a {heart} for henan kids

"Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also to those who need it so much.” 

~Daphine Rose Kingma~

It goes without sayin' that it's been a bit quiet

{or should I say silent}

here on the Wheat and Wildflower blog lately.

I've missed being here.

I really have.

But, I'm back.

And oh, so excited to be kicking off one of my very favorite holidays 

with a sweet, sweet Valentine Fundraiser for Henan Kids International,

a subsidiary of Chinese Children Charities.  

Emily, from Henan Kids, and I have tweaked one of my very favorite designs to make it especially sweet for Valentine's Day.

Choose the single {wo ai ni} design

~or~

the double {wo ai ni~i love you} design.

And the charm you {love} the very most...

~a pink Swarovski pearl~

~a white freshwater pearl~

~or, even, a little jade charm~

The double {wo ai ni} design also has an option to add a tiny, sterling heart charm.

Love, love, love it.

Order by February 5th,

and I'll package your purchase in a little pink or red satin jewelry bag

and send it first class mail (shipping included in the price of the necklace).

Just in time for Valentine's Day.

Best part of all,

together, 

we can share a bit of our {heart} with henan kids.

It doesn't get much better than that.

Be sure to check out our other new hki designs as well.

You can get all the scoop here...

And just because I couldn't resist this cute little conversation heart...

for all the waiting mamas :)

More new designs and a sale coming soon...

Happy Monday!

{baby love}

Babies touch the world with {love}.

~author unknown~

 Fell in love with this special order I did recently.

Maybe because of the beautiful name...

Or maybe because the pearl and clear crystal remind me of

how pure and innocent these little ones are.

mmmm, nothin' sweeter than a new baby.

I think most would agree ;)

It will be added to my store later today.

Just wanted to share...

And remind you, that today is the last day to enter 

this week's wildflower wednesday...

Leave a comment here to be entered.

~happy monday~

{grandma's grace}

"The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future."

~Charles and Ann Morse~

Absolute favorite picture of my grandma as a little girl.

I love everything about it.

The hat.

The dress.

Her somber expression.

And the tiny, blonde curls that frame her face so sweetly.

It was a picture that hung in her bedroom.

And I have loved it for as long as I can remember.

It was this picture I thought of as I began designing

a necklace specifically for grandma.

I wanted something simple,

classy,

and with a bit of a vintage feel.

I love the creamy white pearl,

the tiffany style heart,

but mostly

the oval shaped silver

and how it reminds me of the cameos

my grandma used to wear.

I'm completely smitten

with initials these days.

And I just might start stamping them on everything...

I love the simpleness of {g}...

for grandma.

So, so much meaning wrapped in that tiny, little letter.

After all, isn't she the one

who taught you that...

bananas taste better when sliced and served in a bowl of orange juice,

that the sugar in grandma's candy is good sugar,

that sheets should be line dried

{so you can watch the nest full of baby quail as you hang them},

that empty butter tubs are great for catching potato bugs

and that roses grow best with egg shell water.

Isn't she the one that taught you

about {faith}

and how to have a grateful heart?

That's what my {grandma} taught me.

I know that {grandmas} often have special names

like...nanna, mimi, nonny and nai nai.

Each necklace can be customized with the initial of your choice.

The initial that means {grandma} to you.

Or to your children.

You can purchase my new {grandma's grace} necklace here.

What name means {grandma} to you?

"God's most precious work of art is the warmth and love of a grandma's heart."

~author unknown~

wildflower {wednesday}

An invisible red thread  

connects 

those who are destined to meet 

regardless of time, place or circumstance.  

The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.

~chinese proverb~

Almost two years ago, 

we met our youngest daughter in China.

It was an experience

that changed me.

I learned a lot about faith.

And hope.

And relying on Him.

It was a journey that stretched us.

And yes, there were many tangles along the way.

But meeting this little one for the very first time,

was wonderful

and more beautiful

than I could have ever imagined.

She makes us laugh...

and smile...

every day.

She is one of our greatest blessings.

And I will never forget how grateful I am that we found each other.

So...

since it's {wednesday},

let's give away a necklace.

Just leave me a comment

telling me which of these two designs

you would choose.

Both designs include a sterling silver disc handstamped as pictured.
A sweet jade charm dangles from the top.
Hangs on a simple red thread.
Just like my very favorite necklace from China...

Easy enough?

Of course, extra entries if you are a wheat and {wildflowers} follower

and/or if you blog, facebook or tweet about this giveaway.

Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry,
since I will generate a random winner from the total number of comments.

Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 16th.

A winner will be announced here on Tuesday.

~happy {wednesday}~
 

{be}

"Be of good courage, 

and he shall strengthen your heart, 

all ye that hope in the Lord."

~Psalm 31:24~

 

You are good.  

But it is not enough just to be good.  

You must be good for something.  

You must contribute good to the world.

~Gordon B. Hinckley~

 

Be faithful in small things 

because it is in them that your strength lies.  
~Mother Teresa~

This morning I helped serve breakfast

to women in our area

who spend a whole lot of their time

serving those around them.

It's a simple way to say thanks.

And to let them know how much their service is appreciated.

Every time we get together,

I am inspired by them.

By all that they are.

I love the word
{be}

and all that it can represent.

A reminder of who I am trying to become.

And the qualities I hope to one day have.

{be}

...prayerful

...hopeful

...good

...grateful

...still
 ...patient

and, oh, so many more ;)

today, what are you trying to 
{be}

And, oh, by the way,

if you are looking for a yummy Sunday morning breakfast,

here's a new recipe for you to try.

We served it today.

And it was oh, so good!

Baked French Toast

1 loaf french bread, cut in 1" slices and cubed

8 eggs, beaten

2 c. milk

1 1/2 c. half & half

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 c. butter or margarine

1 1/3 c. brown sugar

3 Tbs. light corn syrup

Grease a 9x13 pan.  Arrange bread in the pan.  In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, half & half, vanilla and cinnamon.  Pour over bread.  Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar and corn syrup.  Heat until boiling.  Pour over bread and egg mixture.  Bake, uncovered for 40 minutes.  Enjoy!

You can find my new {be} necklace here...

{love more}

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."

~Henry David Thoreau~

 

Who or what are you lovin' 

just a little more

on this monday morning?

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

~{love more} necklace can be found here~

happy monday!

he {loves} me...

Love one another and you will be happy.
It's as simple and as difficult as that.
~Michael Leunig~

I recently made this necklace for a friend's daughter.

To give to her on her wedding day.

I just love it!

First initials of the bride and groom.

Perfect for an anniversary too!

Don't ya think?

Speaking of anniversaries...
mine is coming up very soon.

~21~
geesh.

What advice do you give to newlyweds?

p.s. I've added this to my store.
You can find it here.

{mama bird}

Keep a green bough in your heart, and the singing bird will come.
~chinese proverb~

Love these new little birds!

Perfectly sweet for a new mama.
(or soon-to-be mama)...

Hang a pink pearl for a girl
or a white, freshwater pearl for a boy!

Or how 'bout one to represent each kiddo?
Cute, cute.

Customized just for you.
And added to my store today.
You can find it here.