Thursday, September 8, 2011

Vandalism? Persecution? Reactions? Part 2

The one where I explained how a fire was set on our porch.

The one that was set to my fake flowers?
{yes, I had FAKE flowers on my porch... don't judge}


Well, today, I'd like to share the follow up to the fire.

But first, we need to go back to a few weeks before the fire.

There was a huge custody battle in front of our neighbor's house.
A man we've never seen was carrying a toddler in one hand and a 2 by 4 in the other.
The "baby mama" was screaming and calling the cops while carrying a kitchen knife in the other hand.
We knew this wasn't good.

I was watching from my living room window.
The screams were enough to get me to look out.

Neil {darling husband} and his friend, Josh happened to be out walking just as it unfolded in front of them.
I watched them following the arguing couple around the corner of the street.

The feuding grew worse and the man raised the 2 by 4 - about ready to hit the woman with it.
Neil and Josh rebuked Satan outloud in the name of Jesus and told him that he has no right to be in this city.
Amazingly, the guy dropped the 2 by 4.

It was a pretty gutsy thing to do... demanding that Satan get out by the power of Jesus.
But Satan seemed to be all over that situation.
He had to be.
It was evil.

Since then, we've heard names being thrown in our direction from that house.
Mostly ones like, "Jesus Freak".

I think they are a little upset that we got mixed up in their "bizness".

Our suspicions tell us that someone from that house lit the fire on our porch.
Maybe it was just stupid kids.
Or a gang intiation.
But, the dots seem to connect and point to that house.

When I told Neil my suspicions, he suggested that we take a gift over to them.
A gift?!
To the people who tried to light our house on fire?!

My husband is so much like Jesus.

That's what He would have done, too.
I'm sure of it.
Show generosity and love toward your enemies.

Have you read the story of when Jesus forgives the adulteress woman?

The least we could do is show love to some neighbors who hate us.
I was all geared up for it.

Sadly, we will never be able to do it.
Apparently, our neighbors moved the day of the fire.
I still suspect it might have been their "big exit" from the city.
A way to show us that they got the last word in a feud we were never intending to have.

Please pray for the people who lived in that home.
They desperately need a Better Life.
They desperately need Jesus.


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Vandalism? Persecution? Reactions?

If you're a fan of my facebook page,
you'll remember the night I posted this picture saying JoJo was getting to spend the night with his BayBay at the Marriot.


Many of you wished me a fun night alone!
Well, that night was NOT as relaxing as we all hoped it would be.

It started off pretty normal as I pulled up to our house with one sleeping baby in the back.
I carried her carrier into the house, putting her down next to my basket of fake flowers in order to unlock the door.

I looked for a moment at those fake flowers.
For someone as crafty as me, I can't keep flowers alive.
But I like the welcoming, cheery look of them.
So I resort to fake.
Pretty pathetic :)

I transfer sweet Ditty to her crib and sit down at the computer to blog, browse Pinterest, and check my email.

I hear some ruckus from our downstairs neighbors {we live in a duplex}.
Suddenly, my neighbor FLIES through my kitchen screaming,

"FIRE!"

I run, following her down my front steps as we open the door to find my fake flowers engulfed in flames climbing up the side of my house.

Luckily, we managed to get it out with our water hose.

Here was the damage.


It could have been MUCH worse.

But it still freaked me out a little.
Especially when the cops confirmed my suspicions that  
this fire was set
on
purpose.

Who does something like this?!
Why us?!

I'll come back tomorrow with the follow up to this story.
In the meantime, be sure to catch up on WHY we live in Detroit, MI.
It's not an accident.
We chose to live here.
Smack dab in the inner city.

Crazy?
maybe.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Bags shipping today...

Here are the Better Life Bags shipping today.

Enjoy some eye candy.
The Carla in fabric #48

 The Lydia in fabrics #17 and #18

Plus two adorable changing pads that I somehow missed taking a picture of.
Sad.
Do you see your bag here?!

Want to?
I show off your designs at the beginning of each week.

It's also the start of a new month {can you believe it is September?!}, 
which means...
NEW KIVA LOANS!

These are the two incredible men that the money from your bags went to help last month.

Nelson from Kenya

and Majeda from Jordan.


Click here to see what they are planning on using the money for.

By the way...
have you seen the new blog design, yet?
If not, click over...
It's coming along!

My favorite new feature is this button seen on the left hand side of the blog.


At any time, you can come click on this to see all the people you have helped by purchasing from Better Life Bags.

Pretty amazing, right?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to GIVE THIS MUCH.

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