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Editor’s Note: As of June 1st 2015, we’re excited to announce that Shopping With Blessed Zelie: A Catholic Directory of Businesses is teaming up with Saintnook! Each Wednesday, we showcase a new Catholic, home-based business.
These businesses are united by the same love for our Catholic Faith, and are passionate about their products. These are their stories. Sometimes, these businesses even offer exclusive discounts to Saintnook subscribers. Subscribe today and don’t miss anything!
Contact us if you would like your Catholic Business featured!
The Winners for the Shopping with Blessed Zelie Giveway are announced down the end of this post!
Today we feature the host of Shopping with Blessed Zelie, Christine Henderson, a mom, speaker, writer, and doll maker.
She shares her story and the inspiration for her Catholic business: Jacob’s Toy Box and Books.
1. Tell us about yourself.
My name is Christine Henderson and this business was born out grief and has turned into something beautiful by God’s design. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband of almost 22 years and 6 beautiful children that now range in age from 19 to 9. Like many women, I have had the tragic loss of 3 miscarriages. Then four years ago my daughter Marita was still born at 27 weeks.
Two years ago my son Jacob was also still born at 32 weeks. I needed a way to focus my “sad” energy over my two still births into something positive. My oldest daughter Elizabeth encouraged me to write the stories I have always dreamed of writing and also encouraged me to make these rag dolls–similar to the ones I made when she and her sister were little. So, thanks to her idea and my husband’s encouragement Jacob’s Toy Box and Books was born.
2. What do you make?
The Sister Marie Books
The first book I wrote was A Sister Marie Story: Saint Philomena, HELP! Sister Marie is a fictionalized nun who works with people living in a low income neighborhood. In each book she shares about the life of a saint and helps people see how the saints can can help us.
Sister Marie works in a poor area trying to help the residents improve their lives. One day she meets Maggie, a little girl, who has just moved into a run down house with her family. Things are not going well for them, and the father does not know what to do. Sister Marie shares with this family the story of Saint Philomena. Will this wonderful saint be able to help?
Surprised at the great response my Sister Marie Story received I wrote another Sister Marie story which just has been published– A Sister Marie Story: Saint John Bosco and the Dog.
On one of Sister Marie’s many treks to the poor area of the city, she befriends a stray dog. Her friend, Edgar, agrees to keep him for a pet. Every afternoon Edgar takes care of a Down’s Syndrome boy named Zack. Will the dog and Zack get along? What is it about Edgar that makes him like Saint John Bosco? Read and find out in this delightful story.
Rosary Meditations for Children
While waiting for all the editing and printing to be completed on my first book, I wrote the Rosary Meditations for Children book.
Praying the family rosary is very important. However, it can be challenging to keep a child focused during it. Our imagination is a wonderful thing and may be used to help make the family rosary a time of spiritual growth and enjoyment. In this book, I have written different thoughts for the fifteen traditional mysteries. Read aloud one before each decade and encourage your child(ren) to think about it while praying. There is also a picture for each decade included in this book to further enhance your child’s focus and imagination.
The feedback from all three books has been very positive. So I am starting to work on another Sister Marie Story. Watch for it in the Fall of 2015!
Just last week I converted my website into an e-commerce site. My books are still available on Amazon, but now can be purchased on my website–(thus keeping the money for writing the books in this author’s pocket and not Amazon’s!)
Making Religious Dolls
Just recently I started making my dolls again. I stopped for about a year due to being too busy with the family to keep up with all the sewing. With each doll taking about three hours to create, I will not always have them in stock. However, if I am out, please contact me on my website and let me know what you are wanting. I will then “save” the next doll I create for you.
The religious dolls are a lot of fun to watch kids play with. For the priest I also have a set of vestments that can be purchased.
This picture is a few years old, but it shows my two youngest boys playing Mass with the dolls. The stuffed animals are the parishioners. (Such precious memories!)
My favorite dolls to make are my Child of God Dolls. Each one is so unique and seems to have its own personality.
3. Do you do anything else?
The final thing that I do is the most challenging, yet the most important. I give talks to groups about my experiences with having two stillbirths. In the talk I share my thoughts and feelings that I went through and how I was able to cope. I also give suggestions for the people helping the person experiencing the grief. So often friends and family do not know how to comfort someone dealing with this loss.
Giving my talk is always bittersweet but I feel it is something God is calling me to do. I do not charge for these talks and I will travel to give them. However, if the location of the talk is not near Kansas City, I do require transportation, food, and lodging costs to be covered.
For more information on my talks, go to my website and click on the Presentations Tab.
Please make sure to continue following Shopping With Blessed Zelie as we continue showcasing Catholic businesses right here on Saintnook!
May God Bless You and Mother Mary always hold you close in her arms!
Christine
4. Contact, Site & Social Links
Visit my Website
Contact Me!
Winners of the first Giveaway!
Winners have been emailed. If you are a winner, please make sure to respond to that email.
The Winners for the giveaway are:
Lilla Rose Hair Accessories – Hair clip: Megan K
Saongjai – Necklace: Jennifer
Jacob’s Toy Box and Books – two books: Danielle Miller
Saint Zita’s Workshop – Cowl: Valerie Duffy
Silver Hill Treasures – veil: Emily Murphy
Distant Shores Apparel – Tshirt: Carrie McDowell
Saint Anne’s Rosaries – rosary: Joanne Heintz Basko
Almond Rod Toys – set of blocks: Emily MacMichael
Gail Giron Designs – earrings: Abigail Flavin
Usborne Gifts – $20 gift certificate: Lydia Chapa Romero
Arma Dei – $25 gift certificate: Jen Steed
Real Life Rosary – Book: Megan
Shopping With Blessed Zelie: A Catholic Directory of Businesses showcases a new Catholic, home-based business each Wednesday.
These businesses are united by the same love for our Catholic Faith, and are passionate about their products. These are their stories. Sometimes, these businesses even offer exclusive discounts to Saintnook subscribers. Subscribe today and don't miss anything!
Contact us if you would like your Catholic Business featured.
Subscribe to Saintnook!
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