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Kristen Anne Glover

Five in Tow

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Stephanie’s Thirty-One Adventure

Catch Beetles

When I was very young, I lived on a coffee plantation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  I ran barefooted with my brothers up and down the runway while my dad circled overhead, swimming his red and white airplane through an endless ocean of sky.

During the week, my older brother and I hopped on a yellow truck with bench seats in the back and bounced away to boarding school.  My dorm parents had been missionaries in one of the jungle tribes, so it was appropriate that they were put in charge of civilizing a pack of missionary kids who would have rather been outside collecting beetles and climbing mango trees.

Knee socks

I am not in this picture. That’s why I chose it.

My roommate in that weathered wooden dormitory was Stephanie, the oldest daughter of my dorm parents.  We weren’t much alike, and since she was several grades ahead of me (and far more mature); I must have made her crazy.

I did not know that one day, that curly-haired girl would become my sister.

We’re still not much alike, except we both have crazy hair and a slew of children and we both married men named Jeff.  Some of our kids share names, too.  Other than that, we’re totally different.  For one thing, Stephanie is far more caring.  When my husband was gone on Army business for months on end, Stephanie kept track of the days.  She sent care packages and notes and checked in on me at just the right time.

That’s just like a big sister for you. 

Dorm life

Okay, I’m in this one. Can you find me?

I don’t know how she has time to think of me at all.  Stephanie is the mother to seven children, and the wife of a man who is busy balancing work and ministry.  Jeff was a former missionary kid himself.  The two of them met in training for mission work and spent a total of ten years preparing for and ministering to the Semandang tribe—the same people group Jeff’s parents had served when he was growing up in Indonesia.

One of their children nearly died there.  They faced many challenges and hardships as missionaries.  There were joys too–but if you’ve never been on the mission field, you cannot imagine what it is like to raise your babies in the jungle.

Stephanie and Jeff are back in the States now, working with their home church as youth leaders.  Jeff is on the church board.  They both disciple small groups of people while they pray about where God is leading them.  They work, too, because it takes a lot of work to support a large family.  For a time, Stephanie worked the night shift and came home just in time to homeschool the kids.  Now, she is a caretaker for a few young children in her home while her own kids are in school.

It’s not easy managing a home, ministry, and work.  But I love how consistently Stephanie demonstrates a Proverbs 31 woman to me.  She is willing to work hard as a partner and helpmeet to her husband while being a loving mother to her children.  I’m sure some days are very hard.  But as far as I can tell, Stephanie does it with a servant’s heart.

Like I said, we’re not very much the same.

It seemed appropriate that Stephanie decided to become a consultant for Thirty-One, a company named after Proverbs 31.  Perhaps you’ve heard of them?  They sell amazing bags and organizational products.  I even did a fun review on them here which you totally have to read because it’s funny.  At least, I had fun writing it.

Large Utility Tote Beach Bag

Stephanie decided to join the company for several reasons.  For one thing, she wanted some of the bags.  It’s easy to see why–they are beautiful, functional, and made to outlast seven children (which is saying something).

family photo

This is Stephanie’s family, as they looked a few years ago. Those kids won’t stop growing!

But she has a bigger dream.  She wants to free her husband up to become even more involved in ministry.  That’s just like Steph.

I wanted to support that vision and my step-sister’s dedication to her family.  It’s a rare thing these days to witness a woman working beside her husband in ministry and in the precious calling of raising godly kids with such humility and grace.

I told Steph I would do an online party for her because I appreciate her so much.  If you love Thirty-One bags, or if you’ve never heard of them but want to check them out, please click on the link to browse around!   Your purchase will help Stephanie and Jeff in their desire to serve their church in a greater way.

Click here—->   Thirty-One Party!

To make things even more fun than shopping alone, I will be doing a giveaway!  That’s right!  Everyone who orders through Stephanie’s link above will be entered to win her choice of either this bag (in a print of choice):

Zip Top Utility Tote

The Zip-Top bag keeps everything organized. I’m getting one to take to piano lessons! Bonus: It’s the SPECIAL this month!!!

or this one (again, in your choice of print):

Large Utility Tote

The large utility tote is one of my favorite Thirty-One bags!

All you have to do to be entered to win one of those bags is shop through the party link.  Be sure you order before Friday, February 21 at 9 pm Pacific Time in order to be entered to win one of these bags.  You should see the Five in Tow party title at the top of the screen when you order.  That ensures that you’re ordering with this party so I can keep track of who is eligible to be entered.  Also, if you’re a follower of my Five in Tow Facebook page, you “might” (wink wink) get in on a few extra giveaways while we run this party this week.

Have fun shopping, and thank you for supporting Stephanie!

 

Reviews, Uncategorized 12 Comments

Thirty-One Giveaway!

With Mother’s Day coming up, I thought I’d give you all a chance to win something every mother needs: a third arm.

I know what you’re thinking: “Wow, it would be so great to have a third arm!  Also, that’s a little creepy.  I hope I win!”

Sadly, the government program in charge of the production of third arms sent me an extra set of hips instead, and I know you all don’t want a pair of those.

Fortunately, my friend Amanda Smearman is an independent consultant with Thirty-One, a company that sells a fabulous line of bags and accessories.

Thirty One

She said she had a bag that was like a third arm for moms.  She’d send me one to review if I’d like.

If I’d like?

I had heard of Thirty-One bags and I knew those bags and I have a lot in common.  We’re both bright, cheery, versatile, and, well, no longer twenty-nine.

Of course I’d like.

I ordered a third arm, I mean, a Large Utility Tote.  It comes in a variety of patterns, but I loved the bright colors of the Island Damask.  It screamed SUMMER! to me, and since I live in the Pacific Northwet, I knew that pattern was about as close to summer as I was going to get until sometime in mid-August.

As soon as it arrived in the mail, I loaded it up with some picnic trimmings and headed to the beach. 

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

My third arm and I, at the beach.

Here we are, soaking up some rare sunshine.

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

I fell in love the first time I tried it out.

This tote can hold a ton. Beach towels, water bottles, sporting goods, and every pretty rock or shell five kids can find on a sandy shore.  It’s made of durable, wipeable cloth and collapses completely so it’s always ready in the car for a trip to the store (I can fit the entire thing in my grocery cart so when I’m done shopping, I can just grab it an go). 

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

Like a third arm, you won’t know how you lived without it.  The metal rim stays rigid so you can toss stuff in even if it’s kicking and screaming.

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

I’m telling you, a mom can think of a million uses for one of these babies.

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

Not that I would know.

Of course, not every woman needs a third arm.  I’ve seen some mamas on Pinterest, and man, do they have it all together.

That’s okay.  Thirty-One has great stuff for the less-frazzled among us.  Check this out: they even have reversible bags.

Inside Out bag

This is the Inside-Out Bag in Woodcut Floral.  But if you turn it inside out, you have teeny, tiny polka-dots!

Polka-dots are so in. 

But if I wear them, I look like a giant Minnie Mouse.  So this is better.

I love the versatility of this bag.  I’m a low-maintenance kinda girl, so changing purses is just about the last thing I’m inclined to do when I’m heading out the door (except I’m trying, really, to be cuter, so sometimes I have been known to wear a coordinating purse with nothing in it just to be darling).

Here I am, on a backyard photo shoot to demonstrate the adorableness of this bag.

Cue: wind

Thirty-One Inside-Out bag

A little too much wind…

Thirty-One Inside-Out bag

Alright, already!

hair face

Act like it never happened:

Thirty-One Inside-Out bag

Still loving my Noonday bracelet!

The main point of this incredibly vain photo montage is that the bag looks great in the Woodblock floral print…

Thirty-One Inside-Out bag

…or the polka-dots!

Thirty-One Inside-Out bag

Also, it’s totally okay to wear fair-trade jewelry with a dress from Walmart.  But that’s another post.

Meanwhile, back to this giveaway.  Amanda has generously offered to give one lucky winner a third arm!  I mean, a $35 shopping spree at her Thirty-One shop!

https://www.mythirtyone.com/AmandaSmearman

Hop over to her site, take a look at all the fabulous products, then tell us which one is your favorite when you enter through the Rafflecopter below.

But wait!  Before you choose, you might also like to know that this month, you can get any thermal product for 1/2 off with any $31 purchase!  So, you can get that child-shipping tote AND a thermal for a smokin’ hot price.  That means, when you send the kid to Argentina, you can send a few snacks along too.  LOVE!

Thirty-One special

Wanna win????  All you have to do is enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, if you’re looking for a home-based business, you might want to talk to Amanda about the business options you have with Thirty-One.  Her contact info is on her website!  She’d love to help you get started!

Legal stuff: The views expressed in this piece are my own (like anyone else would come up with them?) and do not represent the views of Thirty-One. 

Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

Thanks for entering!

Reviews, Uncategorized 85 Comments

I believe you can find grace for the mother you are and help to become the mother you long to be—a mom who has the freedom to choose the better things and enjoy her kids right now.

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