Twenty

Twenty years ago today a baby girl was born. No big deal, right? I already had a baby girl cousin & a baby girl sister. What would be so special about this girl.

Wrong answer. This girl embodied special from the moment I met her. This girl's name is Minkey {for all practical purposes}. Yeah, she's my youngest cousin. Yeah, she's one of my best friends. Yeah, I love all the junk right out of her.

This post honors her with twenty of my most favorite things about her.

Happy Birthday, Mink.

1. I love her eyeballs. They're brown & beautiful. They make you admired when you look into them.

2. While we're on her appearance, I love that she looks a teensy bit Asian.

3. I love that she's like a sister to me. I treasure having a sister {Cal} as much as more than I treasure the breath I'm breathing right now. The more the merrier. Thank God for my honorary sister, Mink.

4. I love that she thinks I'm kind of cool. {I have never been cool. Never will be; Don't tell my Minkey that!}

5. I love that Mink is a hungry ranger. She like gets my need for food. She gets that it's a need. She gets that I sometime need food right. now.

6. I love that she is a servant, a helper-bee. She is always looking for ways to help me. {I especially love when she comes to MI and cleans my house.}

7. Yeah, I love that she comes to MI. Come back anytime, Minkus. I miss you!!!!!!

8. I love how chill she is and that she is content to just be with me. {Favorite quality in a friend} I love that she lets me be myself. That me being myself is enough for her.

9. I love that she is my friend now. No longer just my baby cousin. I love that we'll be forever friends.

10. I love LOVE love that she goes along with my shenanigans. Always has. Maybe always will. {Pretty please??}

11. I LOVE the following shenanigans the most ... {in a very particular order} Room Service, POF {Spit Baby & Laughne 4eva!!!}, Team Canasta & Cuban Uno.

12. I love that Mink is always learning. She is forever asking good questions + I love that she thinks I actually have something meaningful to offer.

13. I love that in recent years, I have had the opportunity to really pour a lot of energy into her faith walk. It has been the absolute JOY of my life.

14. I love that in former years, Mink attended my backyard Bible clubs. {Don't be impressed. It was always just me, her, and Kiss.} I thank God now for whatever tidbits He used to draw her to His Son. What a privilege!

15. I love her devotion to the Word of God. Unwavering.

16. I love watching Mink now that she has a boyfriend. {Most people [myself included] DREAD this day for their littles. Myself included. However ...} she (+J)  have navigated through the tricky waters of dating with caution, thoughtful prayer & counsel. And it just makes me proud.

17. I love seeing her heart for people develop. Her heart for her sisters. Her heart to share truth. Her heart for family. Her heart for the nations. She gets it. Love God + Love People.

18. I love how much my husband loves her. Yep. She's one of Josh's favorite people too.

19. I love Decembers with her. {Favorite memory alert: Gingerbread houses + trying to get Bubba Joe to sample the buttermilk/goat's milk/whatever else kind of milk we bought + burning ourselves with glue gun [me getting chastised for not supervising well enough] + dancing to country music videos [esp. Toby Keith's Who's Your Daddy?] Of course, I also love always sitting in the front seat on 12/24 with her on our ride. Oh yeah, we rule!} Yes & Amen. We will be reunited in less than two weeks. Praise the Lord. Hallelujer.

20. I love that even though she's twenty, she will ALWAYS be 7!!!! Happy 7th Birthday, Minkey Leigh.

Love you always,
Ash

Five Things I'm Loving Right Now

It's December, y'all! My baby is eighteen months old. (That's halfway to two! Somebody please slow this down!) We are all up in the Christmas spirit, and here's what I'm into these days ...

1. O Christmas Tree! My amazingly sweet, wonderfully awesome, handsomely helpful, super great husband stood outside of Target in the Michigan cold on Thanksgiving night to get me my beautiful new, 6-foot, pre-lit with colorful lights Christmas tree. Can you tell that I love it?! Boo Boo thinks that a few of the ornaments are really great. His very favorite is the jingle bell candy cane. Lucky for us, we simply close the glass door to our extra room so John can looky, but no touchy. Score!

Shipping!!

2. @BetterLifeBeam. Yeah, that's kind of an inside joke between me & my friend Rebecca as we ship Better Life Bags well into the evening hours. I'm living the dream, y'all. Working for one of my best friends. Eating chocolate cookies together. Learning a lot about sewing {okay, really just about cutting fabric, but it's a start, right?}. I am so into having a super-part-time job. Thanks, Rebecca, for the opportunity! If you haven't gotten a Christmas gift for a sweet lady on your list yet, Better Life Bags might be the solution (order by Dec. 5)! A fully customize-able, handmade bag that gives back to my community. Read about our mission here and shop here. 

Black Friday 2012.

3. Daily emails from my hubby. My sweetheart is super busy right now starting a new trimester with his sophomores & seniors. A new trimester full of Physics, Biology & Biochemistry. He's never taught Biochem before, so it's a bit of a transition, but he's a super smart guy = He's gonna rock it! Hubby is also restructuring classroom discipline & implementing new procedures for students' notebooks. All of that = a lot of work = we don't see as much of each other as we'd like. However, because my sweet lives with me in SUCH an understanding manner (1 Peter 3:7), I receive an almost-daily email from him to communicate the things that he didn't have a chance to say before. I love him.

Photo Cred: Kayla Johnson Photography (Atlanta)

4. Reading 1 Thessalonians. I have been mighty challenged by Paul's love & devotion for the people this letter is addressed to. Wow. 1 Thess 2:7 blew me away, y'all. "But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children." (My emphasis added to make it LOUD & CLEAR how cray cray this statement is) Y'all, I am on month 18 of nursing my wee one. It is a full time job. When John wants to nurse, 9 times out of 10, I stop what I'm doing and I feed him. John wants to nurse OFTEN. John's needs are above my own every single day. I can't even really put into words how much nursing a child communicates love for that child, but it's also such an epic gospel picture to me. Giving of yourself constantly that another life might be sustained. Giving of yourself that a little one can find comfort. Giving of yourself when it's inconvenient and even painful.

Bahahahaha! Love you both!

Paul has never given birth. Paul has never nursed a baby. But Paul has given birth spiritually and nursed his spiritual babes with the truth. And then verse 8: "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." Let me be clear. There is no one on the planet dearer to me than my child. There are so many reasons for that, but the #1 reason is that he's MINE. I worked really hard to get him here. Since he's been here, I've worked even harder. He has full access to almost every area of my life. He is mine. Thus, I have been thinking. Who is mine in the spiritual sense? Not in a weird way, like "I am yo mama," but who am I taking ownership of spiritually? Who am I checking in on? Who am I inviting into my life? Even into the really messy parts? Who's needs am I putting above my own? Who am I affectionately desirous of? Who is becoming more & more dear to me? The answers to this question scared me a little because lots of times, I choose to stay home in my warm little house with my warm little boy watching Madagascar. The end.
But I am sensing that God wants me to stay in contact with those who I've viewed as mine in the past. God wants me to keep laboring in prayer over them (1 Thess 1:2). God wants me to keep doing things the hard way so that I can see them & talk to them (them be in either GA or NC, I be in MI ... So what? Who cares?). God wants them to remain dear to me. Yesterday, Josh let me spend the whole afternoon at Starbucks with Jesus (heavens open, angels sing, hallelujer). I spent a good portion of that time praying for them. For Jessica. For Mink. For Meghan. For Em-Dig. For Han. Look out, homies. I am believing God for big things in & through you, and I have never loved you more.

Happy Birthday, Mink!

5. Deals. Dudes, if you read through all that super-spiritual stuff, kudos. As a treat, here's a simple, straightforward, superficial fifth like. I've been getting some steals on my Christmas shopping. I can't ruin any surprises for the big people, but I'll suffice it to say that we bought a train table with tracks for $10 this past weekend for a little person. John P will be a happy camper come present day (Dec. 20).

Thanks for taking the time to read all this jibber-jabber. Y'all rule! Happy December to ya! Thanks to Julie for the opportunity to link up!

Journey to Healing

So, the blog has been a little quiet. I have been living my usual - ya know, trying to get through the day as best I can - life.

Yes, and for a while now, I have been wondering why I have been living without the joy & victory that Jesus promised.

Welp, in my God's usual fashion, when I start asking, He starts answering.

My newest nephew, Hudson Bee, was born almost 3 months ago. {He is already over 18 pounds!!! Wowzers!! I cannot wait to squeeze his chubbiness in 23 days.} When Hudson was born, God blessed me with the opportunity to go to Georgia and meet him in person. See?

That trip was just really, really hard for me because it was then that I realized that I, Ashley Beam am a chronic people pleaser. [I NEVER WANTED TO BE A PEOPLE PLEASER BECAUSE EVERYONE STRUGGLES WITH PEOPLE PLEASING, and I, well, I always want to be different from everyone. Sigh.] So, parenthood is the quickest way ever to expose one's addiction to the approval of others. See, parenthood is my most important job to date, and I want to do everything right {which I definitely don't} and I want everyone to think that I'm doing everything right as a parent {which everyone definitely doesn't/NEVER will}. So, on this trip, as I beat myself up the entire time because I felt like I wasn't living up to anyone's expectations, I realized that I have a problem. I was looking for man's approval {which is eternally meaningless} and not God's.

As I realized this problem {during a rare car ride alone}, God brought to mind a dear older woman who lives/ministers in Jesus's name in the Detroit area. He clearly told me that He wanted me to start spending time with her to learn to listen to Him that I might find healing and wholeness.

So, I emailed her. I told her some very personal things about my past and my growing-up life, as well as some things that God revealed to me through reading his written Word (the Bible) that were very personal to my situation & the wounds that I have as a sin-cursed girl raised up in a sin-cursed world. Her response?

"Awesome is what I say about your willingness to share your heart. Thanks for being so vulnerable. I would LOVE to have the honor of getting to know you."

Thank you, Father. I am so blessed to have women in my life who help me walk more closely with You.

L & I have been meeting together for over a month now. We have been reading through a fabulous book on inner-healing together. {Email/facebook me if you'd like to know specifics about the book.} We're jumping around in it as the Spirit leads. We're also spending time listening to God together. And God is speaking.

He has shared with me that I don't know how to/have not allowed myself to experience His love. Because I was unable to experience love from a key figure in my life, I just decided in my head that this person loved me (even though I seldom felt his/her love). I assumed the same pattern in my relationship with God. I decided in my head that God loves me {which is TOTALLY true; Head, keep believing that He loves you! He does!}, but I've seldom been able to experience God's love. Hopefully, God will continue to reveal the roots of why I have been unable/afraid to experience His love in my daily life.


Ephesians 3:17-19: so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. {Currently praying these verses over my life. Man oh man, how I desire this!}

I also sense that because I rarely experience God's love that I often minister out of what I myself can muster, rather than leaning on the strength that God gives. [Could this be why it's so hard for me to visit with the friends God has given me?] I want to give/share/visit/love out of the overflow of love that I experience from my God.

I know that God is with me. Always. I do not doubt His love for me. Even though I oft can't feel it.

I know that I gots issues. That, and God loves me enough to meet me in the midst of them. He is ready & willing to get me to the point of wholeness (in Christ) where I can fully experience Him, where I can comprehend the breadth & length & height & depth of His love, where I can know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

And I'll keep you posted through it all. I've got a long way to go, peeps. But I trust. Jesus is gonna get me there.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. - Psalm 63:3 {Father, may I know this love that is better than life. In Jesus's name.}

In other news, the usually bushy eyebrow girl was brave, brave, brave & got her eyebrows threaded last week. Check out this sorta awkward picture that I took of myself this Thanksgiving. I think I like the new brows, just not sure if I want to be made fun of again by thread-er lady for crying. Haha.

Thanks for reading.

Love y'all,
Ash

What's In a Name?

John Ashley

It's not the name that I always imagined for my son {ask anyone who knew me in late elementary, middle, and/or high school ... yep, I've had his name picked out for that long. I'm a dork, I know.}

Benjamin Joseph

His name is Ben/Benji/Benny Joe/& the recently discovered Benja Ninja. He is my second-born son, yet to be conceived/born/maybe not coming (only God knows).

The naming of my firstborn son was one of my first acts of submission to my husband boyfriend. Okay, now y'all are gonna really think me crazy. I have two baby dolls. One girl (Sarah). One boy (used to belong to Calley, but I stole him. [She wasn't really that into baby dolls + this doll is kinda stinky {he's a boy} = I wonder what Calley did with him. Oh well. I loved him. And I named him Ben, of course.]

When I moved into the Girls House (Chick Zone/Princess Zone) in January 2008, my baby dolls came with me. :) At the time, Josh and I had been dating for two+ years. We knew that we wanted to be married, but we were in the waiting cycle (that would last until September 12, 2009). I knew that John & Elizabeth were Josh's most favorite names that he would choose for his future children. Elizabeth made me super excited ... LOVE the name. John, not so much. I thought it was boring, too common, and, most importantly, it wasn't Benjamin.

Over the summer of 2008, Josh and I (with a team) lived at Ft. Benning for spiritual training. A group of close friends (that would become three married couples) sat around the dinner table one night "calling" baby names. (Ya know, reserving them for future use.) Josh called John. I was horrified.

But, it was that night that I realized just how much he loved the name John. I decided to rename my baby doll (insert submission here ... and try not to laugh. IT. WAS. HARD.) Then I started doodling John on the margins of my class notes. It was a process for me.

When Josh and I got married, we knew that we wanted to start having kids pretty soon thereafter. Naming our son (because the daughter's name was set ... come on, sister Sarah) became a huge priority for me. I knew that his first name would be John, but his middle name? Benjamin Joseph just flowed so perfectly to me. What flowed perfectly with John? The answer had been staring us in the face.

Before we decided on Ashley, I toyed with naming him John Israel. I LOVE, love, LOVE Jacob in the Scriptures. (Josh LOVES, loves, LOVES John the Beloved in the Scriptures.) I actually really like the name Jacob too, but we couldn't see naming a boy John Jacob (go ahead, start singing). God changed Jacob's name to Israel in the Scriptures, and I loved the meaning behind that, but I was never quite settled on it.

One day I stopped and asked myself, "Why am I naming my son John?" Answer: Because Josh loves the name. Me: "But why am I going with it? Normally I have such strong opinions about names." Answer: Because I ADMIRE someone named John.

That someone named John is named John Ashley, in fact. (And you thought my kid was named after me.)

So, Josh has this friend named John Ashley. This friend is more than a friend, though. He has been Josh's spiritual mentor over the last five years. He is one of the only friends in the world who (in Josh's words) "would do anything for me." He is also one of my favorite people to pick on/pester/joke with/spend time with, etc. I have so much respect for him. He is one of the only men in the world about whom I WILL say to my son, "Imitate John Ashley as he imitates Christ." Seriously, we love this man. It was in early 2010 that we decided that our son's name HAD to be John Ashley. Now we had the task of convincing an extremely humble person to allow us the honor of naming our son after him.

Convincing John Ashley Day came in early July 2010, a few days before he and I were both standing up beside Mr. & Mrs. Randall & Hannah Nowill on their wedding day. We were at Han's parents' house eating yummy deliciousness (being spoiled by them as usual). I remember that he didn't believe we wanted to name our son after him. He didn't believe it, but he didn't say no. Score!

Fast forward: Sept. 28, 2010: Josh and I found out we were expecting. Happy/scary day ... What had we gotten ourselves into??

Fast forward: November 2010: I announced to my all-girls small group at Bible study that I was pregnant. Did I mention that we attended the same Bible study as John Ashley? When the girls heard the name choices, many of them pledged their allegiance to Team Blue so that we could have another John Ashley. I'm telling y'all, he's an admired man.

Fast forward: January 19, 2011: We didn't find out the gender at our 20-week ultrasound. Muahahahaha! [Somehow, I intuitively knew that he was a boy.]

Fast forward: June 2, 2011: Josh announced to family and friends (who had been sitting in a waiting room for a mad long time) that John Ashley Beam was here. Celebration ensues. Where was Mama? In recovery. :( I hear it was quite the party, though. Our boy was here! John Ashley was here.

Photo Credit: Alex Mooney :)

So, what's in a name? Quite a lot. Quite a lot of planning, thought and prayer are behind John Ashley's name. But I am most excited about what is before John's name ... a whole thirty-something years of a life well-lived in submission and obedience to Jesus. I am so thankful for my friend, John Ashley. His life has meant so much to my own through the way that he's invested in my husband AND all the fun he's added to my days. :)
It is an honor to mother a child with the same name.

But there's more.

After June 2, 2011 (& 3rd & 4th) [you know when all the celebrating died down], I embarked on the most difficult [and rewarding] journey of my life to date. I became John's Mama, and it was a rough transition. I experienced - like really tasted - the grace of God like never before. Oh, the sweetness of God's grace, which was there for me through the sleeplessness, through the feeding problems, through the recovery, through it all (it's still there, and I accept it like never before). God really showed me that His grace is sufficient. That my salvation, my right standing before Him has NOTHING (absolutely NOTHING) to do with my actions/how well I perform. Praise God that my salvation has EVERYTHING to do with Jesus, and the righteousness that He gives me.

I learned these lessons about the grace of God because of my John. What does John mean?

God is gracious.

I weep. God named my son. He knew the precise lesson that Mama would need to learn, and he gave that lesson to my son for a name. Every time I say my son's sweet name (which I love) (I say his name approx 895 times each day.), I am saying God is gracious. Yes and amen. God is gracious.

God is gracious.

God is gracious.

John.

John.

John.

On Adoption

"I'd really like to adopt one day."

When Josh said those words to me, my dream of one day adopting a child moved [in my mind] from ENFP la-la world to the real world. And my heart soared.

Honestly, babies are hard. The fresh out of the womb, loved and cared for from the moment they get here kind. I cannot imagine the hardships that come with an adopted child who bears the scars of being unloved and feeling unlovable. I cannot imagine, but my heart longs to find out.

In honor of Orphan Sunday, I want to admit that I am taking the first steps. I started a board on Pinterest a few days ago to house helpful articles/links about adoption. {I admit to you that I know next to nothing about adopting.} I have also begun praying for the child/children God may one day have for us.

This dream is one that totally overwhelms me (and just honestly scares the crap out of me), but it feels good to share it with others.

I also want to share a couple of other things.

1. A number. I just read that there are an estimated 163 million children who lack a family or a place to call home. Wow.

2. A truth. James 1:27: "Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ... "

I hope that you'll join me in really wrestling with this word today. How in the world does God want me to take part in looking after orphans [and widows] in the midst of their hardship and suffering?

If anyone has any fun applications (that you're currently practicing/want to carry out in your own life), leave them in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you. [Follow this link for information about a giving opportunity.]

Father, I thank you today that you are the perfect Father. Thank you that we can trust you completely with all of your children, and that you are never far from any of us. I thank you for orphans, Father. Thank you for the opportunity that you have given your Bride, to love and care for these that we may point them to Jesus. I ask that you would give us your energy to invest in the lives of these children. I ask that you would set apart and call forth laborers who will labor in love by accepting a child or children into their own families (like you've done for us through Christ). 

I pray, Father, that you would give Josh and I wisdom as we consider growing our own family through adoption. I ask that we will participate in your perfect timing. There are so many needs RIGHT. NOW. but I pray for the child/children that you have for us {wherever/whenever they may be}. I pray that you will draw them to Jesus, Father, and enable them to feel the security and peace that comes only from your love. 

I also thank you for children in general, for the gift that they are, for the example of simple faith and trust that they set. Thank you for our John. I pray that you would strengthen us to show him tireless love each day, that he would know by our love that he is infinitely valuable, that he would experience a small taste of your love through us. I ask for these blessings in Jesus's name. 

Five Minute Friday: Roots

I am finding a lot of therapeutic benefits in writing these days. It's barely not even winter, and I already feel so cooped up, with very little motivation to leave my house.


I've decided to start linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker on "Five-Minute Friday" from time to time. She gives me a prompt and I write for five minutes on said prompt {whatever my heart desires}.

This week? Roots.

It may be said that I am a Southerner. No, it must be said. And more than a Southerner, I am a Georgian. Go ahead, make a joke, and I will field them. No, I am not married to my cousin [though my husband might have thought I was dating my cousin when we first met. Weird. Ask Josh for the story; I've only got five minutes... and maybe ADD.] I did not grow up on a farm (nothing wrong with that), and I'm not a member (nor do I know any) of the KKK. I am a Georgian. As the election approaches and people talk about exercising their right to vote, I feel more Georgian than I do American. Always have. Always will. But now I live in Michigan. A traitor? Leaving home. Leaving comfort, family, summer. Sigh. Yes, I left. Yes, I cringe when people who've known me for forever tell me that I'm losing my accent or people who I've just met say that I don't have much of one. I cringe and then turn on the charm (and my best South Georgia accent ... ask my husband). I turn it on because I want it to be known, trusted, accepted by all that Georgia is where I'm from. And though I may not live there, Georgia is where I belong.

In sweet, loving memory of one of my favorite Georgians to ever live, Pa.

#SheReadsTruth - Pondering Philippians 3

I have been reading the Bible with an community of women on the web. This community/Bible reading plan/devotional is known as #SheReadsTruth. Check 'em out!

This is my response to Philippians. Enjoy!

"Take a minute if you need to.
List it all out. All your accolades, all your failures. "

Accolades:

• Lets see, I have always been a good girl (by the standards of my mom's friends and such). I've never smoked, never drank alcohol; I saved myself for marriage. I don't use cuss words. (You know, except the ones I made up ... Oh yeah, if you ever hear me say "crimeny" or "crimen," I'm frustrated.) 
• I graduated college ... magna cum laude. Yep, I worked my butt off. 
• I've read the whole Bible. (That counts for something, right? Especially for an ENFP who NEVER finishes anything.)
• I breastfed my son for over a year (still going) ... I am also a stay-at-home-mama. 
• I was part of a Bible study in Savannah that was (still is) super intense.
• I have a wonderful marriage. 

Failures:

• Confession Time: Habitual liar right here. God hates that.  
• I flunked out of college. Yep, they kicked me out. Seven years in, I graduated. 
• In my natural self, I can be kind of judgmental - you know, lacking in the mercy.
• I cry multiple times every week. I am weak. 
• I never turn in library books on time. I am always late (to EVERYTHING). 
• My house is typically a mess. No housewife of the year award for me.
• I can't seem to get my Bible reading plan on track since becoming a mommy. I look to #SheReadsTruth for help.

Okay, seriously, I could go on all day in the failures category. Please don't be offended by this. I realize how ridiculous some of the things I view as "accolades" sound. This post is me being really honest, and the point of this post is forthcoming. I just wanted to get some of the "accomplishments" that I might (stupidly) put my trust in out of the way. I don't have much of a reason to put confidence in the flesh (as you have seen). The writer of the book of Philippians (which I've been reading in my Bible lately as a part of the #SheReadsTruth community), Paul, had many, many more accolades than this girl.

Philippians 3:3-6:
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh - though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Photo Credit: Kayla Johnson Photography
In the background: Hannah :)

Paul had a HUGE, long list of religious/cultural accolades, yet he chose to put no confidence in the flesh (even though he had every earthly reason to). Why?  Well, he had come face to face with Jesus, and he'd rather have Jesus than the right to boast in all his worldly accomplishments.

The following passage has always been one of my favorites in Scripture. Why? Well, I'm not sure. Now that I really take time to ponder it, it's the anti-me. {I've always been sort of a Pharisee, like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, one who tries to work for her salvation. Silly me.}

Philippians 3:7:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Anything that I viewed as profitable/good/worthwhile about myself has actually served to hinder the grace of God in my life. (God's power is made perfect in weakness; thus, my delight SHOULD come in my weaknesses/hardships/persecutions/difficulties because it is then that God's power is put on display.)

Philippians 3:8-9:
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Photo Credit: Hannah and Randall Photography

Y'all, everything on Earth is a loss compared to knowing Jesus. He's that awesome! I don't even think that I understand just how good. Paul says that He's so good that everything else is rubbish. Refuse. Poop compared to Jesus. My college degree? Poo-poo. My freshly cleaned house? Dung. All the breast milk in the world? [Glorious] dookey. You get the picture. I could spend my whole life holding on to my accomplishments, glorying in them. OR I could trade in my own cheap, sorta made-up righteousness and just trust Jesus for His. [That's where the faith part comes in.]


Added bonus for trusting Jesus? I get to know Him in all His glory {and all that comes with Him ...}

Philippians 3:10-11
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Bonus = experiencing in my own personal life the power that raised Jesus from the dead. [WHAT??!!?? Think about that statement for a moment.] {I haven't even begun to tap into this power with my 26-year-old self. Father, as you increase my age, increase my faith.} I also have the extreme honor of experiencing a taste of how Jesus suffered. {Again, I haven't tapped into the reality of this yet. Again, Father, as I grow up in You, strengthen my faith.}

Conclusion? Ashley Beam is sick and tired of trying/striving/beating her head against a wall to muster something that looks like/smells similar/feels almost the same as (but ISN'T) righteousness. I am trading all that for you, Jesus. Truth? I am a quite the hot mess anyway. Let's be real. Jesus is the only one who has it together, and I desperately want Him. 

Btw, all emphases are mine (in case you were wondering).

Love, Ash

Five Things I'm Loving Right Now

My baby is on the eve of being seventeen months. My husband is well on his way to being teacher of the year [in my book]. And I am maintaining my craziness quite nicely. It's November, y'all, and I'm linking up with a friend of Rebecca's for her monthly "Five Things I'm Loving Right Now." Here goes ...

1. Madagascar 3. These have been some long days for Mama & Boo lately. Four stubborn eye teeth are currently protruding bumps in my baby's gums. Ouch. How have we coped with the extra clingy-ness and whining? Two words. AFRO. CIRCUS. Boo Boo also dressed up as Melman for Halloween. Check him!

2. Basketball, duh. Okay, it was kind of fun to pretend to be a Tigers fan and watch them blow the World Series, but seriously, so amped about my Celtics. Rondo. And Rondo. Did I mention Rondo?! Dates with my hubby & son to go out and watch many-a game. Pumped about the rivalries [but I'll do my best to leave all the trash talking behind]. Seriously though, Lakers/Heat hater right here. And then ... bring on the Cats! Basketball is literally the only shining thing about this weather getting colder. Love it!

3. Tweet, tweet, tweeting on the Twitter. I just really adore Twitter. I have like not that many followers, but who cares? Tweeting allows me to externally process throughout the day, and I know that one day I will love going back and seeing what John and I were up to in the good ol' fall of 2012. Oh, and y'all, follow me here.

4. Alone time Tuesdays. Hubby started teaching high school science (like, uh, physics ... yep, he's a genius) last month. Before that he taught, uh, sixth grade math = big difference. Thus, he's been a little busy adjusting.  On top of that, for the first few weeks, he was still working his night job [Thank God that's done.] and Mama was pulling mega-triple duty at home. One day I realized that it had been six weeks since I'd left the house and just had some down time. This realization on my part coincided with my bestie's [Mandy's] grand idea for us to trade off babysitting each week. She is a smart, smart girl. Yep. It's been really nice to spend a couple of hours sipping on coffee and studying my Bible. I get a taste of my old life + I get to come home to this cutie. Best of both worlds.

5. Discovering me. I shared with y'all in this sort of strange post that God has been bringing up some issues in my life [and using mi familia to do it]. Well, I decided after that scary encounter with myself that I needed to start meeting with an older woman in the faith who is well-versed in the language of inner-healing/counseling. We met for the first time last Tuesday, and it was wonderful. I enjoy being able to process aloud with someone. Especially with someone who is so gentle & wonderful as this dear lady [much, much more to come on just what God reveals]. In trying to understand why I am so terribly jacked up, I turned to my trusty old MBTI preferences for insight. Boy, did my ENFP-ness [don't say that out loud] deliver. ;) This line, this line tells the tale of my life: "Relaxation - even in play - does not come easily to ENFPs. In fact, they almost have to 'work at it.'" BINGO. I discovered that I literally do not know how to relax. Have I ever relaxed? Somebody teach me to relax, please. So, this last thing that I'm loving is NOT always pretty. Or even defined. I'm just learning about myself. Learning how to be myself. Learning so that I can be used [in all my broken glory] to love people towards Jesus.

Thanks for reading, y'all. What are you loving right now?

Two Years Ago

Halloween is here! The Beams wish you a happy one!

This holiday has never been my favorite. [I used to really enjoy being with my Minkus on this day because she enjoyed it so much.] But I don't really like scary things, and I always feel a lot of pressure to find the PERFECT costume (so I typically end up not dressing up, as of late).

This holiday always makes me think of my family, though. I remember going to my Gram & Pa's house every year growing up for a special bucket of candy (that was probably my favorite part ... Sixlets, yessir.). I also really enjoyed my Mama & Aunt Lise coming to judge the Halloween costume competition at our festive yearly parties with my friends in recent years. My most precious Halloween memory, though, happened two years ago. I was eight weeks pregnant with a precious boy, and I got to break the news to some precious people.

My grandparents.

Love at first sight ... John Beam

Mama & I had been trick or treating with Calley & Mason in Liz's in-laws's neighborhood. It was crazy. I was riding in a trailer being pulled behind a four-wheeler worried that my newly acquired baby was going to come unattached from my insides. Momby and I decided to abandon the craziness for a little while, and in turn, we abandoned Calley & Lisa (for longer than a little while ... muahahahaha). We were both giddy to get to my grandparents' house and break the news.

We had just been to the doctor on the Friday before to see my Boo-bear for the first time. I got out the pictures that the ultrasound lady had taken for us and passed them over to my Gram for her to see and show my Pa. Then something unexpected happened. My grandpa broke down and started crying.

I had never seen him do anything like this before. And I didn't know what to do or say in that moment. He was crying because he was so afraid that he wouldn't get to meet my sweet John (or, at the time, possibly sweet Sarah). I remember feeling so loved and valued by him in that moment. It was so important to him that he got to meet John.

From the moment that he laid eyes on him (and his monkey toes), baby boy Beam was called "Monkey John." We both felt so loved by Pa in this moment.

And we miss Pa this very moment. John has a book of pictures of my family, and when he opens it, he says, "Pa."

Two years ago, I never dreamed what it would feel like to live on an earth without my Pa in it. Today? Halloween is just another holiday that is precious in my memory because of him.

Miss you, Pa. [Your Monkey John is truly a monkey. He started doing flips off of the couch today.]

The Grandpa Series: Part Five: The Nickname

"Ash-Ma!"

I can hear him saying it. Yep, my Pa named my blog. 

See, when I first had John [blah, blah, blah ... new motherhood with a baby who refuses to eat is hard. We get it, Ashley.] Okay, I'll put it to you like this ... I CRASH landed into motherhood. Some people gracefully land. Not me. It was hard. It was something that I honestly could not muscle my way through in my own strength. (Still is. Extremely demanding job, grace of God daily required.) My Pa watched me adjust. He knew that I was struggling. He wanted to validate me. He wanted me to hear from him that he saw me, that he knew that I was doing my best (even though my best wasn't good enough). He wanted me to hear that he was proud of me.

He didn't articulate any of his aforementioned thoughts directly to me. He simply started calling me Ash-Ma (played off of my longtime nickname, Ash-Mo). And every time I heard him call me Ash-Ma, he communicated his love for me.

That's why I'm so glad I named my blog Ash-Ma Beam - every time I come to this blog, I think of him. I remember his unique way of communicating love (or something like it) to people through their nicknames.

Thanks for letting me continue writing about him. I miss him. My mama sent John a book (-a) with family pictures so that he'll start saying everyone's names (especially Meme). My Pa's picture is in there twice. John says Pa perfectly, and I just don't know what to do with that. It's so hard to know that I can't share my son with my grandpa anymore. Breaks. My. Heart.

I am excited to share John with my grandma, though. (John says Ma perfectly too. Smart kid.) I think that my Pa would want me to help fill the void that he's left in her life. Pa's chair remains empty. It's our job to fill it. Even from afar. I can't wait to get to her in December and fill her life (and likely Pa's chair) with craziness. But for now the telephone will have to do.

1 Timothy 5:4: But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

Who will sit in Pa's chair? Ash-Ma will. 

My Sixteen-Month-Old Son

What to write, what to write?

I want to write about something. Something important. Something insightful. Something of eternal value. I want to write, but honestly, today I am exhausted. My son didn't allow me anytime to myself. No time to think. No time to just be me. This morning, we went to story time at the library. He I made an apple tree craft. Then we tutored together. In between discussing long e, short e, long i, short i with a couple of precious women, we read Dr. Seuss's ABCs and Brown Bear, Brown Bear. After that we came home and he took a ten-minute nap away from his "ninny." After his "ninny night night," we had time to have a phone conversation with Meme, make some sweet tea, and prepare for a special meeting. Meeting, meeting, meeting [insert John pooping all over his clothes and Dada taking him home to play with his new play dough and dinosaurs]. Then I just came home and laughed at my baby dancing and clapping (during a show we like to watch called The Voice), bathing (figuring out how to splash) and running (from Dada when he knew it was time for bed). It's 11 o'clock and he just got to bed. (Oct. 15, 2012)

I guess I just wanted to write this because I often wonder ... What was my life like when I had a four-month-old? ... An eight month old? ... A thirteen month old? There are subtle little differences between the months. Those differences = my son growing up before my eyes. And, well, he's always with me, so I sometimes miss those subtle differences. 

Thus, I am going to record some posts like this. A day in the life of John Beam ... What was he into? ... What were his favorites? Who was my sixteen-month-old son?

So, my sixteen-month-old has been sick. Truly sick for the first time. Snotty nose. Cough. Trouble breathing. The whole nine yards. He is on the mend, though, but he has still been having trouble sleeping, and I've been tired as a result. 

My sixteen-month-old son LOVES his new dinosaurs. Mama left him with Dada last Saturday morning (Oct. 13) to go to a Mom2Mom sale with a friend (John's Aunt Mandy) and brought home a bucket of dinos for John John. He was into it. He has also really started playing ... like pretending [I think ... He lines up his cars and talks with them]. He also loves his poofs ... He loads them up in the back of his toy trucks. I LOVE watching him and his creativity grow. 

My sixteen-month-old son adores books. He reads, reads, reads; he also loves to be read to ... by Mama ... by Dada ... by his favorite babysitter, Mrs. Elise [Mama left him with a non-blood-relative babysitter for the first time this month. John did great. Mama was a little shaky.] ... and by anyone who comes to our newly-founded Thursday night Bible study. His favorite books include (but are certainly NOT limited to) Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?, My First Farm Touch and Feel Book, and (believe it or not) Barbie: I Can be a Pet Vet (bought for tutoring a family of girlies in English ... this book never made it to their house).

My sixteen-month-old son is talking some, babbling a lot. He has learned to say all of his grandparents' names [Meme, Honey, Poppy and Pop ... repeat after me style]. He also has picked up some of my favorite responses to his babbling ... "Oh, yeah," and "Wow!" When Mama says "Caw! Caw!" John Piggy exclaims, "BIRD!" My baby can also say "whoo," "owl," "moo," "neigh," "meow," "baa" (he is very into making animal sounds), "bath," and "wash," "open this" (+ many more). 

My sixteen-month-old son has a gut that just won't quit. He likes his "winky" (Sorry, y'all ... he's a boy). Two things that I notice at bath time, which John enjoys so much! I know that it's time for this boy to get OUT when he starts throwing all of his toys and buckets (full of water) out of the tub. OMGeee, this Boo Boo can be high maintenance.

My sixteen-month-old son is eating so, so much these days. He loves going to his chair for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And he HATES getting his face and hands wiped when he's done.

And oh, the chocolate! My sixteen-month-old son is a Hershey Kiss MONSTER!!! He sort of takes after his Cal Cal in so many things.

My sixteen-month-old son took his first trip to Indiana (Oct. 19-21) this month for a conference in honor of Jesus. He loved DANCING to the worship music so much! It was at this conference that we KNEW he was teething. He is currently getting his four canine teeth. Someone told me that these are called the "stomach teeth" because they mess with babies' tummies. I believe it! John has been pooping so much (and all over my house & his clothes). I'll be glad when these teeth are in. 

Here's the truth, peeps. I'm just smitten with this boy. This little ball of energy. This baby who requires so much of my time, who is really terrible at napping/sleeping through the night {terrible, y'all}, and who has a severe sweet tooth. This boy is so crazy cool. I am completely humbled and grateful that God has entrusted him to me and the studly one known as Dada. 

Here's some more truth. This is just going by so fast. This = John's life. I am so crazy about him. Honestly, when he was born and it was so hard, so hard for him to eat + the baby blues set in + I am really easily stressed = me daydreaming about having another baby. It sounds strange, right? But I was just imagining this perfect child. My next child. You know the one who latches immediately and sleeps through the night at some point earlier than sixteen months. (Does STTN even exist?) I found myself wishing for that child when John was, well, difficult. But I have decided that I don't want that kid ... the one that I dreamed up. The one who sleeps as I do whatever the heck I want. I want my kid. I want him to be mine longer than he will be. Man, he just keeps growing. He just keeps getting smarter. And more hilarious. Oh, he's so funny. Before I know it, he'll be married. 

So, here's the deal. I am going to blog about this guy. I am going to use a lot of words on him. And pictures. I'm going to take lots of pictures. I hope that's okay with you. I hope that you'll journey along with me as I learn from and love this little sixteen-month-old soul who I treasure.

John Pig, know this, little man. Your Mama was sure blessed by your sixteen-month-old self. And your Mama loves you so stinkin' much!

What Makes Me Indignant?

Indignant : [in-dig-nuhnt]: adjective, feeling , characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base

Indignant. It's a strong word.

It's a word that Gospel writer, Mark, used to describe Jesus. 

See?

Mark 10:14a:  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant...

As I read these words, I know that Jesus is God in the flesh. And I know that Jesus is so, so good. [He's given me the privilege of walking closely with Him for the last six years {by His grace}. I've experienced His goodness firsthand.] Therefore, I know that whatever  it is that makes Jesus indignant, well, I want to be crazy ticked off about it too. 

Drum-roll, please. 

In this particular passage, what is making Jesus particularly angry is... 

Nephew Mason

Mark 10:13: People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 

The disciples were rebuking people whose babies were disrupting Bible study.

And that, friends, made Jesus very, very angry.

I must confess to you that I have done the same thing. 

You see, I have a baby who disrupts Bible study (and millions of other things that I might deem more important than him at the time). I have a son who isn't able to understand deep spiritual truths, who won't sit still long enough to read through a story about Jesus, and who interrupts me when I'm talking to someone who will. And my first inclination? To think to myself that the person with the mental capacity to understand and accept truth is worth more of my time, energy, and talent than someone with  a 16-month-old understanding.

Nephew Hudson

[Insert Mommy's defense: Before y'all go thinking that I'm a terrible mother who does not tend to her son's needs or give said son enough attention, please note that I am speaking about my way of thinking = what goes on in my mind, which you will see that God is changing. My day-to-day life with my son is full of Mama + Boo Boo strolls, play dough time,{confession}eating chocolate together, babysitting & playing with other people's kids, and even trying to get him to sit through a Jesus story. I am learning to be a stay-at-home Mama with the expressed mission of investing in one precious soul.] {Keep reading}

Here's what Jesus has to say about these precious little interruptions (who were viewed as good-for-nothing-non-money-making-unintelligent-maybe-a-little-cute kids):

Mark 10:14b-15:

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

My biggest takeaway from these verses is that the little interruptions are actually our examples. I am supposed to mimic John in the way that I relate to my King, Jesus, and in the way that I serve in His Kingdom. I am to be humble and teachable (like a child), not assuming that I already know everything. I am to be a servant (like a child), doing chores as my Daddy tells me to, you know, doing my duty. I am to crave time with my Father like a child who craves time and attention from his/her parents. I am to be trusting (like a child), trusting that my King/Father knows what's best. I am to be obedient (like a child), knowing that I will be blessed/rewarded when I do obey.

My John

You get the idea? Since studying this passage last week, I have been observing John for clues from his little life about how to receive my Savior on a daily basis. Thus, John is not an unwanted distraction. No, he is one of my greatest teachers. 

BUT HE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT!

Why am I yelling? Because I believe that this (this = what comes next) is the most important takeaway from this passage. 

Jesus was indignant because (at his disciples' rebuke) people, children (made in the likeness of God) were being robbed of their dignity.   

So, I ask myself, what makes me indignant? 

Check out this list.

1. Getting honked at. I absolutely hate it when people honk at me in traffic (and ... random fact ... I will only honk at you if it is a life-and-death situation). Seriously, I hate honking.

2. It makes me indignant when people talk ugly about my sister. I only have one, and she is my girl. Don't hate on her. 

3. When John poops on the floor. (Okay, maybe it's just that last week was hard. Four explosive poops, people. Four!)

4. I HATE being rushed. Like number 1 pet peeve.

5. Sarcasm. 

6. When my hubby does stupid boy things. {I know, I know. I can't turn him into a girl. Oh, boy.}

7. When I can't eat exactly what I want exactly when I want it. #hungryranger

8. Boston Celtics/UK loss in the playoffs. World ending.

This list makes me so sad because most of the items on it have to do with me, myself, and I being wronged. Listen to how Jesus responded when he was mistreated.

Isaiah 53:7: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Luke 23:34: Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." ...

You see, Jesus did not become indignant at his own mistreatment  but at the mistreatment, at the oppression & affliction of others.  Jesus was indignant as others were robbed of their dignity. So, I ask myself ... What should make me indignant?

Check out this list.

1. When children are ignored, neglected, orphaned, abused, and lied to.

2. Poverty.

3. Racism. [The history of  racism/segregation in Detroit is sparking some negative emotions in my heart. Lord, make me INDIGNANT.]

4. Slavery. [Yes, it still exists.]

5. Spiritual poverty. {When people don't have access to the truth about Jesus that I believe.}

6. The fact that there are lonely, ostracized people in the world.

7. Unfair wages.

8. Unfair treatment of immigrants.

The list could go on. Do these things make me indignant? Honestly, I'd love to say yes. But the way that I live my life (trying hard not to think about these hard, hard things = pretending that they don't exist), I'd say that honestly I'm not indignant. YET. I believe that God is carrying out a work in my life. I believe that  God is in the process of making me angry for all the right reasons.

I hope that you'll join me. 

In light of Jesus's response to the children ...

Mark 10:16: And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

... I hope that you'll join me in taking action to be a blessing to those who have been robbed of their dignity.

Here's the Other Thing

I think that maybe you guys have caught wind of the fact that I am totally obsessed with my friend Rebecca's business, Better Life Bags. I think that you know that I will be doing some Christmas shopping here. I am also pretty sure that you grasp one of the reasons why: Rebecca's heart for the poor and her willingness to give of her own to benefit those less fortunate. (No glory to her; she strives to be like Jesus). [Read about BLB's mission.]

But there is another reason. A reason which really just tips the scale in total favor (and allegiance and support) of Better Life Bags. That reason can be summed up in these verses:

Deuteronomy 10:18: He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.

Leviticus 19:33-34: "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

Deuteronomy 24:19-21: "When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back and get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, so not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow."

[All emphasis, mine]

Yes, I know that the word alien is not politically correct these days, but you get it. The text is referring to people who are out of their homeland. They're away from their mamas/daddies/sisters/brothers/old family friends. You know, all the people who help us out when we're in a bind. They're away from their heart language. You know, the language we've understood since we were John's age. Many of them are removed from the country where they obtained their higher education, and their graduate degrees may be deemed obsolete, no good. Many of them are lonely, friendless, separated from everyone whose culture and value system is in any way similar to their own.

For all of the aforementioned reasons (and many more), it is imperative that the people of God help the foreigner in and around our lives.

This is why I love the mission of Better Life Bags. You see, Rebecca and I live in a very diverse/multicultural/hopping with immigrants neighborhood. Rebecca's first employee is not living in her home country. She is far, far away actually. She is from a place where it is highly uncommon for women to have a job outside of the home. [Thus, BLB is giving her the opportunity to work from home. Score!] English is not her first language. She is an alien.

Rebecca is living obediently, in line with the Scriptures mentioned above by giving this woman a job. Wanna help her? Visit her shop and snag the new Molly bag (pictured). This is one bag made by Beck's newest employee. What's more, Rebecca's looking to hire more women from our community. Women who are out of their element. Women who are in need of a friend. Women who she will teach the marketable skill of sewing so that they can support their families. Women who ultimately need to know and understand the grace of the Lord Jesus. Will you support her in this endeavor {and get a cute bag to boot}?

Supporting BLB is not the only way to obey these verses penned by God Himself commanding us to treat the foreigner among us with dignity and love. No, supporting BLB is the least you can do, really. My challenge for you (and me) is to get into these people's lives. TONS of immigrants have never set foot in an American home. They have never experienced a Southern fried chicken meal (to all my GA bros and sisters out there). They have never taken part in a Thanksgiving feast. They don't know what it's like to whack a pinata at a baby boy's first birthday party. Heck, some of them don't even know the language and are struggling to find someone with whom they can have a conversation in English.

Here's the point, God desires that His children love the foreigners living among them. Get creative. Seek these folks out. You might just learn a few things from them (and have your socks blessed off by the Living God). Rebecca can vouch for me there.

...so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19)

Love you guys! [And I'd love it if you'd post in the comments section how you are loving the foreigner in your life ... whether it's buying a bag or serving them dinner. GO!]

My Dear, Sweet Friend

This is my friend, Rebecca. 

Isn't she beautiful? She is mommy to two of my favorite kiddos/two of John's best friends. 

She is also the owner,creative genius, talented sewer, bag designer, manager of this little business known as Better Life Bags. 

Check it.

She makes really pretty things, like this (sisteo's diaper bag).

And this (happy mama's wet bag).

And this & this.

Yep, gotta get some of that leather. 

And I am just so insanely proud of her. You see, she used to be a fifth grade teacher (a fifth grade teacher who really helped me become established in my walk with Christ, mind you). 

And then she got pregnant, and at that point, she fell off the face of the earth.

[I thought she was such a spiritual slacker, by the way. But I was a young, nearly married, carefree college student who would experience the woes of pregnancy and motherhood soon enough.]

Now, might I add, I am amazed at the feat that she accomplished ... starting a new custom bag business (by accident) as a new mother. WOW! 

You see, she made a diaper bag to use with her new baby boy.

[Like this.]

And other people liked it so much that they started asking her to make them one.

This one girl named Ashley Williams Beam asked for a bag to honor her favorite Mouse.

Oh. My. Gosh.

And the business grew.

Rebecca decided (because of her commitment to Jesus and His commands) to use her talent and new-found popularity to help those in need. Thus, she decided to donate 10% of her bag sales to Kiva, an organization which lends to people living under the yoke of poverty to get their own business ventures off the ground. 

In 2010, Rebecca moved to Detroit, Michigan. She lives in a very international part of town. Rebecca had the idea to give women the opportunity to work who would otherwise not be able to, and earlier this year she hired her first BLB employee to help alleviate poverty in her own city (making lives better in more ways than one ... read about Beck's first hire here.)

[Oh, and did I mention that I live in the same city? And that Rebecca is one of my closest friends? Yep, I love her.]

Today the business continues to grow (and I like to think of myself as her #1 fan). 

In fact, this weekend Rebecca traveled to Indiana for a blogger's conference called Influence (maybe I'll go with her next year?). She is being inspired (as I type) to use her influence (and her business) to point people to Jesus (the One who truly makes lives better).

So, I wanted to write this post to honor her. To tell her how proud I am to call her my friend. And to say, "Hurry home to Hamtramck. I stinkin' miss you!!!"

There you have it. My friend, Rebecca. She's one in a million.

What are you waiting for, friends? Get to her shop and start your Christmas shopping! 

Whoever oppresses the poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 14:30