One Word for 2011

**I heard about this yesterday on the KLOVE radio station and thought it sounded pretty cool............http://myoneword.org/choose/

Every New Year we hope this will finally be the year that things will change. We make promises about the new person we're going to become, pledging to get a grip on our finances, get in shape, become a better parent, spouse, even a nicer human being! But there’s one problem: our resolutions seldom work. The busy pace of life gets the better of us, and suddenly, the year is over with little to no personal growth having occurred in our lives.
“My One Word” is an experiment designed to move you beyond the past and look ahead. The challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make this year and instead pick ONE WORD. This process provides clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. One word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future. So, we invite you to join us and pick one word in 2010 (click here to learn how)!

If you’re like most people, each January goes something like this: You choose a problematic behavior that has plagued you for years and vow to reverse it. In fact, you can probably think of two or three undesirable habits—make that four or five.
Thus begins the litany of imperfections to be perfected, commonly known as New Year’s Resolutions. All of which are typically off your radar by February.

the un-resolution

Our resolutions seldom work because they focus on the type of person we want to become rather than who God wants us to be. Many people do not see God at work in their lives simply because they don’t know what to look for. So, what if our hopes for the year centered on who God wanted us to become instead?
It’s okay to want to be a better you—and the New Year is a natural time to start. The question is, how? My One Word replaces broken promises with a vision for real change. When you choose a single word, you have a single focus. You are moving toward the future rather than swearing off the past.
With My One Word, you’re right where God wants you: in His hands. And it’s not an extreme makeover we’re talking about. This year, the goal is to see His work in one area of your life.

a simple process

So how do you go about picking a word? We’ve listed out a few steps to help you get started!

step 1: DETERMINE THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WANT TO BECOME

The first step is to simply take some time and decide what kind of person you want to be at the end of this year. This goes beyond simply being healthier and wealthier, but it must drive deep into your soul. What about the condition of your heart? What about the person that God Himself has created you to be?

step 2: IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT PERSON

Get a picture of that person and then simply identify their major characteristics. Is that person gentle? Is that person generous? What are the qualities of the person you want to become?

step 3: simply pick a word

Once you have a list of the characteristics, simply pick a word. There might be fifteen things that you want to change, but you must resist the temptation to promise you will do them all. Instead, simply commit to ONE WORD.

This will provide you with a lens to see the changes you need to make as well as a way to determine whether or not change is actually happening. Understand that this process is hard, but staying focused on your word will help you to struggle in the right direction so that you can actually see God working in your life.

http://myoneword.org/read/ go to this website to see what others have chosen as their word and why
Now I just have to figure out my word....hmmm...so many choices....I don't know!

My Rock

So the memorial of my dear pal Kathe was yesterday from 2-4 and then I hopped (no not literally) on a boat at 4 to get to the Ft Myers airport. We had an amazing time visiting Useppa again and seeing everyone. The memorial was obviously sad in one way and wonderful in another way. Bob asked everyone to bring something that Kathe had made; paintings, Christmas cards, drawings, etc. And it was ALL amazing and so Kathe and it made you smile but for me, it made me cry mostly.

I don't know why but from the very beginning of the memorial I was in tears, no matter how strong I tried to be or how much I prayed. They would just come on their own, whether I wanted them or not and I must say this was VERY ANNOYING! I'd see everyone else talking and remembering and commenting on Kathe's artwork and I could barely talk. I didn't want Bob to see me upset (or anyone else for that matter). I wanted to be strong for him-thankfully he didn't need me, he did well on his own. So I left. First I just went down to the beach and just sat. I didn't know what to do? My amazing husband was so supportive from the very beginning when he saw how upset I was. He met me down on the beach and just sat with me until we decided to venture down to the Tarpon Bar to have a drink (I needed a drink, which doesn't happen very often. I was so emotionally drained) and visit with a dear friend working. We ended up staying there until it was time to say good-bye.

I am so thankful that Nathan was there with me. He was so loving and supportive and wonderful. He was my rock when I needed him. Yesterday was another reminder of why I married him and why I love him so much. I'm such a lucky girl!

"Bugs"

This is Kelli's sisters, I'm going to be her guest blogger since she is in an airplane on the way home from Florida.

One time when I took Cameron to the doctor, the doctor said he was going to check for "bugs" when he was looking in his ears and nose. This made it a lot easier for the doctor because Cameron took it seriously like there really were bugs in his nose and ears. He would just sit there very still until the doctor was done. This was quite a while ago, and every time we go to the doctor he refers to the "bugs". It seems like right now its a HUGE time for the "bugs". Right after Christmas my boyfriend, his mom and two sisters, and my mom all were really sick. Cameron will say "Did the bug fly out of my mouth and go into yours?" So now I am trying to be very cautious that Cameron and I do not have any bugs flying in our mouth. I pray for everyone who has "bugs".

Be Blessed

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light."

An Excerpt From
May You Be Blessed
by Kate Nowak

It happened a few days after my father's death, in that mind-numbing period of adjustment after someone we love leaves us. Having gone shopping for necessities for my trip back to my own home, I was standing in an otherwise empty aisle of a large chain store when suddenly I sneezed, the last vestiges of an allergy attack I'd fought earlier in the week.
Almost instantly, from the next aisle over I heard a voice call out, "Bless you," and then another, and another, and yet another. All in all, in the span of only a few seconds, I counted eleven different voices coming from every possible direction in the store, some saying "God bless you," others using the word "gezundheit," but all blessing me, all calling good down upon me.
At first I thought little of it. After all the idea of blessing someone when they sneeze is rooted in superstition, an archaic belief that in the act of sneezing the soul is thrown from the body, and a blessing is needed for spiritual protection.
Today, it is usually offered as no more than a courtesy, a polite response that has come to be socially accepted and expected. But on that particular day, in the first few moments following all those blessings being called out to me, I began to notice a difference in myself: A slight shift in perception that left me feeling more connected and empowered than I had in days. It also left me, for the first time since my father's passing, more confident that everything would be all right.
Driving back to my father's house that day, I continued periodic "feelings" checks, marveling at how much stronger I felt. Later, sitting in my parent's kitchen for what would be one of the last times, I recounted the story to my stepmother. "Do you think any of them realized what they were saying?" she asked. "Or was it just out of habit?"
"Just habit," I answered with a shrug, thinking about what a shame it was that people could give such a needed gift as a blessing and not even be aware of what they had done. "It should be a habit, this business of blessing other," I said a moment later. "But it would be nice if people actually knew they could and were making a difference."
A seed was planted that day and two years later it sprouted, awakening me one morning to a gentle soul-whisper that poured forth as the words of a special blessing. Feeling compelled to take pen and paper from my nightstand, I prodded myself into full wakefulness and then sat on the edge of the bed, like a secretary poised for dictation, pen ready to capture each syllable as the inspired words flowed into my awareness.
Because of the power of the internet, those words have since been sent across the planet and read by millions, and as a result, I have received thousands of letters from people telling me how May You Be Blessed has impacted their lives. And in each and every instance I have found myself blessed in return.
I have often wondered since if my new found work as a dispatcher of blessings is the result of a serendipitous accident that placed me in a crowded store on a day when I was both prone to sneeze, and to listen to subtle nudges from the heart. Or was it, perhaps, that my father's gentle spirit was present that day, inspiring others to offer blessings so that I might be lifted up?
Of course, it is a question I cannot answer, but I do know that since that time my life has changed remarkably. Each day is now entirely centered on the act of blessing and I have come to recognize it not only as one of the most powerful and practical ways we have for reconnecting with each other, our world and Life itself, but also the most phenomenal way possible to lead us to happiness and success. It is a discovery I now endeavor daily to share with all.
A blessing, I have come to realize, is a sweet release from pain; a sacred reminder that we are made of love and light and goodness and, as such, part of a greater and most wondrous whole. It is an ancient key to a successful and fulfilling life.
Today, whenever I share with others this phenomenal key, explaining how, as we each develop the habit of blessing others we are blessing our own lives, as well, I feel as if I have been given a wonderful gift. I realize once again how truly blessed I am. It is my hope that as you read this book and allow the words of this blessing to enter your heart, you will be blessed in return. I could not ask for anything sweeter to my soul than that.

Pefecting Your "Art"

My most favoritist (is that a word?) hairstylist is in Florida and I live in Ohio....doesn't work does it? So while I was in Florida I had to make a visit over to Cre8 to see Lily. She knows what I like and how to cut it. Plus she keeps learning and taking classes and is perfecting her "art." I have been to three different stylist since I moved back to Ohio and while they are okay no one is as good as Lily so far and this makes me cry. I value a good haircut.

As in any profession you want the best person for the job. But to be the best you need to perfect your "art" and keep learning. There will always be someone out there who works harder or learns quicker and there will always be some competition. Lily does so well for many reasons; her personality is bright and friendly, she takes the time to listen to what you want, she's a perfectionist and wants you looking your best and she keeps learning new things in the salon business. She is setting herself up for success. As I was sitting in her chair this morning I was remembering all the reasons I love her and keep coming back to her and why I recommend her to everyone. Now I just need her to move to Ohio=)

All Things Come Together

Since Christmas was yesterday and the day of Jesus' birth I thought it would be appropriate to talk about how amazing God is.

When my dear friend passed away in September I was deeply saddened and sorry I couldn't make it to New York for her memorial. Luckily for me though, Bob was having another one on Useppa for all the friends who loved her here. The other day I was reading past journal entries and I had wrote that I wanted to visit Bob in New York and if that wasn't possible then Useppa. I had prayed that everything would work out at the right time and it did.

When I found out the date of the memorial I started looking for plane tickets and they were way out of my budget. But fortunately I had help and was able to purchase tickets and my husband was able to come with me. We got the days off from work with no problems, even though we would be gone at Christmas, a busy time in the restaurant world. However we did run into trouble with Nathan and his drivers license. This is a rather long story. Short version, he never got his Minnesota license and he didn't have his valid birth certificate so he couldn't get an Ohio license. We couldn't buy his birth certificate online because he didn't have a picture ID to fax with the application but luckily his mom is living in WI and was able to go to Madison to get his valid birth certificate. We got the certificate in time for Nathan to get his permit so he would have a picture ID and could get on the plane.

We didn't have any trouble with our flights. We got right on and we even got in early to Ft Myers. So far we're having an amazing time visiting with everyone. I am just so thankful that everything came together for this trip and I have God to thank for that. He knew when the right time was to come and he planned it all out for me.

There are many times when we try to force things to happen at the wrong time instead of just waiting patiently for the right time. I know it isn't easy but it's so worth it if you can wait. There are many stories in the bible of people who tried to make things happen when they thought it should happen instead of waiting on God. And because they didn't wait, their lives became more difficult when it didn't need to be that way. (One example is Abraham and Sarah in Genesis)

When I was reading past journal entries I saw what I had prayed for months ago and I saw how God had answered my prayers and was moving in my life. I totally recommend having a prayer journal so you can revisit your prayers and see how God is answering them. It's easy to forget what you had prayed for which means you don't realize God had answered them. When you know and see that God answered your prayers it helps your faith grow and your walk with God.

Useppa Reunion

Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Hope everyone is having a spectacular day-I definitely am=)

I'm in Florida for a couple days for a memorial of a dear friend who passed in September. I met her when I worked on Useppa Island. While I lived on Useppa the members and homeowners became by second family, one that I miss dearly at times now that I'm back in Ohio with my blood family. Being back on Useppa has been awesome and its only been a day and a half.

Seeing all the wonderful people again that occupy this island has been such a joy and the warmer weather and blue skies has been so refreshing since all I"ve seen in Ohio is snow and ice lately. I lived on Useppa for about a year and a half and I took the time to know who everyone was and as a bartender what they drank. There was two ways you could live on this island; one being just an employee going to work or two, being an employee who got involved and interested in the people who lived here. I chose the latter. It made my time here so memorable and enriching and something I will never forget.

You never know when you'll find a new friend or mentor. Be open to people and don't think because someone's too pretty she won't be nice or he's too rich to be friends with you. One of the people I adore most from Useppa is a 81 yr old man who is wealthy and very successful but you would never know it talking to him. He is laid back, intelligent and kind and a fantasic person. His wife is the one who passed and I'm here for her memorial. His neighbors are originally from England and also very successful in life and two of the sweetest, kindest people you could ever meet. This island is full of very intelligent, funny, comical, interesting, kind, generous, people but you would never know it, if you didn't talk to them and get to know them.

After I left Useppa it was never the place I missed, it has always been the people. They are the "things" that made my time here so special and hard to leave. My memories aren't of the island but the people on the island and seeing them all again is such an amazing feeling. If I hadn't taken the time to get to know them, my time here would have been wasted and I wouldn't have had such a great experience.

Reason for the Season

Scripture on Jesus Birth and the reason for the season=)
Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:35

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.


Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).


Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”


Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times. ”


Isaiah 9:6-7
(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Tis the Season

This holiday season can be stressful, tiring and exhausting with all the shopping we do for the perfect gifts and then the cleaning and cooking for Christmas parties. This month can be absolutely C-R-A-Z-Y. It just flys by. One day it's December 1st and the next it's December 26th. Did you enjoy those 25 days? Was Christmas all that you wanted it to be?

Last year I did something a little different and I did it again this year. I didn't buy any gifts. I looked around and my family didn't "need" anything and I didn't "need" anything. So why not help someone who DID need something(s)?! Don't get me wrong I love receiving and definitely giving but I would just be buying things. Let me explain. Today for example I went into Hallmark and I was looking around to see if I could find something for my mom (I know I said I wasn't buying gifts but it's hard to get out of that mentality after you've been doing it for over 20 yrs). I looked and looked and there was definitely cute things BUT my mom didn't need any of it. It would be just one more "thing" to add to her "things." She's been around for a while so it's not like she doesn't have enough decorations for the house. I LOVE buying gifts when I know it is something the person will absolutely love and go crazy for. My family got my dad a very special gift that will make his year! I went in on that because it will mean a lot to him. Spending that money is totally worth it and I enjoy it.  

The older I get the more I see that Christmas has turned into something that isn't about anything but presents and parties. We forget that this is the day of Jesus' birth and that is what we should be celebrating. I'm not saying that we shouldn't do presents BUT when it causes you stress and you don't enjoy the season what's the point? If it puts you in debt until next Christmas, what's the point? My thoughts the last two years were "If I want something I buy it and so does the rest of my family so, what is there for me to get them?" and "If I know my friends or family want something during the year, I'll get it then." The older I get the more clutter I see I have and I don't want it anymore so I'm much more cautious when I buy. Do I really need this?

It was a weird adjustment, not buying gifts. I would look at the cute gift bags and want to buy them but I had no gifts to put them in. I'd want to go to the mall but for what? I wasn't buying anything. It was an odd feeling but not bad. Instead I donated money to World Vision, Christian Broadcasting Network and a family our work adopted for Christmas and gave money to a friend struggling this Christmas.

After you read this post I hope you take away with you that this season isn't suppose to be stressful or put you in debt. It is about Jesus' birth, family and friends and helping those who need it. It is an absolutely wonderful time of year if we celebrate the right way.

Christmas Catalog

World Vision has a Facebook page called: The True Spirit of Christmas and if you "like" it you can read how their Christmas Catalog of gifts is helping people in Africa. 

"Become of a fan of this page and you'll have the opportunity to hear first-hand stories and videos of lives that have been changed through gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalog. Step into their lives and experience - through their eyes - the miraculous changes that your gift can set in motion."

Here are some of the stories or posts on the page-

**Unfortunately, I spent our last full day shooting in Africa on my back, sick in my hotel room. I couldn't keep any food down and slept for nearly 32 hours straight. I was so glad to see my bedside table chock full of bottles of water to drink every time I woke up.  Ironic, that on this same day our team was covering water in Ghana.

In Africa, clean water is hard to come by! Some children are sent every morning to fetch water for their families that's several miles away. And even then it's not the cleanest water. Yet, they drink it anyway because it's the only option.

Today, our True Spirit of Christmas team talked with a man named Yaw Owusu who remembers what his village was like before World Vision built a borehole well in his community.  Back then, people were constantly getting sick from guinea worm ...a disease that can severely cripple or even kill you. Yaw got guinea worm 37 times yet was one of the lucky ones...he survived.

Now he says his 6 grandchildren don't even know what guinea worm is! They've never gotten sick because they can get clean, healthy water from the borehole well. We asked him what his village would be like if World Vision hadn't built the well...he answered, "We would be a ghost town."  We’ll be posting a video so you can hear his powerful story in his own words very soon. 

I don't know what made me sick. We suspect it was something I ate. I just know that I was so grateful to have unlimited access to clean, healthy water to help me get well again. Before this trip, I would have taken for granted having plenty of water by my bedside. Now, I can't help but wish for everyone to have just as easy access to clean water as I do. – Mindy in Ghana

**It's been such a privilege to travel with the True Spirit of Christmas team these past 2 weeks. We've met some incredible people! The most eye-opening part of our journey was seeing just how BIG of a difference one gift can make on individuals, families and communities. I will never look at cows, goats or chickens the same way! I can't wait to get home and send soccer balls from the catalog to my new friends Elvis and Alfred.

**How can you recognize the true spirit of Christmas? Last week, we found a great example of what IS the True Spirit of Christmas. We traveled nearly an hour down a bumpy, dirt road to Moshono, Tanzania, a remote area of Africa that World Vision has been serving for nearly 15 years. We had the incredible privilege of meeting the Mollel family who has indirectly benefited from World Vision. Four years ago, their neighbor received a dairy goat from World Vision donors. In this community, when someone receives a World Vision goat, the first dairy goat born as a result, is expected to be given to a neighbor in the community. The Mollels received a kid goat from their neighbor and it has made a huge impact on their family. Not only has the goat provided much needed milk for their family, but they've also been able to sell some of the surplus to help buy basic necessities like medicine. Plus, the goat's manure now helps fertilize their garden and helps them grow better banana trees, edible roots, and sweet sugarcane.

I also saw the True Spirit of Christmas come to life in Rachel Mollel, This wife and mother of 4 was a bit standoff-ish when we first arrived. I can't imagine how overwhelmed she must have felt when our cameras and crew suddenly showed up in her front yard trying to ask her a multitude of questions. But it wasn't until we asked her about how our World Vision donors could pray for her that she truly opened up. I think in that moment she realized that despite our extreme life differences and how far apart we live, we share a common bond in our faith. We may have different prayer requests, different resources and differences wants/desires, but we both trust that God will provide for us....no matter who we are. My favorite part of today was when Rachel suddenly put her arm around me in a spontaneous moment...and in broken English...simply said, 'God bless you.' That IS the True Spirit of Christmas!"

Gifts that Matter

I've been learning that I have a heart of mercy. My heart breaks for those less fortunate and I feel I have a responsibility to help them. But I also WANT to help them. I am so blessed, I should share it with others. This column was emailed to me and I wanted to share it. This holiday season isn't about Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, presents and Christmas trees. It's about the birth of our Savior who died on a cross to save us. Don't let the craziness of the season make you forget the meaning and the reason for it. 

The Gifts of Hope

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Published: December 18, 2010

So what would your aunt prefer as a holiday gift — another Mariah Carey CD, or the knowledge that she’s sending a little girl in Haiti to school for a year?

Damon Winter/The New York Times

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A Giving Guide

Unless you’re cursed with the oddest aunt ever, the answer is probably the latter. In that spirit, this column will serve as a sort of Humanitarian Gift Guide: I’ll lay out some of the loftiest gifts of all, those that touch human lives and connect us. As I did last year, I’m going to skip over the big organizations that most people have heard of. So by all means, buy your kids a $30 beehive (or an $850 camel) for a needy family through Heifer International, or write a check to the International Rescue Committee for its terrific work in Congo — but my focus today is groups that never make the spotlight:

Arzu (ArzuStudioHope.org) employs women in Afghanistan to make carpets for export. The women get decent wages, but their families must commit to sending children to school and to allowing women to attend literacy and health classes and receive medical help in childbirth. Rugs start at $250 and bracelets at $10, or a $20 donation pays for a water filter for a worker’s family.

First Book (firstbook.org) addresses a basic problem facing poor kids in America: They don’t have books. One study found that in low-income neighborhoods, there is only one age-appropriate book for every 300 children. So First Book supports antipoverty organizations with children’s books — and above all, gets kids reading. A $100 gift will supply 50 books for a mentor to tutor a child in reading for a year. And $20 will get 10 books in the hands of kids to help discover the joys of reading.

Fonkoze (fonkoze.org) is a terrific poverty-fighting organization if Haiti is on your mind, nearly a year after the earthquake. A $20 gift will send a rural Haitian child to elementary school for a year, while $50 will buy a family a pregnant goat. Or $100 supports a family for 13 weeks while it starts a business.

Another terrific Haiti-focused organization is Partners in Health, (pih.org), founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, the Harvard Medical School professor. A $100 donation pays for enough therapeutic food (a bit like peanut butter) to treat a severely malnourished child for one month. Or $50 provides seeds, agricultural implements and training for a family to grow more food for itself.

Panzi Hospital (panzifoundation.org) treats victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo, rape capital of the world. It’s run by Dr. Denis Mukwege, who should be a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. A $10 donation pays for transport to the hospital for a rape survivor; $100 pays for counseling and literacy and skill training for a survivor for a month.

Camfed (camfed.org), short for the Campaign for Female Education, sends girls to school in Africa and provides a broad support system for them. A $300 donation pays for a girl to attend middle school for a year in rural Zambia, and $25 sends a girl to elementary school.

The Nurse-Family Partnership program (nursefamilypartnership.org) is a stellar organization in the United States that works with first-time mothers to try to break the cycle of poverty. It sends nurses to at-risk women who are pregnant for the first time, continuing the visits until the child turns 2. The result seems to be less alcohol and drug abuse during pregnancy, and better child-rearing afterward, so that the children are less likely to tangle with the law even years later. A $150 gift provides periodic coaching and support for a young nurse by a senior nurse for a month.

Edna Hospital (ednahospital.org) is a dazzling maternity hospital in Somaliland, an area with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Edna Adan Ismail, a Somali nurse- midwife who rose in the ranks of the World Health Organization and also served as Somaliland’s foreign minister, founded the hospital with her life’s savings and supports it with her United Nations pension. A $50 gift pays for a woman to get four prenatal visits, a hospital delivery, and one postnatal visit. Or $150 pays for a lifesaving C-section for a woman in obstructed labor.

The Somaly Mam Foundation fights sex slavery in Cambodia and around the world (somaly.org). It is run by Somaly Mam, who was sold into Cambodian brothels as a young girl before escaping years later. For $50, you can buy a lovely silk scarf made by a trafficking survivor; $25 buys a necklace made by a survivor.

One of the paradoxes of living in a wealthy country is that we accumulate tremendous purchasing power, yet it’s harder and harder for us to give friends and family presents that are meaningful. In this holiday season, sometimes a scarf from a prostituted Cambodian girl, or a scholarship for a Zambian child, is the most heartwarming gift of all.

CHRISTmas

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
Merry CHRISTmas

Hallaluah!

What an amazing day! Hallaluah! If you've been reading my posts for a while, then you know that I was raising money for World Vision; a Christian humanitarian organization that helps those in poverty around the world. Every Christmas they come out with a Christmas catalog of gifts you can purchase for those less fortunate. Items include farm animals, food, clean water, clothes, education, toys and much more. I asked for help from everyone, family, friends and my church. I raised a total of over $850 and my church, Grace Fellowship Church helped with $700 of it. 


When I first got the catalog I went through and picked the items that I would like to give and I came up with $5000 of gifts! That's when I decided to ask for help. I didn't quite reach my goal (LoL) but what a great start! I'll be doing it again next Christmas. 


With the generous donations I was able to purchase: 1 goat, 1 sheep, over $300 worth of clothing (gift was multiplied 11x's), $150 worth of necessities for people who are in poverty in the U.S., 2 chickens, 5 ducks, 2 bibles, $385 worth of new toys, 5 fruit trees, safety for a formerly exploited child, $250 worth of food and aid for Africa, and $110 for people's most urgent needs. 


I had such a hard time deciding what to give; there is sooooooooooo much need and not enough dough! Of course I am so thankful for what we could give though.  Next time I'll just work harder and longer. 

2 Timothy 3:16

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."  2 Timothy 3:16

Lets Say Thanks

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com  you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!  It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do.  We can never say enough thank you's.

Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

Another organization helping our troops is Give2TheTroops-www.give2thetroops.com

From their website:

PLEASE HELP We need donations to send our care packages. Our funds are low and we have more than 20,000 troops waiting for our help. The packages are ready to ship, we need your financial support to ship them.

Give2TheTroops sends very large, heavy boxes (70 lbs on average), which are customized to each unit's requests. We use the U.S. Postal Service - the only method allowed to mail to a combat zone. Boxes mailed from the East Coast to FPO addresses (usually Marines & Sailors) cost us on average $100 per box and vice versa for the West Coast mailing to an APO address (Airmen and Soldiers).

We cannot use the typical "Flat Rate" box available at the post office as they do not accommodate our large items we send to the units such as: board games, golf clubs, baseball bats, Christmas trees, microwaves, tv sets, game systems, acoustic guitars, canine beds, Bowflex machines, coffee makers, etc.

Our care packages are distributed to an ENTIRE UNITof troops - not just one person. Every box is shared. If the unit is very large, we must send several of these heavy boxes so there are enough items for everyone in that unit. 

May You Find Him

May you find Him to be-
the peace for every struggle,
the supply for every need,
the solution for every problem,
the escape for every temptation, 
the release for every burden,
the balm for every pain,
the comfort for every sorrow,
the victory for every battle,
the wisdom for every decision,
the strength for every endeavor,
the hope for every tomorrow,
the song for every day.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP

Gift of Encouragement

Tonight at bible study our pastor was talking about the gift of encouragement. Some people are just gifted at encouraging and cheering people up. I guess not all people think to say something encouraging to someone who is down, depressed, or sad. I usually try to say something but I don't always know what to say? That can be the tricky part. 


When Nathan was talking about how not everyone thinks to say something, I was thinking about how I think of something positive or encouraging to say but then I don't say it. For example; if someone looks real pretty today or I like their shirt or how they sang well at church today. I'm constantly thinking good things but I don't always voice them and to be honest I don't know why? Maybe because my mind is constantly running a thousand miles a hour and I'm already on to my next thought before I finish the one before it? LoL


The gift of encouragement is so spectacular for many reasons. Can you think of a time that you were down, depressed or sad or all three? How did you get through it? Did someone say something that uplifted you and helped you see how this bad time was going to get better? Did someone do something for you? Maybe she watched your children so you could have a break or took you out for coffee to chat or maybe she cleaned your house or maybe she prayed with you and for you? If we didn't have that encourager what would we do? Would we get better or worse? I believe it's a gift when you know what to say to help the person who needs it. 


I believe we need to be more aware of complimenting someone for a job well done or when she looks especially nice or a new haircut/color or when someone is down saying something uplifting. This is a two part thing; complimenting but not false compliments and saying positive, uplifting, encouraging things. These are two very different things but I think we need to work on both. We're not meant to handle things ourselves. We need support, love and encouragement to get through life. 

Without YOU......

For anyone who has gone through a difficult time, you know that without friends and family support, encouragement and prayers that, that difficult time would have been much worse. 


A friend of mine is going through an extremely difficult time with one of her children. Her daughter has a rare disease that is taking her life away from her and there is no cure. For anyone facing these circumstances it would be devastating but it is especially hard when it's your child and she's only 4 or 5. I look at my healthy 4 yr old nephew and thank God he's healthy because I can't imagine him being sick. 


As of right now this isn't very uplifting news but the reason I'm writing about it is because at the end of the update on my friends daughter she put "Without all of you this journey would be intolerable." Can you imagine a time when you needed help and support and encouragement and because you received it, it made your life better, happier? What would have happened without it? What would have happened if those people weren't there for you?


Life is not easy and there is a lot of issues and the way we get through them is by those we surround ourselves with. Make sure that you're hanging out with people that will lift you up and support you and not bring you down. Make sure that you can trust them. Also make sure you return the favor. Any relationship is give and take and not keeping track. Some will just have more problems than you or maybe less. We weren't put on this earth to be selfish but to take care of each other. 


I'm so very thankful for the family and friends that I have. I don't have a huge number but quality is much more important than quantity. If you only have one good friend, it's better than ten bad friends. If you only have a mom or dad, it's better than two bad parents. You never know when that bad time will come so make sure you've set up a support system and that you're apart of one. 

Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
so God sent us a Saviour.

-Roy Lessin

Extreme

I'm sure most people have watched "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" on Sunday nights. The show has been on forever. If you ever need encouragement, hope, inspiration, happiness, joyfulness and all those other positive feelings, this is the perfect show to watch. To see how other people have done such wonderful, positive, selflessness things in spite of their troubles, concerns, and problems is really motivating and encouraging and reminds you what an amazing world this can be. If we had more people like the ones they help on the show, we would live in a great world. 


Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."

11th

It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an opportunity of doing a kindness or speaking a true word or making a friend...John Ruskin


Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow...Melody Beattie


The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing....Zephaniah 3:17


God desires authentic dialogue. As we speak what is on our hearts, we are sharing real information that God is deeply interested in....Richard J Foster

Isaiah 51:11

~Our brightest blaze of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks~


~Everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away~Isaiah 51:11~

You've got a Place in this World

Hey you,

the one standing

a little close to the corner,

along the edge of the wall,

wondering if you're seen,

hoping you're heard.

You are.

You matter.

You have something to give.

Something good and right and beautiful and true.

And God sees it.

Sees you.

Right where you are.

He invites you to the middle of the floor,

to His waiting arms, to His unfolding plans.

Yep, we need you. Just as you are.

And we can't wait to see even more of the ways

He's going to use you to light up the room and the hearts of all who are in it.

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Help

Never did Ka* imagine that one day she would become a victim of sexual trafficking.
Photo ©2010 Heidi Isaza/World Vision 

"I left home when I was 16 because of the poverty," Ka* explains.

Life in Cambodia was very hard for Ka and her family. While other children were going to school, Ka helped her siblings scavenge for cans and beg for money on the streets.

Enslaved for $6

On the advice of a friend, she headed for the Thai border in search of a higher-paying job. 

But once she arrived, she found no decent work. Out of desperation, Ka ended up working in several different clubs or brothels.

In one instance, she was indebted to her employer for $6 — an amount that kept her captive for two years, forced into prostitution, facing sexual exploitation by up to 10 men each night. Eventually, a police raid on the brothel set her free, only to put her on the street alone, yet again.

With nowhere to go, she was forced to work in yet another brothel. After two more years in captivity, she and another girl secretly phoned the police, in an attempt to escape. 

Two days later, the police arrived. Ka was taken to World Vision's Trauma Recovery Project, where she received physical, psychological, and spiritual counseling, as well as occupational training.

A massive problem

Millions of children each year are trafficked for forced labor, sexual abuse, or other exploitation. “Anywhere from 30,000-60,000 children [are] possibly involved in the sex trade," says Joshua Pepall, technical advisor to World Vision's Trauma Recovery Project, speaking about children in Cambodia.

The sex industry is especially harmful to children, who are in high demand. Pepall explains that children are seen as cleaner, more complacent, and easier to control and manipulate. "Their families are poor," says Pepall. "They come from the provinces and they get into this cycle of debt, and actually all they want to do is help their family."

Reunited

Ka and her mother were reunited after four years.
Photo ©2010 Heidi Isaza/World Vision

In the time that Ka was missing, her mother, Phea*, traveled more than 260 miles in search of her. “[I went] to different places to search for my daughter…sometimes, I slept on the street, says Phea.” “My best friend [during this time] was alcohol—I cried myself to sleep every day because [I found] no sign of her year after year.”

After four years of separation, Ka’s stepfather found her at the center when a relative and World Vision staff member, discovered she was there.

Lingering fear

The owners of the brothel where Ka last worked have been sentenced to eight years in jail. But because they are in powerful circles, Ka was concerned that they may seek revenge if they were released. “I was the master of the plan to break down the brothel … they would kill me if they found out where I was,” Ka says. 

It is not easy for the traffickers to find her, now that she is far from where they are serving their prison terms. But she still fears that someone might recognize her. “I am always very careful when going out … it could be [one of] my previous customers or whoever knew the brothel’s owners. I don’t talk to strangers, nor do I go out alone,” Ka explains.

World Vision’s Trauma Recovery Center works closely with the district social affairs officer in Ka’s community, who visits every month to see how she and her family are doing. If he suspects any danger, he informs the authorities. 

Starting over

Ka is still adjusting to life with her mother after more than four years apart. “It first [felt] strange because I got used to living with many other girls,” she says, adding that she now loves being with her mother more than anything else.

The young woman now has a job as a chef’s assistant. “The priority is to help my parents to live in better conditions,” she says. “When I save up enough, I will continue studying how to read and write. So, in five years I will open my sewing shop.”

‘He wipes away all the bad things’

As Ka continues to recovery emotionally, she looks to God for comfort.

“I have a bad dream almost every night,” she says. “I pray to Jesus, then he wipes away all bad things in my dream and I can sleep. I can witness [to] people about the amazing thing God has been doing in my life.

“When I was in the center, I made a pledge with God. [I said] Lord, if you are really doing something in my life, assure me that I will [be reunited with] … my mother one day. Now, you can see how God responds to my pledge. It’s truly amazing.”

*Can you imagine this happening to your sister, daughter, niece, cousin, friend? It is so common overseas but there is hope and help if they are able to get out. By donating to World Vision, you can help these women resume normal lives. Go to www.worldvisiongifts.org