So We Called

Doesn't it feel good when things start to slow down? When you feel like you are starting to get your footing and that maybe just maybe you can relax soon? Well, Reed and I are getting there. We are in our new home - amazed at the way God provided us with this dream of a place to call our own.
We are breathing again.

As we get comfortable in our new home, new jobs, new church - NEW LIFE,  God reminded us that we are not called to be comfortable.

Friday we received an email from our adoption agency stating that there were two little girls, 2 1/2 and 1, that needed to be matched immediately due to medical needs.
I about had a heart attack. I wanted to get sick, cry and jump up and down all at one time.
I couldn't believe that we got this email, I mean we aren't event done with all of the paperwork!
I called Reed in a panicked frenzy unable to make any rational decision at that point.
We discussed if we felt like we could event ask for more information. What if we asked to move forward to learn more about these precious babies and then got scared, if there needs were something we couldn't meet. Would we have the wisdom to know that and to make the right decision for us and them?? Of course Reed reminded me of what we said as we started this entire process over a year ago. We are pursing this adoption until God says to wait.

So we called.

I cried in my office as I tried to figure out what todo. All I could think about was if I was about to become a mom. Was I ready for this? Would I be able to handle this? We just moved in - would our home be ready for this little one? My heart was racing and I was totally not functioning at full speed for remainder of the work day (sorry boss man!). So we prayed, prayed, prayed and prayed.

We received the medical records of both little girls. My heart sank but I could breath. These precious little ones had already had a hard life with many issues that would take many many many visits to specialists. I knew immediately that neither of these girls where our little nugget.

My heart hurt. I wanted it to be our baby. I wanted to see them and the records and know that we were nearing the finish line. But instead God showed us clearly that these babies needed a different family. I was scared that I wouldn't know what to do- that I wouldn't know how to say no to a baby that needs a home. And as I write this I still feel like that sounds so heartless- our home is better than an orphanage right? Yes, but if we had continued to move forward with these girls it would have been for selfish reasons. We would have done it because WE wanted a baby, because WE wanted the process to be over, because WE wanted to celebrate with all of you.

Those are not the reasons to adopt a baby.

So God once again showed us that He is in control. That we are not to get comfortable and feel like we know whats happening. We need to lean on Him. Look to Him in every situation. He is going to build our family when it is time. He IS building our family! These girls may not have been ours, but we are trusting and believing that our little Nugget is out there waiting on us.

So thats the day I almost became a mom.
That God gave us wisdom beyond what we could have done on our own.
That God reminded us that this thing we call life is all in his hands.


So we didn't get matched with our Nugget. But we saw a real baby at the end of all this paperwork - God gave us a glimpse of the day that we will become parents. I'm thankful for Him and His wisdom, and how He works to forever show us His mighty loving hand.

YouCaring Fundraising Page

10 days from an answered prayer

Tomorrow we will be 10 days away from closing on our new home. 

10 days away from God fulfilling a promise He made us when we got married. 

10 days away from something prayed for for over a year. 

10 days away from moving out of our storage unit life style we had for 3 months. 

10 days. 

I want to remember the days that I prayed for this day to come. 

I want to remember how faithful God was even when I felt like He wasn't listening. 

I want to remember all the circles I made thinking I knew the right direction. 

I want to remember how God saw us through a time we had no idea which way to go. 

10 days from having a miracle home. 

I hope this home is filled with Gods love. 

I hope the beds are never empty, the table is always full & the living room is never silent. 

Reed and I prayed for this home. We asked God over a year ago to provide a home that was us. That would have enough space to host many friends, to allow us to pursue our passions and to help us bring home our Nica Nugget. 

10 days we can start that again. 

10 days we can pick up our journey towards our family. 

10 days a long almost 6 month journey of uncertainty will become a long journey of establishing roots and producing good fruit! 

Why It Is So Hard to Write a Thank You

Well dang y'all.
I had every intention of blogging my mind away through this adoption, but honestly it has been heavier than I thought. My mind is so full that trying to figure out what to share when was just another "thing" I didn't need to add to my life. BUT this morning I was sitting here for about the 30 millionth day in a row saying "tonight I'm going to write thank you notes", but spoiler alert I'm probably not going to write a single thank you tonight and here is why.

ADOPTION IS HARD.

That is the short of it. Adoption is hard, it seems like a beautiful God calling that shows you His provision (and it does) but it is also the heaviest thing we have ever done. We sit here thinking every day, morning in my quiet time, every free minute, about what life will be like when we bring our nugget home. We have been preparing for 6 months now, but there is still no "sign" of a little one, just more paperwork to put together, more questions to answer... more waiting.

So while we are unbelievably grateful for the gifts, the encouragement, the financial blessings, it is just a little hard to write a genuine thank you right now. And we believe whole heartedly that those that have been involved need a genuine thank you, not a "thank you for your gift, what a perfect blessing! Follow my blog for more updates!". We want to find the words to express how much it means that because of what they have given we are able to confidently follow a difficult path to a family that we are more certain of than anything in our lives. That each dollar, gift, encouraging word has been affirmation that we are going the right way.

Right now I don't want to sit at the kitchen table and craft a thank you note. I want to get our nugget home. I want to have a phone call that we are on the list, that we have been matched, and that they are ready for us to come meet this already unbelievably loved little one.


If you have given to our family and not heard a response, we are sorry. Our southern families are probably cringing that it has been 6 months with no thank you sent. But trust me, your gift means more than we can put in to words. We WILL write you a note, and it will be a note from the heart and most likely stained with tears of joy.

Headbands & Happy Hearts

So, by now you know that adoption costs a lot, and not just dollars. Adoption costs a lot of time, tears, and tedious nights doing paper work. BUT! God blessed me with the best partner to go through all the costs with. 

Reed and I have thoroughly enjoyed every piece of the adoption process. We are officially HALF WAY through our home study! We still have certificates to send in, background checks, doctors visits, and so many more pieces to read, sign and read and sign again. Our signatures are getting pretty good, almost rockstar status actually :)

So, as we continue to move forward I am amazed at how much fun we are having. Reed is such a trooper. I mean I have forced him to take more pictures with me than we have in a really long time, and most of them involve self timer, lots of back and forth, stand real still, don't move, look here, smile, make a funny face ect. Last night I called him on my way home and said I needed to get some pictures for our new fundraiser, that he was gonna think I was crazy but to trust me it would be a good thing. He agreed he would help after he worked on the AC in his truck. So after 2 hours of working on his truck he came in put the head band on with no question and let me snap away. 

I am so grateful for this dude and his ability to be goofy for the sake of our family. He is one of the hardest working people I have ever met and so not afraid to get dirty and take care of what needs to get done. But he is also the kindest, most loving, and fun person I know. I can't wait to see all the fun times ahead with our little Nica Nugget! 

Now, back to fundraising! If you are interested in purchasing a headband or cowl you can check out our Gathering Impossible page through ETSY. Everything in this series will have a percentage of the sales going directly to Gathering Baby Lathrop. We have partnered with East of These out of Lakeland FL, each cowl and headband is handmade by them and a percentage of the sale goes to us! Our goal is to sell 100 head bands and 50 cowls, so please share the link and ask your friends to purchase a super awesome product and help us bring our baby home :) 

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/gracelangdon?ref=hdr_shop_menu&section_id=19490724

Finding Yourself In The Paint

Have you ever struggled to find yourself? Like to feel confident in your decisions about life? Not that you aren't happy, but just feeling a little awkward teenager-ish??

I was just walking through that stage. I was feelin real awkward, like one day I was a prep, the next day I was country, next day I was goth. Ya know one of those girls that tries out a million different styles because she can't quite figure out where she fits in. Except I wasn't doing it with clothes. I was struggling to find how to express myself through art.

As I have said here MANY many times, I am extremely blessed to have a creative family, my grandmother paints, my aunt is an artist, my mom and other aunt can make junk from the side of the road look like a million bucks. Basically, I was born to be creative. So I tried out a lot. I tried painting furniture, making furniture, water color, acrylic, oil and on and on. I liked them all. I just didn't feel like I was expressing "ME".

Art is a form of expression. Just like some people express themselves through music, writing or speaking. Creating is a gift from God that allows you to express yourself and your story in a unique way, and I don't want to waist that! I want to find how to express myself and my God story through creating. Gah it was such a struggle. Was I doing certain things because I saw other artists be successful with them, or was I doing that because that truly felt natural to me? Did I feel like it was MY story or was I just trying to tell a story someone was interested in...

STRUGGLE BUS!

After talking to an artist I have learned to really love and admired, she told me to put challenges in place. Put restrictions on my paintings. It could be certain sizes, or colors, but these restrictions would allow me to see similarities that are unique to me that I may have missed in the chaos of creating. And ya know, what I did.

I found that I love vibrant colors, buttery strokes, and southern subject matter. When I stepped back and saw how all of these things ran through each piece I created I realized I truly did find myself in the paint!

(find these paintings and more on my website www.gracelangdonart.com)

Being Bold With Deadlines

Our trip to Nicaragua is approaching so quickly.
I am beyond excited for being there with my friends and sharing this place that creates experiences that change lives. But lately my heart has been really heavy and I have been struggling with my feelings towards this trip. Feelings of exhaustion, wanting to give up, feelings of pride, and timidity.

I am writing this to remind myself that those are not feelings from God. In 2 Timothy 1:7-9 we are told this.

 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace."  - 2 Tim 1:7-9

But I am also writing this to encourage YOU, my family- friends -blog world -York/Rock Hill community and my home town. I want you to know that even knowing my passion for missions comes from the Lord does not mean I don't worry or fear about the outcome. My heart so desperately wants God to show up in a big way and just let this trip happen, but I am having to trust that sometimes (all of the time) God knows better than me. He knows that we weren't meant to reach our Go Fund Me goal in 1 week like I hoped. He wanted me to call on Him when I saw our deadline approaching and very little funds coming in. I don't think this is "suffering" but I do know that God doesn't want us to worry. He doesn't want us to feel hopeless and that is how I was feeling when looking at our accounts. He has called us to a holy life, a life that we proclaim his power, and share his grace.



So here is the deal. Our trip to Nicaragua is October 30th - November 6th. Flights need to be purchased, basically yesterday. We need to also raise the funds to pay for our lodging, food, and transportation. PLUS we need to have our funds ready to serve. Funds to purchase desks for the children at Los Rios school, gathering medical supplies to give in the hospital, and funds to purchase materials for our construction project in the community. Every ounce of this trip is dependent on funds raised and that TERRIFIES ME.

BUT! God called us to be bold with our finances, to be bold with our lives. So I believe that these funds will come. That God will touch the hearts of those meant to give and our Go Fund Me account will expand, and our mail boxes will be filled with checks. And very soon we will be able to purchase the supplies we need to make the connections that will change our lives and theirs forever.

If you feel like being apart of this trip through a financial donation visit our GoFundMe page or email me for more details! langdon.gracie@gmail.com
>>Ya know, this trip is turning out to be a huge lesson for me. I didn't expect this as I have traveled to Nicaragua so many times, I thought I would just finally be sharing my experiences with others. But God is using this role he has placed me in as a way to teach me how to trust and be bold in my life. He always blows my mind!

Christmas in Nicaragua!!

This year for Christmas Reed and I went to visit family in Nicaragua. 

Yes you read that right, Reed and I have family in Nicaragua. Here is a quick explanation why.  Reeds family are full time missionaries that own a pineapple farm (Piñas de Paz) right outside of Managua Nicaragua. They have been there for about 10 years and it has been a HUGE part of Reed and I's relationship. If you've read any of "our story" you know I've know him almost my entire life and that we started dating while I was visiting his family in Nicaragua. So this country has a special place in our heats, not just because of the people or family but because it has some fun history for Reed and I :) 

I thought I would share some of our trip with you. And maybe some of you will find this country as beautiful as I do and think about visiting my family and their ministry :) 

Basically we had an awesome trip. This was our 3rd visit for Christmas (and my 7th trip in general) but the first where we stayed at the farm for the entire trip. It is a stunning place and was such a delight to stay for the holidays. We didn't plan a lot other than spending time with family. Reeds siblings where all able to come down too so it made the holidays extra special!  

Our first day Reed and his dad got to go on 2 dove hunts and it was a dream come true for Reed. So much so that he came back and picked me up asking me to come along and document the day. This picture shows the field we were hunting and you can see one of the local volcanoes on the sky line. 

Also, check out that view! Thats what we woke up to each morning & yes, where I brushed my teeth :) 

One of the excursions we got to take was to see the Christmas lights in down town Managua. It was CRAAAZY like seriously that Christmas tree was massive! (if you look closely you can see people in the bottom left corner of the second picture.) Our nephew was so cute while checking out the lights! 

Reed and I took some time to recap some of our best memories in Nicaragua. It was really fun to go back and do a few things that we did when we first started dating 7 years ago. The photo on the left was where we had our "first date". We went on a boat tour around some of the islands in Lake Nicaragua. We toured it again this year with our family. The other two photos, with the water fall, are from where we had our first kiss! Reed and I took the tripod and hiked back to the water fall this trip and took some really fun photos. I could have easily overloaded you with cheesy not so great quality pictures but instead I picked two of my favorite :)

One of the things I had never done in all of my 7 visits was take a "real" hike through the jungle around my in-laws farm. Reed goes every year with Juan Carlos and hikes around looking for iguanas and doves. So this year I told Reed I wanted him to take me, just on a beginner level hike. Non of that scaling mountains type junk. As you can see Reed didn't hear my request other than I wanted to hike in the jungle. We hiked 2 hours in to the jungle and 2 hours back out. It doesn't seem like thats too far but just look at what I had to climb through.... The picture on the left doesn't look so bad but basically I'm walking up stairs constantly, thats how steep it was. Do you see the blue and white dot in front of me?? Thats Juan Carlos, he was a beast and I totally couldn't keep up...

To explain the other 3 "hiking" pictures. We came to a spot in the canyon that was nothing but a stone wall with some branches leaned up it. I thought for sure we would turn around... Nope those branches are there to function as a ladder!!! So inventive. The first picture shows that not only did we scale a rock wall with sticks for help, but we also had to make sure we didn't fall back in to that black hole of nasty, nasty, water. The second and third are of me being super unsure of myself while watching Juan Carlos scurry up in rubber boots. But I did it and Reed was so proud he documented it :) 

Basically our Christmas was spent sipping rum and coke, eating fresh pineapple, soaking up the sun, creating exciting memories, and enjoying the company of family in our favorite place! Those 10 days where so fun and relaxing, Reed and I are so grateful for the opportunity we have every other year to travel down to Nicaragua. Now that we are back in the States and trying to get back in the groove of "ever day life" writing this post was a good break. How was your holiday with the family, any new and fun memories made???

Toilet Paper Crafts

I know its a week from Christmas so its almost too late to be postin more Christmas crafts. 

But these are some fun easy and FREE decorations. 

For our Burlap Christmas Tree  we needed a star. 

I tried to find one at the dollar store and Wal-Mart but I just didn't like any. 

I had been saving toilet paper and paper towel tubes for awhile and decided this would be a fun project  to use them for. 

First I cut up the rolls in to about half inch pieces. 

Then I  glued pieces together at the ends. 

Once I had the pieces started I then began just playing around and trying to make a star shape. 

I found that using hot glue allowed this project to go fairly quickly. 

This was the end shape that I came up with. I started with the 4 glued together and then just filled in the gaps until I ran out of pieces.  I love the way it turned out :) 

My favorite craft are these Toilet Paper Reindeer! 

I wanted some decorations other than on the tree so I decided to make something small to put on the book shelf. 

For this craft I just used 3 toilet paper tubes, twigs from the yard, and hot glue. 

I started off with 1 whole tube as the body and added 4 twigs as the legs. 

I just put a drop of hot glue  where I wanted the legs placed.

Mine are a little wonky but I thought that added character :) 

Then I cut another tube in half and used it as the head. I added a smaller thicker twig for the neck and glued it to both the head and body. 

Then I added forked twigs for the antlers. 

This craft took a little longer than the star but was still less than 20 minutes total. 

Both of these crafts where so fun!

I think they both look great unfinished but was thinking today that spraying the deer white would add a little more winter whimsy. 

I'm probably going to leave the deer out all year just cause I think they are so cute!

Now that it is a week before Christmas I am finally finished decorating :) 

Reed and I leave on Thursday the 20th go fly down to Nicaragua and spend Christmas with his family. 

I know I've been posting really randomly lately but I wont post anything for about a week. 

I'm gonna try and keep yall updated on facebook and instagram but who knows! 

I hope that each and every one of you have a fabulous Holiday season with your family!! 

Don't forget that Meegan from What Meegan Makes will be guest posting on Wednesday! 

House tour #2

Soooo here is our second room tour! 

I'm so excited to share this with yall. It isn't that special but is part of our new little home. 

I think I'm gonna change it up soon. 

But that can be another post. 

This is a photo that I've shared before

these pillows were given as a gift from my boss at The Fizz. 

She had them personalized just for us and they match the bed PERFECTLY!

These are some shots of our tiny room. I'm standing back as far as I can to get these pictures. 

Our room is tiny. When you walk in you almost run directly in to the bed. 

There is only enough room to walk around the bed and is pushed up against one wall. 

So tiny tiny tiny! 

Above our bed is the canvas wall hanging that I talked about earlier. 

It has our vows and reminds us of what we promised each other on August 4th 2012. 

At the foot of our bed is Reeds armoire. 

He has all of his "decor" on that side of the room. 

The buck scull mount was one that Reed harvested last year with my brother in Columbia. 

The squirrel mount is one that is apparently really rare. I'm not sure of all the details on that.

The butterflies are some that Reed has collected over multiple years. They are from ALL OVER. I think some are even from Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras! 

He had a bunch of these cases full of his insects but during the move a few got destroyed by other bugs... 

And then there is our engagement pictures in our honeymoon jar.

I know we didn't put sand in it. 

So I'm gonna change it to our first house jar. And take some dirt from the yard and fill it up

and then add pictures of us through the year in our new home! 

Then this is our bedside table. 

The one the door almost hits when you come in...

Thats the bible we used as a guest book.

We try to read together every night, it has been really fun finding the random notes from our wedding!

And the picture on the left is of the chest of drawers across from the bed. 

The fabulous mirror was given to us by Reeds Aunt Becky and we LOVE IT! 

I can't wait until we have a place to put it where everyone can enjoy it. 

And the detail of our junk in front of the mirror. 

Reed has gum, 3 knives and 2 watches... 

I will never understand why he needs multiples. 

Well, I guess I take that back. 

My side is covered with earrings. 

Yes I have a lot but they all have a story!

A few of those Reed made me, most of them have been gifts from either Reed, my mom, or my mother in law. And most of the others are from Nicaragua! 

I don't know if you can see them or not, but the 2 moon earrings that are sitting on the frame 

where graduation gifts from a teacher in high school. 

I was with her all 4 years doing student government work and we got pretty close. 

She got me these from an art show out in California. 

I've never been able to wear them, but thats not the point.

They are pieces of art and I hope I can display them better some day soon! 

So, that is our tiny bedroom. 

But its good enough for us! 

Like I said, I will probably move some stuff around meaning there will be another bedroom house tour but thats ok! I'm sure yall are tooootallly interested in my life, right?:) 

"One shoe can save your life" -Cinderella

So, shoes are some of my favorite things. I enjoy having shoes that are different and are something that will express my personality. I've even done some personalizing to a few of my shoes and I wanted to show them to you! 


These are a pair of Nine West boots that I bought from Goodwill for $3 and then added my personal touch. 

These are my Toms I received this past Christmas. Tom's is a great company that started a "One for One" movement, for each pair of shoes sold the company gives a pair to child in need. This pair was my third pair of Toms that I chose to personalize with my own art work. I'm passionate about other things besides my art and shoes. I've visited the country of Nicaragua four times and have grown to love it as a second home. The images I've chosen for my Toms reflect Nicaragua. I have painted the national bird, the guardabarranco, and an iguana. I've also painted the verse "In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10. The composition of these images express where my heart is and gave me a great looking pair of shoes :) 

This pair of shoes doesn't have a cool story. I just LOVE heels and wanted to personalize a pair. Sadly, I haven't had an occasion to wear these yet but I do love the fun lines! 

This is another pair of Toms I did for a friend. He requested I incorporate his favorite color (green), ultimate frisbee, soccer, The Cardinals baseball team, and Job 40:4-5. So, all of that I combined in to this unique pair of Toms! Hope you like them Boone!! 

Painting on shoes is something I really enjoy. It is a unique canvas that allows me to express myself in a different way than paper. Trying to combine different elements along the contours of a shoe can create a really elegant piece of art. Not to mention shoes are seen by a lot more people than a piece of art on the wall!