This Mother’s Day, I’m working with Clever Girls in support of Macy’s Heart of Haiti to shine a light on the “trade, not aid” program, which provides sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake.

What is Macy’s Heart of Haiti? Heart of Haiti is a “Trade, Not Aid” initiative launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s. Already, Heart of Haiti has led to employment of 750 artists in Haiti, providing financial benefits for an estimated 8,500 people in the country.

Each item is a one-of-a-kind design and handmade by a Haitian master artisan from raw materials such as recycled oil drums, wrought iron, papier-mâché and stone. The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, jewelry and paintings and is made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums and local gommier wood.

Heart of Haiti products are available online at Macy’s.com.

As part of this campaign, I was asked to write a heartfelt message about a mother figure in my life.  This is a hard post for me to write.  Because my mother is everything to me.  I worry I won’t be able to convey how I truly feel.  When I think about it, there are just strong feelings and no words.  But I will do my best.

I remember when I was in 9th grade.  I had a problem with one of my friends and I ran home crying.  At that moment it crystalized for me that my mother was a warm and friendly place.  That she would always make me feel better and I had somewhere to turn when things got rough.  That was a big realization in my young life.  I knew to run to mommy when I got hurt but I had never before made a concrete plan for when my life got rough.

Since then, my mother has been by my side for all the highs and lows of life.  And there is no one {besides my hubby} that I want there more.  It is amazing to have someone in your life that you can tell anything to.

She taught me what is important in life.  Family, God, my testimony.  Not things but people.

My mother is an Awesome seamstress.  She taught me all I know about sewing.  And together we made my daughter’s baptism dress.  It is so sweet to have 2 generations of women make a special dress for her special day.  It puts so much love into it.

We made her dress high waisted and short because she is a fun, frilly girl.  Long and traditional wouldn’t have fit her.  The dress turned out very flirty and was perfect.  Thanks to my mother for teaching me those homeaking skills.

She also taught me to cook and crochet.  One time in Germany my dad and brothers were gone overnight for some reason. So we were going to have a girls night.  I didn’t really know what that meant but I was so excited for it.  My mom was going to teach me to crochet.  And she did.  She was so patient with me.  I hope I can pass on these homemaking skills to my daughters.  They have always served me well.  Thanks to my mom for having the wisdom and foresight to teach me.

When I think of my mother, there is just an overwhelming feeling of love.  Love for her and deep knowledge of her love for me.   Which is manifested in so many ways that I could not list them all.  I do feel like I have very inadequately listed what my mother means to me.  I only hope {and know} that she knows in her heart how much I love her and how important she is to me!!

Thanks for reading,

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Thank you to Macy’s Heart of Haiti for sponsoring my participation in this “Share Your Heart” promotion. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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