Archives for September 2016

Hudson’s birthday was yesterday.  I want to first air 2 things:  1)  At about 10:30 the night before his birthday Josh Kelley and I realized we had completely forgotten about decorating his door for his birthday and we were both exhausted so we rolled the dice because Hudson can sometimes be a bit, ummmmm, forgetful and sure enough he never mentioned a word.  And neither did we.  2)  This was my first time experimenting with dairy free cake and icing and I hated it.  The icing on his cake literally just melted off while I iced it and yes, the cakes were completely chill.  Let’s just not talk about it anymore, but if you have any amazing dairy free cake or icing recipe PLEASE share it with me.

Hudson requested french toast for breakfast.  He received legos for his gift from us.  Amon, our littlest and I took cupcakes to his class for lunch at school.  We hit up sonic happy hour on a Thursday because 8 is a big deal.  He asked for taco night for dinner along with Mexican rice.  And a vanilla cake he wanted to decorate himself.  I completely forgot the Mexican rice and he told me over and over how it wasn’t a big deal.  His response upon watching the icing melt off his cake was, “It’s okay mom.  I don’t care what it looks like as long as it tastes good.”  Food is kind of his love language so upon realizing I forgot to make rice I grabbed Josh’s truck keys, told Josh to man the tortillas cooking and ran down the street to our favorite Mexican restaurant.  They gave me an order of rice on the house since is was Hudson’s birthday.  They are too good to us.

The rest of the night was super chill while he worked his lego set and repeatedly thanked us for making his birthday so special.  Hudson Kelley is seriously the most sincere, kind and genuine as they come.  Insanely thankful and honored to be his momma.

In other news, Amon, our littlest and I went to the kids’ school today and helped make about a bajillion snow cones to help celebrate good behavior in the school.  It was SO SO much fun.  They danced and had races and played with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, frisbees and hula-hoops AND THEN ate snow cones.  All the kiddos got one snow cone except Amon and our littlest who had THREE each.  They are spoiled rotten in that school and I actually love it.

I’ll be honest in I use to have all kinds of backwards thoughts and fears about our low income, Title 1 school.  3 years in and my kids have received the most amazing love and education from these teachers and staff we adore.  I now know we need this insanely good place and people far more than they ever needed us.  They make this schooling thing easy, fun and available to everyone…no lines drawn…everyone is included.  Every day we get to be apart of this building and group of educators who care about these kids, families and our community is just another day we’re richly blessed ourselves.

Today is the FINAL DAY to place an order in our online Noonday Collection show.  Head over HERE and place your order today.  Please feel free to share.  And don’t forget they have some killer items on sale HERE.  20% of all sales in our online show will go towards our adoption expenses.

And lastly, yes, I am again going to talk about cake.  Again again.  Cake, cake and more cake.

Today and tomorrow are the last days to head out to the Hendersonville Nothing Bundt Cake store and pick up some goodies.  OR call their store (615) 447-3285 or go online HERE and place your order.  Let’s discuss yet again how cake showing up in your mailbox is the BEST THING EVER!!!  Imagine how your friend or family member would feel to receive cake…In.The.Mail.  Like seriously, I want to ship cake to everyone now.

Also, their Pumpkin flavor starts tomorrow.  Pretty confident your Saturday neeeeeeeds pumpkin bundt cake in it’s life.  True story.  And don’t forget, you don’t even have to say a thing.  You don’t have to mention our name or anything.  Do I love all the pictures people are sharing, YES!!!!  but you can simply slide into their store and buy 50 buntlets and be on your way.  I know some of you are of the quiet variety 🙂

And just so you know, I don’t even like lemon and their lemon cake might be the best thing that has ever hit my mouth.  There.  I said it.

 So what a week?!?!?!  We’ve pushed our Nothing Bundt Cakes Week and our online Noonday Collection show, Hudson’s birthday was yesterday, working at home and at the kids’ school…it’s been a good long week, but we are totally ready for the weekend.

Thank you guys as always for all the big, cake eating love.

Happy Friday.

Adoption costs money.  Plain and simple.  There is a lot that goes into adopting and there are a lot of people doing a lot of things on behalf of your family and child and processing a lot of papers legally so we can bring our children home.  It’s an absolute must and therefore the money is an absolute necessity to make it happen.  And honestly, I get it.  You won’t find me dogging out the price list because we’re talking about bringing a child into our home forever from across oceans.  We definitely want to make sure everything is done properly and correct.

While it’s not easy to ask for help, most families adopting have to.  It’s not something I think any of us look forward to, but it’s yet just another step in the process.  People have been insanely generous and kind to us already.  The generosity has been straight up legit and we have been blown away by all the people offering up information about grants and offering ways to help us fundraise, but but but it’s so much more than the money…it’s so much more than the financial support.

This week has been our Nothing Bundt Cakes week.  I mean really, is there a more perfect fundraiser for us than cake?!?  I think not.  My Facebook and Instagram and messenger has been filled with pictures and texts of people buying cake to help support our family.  To help support our son.  Please hear me when I say, this goes far beyond money.  These are people coming right along side us and buying cake of all things to love on us and it absolutely kills me.  God is just amazing isn’t He?!?!  Who He uses…What He uses…to love on us in the most undeserving way.

People have purchased key fobs.  People have purchased panda tee shirts.  People have bought Noonday.  People have booked Bible journaling classes.  People have just given and given of themselves, their resources, their businesses and their ideas.  They have poured prayer over us and our boy.  This goes far beyond any monetary value.  This speaks straight into our hearts.  This makes us feel not alone.  This makes us feel seen.  You have encouraged us beyond anything I could have ever dreamed and I sit in awe and wonder of the goodness of God because of you.

I don’t even know where I’m going with this…I’m just a crying mess while I type, but truthfully I have been so so blown away by the simplicity of God’s love for us and also how He spurs His people on to stand beside one another.

I went into the Nothing Bundt Cakes store yesterday to pick up some more cake 🙂  I talked with Ms. Pam and her sister.  I told them how grateful we were.  They asked about our boy and I happily told them all about him and showed them a picture.  They oohed and awwed…and rightly so :)…he’s adorable.  They were just the kindest and sweetest ladies.  I was proud because I held my emotions together.  Monday when I went in one of the ladies working had to console me when I broke down boohooing in their store.  Not my proudest moment.  I was determined to do better this time.

Then I turned around in the middle of trying to narrow down which cakes to bring home and met a new friend Amanda.  She stood there with her two daughters and had come in to purchase cake just to support our family.  She told me about one of her daughter’s medical struggles and how she knows what it feels like for people to reach out and support you.  And then I cried.  Again.  I sat there looking into this momma’s eyes and just wanted to squeeze her into a 1000 pieces.  I knew she got it…she knew this was about way more than cake or money…this was about linking arms with another family…another momma…who just wants to hold her son.  She was loving on me more than she would ever know.  Her confirmation and encouragement made me into a puddly mess.  I want to be that for others.  You make me want to be better.  More loving.  More supportive.  More encouraging.  Just more.

More than any amount of key fobs or tees or stationary or cake or jewelry or anything else we try to use to raise theses adoption funds, the love we feel is so immense.  The wait is hard and feels isolating sometimes, so just knowing we are not alone in this means the world.  Thank you from seriously the very bottom of our hearts.

If you would like to pick up some cake, there’s still time.  The Hendersonville Nothing Bundt Cakes store is donating 10% of all sales from now through Saturday to our adoption expenses.  It’s the craziest thing ever.  And if you aren’t local, they do ship.  Yes, this means they ship cake to you…it’s like a miracle from Jesus.  Cake shows up in your mailbox.  God is good.  You can call in your order (615) 447-3285 or order online HERE.

And lastly, our online Noonday Collection show is ending Friday night.  You can shop HERE and our family receives 20% of each purchase.  We are massively close to a huge goal!!  Please feel free to share.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  You guys are the best!

Happy Thursday!

Last night I got to sit with a group of ladies who all have adopted or are foster mommas. I shared a piece of our family’s story and taught a little about Bible Journaling.  I haven’t done a Bible journaling class in a while and no joke, it just get’s me all kinds of fired up in the best kind of way.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching women get excited about reading God’s word and adding this creative twist to their time with God.  It’s something I could talk for hours about because it has been such a game changer in my life personally.

After the event ended I sat around a table with other women just talking, sharing and listening.  There was crying and head nodding and words of affirmation and words of encouragement.  Josh and I aren’t really plugged in well to a group with other foster parents or parents who have adopted.  When I got in my car to drive home I felt so so encouraged and thankful and heard.  I felt valued.  I felt lifted up.  I felt a sense of belonging.

Being a parent is hard.  Pretty much the hardest/best task Josh and I have been given the sheer honor of having.  We’ve also got kiddos who have suffered an imaginable loss in their life and it absolutely stops me in my tracks some days.  I feel like I’m failing them most days.  I feel at a loss most days.  I literally beg God to be the answer to all their questions because I still feel so inadequate to be their momma despite it being my greatest, most undeserved gift.  A lot of time I can feel isolated and alone.  Last night those feelings diminished and I hope the other ladies felt the same.

I thought about so many thing on the way home, but mostly how simple the act of listening to others can be.  And in the same breath, how the simple act of being heard carries the same impact.  Listening and being heard.  I’m just still feeling all the feels about such a simple and sweet time with new friends.  I’m going to try and listen a little more carefully today to others because I understand the value in feeling and being heard.

Change of direction…and in other housekeeping/adoption fundraising news:

Our Nothing Bundt Cake week is still in full force.  It has been so fun seeing everyone share about it and posting pictures of their cake.  We are so grateful.  I’ve had so many questions about if you can order cake and yesterday I found out that yes, in fact you can.  So if you need some delicious cake in your life and you are not local, give the Hendersonville Nothing Bundt Cake store a call (615) 447-3285 and they will ship cake to you.  You can also order online.

I headed to their store bright and early Monday morning to pick up cake goodness to share.  Cake pretty much always say “I love you” or “we appreciate you”.  Who could you share some cake with this week…teachers, neighbors, friends, doctors office, post office workers, your favorite cashier or banker.  I bet your post man would die if there was a little cake waiting for them in your mailbox today.  Let’s all buy tons and tons of cake and share away.  Remember, baked goods can change the world.

And the best part, everyone has raved about how freakin delicious these cakes are.  Everyone.  We left one for Josh’s mom the other night while she babysat our kiddos.  As I was walking her out I said “Oh you forgot your cake.”  She then reassured me she had not forgotten her cake, but had actually devoured it and there was no longer any actual physical cake left.  Hahahahaha.  Again, everyone loves cake.  Second best part, 10% of all sales will go towards our adoption fees.  Raise the roof.

And last thing our Noonday Collection online show is closing down this Friday night.  We are so close to hitting a big goal and our family still receives 20% of online purchases as well.  Thought I would share a few of their sale items because they are awesome and encourage you guys to think Christmas.  Remember, Josh Kelley says it’s never too early 🙂

You can view all their sale items HERE.

Thank you guys again so much.  We feel so humbled and honored you would pray prayers or lend any help at all to our family during this process.  Grateful doesn’t even come close to touching it, so please know we are just beyond grateful.

Happy Wednesday!!!

Mondays are for catch up in my life and work and the list is quite lengthy today, but wanted to check in and first say thank you, yet again.  You guys killed it on the tees.  Like seriously.  Sizes have been tallied and now Sasquatch Design Society will do their thing.  Once tees are printed we will begin shipping them out.  Thank you again for your patience, thoughtfulness and generosity.

Our Noonday Collection party was yesterday and we had so much.  I Instagram storied through out the party and honestly was cracking myself up.  I have no shame.  We have done great with the party, but still have until this Friday to take online orders HERE.  After Friday, Rebecca will be shutting it down.  Again, thank you!!!  Sometimes I just want to sit in the floor and weep because you guys are crazy kind and it makes my world so much brighter…so truly thank you.

And my favorite things from the party I got to see and try on…

Dainty Paper Bead Necklace

Circlet Studs

Marais Bag

And Woven Dreams Bracelet 

My total faves.

And last, but certainly not least, Nothing Bundt Cake week is officially here.  Starting today through October 1st you can purchase some yummy cake from the Hendersonville, Tn Nothing Bundt Cake location and our family receives 10% of your purchase.  Easy easy.  You don’t have to mention our name or anything…1o% of the entire weeks sales straight towards our adoption expenses.  It’s insanely nice and I pretty much cannot wait to get some cakes.  Think about all the people in your life who could use a little cake love…family, friends, teachers, your favorite grocery store, post office or bank worker, strangers love cake too…I’m sure of it 🙂  Let’s buy tons and tons of cake this week and spread some major love.

I’m off to knock out approximately 1,000,000 things.  Added bonus, Josh Kelley and I have a real legit date night tonight that involves zero foster care training.  The stars have aligned and we’ll probably act like love struck fools.

Here’s to a fantastic Monday.

Breaking News:  I got in my first ever “Facebook fight” yesterday.  I hear and see these things all the time and mostly laugh and then bam! there I was right in the middle of one before my blood pressure could even regulate.  My friend Ashley text me later and began to ask me what had happened and why had I not text her?  She’s usually my voice of reason in these matters and talks me off a ledge real quick before I jump, but things went rogue before I even realized.  Truthfully though, I’m pretty okay with airing my grievances and typing the words I did.  Our world is a mess and it has proven so sad yet again this week.  Thought I would share my post that got a dude so fired up and raising his dukes rather than extending a hand.

“I am insanely saddened by how our black & brown brothers and sisters are being treated, oppressed, looked down on and so on and so on. It never ends and as a white privileged woman I cannot even come close to fathoming how they feel. I am just so sorry. So so sorry. When will we learn our first response to someone else’s sadness…someone else’s mistreatment…someone else’s loss…should be love, compassion and choosing to stand with them instead of excuses, statements beginning with “but…” and pointing fingers. Jesus, teach us to truly love like you do.”

Encouraging people to love.  Encouraging people to extend compassion.  Encouraging empathy among humans.  Encouraging us to look to Jesus instead of anywhere else.  It is a sad day you guys when our world is so at odds.  I have walked away from conversation after conversation after conversation lately just heart-wrecked and so so sad.  When will really look to Jesus for how to handle one another.  I am a big sinner, flawed to the core.  I’m a mess.  I’m no example, but what I am is someone who pushes Jesus.  When I hear and read things which make me physically sick and just long so hard for Jesus all I can do is seek His truth.  And how do we seek His truth?  We can take our thoughts and ideas and beliefs and go straight to the Bible.  Let’s start lining all our ideas up next to Jesus’ and if they match we know we are pursing truth.  If they don’t, well then we’ve got some work to do.  Will you seek justice, mercy and truth with me?  Will you join me in going straight to the source and really taking a good, long hard look at the life Jesus actually lived on this Earth.  Ahhhhhhhh, it’s hard you guys because I have been faced over and over again with my backwards, prideful ways, but this is the work that needs to be done if we really long for change.

Again I have been reading and inquiring and talking and seeking because if we really want to try and understand the best we can then we have to be willing to learn.  To reach out and ask those crazy hard questions and to listen.  Listening is so key.

This article was just so good.  Please read.

“I am a pastor. I will not condemn grief. But I was trained as a lifeguard, and I learned a long time ago that when people are drowning, their instincts can kill them and anyone who tries to help them. If a lifeguard can get to a drowning person, the first thing the lifeguard says is, “Stop struggling. Let me hold you up in this water, and we can get to the shore together.”

This Tulsa teacher shared what happened in their school after Mr. Crutcher was shot and killed.  It made my physically ache for Solomon, Amon and our littlest.  Too much and yet a very necessary read.  You can read it HERE.

I’ve shared this before, but I will share it again because it nails it.

Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Samaritan lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Children’s lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Gentile lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Jewish lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Women’s lives matter.”
Instead of saying all lives matter, Jesus said, “Lepers’ lives matter.”

And onto lighter things because I have to 🙂

So this is it.  This is the last day to place an order for the awesome Sasquatch Design Society tees for our adoption.  Marcie, Nick and Meagan have been so generous and gracious and kind in offering these on behalf of our family and we are just so so grateful.  Let’s discuss how everyone you know needs a panda shirt in their lives.  It’s true.  I mean, it’s a panda.  Panda’s are pretty much the most chill animal of all time and so freakin’ adorable.  And we would be so honored if you would help us spread the word.  This is the last day to order so get yours asap.  Head over to our store right this second.

Also Sunday is our big Noonday party.  I was talking out loud to myself this morning because this is what I do when driving alone in the mornings and I am just so excited to have our house filled with women on Sunday.  You guys work hard and I think it’s fair to say most of us are just flat out exhausted so please come and absolutely do not feel obligated to buy anything.  Just come and eat and laugh and sit and chat and just hang with other women who are taking a little bit of time together.  If you can’t make the party and do want to make a purchase we’ve got the answer.  Head over to our online show and place your order.  Super easy and our family still gets 20% of your purchase.

Next week is our big Nothing Bundt Cake week.  I will remind you approximately 113 times next week that you should go buy some cake at the Hendersonville Nothing Bundt Cake store and our family will receive 10% of your purchase for our adoption expenses.  We would be incredibly grateful if you would eat cake on behalf of us next week.  Like every single day.  Cake for everyone.  Cake all around.  Full on cheat week.  I just know it’s going to be great.

Nothing like a serious post that ends with pandas, jewelry and cake.  Let’s love each other well.  Here’s to a weekend full of hope.

Happy Friday.

Hey guys!  How was your weekend?  Ours was super chill with baseball and soccer both rained out.  I actually got tons of stuff done around the house and with work.  It feels really nice to move into this week more prepared than normal.  Mondays are usually all about catch up for me, but not today!  I’m feeling all kinds of ahead of the game.

Josh Kelley and I have been taking mandarin lessons.  Shocker Alert:  Neither Josh or myself can speak Chinese yet.  Ahhhhhhhh.  Why are second languages so hard for old brains?!?!?!  We do both feel confident in the program we’re using it’s just going to take consistency and practice.  Wish us luck.

 I finished up some canvas orders this weekend.  These are 8x10s and 8x8s heading out to some great customers.

I made our first purchase for our new little guy.  I stumbled upon this panda and really could there be a more perfect panda for our little heart warrior?!?!  I think not.  I also cried while strolling down the Christmas stocking aisle thinking about how he’s going to need a stocking and wondering if he will really be home for Christmas this year.  I keep reminding myself so many things could go awry with so many different groups of people handling paperwork and in the same breath I’m reminding myself we serve a God who does audaciously wondrous things.  So anxious and expectant of what God has in store.  Would you please keep praying with us?!?

Our littles love love love the Halloween section at Target.  I could not stop laughing.

Tennessee skies at it again.  Kroger never disappoints for good sky pictures and cheap flowers to fill pickle jars.  I love surprising unsuspecting pickle jar flower recipients.

And this is the last week to pre-order the awesome tees Sasquatch Design Society designed and are printing for our adoption fund.  I will probably remind you every single dang day this week…I apologize in advance.  Come on though, you know you want a tee or 2 or 3 or 10.  Let’s think about every kid in your life and your Grandma and Uncle Bud and Cousin Venny an Aunt Sue.  Everyone needs a panda tee.  It’s a must.  Head over to MY SHOP and order HERE.  And help us spread the word.

Alright peace out you guys and Happy Monday!

See you tomorrow.

First off, thank you thank you thank you for all the love, kindness, thoughtfulness, prayers and generosity you guys have poured out onto our family.  It has just been amazing.

Second, Happy Friday!  I’m so glad it’s here and I bet some of you are too.  We’ve got a full day around the Kelley house, but wanted to stop in and fill you in on some of our fundraising efforts.  We are well on our way all thanks to the generosity and willingness of you guys.  Here’s what we have still going on:

1.  Panda Tees are still on pre-sale.  We are taking orders for one more week and then those awesomely kind Sasquatch Design Society peeps will start printing and then we’ll start shipping.  I’m excited!  If you’d like to place your order just head over to MY SHOP and do so.  Yesterday was 100 days until Christmas.  Josh Kelley keeps bringing his Christmas love up in conversation…I’m all “It’s still 88 degrees outside man.”  He’s a lost cause.  Anyways, word on the street is panda tees make the perfect Christmas gift for the loved ones in your life.  Insert wink face emoji.

2.  Have you marked your calendar for our Noonday party yet?!?!?!  Sunday, September 25th from 2-4 at our house.  Food, drinks, laughter, my awkward bear hugs and gorgeous Noonday.  I would love to fill our house to the brim with ladies…new friends and old.  Come one, come all.  And let’s think Christmas again.  20% of purchases go directly to our adoption fund.  This just about kills me flat out dead because Rebecca is insanely kind you guys.

And if you can’t make the party, no worries.  You can order online HERE at our show and still partner with us in helping fund our adoption plus still partner with other women and families around the world.  It’s a win/win/win.  Just make sure Rebecca Daniels is listed as your ambassador and Laura Kelley as your hostess at checkout.

3.  Our Nothing Bundt Cake week is fast approaching.  Are those calendars marked…again?!?!  Hahaha.  September 26th – October 1 is a cheat week for everyone per my permission 🙂  10% of all sales at the Nothing Bundt Cake store in Hendersonville, Tn will go directly to help fund our adoption.  Have you noticed a kindness theme in our fundraising efforts yet?!?!  We know some crazy kind people.  So let’s all think and eat cake for 6 days straight.  Best.Week.Ever.

4.  I am still booking Bible journaling classes.  You get your group together and I’ll come to you.  All money, for the current time being, will go towards our adoption fund.  Email me or contact me HERE if you would like to line up a date.  And you can always take my online class by signing up HERE and move through the class videos at your own leisurely pace.

5.  I am still taking orders and working as quickly as I can on all customs.  Lots of name pillows and art in the works and in the mail 🙂  I love my job and I love that this order money is going to such a special place.  If you’d like to place an order just email or message me HERE.

6.  We received an awesome grant for our adoption already so all the praise hands for that.  Some of you have sent me other grants to apply for and we are just so thankful for all those recommendations.  I have my list going and we are applying away.  If you have some grant info up your sleeve you’d like to share with us we would totally welcome it.

And 7.  Our GoFundMe is still up and running.  It always feels a bit weird sharing this one, but our adoption agency partners with GoFundMe so we have an account set up so why not 🙂

Please feel free to share any or all of these links.  You can take to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Snappity Chat 🙂 whatever suits your fancy and share away.  We would just be so over the moon thankful.

Thank you guys again so much.  I know those words will never quite do the trick, but seriously, we are  just beyond grateful!

Happy Friday.