Just a reminder to think twice about where you give for Haitian relief efforts. Sometimes large organizations have their own political interests in mind over the best interests of individuals and families. Just make informed choices.
Heartline Haiti Ministries and World Wide Village are both small Christian organizations with experienced ministry professionals in Haiti. They are making good choices for kids unlike UNICEF. Read these two stories 1 family's story and Livesay's story for more on UNICEF. I'm only posting this because I had no idea. I like to be informed, and I thought maybe my 4 readers might like to know too. :)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Playing Detective
Pretending this AM. Elijah is a detective; I am the receptionist at his agency and Zay is his cooky assistant.
Elijah: Have you had any calls recently?
Me: Yes actually. A lady just phoned in and said that someone stole her magic tricks.
Elijah: I'm on it. Assistant Cooky, come with me. (that's cooky as in spooky)
(Both run out of the room 5 minutes later they return)
Elijah: Mystery solved.
Me: Great. I'll let the lady know. What happened?
Elijah: The tricks were sucked up by our arch nemesis.
Me: Really. So how did you defeat him?
Elijah: I threw him in jail. His name was Sucky Face. He just sucked them up.
Zay: According to our calculations.
(Runs out of the room again... new adventures await)
Elijah: Have you had any calls recently?
Me: Yes actually. A lady just phoned in and said that someone stole her magic tricks.
Elijah: I'm on it. Assistant Cooky, come with me. (that's cooky as in spooky)
(Both run out of the room 5 minutes later they return)
Elijah: Mystery solved.
Me: Great. I'll let the lady know. What happened?
Elijah: The tricks were sucked up by our arch nemesis.
Me: Really. So how did you defeat him?
Elijah: I threw him in jail. His name was Sucky Face. He just sucked them up.
Zay: According to our calculations.
(Runs out of the room again... new adventures await)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
College Age Group
For the past 2 weeks, Eric and I have been hosting a group of college aged kids from church. We eat food, play games, talk about our lives and laugh. In the mere 10 years its been since I was in college, I've forgotten how appreciative I was of having a home to join for a few hours a week.
When we first talked about hosting the group I was all for it and knew in my head that it would be great, but somewhere there was the nagging thought, "What if they don't like it? What if they don't come back?" In 10 years, I had forgotten.
They are a great group of students, so polite and appreciative of the smallest gestures we make toward them (trust me, its nothing fancy). I am a little amazed by how little effort it actually takes to be of value to someone, and yet I'm so hesitant to make that little effort sometimes. Why is that? Anyway, all of that to say that its going great. We love having them over, they seem to enjoy coming over, and I'm looking forward to next week. AND I'm AGAIN encouraged to make the little efforts.
When we first talked about hosting the group I was all for it and knew in my head that it would be great, but somewhere there was the nagging thought, "What if they don't like it? What if they don't come back?" In 10 years, I had forgotten.
They are a great group of students, so polite and appreciative of the smallest gestures we make toward them (trust me, its nothing fancy). I am a little amazed by how little effort it actually takes to be of value to someone, and yet I'm so hesitant to make that little effort sometimes. Why is that? Anyway, all of that to say that its going great. We love having them over, they seem to enjoy coming over, and I'm looking forward to next week. AND I'm AGAIN encouraged to make the little efforts.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Haiti
Friday, an eighth grade girl in my class lost her cool, angry at a fellow classmate and threw a chair. It hit me in the shins as I stepped between the two girls, and all I could think about during the ensuing interview with the safety officer and principal was flying walls and furniture that break legs.
Saturday, I wiped and scrubbed new-flooring-construction dust from every windowsill, picture frame, baseboard and corner in my house, and all I could think about was piles of concrete dust laying caked over bodies and rubble.
Sunday, I sat in my cushy recliner, enjoying my morning coffee, watching rainwater lazily drip from branch after branch of the tree outside my un-shattered window. I closed my eyes, Bible open in my lap, and prayed that like drops of rain, peace and supernatural comfort would seep into dry dusty land, hearts, and broken bodies on a tiny, oft-forgotten island.
Why? Why? Everyone wants to ask why? Children, babies, grandmothers, sons, fathers... why?
John 9
1 As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus' disciples asked, "Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?"
"No, it wasn't!" Jesus answered. "But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. As long as it is day, we must do what the one who sent me wants me to do. When night comes, no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light for the world."
Oh Lord, let us see you work a MIRACLE for Haiti and her people.
Saturday, I wiped and scrubbed new-flooring-construction dust from every windowsill, picture frame, baseboard and corner in my house, and all I could think about was piles of concrete dust laying caked over bodies and rubble.
Sunday, I sat in my cushy recliner, enjoying my morning coffee, watching rainwater lazily drip from branch after branch of the tree outside my un-shattered window. I closed my eyes, Bible open in my lap, and prayed that like drops of rain, peace and supernatural comfort would seep into dry dusty land, hearts, and broken bodies on a tiny, oft-forgotten island.
Why? Why? Everyone wants to ask why? Children, babies, grandmothers, sons, fathers... why?
John 9
1 As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus' disciples asked, "Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?"
"No, it wasn't!" Jesus answered. "But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. As long as it is day, we must do what the one who sent me wants me to do. When night comes, no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light for the world."
Oh Lord, let us see you work a MIRACLE for Haiti and her people.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Haiti
Troy and Tara (Haiti blog I follow) have lost internet access for a while, so the lack of recent news on their blog isn't necessarily bad news.
Praying for them throughout my day today and this evening, asking God why my children are safe when so many others are not tonight. Thanking him for mercy I don't deserve and praying for God's love and strength to find every suffering Haitian resident tonight. If you're able (and let's face it; in comparison, we're all able), consider giving financially to WorldWideVillage.org or Heartlineministries.org. The money will meet immediate needs for hundreds of people.
Praying for them throughout my day today and this evening, asking God why my children are safe when so many others are not tonight. Thanking him for mercy I don't deserve and praying for God's love and strength to find every suffering Haitian resident tonight. If you're able (and let's face it; in comparison, we're all able), consider giving financially to WorldWideVillage.org or Heartlineministries.org. The money will meet immediate needs for hundreds of people.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Indiana
The second half of our vacation was spent in Indiana. What a fantastic frenzy of family and fun! The kids hadn't seen their cousins in almost a year so it was a joyful reunion and never a dull moment. Games were played, presents were opened, movies were watched and travels were had. Aunt Lynn watched all 10 kids while the moms and dads caught a matinee one day. Nana and Papa shared their home, food and lives with our rowdy crews for a whole week, and we all came out the other end loving each other. Grandma and grandpa Ledbetter hosted gift opening and New Years cabbage and black eyed peas (health and wealth tradition). We welcomed the newest addition- Nora, with her little tuft of dark hair and bright blue eyes; she is our sweetest new niece.
We loved on each other and felt loved. Again, we're so blessed by our family. Beautiful days in Hoosier-land. Now home again in Kentucky.
Massachusetts
Our travels! Phew! We had a great time with family and friends, but we're glad to be home and back into our routine too. From December 17th-25th, we were in Massachusetts with Grammie, Uncle Garth and Aunt Jodie. Everyone stayed busy, happy and love was thick in the air- like we all knew that we only had a few days together so we were soaking in it. Grammie and the boys made a gingerbread house, made Christmas cards, went sledding behind the condo, read stories, and watched movies together. The boys made great memories with their Grammie and with Uncle Garth and Aunt Jodie. Skiing was a highlight, especially for Elijah who is still asking when we can go skiing again. We took a short trip to see the lights displays at a park in Springfield and generally just loved our time together. I love my family and miss them, but I am so thankful to have had a few days of uninterrupted vacation with them! Thanks for a great time Garth, Jodie and Mom.
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