They’re pretty, really really pretty. The charms, the dolls, the pearls, the handmade beads. They’re all really neat. And, I love being the first to admire them when the box with Chinese characters all over it arrives at my door.
But, that’s not why I do it.
It’s the stories I get to hear that makes me willing to keep at it to keep Jiayin Designs going. The story of a foster mom who cried when she received her charm from the family adopting the child she cared for. The story of the husband who bought his wife who has been waiting to be a mama for so long a charm for Mother’s Day in anticipation of great things. The story of a big sister or a grandmother who learned about the new little one joining their family with the gift of a charm.
Add to those stories the stories of the Chinese artists who laugh with joy every time they get a new order, so excited to have a way to provide for their families. And, the stories of provision for IECS staff through the profits from these sales.
Yeah, that’s why I do it. Makes the little effort I put into it totally worth while.
This month is a celebration in our story–in just a couple weeks, we will remember the day 3 years ago that we saw our daughter’s face for the first time. A couple weeks after that is when my mother gave me my first charm with my daughter’s Chinese name, a charm I wore everyday thereafter until we came home from China in our arms.
In celebration of our story, I want to celebrate your stories.
I want to hear what your Jiayin charm means to you. Share the significance it has been to you or your family in a blog post, making sure to give the link to Jiayin Designs’ website (www.jiayindesigns.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jiayindesigns). Then, come back here before January 27th and share the link to the post below so we can all see it. I’ll check out every post and bring in some story-sharing experts (aka my mom and sisters most likely who wouldn’t be entering) to help me choose one blogger who particularly moved us through words and maybe even pictures who will win a custom charm of his or her choice, chain, and pearl (a total value of $80) AND a custom charm, chain, and pearl to give away to someone waiting for their story to begin–any mama waiting to bring their little one home (a total value of $160).
I can’t wait to read your stories!
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