Friday, November 7, 2008
More from Water for Christmas!
These beautiful water bottles are available by pre-order over on Jody's blog!
We have some very talented people working to help bring fresh water to Liberia.
The bottles are $15.
One more way to help.
One more way to get involved.
One more way to promote the cause.
Water for Christmas
Fresh water to the world.
We can totally do this.
We have some very talented people working to help bring fresh water to Liberia.
The bottles are $15.
One more way to help.
One more way to get involved.
One more way to promote the cause.
Water for Christmas
Fresh water to the world.
We can totally do this.
Bracelets, bracelets, everywhere!
We got together last night, and finished up about 130 bracelets.
They look great!
Ready to go....
And you can help too, just go to the ETSY shop link in my sidebar, and help bring fresh water to Liberia.
Water for Christmas
They look great!
Ready to go....
And you can help too, just go to the ETSY shop link in my sidebar, and help bring fresh water to Liberia.
Water for Christmas
That's my girl...
Tonight, Emily asked me if I wanted to read the speech she is giving in her speech and debate class tomorrow. I said I would love to.
Here it is, unedited. Pure Emily. The joy of my heart....
Preach it girl!
*****
Pet Peeve:
$20 gives one person fresh water for 20 years.
Americans, on average, spend 450 billion dollars on Christmas gifts, decorations, and food each year. It only takes 10 billion dollars to give fresh water to everyone on earth. Every 90 seconds a child dies of malnutrition.
People who don't care about anyone but themselves is something that is more than just a pet peeve of mine, it is something we could change, but choose not to because of the inconvenience to us.
Well guess what? It will never be convenient to your life here on earth, because this was never meant to be your life.
People are suffering and we just look the other way, pretending that we can't see them. We tell ourselves that they are of no importance to us, just because we are not the ones doing the suffering. Can you imagine being the one who has to be a Mother, and Father to your siblings because your parents have died? Not having enough food or water and you can see the people you love dying all around you, and you know that there are people that could help, but are too engrossed in their own lives to do anything about it.
We are those people.
We're so concentrated on the stupid things of this life to do anything about it. All we seem to care about is getting a new phone or who's dating whom... but in reality, none of this is going to ever be of any importance to anyone but you and your selfish self.
We all have those times when we want more and more, but then you have to stop and think about how much you already have compared to most people on this earth. We have way more then necessary, yet we still keep wanting and wanting for things that will never matter.
There are things we can do though.
We need to give.
We need to put our heads together.
We all need to do a little something, that will add up to one big something.
If all of us work together, we can do something big.
Here it is, unedited. Pure Emily. The joy of my heart....
Preach it girl!
*****
Pet Peeve:
$20 gives one person fresh water for 20 years.
Americans, on average, spend 450 billion dollars on Christmas gifts, decorations, and food each year. It only takes 10 billion dollars to give fresh water to everyone on earth. Every 90 seconds a child dies of malnutrition.
People who don't care about anyone but themselves is something that is more than just a pet peeve of mine, it is something we could change, but choose not to because of the inconvenience to us.
Well guess what? It will never be convenient to your life here on earth, because this was never meant to be your life.
People are suffering and we just look the other way, pretending that we can't see them. We tell ourselves that they are of no importance to us, just because we are not the ones doing the suffering. Can you imagine being the one who has to be a Mother, and Father to your siblings because your parents have died? Not having enough food or water and you can see the people you love dying all around you, and you know that there are people that could help, but are too engrossed in their own lives to do anything about it.
We are those people.
We're so concentrated on the stupid things of this life to do anything about it. All we seem to care about is getting a new phone or who's dating whom... but in reality, none of this is going to ever be of any importance to anyone but you and your selfish self.
We all have those times when we want more and more, but then you have to stop and think about how much you already have compared to most people on this earth. We have way more then necessary, yet we still keep wanting and wanting for things that will never matter.
There are things we can do though.
We need to give.
We need to put our heads together.
We all need to do a little something, that will add up to one big something.
If all of us work together, we can do something big.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Yes We Can...
bring fresh water to the whole world!
Water for Christmas.
you guys are amazing.
great things are happening.
we are coming together as ONE
and doing great things!
don't forget to donate!
and get your bracelet over on ETSY,
they are going like hotcakes,
you don't want to be the only ONE without one!
sorry for the shameless plug...
i just really think this water thing
is attainable.
like now.
Water for Christmas.
you guys are amazing.
great things are happening.
we are coming together as ONE
and doing great things!
don't forget to donate!
and get your bracelet over on ETSY,
they are going like hotcakes,
you don't want to be the only ONE without one!
sorry for the shameless plug...
i just really think this water thing
is attainable.
like now.
no matter which side you are on....
I read this today, and no matter who you voted for, which political party you affiliate with, this, this is truth.
History will record this as the night the souls of black folk, living and dead, wept – and laughed, screamed and danced – releasing 400 years of pent up emotion.
They were the souls of those whose bodies littered the bottom of the Atlantic, whose families were torn asunder, whose names were erased.
They were those who knew the terror of being set upon by men with clubs, of being trapped in a torched house, of dangling at the end of a rough rope.
They were the souls of those who knew the humiliation of another person’s spit trailing down their faces, of being treated like children well into their twilight years, of being derided and despised for the beauty God gave them.
They were also the tears of those for whom “Yes We Can, ” Obama’s campaign slogan, took on a broader, more profound meaning.
“Yes We Can” escape the prison of lowered expectations and the cycles of poor choices. “Yes We Can” rise above history and beyond hatred. “Yes We Can” ascend to Martin Luther King’s mountain top and see the promised land where dreams are fulfilled, where the best man wins and where justice prevails.
During this election African-Americans, their hearts weary from disappointment, dared to hope and dream again. Tonight their dream has been realized.
Whether or not you agree with Barack Obama’s politics, there is no denying that his election represents a seminal moment in the African-American narrative and a giant leap forward on the road to America’s racial reconciliation.
In fact everyone, regardless of race, should feel free to shed a tear and be proud of how far our country has come.
--Charles Blow, New York Times
History will record this as the night the souls of black folk, living and dead, wept – and laughed, screamed and danced – releasing 400 years of pent up emotion.
They were the souls of those whose bodies littered the bottom of the Atlantic, whose families were torn asunder, whose names were erased.
They were those who knew the terror of being set upon by men with clubs, of being trapped in a torched house, of dangling at the end of a rough rope.
They were the souls of those who knew the humiliation of another person’s spit trailing down their faces, of being treated like children well into their twilight years, of being derided and despised for the beauty God gave them.
They were also the tears of those for whom “Yes We Can, ” Obama’s campaign slogan, took on a broader, more profound meaning.
“Yes We Can” escape the prison of lowered expectations and the cycles of poor choices. “Yes We Can” rise above history and beyond hatred. “Yes We Can” ascend to Martin Luther King’s mountain top and see the promised land where dreams are fulfilled, where the best man wins and where justice prevails.
During this election African-Americans, their hearts weary from disappointment, dared to hope and dream again. Tonight their dream has been realized.
Whether or not you agree with Barack Obama’s politics, there is no denying that his election represents a seminal moment in the African-American narrative and a giant leap forward on the road to America’s racial reconciliation.
In fact everyone, regardless of race, should feel free to shed a tear and be proud of how far our country has come.
--Charles Blow, New York Times
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
deep
such beauty.
and the deeper you go, the harder you look, the more beautiful it becomes.
we need to enter in, to deep.
with people.
deep.
because while it appears scary, the reality of actually knowing some one, is so much more beautiful.
(deep, like wells, in Liberia.... Water for Christmas... sorry, that's on my mind too!)
and the deeper you go, the harder you look, the more beautiful it becomes.
we need to enter in, to deep.
with people.
deep.
because while it appears scary, the reality of actually knowing some one, is so much more beautiful.
(deep, like wells, in Liberia.... Water for Christmas... sorry, that's on my mind too!)
Monday, November 3, 2008
How to make it happen
(Read "Water for Christmas" post, just below this one first!)
Okay,
so if you want to help, here are some things you can be doing...
First of all, the organization that we are partnering with, is called charity:water. They are an incredible organization that do amazing work. You can check them out through their website, and we happen to have a webpage set up through them.
the web address is: http://www.water4christmas.com
You can also go directly there, by clicking on our very cool blog button in my sidebar.
Even better, you can add this button to your own blog, facebook, myspace, or wherever you spend your computer time! You just click on the word "share" and it will take you where you need to go.
Next, donate.
You can make donations directly through the website, and all donations generate a tax deductible receipt.
Or, if you are uncomfortable donating online, you can send a check, and a receipt will be mailed to you.
Checks can be made out to: Charity Global Inc., with "Water for Christmas" in the memo line.
Charity Global Inc.
150 Varick St. 5th floor
New York, NY 10013
And, we know that not all of you have blogs....
so we have these adorable little cards that say, "I want water for Christmas" and "I gave water for Christmas" for you to use as a tool. Hand them out to everyone you know, leave them on the table in a restaurant, whatever. Just spread the word!
We also have poster size available, if you would like to set up a donation table of your own!
If you are interested in ANY of these things, just e-mail jody, at jodylanders at gmail dot com, and she will be happy to send you the PDF files of any or all of these tools. You can then print them out yourself, or send them directly to your local printer to have them done for you.
Easy?
yep.
We have found that this time of year, businesses are very willing to help. This said, our local grocery store has allowed us to set up a table, like this one, outside. We have the hand outs available, and info on the site.
Here is an example of what you could do.
In your town.
In your community.
In your business.
We also have bracelets for sale. They are only FIVE dollars, and come with the card that says, I gave water for Christmas. It really is another way to get the word out. Remember those yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets? That is what I am talking about.
You can get the bracelets over at my ETSY shop, just click on the link in my sidebar, and it will take you straight there.
Next, my girl Tesi will be hosting "Dancing for Water" over on her blog.
She will be getting various people to dance on camera and posting it on YouTube! It is really going to be hysterical. We are asking for a $3. donation per view. Trust me people, this is worth it. You can donate directly to water4christmas. This is obviously the honor system, so please donate before you view!
So fun.
So easy.
Finally,
feel free to copy and link whatever you want from all of our blogs! We have all become so passionate about this, and are so excited to see the water flow.
check out my girls:
Jody
Cassie
Tesi
We can do this people.
It is so simple.
Water for Christmas.
That's all I want.
Okay,
so if you want to help, here are some things you can be doing...
First of all, the organization that we are partnering with, is called charity:water. They are an incredible organization that do amazing work. You can check them out through their website, and we happen to have a webpage set up through them.
the web address is: http://www.water4christmas.com
You can also go directly there, by clicking on our very cool blog button in my sidebar.
Even better, you can add this button to your own blog, facebook, myspace, or wherever you spend your computer time! You just click on the word "share" and it will take you where you need to go.
Next, donate.
You can make donations directly through the website, and all donations generate a tax deductible receipt.
Or, if you are uncomfortable donating online, you can send a check, and a receipt will be mailed to you.
Checks can be made out to: Charity Global Inc., with "Water for Christmas" in the memo line.
Charity Global Inc.
150 Varick St. 5th floor
New York, NY 10013
And, we know that not all of you have blogs....
so we have these adorable little cards that say, "I want water for Christmas" and "I gave water for Christmas" for you to use as a tool. Hand them out to everyone you know, leave them on the table in a restaurant, whatever. Just spread the word!
We also have poster size available, if you would like to set up a donation table of your own!
If you are interested in ANY of these things, just e-mail jody, at jodylanders at gmail dot com, and she will be happy to send you the PDF files of any or all of these tools. You can then print them out yourself, or send them directly to your local printer to have them done for you.
Easy?
yep.
We have found that this time of year, businesses are very willing to help. This said, our local grocery store has allowed us to set up a table, like this one, outside. We have the hand outs available, and info on the site.
Here is an example of what you could do.
In your town.
In your community.
In your business.
We also have bracelets for sale. They are only FIVE dollars, and come with the card that says, I gave water for Christmas. It really is another way to get the word out. Remember those yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets? That is what I am talking about.
You can get the bracelets over at my ETSY shop, just click on the link in my sidebar, and it will take you straight there.
Next, my girl Tesi will be hosting "Dancing for Water" over on her blog.
She will be getting various people to dance on camera and posting it on YouTube! It is really going to be hysterical. We are asking for a $3. donation per view. Trust me people, this is worth it. You can donate directly to water4christmas. This is obviously the honor system, so please donate before you view!
So fun.
So easy.
Finally,
feel free to copy and link whatever you want from all of our blogs! We have all become so passionate about this, and are so excited to see the water flow.
check out my girls:
Jody
Cassie
Tesi
We can do this people.
It is so simple.
Water for Christmas.
That's all I want.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Water for Christmas.
I am so excited to share with you what our little ministry group is doing this month!
I can't wait another minute....
It is simple, really.
a gift that we don't even realize we have.
water.
fresh, clean, water.
Unsafe water, and lack of basic sanitation,
cause 80% of all sickness and disease,
and kill more people every year than all forms of violence,
including war.
all forms of violence.
that is not okay with me.
so we are trying to do a small thing, that will bring about great things.
we are trying to build fresh water wells in Liberia, West Africa.
and why Christmas time?
Americans, on average, spend 450 billion dollars a year on Christmas.
from gifts, to decorations, to food, and parties. 450 billion.
it would take one third of that to bring fresh water to every single person in the world. one third.
that makes me sick.
we could easily, with little effort, eradicate the very cause of 80% of the world's sickness and disease.
in the blink of an eye.
so, here is one of the things my family is doing: we have decided to give up a gift that we would normally exchange. sounds so easy.
because it is.
20 dollars gives fresh water to one person for 20 years.
if everyone, just in my immediate family, gives ONLY 20 dollars, that is 7 people who will have fresh water for 20 years. a family.
an entire family can be saved, by not exchanging one toy.
this is so easy.
and we can do it.
i don't know what it will look like for your family, it could be as simple as leaving off one item from your Christmas dinner.
a pecan pie, from Sam's Club, 20 dollars.
that is 1 person who will live because they have fresh water to drink.
it is so hard for me to express how much this means to me.
it is the cry of my heart.
please partner with me in bringing fresh water to Liberia.
i want water for Christmas.
that's all i want.
what about you?
details about how you can help, and how you can partner with us coming up!
Water For Christmas.
how simple.
now go read jody's post, cassie's post, and tesi's post.
I can't wait another minute....
It is simple, really.
a gift that we don't even realize we have.
water.
fresh, clean, water.
Unsafe water, and lack of basic sanitation,
cause 80% of all sickness and disease,
and kill more people every year than all forms of violence,
including war.
all forms of violence.
that is not okay with me.
so we are trying to do a small thing, that will bring about great things.
we are trying to build fresh water wells in Liberia, West Africa.
and why Christmas time?
Americans, on average, spend 450 billion dollars a year on Christmas.
from gifts, to decorations, to food, and parties. 450 billion.
it would take one third of that to bring fresh water to every single person in the world. one third.
that makes me sick.
we could easily, with little effort, eradicate the very cause of 80% of the world's sickness and disease.
in the blink of an eye.
so, here is one of the things my family is doing: we have decided to give up a gift that we would normally exchange. sounds so easy.
because it is.
20 dollars gives fresh water to one person for 20 years.
if everyone, just in my immediate family, gives ONLY 20 dollars, that is 7 people who will have fresh water for 20 years. a family.
an entire family can be saved, by not exchanging one toy.
this is so easy.
and we can do it.
i don't know what it will look like for your family, it could be as simple as leaving off one item from your Christmas dinner.
a pecan pie, from Sam's Club, 20 dollars.
that is 1 person who will live because they have fresh water to drink.
it is so hard for me to express how much this means to me.
it is the cry of my heart.
please partner with me in bringing fresh water to Liberia.
i want water for Christmas.
that's all i want.
what about you?
details about how you can help, and how you can partner with us coming up!
Water For Christmas.
how simple.
now go read jody's post, cassie's post, and tesi's post.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Halloween night...
Lots of candy, warm weather, and friends. Could not have been more beautiful.
from left to right: isaiah-skeleton, hannah-e.t., emily-pirate, emma-vampire, sara-hershey bar, micah-knight in shining armour, brody-bat.
from left to right: isaiah-skeleton, hannah-e.t., emily-pirate, emma-vampire, sara-hershey bar, micah-knight in shining armour, brody-bat.
Friday, October 31, 2008
quid pro quo
was having a conversation today
about quid pro quo.
about wanting those kind of friendships...
the friend i was talking to, agreed, and said, yes, give and take.
i had to stop and think about why that term did not jive.
was it the negativity that it connotates?
was it just the fact that it wasn't my term?
and i came to the conclusion that give and take is not quid pro quo at all.
quid pro quo is something for something.
give and be given.
it is relationship,
it is friendship,
it is equality.
it is love.
give and take is such a selfish state.
one sided.
the person giving, is the person taking.
i despise takers.
may i live my life quid pro quo with all i come in contact with.
no more give and take.
about quid pro quo.
about wanting those kind of friendships...
the friend i was talking to, agreed, and said, yes, give and take.
i had to stop and think about why that term did not jive.
was it the negativity that it connotates?
was it just the fact that it wasn't my term?
and i came to the conclusion that give and take is not quid pro quo at all.
quid pro quo is something for something.
give and be given.
it is relationship,
it is friendship,
it is equality.
it is love.
give and take is such a selfish state.
one sided.
the person giving, is the person taking.
i despise takers.
may i live my life quid pro quo with all i come in contact with.
no more give and take.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
on being
i want to be the kind of person who loses myself in the presence of another human being.
any human being.
every human being.
i want to get so wrapped up in them, and their struggles, and joys, and their lives, that i cease to exist, outside of the relationship that i am experiencing with that individual.
i want to be exhausted at the end of a visit, because i poured myself out for them, in order to be filled up by them.
i want to give myself away, so i can be available for every person i come in contact with.
every one.
i want people to know that i love them, by my actions and my words.
i want to be used.
real.
and honest.
and lovely.
a friend.
any human being.
every human being.
i want to get so wrapped up in them, and their struggles, and joys, and their lives, that i cease to exist, outside of the relationship that i am experiencing with that individual.
i want to be exhausted at the end of a visit, because i poured myself out for them, in order to be filled up by them.
i want to give myself away, so i can be available for every person i come in contact with.
every one.
i want people to know that i love them, by my actions and my words.
i want to be used.
real.
and honest.
and lovely.
a friend.
my prayer today.
may the meditations of my mouth echo the cries in my heart.
to be real.
and whole.
and lovely.
and honest.
lord, let me be honest with myself, first.
so that i won't
judge your people, my people,
with my preconceived ideas
of who i think they need to be.
amen.
to be real.
and whole.
and lovely.
and honest.
lord, let me be honest with myself, first.
so that i won't
judge your people, my people,
with my preconceived ideas
of who i think they need to be.
amen.
all you need is love.
when did we stop believing that?
love is all you need... that's what the Beatles said anyway.
and really, it is.
when did it become okay with us, as a species to show anything but kindness toward our equals? why did we somehow decide that because of what you look like, where you were born, or how much money you make, you are somehow valued less?
i just don't get it.
love.
it's all you need.
all you need is love.
practice it.
believe that you are worth that love.
because you are.
love is all you need... that's what the Beatles said anyway.
and really, it is.
when did it become okay with us, as a species to show anything but kindness toward our equals? why did we somehow decide that because of what you look like, where you were born, or how much money you make, you are somehow valued less?
i just don't get it.
love.
it's all you need.
all you need is love.
practice it.
believe that you are worth that love.
because you are.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
This is long... stay with me.
...from Donald Miller
"The very scary thing about religion, to me, is that people actually believe God is who they think He is. By that I mean they have him all figured out, mapped out, and as my pastor, Rick, says, "dissected and put into jars on a shelf." You've got a bunch of Catholics in Rome who think one way about God, and a bunch of Baptists in Texas who think another, and that isn't even the beginning. It goes on and on and on like this, and it makes me wonder if God created us in His image or if we created Him in ours.
And it isn't just religion, either. I met a guy not long ago who was very conservative and had opinions all over him, and he was saying why God agreed with his political ideas and why that made his political ideas right. The whole time he was talking to me I was thinking about those guys in Africa, and I was feeling like this guy with the opinions was presenting a kind of Jesus who didn't even exist. His Jesus was just an invention of his imagination, someone who more or less justified his position concerning a lot of different political opinions. Sitting there listening to him made me feel tired. People like that should have an island.
But I suppose I can't blame him because, in my life, God is always changing the way I think of Him. I am not saying God Himself is changing, or that my theology is open and I blur the lines on truth; I am only saying I think I know who He is, then I figure out I don't know very much at all.
For instance, and as I have said, a lot of people believe God responds to formulas, but He doesn't. So that is one example of how our idea of God is always becoming a bit more accurate. And that's one of the things you notice about Jesus in the Gospels, that He is always going around saying, You have heard it said such and such, but I tell you some other thing. If you happened to be a person who thought they knew everything about God, Jesus would have been completely annoying."
"The very scary thing about religion, to me, is that people actually believe God is who they think He is. By that I mean they have him all figured out, mapped out, and as my pastor, Rick, says, "dissected and put into jars on a shelf." You've got a bunch of Catholics in Rome who think one way about God, and a bunch of Baptists in Texas who think another, and that isn't even the beginning. It goes on and on and on like this, and it makes me wonder if God created us in His image or if we created Him in ours.
And it isn't just religion, either. I met a guy not long ago who was very conservative and had opinions all over him, and he was saying why God agreed with his political ideas and why that made his political ideas right. The whole time he was talking to me I was thinking about those guys in Africa, and I was feeling like this guy with the opinions was presenting a kind of Jesus who didn't even exist. His Jesus was just an invention of his imagination, someone who more or less justified his position concerning a lot of different political opinions. Sitting there listening to him made me feel tired. People like that should have an island.
But I suppose I can't blame him because, in my life, God is always changing the way I think of Him. I am not saying God Himself is changing, or that my theology is open and I blur the lines on truth; I am only saying I think I know who He is, then I figure out I don't know very much at all.
For instance, and as I have said, a lot of people believe God responds to formulas, but He doesn't. So that is one example of how our idea of God is always becoming a bit more accurate. And that's one of the things you notice about Jesus in the Gospels, that He is always going around saying, You have heard it said such and such, but I tell you some other thing. If you happened to be a person who thought they knew everything about God, Jesus would have been completely annoying."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
am i who i thought i was?
a question i struggle with often.
am i really who i say that i am? am i really who i sincerely thought i was?
i want to be so much more.
and if who i thought i was, is even less than who i really am...
i have even further to go then i thought.
Friday, October 24, 2008
grumpy old troll
feel like the grumpy old troll who lives under the bridge today.
maybe it's the rain.
maybe it's the cold.
maybe it's because i am solo parent for a few more days.
or maybe it's just because i AM a grumpy old troll.
maybe it's the rain.
maybe it's the cold.
maybe it's because i am solo parent for a few more days.
or maybe it's just because i AM a grumpy old troll.
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