2006 in Houston,Texas, at the Starbucks on Spring
Cypress...I was sitting with my husband Don and friend, Deb. We had been going
through some Groupzines put out by Catalyst. Inspired and convicted...wanting to
make a change in our spending, our wheels were turning! It was almost Christmas
and with 9 nieces and nephews to buy gifts for, the thought of "wasting" money
on a $20 gift of "something" for each ... that they would enjoy for just a few
moments seemed... silly. Then there were our co-workers, about 15 of them, our 20
volunteer staff...and our numerous friends. What could we do? Research began on
causes who offer items in exchange for "donations". We loved the idea. That
year, we purchased some chickens, goats and pigs for a village in the name of
the people above. We made cookies and packaged them in a neat little tin and
tied a plastic animal on top with a note saying, "A donation was made in YOUR
name - providing livestock for a village in India." 

It felt good.

And that is how it started. Our purchase had an
effect - a purchase with a purpose!

I love to shop. To decorate. To create. So
collecting items from my travels...was something I did with great plans for them.
At the time I didn't know I would sell them, but I did. I took that money and
bought more on the next trip. Sold that and took that money...(you get it?) and
THAT, my friends is how it started. Each time I would tell the stories, because
It's. Not. About. The. Item. It's about the story, about the people, about the
cause. About the Effect! Bringing awareness.

In 2011, while leading a team of 70 in Costa
Rica...sitting with Kristen in a bus heading to see a volcano, I wrote up
dreams, thoughts, and plans. How fun it was. Kristen was committed to walking,
running, and tripping along with me in this journey, this cause...