A Passion To Give

The little one who has stolen my heart

2012-02-06T03:25:00.001-06:00

I don't know her name. And no one else does either. Yet this little one stole my heart yesterday. I gave her a piece of gum along with 5 other children before the local church started. That's when she caught my eye. She didn't make a sound, just looked at me with wide eyes and put the gum in her mouth.

Half way through the 3 hour church service (yes, it's quite a Sunday morning event here!) I spotted her behind me, clinging to her father's leg. She came to me and I picked her up in my arms.

The room was burning hot. I held her for over an hour as she played with my bracelet and then fell asleep in my lap. When I finally lifted her off of me after the service, my entire front was soaked in both of our sweat.

While I was holding her, I just prayed for her. Prayed that she would be protected as she grew up- that her family would love her and that God would take care of her and that one day, she'd come to know Him in the very church we were sitting in.

She stole my heart. And I know, she will be in my prayers for years to come.

The amazing YOTEL

2012-02-03T09:39:00.002-06:00

And we have left!

Right now I am currently in the London airport in one of the most wonderful things man has created! It's called a YOTEL - anyone heard of it?

Here's the one I'm staying in.

After a long flight and another one to go, this was the perfect way to spend our 10 hour layover!

We were all able to get some alone time, some sleep and a WONDERFUL hot shower! This is one happy girl and I have found my new way to handle these crazy, long trips!

Wish us luck and say a few prayers as our next flight takes us to Zambia. Can't wait to meet our 80 orphans there!

Now that I have seen, I am responsible

2012-01-25T21:03:00.003-06:00

With Zambia only a week away and the trip fresh on my mind, Brooke Fraser's song fills my head and heart tonight. Something about these trips grips you- grabs a hold of your heart and won't let go. I know full well that I will leave part of me in Zambia next week.

But the best part of this trip is that I know I get to come back and visit these kids again this summer. Not once have I been able to travel BACK to the places I've left my heart and you're always left wondering how they are - how those 3, now 6 year olds are. Are they learning their letters? Learning how to write and spell their names? It hurts not knowing how they have grown up - they are frozen at 3 years old and forever precious.

But these kids in Zambia will be different. I'm ready to build a relationship. I've already started memorizing all 80 of their names, making their faces familiar in my mind. And next week, as I meet them, I'll get to say "this summer, when I come back..."

I'll also find one sweet child to sponsor next week. Jake and I are really excited about adding one of these sweet orphans to our family. I'm not sure if it will be a boy or girl, but either way, we can't wait! And at the office, we have been setting up new, exciting tools through Facebook to stay connected to the kids while in the States, so Jake and I will be able to really build a relationship with them through photos, video, and updates. Here is one of the 10 houses I will be visiting next week:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Fathers-House-C4/176879455741018

As I go, I want to remember what really matters. Once I have seen, I am responsible. These children and their stories I will carry with me wherever I go. Please follow me as I'm there... I'll be updating this blog as much as possible from the ground there.

Brooke Fraser - Albertine

2012-01-13T17:05:00.001-06:00

Jake and I stayed up late last night watching videos from our Every Orphan's Hope Youtube channels. We loved them so much that Jake tweeted about this one (watch the boy on the left - we cracked up!)

and I cried at the end of this one. We can't wait to meet these kids in Zambia and are already getting attached!!!

Zambia!

2011-12-29T18:15:00.000-06:00

The date is set! February 2nd I will be leaving our home in Dallas and flying across the world to Zambia, Africa for 12 days! This new country already has touched my heart, as it is home to the 80 orphans whose names and faces I have learned in the last 3 weeks. I can't wait to meet them face to face. To sit in the dirt with them, to laugh and play, to let them braid my crazy, weird, straight American hair. What a joy it will be to put real live faces with the names I have already come to care about. I have read their stories- now I want to live their lives with them.

The best part is that I get to keep coming back and visiting twice a year. In my other travels, I knew I was saying goodbye for a long time, if not forever. Here in Zambia, I can't wait to build lasting relationships... heck, I see some of my best friends here in the States only twice a year!

I'll also be praying and looking for a few children that God really lays on my heart, as I have family members that would like to sponsor a little girl. And Jake and I want to sponsor a child as well. I'm afraid I'll come back to the States asking Jake to sponsor 25 children, but that's what makes me so excited about this "job"... I get to serve these orphans all year long, 8-5, 5 days a week! Could it get any better??

In the weeks ahead I hope to share some of what we'll be doing in Zambia. We have SO much to do in preparation. And once I'm there, I'll also use this blog to update my friends and family about our travels. I can't wait! Thanks for following along!

Check out everyorphan.org to learn more.

Book recommendation

2011-12-15T22:04:00.001-06:00

Looking for a GREAT book recommendation?

Just Monday my boss came in and laid a book on my desk. "Have you heard about Katie?" he asked.

And let's just say, all week all I've wanted to do is learn more about Katie and her amazing story in Uganda. Jake and I fight for the book every night to read and I even stayed up past my bedtime devouring it last night after Jake fell asleep.. ha!

Katie also has a blog outlining her adventures since 2007. As of today she is a mother to 13 Ugandan orphans and her story is amazing. Check it out if you are ready to be challenged and to follow along as one 22 year old American girl shares the adventure she is living. It won't leave you untouched.

2011-12-14T21:32:00.002-06:00

These last 10 days have been nothing short of wonderful. What a joy it is to hear stories, to look at pictures and to learn names. Names of children that I get to meet face to face in only a month! I really want to pinch myself sometimes. This "job" continues to bring such joy and it's only just begun!

This week our dear friends Mike and Cindy are in Haiti! As you may know, Haiti hits close to home for me because I was there 4 months after the earthquake in 2010. I can still see mass graves and destroyed buildings in my head. Yet I also remember the heart of those at Mission of Hope and the positive changes they were bringing to the people of Haiti. Mike and Cindy are blessed to go serve at the same Mission of Hope I visited 19 months ago. Check out my experience here.

I so wish they could update us on their trip but I'll just have to wait patiently until they get home this weekend. As the week has progressed, I think of them often and say prayers for their trip, safety and the experience of a lifetime they are having. These trips define your life. I hope it leaves them changed... that their hearts won't ever be the same and it's just the beginning of their giving... giving of themselves to those in need.

We are all called so differently.. some of us to other countries, to the workplace, to our own homes and neighbors... yet we are all called to give. And with that giving comes joy. The joy I can't wait to see on Mike and Cindy's faces once they are back on American soil and we can take them to dinner to hear all about their trip. Nothing compares to sharing these stories with your loved ones and friends. Nothing compares to the joy of giving.

Big news!

2011-12-08T21:17:00.001-06:00

Well folks, I have some exciting news to announce and news that will probably change the future of this blog a little bit. As of this week, I have started what I like to call a "dream job". I've been volunteering with an organization called Every Orphan's Hope for several weeks and in mid November they asked me to join them full time, starting in December. I seriously had tears in my eyes when the invitation was given and couldn't have been happier to accept. After all, I'm doing what I love and I get to come to work every day knowing that my efforts are making a difference half way around the world. And you know what is the craziest blessing of all?? I'm REQUIRED and PAID to travel to Zambia twice a year as part of my job description! Could it get any better than that? What an answer to prayer this job has become!

So what do I do on a daily basis? Well I'm in the process of working that out but I'll be in charge of donor and sponsor relations. I get to give sponsors updates on their children, communicate with the homes in Zambia to receive those updates, and ultimately make sure that our sponsors have the relationship they desire with the children that they have come to love. I get to be on the front lines and see these relationships develop and I can't wait! I also have been given the freedom to do a little business development, which is another thing I'm very passionate about.

This blog will stay true to its history... I'm here to bring to light, what others are doing around the world and in our country too. Yet, now I will also have a front seat to wonderful stores from Zambia and will love to share those with you too. Hold on to your seats.... this girl is pumped about this new opportunity and won't let it leave me unchanged!

If you want to learn more about Every Orphan's Hope, check out this video:

http://vimeo.com/30296319

Uganda- Part 2

2011-10-12T13:31:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite things we got to do in Uganda was teach PE. We taught all ages but these pictures are of the precious 3rd through 6th graders at recess.

Danika (my 18 yr old cousin) and I taught them how to play frisbee.... or at least we tried! Can you imagine how crazy it was? The frisbee flew every which way and we spent most of our time running it down, instead of playing catch. But here's one little guy in action:

And here I am leaning over, trying to catch my breath and trying to cool down... the littlest activity in that humidity makes you pour sweat!

Here Becka and I are ready to go explore Uganda. It was a trip of a lifetime and one we were very blessed to take... thanks Grandma for giving us such an opportunity!

Always amazes me what they can carry!

Roasted bananas that were bought for us from the side of the road. Of course we ate them and it felt good to conquer my American fear-filled mind (what kind of bacteria is on this?? Didn't I just see a 100 flies on this?? Where was this cooked? Can my stomach handle this??) And truth be told, we all survived! Eating local food is just one of those things you've gotta do while traveling!

Baboon on the side of the road

And here's where it gets real:

These were abandoned buildings that refugees used when they fled from the LRA and the unrest up in Northern Uganda. I found this article/quote written back in 2006 by Michelle Brown from Rufugees International:

"Despite improvements in the past year, and the cessation of hostilities between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) signed on 26 August, the humanitarian response in Northern Uganda continues to fail. The crisis remains one of the most severe in the world. Over 1.7 million people are displaced from their homes, without access to basic services such as water, sanitation and health care."

As we drove by these buildings, I could only think about how LITTLE time had passed since people were living here. How only a few short years ago, families were fleeing and taking shelter wherever they could find a safe place. It truly just made me pray for those families and the situations that they still face today after overcoming such a horrific experience. It's impossible to not be moved by the history and to not want to do something about it... to help prevent it, make others aware, support those who have gone through it...anything. And that's what makes these trips so important to me.

When we got back to the orphanage, these babies were waiting for us. Some had lost parents due to AIDs, others to accidents and war. After seeing the refugee buildings and hearing the brutal stories people still face in Uganda, our purpose was clear. We were there to help in any small way we were needed.

This is the 3 year old class. We were NOT supposed to be distracting the kids and taking pics so I hid the camera for a few precious shots (awful, I know!). These were the best behaved 3 year olds I have EVER been around. Discipline is serious here and there's no wonder.. these kids were better behaved and more respectful than most 10 year olds in America.

And here's a video to leave you with of them singing. While there's no picture, I knew I'd always love looking back and listening to their voices. "Trust and Obey" will never be the same to me.

My trip to Uganda (Part 1) and an update

2011-09-18T15:08:00.000-05:00

So it’s definitely time for an update! If you saw my last post (linked to my other blog) you saw the list of things we had going the last couple of months. To sum it up, Jake and I got engaged after dating for 2 years in March, and knew we wanted to get married before he started his new coaching/teaching job this fall. So before we knew it, that meant a July wedding with an early August honeymoon and only 4 months to plan the event which was held in Colorado! To throw in another big milestone, I went to Uganda in June for 9 days.. but I’ll get to that in a bit J We also moved to Dallas, TX and Jake got a new job while I left mine in Oklahoma City right before the wedding in CO. SO….. it’s been a crazy few months if you can’t tell. But we are loving married life, survived the big move, rented a new place, had a WONDERFUL honeymoon in Maui and Jake loves his job- all amazing blessings we try to make sure and count every day in the midst of the madness.

I’ve been enjoying the two months off of work, although it has only felt like a week or two now that I’ve caught my breath. I’ve loved putting the house together, cooking meals for Jake, taking care of our dog Boss, running errands, switching my name on EVERYTHING, going to the gym regularly, making a new budget for us, babysitting a little and just being a wife. What an adventure! And who says this isn’t work? J People ask me all the time what I’m doing now, and I honestly could make a list a mile long… I love it!

So that is why the blog(s) have been so far behind. But now I want to catch up and the first thing I want to write about is Uganda.

While the trip was in the midst of my crazy 4 month engagement, I really was able to detach and really enjoy the 9 days I had there. I went with my Grandma and cousin and really cherished the time I got to spend with them. Because of work, I was actually only in Uganda for 5 days, with 4 days of travel time… unreal. I don’t think I’ll ever go for such a short time again just because it’s so hard to travel that much for such a little visit. But man were those 5 days amazing!

This picture is of my cousin Danika and I with another girl named Becca that came on the trip with us. The "welcome to Uganda" sign was held by our driver at the airport to welcome us when we got off the plane.

This was our room at the hotel the first night. We got in so late at night that we weren't able to travel to the village until the next day. I wanted to take a pic of the mosquito nets, since so many of my friends have never seen or slept under these :)

Lake Victoria

We got to see a lot of Uganda because we traveled around a lot. These pictures I took from our jeep, so the clarity isn’t great but it shows life as they know it there…. I kept trying to get pictures of the babies because they are the key to my heart, but man, that jeep was going fast!

This is a large slum in Kampala (the capital city). I tried to get a couple pictures but again, we were zooming through the city!

The Rafiki Village is about an hour or two from Kampala. What a great site it was as we drove up to the gate! It looked very similar to the village in Ghana I've visited and was just as beautiful! We were all so excited to see where we would be serving for the week

Our wonderful cottage

Right outside our cottage grew this Jack Fruit. It's HUGE! We tried eating some and it was pretty good too!

These were Safari Ants/Army Ants which are pretty famous for traveling in large groups and destroying whatever is in their path. This was just a little stream/line of them by our cottage. Man do they bite! I got bit by one and I couldn't get it to let go of my leg! These ants are even known to kill small pets and animals.

Well I have TONS more pics so stay tuned for Part 2....

Update...

2011-07-01T15:58:00.002-05:00

http://shellp.blogspot.com/2011/07/next-few-months.html

T-1

2011-06-09T21:23:00.000-05:00

Can't wait to hold babies like these in my arms!!!

Africa, here I come! Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts! I'll try to write/email whenever (or if) I have internet access. Love you all!

T-3 Days

2011-06-07T22:28:00.001-05:00

Every time I go on a trip like this, there's always a child that steals my heart.

In Ghana I fell in love with several specific children but Afua (Af-wa) definitely stood out and won me over by her mischievous ways. Whether she was causing trouble or being sweet and kind, I immediately took a liking to her.

She was also quite the little dancer and the most athletic little kid I've ever seen. She beat all the boys her age in whatever sport we were playing (maybe that's why I took a liking to her so much :) ) and was quick as lightening. I remember standing in shock watching her run circles around everyone else.

This little video makes me smile every time I watch it and takes me back 6 years to the wonderful 2 weeks I stayed with these kids. Afua is the second one from the right, wearing a white shirt. She's really the one dancing the most (especially at the end) so you definitely can't miss her! Where does a 5 year old learn to dance like that?!?!? Cracks me up!

And some of you may recognize the Sunday school song... "The Lord is my shephard, I'll walk with Him always... always... always... I'll walk with Him always"

A trip of a lifetime...

2011-06-06T22:02:00.000-05:00

This has been a long awaited post for me to write, as I’ve been planning this little adventure for 3 months now. As most of you know, a piece of my heart was left 6 years ago on the other side of the globe and it’s been my desire to get back to that continent ever since.

On Friday at 7:30 AM, I will be headed out of OKC and traveling to Uganda, Africa!

It’s so crazy to realize the trip is right around the corner. With all the other “seasons” of life I’ve been going through the last six months, it’s been very easy for the trip to completely sneak up on me.

I’ll be going with my Grandmother and cousin which just makes the trip even more special because I’ll get to share it with people that I love and hopefully will become even closer with. Grandma took me to Ghana 6 years ago and I’ve been very blessed to be invited once again to join her and my cousin this time around. Plus with my wedding less than 2 months away, I think the 10 day absence will be GREAT for my heart, soul, and mind. A perspective change is for sure in order!

We are going with an organization named “Rafiki”, which means “friend” in Swahili. While you never know exactly what to expect when you travel anywhere (let alone overseas), it helps that this is the same organization we went with 6 years ago. If the trip is anything close to my 2 week experience in Ghana, I’ll be playing with lots of babies, teaching school, eating all kinds of interesting things, (I’m MOST looking forward to eating the fruit there! It’s amazing!!!!) and serving however I am able.

The Rafiki Training Village in Uganda where we will be serving is located in the rolling hills of southern part of the country. About one hour travel by car from the nation’s capital of Kampala, the Village is situated on fifty-five acres in the primarily agricultural district of Wakiso. The Rafiki village provides living, medical, and educational facilities to orphans and vulnerable children. Also, the onsite staff trains African churches to care for their orphans and to support their widows. We will be helping the staff accomplish these purposes as well as just loving on these babies and children and giving the hard working staff a hand with all their daily responsibilities.

It’s going to be quite the trip and I can hardly wait! No, packing hasn’t begun yet and mentally all I can think about is work, weddings, and check lists…. but as the week progresses, I want to prepare by using this blog as an avenue. I’ll be uploading media and posting more about the trip so that I can get excited and also share with you what I’ll be experiencing. It’ll also be a great trip down memory lane for me, as that is where I left a piece of my heart six years ago with several adorable orphans and teenage girls that changed my life forever. Feel free to travel back with me as I dig up those memories and as I travel to Uganda.

A Prayer for Mavis

2011-06-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

I received the saddest news the other day which has left my mind to wander and my heart to ache for a little girl on the other side of the world that I only had the privilege of knowing about for a few short months.

I got a letter from Compassion, telling me that MAVIS has moved from her home in Accra and can’t be a part of the Compassion ministry any longer that they offer and I support. L While I first received the letter from Compassion letting me know of her move, they also invited me to call them to receive more details - which I immediately did. Turns out Mavis’s family was having some difficulty with their current living arrangements (I assume financially) and as a result are moving to live with Mavis’s Aunt in a town named Koforidua, Ghana. I Google Mapped the trip and it looks like it’s an hour and a half north and inland of Accra, Ghana where they lived previously on the coast.

The move left me with so many feelings and my heart immediately went out to this family. Moving is never easy and the little experience I’ve had with it myself has been in a wealthy nation where I knew all my needs were going to be met. I moved knowing that it was what I wanted to do or moved on my own terms- not because I needed it out of survival. I’ve started over in new schools and had to meet new people, leaving close friends behind, and it just is never easy. Yet, I also know that God is in control and He has plans for little Mavis, as He does for me. That He’ll take care of her and provide for her needs even when I can no longer give and provide for her on a monthly basis. He is bigger than all of it and has her best interests in mind.

As if this didn’t tug at my heart enough, I received the following in the mail just yesterday from Mavis’s social worker. The prayer just about did me in.

So now I’m left with one job to do: to pray for little Mavis and her family on their new adventure. If I know anything about moving, it brings many new opportunities and could be the best thing for her in the long run.

Compassion has also sent me information on supporting a new child. I’ll keep you posted. And if you’re interested in starting a relationship and supporting a child, please visit Compassion’s website. A little girl overseas may have you to thank as a result!

Tornados Hit Home

2011-05-27T13:42:00.001-05:00

Since moving here to Oklahoma, there’s never been a dull moment for weather. Whether it’s flooding, blizzards, ice storms, hail or tornados, I’ve seen it all. And this week created the most heartbreak and anxiety this city has seen in quite awhile.

Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts go to those who are picking up the pieces this week, just a few short miles away from where I call home. Some homes were completely taken away, just leaving the foundation and debris on the ground. Families lost loved ones and the community has mourned with them. Yesterday they found the body of a 3 year old little boy who got taken with the tornado and was missing for two days – horrible stuff that we are dealing with here.

But we’re not the only ones dealing with loss. Everyone has heard about the tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, and the images we see tear at our hearts and make us want to do SOMETHING, anything, to help.

One organization that I’ve been hearing a lot about is Convoy of Hope. They are on the ground in Joplin currently and as of Friday, Convoy of Hope has delivered nearly 500,000 pounds of food, water and supplies to victims of the Joplin tornado.

Never seen what tornado damage looks like? I pulled this off a summary article on their website:

“The view from within the swath is surreal. Steel buildings are twisted like straws, cars and trucks resemble soda cans twisted into oblivion, power-poles and fence posts are blown over as if made of rubber. Trees have either toppled over or are stripped bare of leaves and bark. Boards stick precariously out of the sides of walls and the dank smell of wet wood hangs in the air.”

So, needless to say, the tornado victims have really held a special place in my heart this week. And because of that, I want to give my monthly donation to Convey of Hope for the month of May. If you’d like to do the same or find out more about their efforts in Joplin, check them out at http://www.convoyofhope.org

Yay for Mobile Blogger and Stamp Out Hunger day!

2011-05-18T21:35:00.001-05:00

I just figured out how to use mobile blogger and I'm pretty excited to now send pictures from my phone to the blog... I'm hoping this will increase the amount of posts I'm able to put up each month, so let's keep our fingers crossed! :) It'll definitely be a time saver!

I wanted to show a picture of my "Stamp Out Hunger" contribution. I was so excited when I got my mail a couple days before May 14th last week, and there was a plastic bag just for the food bank! It made me proud that my little area of OK was doing it's part to "stamp out hunger". On May 14th, Saturday morning, my mom and I raided my panty and took the goods to the mail box. I'm pretty sure I missed the pick up time, but lo and behold, the mailman picked up everything anyway, even if I was a little late. Thank you Mr. Mailman!

Did anyone else take part in this National Day? Refer back to one of my older posts if you have no idea what I'm talking about :) Here's my mobile picture:

March of Dimes

2011-05-07T17:14:00.001-05:00

I'm so bummed as I write this that we didn't take any pictures today! I've been excited to write this post for a few days leading up to this morning and was planning on taking a bunch of pictures to document what we did - but lo and behold, no pictures of us :( By the time I realized it, it was too late! But enough about regrets... let me tell you what we were able to be a part of today!

My Life Group has been wanting to volunteer more often and do things in the community, and so my friend Zack found out about this 2 mile walk called March of Dimes, that benefits babies who are born premature. We joined teams with Bank of Oklahoma and all met up at the OKC Fairgrounds this morning. Here's what the funds go to:

where your money goes

The money you raise in March for Babies is used to fund important research and programs

that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it helps us

provide information and support to families whose baby was born too soon, or sick.

It was so humbling to walk alongside others who had t-shirts on that said "In memory of ...... " and you knew it was for a precious baby that they grew to love. Some shirts had weights on them. For example, "In memory of Amelia. 4 lbs, 3 ozs, 19 in" and it broke my heart to imagine the hurt and loss those people had.

Checking out the website more, I stumbled up on "Share your story" with this description:

Parents love to talk about the trials and tribulations of having and raising kids. Unfortunately, it often isn't easy for the parents whose children were born prematurely, with a birth defect or who have suffered infant loss to find other parents who understand. That's why the March of Dimes created Share Your Story , an online community to support the parents so closely touched by our mission. The site provides parents with a place to share invaluable information, encouragement and support.

It also brought to mind a special baby, whose family I knew growing up. I babysat for the family's other three kids, but their 4th little baby girl was born premature and struggled to survive for months. Her's is a happy story- in that she survived and is a blessing to her family- but I know there were months, even years, that were very difficult because of her premature birth. Whether it was feeding tubes or hundreds of doctor visits, I saw with my own eyes how much of a toll it takes on families. But those babies are SO PRECIOUS and SO WORTH IT, and it was a wonderful morning this morning, marching to support this cause!

Also, I loved marching with Jake and our other friends, and look forward to the many other volunteer days we will share together! There's nothing like serving alongside friends and having a common purpose to do so!

We finished the morning with BIG TRUCK TACOs!!! (one of our favorite local stops) and as always, it didn't disappoint!

*****

Also I wanted to let you know that for my April donation, I decided to give to

There's just something about giving to what you participate in. Seeing those families marching for the babies they lost just made my decision all the more easier. What a blessing to have doctors studying and researching to give babies healthier lives!

What can you do here and now?

2011-05-04T20:15:00.001-05:00

So often when I talk to people about my desire to help others and serve overseas, I get a lot of questions like “Why not help Americans- here in the United States? Why travel around the world?” to which I have many answers and reasons. But today, I want to share with you something that you can do HERE and something that can make a real impact NOW… actually in 10 days to be exact!

Women’s Day magazine brought to my attention the subject of this blog post today: the Stamp Out Hunger program, run by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Here’s a flyer to sum up what you can do on MAY 14^th this year:

http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/thankyou.aspx

So by just putting a few perishable items in a sack by your mailbox you can make a difference. So often giving and serving requires a lot of effort (effort that I think makes it even more worth it!) but this is just as simple as it gets. Tell your neighbors, call your post office to make sure they are participating, and jump on board as we fight hunger here in the good ol US of A! And if you have any questions, check out the website here.

Some Encouragement

2011-04-26T22:35:00.000-05:00

The other night at the Dallas airport I had some time to kill. My flight was delayed an extra hour and whenever I travel, I always print out numerous articles from a lot of different sources... most of which I never get a chance to read. But the other night, I was looking through my bag since my 3 books just weren't doing the trick, and I came across some articles I had printed out months ago for one of my flights home to CO. Finance articles (yup, this girl loves to read about work stuff), friend's blogs, the latest posts from Bill Gates, and finally exactly what I needed... a chapter called "Every Day Deserves A Chance" by Max Lucado.

Now I wasn't having a bad day or needing a change in perspective. But I DO have those bad days and I often DO need changes in perspective. So I picked it up and read it, seeking encouragement and advice. And I got everything I was hoping for and more. Words that made me take out my camera phone and snap a picture of the page, so when I am having one of those days, I can have this little refresher right there to refer to. I hope it's as encouraging to you as it was to me:

".... Suppose neck deep in a 'terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day,' you resolve to give it a chance. You choose not to drink or work or worry it away but give it a fair shake. You trust more. Stress less. Amplify gratitude. Mute grumbling. And what do you know? Before long the day is done and surprisingly decent.

So decent, in fact, that you resolve to give the next day the same fighting chance. It arrives with its hang-ups and bang-ups, bird drops and shirt stains, but by and large, by golly, giving the day a chance works! You do the same the next day and the next. days become a week. Weeks become months. Months become years of good days.

In such a fashion good lives are built. One good day at a time.

An hour is too short, a year too long. Days are the bite-size portions of life, the God-designed segments of life management.

Eighty-four thousand heartbeats.

One thousand four hundreds and forty minutes.

A complete rotation of the earth.

A circle of the sundial.

Two dozen flips of the hourglass.

Both a sunrise and a sunset.

A brand-spanking-new, unsoiled, untouched, uncharged, and unused day!

A gift of twenty-four unlived, unexplored hours.

And if you can stack one good day on another and another, you will link together a good life.

But here's what you need to keep in mind.

You no longer have yesterday. It slipped away as you slept. It is gone. You'll more easily retrieve a puff of smoke. You can't change, alter, or improve it. Sorry, no mulligans allowed. Hourglass sand won't flow upward. The second hand of the clock refuses to tick backward. The monthly calendar reads left to right, not right to left. You no longer have yesterday.

You do not yet have tomorrow. Unless you accelerate the orbit of the earth or convince the sun to rise twice before it sets once, you can't live tomorrow today. You can't spend tomorrow's money, celebrate tomorrow's achievements, or resolve tomorrow's riddles. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made.

Live in it. (Emphasis mine)You must be present to win. Don't heavy today with yesterday's regrets or acidize it with tomorrow's troubles...."

There's so much more that is so good. Please read the rest. I keep hearing lately about "living in the present" and while I've dismissed it often, I've been more convicted lately to really do so. To give today. To listen today. To do today. To serve today. Let this be an encouragement to you as well... THIS is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it :)

Inquisitive Eyes Make Me Curious

2011-04-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

So I’m curious to see if this has happened to any other bloggers out there… where you have written about a company, show, or person and that company, show, or person has contacted you afterwards asking you to continue to spread the word. Well a few weeks ago it happened to me and I was pleasantly surprised by the following email from Secret Millionaire on ABC:

Hi Michelle,

What happened when Curves founders John and Diane Heavin spent a week living on just $6.50 a day in Houston, TX? That’s exactly what we found out on Sunday’s all new episode of ABC’s Secret Millionaire. If you didn’t catch the show, it is now available to watch on ABC.com along with additional info about the millionaires!

Watch Sunday’s episode of Secret Millionaire here:

http://abc.go.com/watch/secret-millionaire/SH5580166/VD55120013/gary--diane-heavin-houston-tx?cid=11_SecretMillionaire_Lbi

Has Secret Millionaire inspired you to get involved and contribute to your community? ABC.com has provided fans with the tools and motivation to act on that inspiration and make a difference with “I Pledge” and “Get Involved.”

Take on the challenge of bringing the Secret Millionaire message out into your neighborhood through “I Pledge” on ABC.com. Join the ABC.com community and make a promise to get involved and help others! Share your pledge and see what others are saying as well on “I Pledge” here:

http://abc.go.com/shows/secret-millionaire/i-pledge?cid=11_SecretMillionaire_Lbi

Made your pledge but need some tips on how you can begin helping? Visit “Get Involved” on ABC.com for some helpful advice, a Secret Millionaire toolkit, links to info about the charitable organizations featured on the show and more here:

http://abc.go.com/shows/secret-millionaire/get-involved?cid=11_SecretMillionaire_Lbi

Please share this news with your readers. New episodes of Secret Millionaire air Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.

I was always curious to see if TV shows, such as Secret Millionaire, were out there with interested eyes all over the blog world seeing what people are writing and saying about their new hit show. Kind of crazy how public information is once you put it out on the world wide web, isn’t it? In fact it made me a little anxious, just like it does when I see that a person half way across the world read what I wrote last week… but at the same time it’s exciting because you realize that people are actually interested and hopefully motivated by what you are writing.

Now for your stories… have you ever had a company or person contact you after you wrote about them? Have any of them offered to pay you to market their product?

Oh and P.S. – the show they are referring to about the Curves founders was probably my favorite! Watch it on ABC if you get a chance… it was really neat to see how they gave! And their Texas home is totally amazing!!

March Donation

2011-04-10T13:32:00.000-05:00

March has flown by for me! While my mind and heart have still been thinking of what to blog about and wanting to blog, I just haven’t been able to physically make the time to do it. Crazy how time flies huh? One of the reasons I have been so busy, is the fact that I got engaged March 18^th! And with a wedding only 4 months away, the last two weeks have been solely devoted to wedding planning when I haven’t been working, eating, or sleeping. But without further delay, here is some information about the organization that I am donating my $100 to for the month of March:

My one my girlfriends Desiree, works for the American Cancer Society and every year they run the Relay for Life. I remember raising funds in elementary and Jr high school for the event, but have not been educated about it since. Desiree sent out a few emails to her friends and family awhile back, asking for donations and it made me think about how neat it would be for me to support her for the month of March! After asking about the event and doing some research, I can see why she is so passionate about this opportunity to raise funds to help fight cancer. And what a neat way to do it!!!

One of the quotes I love from her email was “help us as we work to save lives and create a world with more birthdays! Every donation brings us one step closer to a cure.” – what a great concept and something that everyone can become passionate about! There’s not one of us that has not been affected by cancer in some way or another.

Desiree is running the race on June 10^th here in Oklahoma City. I’ll actually be out of the country on a trip myself, but I had her send me some information on the race in case you are interested. Just hearing her tell me about last year’s race, made me wish I could see it for myself. Here’s what she sent me:

The OKC Relay for Life is on Friday, June 10th at 7pm and goes until 7am on Saturday, June 11th. It is at Southern Nazarene University's sports complex off on 50th west of Council and the theme this year is "Rushing for a Cure". The overall community goal is to raise $100,000 and all the proceeds goes towards cancer research, education and patient care. During the night of relay, the goal is to have someone on your team to walk the track around the field the whole time the relay is going on. Some teams will camp out during the relay event. We have a special time during relay, where all the survivors walk a lap around the field, which is emotional to watch. When it gets dark, we have these bags called luminaries, which is a paper bag with a candle in it that we light in honor/memory of someone that has cancer. People will buy these and decorate them for someone they know or if they don't want to decorate them, we will do it for them. They outline the football field so it is really cool when they are lit. Also, we put some up in the stands that spell “hope” and then during the ceremony, the word changes to “cure”. There are activities that go on the night of relay that make it fun for all who are attending. It is free of cost to get in, but inside, each team has some kind of fundraiser going on, so there are plenty of donation opportunities at the event itself.

So how does the race benefit others?

It helps people get well by educating them on how to reduce their risk of cancer, and how to detect it early, at its most treatable stage
Helps people stay well by providing support to newly diagnosed patients in the form of transportation, lodging, wigs, education, and more
· Finds cures by supporting millions of dollars in research grants each year to the best and brightest young researchers in their field of expertise
And fights back by supporting laws at the local, state, and federal level that will have a positive impact on healthcare and cancer patients nationwide

I was so happy to donate to such a cause and hope that you will check out a Race for the Cure in your area, wherever you live. If you’d like to find out more info about how your donation and time could make a difference, please visit their donation page.

So many opportunities

2011-03-16T20:13:00.000-05:00

After offering a poll for readers to vote on, I’m curious to see if this is the best way to determine who to give to each month… One reader said they really had a hard time weighing which organization could best use that money.. how was she supposed to chose one over the other? It really made me think and while I’m going to test out the voting poll for a few more months, I’m going to be rethinking how I can get you guys involved as readers and also support organizations in the best way possible for months to come. Do you guys have any ideas? Or did you also have a hard time figuring out how to vote?

On a different note, I feel as if I’ve been hit with a million chances to write about amazing organizations ever since I started this blog! Funny how that works huh? Whether it be charity events, requests from friends and family, or news articles jumping out at me, I feel like my eyes have been opened to many amazing organizations around me that need to be noticed. The good news: I have so many topics to choose from to write about! The bad news: there are not enough hours in the day, week, and month to cover them all in the detail they deserve!! But at the end of the day, I will definitely take the endless opportunities and am thankful to God for opening my eyes to those around me. So many people are doing so many amazing things!! And what a blessing it is to notice the positive!

If you know of any organizations that you would love to learn more about, feel free to shoot me an email. I’ve also had friends and family ask me to do some research on organizations they would like to give to…

And finally- what are you doing these days to make a difference? I’d love to hear your experiences!

"Secret Millionaire"

2011-03-14T20:51:00.000-05:00

Has anyone else fallen in love with the new show Secret Millionaire on ABC? If you haven't heard of it, I encourage you to definitely check it out! It airs on Sunday nights but you can also watch the shows online. There have only been two episodes and yet as we watched them this weekend, I couldn't help but love the concept of the show! Millionaires move to and live in the worst parts of the country for a week, then they find people volunteering and giving to those around them, and at the end of the week they reward these deserving people with their own personal money to help fund their volunteer programs. I haven't made it through either show without crying, as you can't help but be so encouraged by the people making a difference in their communities! This last episode I really loved the millionaire's heart as well... after seeing what these people go through, he was so willing to go above and beyond and he seemed to really care about these people he was privileged enough to meet. His was a life that was changed. Check out this really cool encounter he had with just one person he got to meet:

"Marc Helps A Selfless Mother!" from Secret Millionaire

Marc reveals to Courtney, a selfless single mother, that he is a millionaire!

Click Here to Watch

So after watching these episodes, I was excited to write about them and also excited to see what others were saying about the show. I came across some really encouraging things!

First of all, ABC polled the audience and asked the following:

What interests you most about Secret Millionaire?

The millionaires

The volunteers helping others

20%

Seeing how lives change

54%

Watching the millionaires give away money

21%

And it just really gets me excited to see that America is most interested in seeing lives change - yes, it's neat to see a millionaire give their money away, but what really matters? It's the lives that are changed as a result of that giving.

Another section on the ABC website challenges people to pledge to change their community. This is what they ask:

Has "Secret Millionaire" inspired YOU to make a difference in your community? What will you like to pledge to do to get involved and help others? Check back and see what others viewers are pledging as well!

One comment in particular really encouraged me as I hope it encourages you:

stacie296

6 days ago

I saw those women from the love kitchen and they inspired me to take action. This morning I woke up and called our local food bank to see what my two young daughters and I could do to help. So later this month, we'll be taking a tour of the food bank and then getting some bags to do regular food drives in our neighborhood. Thank you to ABC for such an inspirational show. We need more of this kind of TV.

Don't we really??? America is hungry to see lives changed. So many of us have become sick of the filth and emptiness on TV and at the end of day, realize that the giving of ourselves is where true happiness can be found. There's no feeling like it.

Let me know what you guys think of the show.... or if like Stacie, it has made you pledge to make a difference in your community. I would love to hear about it!

Mavis...the beginning of something wonderful

2011-03-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

Look how precious she is!

As promised, I received my Compassion packet in the mail a few weeks after adopting Mavis as my Compassion child. I was so excited to open it up and look at her adorable picture and start communicating with her! I was given a Sponsor Number and lots of information of how to get started. A DVD was even included to watch and then pass on to anyone else that may be interested in sponsoring a child (let me know if you’d like to see it, and I’ll make sure to get it to you!) Jake and I watched it and I can't count how many times the pictures pulled at my heart and made me want to go visit each sweet child. The DVD really shows you how Compassion serves and helps you understand a little more about being a sponsor.

This page told me all about Mavis and where she lives. Her mother and father are married and there are 3 children in the family. She lives in Bubuashi, Ghana- home to about 24,000 people. Half of the adults are unemployed yet I found out that Mavis's parents can sometimes find work and could possibly be traders, making about $48 a month. It breaks me heart to think how often I spend that much money in one day while they provide for their entire family with that amount for a month. Malaria and diarrhea are the most common health problems in the area and improved housing is needed for the community, as most houses are made out of cement and iron.

English is the primary language (which really was a blessing when I visited 6 years ago) due to Ghana being colonized by the British. The country is rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, and rubber, yet 45% of the population makes less than $1 a day. Many refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo also come to live in Ghana due to the country's independence which was granted in 1957.

My packet also contained a folder for me to write down my personal information to send to Mavis along with a picture. I can then write her letters and start corresponding with her. I assume that since English is the primary language in Ghana, Compassion will not have to translate my letters but they do this for all sponsors and children when necessary.

As I understand it, Compassion utilizes programs that are already in existence in the country who choose the children that most need sponsorship out of the community. The program I'll be working with is called Redemption Hour Child Development Center. They will provide Mavis with Bible teaching, health exams, deworming, recreational activities, tuition and educational materials with the money that I give each month. I love most that she will be learning about Jesus and a God that loves her, as well as having her physical needs taken care of.

When I visited Ghana several years ago, teenage girls would walk miles to our school where they were able to learn, take showers, and eat healthy meals every day. Some of these girls had never seen such facilities and were so thankful for a daily shower that I so often take for granted and see as a necessity instead of a privilege. What a blessing it was for me to have my perspective changed.

I'll be sharing with you all my letters to Mavis and the updates I get back about how she is doing. What a privilege it is to join with Compassion in changing a life!