Some Changes {it's all good}

Just a quick hello and wanted to let you know I'm changing things up a bit.

First of all, I'm taking a break from writing here at Miss Maribel's Place.

I'm finally diving in and starting to set up my etsy shop. Because I work full time, all my spare time is needed to get my shop up and running.  My target date was 10/11/12, but is now more realistically looking like it will be around Nov. 1st.

And it's all good - I'm busy making a few items for friends and family. I'm also making a couple of quilts and a pillow for adoption fundraisers. So that gives me great ideas of what I'd want (or not want) to sell in my shop. Plus, I get lots and lots of practice and learning new techniques.

Did you know that I have another blog - Finding Hope & Joy.  I've noticed that many times, what I'm wanting to share is something that would be appropriate on either of my blogs. And that makes it silly to have two. Especially since it's hard enough to find time to post on one. I may try to combine them at some point after the first of next year. Still trying to figure that out.

Even though I won't be writing here at MMP for the next few months, I'll still do what I can to help families
bring their sweet ones home to their forever families.

Hope you'll visit me over at Finding Hope & Joy where I like to share life to encourage you.
The address is: debgab.blogspot.com

Blessings to you friend!

PS ~ Hope you remember to watch for my Grand Opening at missmaribelsplace.etsy .com and please keep in mind that my quilts, pillows and other items make wonderful gifts. I mean Christmas is right around the corner don't ya know. *wink*

A Baby Step

Today I've taken another step in following my God-sized dream! A dream I wrote about at "Finding Hope & Joy" last summer. {FH&J is my other little place here in bloggy land}

So, today I've created a Facebook page called "Miss Maribel's Place". It's just a place to let friends know about the quilts, pillows and home decor items that I enjoy making. 

It's not much. But, it's a start.
A baby step sized start, but a start nonetheless.

As I pursue this dream I am learning to let God lead. And honestly, that is one of the hardest things I'm learning. I joke that I am my family's OFP. I'm the self-titled Official Family Planner. And as such what can I say? I have plans people!

Plans of what to sew, modge-podge, paint and make.
Plans of what my etsy shop should look like.
Plans for a whole product line and it's tag line.
Plans. Plans. Plans.

It can start to drive me crazy because life just doesn't keep up with my plans. Not to mention there aren't enough hours in the day to fit all these plans in.

And that's where trusting and following God's lead is oh so helpful. In fact, that's where my One Word for 2012 ~ PEACE ~ falls right into place. When I wait until He reveals His plan and follow it - it brings me peace. No frustration, hassle or ggrrrrrr from my lips. Just calm knowing that He knows best.

So for now, it's just this baby step.
And the next? Continuing to sew quilts and pillows.
And after that? I don't know. But He does.

I plan  ( *giggle* there I go planning again *wink* ) on sharing with you the awesome ways God has been  providing some of the materials for my quilts and projects.

There are some pictures on my Miss Maribel's Place Facebook page of the things I've made so far. Go ahead and visit me there if you'd like.

Who Me?

Sometimes I feel so silly (even discouraged) thinking I can make any kind of difference with this little place in blog land. Even more outlandish is the dream I have of creating an Etsy shop to help raise money for Maribel's adoption grant and to help advocate for other orphans. 

Who me?
Inspire others to advocate for orphans by writing here in blog land?
I'm really not one to join causes. No marches or sit-ins for me.
I mean, I've never even written my Congressman.

Who me?
Make money by selling items I make? On Etsy?
Just a year ago I didn't even know what an Etsy was.
Can I find any extra time in my day - any day - to make things to sell?

Honestly, it all seems a bit far fetched, silly and like......
....well,  like "just a dream".

However, this dream is just not going away. I can "see" the things I want to make and sell. I can feel the compassion for these little ones who don't have a voice. I have a desire to help families raise funds for their child's adoption.

So friend what do I do?


There are two things that inspire me to keep dreaming.

First, I think of my friend, Lindy - she chases her dreams. She is actually pretty amazing. She's one of those people who doesn't just dream a dream. She makes her dreams happen.

Lindy has a saying on her blog that I just love:
Even if you live to be 100  - life is short.
Do something lasting with yours.

So, who knows?! Maybe my "something lasting" is making this dream of mine a reality. Hey, I've got just less than 50 more years to go until I make it to 100.


There is also the quote of Mother Teresa's that I have at the bottom of my blog:
"Not all of us can do great things.
But we can do small things with great love."

And it's true. Maybe my dream is silly small, but I can do it with great love.


From now on instead of saying - "Who me?"
I'm gonna start saying -  "Yea me!" 
Because, I want to do something with my life. Something lasting that's done with great love.

Dreaming & Praying & Hoping

Hey friend! Thanks for stopping by!

So,  to be honest, I feel a little nervous about my first post here at "Miss Maribel's Place". Kind of silly since I've been writing my other blog - "Finding Hope & Joy" - for a little over a year now.

This new little place of mine in blog land all started because of a sweet little girl named Maribel. Actually, Maribel may not be her given name, but a "screen" name the adoption agency (Reece's Rainbow) uses. I think Maribel is a pretty name. In fact, it's meaning in French means beautiful.

The main focus here at Miss Maribel's Place is all about - dreaming & praying & hoping.  {at least that's how I'm starting out}

So here we go.... are ya ready?


~ Dreaming.....
.... of the day Maribel will have a forever family. I'm dreaming about this little orphan girl who lives half way around the world. I've never met her and have only seen a picture of her - but she has stolen my heart!

~ Praying.....
.... Maribel will be loved and well taken care of until her forever family rescues her. I pray she will grow up healthy and happy. That she will be all that God created her to be. That she will laugh, sing, run and play. And that she will be told that Jesus loves her. Maybe "Jesus Loves Me" will be the first song she learns to sing!
.... that the day will come when these precious little ones will be adopted by the time they turn four instead of going to an institution to live out the rest of their lives.

~ Hoping.....
.... that just as my heart has been broken over the conditions these little ones endure - your heart will be touched as well.  And that you too will choose to help these precious ones.

A lot of times, during the process of writing and editing, I get a clearer understanding of things. This first post has been no different -  I've started to realize that what I'm really, really wanting is change. Change for Maribel, change in how orphans are treated and cared for, change in the adoption process. Change so big that children will not be given up for adoption because of medical issues or social stigmas.

Big change? Yes! 

Possible? Not sure - I know it will take a lot of time, work and effort by a lot of people. 

But, I'm willing to do what I can do, even if it's only a little. And I'll do it with great love.

So friend what do you say? Will you dream and pray and hope with me?