Expressions of love

Monday, October 09 2006, 12:22 AM EDT

Contributed by: Charita M Goshay

FAMILY CIRCLES

When she was a child, Leah Hogsed's British family adopted the United States as its new home.

As an adult, Hogsed and her husband, Tom, have begun the process to adopt a child from Panama to add to their two natural children: son Tyler, 6, and daughter Lexi, 4.

In the midst of preparing for their new baby, Leah Hogsed came up with the idea for "Heart to Home," a line of custom-made jewelry for adoptive families.

"It started when the idea of adoption became personal for us," she said.

"God brought it to my attention that so many children in the world need a family. The "Heart to Home" idea of an adoptive bracelet is a constant reminder that the adoption process starts in the heart and ends in a home."

Tom Hogsed, a young-adult pastor at Canton Baptist Temple in North Canton, Ohio, said his travels overseas helped make him aware of just how many children around the world are languishing in poverty. The couple is adopting a baby through a private Christian agency.

HOBBY LED TO IDEA

Leah Hogsed said the idea for the bracelets emerged as a result of her taking up the hobby of beading earlier this year and being unable to find a satisfactory adoption bracelet for herself.

Each "Heart to Home" bracelet is personalized. Made of Swarovksi crystals, their corresponding colors match the flag of the adoptive child's country of origin. Charms are made of sterling silver. Styles include "Heart to Home," a "Gotcha Day" bracelet, which commemorates the date of an adoptive child's homecoming; the adoptive mother's bracelet that can be worn by present or future moms; and bracelets for other family members.

Hogsed named her company Tesoro Creations. Tesoro is a Spanish word for "treasure."

"Our hope is, the jewelry will be something more than something you wear, but something you treasure," she explained.

Tom Hogsed said adoption can offer a child immeasurable hope.

"I did some research and found that of the 4 million orphans currently in Russia, only one in 10 will become functioning members of society," he said. "In places like Mexico and Argentina, there's a huge need. In America, at least kids have a chance at a possible mentor. Kids (in other countries) have no shot at all."

Leah Hogsed noted that six in 10 Americans have had a personal experience with adoption, either in their own families or through someone they know.

The bracelets range in price from $36 to $50.

They can only be purchased online. For information visit www.tesorocreations.org.

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