The Honest Truth About...Adoption | Monday Musings

The Honest Truth About...Adoption | Monday Musings

Most of us, especially those who are reading this, live at least a portion of our lives online. We share what is going on using social media and keep connected with other people through it. The problem, as all of us know, is that this provides only a small picture of someone else's life. My girl Hannah Brencher always says there's a huge difference between investigating and investing in another person.

I want to be an investor, not simply an investigator. In light of this, I'm starting a series today called The Honest Truth to authentically peel back the curtain on the things I have experience with and what I've learned along the way. I can't promise to know it all, but what I do know I promise to honestly and truthfully share with you so that you, too, can know The Honest Truth. Today...it's about adoption.

For better or worse, adoption is extremely glamorous from the outside. A lot of people have told us they admire us for what we are doing. A lot of people have the notion that we are rescuing a child from a world of future hurt. Even more people have said they could 'never do what we are doing.'

The sentiments behind all of this is incredibly sweet, but...

My New York Birthday Adventure | Personal

My New York Birthday Adventure | Personal

Nathan always gets me the best birthday gifts. We are not exactly 'present' kind of people - I would rather experience something great than get one thing in particular. Each year he has upped the ante, and this year was no different. In January, he told me to pack my bags and find a friend because he wanted to send me to New York City. He knows I fell in love with New York when we visited a couple years ago, and while he is not a big city person he wanted me to go. I asked my friend Jackie and she immediately agreed to come - so our trip was born!

My adventure actually started in Washington, DC, to help represent Tidewater and Tulle at a fun launch party for Elaya Vaughn Bridal by Kate Pankoke, a gorgeous bridal salon that recently moved from Chicago. We got to eat sushi, meet other area professionals, and participate in a Sketch n' Sip to get our creative juices flowing. The whole trip was a ton of fun (and introduced us to the amazing District Taco and SweetGreen), and was the perfect kickstart to my birthday adventure...

The Fight to Be Unselfish | Monday Musings

The Fight to Be Unselfish | Monday Musings

Last year I went to Africa. Twice. I already wrote several blogs about that (see here and here) so I won't review everything that happened, but visiting a much poorer country awakened me to something that has bothered me my entire life. I spent most of my childhood overseas in Asia and had very different experiences than most people I know who grew up in America. Some were good and some made me want to come "home," but the older I get the more I realize that I haven't yet found out where my home really is.

What has consistently bothered me is the mindset that I slip into once I return from an overseas trip. While I am there it is easy for me to be all about everyone else. I can jump in and serve the team, even doing things I absolutely hate doing, with utter joy. Being off my schedule doesn't bother me much and for however long I am there I don't even worry about my business...