves the least of these. Their core mission is to provide life-saving surgeries and a loving home to orphans with special needs. They believe that every child deserves a healthy start and to know the love of family. I am so excited to partner with them to continue to make this a reality for the children they provide a home for.

While at New Day I will specifically be partnering with the preschool program. At the age of 2 all of the children who are medically able attend a bilingual preschool during the week. Using my special education background I will be able to add new dimensions and try new things as well as working with the children one on one performing evaluations and providing extra support and instruction. This makes me so excited as it really encompasses so many of my passions!

I hope to leave by the end of October. In order for this to happen I will need to raise start up and monthly support and obtain a visa from China. Your prayers in these endeavors are so appreciated!

As things progress I will be posting more ways that you can be involved, but the first way is through t shirt! I will be selling shirts to help with my start up and visa costs. 

Click here to place an order!

Orphan Sunday: Part 2, a HUGE announcement

About a month ago I attended the Influence Conference. The Conference was all about how everyone can use the influence they have to further the kingdom. As I was listening to the speakers and writing down truth after truth an idea was becoming clearer and clearer to me. As this happened, I became more and more unsure.  But I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this idea was from God and was a way He was revealing to me of how I can use my influence and talents to further His kingdom.

So, without further ado I am SO excited to introduce you to Even Better Designs!

The whole idea behind this business is orphans and how I can help them in creative ways. Since my nephew was born I have made him appliqued shirts which has expanded to making them for friends when their babies are born. Now that is expanding to making them for you! But here is the big deal, the thing that makes me really excited, you get an awesome one of a kind shirt, and 50% of the proceeds will be donated directly to an orphanage! (yes that number scared me at first, but I believe God absolutely has a reason!)

For the past month I have been researching like crazy, making designs, and preparing everything for the ambitious opening date in November. I want you to be the first to see what I've come up with. I'll be opening an Etsy store in the next week or so and am so excited to see how God grows this business.

Scrappy Christmas Tree (with or without bow)

Polka Dot Elephant

Cheery Giraffe

I'm 1! iron on

(just a sampling of designs. I have a few more Christmas ones in the works and am absolutely open to ideas!)

For the months of November and December 50% of the proceeds will go to New Day Foster Home. This is amazing foster home just outside of Beijing that cares for special needs orphans. Check out their website to learn more.

If you want to know more or want to partner with me in any way leave a comment or send an e-mail to evenbetterdesigns@gmail.com.