A Flicker of Hope

Christmas Candles are Ready!

2011-12-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

While supplies last:

Twigs and Berries

Apples and Maple Bourbon

Amish Harvest

Christmas Hearth

Coming Soon:

Sleighbells

Warm Vanilla Sugar

Gingerbread

All profits benefit Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Guatemala and Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Mozambique.

Email fohope@hotmail.com to place your order.

All candles are highly scented, 16 oz mason jar candles, made with soy wax and clean burning coreless wicks. They sell for $10 each plus shipping. Shipping rates are as follows:

1 Candle - $ 9.00
2-6 Candles - $11.00
7-9 Candles - $15.00
10-12 Candles -$22.00
13-15 Candles -$25.00
16-18 Candles -$29.00

I accept Paypal and personal checks.

Look what else you did!!!!

2011-01-07T06:11:00.000-08:00

So, I read this a couple of days ago.

Hey Mister/Ma'am...Do You have a Quarter?

Let me just tell you, I LOVE Steffany. I want to be like her when I grow up some day. She's a world changer and she's changed my life and perspective on so many things. I am honored and blessed to call her friend. She would give anyone the shirt off her back if they needed it....I've seen her give the headband off her head :o)

Anyway, she's headed to Ethiopia soon and needs a little help. After sending the money you guys helped raise through your Christmas purchases to Water of Life, the bank was broke. But wouldn't you know, a payment that I forgot was outstanding came through. So, now you can add "Sending Steffany's Butt to Ethiopia" to the list of things you got to be a part of.

And certainly, if you feel led, help her out a little more. I can promise that you won't be sorry. She will make you feel like you were a part of her adventure.

Love, Grace and Peace, M

Candle Lovers ROCK!!!

2010-12-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

Check out the thermometer....

We were able to send $1600 to Water of Life this Christmas thanks to your overwhelming support.

I can't thank you enough and it thrills my heart to know that many more will now have access to fresh, uncontaminated drinking water.

I'm off to enjoy the rest of Christmas with my wonderful family.

I'll be back later this winter with some blowout clearance deals and in the spring with some great new fragrances and a new project.

Love, Grace and Peace, Missy

Final deal of the year

2010-12-04T11:34:00.001-08:00

Ok, candle lovers. I'm about to wrap up shipping for the season and wanted to offer you one final deal for the year.

Purchase any 4 candles and receive one "Flicker of Hope, Earth Scents" candle free.

Purchase any 5 candles and receive one "Flicker of Hope, Earth Scents" candle free PLUS get 10% off your order.

All profits provide clean water through Water of Life.

Peruse my current inventory and place your order by sending an email to fohope@hotmail.com.

You will have the option of paying by personal check or paypal.

Hope you're having a blessed Christmas season.

Black Friday Sale Extended!

2010-11-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

1 more day!

20% off.

$8 a candle.

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL!!!

2010-11-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

20% off all purchases.

BLACK FRIDAY ONLY!

Shop HERE and send your order request to fohope@hotmail.com

All profits this season will provide clean water through Water of Life.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-11-24T05:19:00.001-08:00

Hey all,

This is it! The final countdown.

Candles are all made and inventory is updated.

Things are moving fast and time is running out, so order your Christmas Candles today.

I will be offering shopping incentives throughout the shipping season, so stay tuned.

Someone recently expressed some concern that the cost is so high to ship just one candle. Sadly, it's true, but unfortunately I have no control over that. I recommend, if you only want to purchase one candle, that you hook up with some local buds for the better shipping rate. But truly, these are a lot like Lay's.....one's just not gonna cut it :o)

OK! The first incentive of the season is this....

The First order of the Day will receive all single-piece, rustic lids in various colors instead of the gold 2 piece canning lids AND 10 % off your entire order. So, don't delay....go HERE and make a dent in your Christmas shopping list.

Remember....ALL profits go to provide clean water through Water of Life in Liberia.

Candle Tips and FAQ

2010-11-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I've been asked several times recently what the burn time is on my candles.

"Um....I don't know....a really long time(?)"

OK, I know...not a very good answer. So, I set out to do a little tracking.

It seems that you can expect about 50-60 (maybe even a bit more) hours of burn time for each 16 oz. candle. There are some variables. I'm no chemist, but for some reason, some fragrances burn hotter and therefore, burn a little quicker. Drafts can also play into the burn time as well as how evenly a candle burns. If your candle seems to be burning more on one side of the jar, you might want to check for possible drafts.

To get the most out of your candles, here are a couple more tips to keep in mind:

Never trim your FOH wicks. I use self-trimming cotton core wicks. They will be trimmed properly and ready to burn as soon as you remove the lid. You might occasionally get a little wick mushrooming...don't worry about it. The problem with trimming these wicks, is that they will become too short and the wax will smother the flame. If you've already done this or had this problem, just scoop out a layer of wax from around the wick. Soy wax is very soft and this is easy to do with a spoon.

Each time you light your candle, try to burn it long enough to get a pool of melted wax that covers the jar from edge to edge. This usually takes about 1-2 hours.

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your FOH candles, feel free to post them here as a comment, on our Facebook wall or on Twitter.

2010-11-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

on Twitter:

@aFOHcandles

on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=194319330259&v=wall

Black Lids

2010-11-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Single piece black lids arrive on Monday.

Everyone who ordered during the contest will receive a free black lid for each candle ordered.

All outstanding orders will ship Tuesday, November 9th, USPS priority.

For future orders:

If you would like the single piece black lids in place of the two-piece gold canning lids, 30 cents will be added to the cost of each candle. Please let me know when you place your order if you are interested in this option.

Thanks for your overwhelming support of A Flicker of Hope and our current project.

Coming Soon!

2010-11-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Amaretto Nog

Spiced Wassail

Cinnamon Bun

Optional, for a minimal cost, black rustic lids to replace the two-piece gold canning lids.

Contest Winners

2010-10-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

Before I announce the three winners of the drawing, I want to thank each and every person who played along and helped spread the word about A Flicker of Hope Candles and our current project through Water of Life. Your support, encouragement and your sweet reviews about the candles blessed my heart.

Now, without further ado....

oh, wait..gotta say one thing first....

Even though the winners are 3 of my most favorite people, friends and adoptive moms in the world, I can promise you that the drawing was not rigged. 2 of these girls played to win and the 3rd just got lucky.

alright then.....drumroll

Winner #1 is my dear friend, Anne...We met online through the world of adoption and we now live just about an hour apart and see one another on a regular basis. She has the most precious, chubby cheeked pumpkin head from China, with dimples that you could eat soup out of. Thank you Anne for your overwhelming support and friendship.

Winner #2 is my friend, Annee...I feel like Annee and I have known each other for years. We also met online while we were both adopting from the same orphanage in Liberia. We are rebels and kindred spirits. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Annee face to face when we spent the weekend together at the Together for Adoption Conference. Annee, thank you for playing and I can't wait to see you again.

And winner #3 is dear, sweet Denise. I also met Denise online during our Liberian adoption. Denise was always the wise, level-headed encourager of the group....She is quirky, silly, funny and "real" down to the core. She always kept us entertained with her hair drama which allowed us to step away from the adoption rollercoaster, if only for a moment. I love her to pieces. I've never had the chance to meet her in person, but I'm hoping to change that one of these days.

Again, girls and everyone...Thank you. Let's do this again.

What people are saying...

2010-10-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

This post is not to self-promote (well, maybe a little) but to share some reviews with you in case you are skeptical or reluctant to take a risk on something new....and to share with you that I have the best friends in the world who love and support me and this cause that is close to my heart.

"I have never been disappointed with a scent." ~ Meredith

"The candles are wonderful, and smell great. Try one
or two...you'll love them." ~ Jenny

"These are seriously the best candles ever! A Flicker of Hope is amazing. I burn one everyday." ~ Steffany

"Love these candles. Great scent and burn clean. Best part, the proceeds will be used to build a well in Liberia." ~ Anne

"The MOST amazing candles you have ever smelled!" ~ Kathy

" I love your candles. Haven't ordered for a while but now that winter is here will need to get some of the new holiday frangrances." ~ Tina

"... I am totally in love with Amish Harvest " ~ Sharon

"I finally purchased a couple of these candles and I LOVE them. Not only do they smell wonderful but you know that your money to going to a good cause." ~ Annee

"...Her candles have great scents, are reasonably priced, & burn clean for a long time. Do your Christmas shopping early or buy one for yourself while supporting a great cause." ~ Tammy

"They fill your home, office and anywhere else you put them, with a fragrance that makes you feel like you're right where you belong. I LOVE my Amish Harvest and I will never use any other candles other than the ones the send a "Flicker of Hope" right to my heart. " ~ Christie

"Love these candles. You will too!" ~ Becky

"I absolutely love your candles. I'm officially hooked. They burn so nice and even and smell so absolutely wonderful." ` ~Tiffani

In case you don't know, here are the Contest Details!

Contest Update!

2010-10-25T07:04:00.001-07:00

First of all....Thank You! Thank You! from the bottom of my heart to those of you who have already tweeted and shared on facebook about the contest. And thank you to those of you who have placed your orders...

Saturday, October 30th, is the official date for the drawing and I've decided to add two more ways for you to enter...simply, place an order, or send an email to your friends and family with the link and info and copy me (fohope@hotmail.com)

For those of you who place an order, no orders will be billed or shipped until after the drawing. Should your name be drawn as one of the three winners, you can choose to add your free candle to your existing order or deduct the cost of one candle from your order....

Cool? I think so. So, to recap:

You can enter the drawing for one of three free candles by:

Tweeting about it: tag #aflickerofhope and/or retweet from @spleensgirl (that's me)

Sharing the link to this post on Facebook

Blogging about it

Emailing the link and info to friends and family

(don't forget to copy me so I know)

Leaving a comment with some positive feedback about the candles (worth 2 entries)

or by

Placing an order (simply check out the inventory and send an email to fohope@hotmail.com)

Check this out...my friend, Meredith, will be entered 4 times. She shared the link on facebook, she placed an order and she left the sweetest comment (remember, this is worth 2 entries).

Please email me and let me know how you've entered just in case I missed it. Also, if your friends and family want to play, make sure they let me know, too.

Grace and Peace to you all....

Missy

CONTEST! GIVEAWAY! FREEBIES!

2010-10-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

The anniversary of Levi's Gotcha Day is January 8th, and in honor of that, I would love to send a big chunk of change to Water of Life about that time to apply towards a new well or well repair in Liberia. Currently, All the profits from candle sales are being designated for that purpose.

So, here's my plan....

In an attempt to expand our exposure and bump up sales, I'm going to have a contest.

There will be 3 winners selected and each winner will receive a free candle of choice.

Here are the ways you can enter:

Tweet it: link to this post and tag #aflickerofhope or retweet from one of mine (@spleensgirl)

Share about it on Facebook: You can share a post from our Facebook page, or create your own post. Don't forget to let me know.

Blog about it on your personal blog. Again, Don't forget to let me know.

Leave a comment: If you're a previous customer and would like to leave a positive review of any of the fragrances you have tried or the quality of the candles in general, you'll receive a double entry.

That's it....

Here is my current inventory. Just drop me an email at fohope@hotmail.com to place your order and we'll make payment arrangements from there...either through paypal or with a personal check.

If you'd like to know more about my candles, just see the detailed description in the sidebar.

Can't wait to hear from you.

MAY GOD BLESS YOUR LIVES WITH A FRAGRANT MEASURE OF HIS LOVE AND YOUR HOME WITH THE TREASURE OF HIS PEACE!

Together for Adoption

2010-09-28T07:17:00.001-07:00

Driving to Austin at the crack of dawn Thursday for the long awaited Together for Adoption Conference and I'm bringing candles.

We'll be at the Hampton Inn .

We will have exclusive Because Every Mother Matters, Madagascar Spice candles and incense. 100% of the sales from these products will go towards building a holistic maternity clinic in Ethiopia through DOMA

And of course, there will be a sampling of A Flicker of Hope candles and incense, to include everything on the inventory list and then some. 100% of the profits from the sale of these products will go towards a well or well repair in Liberia through Water of Life.

It's the perfect opportunity to pick up some early Christmas gifts that will bless on both ends.

Hope to see you there.

Fall is coming

2010-09-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

Even though it is still ridiculously hot most days here in the Florida panhandle, fall IS coming.

The inventory is updated and 2 fall favorites will be ready in less than 2 weeks...Amish Harvest and Mulled Cider. They usually sell out fast, so you are welcome to pre-order and pre-pay for them, so you will be sure to have them for all of your special fall gatherings.

FYI...

The cotton wicks I use are self trimming, so please don't trim them. Trimming them unnecessarily can cause the wax to drown the wick and you will be unable to burn them again.

Please note new product and shipping/handling prices.

Please remember, as with any handmade product, there will often be some variations in color and appearance.

If you ever have any questions about "A Flicker of Hope" products or the programs supported through your purchases, please feel free to email me at fohope@hotmail.com.

Current Projects and New Inventory

2010-08-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I stray from my current cause (which I will remind you about in a second) because I catch someone else's vision. I recently had the opportunity to make some candles for my friend, Steffany, to benefit for Because Every Mother Matters. They are currently in the process of partnering with DOMA to build a holistic maternity clinic in Ethiopia. Did you know that 1 in 11 women in East Africa dies during pregnancy or childbirth. That's compared to about 1 in 3500 on the United States. So, if you're in the Columbia, Missouri area, look her up and check out our Madagascar Spice candles.

Now, back to the current cause of my heart. Because of our sweet Levi and our connection to Liberia, we are raising money to build a clean water well through "Water of Life" for a community in Liberia. The need for this is very real and personal....you can read more about that here. That is what the profits from your current candle purchases will go towards.

My candle production, as of late, has been quite...well, non-existent. I've decided that if we ever want to get this well built, I need to bump it up a notch. So, my promise to you is...if you will buy them, I will keep making them....and together, with God's blessing, we can get this well built.

Check out my CURRENT INVENTORY along with updated pricing, shipping costs and ordering instructions.

As always, thank you for your purchases and support.

it's been a while....spring clearance....new project

2010-04-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

ok, i know it's been a while...but christmas really wipes me out....

just starting to get back in the mood, but first, i must clean house.

everything is on sale....

all candles: $6...reg $9

all melting tarts: $2...reg. $3

all incense sticks and cones: $1/doz....reg. $2

everything must go!

check out the current inventory of clearance items here.

i currently have requests for black vanilla and amish harvest. if you are a previous customer and would like to request a particular fragrance, please leave me a comment and let me know.

please send an email to fohope@hotmail.com with your order and we'll work out the payment details through paypal or personal check.

our family is in the beginning stages of partnering with "water of life" to build a well in liberia, west africa. so, for the foreseeable future, this is what profits from candle sales will go towards. i'll be posting more about this on my personal blog in the near future and will let you know the details.

Have your gifts shipped directly to your friends and family

2009-12-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

It's almost time to wrap up internet orders for Christmas. If you would like to place an order as a gift and have it shipped directly to your gift recipient, I can enclose one of the following cards along with any personal message you wish to send.

Now Available!

2009-11-23T12:30:00.000-08:00

Updated Inventory to include:

Muscadine

Spiced Lime

Orange Chiffon Cake

Cran Apple

Himalayan Blue Poppy

Amber

Patchouli

what's new?

2009-11-06T16:52:00.000-08:00

The Christmas store is filling up with some old favorites like Christmas Cheer, Plumberry Spice and Sugar Cookie as well as some new fragrances like Cranberry Chutney.

A Flicker of Hope, Earth Scents...for all you earthy, crunchy, granola types..or if you just like a little Sandalwood every now and again.

Back by popular demand...6 pack clamshell of melting tarts for electric and tea light burners

One of the coolest things about being a part of the world of international adoption (besides becoming the mother of one of the most charming children in the world) is the people you meet... even though you may never actually meet them face to face. I had the privilege of becoming acquainted with some amazing women during our adoption process who went on to start organizations that help special needs children in Liberia, raise awareness and help families who want to adopt HIV positive children, and help provide clean drinking water through filtration systems. These are the organizations that your Flicker of Hope purchases through the holiday season will benefit. I encourage to check out each of them. You will be blessed and inspired.

Global Orphan Outreach and Forget-Me-Not Children's Home

From HIV to Home

Redeeming Waters International

You can check out my growing inventory here and drop me an email at fohope@hotmail.com with your order. I will send you a Paypal invoice or you can pay by personal check. As always, thank you for your support of this project and may God bless your life with a fragrant measure of his love and your home with the treasure of his peace.

Happy Fall

2009-10-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

My inventory has been updated. Candles move pretty quickly this time of year, so get your orders in asap. Don't forget to check out the incense and clearance items.

Just a note on incense...this stuff is not just for hippies and pot smokers (some of my best friends, btw :o). If you like a nice, strong, lingering fragrance, incense might be for you. Try burning a stick in a potted plant on your front porch. The inviting fragrance will greet your guests before they even cross your threshold. A stick or 2 smoldering while visiting outdoors will not only add ambiance, but help keep away pesky mosquitos. A little patchouli at the end of a hectic day, along with a good book, a cup of tea, a hot bath or glass of wine, can aid in relaxation. How about this? Light a little sandalwood as you pray and spend time with God. Set aside a fragrance just for this purpose. I love the symbolism of the sweet, fragrant smoke carrying my prayers heavenward.

Before burning incense, please review these these tips on incense lighting and safety.

To order, send an email to fohope@hotmail.com. You can pay with a personal check or with your credit or debit card through Paypal.

As always, thank you for supporting A Flicker of Hope. Stay tuned for details on what your fall and Christmas purchases will be going towards. I'm really excited about this one and I hope you will be too.

Everything's on sale

2009-09-18T14:57:00.001-07:00

Thank you all so much for helping me clean out the candle shop (actually, it's just my china cabinet) before the chill of fall sets in. I have a few fragrances left that I am willing to let go at a discounted price. Check out the updated inventory and see if anything strikes your fancy.

Here's what you can look forward to in a few weeks:

A few old favorites - Amish Harvest, Buttery Gingerbread and Mulled Cider.

A couple of new ones that are sure to become favorites - Autumn Sage and Vanilla Bean & Clove

Some awesome incense sticks and cones - Sandalwood, Patchouli and Nag Champa

Unfortunately, I am forced to raise my prices a bit. All of the new fragrances will sell for $9.00 for a 16 oz. jar. I can assure you that I hate this as much as you do and if the price of supplies ever goes back down, it will be reflected in the cost of the candles.

Alright candle lovers, I'm off to clean up the candle manufacturing plant (actually, it's just an old table in my garage).

I'm Back

2009-08-20T06:46:00.001-07:00

After an 8 month sabbatical, I am easing back into the world of candles. Before I begin stocking up for fall and Christmas, I am doing a little housecleaning. You can check out my current inventory for a list of available fragrances and be sure to take note of the ones that are being discontinued and are heavily discounted.

Like everything else, the price of candle supplies has increased. I have always loved being able to offer a quality product, for a good cause, at a low price. In order to keep prices as low as possible, I'm making a few changes in the following areas:

Shipping - This is an area where I have always lost money. It always pained me that the shipping on the smaller orders was more than the price of the candles, so I usually just charged a portion of the shipping and absorbed the rest. In an attempt to rectify this and keep candle prices as low as possible, I am switching to flat rate priority boxes. This helps in many ways. The boxes are free at the post office, we will all know exactly what to expect in terms of shipping costs, you can plan accordingly and I don't lose, and since it is priority and the boxes aren't floating around the postal system for days, there is less chance of breakage. I can fit up to 6 candles in a medium flat rate box at the current rate of $10.35 I can fit up to 9 candles in a large flat rate box at the current rate of $13.95.

Jars - In the past, I have used smooth, clear jars with rustic lids. Although these are quite cute, the prices have gone up as well, so I am doing 2 things to help cut costs here. First, I am switching to golden harvest mason jars with regular canning lids. I can get these locally at Walmart, so this is a big $$ saver. Secondly, I am recycling. So,if you are a local customer, please save your jars. Because of the soy wax, these are easily cleaned and reused.

Fragrance - I've always used the highest quality fragrances available and offered a wide variety of scents to try to meet the varied tastes represented in my customers. I will not cut corners on the fragrance quality, but, as hard as this is going to be for me, I am going to try to cut back on the variety of fragrances each season. So please, past customers especially, let me know what you have liked and what you would like to see me bring back each season.

A Flicker of Hope has always existed as a ministry. Please check out the list in the sidebar of organizations and people who have benefited from your candle purchases. I am also very pleased to tell you that Tim and Susan are on their way to China as I type this to bring home Grace. Thank you again for you support of their adoption last fall.

Again, here is my CURRENT INVENTORY. Just send an email to fohope@hotmail.com with your order.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to thank you all for your business this Christmas season. I have taken the last of my Christmas orders and now it's time for me to kick back and enjoy the rest of the year with my wonderful family while we celebrate the birth of our saviour and reflect on the many blessings of 2008. I look forward to hearing from you all in 2009 and meeting all of your candle needs.

Merry Christmas!

Link List

2008-12-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

My link list of organizations that we support has been on the fritz lately. Just wanted to let you know that they all seem to be working right now. I would encourage you to check out each and every one of them. You will be blessed by the work that God is doing through these people and you can be encouraged that your candle purchases have allowed you to be a small part of what they are doing.

Christmas Inventory

2008-12-02T16:40:00.001-08:00

They're going fast, so get 'em before they're gone for good. Follow the link below for updated inventory and ordering instructions.

UPDATED CHRISTMAS INVENTORY!!

**UPDATE: A Flicker of Hope Exclusive Fragrance

Papaw's Pipe has been added to the inventory!! I've been working on this one for a couple of years; trying to capture the familiar scent of my Papaw's pipe that I remember from childhood. It's a blend of ripe cherries, sweet roasted chestnuts and a hint of vanilla.

Thank You

2008-12-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

Fellow candle lovers, before I put up the link to the updated inventory, complete with some old favorite Christmas fragrances, I wanted to tell you all thank you so much for the support during the month of October for Baby Grace's adoption fund. Through your purchases and donations, we were able to send $180 to my friends in Virginia. Tim and Susan were so blessed by your generosity. A brief note of thanks follows:

Could you please tell everyone how much we appreciate their thoughtfulness, generosity, and prayers. We continue to work on our dossier, which is almost done. After that, the long wait for INS approval begins- and then the packet is off to China, with a hope of travelling late spring 2009. It's funny how our government now has more red tape than the Chinese! To send a packet to the Chinese embassy costs $20/ document plus a $5 processing fee plus postage. A dossier consists of 12 documents- so the money you raise makes all of that possible. Grace still seems so far away... but I know it will be here before we know it.

Hope for Grace**

2008-09-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's day book on my personal blog, I mentioned that I was starting a special project for some friends of ours. As most of you know, one of my hobbies is candlemaking. Right now, I feel like I have an opportunity to use my candles to do something special to help some people that I love dearly.

When we lived in Virginia, our friends Tim and Susan began the adoption process at the same time we did; us from Liberia, them from China. We even had our in house portion of our homestudy done on the same day by the same social worker. She went right from our house to theirs. We were blessed to bring our son home only 7 short (it didn't seem that way at the time) months later, but it was a 2 1/2 year process for them to bring their sweet Nathan home.

Now, less than a year later, God has given Tim, Susan and their wonderful family an opportunity to adopt another child from China. Zhang Dou Dou is a precious little 1 1/2 year old girl with a heart condition. It seems her condition is correctable or at least manageable with the right medical care. For those of you who don't know, China will typically only adopt to you if you have 4 or fewer children living in your home. Tim and Susan have 5. God brought this child into their lives and they are trusting Him to work out all of the details.

They were not prepared financially for the expense of another adoption, but again, they are stepping out in faith and trusting God to make it happen. They are selling items on Craigs list, having garage sales, lemonade stands and bake sales. This is also where you and I come in. I've got a cabinet full of candles that are just waiting to make your home smell delightful and I'm making more by the day. All profits from your candle purchases through the end of October will go to help bring Zhang Dou Dou home to her forever family. Tim and Susan are thinking about naming her Grace. What a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl.

So, here's how it works.

1. Check out my inventory (this will change frequently in the days ahead)

2. Send an email to fohope@hotmail.com with a list of the candles you would like to purchase to help with Grace's adoption expenses.

3. I'll send you a total with shipping and my mailing address for you to send me a check.

4. Once I receive your check, I will ship your candles USPS priority.

5. At the end of October, I get to send our friends a big check to help bring Grace home....all thanks to your purchases.

FYI: We already have $53!!

**cross-posted at It's a Wonderful Life

Updated Inventory - August 5th 2008

2008-08-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a current list of available candles. If you wish to make a purchase, drop me an email at fohope@hotmail.com

A Flicker of Hope Inventory List

COMING SOON! Orange Chiffon Cake, Southern Vanilla and Vanilla Lime

A Flicker of Hope - "Who are we?"

2008-08-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

I began making candles about 7 years ago to support my candle addiction. Actually, I found that I was spending too much money on candles and was disappointed in them more often than not. Either they didn't burn cleanly, they didn't smell as good burning as I thought they would or they would burn down the middle of the jar, leaving 1/2 the wax stuck to the sides of the jar.

I found it to be great fun and, through trial and error and a little education, I was able to eliminate many of the problems that I experienced with many of the store bought candles. I enjoyed having a home that always smelled great and giving them away as gifts to friends, family and neighbors. Pretty soon, friends and neighbors began to inquire about buying them from me. I wasn't all that interested in becoming a real business at that point, but was happy to have a few extra bucks in my pocket from time to time.

After adopting our son from Liberia in 2006, my sister and I began making candles on a nearly full time basis to raise money for the orphanage from which we adopted our son. This went on for over a year until the time came for us to step away from this particular project.

During this period of time, while we were raising money for the orphanage, we received a huge blessing from also being able to give candles away as gifts and ministry and we were even able to use them for other worthy causes to include special olympics, neighborhood ministry, women's shelters and adoptions.

In January of 2008, A Flicker of Hope became a for profit corporation. The goal of this new corporation was to raise money for our family's future adoption and to hopefully make enough to be able to give generously to other charitable organizations. I found it very hard going to "for profit" status. First of all, I realized that I wasn't a very savvy business woman. I often gave such huge discounts that I lost money. I also noticed that I was becoming stingy at the idea of giving candles away and I didn't like that. I wasn't excited about making candles anymore, I even dreaded the thought of unpacking the supplies after a recent move. I missed the blessing of giving a candle to a new neighbor or taking one to a home where we were invited guests. I was holding on too tightly and all of the enjoyment of what had once been a fun hobby and a small ministry was gone.

I prayed hard for clear direction from God. It didn't make sense that I had felt so strongly just months before that becoming incorporated was the right thing to do and was now feeling so overwhelmed, uncertain and full of dread. I even feared telling my husband what I was feeling. I didn't want to risk looking like a flaky fool. When I finally shared my thoughts with him, he agreed immediately that he thought this was the right thing to do and lovingly supported this decision without one word criticism or making me feel like a quitter. I felt like this was my answer from God.

Instantly, I became excited about candle making as a hobby and ministry again. I took the necessary steps to dissolve the corporation and unpacked my candle supplies in short order and began setting up my work station in the garage. I am now enjoying my hobby again and look forward to sharing them with others. Since it is more economical for me to purchase supplies in larger quantities, I will still always have a small stock available if you should find yourself in a position of needing a candle or 2 for a great price.

I am currently making candles for a friend of mine to use as a fundraiser for her non-profit in Liberia. I look forward to sharing details about what she is doing and photos of her candles and how you can order them and support her ministry.

I am open to the possibility of helping with fundraising if the timing and circumstances are right for my family. Feel free to email me at fohope@hotmail.com to discuss options.

2000-01-01T11:15:00.000-08:00