Press Bible and Noonday Giveaway!!!

My sweet friends at Press Bible have created an amazing Bible app that is rich in creativity that helps bring the Bible alive and is just plain beautiful. They have also spent the time with expert theologians to help you go deeper in your study. They also feel like this app should be FREE for everyone! Because the app is free they are asking for our help to continue creating this app for the rest of the gospel books and I am personally hoping the entire BIBLE!

How can you help spread the gospel with this app? 

- download the app (Press Bible)

- tell others about the app

-pledge to support them on kickstarter

Watch the video here : Press Bible Kickstarter

The way kickstarter works is supporters pledge amounts and if the financial goal is met in the time period they have listed they get the funding!!! *YAY* 

Your card will not be charged if the goal is not met! 

I believe in them and want this APP to be a huge success! 

HOW TO WIN THE NOONDAY EARRINGS???

***Just pledge $10 or more on Press Bible Kickstarter campaign before Easter Sunday, April 20th***

One entry for every $10 increment!!! 

Comment Below or on Facebook with how many entries you have obtained with your pledge! 

(honor system) but... I will be checking on the winner to confirm they did pledge! 

The winner will choose one of the items below!!!

GOOD LUCK! 

http://www.candaceevans.noondaycollection.com/earrings/renegade-earrings
Retail $40 {made with love in India}

http://www.candaceevans.noondaycollection.com/bracelets/athena-cuff
Retail $34 {made with love in India}

http://www.candaceevans.noondaycollection.com/necklaces/aida-necklace
Retail $46 {made with love in Uganda}

Thank you for partnering with me to help spread the gospel with this app! 

He's Home.

The last 3 weeks have been a whirlwind! Justin did an incredible job getting Mathias from Africa, he is the strongest man I know and he gets full credit for the "labor" of this child. The airport arrival was magical. With the rough time Justin and Mathias had during the 30+ hours of travel I decided to only allow family to come to the airport, Thank you all for understanding! 

I was so happy to have them home and be all together. That night we went home as a family of 4 and it was a great night, gave Mathias his first bath and got he and his brother in 

matching pj's from their Aunt Anna! 

All was cute and fun and good for about a day.

 Then we all realized oh hey, there is another toddler in this house and he doesn't understand us and big brother now gets to share everything including momma and daddy's attention and he's not quite cool with that, the house will never be clean again, parasites make diaper changes a fear factor audition for this potty trained spoiled house, this toddler doesn't know how to receive affection and is the polar opposite of everything we have learned with our bio child. 

Oh hey remember when people said adoption is hard. Yeah they meant that. ;)

Oh, we have learned so much in these last 3 weeks and I am sure the learning will never cease. I am so thankful for fellow adoptive mommas who have said " It is ok to feel like you make a huge mistake and you just want to run out the front door, you are not alone"

Trying to love a child that you just met as your own is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am clinging to what God describes love to truly be and not how I feel about it or what the world tells me love is. 

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

-The Message-

I was talking to a friend today who was saying 

my honesty was scaring her from adoption a little bit, I told her this.

"There are days when I am actually thankful 
for this struggle because it is 

making me more like Christ, and that is what 
this life is for anyways, right?"

Mathias is precious. He is made in Gods image. 

I am praying daily to see more and more of who this little kiddo is, what he likes(bananas), what he doesn't(anything kitchen related and elevators), what makes him giggle (ticklish ankles), what makes him scowl (a lot of things). I can't wait to finally know him like a momma would know her son. 

I am committed to him and I hope he knows that Im not going anywhere. 

Torn

My heart is all over the place today...  I dropped Justin off at the airport for him to fly to the other side of the globe and pick up our son in Ethiopia. I want to be with him so, so bad. To sit next to him on the plane, to watch his face as he see Mathias again, to see the bond begin to form between he and Mathias. To experience frustrating 3rd world issues with him... My momma heart wants to hold Mathias so badly, to have time to bond before we get home to Texas. Yet it is torn to also be here with Micah preparing him for whats to come. To cherish these last 5 days alone with him.
Im just torn. So excited, yet torn.

Please pray for Justin as he travels. Thank you....

Homecoming Details & T-Shirt Picture Request

Justin will be leaving Monday the 27th for Ethiopia, please pray for him as he is traveling alone. He will have his embassy appointments and have some bonding time with Mathias while he is there. He and Mathias will return to the San Antonio Airport on the evening of Saturday, February 1st. 

My dream was always to have everyone in their ADOPT t-shirts for a welcome home party but almost everyone who has a t-shirt is in Dallas! But we know y'all will be with us in spirit, you all played a huge part in bringing him home.
We love and appreciate our Dallas family and friends so much. 

I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU COULD TAKE A PICTURE IN YOUR ADOPT T-SHIRT OR OF YOUR FAMILY IN 

THEIR T-SHIRTS AND EMAIL IT TO ME AT JUSTIN.CANDACE@GMAIL.COM

I WANT TO MAKE BANNER WITH EVERYONES PICTURES ON IT FOR THE AIRPORT AND THEN TO KEEP FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS =)

If you are local and would like to come to the San Antonio Airport to welcome home Justin and Mathias just get in contact with me and I will keep you updated on flight times =) 

Please be praying for Justin as he is in Africa with Mathias that it is a special time for them and for me as I prepare Micah's heart to welcome his little brother home. The time following his arrival we will be on a sort of "lock down/ family bonding time" for a few weeks or however long Mathias needs! Thank you for your understanding =)

I get teary thinking about how many people are invested in our family and our adoption journey! I will never forget, and neither will Mathias. 

-Candace-

He's coming home...

We cleared Embassy this morning!!! Mathias is coming home!!! We are awaiting our embassy date that will be sometime next week.

The Lord answers prayers. Thank you to everyone who joined with us.

Our son is coming home.

Please pray over our transition time, this will be the saddest and hardest on Mathias leaving the world he knows and we understand that.

DETAILS coming soon!!!!

Its a good good day.

referral photo

our sweet son

We can do something.

I joined Noonday Collection a little over 3 months ago because I wanted to be a part of what they were doing. It took an investment on my end, but Justin and I felt it was worth it to join up with such a cause. Noonday uses fashion and design to create economic opportunity for the vulnerable all over the globe. As a stay at home mom I have a lot of impact on my son, and as a pastors wife we have impact on our church family and community, but I crave more than that. Any of us can drive to the airport and be anywhere in the world by tomorrow. So why are we acting like the starving children in Africa and the impoverished in Peru are out of reach? We have full bellies and warm homes and yet still we desire more and are never satisfied. When I let me mind settle on how much "stuff" I feel like I need... it sickens me. 

Matthew 25:35-40
" 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them,‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"

Guys... this rocks me. This is our hands and feet moment. The chance to be Jesus to the world. There are so many awesome organizations out there that are truly doing this. Noonday is one of them. 

-------------------------

I had the privilege to join with 150 Noonday ambassadors this weekend in Marble Falls. I've never felt sisterhood as strong as I did this weekend. We wept over global statistics, were challenged to keep fighting the good fight, and looked pretty dang cute while doing it all. The talent of our artisans always impresses me and the new spring line launching at the end of February was just beautiful, it is truly works of art. If you are interested in opening your home for the artisans. I would love to partner with you and throw a Trunk Show with you and your friends! 

One of the most fun parts of the weekend was making virtual friends, real friends!

Jessica Honneger - Founder of Noonday

Wynne Elder - Check out her blog The Elder Adventures
She had huge impact into our decision to adopt and
to become a Noonday Ambassaor

More lovely ladies - Ashley, Krista, Debra, and McCall

So I'm Cheating...

After accepting the challenge to read my Bible cover to cover in a month with Justin... I started cheating. I know it't not November yet but I am already in Numbers (the 3rd book of the Bible)

Here are some tips I have learned already!

Variety

Paperback Bible

Iphone Bible App 

Ipad or Kindle

You Version Bible App (audio)

Once I got into the lengthy law part, I found that switching to listening to 

the Bible be read to me on my iPhone, made it more enjoyable! If you listen to the 

NKJ version, the man reading has a sweet Lord of the Rings voice. 

I prefer the ESV translation personally... but the NKJ reader was awesome. 

I've been listening to it while I put away laundry or drive in the car, 

surprisingly Micah doesn't seem to mind. 

Random thoughts while reading (so far):

• The Israelites were super annoying when wandering the desert. "Manna is the worst lunch I have ever had....can we just have a salad or something, don't you know I have had diarrhea since Egypt?" ( a little Nacho Libre humor, sorry....)
• God still uses people who fail Him (be encouraged) 
• I am SO GLAD Jesus came and died for us so we are no longer under the law because HOLY MOLY there were a lot of laws.....
• Also I am seeing God preparing Israelis hearts for Jesus through almost everything he does for them. 
• DO NOT GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH leprosy.... don't do it. 
• Random thought... so Joseph was the reason that all the Israelites ended up in Egypt.... when you read it all in a row it all starts to make sense. 
• There are some pretty hilarious stand alone verses in the Leviticus. I kinda want to make a living off of making prints out of them... no one would buy them. but it would be hilarious.... to me. 
• God cares ALOT about details... just read the account he gave to Moses about the tabernacle... which I can only imagine was GORGEOUS.