The Train To Crazy

What does education mean to you?

Do you have any idea how lucky we are to have free education? Do you know what countries are like that don't have the infrastructure to provide education for the children? Can you imagine the poverty, the desperation? 

Care to skip a meal out or two this week and help send a child in India to school? Maybe a child that has been rescued from growing up in a brothel? Read the rest of the story here. We can't save them all but we can save some! School starts Thursday so we must act fast!

Think of these faces before you just pass up this opportunity.

 

You tell me

Sometimes you read a quote and think, "that's nice." Sometimes you read a quote and think, "that is profound." And sometimes...

it is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you can live as you wish.

~mother teresa

What do you think when you read that? 

Who doesn't love Craigslist?

I know the answer to that. Young girls being trafficked for sex. 

Boycott Craigslist and urge them to put a stop to their sex ads that often boast "young girls for sex" or other such deplorable things. Does this get your attention? Read more from Tom Davis.

Read this open letter to the CEO of Craigslist. Then sign the petition.

Then spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, a blog or email!

Sometimes you read things and must pass them on...

Scribbit wants you to evaluate if you are you raising a narcissist. All I have to say is READ THIS. She is so spot on! All parents should take a close look at their parenting. Want to know if you are a narcissist? Take this great quiz.

It's Almost Naptime nails the topic of designer babies. I'll give this 5 stars.

And, just for fun, what does your favorite color say about what career would suit you best? Let's just say this quiz said I should do exactly what I do. Well, what I did prior to staying at home with the kiddos.

The ad space giveaway ends tomorrow!

What a day

Wow, what a day, right? There are some intense emotions flying around. I thought I'd help you by letting you focus a little of that intensity on something other than yourself and our country's health care bill (not that that is what you are doing, of course).

Unshaken - charity: water's campaign for Haiti from charity: water on Vimeo.

And, because I can't help it, here is something else to get your out of your own situation. Jesus and the Health Care Bill.

Walk a mile in their shoes

Sometimes when I read about Burma, I feel like I'm reading about a time long ago. A time when an army burns villages and rapes and destroys everything in it's path. It is hard to understand, while sitting in my cozy dining room, that this continues today. I can't wrap my head around ethnic cleansing. I can't understand the brutality that exists. I can't fathom millions of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs). I can't understand how a prime minister could be elected by 80% of the vote and be under house arrest since winning, 20 years ago. I can't understand how this could go on for years, and decades, while we just watch. 

Chances are, you don't know much about Burma, or Myanmar as the dictatorship calls it. If you have a few minutes this week, I would recommend reading a little about the history of Burma and the relief effort going on there right now. The Global Day of Prayer for Burma was yesterday, you can read about it here.

There is an amazing, truly unbelievable effort going on to aid these IDPs. I wrote about how you can help last year at this time. I highly recommend reading that post. There is a very good family project you can do to directly help the IDPs in Burma. Take a moment and familiarize yourself with Christians Concerned for Burma and the Free Burma Rangers (humanitarian relief teams).

How much did you know about Burma? Would you like to make a care package for the Good Life Clubs in Burma that the Free Burma Rangers bring to the people? Will you pray for the people of Burma and all the refugees in Thailand? 

Will you be a voice for children?

I really can't describe my mood right now. Angry? Dumbfounded? Sad? Helpless? As you may have read yesterday, I am very disturbed by the parents that abused their daughter to death. Yes, she happened to be adopted, but they used this same "discipline" technique on their other 8 children as well so perhaps they are just lucky none of the others died. 

You read about a story like this, and you get upset, wonder how anyone could hit their child with something like rubber tubing? Repeatedly. For something like mispronouncing a word. It is of course important to mention that this little girl was adopted from Liberia. The main language in Liberia is English. But Liberian English is very difficult to understand by Americans. Now, imagine this little girl getting beaten for mispronouncing a word.

So, you can't imagine this family doing this, but so what? This is an isolated incident, it doesn't happen very often. The other children in the home are now "safe" in foster care. Well, I'll tell you what happens when an adopted child is killed. Liberia, a country on the brink of reopening their adoptions, is now NOT going to open them. Dozens of children, already matched with parents to be adopted will be languishing for the rest of their childhood, if they survive, in orphanages. My niece, Blessing, is one of those children. She is currently not in an orphanage, but rather a foster child in my brother's home. You may remember her from her pictures before and after her surgery. Well, I'm here to tell you that the "isolated incident" may prevent her from ever having a family. From ever having the surgeries she needs to repair her palate. From ever feeling the love of a mother, father and siblings. This baby was abandoned, left to die by her birth family because of her cleft palate. My brother and sister-in-law nursed her back to health, saved her from death, and now they can't adopt her.

So what is left to do? Pray. Pray that something will change the heart of the LIberian President. Pray that by some miracle they will be able to adopt her and all of the other orphaned and abandoned children will find loving, safe homes.

And you know what else you can do? You can be the eyes and ears for abused children near you. How is it that the friends and family of these child killers believed the family was a good one and there was no signs the children were abused and yet ALL of the children say they were beaten with this plumbing tubing? I'll tell you why. People didn't see anything wrong with it. Plain and simple. Sure, they may have seemed a bit strict, but the kids were good and the parents "had good hearts." So, the next time you think of your friend who "has a good heart and good intentions" but you know she hits her kids, think twice about condoning her behavior. Sure, all parents mess up. All parents have different discipline techniques, and it is rare for a child to die, but it happens. Perhaps you can be the voice of reason in someone's life when all the other voices are telling them to control their child completely. Perhaps you can save more than just the life of their child, but the lives of others. Speak out against these cruel methods of child "training".

Now is NOT the time to be politically correct and ride the fence, hoping to not offend anyone. Now is the time to speak out against these practices. Speak out against these theories of parenting that require parents to "break" their children and get "total control". Will you speak out? Risk yourself for the lives and well being of these children in homes like this? Or will you sit back and allow your neighbor, your friend, your fellow church members, to abuse their children? Raise your voice for the children who have no voice.

Please read

Do your parents ever send you emails? I don't get emails from my parents very often. Some people might suggest this is because I talk to them on the phone every day. And they would be right. I haven't been able to call them in a few days. They left last Thursday to go visit my brother in West Africa for a few weeks. I'm jealous they get to hug my nephews and meet little Blessing. 

I received an email from my dad Saturday night. It was too good to keep to myself so he said I can share it with you. Please, please take the time to read this. There is a huge surprise at the bottom of this post as well.

"It is the middle of the night here and I can't sleep. It is hot and humid, but we do have air conditioning in our room that gets the temperature down to the high 70"s, but that isn't why I can't sleep. I have been crying, there I admitted it, I'm a grown man I shouldn't do that. I have been laying here thinking about our visit to an orphanage today. 

Rusty, Jamie and the boys took us to an orphanage that they regularly visit, I don't want to mention the name because it isn't about that particular orphanage, in fact Rusty says that it is the "Ritz Carlton" compared to most. When we entered the courtyard surrounded by high walls with razor wire on the top we were greeted by 10-15 happy children in clean, if well worn clothes, Gail was the first smiling girl I was introduced to, Rusty said she was deaf. Teddy was the next, I didn't notice at first that he couldn't walk, he walked on his knees dragging his feet behind him, He was smiling and so excited to see Rusty, Rusty had picked him up, that is why I hadn't noticed his handicap at first. 

After visiting with the kids in the courtyard we went in to see the babies. There were maybe 6 or 8 children there in clean cribs with mosquito nets hanging over them, they seemed quite happy. Jamie and Rusty knew all the kids by name and took time to touch and talk to each one. Then Rusty took me into the special needs room, there were three boys there, two with very swollen heads, Rusty told me the name of the condition, but i can't remember and even if I could I couldn't spell it. The third had "cerebral palsy" Rusty says that is what they call everything that they don't know what the child has. One of the boys with the swollen head was in obvious pain just lying there moaning. He was about 1 1/2 and Rusty said he had people waiting to adopt him and even thought there is a moratorium on adoptions the special needs children are proceeding, but Rusty doubted whether the paper work be done in time. 

We went back to the court yard where candy and glow sticks were handed out to great joy. The children sang some songs to us, one about how God was always with them and cared for them, Right there I wanted to jump up and swear something at God. I knew what the writer of some of the Psalms must have felt like when he shouted "Why God do you forsake your people!". I must say most of the children were healthy and well cared for, but I can't get that little boy out of my mind, with a loving home waiting for him why does he have to suffer there. 

Teddy with the brightest eyes and long eyelashes also has people waiting for him, and he will probably make it, but why does he have to crawl around building ugly calluses on his feet and knees? Why God why do the little ones have to suffer? They didn't commit any sins, there is no evil in them. I know that this world is fallen, that it is not how God created it, but it still hurts. I have to believe that it hurts God more than it does me, I have to, but it doesn't help. 

What can I do about a corrupt system that profits on suffering children and doesn't care? What can we do? I wish I knew, but I do know I'm very proud of Rusty and Jamie and the love they show to these children. Please pray, it is the only thing I can think of that can help this horrible situation. Pray that these children can get to loving homes, especially Teddy. 

By the way it is our 39th anniversary today, one I won't soon forget." 

I know that God calls us to take care of the orphans and to feed the poor, but how much do we really do from our comfy western lives? I know there is every excuse in the book why we don't help. Some are legitimate. "I don't want to give money that a corrupt government will steal." That is hard to argue with. It is. But, it isn't. 

Have you heard of One Day's Wages? This is an amazing new organization that's goal is to end extreme global poverty. Does that have your attention? Well, what do they do with their money? 

"ODW uses 100% of the money raised (minus transactions costs) to directly grant proven organizations, projects, and causes around extreme global poverty. While compassion is very important, our priority is not to give hand-outs but to carefully fund organizations, projects, and causes that empower the poorest of the poor to lift themselves out of poverty. While there must be numerous strategies to end extreme global poverty, we understand that money isn't the solution but rather, people."

This new organization is taking off like wild fire! Check it out, please. They have a fabulous Board of Directors and the founders are wonderful people. 

I'd like to also encourage you all to go to their website and donate. If you donate leave me a comment and I will donate $10 for everyone that tells me they donated. This is on the honor system friends. On top of that, for every new subscriber I get between now and my birthday (February 22nd), I'll donate an additional $2. It's that easy. Spread the word. And wouldn't this be something you'd like to see in The Mirror?

If you don't use a blog reader and don't know how to subscribe I suggest Google Reader. To read more of my dad's thoughts, you can head over to his blog.

Blessing Update

Thank you all so much for your kind words and prayers for Blessing. She had her surgery today and it went very well. She is home sleeping now. Praise God! Please go read all the details. Here she is before and after surgery. 

Isn't that amazing? Much thanks to Children's Surgery International and Smile Train who have performed more than 130 surgeries in 4.5 days in Liberia.

I'm linking to You Capture, even though I didn't technically take these pictures (and Beth may delete my entry) because the theme this week is faces, and seriously, what a better way to celebrate faces than this one?

The best smile

This is my niece, Blessing.

 
Can you keep her in your prayers? She'll be undergoing surgery next Thursday thanks to The Smile Train.  

Did you know that in many countries around the world babies born with cleft lip and cleft pallet are thought to be cursed and often discarded? This is the story of my niece. Can you imagine discarding this beautiful child? Thank the Lord she was not killed by her mother or village at birth. Thank the Lord someone in her village had the good sense to call an orphanage and ask them to come pick her up when she was a month old and not being fed. Thank the Lord my brother and sister-in-law were able to foster this little Blessing. Thank the Lord she is now able to eat (with difficulty) and gaining weight. Thank the Lord she was chosen to have surgery. 

This surgery gives children in the third world who are born with cleft lip and cleft pallet a chance at life. A chance they would not otherwise have. 

While we cannot understand why someone would believe that a child was cursed because they have cleft lip or cleft pallet, we can understand the need for surgery. We can understand that a parent in the third world could work their entire life and never be able to afford this surgery. While you say a prayer for my niece, can you consider giving so that more children will be able to have this life altering and sometimes life saving surgery?

Because, while this smile is infectious...

 ...the surgeries ahead of her are necessary.

We love you Blessing and I can't wait until the day I can actually hold you in my arms! Your cousins are praying for you!

And while you are praying with us, can you pray that my brother and sister in law will be able to adopt Blessing? Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Be inspired

Have you ever noticed that there are so many passionate people out there in the blog world. What I find fascinating is that people are passionate about so many different things! I've decided to start a weekly post interviewing people about their passions. I'm not sure if this will be a short series or a long one but I hope you enjoy it none the less.

I have a few people in mind to interview but if you'd like to share a bit about your passion please leave me a comment or send me an email at thetraintocrazy (at) gmail.com

What are you passionate about?

Processing it all

The past couple days have been difficult. I'm not going to lie. The weight of a tragedy like the earthquake in Haiti is heavy on my heart. I've had a hard time processing the seriousness of it all and holding that up against the extreme wealth I sit amongst. Not just the wealth, but the indifference. I know people care, I know they do, but I'm tired of hearing "oh that is sad" and watching people move on. Move on from really feeling the weight and magnitude of the suffering in Haiti. And I truly think suffering is a mild word for what is and will be going on there.

I think you have to know the history of Haiti to fully understand how horrific this disaster truly is. It has often been said that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere but I don't think many people know why it is so poor. If you are one of the people who DO care, then by all means take a few minutes to find out why the Haitians are so poor and what has led them to eat dirt as a main staple.

Now, on to the rest of my inner conflict. There is this problem that most of us feel after a tragedy out of our reach. What to do? How to help? Should we send clothes or money or hop on the next boat hoping to find a way into shore? Should we run out and get a home study to take all the orphans into our home as our own? I'm sure the answer lies somewhere in "yes." Sure, there are reasons why you should definitely not try to go there right now, and there are reasons why you shouldn't send your shoes or try to adopt all the kids. But you can definitely do something to enable the Haitians' needs to be met. 

There are organizations on the ground, right now, that need our help. Organizations that are tried and true and need help rebuilding their organizations on the ground so they can continue doing their good work. Organizations that have the capacity and now need the money to do their good work. Good organizations. Not all organizations are good. But you know that. So, do you research and stay away from the scams. Check out organizations on Charity Navigator before donating. 

I personally recommend a couple organizations that are already doing great work in Haiti.

Compassion International 

HOW DONATIONS WILL BE USED: All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.

You can provide immediate relief today.
• $35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.
• $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.
• $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.
• $210 gift helps care for two families' needs.
• $525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.
• $1,050 gift helps care for 10 families' needs.
• $1,500 helps rebuild a home.
• $2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.
Due to the high number of responses it may take longer than normal to process your transaction.All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.

World Vision is another great organization that is already on the ground doing great work in Haiti. is another great organization that is already on the ground doing great work in Haiti.

Your gift now will help distribute life-saving relief supplies  – including food, clean water, blankets, and tents — to children and families devastated by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

“We would be very concerned about a quake of this magnitude anywhere in the world, but it is especially devastating in Haiti, where people are acutely vulnerable because of poor infrastructure and extreme poverty,” said Edward Brown, World Vision’s relief director in the United States.

World Vision has worked in Haiti for 30 years and has some 370 staff in country. Please join us in praying for the children and families devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. And please send a generous gift to help them today.

Medical Teams International is a favorite of ours. They already have their first medical team on their way to Haiti. Their first team includes veteran volunteer doctors and nurses who have served in Haiti as medical missionaries for many years. They took with them supplies to help 12,000 people for one week.

The second team will be leaving this Sunday and will be led by an orthopedic surgeon and other orthopedic specialists who have led many training sessions for Haitian orthopedic surgeons and know the community well. 

MTI asks that you pray for their teams and also send donations.

 

Doctors Without Borders also does wonderful work. They go where other organizations will not. These doctors put their safety at risk in order to treat and help the poorest of the poor and the oppressed people of the world.

Many of you are connected to smaller organizations and orphanages that need our prayers and support. Please let us know a bit about the organization and a link so we can all pray and support them.

Christmas from the heart

A friend posted on facebook the other day about her dilemma between trying to live simply and also trying to support the local small businesses in this economy. It is an interesting dilemma. If nobody spends any money then the economy gets worse and less people have jobs and the economy gets worse and the third world gets poorer and on and on. Yes, I realize this is a simplistic version of reality.

My take on it is to not give up buying or giving entirely. Make a Christmas budget. Give the first portion to organizations that feed, clothe and take care of people's medical needs. Then, because we have to spend some money, buy intentionally. Meaning, don't just go out to the local Stuffmart and blow your budget in the dollar aisle (though it is SO tempting). Here is my take:

• Buy supplies and make gifts. 
• Buy handmade or gifts that support a cause. (that's right, go ahead and click through each of those links and do a bit of Christmas shopping) I guess you could also throw local shops in here as well. After that,
• Support Amazon.com. Okay, that's a bit of a joke, kind of. 

I've read some good stuff about christmas shopping lately.

Jude at Pajamas are Clothes gets on her soapbox. It's a great soapbox. 

Donald Miller's Amazon wish list is one of the funniest things I've read recently. Please read it.

And, completely unrelated to Christmas, have you read Katie Davis' latest post? Challenging, for sure. I'm not sure I entirely agree with her but maybe I should.

What do you think? What is your take on how and where we should buy gifts for Christmas?

25 Days of Giving Kick-Off

  Can you believe it is December 1st? Are you ready to prepare your hearts, minds and children for Christmas? I am pumped up this year and I hope you are too. 

Just joining us? We are starting the 25 Days of Giving, which is a daily celebration of giving of ourselves. We are taking advantage of the days leading up to the celebration of Jesus to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. Tired of your children opening their Christmas presents and then asking if there are more? Frustrated that your children think Christmas is Santa's birthday? It isn't too late to jump on this train! I've written some helpful posts to get you started. 

What is the 25 Days of Giving?

What are some free (or nearly free) activities we can do?

What are some ways we can use our money and resources to give in a way that children understand?

The holidays stress you out? Worried that this will take too much time to organize or will feel unnatural?  Here is a list of 25 activities for you! Just print them out and chose one a day!

Is life hectic for you right now? New baby in the house, 17 house guests? You don't need to do this every day if that doesn't work with your life right now. Last year I had a one month old baby and believe me, there were more than a few days we didn't stick to our schedule and that is okay! This isn't about adding another thing to your "to do list." 

I've heard from nearly a dozen of you that you will be joining us this year and that is so exciting! I'd love to hear more about your ideas!

How are you planning to introduce this to your family?

How are you connecting the idea of giving to Christmas?

Do you plan to document your 25 Days of Giving? We'd love to read about it! 

And finally, there will be a giveaway again this year. The winner will be among those of you who join us on this journey, whether it be for just a handful of days or the full 25 days. Hint: make sure to let me know you are joining us! Once again, this will not be a traditional giveaway but you'll just have to wait to find out what it is!

Day 1 is about to begin!

The 25 Days of Giving is just around the corner?   Can you believe tomorrow is Day One? Are you excited? Be sure to check back tomorrow for the official kick off of the 25 Days of Giving! 

Still trying to decide if you want to participate? It doesn't need to be difficult. This shouldn't be just one more thing that makes you dread Christmas! This should be natural and fun. Just Mothering Through has posted her 25 activities and it really shows how natural this can be. Don't stress about how this is expensive or time consuming. The point is to focus on God's gift to us by learning how to give of ourselves during this season. Our culture has told us is all about focusing on yourself and what you want. This is about focusing on what it is really about.

Still not convinced? Still stressed? Just print out this easy and almost free list of activities. {If you are reading this in a reader you will need to click through to see the list} Make a chain or put them in a jar to do one each day. There, how easy was that? 

25 Days of Giving

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow!! Are you joining us? Feel free to use the button above!

More ideas for 25 Days

Now that you have some free ways to show kindness to others for your 25 Days of Giving, here are some not so free ideas. Please remember that one of the goals of giving is to include your child so if you are sending money to an organization that might not connect with them emotionally. Be creative, educate them about what the organization is trying to do. Teach them about poverty, homelessness, global poverty and the lack of clean water, or whatever you are donating to. If you are giving food to the food bank or donating clothes, have the children take it themselves. Let their 5 senses experience the activity. If you are buying a gift for someone, let them help pick it out and wrap it.

• Contact your local mission and adopt a family for Christmas.
• Create care package for children in hiding in the jungles of Burma through Christians Concerned for Burma. I wrote more about it last March.
• Chose a child to give to through a giving tree or Angel Tree.
• Sign up to sponsor a child through World Vision, Compassion International, Children's Hope Chest or other child sponsorship organization. You might consider choosing a child that has the exact birthday as your child to create a bond. 
• Contact your favorite local charities and find out what items are on their "wish list". Have your children help you purchase items on that list and deliver them.
• Donate food to a local animal shelter.
• Donate to Toys for Tots.
• Buy a needy family a Christmas Tree.
• Hand out flowers to strangers. I think next time we do this we'll have a note attached to each flower.
• Donate warm clothes to shelters.
• Choose a gift in a charity's Christmas giving catalog such as World Vision, Orphan Relief & Rescue, Compassion International, World Concern. There are many, many more organizations out there that you can donate to.

Any great organizations you want to share? What are some other creative ways to bless others?

Organizing our 25 Days

We've started lining up our activities for the 25 Days of Giving. I'd like to encourage you to join us. This doesn't have to be a difficult, expensive endeavor. There are many, many ways you can teach your children about how to show kindness and love to others without spending a dime.

To get your ideas flowing, here are a handful of free (or nearly free) activities for you to consider this year.

• Making cards to give to friends telling them what is special about them. 
• Calling a family member they don't normally talk to on the phone.
• Making artwork or cards and taking them to a nursing home.
• Baking cookies for neighbors.
• Baking cookies for firefighters and delivering them on Christmas.
• Tidying up the neighborhood. Picking up trash.
• Making a list of things they love about each of their family members and share with the family.
• Do something kind for someone secretly. 
• Have a free car wash (warmer climates obviously).
• Make sandwiches to hand out to homeless people.
• Visit an animal shelter and pet the kitties & puppies.
• Visit family and neighbors collecting scarves and hats for homeless people.
• Do a chore for a neighbor or a grandparent.
• Taking some canned food to the food bank (or the grocery store donation bin).
• Donating some of their outgrown clothes to an organization that gives them to children in need.
• Donate a pair of gently worn shoes to Soles 4 Souls.
• Walk the neighbor's dog.
• Host a party to collect needed items for a local charity.
• Scrape the ice off your neighbor's car as a surprise.
• Volunteer to serve a meal at a local soup kitchen.
• Make a meal together to bring to a family that is sick or has a new baby.
• Purposefully play with someone who your child doesn't normally play with.
• Stay late at school or sunday school to help clean up.
• Write notes of appreciation to coaches and teachers.
• Have a bake sale or a lemonade stand to raise money for your favorite cause.
• Take a day to educate your children about poverty and pray for those suffering.
• Visit a nursing home.
• Draw a picture/make a card for your pilot (if you are flying)
• Drop change in a Salvation Army bucket.
• Write personal notes & cards to family members.
• Send a Christmas card to a recovering soldier. 

  A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue NW Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

You get the idea!! There are tons of things you and your children can do that don't cost much money! Even if you can't commit to 25 Days of Giving, try committing to 10, or 15!

What are other free or very low cost ways children can bless others?

25 Days of Giving

When I began parenting, I was challenged by some people to have goals for my children. These aren't the kind of goals that have to do with "success" or money or college educations, but goals about their character. I was challenged to think about what kind of people I wanted my children to become. 

We want to raise children that are kind, loving, compassionate, thoughtful, passionate, bold, empathetic, happy, strong, patient, humble, etc. We want them to understand that they were born into privilege and with that comes great responsibility. We want to encourage our children to really be the people they were created to be. 

We started the 25 Days of Giving in 2008 as a way of preparing our girls for Christmas. We want them to understand the true meaning of Christmas. It isn't just about waking up early and seeing what presents showed up under the tree. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and the gift God gave to the world. Because of that, we celebrate by doing 25 days of activities to bless other people. 

We want to encourage others to join us in our journey. Please consider starting a 25 Days of Giving with your family. In the coming days I will be giving you lots of ideas of ways to participate. If you are worried that this sounds like an expensive project, stop worrying! It doesn't have to be. I have many free and very low cost ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

UPDATED: Please read our list of FREE (and nearly free) giving activities as well as our slightly more expensive giving activities.

We'll be kicking our 25 Days of Giving off on December 1st. We've kicked off our 25 Days of Giving! Would you dare to join us? It isn't too late!

Orphan Sunday

Did you know tomorrow is Orphan Sunday? 

Do you think about orphans? Does it seem like a problem a world away? I encourage you to take the day to think about them. Think about what your life would have been like if you were an orphan, alone, hungry, without hope. Take the day to pray for the orphans. Just one day. One day out of your life to think about orphans as people, as children with names and hopes and dreams. Take one day to truly love them. See if that one day changes the rest of your days.

A time to give: Organizing meals for others

If you've ever had a baby, you know how great it is to have someone else make you a meal. Even if it is just bringing lunch when they stop by! I love it when individuals (friends, family, neighbors) take the initiative on their own to drop a meal by. It is especially nice when someone takes the initiative to organize meals. This doesn't stop with new moms and dads. This is probably even more important when someone is dealing with severe illness or has a child in the hospital. What about if a mom breaks her arm! How hard is it for her to cook- even breakfast or sandwiches for lunch.

Many people want to help but don't know when you want a meal or what you like to eat. How can you help? Organize! 

1. Ask the recipient if they would like meals. Almost always you'll hear a yes. 

2. Find out if there are any allergies or food preferences in the house. If they don't eat pork or are vegan it's important to find out!

3. Find out when they'd like meals, and what time a day they'd like them delivered.

4. Compile a list of their friends/family that may possibly like to help.

5. Organize your information. Be specific about location, drop-off time, and food preferences and restrictions. It is also a good idea to remind people that they are just dropping off a meal at the door. New parents and people who are too busy to make a meal for themselves would love to chat but just not at this time. I've also heard it mentioned that you should let people know not to expect a thank you note in return since the new mom is busy!

6. Sign people up! You can do this a few ways. The phone is always great but if you have a long list you may want to skip to email. A mass email will work, but you might end up with a lot of people responding asking to bring a meal on the same day. Thankfully there are a couple different free online tools you can use now. MealBaby or Care Calendar should help you with organizing so there is less work for you.

This simple task can bless someone in a very real way. Have you enjoyed meals from people before? Any advice for meal organizers?

For more ideas about how to give check out A Time to Give at Saving and Giving.

A time to give: As easy as shopping online

I am really excited about this new weekly carnival at Saving and Giving. That blog is new to me but I love her purpose

"Part of the reason we live frugally is to be able to give generously"

Who can argue with that?! She asks that you share ways to be generous and then link up to her weekly post. I know a lot of you are interested in that so be sure to jump on board!

I have had posts in the past about ways that we have tried to teach our children to be generous. We had our 25 Days of Giving during Advent, which I plan to do again this year. And I frequently link to different campaigns and projects you can give money to but this time I want to point out a way you can not spend any more money than you were planning to spend in the first place and still contribute to World Vision's Sudan Food and Care Fund. Too easy to be true? Thanks to the Amazon affiliates program, Life At The Circus is giving away 100% of the profits she makes to World Vision. All you have to do is click here, add things to your amazon cart, buy it, and the rewards she earns will be donated. You have to go through that link in order for Life At The Circus to get the credit. For all the details, check out her information page on her blog. Then go shopping! 

Now... I need to start planning for Advent. Can you believe we are halfway through August?? 

As easy as saving a life

This morning I woke up (too early) and fed the baby. Then I watched my other two girls eat their breakfasts and argue over what they wanted to eat. There are many choices in our house. Then I made myself some toast and thought about unloading the dishwasher and loading it back up again. We eat a lot, there are a lot of dishes. Today I am grateful for being able to feed my children. Today I am thankful I do not have to watch my children starve to death, powerless to help.

I am thankful that I AM NOT POWERLESS TO HELP! God provided me with the resources to be able to help. I am always inspired by Katie, a 20 year old American girl who moved to Uganda two years ago and is now feeding hundreds of kids daily and is the mother to 13 (yes, 13) Ugandan children. I am inspired by Brandi, who works tirelessly to encourage people to sponsor starving children in Uganda, and other countries through Children's Hope Chest. In fact, you can help right now. There are children who WILL NOT DIE if people step up and sponsor them, providing meals for their survival. You can read more about how you can help.

So, today, I am thankful for what I have. But, even though I am thankful, I am wondering if there is something God is saying that I'm not hearing. How is it that he asks one American girl to go like Katie, and not another? A friend commented to me last week that maybe she missed something, maybe she didn't hear God telling her to go. All we have is today, so today I'll ask God what I am supposed to do. Do you hear God asking you to do something? 

What are you grateful for?

Reflections on Independence Day

Independence Day. The day the United States declared it's independence from England. The celebration of our freedom. The celebration of our "American culture". A day to be thankful. A day to reflect.

Today I sat at Fenway, watching the Mariners defeat the Red Sox, wondering what it is about America that I love, and what I wish were different. Let's start with what is good, and worth celebrating. First and foremost, the ideal that all people are equal and free. This is not something to be taken lightly, ask anyone you know that lives in a "less free" society. Ask the people of Iran. Ask the people who live in North Korea. Ask the Burmese. Ask most of the people in the entire world. Yes, freedom is a good thing. Tomorrow I will go to the church of my choosing and worship my God and face absolutely no persecution. This is good.

I am not as pleased with the self centeredness and shallowness that is "American society." This past week was a prime example to me. A very famous musician (you may know who I am talking about) died a rather mysterious, untimely death. Wow. Did the media have a field day. I don't have cable but from what I gathered there was an endless amount of news time devoted to him. Did you hear about churches honoring him? People all freaking out about him? Meanwhile, let me just think for a moment about what I would consider slightly more important news.

The military in Honduras forcefully removed it's president and a new president was put into place without election. The new government is vowing to move forward with elections.

Did I mention the protesters in Iran that were beaten and murdered because they believe the recent presidential election was not fairly counted? How about the British Embassy staff that were arrested and will probably stand trial in Iran on claims they orchestrated these protests?

More foreign aid workers were kidnapped in Darfur. Yes, remember Darfur? Haven't seen it in the news much lately have you?

The unemployment rate in the U.S. was reported to have risen to 9.5%. That's high. That's very high. Do you know what the U.S. government is doing to try to bring us out of this deep recession? Do you know what economists are recommending? 

President Obama's new anti-illegal immigrant policies are starting to move forward. Companies are now becoming accountable to recruiting and employing illegal immigrants rather than the workers being snatched from their workplaces or homes. 

Did I scratch the surface on more important news events? Did any of this actually reach the majority of the people living in our country? Whose fault is this? Should we blame the media? I think not. The media just responds to what we want to watch. Have you noticed all the magazines disappearing from shelves? So many magazines and newspapers going under. Still, we have Star and Us Weekly and People and all the other "news" magazines in full force. WE are more interested in the lives of celebrities than the lives of everyone else in the world, combined. We would rather read about some reality TV show couple facing divorce than our neighbors joining the ranks of the unemployed, than the starving children in Uganda, than the human rights violations of so many places.

So today, as a reflection on my freedom, our freedom, I say we use that freedom to chose to learn more about our world, our economy, the things that matter. Let's use our freedom to chose which articles we click through to. If you click on an article about a celebrity doing such and such or a bear wandering into a business in Alaska then we are telling our media what we want. Let's do ourselves and our world a favor and use our "vote" for what matters.

The movie you should watch

I got out to see a movie this weekend. Aahhh... Out of the house. It felt good. Some time out with a friend, a good movie. A great movie. Not a feel good movie, not a comedy, not a "chick flick".

But a great movie. A movie you should see. You don't need to be a foodie, or an environmentalist, or anything really. You just need to be a person who eats. Even if you are just a person that cares about people, this is a movie you should see. See the movie. You'll thank me.

More fun on the farm and THE total

We are officially moved out. As of this coming Monday we will no longer be home owners. This actually makes me happy. Ahhhhh.

We are back on "the farm." We arrived here around 8 p.m. last night and spent the day relaxing and playing. There were trampolines to be bounced on, trees to be climbed, spaces to hide in and hiders to be seeked. 

Life is always more fun with cousins around.

I realized that I never reported the total for the Feed The Forgotten campaign. The campaign lasted for two weeks and over $20,000 was raised!! Since each meal can be provided for 14 cents, that means over 143,000 meals can be provided. Isn't that amazing? Thanks to all of you who helped out.

Also, if you are interested in watching the progress of the roof being put on the orphanage in Liberia be sure to check out the Orphan Relief and Rescue blog. It is being put on right now! 

Traffic, the human kind

Does human trafficking make you angry? It probably should. I think the reason people don't give it much thought is because, "really, how in the world would I be able to help?" 

Answer: Try answering that question yourself.

Seriously.

Did you know that many sources say there are as many as 27 MILLION slaves around the world. In the sex trade industry, 80% are women and over half are minors. 

Don't know what you could possibly do to combat human trafficking and the enslavement of children for sex? Read up on it. Hillary Clinton just released the human trafficking report. She also recommends Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery. Looks like an important read. 

Does human trafficking make you angry?

Eugene Cho has a great list of organizations that work to end human trafficking. I stole his list. Here it is.

Check out some of these orgs that are engaging the work to combat human trafficking:

Break the Chains - an initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church [denomination I am part of].

The Sold Project – Focused on fighting and stopping child prostitution. They visited Quest this past February.

Free the Slaves (Free the Slaves liberates slaves around the world, helps them rebuild their lives and researches real world solutions to eradicate slavery forever.)

International Justice Mission (Legal Advocates for Justice Around the World)

JustOne (Foundation for Relief & Development on Issues of Poverty, Orphans, and Human Trafficking)

Stop the Traffik (Abolitionists Coalition of Over 900 Organizations)

Not For Sale – Campaign to End Slavery

Love 146 – Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through aftercare, prevention and advocacy.

Call and Response: Film and Action. Show this film at your church!  

Forgotten Tears

(This is copied from Anne's blog. This is very touching and I couldn't have said it any better. Thanks for writing this Anne!)

Adacar in the Katakwi subdistrict of Uganda - isn't it beautiful?



And then...

there was this girl...



I don't know her name. I don't know her whole story. I don't know if she is safe at night, if she is outgoing or shy. Does she like to dance and sing? What does she want to be when she grows up? I just don't know many things about this girl.

I will tell you what I know.
~she was in tears as we gave her food
~the tears streamed down her face the entire meal as she sat with her young sibling
~she was taking only small bites leaving a majority of the meal for her sibling
~her parents are dead
~she has other siblings, 4 younger siblings total, I believe
~she is only 9 years old.

Here are some more things I know:
~I was lost
~I had no idea what to say to her
~I had no idea what I could do for her
~I could not tell her everything was going to be ok
~I CAN and will DO something for her, I can feed her and pray for her

You can too!
$.14 will give her a meal.
$.70 will feed her and her siblings a meal
$21.70 will feed all 5 of them for a month

GIVE and be sure to write FEED THE FORGOTTEN on the notes line/child reference line.

We want to provide food for to Kapelebyong, Usuk (also known as Adacar) and Ngariam for a few months until partnering churches are found. I don't want this to be giving that is done because of guilt - a fellow blogger posted wonderful words about this, please read here.

Give because you genuinely care about what is happening in Uganda - and all over the world. We as Americans can generally eat at will. I have food readily available at all times. If tragedy struck us and we had absolutely no food, we have family to call on, friends to call on, a church family to call on, and organizations in the area to call on. Even during the hurricanes, there were MRE's being handed out left an right to make sure people were eating. I will NEVER starve, NEVER! It breaks my heart and I honestly feel I have to give - not out of guilt. It is out of a true love and concern for the people. And I know it is easier for me because I was just there and saw this first hand. I share the stories for this reason and I am so grateful to Ria for sharing stories through photos so you can hear and see.

I am waiting for Pauline - one of the Teso widows - to email me back with more information about this sweetlittle girl and her family. I will share when I have it. If you want to give but you think the amount is too small give anyway, remember what Jesus did with the little boys' lunch. The little boy gave all he had and Jesus fed thousands with it. If you want to give on a regular basis, please contact me. I know without a doubt that I want to put together a sponsorship for at least 100 kids of this area. So if you would like to be part of that, leave me a comment.

Pray for all the people who are hungry at this very moment - not just hungry, who are literally starving and may be near death at this very moment. Pray that our Father is with them, so they know that they are not alone.

UPDATE: Since Monday we've raised over $9,000!!! Keep it up! Consider Swapping It  to raise money!

How wealthy are you, really?

Feel like the economy is really pinching you? See how your income ranks globally. Go to globalrichlist.com and input your yearly salary. They'll tell you if you're in the top 50% or the top .01% of people. You just might be surprised. Or maybe you won't be.

A roof and a hatch

Remember the orphans with a leaky roof in Liberia? Enough money was raised to put on a new roof!  Thank you so much to everyone who gave and posted about it! Isn't it amazing what can be accomplished by spreading the news?

Some of you might also be interested in hatch. That's my new blog for all things created. I've decided to create a blog devoted solely to my sewing, cooking and photography stuff so if you are interested in any of that be sure to subscribe to hatch! Why "hatch" you ask?

hatch: verb. to bring forth or produce; devise; create; contrive; concoct: to hatch a scheme.

Feed The Forgotten

Yes, I am THANKFUL.  Yes, I shed TEARS for the hungry people of the world. Yes, I am asked to RESPOND.  Yes, I can DO SOMETHING. 

Children's Hope Chest is responding to the starvation happening right now in Uganda. Many of you read brandisthoughts.com and know she is an amazing servant. On her most recent journey to Uganda (leading a team for Children's Hope Chest) she witnessed the extreme hunger and felt God telling her to respond. Since she returned a few weeks ago she's been spearheading this enormous effort to bring food to the starving people in Uganda. Isn't this exciting?!

The details (in Brandi's words):

80% of all the money you send goes directly to Uganda. 20% stays in the US to cover admin costs and wiring fees. (this is the standard according to the ECFA of which HopeChest is a part) When giving, make sure to write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section so the money is allocated for this use!

Joseph, the HopeChest country director, will be handling the distribution of the food. He will work closely with village leaders, pastors and the leadership of the Teso Widows Project in that area to determine the families in most need (child headed households, widows and their children and people living with HIV) and adequately distribute the food.

The first 3 villages targeted are: Kapelebyong, Usuk (also known as Adacar) and Ngariam. The pictures you will see were all taken at Usuk/Adacar in the Katakwi District. These villages were chosen because they are potential carepoint sites!!! Yes, that means YOUR church/community could get involved long term. We are looking to have a community (one church, a group of churches, an online community--this could just be all of us if there are enough people interested in sponsoring 150-300 kids. . let me know--or even business) to sponsor an entire orphan community. . i.e. THESE VILLAGES! Carepoints will provide FOOD and JESUS!!!! hello! Isn't that pretty much what we are desperately praying for these villages?!

This way, each of the villages receiving food will not just have a "one time gift" from us, but we get to be involved LONG TERM!!! For now though. . they need FOOD. Will you help?

Remember: $0.14 provides one meal this means. . .
$1.40 provides 10 meals
$14.00 provides 100 meals
$140 provides 1,000 meals
$1400 provides 10,000 meals
$14,000 provides 100,000 meals

Each one of us can give. For some, God is calling us to provide 10 meals. . for others it may be 100 or 1,000 or 10,000 or even 100,000 meals. . .just ACT as GOD calls you to act. "they" (not sure exactly who) say that if you don't act within 48 hours of hearing about something you never will.

So, a choice lays before you. People are hungry. . strike that. . .WE get hungry waiting for our next meal. . .THEY are STARVING . . .literally, to death. What will you do? Will you give of your abundance and send an extra $5 to HopeChest. Heck, most of us could find at LEAST $1.40 if not $14 just in change around our house. Better yet, will you give out of your sacrifice? Like Angel and her kiddos who gave up pizza so a WHOLE FAMILY could eat for 20 days ($20). Or Wendi, who gave up a drink at a fast food restaurant knowing that the cost would provide 10 meals. Or many friends across the nation who are giving up their $5 starbucks run to feed others.
(note: please write "feed the forgotten" in the notes section when you give)

Will you forget? Or, will you choose to FEED THE FORGOTTEN?

Psalm 107:5-6 says, " ⁵They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. ⁶Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses"

I am praying this verse for the families of the Kapelebyong, Usuk (also known as Adacar) and Ngariam Villages and thanking God for the opportunity to be used by HIM to be a part of HIS DELIVERANCE. As you give, stop for a moment and dwell on that. . God is choosing to use you as a part of His deliverance. Oh Jesus THANK YOU for the opportunity to join you where you are at work.

Please feel free to pass this along! Grab the button for your blog! Spread the word on facebook or twitter! Pick up the phone and call your great aunt to let her know! 

Tears

Times are really tough. It has been days since I've had any food to eat. Days since my children have eaten. We found some meager food today and I divided it among my children to barely ward off the sever hunger pains they are feeling. I didn't take any for myself. 

My little ones cry constantly. Begging me to feed them. Begging me to soothe their pain. I watch them waste away and I am powerless to do anything. 

I watch friends and neighbors die of starvation, knowing our turn will come. My tears do not stop. How can I watch my children die?

How much do you know about hunger? Have you ever gone a whole day without eating? Maybe you were dieting and went through some hungry moments. Maybe you fasted for a day. Maybe you grew up in a home without much food and had to go to school without breakfast.

No matter how much, or little, you've experienced hunger, you've never experienced starvation. Can you imagine not eating for days? Can you imagine listening to the screams of your hungry children and have not substantial food to feed them? Can you imagine being so desperate that you eat cow dung? 

People are starving like this in many places around the world. Right now there are thousands of people dying in Uganda because they have no food to eat. War and drought has left a whole region starving. The Amuria district is reported to have 19,000 people starving and the Katakwi district has 55,000 people starving. These are only two districts! There are others!! People are feeding on leaves, ash, cow dung and termites!

Please read this article on allAfrica.com for more in depth information. Must we just sit back and watch people die? No, we can't watch them. We are a world away. We are here, they are there. We are in our homes, that we've earned. Right. We deserve what we have, right? 

Just Mothering Through wrote in her post, Under the cloak of frugality; "...just because we have a higher paying job than our neighbor does not mean we are entitled to nicer vacations, homes or things. There are so many factors that went into you being who and were you are today and I would say that about 90% of them had nothing to do with you. When we start to use terms like "deserve" for the abundance in our own lives we enter a scary place and imply that those who do not have also "deserve" their fate. We all know that this is not true. There are too many people in the world who suffer due to circumstances far outside of their control."

Feel helpless? Like nothing you could possibly do could make a difference?

***check out my next post to see how you can actually make a difference***

How much ought we give?

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if your expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them... For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear- fear of insecurity."

C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

"FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE." ~MATT. 10:8

Are you spending the same amount as people making the same amount as you? Do you feel the "pinch" of giving? Are you living in fear?

So you think Seattle is rainy?

We all hear about ALL the rain Seattle gets. Well guess what folks. Seattle gets 36 inches of rain every year. (this isn't a post about Seattle's bad wrap, but seriously, it isn't even in the top 25 rainiest cities in the U.S.) Now compare that to Liberia getting between 150-200 inches of rain between May and September. WHAT?!? That's 5 months! That's over an inch of rain EVERY DAY for 5 months!

Many of you know that my brother, Rusty, lives in Liberia, West Africa, with his family. Their house was in great need of a roof when they moved in. They put on a new one. Seems like an easy answer, right? Now imagine living in an orphanage and not having an adequate roof over your head. So not only are you an orphan, but when you sleep you get wet from rain. Your mattress (that you probably share with others) is most likely never really dry. Doesn't that just sadden you to the core? There is an answer to that problem though. Put on a new one!

This message was sent out by Orphan Relief and Rescue (in Liberia) today.

"Mother Harley is a loving mother to 40 young children, and they're getting soaked! They need a new roof, and they need it urgently. We are asking you to please get the word out and give personally to this desperate need. Whether you can afford $20 or $2000, please help make this happen NOW!"

These 40 orphans are in desperate need of a new roof. To make this possible, click on this link to donate. Designate your donation to "Mother Harley's roof project." They need to raise $13,000 to complete the roof and they have raised $5,000 so far. Please join me in spreading the word on your blog, facebook, twitter, or through email. Check out May's newsletter for a detailed list of all the things OR&R has accomplished on a small budget in the past two years. It is truly amazing!

What would you do?

As most of you know, we are trying to sell our house. This is our house. We don't live in our house. Our stuff lives in our house. We live 3,051 miles away. We bought this beautiful home at the height of the market two years ago. I'm sure you know the rest of the sad story. We NEVER expected we'd have to move. 

This is my beautiful kitchen that I designed and hoped I'd get to cook in for the next decade or more.

This is the house we just got an offer on. For WAY, WAY less than we spent on it. Did I say WAAAAAY less? 

In times like these, we can react in a few different ways. We can BE ANGRY WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT HOUSES THEY COULDN'T AFFORD AND THE BANKS WHO GAVE THEM INSANE LOANS TO HELP TANK THE MARKET. 

Or we can accept the fact that all that we have is not really ours in the first place. God tells us not to set our hearts on our own plans but it isn't until our plans fade away that we start to take notice of that command. We think that we've earned something. We've earned all that money we saved. We had plans with that money we earned and saved. We used that money we earned to buy a house. We bought a house because we had great plans of living in that house and doing our lives there. 

Sometimes we can think a little too highly of ourselves and all we've accomplished and lose sight of the fact that they were all GIVEN to us, not earned. There are people working twice as hard and living off of far less. 

“Furah carries wood and her eighteen-month-old daughter Shukyru, on the road linking Rupango to Sake, eastern Congo, Wednesday Nov. 19, 2008. Furah walks the 16 kms every day, crossing from the CNDP rebel controlled area to the government held town of Sake to sell wood.” (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

It is time we acknowledge where all of our stuff comes from and say a prayer of thanksgiving while loosening our grip a little.

Finding what matters most

They say if you want to see what matters most to a person to look at their checkbook (or I suppose their credit card statement or quicken files...). I'd go a step further and say to look at how they actually spend their time. How many hours a day do you spend watching TV or reading the news, or on the computer? How many hours are you cleaning? How many hours a day are spent worrying or feeling overwhelmed?

Now think about the 5 things/people that are most important to you. Children count as 1, please don't rank them ;) Now reflect on how you spend your time. Do these things match up? No need for guilt. If it doesn't match up just find one way to improve it today.

As a side note, I hope you are all reading Brandi's blog while she is in Uganda finding potential care sites for Children's Hope Chest. Seriously, this will help put some more perspective in your life and help you reevaluate your priorities. 

Great reading this week

I've been touched by a couple posts this week in the blog world. I'll be enjoying the sun here. If it isn't quite as nice where you are you can sit inside and read these.

Are you BUSY? Thirsty for Him has a great post about Mary and Martha. 

"Serving Jesus, like Martha, was a good thing, but the best was sitting at His feet."

That's right. Martha was doing something good. She was actually preparing a meal to feed Jesus. Are you busy doing things. Doing good things like serving your family and loving people? Don't forget that the BEST thing is to sit at Jesus' feet.

Make and Takes has a post featuring Jyl from Mom it Forward about How to Raise Charitable Children. Definitely worth a look.

Need activities to occupy your toddler or preschooler? Trying to turn the TV off? The Homeschool Classroom has good links for how to keep preschoolers busy (and you don't need to be a homeschooler)

And I've been enjoying Mom's Toolbox's daily SOAP. A daily Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer.

And I know a few of you would be interested in this blog. Missionary Moms. Wonderful blog.

And for those of you who sew, a new spring top sewing tutorial from Made by Rae. I love this top.

Now I'm out the door...

You can help children in Burma!!!

Do you know anything about Burma (Myanmar)? Sadly, most people don't. Here is the short version;

Over fifty years of civil war have left Burma one of the poorest countries in the world. The military dictatorship attacks its own people, killing thousands, and leaving millions displaced.

Many in opposition are either imprisoned or killed. In most of the country there is a false peace due to the dictators' ability to control dissent, however in some ethnic areas the Regime’s army is still attacking the people. There are over 1 million internally displaced people, and over 1 million refugees who have fled the country. There is continual environmental destruction, an HIV/AIDS epidemic, the ongoing laying of landmines, human trafficking and religious persecution. Because of the Regime’s mismanagement and corruption, it’s the world’s second largest opium producer and the main producer of methamphetamines in SE Asia. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient and leader of the democracy movement, is repeatedly put under arrest.

The Regime’s army extends their control over the ethnic minorities by building roads and camps in ethnic homelands, forcing people to relocate or flee into the jungle. There is documented forced labor and the use of rape as a weapon. The Regime’s army lays landmines to keep villagers from returning home and supporting the resistance. 

For a more in depth history of Burma, read the rest of the article here. It is a really tragic, disturbing situation that gets very little press. I would dare to say most people do not know about the situation.

There is something you and your children can do to help!! Christians Concerned for Burma operates out of Thailand and, among other things, has a Good Life Club in which they bring love, healthcare, songs, games and more to the families and children on the run, hiding in jungles in Burma. You can help your children put together small supply packs. The Kid's Pack should Include these items;

• small comb and a mirror
• 1 box of children's chewable vitamins
• 2 children's toothbrushes
• 1 fingernail clipper
• 1 small toy
• 1 picture of you (or your child)
• 1 postcard from your city or state with a Bible verse 

You can also put together a Mom & Baby Pack including;

• small fingernail clippers
• multi-vitamins for mom
• pediatric vitamins (not needing refrigeration)
• 2 outfits for baby, including a cap, hand mittens, shirt (NOT a onesie) and socks
• 1 teether
• 1 picture of you
• 1 postcard from your city or state with a Bible verse

The items for one pack should be put in a sturdy large ziploc bag. Put in a standard gift sized box and mark "household/ personal goods" on the customs form. **CCB notes that the box coming from the USA should not exceed 79 inches in length/width/girth** Mark the package: GLC. Mail standard airmail to:

Christians Concerned for Burma (CCB)
Box 14 Mae Jo
Chiang Mai 50290
Thailand

This would make a great family or playdate activity!!

Urgent Need!!

I know this blog has been devoid of real stories and information lately. Not that mint brownies aren't excellent, but you know what I mean. With the move, the house for sale and a house full of sickies there has been little time for blogging anything interesting. This, however, deserves a moment of my time. The following is directly from Tom Davis' blog. Tom is the director of Children's Hope Chest, an awesome NGO that works with orphaned children around the world. Please, please, please read it and respond!

We've just received confirmation from our new Uganda staff director, Joseph, that 357 children in the Rapha community are out of food and at-risk for losing their school placements (due to inability to pay school fees).

You guys have proven that you understand the dire need for food in Africa where one meal a day is considered a luxury.  Just look at how quickly you responded to the February Food Drive!  These children are at risk for losing THAT one meal.  Currently, there is no food to feed these children.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RESCUE FOR RAPHA

 

How important is education? It keeps the older girls out of prostitution and sexual slavery. It prevents boys from becoming child soldiers and criminals. Without the school, the kids would find themselves working in the fields as child laborers, selling whatever they can find in the market, and exposing themselves to even worse exploitation. 

Ask an African child--which do you need more education or food? They always pick education. "If we have food and no education, we know we're dead anyway." I take for granted my own children's education here in the U.S. In Africa, it is about life and death for kids, and right now 357 kids are staring at a desperate future. If the Rapha school folds, 357 children will face the "orphan future" of drugs, alcohol, prostitution, slavery, crime, and suicide. We can stop all of that at Rapha today and set them up for a bright future.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RESCUE FOR RAPHA

These children had no hope for their lives before the Rapha school started. Ruth, the founder of the school, rescued these children the first time. Pulled them from abject poverty and provided for their food and their schooling. Now, that's all at risk. I can't bear the thought of a child leaving the Rapha school and turning to prostitution or crime to survive. I can't consider the potential exploitation of hundreds of young children. And it won't happen if we respond together.

Rapha is one of several Ugandan communities that is on track for full sponsorship later this Spring. However, present circumstances are now threatening 357 children. The founder of the Rapha school and orphan community died unexpectedly in 2008.  Since that time money's been tight, and the Rapha school and orphanage have been operating at a deficit. In fact, the teachers and staff at Rapha School are so committed to these children that they have been working for FREE for over 5 months (no money for teachers' salaries)!  HopeChest is ready to pick up this funding for the long term--but we need a bridge to get there. It's about $50/kid that we need right now...
  

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RESCUE FOR RAPHA

Right now, Children's HopeChest is sending out the call to raise emergency funds of $18,054.

Along with the 55 orphaned children that live at Rapha Village, they have a school for 251 other children (Rapha Primary School) as well as pay for schooling for another 51 children (including 6 university students).  Total, they provide education and food to 357 children. Your gifts will keep the children's school fees paid and ensure Rapha has enough food to meet their need for the next few months.  Also, part of your gift will be used by Children's HopeChest to build a bridge toward sponsorship in Uganda.

Just $50/kid keeps a Ugandan orphan fed and in school until CHC can activate our sponsorship program...can you help?

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RESCUE FOR RAPHA

Please put "Rescue for Rapha" in the notes section of the giving page.

You can help Children's HopeChest build a bridge to more consistent funding through sponsorship. If this is fully funded, it will rescue Rapha from their current circumstances, and also accelerate CHC's launch in Uganda.

Katie, a Colorado woman who lives part time in Uganda, had this to say of the Rapha school: Rapha School was a forest before Ruth came along to bring education, hope, and love through a school and foster village.  I have seen Rapha develop from a small papyrus school into a full primary school, farm, and foster family village.  The children in Rapha community prior to Rapha school were unable to attend school and thus continue the cycle of illiteracy in thier families! Now the next generation of Rapha community kids will have a chance to succeed in life!

The amazing faith of a 5 year old

Sometimes you read a story and are completely blown away.  Sometimes it makes you examine your own life.  This is a story like that. 

This is written by Katie, a twenty year old girl living in Uganda, raising nearly a dozen orphans.  

On Tuesday night Sumini, my littlest, randomly asked me before bed where her dad was. This was a funny thing to ask since I have never known her dad. Sumini’s dad abandoned her shortly after her birth. Her mother, blaming Sumini for her dad’s departure, severely neglected and at least, verbally abused her. Sumini came to live with me a year ago when she almost died from severe untreated malaria. Now, I was not about to tell my 5 year old that her dad had left because he didn’t want to care for her, so I just said that her dad was very far away where we couldn’t see him. She told me she wanted to pray for her dad and I thought that sounded like a great idea. But when she prayed, Sumini didn’t pray for God to bless her dad as I had assumed she would, she prayed that she could SEE her dad. Oh, boy, I thought. Again Wednesday night she prayed that she could see her dad. I will admit, I was a little angry this time. I have given her everything she could ever need or want. Her dad abandoned her when she was born and hasn’t so much as attempted to see her. If not for me, she wouldn’t be alive and her dad wouldn’t know or care. “Ok, shut up,” I said to myself. What could you possibly have to be jealous of, after all, she’s 5; she doesn’t mean anything by it!

Thursday morning a man showed up at my gate....

Go read the rest.  You won't believe what happens.  You really won't and it will renew your faith in prayer. I'll give you a hint: a lot more happens after he shows up at the gate.   Then add her blog to your reader.  When you are done with that, read the rest of her blog and go check out her organiation, Amazina.

Where Do You Put Your Money?

So now that you've found 50 ways to give, lets talk about where to give money. When money is tight and you can't give to all the charities you'd like, how do you chose? I think it is important to think in terms of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

First thing is first.  We must have our physical needs met.  This means give to programs that provide food to the starving, clean water, shelter to sleep, etc.

Followed closely behind this we must have our safety and health needs met.  This means health care, jobs, etc.

I'd like to add spiritual needs.  Place it where you may but I believe it is supremely important, like breathing.

The next question is, do you decide who is in need of food MORE?  Is it less important to give to the food bank in the United States than in a third world country like Haiti?  Wow, this is difficult.  Do you think of your donations in these terms?  You do have to ration.  How do you decide?  And what about the neighbor's soccer team needing money for uniforms and the Girl Scouts selling cookies?  Are those worth our money?

The ultimate list of ways your kids can give to others

Here it is folks. The LIST. Much of this was generated from all of you lovely people that gave me ideas for my 25 Days of Giving I did for Advent with my girls. Hopefully this will be useful to you as well.

1. Put together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child
2. Put money in a Salvation Army bell ringer’s bucket
3. Adopt a family through your local mission or shelter
4. Bake cookies for friends, neighbors, family & teachers
5. Tidy up the neighborhood
6. Make and send cards to family/friends telling them what they like about them
7. Do something kind for someone secretly
8. Shower family members with kind words
9. Place spare change in the missionary jar (at church)
10. Give food to local food bank- take it there themselves
11. Send handmade cards to the military
12. Visit a nursing or retirement home
13. Visit a local animal shelter and play with the animals
14. Donate food to a local animal shelter
15. Collect scarves and hats for the homeless
16. Make cards or drawings and give them to people in retirement homes
17. Let them pick out a new toy for Toys For Tots or similar program
18. Save their change and donate to a cause
19. Release a book somewhere that someone might want one. Leave a sticky note inside saying it is for whoever finds it.
20. Help a neighbor with a chore they need done.
21. Bake cookies and share them with the recipient.
22. Pick out a pair of shoes for "Soles for Soles"
23. Hot Cocoa/ lemonade stand to raise money for a cause
24. Volunteer at your church
25. Stay late in their classroom or nursery to help clean.
26. Choosing water at the fast food restaurant and giving the money saved for a cause.
27. Have a "pick up trash" day where you look for litter everywhere you go.
28. Do a story time at a local mission/shelter.
29. Sell something to raise money for a cause.
30. Buy a needy family a Christmas tree.
31. Draw little pictures and write notes- leave them around town for people to find.
32. Make craft kits to take to the children's hospital.
33. Visit elderly members from church.
34. Bring home baked cookies to Fire Fighters, NICU nurses, Police Officers on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
35. Make sandwiches and pass them out to homeless people.
36. Buy gift cards and put them under someone’s windshield wipers.
37. Hand out flowers to strangers- bus station, senior center, etc.
38. Have a car wash to raise money for a cause or wash cars for free.
39. Make cookies and have a bake sale to raise money for a cause.
40. Write notes to teachers or caregivers about what makes them special.
41. Befriend someone they don't normally talk to.
42. Bring hats to the hospital for children that have lost their hair.
43 Let them pick out an outfit from their closet to donate to a charity that gives clothes to needy children.
44. Sign up to sponsor a child through World Vision that has your child's birth date. Help them write letters.
45. Check with your local mission or shelter to find out what needs they have. Buy blankets or socks, etc. with your kids and deliver them to the shelter.
46. Have your kids help prepare a meal for a new mom or someone who is sick.
47. Mow an elderly neighbor's lawn.
48. Donate new crayons to the children's hospital.
49. Help your child organize a sponsorship drive for World Vision, Compassion International or other child sponsorship program.
50. Ask for canned food for the food bank in lieu of gifts at a birthday party.

Anything I left off? Help me expand the list!

Please feel free to use this list but give credit where credit is due! Thanks!

What Africa really needs

This article surprised me. An atheist, raised in Africa, saying Africa really needs missionaries and God rather than aid money. Go give it a read.

Day 22

This storm will just not quit! We've had over a week of snow, which is odd for Seattle. We aren't equipped for snow. The roads stay snowy and icy and people stay home. Well, everyone except those who need to do Christmas shopping. We've had some fun playing in the snow. We had 7.5" of snow on Sunday morning. It was a little deep for Daphne to have a lot of fun in. It snowed most of the day and by this morning we had over a foot of snow. It was WAY to deep for Daphne to have fun in. She couldn't really walk and I had to carry her which means it was too much snow for me to have fun in. As I mentioned, the snow has halted our giving. We won't be going out until Christmas eve to visit family.

Here are some of the things we've been up to while we are cooped up inside...

This was our first snow over a week ago.

Here was Maggie enjoying the snow... from inside.

A pony ride

Smiley happy girl

Making sugar cookies for the neighbors.

7.5" on Sunday morning.

Goofball girl

I didn't take any pictures of the girls in the super deep snow today. Probably because I was carrying Daphne the whole time. She says she wants to play in the snow again tomorrow. Why?

Day 20

More snow! We spent another day at home. Arthur took the car to get a bit of last minute shopping done so the girls and I stayed in and stayed warm. It was around 17 degrees during the day when I checked. Brrrr.... Tonight we are getting more snow and gearing up for very high winds. I'm hoping we don't lose our power.

I am a bit afraid, due to the forecast for the week that we are not going to be able to accomplish our last few days of giving. We'll see. Today the girls delivered cookies and hot cocoa mix to the neighbors to help them enjoy the indoors. We always enjoy taking treats to the neighbors.

Naomi helped me put stamps on a lot of envelopes today. I had to explain to her that creativity in stamp placement is frowned upon by the postal service. She still enjoyed the task. She enjoys doing just about anything I ask her to do that she sees as a more grown up task. When we made our sugar cookies today she was upset when I didn't let her make all the cookies into balls. I told her that if we were keeping them all she could make all the balls but since we weren't... she could make the ones she was going to eat. Once they cooked up they all pretty much looked the same though. I guess next time she gets to make all the balls.

Day 19

Our trip to Warm Beach was fabulous. I'd post some pictures but the camera wasn't working still. We spent hours playing in all the snow and the girls loved it. Daphne enjoyed being waited on by her boy servant, cousin Kobe. Naomi enjoyed getting so much attention from all the family. Incidentally, after Daphne played with the broken camera today it started working again. She's a healer.

A month or two ago Naomi became entranced with some videos on the Charity: Water website. Today we donated to the Water for Christmas drive to build wells for villages in Liberia. Go check it out. Watch the videos. Clean water can save lives.

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

Give the gift of clean water, life, for Christmas.

Day 18

Today we braved the hideously icy and snowy roads and headed to Warm Beach camp's Festival of Lights. My whole family met there, driving from various locations. Currently we are hanging out in this cozy 5 bedroom house. Our activity for the day was to write cards to each family member telling them what the girls like about them. I'm going go get the girls and have them pass out the cards now...

Day 17

Quick, we need help! We were going to head out to do day 17's activity but it started snowing so we are going to stay home to play in it. What can we do from home?!?
UPDATE: We had tons of fun playing in the snow. I'd show you pictures but the camera is still broken. We played with the neighbors and then brought them the hot cocoa mix we made for them last weekend. We'll count that.

Day 16

Yesterday was Maggie's 2 month check up. She is 12 pounds which is somewhere between the 75th and 90th percentiles. She is 23.5 inches long (90th percentile). Another big girl! Daphne made Rice Krispie Treats so we brought them to the doctor's office staff. They seemed pretty surprised. I guess they don't get many gifts!

Day 15

You may be thinking, "what happened to days 13 and 14?" Well... they came and went. On Saturday we bought gifts for a family we are supporting for Christmas through the Everett Gospel Mission. On Sunday we made hot cocoa mix to take to the neighbor kids. We never took it. It still sits on the counter. Next time we see them out playing we'll run it out to them. Since there was snow on the ground Sunday we had hoped to surprise them with it so they could take it in and drink it to get warmed up. It is still biting cold and there is a bit of snow left so we'll probably see them out playing soon.

Today we are planning to write letters to the kids we sponsor through World Vision and Compassion International. There are a ton of agencies and NGOs out there you can sponsor children through (if you are interested). I am impressed with World Vision and Compassion International also appears to do great work. I've also sponsored a kid through Children International for about 15 years. There is much less correspondence from them and I feel more disconnect from the child we sponsor. On one hand that might be a good thing because they spend less money trying to get the children and the sponsors to communicate, and on the other hand...

It is COLD here! I bundled the girls up to go to Target today. They sure are cute in their snowsuits and boots. Naomi fell over coming back into the house and it totally reminded me of A Christmas Story. You know that movie? Anyway, we plan to hibernate the rest of the day. If it is cold where you are you should make that hot cocoa we made. Pretty good! I'd definitely use milk instead of water though. Much better.

Day 12

We are expecting snow! This would ordinarily be a lot more exciting for me except that I was hoping to stay another night at my mom and dad's house to get some more Christmas sewing done but we'll be taking off a day early to avoid the snow. Those of you from snowy places probably find that funny but in the Northwest we don't drive in the snow if we can help it. And for good reason. The roads are dangerous here in the snow. I can say this because I've lived in a place that got a lot of snow in the winter and drove every day in it. We don't have the infrastructure to clean the snow off the roads here so they are often very icy and slushy if it snows. Plus the hills and the bad drivers... SO, we are heading back home today.

Easy Day 12 giving. The girls chose a few friends to send Christmas cards to. They told me a sentence or two to write in the cards and I wrote them. Mostly things like "I like you," and "you share." We'll mail them tomorrow. Merry Christmas little friends!