7 months pregnant + counting

🦋 💜 🌿 How is your week going?

It's been an incredibly busy past week in my corner.

We had a house guest, and a babyshower with friends who live locally. Really nice.

I've also been spreading the word about a fundraiser I'm spearheading.

And, oh yeah, I'm over 7 months pregnant.

As we were showing our guest around town, I could barely walk around, that's how big I'm getting.

The window of time where I can get many things done seems to be rapidly shrinking.

A part of me is like AHHH!!! Panic!

another part of me is like, just give up and take a nap already.

I tell myself, take some breaths, calm down, rest, and then maybe do one thing. Then, if you have energy, repeat.

The emotional rollercoaster ride of anticipating giving birth for the first time (never been something I've liked the thought of),

and then shortly after that having a tender newborn I will be taking care of for life....wow. It's a lot of feelings.

And surprisingly, I'm finding myself mourning my maternity leave before it happens.

I'm not saying being a business owner isn't hard. Because it is. And there are plenty of things that aren't my cup of tea that need to be done anyway.

But the level of satisfaction I'm able to obtain, the connections with people, sharing my writing, the opportunities to use talents that otherwise would be less flexed...

I will miss all of that.

So although I fully INTEND to go on a 3 month maternity leave at the beginning of December,

I have a caveat:

if I FEEL LIKE popping in, writing something I want to share, and sending you an email during that time, I will!

I don't know how it is going to go over the next few months, but I want to give myself freedom and permission just to go with my mood.

If writing and sharing feels fun and like it supports my mental health, I will do it.

But I will create no promises so that I don't have any additional pressures on me while I am in my last weeks of pregnancy and start taking care of my baby.

And if suddenly, I start feeling unwell in the next few weeks and I just can't even handle anything, then I'm going to just rest.

In that case then you may not hear from me at all for a while. Just know, I will eventually be back, okay?

In the meantime, I have one thing going that is super important, literally life changing.

And FYI this is definitely happening, no matter what.

I'm fundraising to help two young women continue college in Sierra Leone, as I have for the past two years running.

These funds are the only thing keeping them from dropping out of college.

It's such a life changing opportunity for them, and the funds are so needed.

I'm running on limited time here so I could really use your help spreading the word.

We've raised 50% of the fees for the first student, Ismatu and just need another $400 USD for her.

This fundraiser will collect funds to support Ismatu’s next year (year 3) in university:

Year 3 microbiology degree student
women’s rights advocate and activist
award winning, talented debator
comes from indigenous community with low female literacy in Sierra Leone

We just need about 16 more donations of $25 to raise her fees.

YOUR REWARD:

If you donate $25 or more than my friend Kris Oster and I will give you a Tarot reading at our upcoming live event.

It's a TAROT FOR CHARITY party happening live online Tuesday, November 11th at 3:30 PM Pacific/6:30 PM Eastern.

Come get a personal intuitive reading about your life, your book, or your business for as little as $25.

Your donation will help a young woman to continue her university degree in Sierra Leone, a country where only 1% of women have any college education.

It's a great cause. You WILL change her life.

Thanks so much and there's more information below!

Please help us to spread the word and change a woman's life.

As an expecting mom, I could really use all the help I can get!

“Kris’s Tarot Card reading was insightful, enlightening, and spot-on. I have had many readings through the years and no one has provided as much accuracy and clarity as Kris. She truly forms a genuine connection and has an astounding comprehension of the messages within the cards. I highly recommend tapping into Kris’s talent and getting a reading, you will not be disappointed!” – Theresa, California

“Kris is an amazing teacher and writer full of light, wisdom and emanates joy in her teachings. Also the best Tarot card reader. Have recommended several friends to have readings and Kris is always generous, bringing light to the issues with insight and accuracy. Love her 💖 highly recommended her classes and readings.” – Colleen, California

“Kris has such a nurturing warmth and love that just oozes from her every word and act and then you couple it with a natural intuitiveness, skills with tarot cards, and her business savvy, and you have one very special and unique women who thrives in this realm! I loved our soul session together; it was affirming for the direction I’m going in creatively, personally, and professionally and encouraging as well to continue listen to my instincts and intuition in all aspects of my life. I highly recommend doing a business soul strategy session with Kris if you’re going in a new direction with your business or creating a new one from the ground up.” – Rachel, California

Join me and Kris for an online Tarot party

Tuesday November 11

3:30-4:30 PM pacific / 6:30-7:30 PM Eastern

My friend Kris Seraphine and I need your help. We are fundraising to help a young woman in Sierra Leone stay in university.

Because I give birth in December, and one student has fees due in January, we are doing our fundraiser a little earlier this year!

How it works: if you donate $25 to our fundraiser, then you get a Tarot reading from us as a thank you.

We’re now just $400 away from our goal – which is 16 donations of $25.

Come and share with your friends so we can reach our goal. Let’s make a big impact together.

More information:

What is the cause?

This fundraiser will collect funds to support Ismatu’s next year (year 3) in university:

Year 3 microbiology degree student
women’s rights advocate and activist
award winning, talented debator
comes from indigenous community with low female literacy in Sierra Leone

For two years running, we have successfully raised money for her to attend college.

This fundraiser is the only reason she is able to attend and have not dropped out due to lack of funds!

Considering only 1% of women in Sierra Leone get to go to college, this is an amazing opportunity for her to gain financial independence in a place where women face many human rights abuses.

Why it matters

It is rare for women to go to university there, only 1% of women in Sierra Leone have any college education, so we want to make sure Ismatu can finish her degree.

Less than 1 out of 5 women where she is from can read a sentence, so it would be a shame for her to reach this level of education and then be forced to drop out because she lacks a few hundred dollars.

Ismatu wants to use her degree to get a paying job after university, to support herself and help her mom and sister. She is also interested in using her degree to help people with science.

She has always been dedicated to serving others including in her years as a teen where she voluteered to visit other communities to talk to women about women’s rights and the dangers of female genital mutilation.

Can I learn more about the nonprofit you work with?

Her Future Foundation is an organization dedicated to empowering girls and ending sexual violence in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone has high levels of violence against women, child marriage, female genital mutilation and other human rights abuses.

This nonprofit helps us to direct resource to where it will make the most impact to help girls and women in Sierra Leone.

Click here to read more about this fundraiser and the nonprofit Her Future Foundation.

How much is the Tarot Party?

Everyone who donates $25 or more between now and the November 11 party can get a live Tarot reading.
Feel free to come and support even if you haven't donated--you might hear something that resonates.

How to Join the Tarot Party:

Make your donation and then sign up here to Join live on Zoom:

Click here to register for the live zoom

How to Donate:

Send your donation to one of the places below.

The suggested donation to get a reading is $25 but ANY amount helps.

Preferred–Donate through GivenGain to send it directly to the Her Future Foundation organization.

Pay through GivenGain

2. If you feel more comfortable sending payment via Paypal, you can send the money to Sofia, who will transfer it to Her Future Foundation in Sierra Leone for Ismatu’s college fees.