Adoption Awareness Month

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

With the holidays just around the corner - many people start thinking about charity or how to give back. Recently we were lucky enough to come across a wonderful mom, blogger and children's boutique owner - Robin. Here is her blog post that we have reposted for you about how she came across Pass It On, Baby! and a wonderful idea that she has that touched us.

November is Adoption Awareness Month.

Did you know that purple is the color that represents adoption?

Did you know there are over 100 million orphans in the world?

_______________

Anyone that has adopted or has been touched by someone that has adopted, understands the amazing blessing brought to them by the sacrifice of another.

_______________

Adoption = to take as one's own

Today I wanted to post about different way in which we can "adopt". Have you ever adopted the burden of another? .... taken on someones struggle and adopted the solution as your own? Sometimes there are those that have such a need for help. They are completely dependent on anyone willing to reach out to them. People who's stable situation changed in the blink of an eye by an unexpected event. Sometimes it doesn't take much to lose what took years to accomplish. Right now there are so many that have lost their jobs and are losing everything they spent years to build. Let's reach out and "adopt" someone today!

_________________

If you are like me you have an over abundance of clothes and/or shoes that your children can no longer wear. They are packed away in boxes that are taking up way too much space in your closet, basement, or garage. One of the waiting moms had ordered 3 Red Thread Stitches creations from me back when I was fundraising for Mia Hope. There was a change in plans on their adoption journey and she asked me to donate them to "Pass It On, Baby!" I asked her if it would be okay to take the money she had given me and purchase outfits. Instead of sending 3 outfits, I was able to purchase 12 outfits! When I contacted the wonderful ladies that run this charity, I was touched by the need for basic things such as underwear and shoes. These families are desperate for ANYTHING to clothe their children in because they have nothing due to job loss.

November is also a month of "thanksgiving". Even after 6 months of unemployment in our home this past year, we have so much to be thankful for! If you find it in your heart to "adopt" a child that needs clothing...new or used.... please click on the link below and see what you can do to help. There is an "immediate" needs section on the sidebar. These families are in urgent need of clothing. Thank you for allowing "adoption" to become a part of your world. I believe there are blessings waiting for those who share their abundance.

We want to thank Robin for this wonderful blog post and to Michelle for supporting us through sharing Pass It On, Baby!'s message. So we extend this idea of "adoption" to our Pass It On, Baby! community. What a wonderful way to show how thankful we are to our blessings by helping out a family and adopting their burden with your solution - kids clothes. So simple - so impactful. Even if you don't have clothes to donate and you have a few extra dollars for charity this holiday - I invite you to consider purchasing clothes for a family who desperately needs it.

I want to end with a quote that Robin posted on her blog under PIOB's blog button. It truly represents why we feel so strongly about Pass It On, Baby!

"Sometimes I would like to ask God, why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He might ask me the same question." ~Anonymous

In love & kindness,

Email Elizabeth & Heather

And It All Goes Around....

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

Each time you help someone in need, it is bittersweet. You feel wonderful for actually helping another person on the way, but at the same time, you know that the person or people that you are helping are struggling. They are dealing with the struggle, itself – not to mention all the emotions that go along with it. I don’t know how aware I was of this, until recently, when I found myself in a conversation with a friend. She has been having a rough go of it. They had some problems with a business they owned that fell on hard times and they were just at the point of beginning to dig themselves out of a bad financial time. She was telling me how she was recently hit with two fieldtrips in two weeks for each of her two children and that the cost would be a total of $120. Now that’s expensive for anyone, but when you are handling current expenses on top of past expenses, that becomes impossible. So, as hard as it was, she pushed down her pride and called the school and explained her situation. The school was great about it and even contacted another agency on her behalf to offer help with Christmas for her children. She was SO thankful for the help and offer, but like any of us, was struggling with her pride. Every Christmas, she had been the one that picked the angels off the trees at Target and other stores and donated toys to children in need. How could she reconcile that she was now the one in need?

Let’s be honest – it’s HARD to ask for help. It’s hard to be honest when you are struggling. For whatever reason, we’ve somehow tricked ourselves in to thinking that our financial success or hardships are the same as our worth. Soooo not true, but that doesn’t change the fact that for many of us, taking a hit to your paycheck or family income is the same as tarnishing your self-esteem and how you feel about your world. And so it was for my friend. Not only was it hard asking for help in the first place, but when additional resources were offered, it was equally hard to accept.

You know in life, as the old saying goes – “Sometimes you’re the bat and sometimes you’re the ball…” and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. When you’ve been the one on the receiving end of charity, it means a lot more to you when you do have the opportunity to give back. You know, firsthand, what those families may be dealing with. It becomes less about yourself and how proud you are of yourself for giving, and becomes truly about helping the other person on the other end. Why? Because you’ve been there. I thought it was a great thing that she was accepting the help…she needed it and she would be someone to put that kindness right back in to the world – the way we believe it should be.

Times are less than ideal right now for so many people – so if you are fortunate enough to be able to help out – the timing has never been better. Whether its Pass It On, Baby! or another of the many, many worthwhile charities, make a difference. If money is tight for you, drop off some Halloween candy at a local food pantry or gather some neighbors together to send some Halloween candy overseas to our soldiers. Volunteer to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a Shelter. Visit the dollar store and pick up some coloring books to drop at a local shelter or church – rest assured, you are making a difference. And if you happen to have children, make sure to do it while they are watching. These little moments build together to form their character. And these little characters we build in turn, become our future society. Its your daily chance to change the world….. =)

In love and kindness,


Email Elizabeth & Heather

A Featured PIOB Family

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

Over the past year Pass It On, Baby! has helped so many wonderful families and children receive a box from our online community that has helped ease their burden in some way. We would like to share the story of one beautiful family in South Carolina.

Jen is a 23 year-old stay-at-home mom to her daughter Leah, 9 months. She and her husband Cavan have been married for a little over 2 years. Her husband has been interning as a stock market analyst (the family business) for the last 2 years and has yet to make any income. They have all the faith in the world that this business will work itself out but its been tough at times. Jen is away from her family and obviously financially they've struggled as well.

What makes us happy? We love to spend time together. Really anything free (haha) and fun, we're there! We love the outdoors and spending time with our 2 Australian Shepherds. Leah is now 9 months old and as crazy as ever. She gets into everything! She's such a joy to have and be around.

I have a blog that I enjoy updating friends and family a little about our lives. It's a way for me to relax and spend time with just myself. http://cavanjenleah.blogspot.com I have been asked to do some product reviews, and have been having a lot of fun doing that. We eat as organic as we can, and I love cloth diapering my baby. I enjoy anything that will make us happier and healthier.

We are a family so in love with God and each other. We know everything will work out for His plan.

Pass It On Baby has really lessened the burden by helping us out with clothing for Leah. We got some adorable clothes for her over the summer and I was even able to give them away after she grew out of them. I am so thankful for the families that help. It is such a blessing.

Thanks to Jen for sharing her story. We believe in her and her husband that they will continue to persevere and financial abundance will be rewarded to them.

There are so many people just like this family - working to make ends meet, finding balance and enjoyment in life and being able to provide they way they want to for their family. Something as simple as clothes can help to ease that burden.

Thanks for being apart of our community and doing what you can to help a family through a tough time, a slow year, a tragic event, anything at all.

In love & kindness,

Email Elizabeth & Heather

The Importance of a Community....

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

From the beginning of this blog and this organization, Heather and I have talked about creating a community…a community of kindness. We mentioned that we feel that we learn from others as the issues are brought up and talked about how much we learn from others’ points of views and ways of living life. But, you might sit back and ask yourself – why care about a community? If you are doing good and heading in the right direction yourself – why worry about what other people are doing?

That is a GREAT question – and I’m very glad you asked…LOL! =) Now, I’m pretty sure there is no definitive answer – but I’m going to give my best go at it. Its part of human nature to stumble along whatever path you might find yourself on. If you are on a religious path and trying to lead the best life you can, you will sin. If you are on a diet, you will have moments of weakness. If you embark on a life trying to help or serve others, you will have moments of selfishness. You get the idea…. Yes – “to err is human”… however, your “community” may be the difference between making a single mistake and getting yourself right back on track and actually leaving the path altogether.

The idea of community is nothing new. From the time the US was settled, we set up communities of similar beliefs…the Quakers stayed with the Quakers, the Reformists with Reformists, etc. A lot of it had to do with just simple commonalities between the people, but in my opinion, much of it goes deeper than that. To put it simply – those on a similar path as you, many times just get it. And so when you stumble and fall in front of them, they know how to help you back up – they are all working toward a similar goal. Its sort of like the alcoholic that has a sponsor. Almost always, the sponsor is a recovering addict themselves. Why is this? Because they get it. They know what to say, how you might feel, what you are struggling with, etc. So for me, when we embarked on this little journey, I wanted it to be a community of sorts. Yes, to learn, to share, to challenge, etc – but also to help. I’m just a mom trying to do a little good out there, who sometimes falls far from the path and has to dust herself off and realign her priorities again and again. Who battles with materialism, who gets distracted, who works at being positive and good, who deals with lots of frustrations…and sometimes I need a helping hand. And many times they come from people who we hear from…

You’ve read our stories of people out there making a difference, like Tammy. You’ve heard our stories of people building others up, like Louiseza. You’ve heard stories of heartbreak and loss, hope and rebuilding, second chances – choices to love your fellow neighbor. And so have I. We’ve cried the same tears as you did with these thankful mothers dealing with so much and we’ve rooted along the way with so many also. And selfishly – I need it. It helps me….but I’m betting you do too. Its good and its pure and it makes a difference, one child at a time. It refocuses me. It gets me out of my own little world of wants and plans and puts me back in the here and now. It opens a world up to me that I might never see.

Remember when I was really upset about passing by homeless family in the suburbs simply because I was distracted and then just didn’t get to go back and help? The suggestions we got back then helped me. I took them along the journey. I’m a Midwestern girl, born and raised –and recently traveled to the West Coast. Call me naïve, but the amount of homeless on the streets was like nothing I had seen before. I was sad, I was shocked, I was a little overwhelmed at how this could be happening….and like has been said before, you truly can’t help everyone. So my husband and I did what we could. We helped those we could with donations and for those we couldn’t help in that manner, we tried simple kindness like talking directly to them as people, instead as if they weren’t there or didn’t exist. It seems silly, because I was nervous and intimidated when I was alone without my husband…but I looked each person in the eyes and greeted them and smiled. I felt a little stronger because some of our readers had shared their ideas beforehand with us on this very topic.

I was working out the other day and a news story was on the TV screen above me. The coverage was on communities “taking back” their communities. The particular story was from Chicago where several students have been killed in a wake of violence in the streets. The commentary flashed to a video taping of the beating prior to the deaths of two of these students…it was horrifying. I literally stopped working out, covered my face and just sat there shaking my head as the tears streamed down my face. From that taping, they flashed to protests going on where people from various communities, with various agendas had come together with a common cause of taking back their streets. It was amazing to see this…they were actually getting so much attention and help – there was so much energy in the air, just by coming together for a common cause of goodness. Because my dear friends, there is power in numbers – there is strength in a community. Several kind actions rippled out – do change the world. And maybe Margaret Mead said it best, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

And so – for these simple and not-so-simple reasons, I ask of us to build this community. I hope to share and gain strength from you all. I hope to learn and impart wisdom. I hope to stop my judgments and look on all people with love. I hope to help children and parents who think that the world has forgotten them – it hasn’t. This world isn’t a dark, cold place. Its full of love and kind people. People who send boxes of their own children’s clothing to mothers they will never know. Why? More like – why not? Because it means so much to us all. When I was in California I stumbled across this saying along the beachfront. While some may interpret it as talking about the earth itself, I choose to take it as the people who inhabit this great planet.




In love and kindness,


Email Elizabeth & Heather

PR Ambassadors for PIOB...

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

As both Elizabeth and I work diligently in sharing the message of Pass It On, Baby! we have started to work on reaching out our message to a broader spectrum. We have been talking with a PR company that I have some contacts at about how to share our message to more people so we can help clothe more children and connect with more wonderful moms like you! We have submitted our story to a couple of different places - Dallas Child, First for Women, KLOVE and also to our children's schools, our gyms, etc.

Here is where we could use you if you're interested. We are looking for "PR Ambassadors" for Pass It On, Baby! Those of you loyal PIOB moms that truly believe in our message and would like to share it with those in your community. Many have been sharing already to friends and family also your blogs and we truly appreciate it. However, we are certain that there are many untapped people and places that would love to know more about our loving online community. There are several different ways you can spread the message as a PR Ambassador. For instance - we have flyers that we can send you to take to your children's school and ask it be included in the newsletter or backpacks. You could submit our information and/or your story with Pass It On, Baby! to your local newspaper, radio station, magazines, etc. You can invite friends on Facebook or Twitter to join our group. You can let other mom blogs know about Pass It On, Baby! by sharing your story or our story. You can tell people at your mommy and me classes like at The Little Gym or Gymboree. You can share our message with your church or local MOPS group. And I'm sure many other places we haven't ever thought of. We have had several of you over the past few months ask how you can get involved with us and this would truly be the best way to help - as a PR Ambassador for PIOB.

As Elizabeth stated in our last blog - we truly appreciate and Thank You for being apart of our community and assisting us in changing so many lives of so many families. We look to you to help us continue sharing that message. There are so many places and people that all of you can reach that we are just physically unable to.

It's been a wonderful 5 months and we are just looking to expand our horizons and help more families be a little less stressed. As we approach the holidays and people begin thinking a little more about charity as well as cleaning out the old to make room for the new - we want PIOB to be there to help those in need and give the givers a warm feeling of benevolence. If you would like to help us spread this message of love just a little further by being a PR Ambassador - let us know by leaving us a message or email and we can send you our flyer and any other information you might feel helpful or relevant. We look forward to hearing more about your journey of sharing.

Many blessings and thanks to you all!

In love & kindness,

Email Elizabeth & Heather

A Long Overdue Thank You....

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

Hi friends! I am so happy to be writing to you today….We’ve had some great guest bloggers and a little break to share a recipe between moms (and I LOVED Heather’s blog on inspiration in the community) – but I’m back and ready to chat! =)

I draw inspiration from so many in our community as well as others that are out there, day in day out, making a difference. Today, though, I am drawing inspiration from all of us here that are a part of Pass It On, Baby! We finally took the plunge officially in May of this year and began this little circle of kindness. Heather and my conversations started out talking about “if we help 12 people this year and they go on to pass along the kindness – just imagine.” It’s October and we’ve helped more than 32 children on their way. Surely not as many as other organizations, but we stand proud and happy to be out there making a difference. And simply put – we have. 32 children and their parents are out in the world today knowing that there are people who care.

And we do. Many, if not all of us, have been there…. there are times in your life where you could USE the helping hand. The farther that I travel down this path with PIOB, the more I look back in to my past to see all the people that have helped me get to the moment where I am.

Years ago, while still in college and finding I was pregnant with my first son, I was really unsure and scared. Initially, I wasn’t at the point of feeling all the joy and excitement that accompanies a new life – I was overwhelmed. I had a friend of mine that I told all my secrets to. She knew my worries, my concerns, my whole thought process during that time. At some point, she told her mother. It wasn’t long afterwards that her mother came for a visit. She asked to spend some alone time with me and took me shopping. She bought me a cute trendy outfit that would take me through the first several months of pregnancy. She took my friend and I out for dinner later that day, too – but she spent a solid day with me and for once, I wasn’t scared, only excited. She helped me along my way….

I’ve lost touch with that friend, over the years, but I NEVER forgot how that mother made me feel. They didn’t have a lot, I’m sure that the outfit and dinner was a sacrifice – but it shaped me. I’ve thought so much about her along the way…if you ever end up in Shelbyville, Indiana – let Pauline Wright know she changed a scared girl’s life.

He’s 13 – turning 14 now….he is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I told him about Pauline and the difference she made and told him that it was a gift to us – a gift that he too must find a way to give back. And so the circle continues…..helping another and paying the kindness forward.

When I initially had that first baby (I have five now – so that seems, at times, so long ago) I was in no position to give back, as some of our recipients might feel also. But you don’t know where the years will take you, and you don’t know where you may pass that kindness along, or who you may be influencing.

I guess I really wrote to say, thank you. Thank you for the sacrifices, the kindness, the love and the community that you have given Heather and I. We hope that the number 32 becomes 64 and then 128 and so on…there are so many kiddos to send some love to. We hope that you will continue to share in our journey, to pass our word along and to inspire kindness as you can. You never know who is drawing from your kind action and bringing it forth in to the present.

In love and kindness,


Email Elizabeth & Heather

Community of Inspiration

Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!

Both me and my husband have been very concerned about how to be a conscious, productive, inspiration to our community for quite some time. A lot of our awareness came from my husband's past mayoral race a few years ago. Although he didn't win, his contribution did inspire many others to get more involved with their community and participate in voting. With so much going in on the news on such a national and global scale - people tend to get out of sorts regarding certain politics. But yet, I am finding more and more people that know less about what's going on in their own backyard or even participate in their community's growth. Who's your mayor, who's on city council, what is your city doing to become sustainable, are you purchasing from businesses in your city, are you improving your home's value through keeping up with it properly, and so on?

One particular thing that has had a lasting impact on us was "Keep Carrollton Beautiful", a non-profit organization for our city that assists with keeping the greenbelts green and the city trash-free. We had participated at an annual clean-up event about a year and a half ago and in 1-mile city area, we couldn't believe the amount of trash that was accumulated. Bags and Bags of trash - everything from fast-food to church programs - you name it! I hadn't really thought too much about the trash in our city. I wasn't one that littered or anything so it never crossed my mind until this particular experience. We knew several of the individuals in our group from the gym. It felt great when we were done to know that we had properly disposed of over 20 bags of trash in this one little area. But it's also a little disturbing to know that this was just a small portion of our city that needed cleaning up. A short-while later, I was driving down the side of a main road in our city and noticed that one of the women that was in our clean-up group was picking up trash. I knew that she had been walking a lot as she trains for the 3 day Susan G. Komen walk and apparently was using that walking time to pick up trash. Truly an inspiration! That inspiration carried over into my both me and my husband - especially him. He felt like if she could take care of that area - why weren't we taking care of ours. My husband takes my 16 month old son on a daily morning walk just to get the day started off right. He walks past a church, high school, park and fast-food area in just 30 minutes. Every time he would walk by, he would feel guilty for just leaving the trash there especially after seeing our gym friend. So, once or twice a week he has grabbed a trash bag and picks up what he can until he and Cade arrive at the park. He too felt inspired to use that walking time to pick up trash. He has had so many people stop him and tell him what a great community member he is, offer to give him money, asked to talk to someone's kids, and just wave (or honk) to say thanks. Even without the recognition - it has truly provided him (and me) a sense of community involvement and inspiration. It's such a small but significant part of taking care of your own community.

So I take this moment to ask you if you can take just a small part of your day or week or even month to take care of your own community. Learn and participate about your local government and events. What small little action could you do to help your city flourish, grow and be a better community for those behind you? I would love to hear about your involvement. Do you already do something to help your city be better? Let's share and read all the wonderful things our online community is doing in our own communities to be an inspiration to ourselves and others. You might find something you could do that you hadn't thought of before.

If you'd like to learn more about the Great American Clean-Up in your area - click on this link.

Thanks for letting me share! I look forward to hearing from you! Have a great day!

In love & kindness,

Email Elizabeth & Heather