Filed under: Family, Thoughts | Tags: Family, kids, quality time, summer activities
You know, sometimes a lot of times as “moms” we put a lot of expectations on our shoulders. We look at other moms who seems to have it all together, are super creative, or just seem to be “SuperMom”. In turn, we sometimes feel like we have to do more, or get more creative in our plans or activities with the kids.
I’ve definitely felt that more this summer than ever. Maybe it’s just because my kids are a year older…or that I only have 8 weeks at home with them and want to make the most of that time. Last weekend after our little vacation, I gave Abbie and Peyton a “very special assignment” — to make their “Summer List”. A list of all the things they wanted to do while they were on summer break. Take a quick look:
- Cook
- Play Softball
- Paint
- Draw
- Go to the pool
- Play
- Cuddle
- Give hugs
- Give kisses
- Talk
- Take walks
- Have tea parties
- Do puppet shows
- Play house
- Be lazy
- Play games
- Just have fun!
- Play baseball
- Play football
That’s it! In my daughter’s eyes (ok, let’s be real…Peyton only contributed the last two!) that’s what would make a great summer with mom! Don’t get me wrong…I’m still planning some special crafts and outings with the kids, but this really served as a great reminder that it doesn’t take a lot to make an impact in our kids’ life. Just living life with them is what matters!!!!
So this is what I’ve been chewing on today…
Today more than 26,500 children will die of preventable causes related to their poverty. And guess what? It will happen again tomorrow… and the next day… and the next. Around 10 million children will be dead in the course of a year.
How do we live with this? How does this not dominate our minds?
Because for the most part it happens on “the ends of the earth.” Let’s be honest. We simply have less empathy for people who live faraway. Richard Stearns said, “Our compassion for others seems to be directly correlated to whether people are close to us socially emotionally, culturally, ethnically, economically, and geographically.”
This makes total sense. It’s why if you hear a child was killed in a car accident you might find it sad, however if the child was one that lives in your neighborhood…one you saw on a regular basis…one who you knew the name of…it would stop you dead in your tracks.
We’re numb toward “the ends of the earth” and yet God has clearly called us to go there. And not JUST go there, but go there with His light.
Check out Pete’s entire post today, and the rest of the Compassion Bloggers in India.
I must admit, this is one nice way to start the morning. It’s hard to believe that a month ago we were still paying over $3.00 a gallon. This makes me happy…only paying $30 for a full tank of gas. I’m hoping I can keep on track — lately I’ve only been using a tank every two weeks (or close to it).
I don’t know if there is any truth to it, but I’ve heard that gas prices may shoot up if OPEC decides to cut production when they meet on Monday. I may keep a full tank just in case!
Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: 50000 shoes in 50 days, blogging, challenge, charity, shoes, Soles4Souls
How many pairs of shoes are in your closet…right now? I’ve never thought that I fulfilled the stereotype of the female shoe-buyer, yet as I write this post there are 19 pairs (+ 4 paris of “flip flops”) sitting in my closet. That’s how many I have right now. I cannot even begin to estimate how many pairs of shoes I have worn throughout the past 28 years.
What’s sobering is that it is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn shoes lying in their closets while over 300 million children around the world have never owned a pair of shoes.
Soles4Souls is an amazing charity based in Nashville, TN that has one mission: get shoes to people who need shoes. Over 300 million people around the world don’t have shoes and are forced to walk around unsafe and in potentially life-threatening conditions. Not only is it unsafe physically, but having to look down all the time causes these people to also live without dignity and confidence.
Today, you have the opportunity be part of something bigger. Today you can be part of impacting the lives of 50,000 people by the end of 2008!!!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Go to 50000shoes.com. A $5 donation buys two pairs of shoes.
Everyone has $5 (or more!)…and everyone has 2 minutes. From start to finish, donating is literally three clicks. It is so, so easy…and can make a huge impact in someone’s life.
YOU CAN WIN A TRIP TO GIVE SOMEONE THEIR FIRST PAIR OF SHOES!
Beyond the fact that the blogging world can literally impact 50,000 people before the end of the year, one person (and their guest) will be chosen at random to hand deliver the shoes they purchased on a Soles4Souls trip to Mexico. Can you imagine handing someone their very first pair of shoes?
Five bucks + Three clicks + Two minutes. That’s all…and it can make a HUGE difference!!
I’m in! This morning I made my donation. Will you join me?
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Nashville-based Soles4Souls™ facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Since its inception, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 3.5 million pairs (or one pair every 23 seconds) to people in 61 countries, including Honduras, Romania, Thailand, and the Sudan. The charity has been featured on CNN Headline News, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC News, FOX, CBS, and hundreds of regional outlets around North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.
Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: Ben and Jerry's, election, Free Stuff, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, Vote
Besides the obvious reasons of civil responsibility, making your voice heard, participating in the system that so many have fought and died to protect…here are three great reasons to get out and vote today!
(1) Free Kristy Kreme Doughnuts…
It’s finally here. The final votes will be cast today. Months and months of campaigning will come to a close tonight.
This is the 3rd presidential election I have been eligible to participate in, and it has also been the race I have been most involved and interested in. Perhaps that simply reflects the fact that (hopefully) I am a more mature person than I was at 20 and 24 years old.
What has been interesting to me personally during this election, is that I have thought more about what I believe during this election than any before. Perhaps in past elections, it has been more black and white to me. Perhaps in the past I have had the tendency to be a single-issue voter. Perhaps I am more moderate, politically, in some of my views now than in my “youth”. Regardless the reasons, I have been in the middle…leaning towards one candidate or the other for different reasons at different times…undecided, or conflicted…until I cast my vote last Friday. I agree with positions on both sides. I also disagree with positions on both sides.
Am I fearful today? No. Am I concerned that the “guy I voted for” won’t get elected? No. Why? Well Jason sums it up quite well on his blog today. It’s an ongoing conversation we’ve been having for weeks and months at our house. Go check it out! Tim also has a great post that really resonates with me and some “hot button issues” as we head to the polls today.
Filed under: Family, Thoughts | Tags: Disney, High School Musical, High School Musical 3, HSM3, movies
Last night, Abbie and I joined 4 of my friends and their girls at the movie theater for High School Musical 3. It’s a good thing we had early-seat scouts, because it was PACKED!!! There’s no way the 13 of us would have been able to sit together otherwise! There is no doubt Disney is going to make MAJOR money on this movie!
Well, it certainly did not dissapoint for the girls! Honestly, I was almost as entertained by the reactions of everyone in the theater as I was the movie itself. Oh, to be a squealy teenager again.
The movie itself was well done. You can definitely tell that the budget for this movie was a lot higher than the previous “made for TV” installments in the High School Musical phenomenon, which gives it a “richer” feel.
The choreography was AMAZING in my mind, and I was pretty impressed with the musical numbers as well. I was glad that the tone of the movie was less “vindictive” than the past. Don’t get me wrong, Sharpay is still at her game, but it’s not a central theme of the movie. Instead, there is a lot of focus on friendship, teamwork, and making strong decisions about your future-and the Wildcats handle it with style.
If you’re the parent of a tween or teen, you will most likely walk out of the theater with no hesitations…and one very happy child. Just a slight word of warning to any parents of young children that may have gotten swept up into the HSM craze (like me). This movie is definitely the more “mature” of the three, which makes sense since they are all seniors. It does focus a lot on the relationship between Troy and Gabriella, and how leaving for college is going to affect them. There is a noticeably long kiss between the two, as well as a scene that appears to be in Gabriella’s room where Troy is feeding her strawberries (one of the girls behind me proclaimed…EW!) with somewhat seductive undertones at times.
When put in the context of the current portrayals of High School provided by Gossip Girl and 90210, HSM3 is very clean and wholesome in comparison. My end opinion? The girls had a great time last night, I’m sure the soundtrack will be playing over and over in Abbie’s CD player…but I think I will pass on the DVD release, because it’s a little mature for my 6 year old to watch again and again.
Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: addiction, blogging, blogs, entertaining, financial, food, frugal, ministry, organizing, wives
I’ve noticed over the past few weeks, that the number of blogs I subscribe to has increased from about 10 when I first started consistently reading blogs, to a whopping 66!!!! How did that happen???
I think it’s safe to say, I’ve become addicted to my blogs. I keep up on my friends’ blogs, I read ministry blogs, blogs of wives who’s husbands are in ministry, foodie blogs, organizing blogs, entertaining blogs, frugal/financial mom blogs. It almost seems like one blog leads to another!!!
I will admit, I am not great about leaving comments that often…I’m the perpectual “lurker”, but yes…I’m addicted. How about you?
How many blogs do you keep up with? What is your favorite type of blog?
Filed under: Family, God, Thoughts | Tags: church plant, Jason Gordon, Lafayette, moving
On many occasions I’ve been asked what it’s like being a minister’s wife…the ways people have approached the subject have been as creative as they are varied. From asking if we feel like we live in a fishbowl to questions like “do people just come up and tell you everything about their life?”. My husband has been in ministry for 10 years, and I LOVE being married to someone who has the opportunity to live out his life passion every day!
Possibly the one “downside” is that when God is working on you and your spouse about where he is leading you…it’s not always possible to talk to those around you about it. That has been the case over the past few months, and I apologize for the random…few-and-far-between posts. When the things that are the center of your conversations at home, and with God…and the things you are so excited about are things that can’t be shared publicly…it makes blogging difficult!
Throughout this past year, Jason and I have been challenged about what God’s calling is for us right now. We have been praying, reading, talking to others in ministry, and praying some more about how God wants to use us in His plan. It has been an amazing process of growth and revelation. I never cease to be amazed at how God reveals Himself to those who are seeking him!
So–since Jason has shared the big announcement on his blog, I will share it here. Beginning September 23rd, Jason will come on staff at Connexion Christian Ministries, a new church plant right here in Lafayette! We will be focused on reaching people who are unreached and connecting those who are unconnected. I can’t tell you how excited I am! We are both so passionate about seeing people come to know Christ and enter into an authentic relationship with Him and those who love Him. And the reality is…there are people right here in our community who will never step foot into a church building because of past hurt or simply the unknown…but God still longs for them to know Him! And as Craig Groeschel said so well…If we want to reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing. So we will be joining others who have the same passion and calling to do that very thing right here in our community.
Feel free to head over to Jason’s blog to read more details…and I will share a little more about our journey here as the weeks unfold. Please keep us in your prayers…we are closing on our new home on Tuesday and will be working on the house this week in preparation for our move on Saturday. We are also in the process of raising support for the first two months of Jason’s salary. It’s going to be an exciting new adventure…sometimes a little scary…but I love knowing that we are exactly where God wants us to be!!!
