Love Mercy - a book, a shop and a journey

While in Nashville this past weekend I paid a visit to McKay's (thank you Sarah Freeman) and found the book Love Mercy - A mother & Daughter's Journey from the American Dream to the Kingdom of God. It's a brand new book, just published in this here 2010.

The title caught my eye, because that's the name of my Etsy shop and then the author's name caught my eye, because she is one of my favorite authors. And since my daughter and I were in Nashville on a social justice trip it was a buy, buy, buy situation.

Lisa Samson and her daughter, Ty, wrote the book together about their trip to Swaziland and how it rocked their world.

Lisa and I have a lot in common.

She writes great fiction.
I like to read great fiction.

She and her husband wrote a great book, Justice in the Burbs.
I read Justice in the Burbs and recommend it to people all the time.

She was born in '64.
I was born in '63.

She has a child born in '89.
I have a child born in '89.

She and her daughter have been to Africa.
I've been to Africa with one of my daughters.

See! We're almost twins!

I'm only on Chapter 3, but I'm greatly appreciating this book. The writing styles are welcoming and honest. Can't wait to finish it.

Philip Andre has been adopted

This is Philip Andre. As you can tell he has lived a hard life. In the past he has been a boxer, actor, and a screenwriter.















Etched into his face are lines left by extreme living and taking punches.
















Underneath is a heart of gold. Well, maybe not a heart of gold, but a heart, none the less.
















Philip Andre has been adopted and now lives in Louisiana. His adoption fees are being donated to Faceless International.

To learn who inspired the birth of Philip Andre, click here.

Sadie Suzanne - easy going kind of girl

Meet Sadie Suzanne. She's an easy going kind of girl. She likes things plain and simple, like her. Sadie Suzanne sees things a little differently than most dolls.

Maybe that's because her eyes are so unique.













They were crafted just for her at Coventry. No eyes like them anywhere else.












The folks at Coventry view things through a lens of love and I think it rubbed off on Sadie.


She tells me she was hand-stitched with a lot of love, helping the person doing the stitching work off some stress while trying to be creative.

Sadie Suzanne says when she is adopted all of the proceeds will go to Faceless International. That's a group of people with a lot of love.

So, if you are looking for a easy going kind of girl to love, Sadie Suzanne might be just the doll for you.

My quirky little store

I would love to have a quirky little store. I think I really would. There's a few things that keep me from opening a quirky little store. I have no business skills or knowledge and I have no money with which to open a store. And, I really think those are valid reasons not to have one.

But, if I had one I would want it to have French flea market finds, because I love France and I love flea markets. Put the two together = extra special.

Also, I would want it to have lots of handmade, re-purposed items like the ones my cousins make. Gorgeous stuff! Quirky, chippy, usable, well-worn = LOVE IT!

And folk art. I'm crazy about folk art. Stick me some place full of folk art and I start drooling. Like Yard Dog or House of Blues.

I wouldn't want to have a store just to have a store. The drive behind my store would be to fight slavery and to support the organizations that have homes for the people rescued from the horrors of slavery. Those rescued need huge amounts of support to get on their feet and be safe from getting drug back into slavery. The brave souls providing this physical and emotional support need support.

The store's purpose would be to support organizations that have real, practical, smart programs to end extreme poverty and slavery. So it would be stocked with fair trade items like coffee, chocolate, clothing, jewelry, art, etc...

But, like I said, I don't have the skills or money to make my quirky little store a reality. So, what I can do is tell you about some of the organizations my quirky little store would support.

Love146
Faceless International
Polaris Project
International Justice Mission
Free The Slaves
Trade As One
Not For Sale
Abolish Slavery Coalition

Kay Warren said in a piece for start> that she used to be a nice person, but she didn't feel nice now that she knew of the horrors of AIDS sufferers. She became "seriously disturbed" by their pain. She couldn't be quiet. And I knew exactly what she was talking about.

That's how I feel about slavery. I come across as fanatical at times. I can't stop talking about it. It hangs on me. It hurts my heart. Sometimes people think I'm joking about my passion for fair trade coffee, chocolate, sugar and clothing. Nope, I'm not. I'm serious as a heart attack. I don't want to knowingly participate in the slave industry or abuse those in extreme poverty. When I ask where those t-shirts are manufactured and if they are legit, I'm dead serious.

So, if it seems I spend a lot of time talking about slavery or it seems like I'm staring at you extra hard when I'm discussing it with you, that's because I am.

Wow, that got serious.

I get twitchy about slavery

Some people know I get a little twitchy about modern-day slavery. I get twitchy when people talk about pre-Civil War slavery and try to justify it. Slavery, all around makes me twitchy. It makes me grit my teeth and squint my eyes and twitch.

I never really thought much about modern-day slavery until I saw it with my own eyes. It made me want to throw up. I will never get those images out of my head.

Sometimes I get overcome by urges to make something with my hands. Usually it happens when I'm stressed. There is something about pouring myself into creating that calms me. Most of the time whatever it is that is asking me to make it gets completely hand sewn. I like the folk artsy look of hand sewn items and I feel more connected with the item. And, some of the time, I've screwed up a knob here or there on the machine and can't use it.

What in the heck does that have to do with slavery? Well, I decided to put some of the quirky dolls on Etsy. Since I make them with mostly recycled, found objects all of the adoption fees go to Faceless International.

Faceless International aims to defend the plight of exploited people worldwide who have gone faceless and unknown for far too long. We exist to raise awareness about social issues happening throughout the global community. We provide first hand experience and education through trips around the world and solution-based opportunities through regional resources.

Each doll has a story that they tell me as I'm making them. Sometimes a picture or person inspires their beginning or helps it develop as we move along.

Each are very simple and unique. I'm pretty sure I couldn't make two alike if I wanted to.

Some are safe for young children. Some are not.

All are perfect for people with weird tastes and/or personalities. That is why I love them.

My shop is called lovemercy.