The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy.

-Henry Ward Beecher

I am still reeling from the annual Noonday Ambassador Conference that I recently attended in Austin.

We had many amazing speakers including Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery fame, Jen Hatmaker, Melissa Russell of International Justice Mission, and John Ruhlin.

In my opinion the real stars of the weekend were the women who traveled from Uganda, Guatemala and Ethiopia to speak to us about the artisans they employ. Artisans who make beautiful, handcrafted goods that Noonday Collection purchases from them.

{This is Jalia- she is the founder of African Style and creates all of the incredible jewelry made using paper beads in Uganda. Seconds before my friend snapped this photo, she said blessings over my baby and kissed my bump!}

I heard first hand how women have been rescued from the pit of prostitution, abusive marriages, and hopeless poverty. All because they now earn a dignified income.

These aren’t just stories, they are lives. And these lives are forever changed thanks to Noonday Collection and our fearless founder desiring to make a difference in the world. We’ve created a marketplace for them in the United States that they would otherwise not have access to.

Many of these women are moms who now are able to keep the children they were considering giving up for adoption because they now have money to buy food to feed them.

So if you ever wonder if your Noonday purchases really make a difference, let me reassure you- they do. Every single order, no matter how small, means a new order for our artisan partners. The ripple effect is huge. And I felt it last weekend.