This past weekend was the Choose Joy conference down in beautiful Laguna Hills, CA and I was blessed to be able to attend again this year. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be able to be in a group of people with different stories and yet feel totally accepted and understood. Last years conference changed my life with that feeling. I hadn't ever experienced that kind of bonding and empathy since God's timing and plan for our family differed from our own desires. It was amazing then and was amazing once again this year.

photo credit: @erinbassett @heartgrownbabylove @blairbritt @amberhasfavorites

There is SO much I could tell you about this event, but really I don't even know where to start, and a lot of it is really personal, so I'll just give you some of the highlights. We got to choose three breakout sessions that were speaking to our heart. Each of the speakers of my sessions were so informative and REAL. Scary real. Which is good and just what I needed. The main speakers, Jen and Brian Dean, were great as well and the Lord really used the scripture they shared to speak to my heart.

So many of my online friends were there too! It was awesome to see friends I already had met in real life before and to finally meet others for the first time as well. It's funny how it feels like a reunion even though you barely know each other in "real life"...or maybe we do know the real us because what draws us together as friends (Jesus + infertility and adoption) is so raw and real. 

If you are attempting to survive infertility or adoption I strongly recommend you trying to come to the next Choose Joy event...you can sign up for email updates here. 

My friend Emmy is raising funds to adopt and it's been really fun to have crafting be apart of it! I participated in their hoop exchange, and now am doing her garland exchange.

I had to try my banner on my mantel before I mailed it off. ;)

...which lead me to bust out my ScanNCut™ so I could cut out letters out of fabric. (It worked great for that by the way!)

...which lead me to sewing fabric which I haven't done in ages.  I missed it! I need to do more of it!

Also, on a side-note, I find it weird that I had to go to 3 stores in order to find the pom-pom trim to add to this. What's up with that? Thank Goodness that my local scrapbook store had some since JoAnn's and Michael's didn't!

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my posts about Emmy's Hoop Exchange fundraiser (#itsjustemmyhoopexchange) to raise the funds to adopt again.  Well my hoop is finished & headed off to it's new home!  I really hope my hoop-mate likes it!!! *fingers crossed*

I did some embroidery and added some beads and sequins to it as well.  I'm really happy with how it turned out!

If you're bummed you missed this swap then no fear, Emmy is doing another one! This time it's a Garland Exchange...check it out HERE and help them add to their family!