7 Billion

On October 31, 2011, our world will total seven billion people.

National Geographic uses this theme of seven billion and touches on a variety of topics including food security, global population, the return of cities, and then attempts to answer big questions such as "Can we feed seven billion of us?" and "Is there enough for everyone?"

However, NatGeo doesn't stop there. Instead, they developed 7 Billion Actions,  a place for people to share their stories of action and inspire others. 

Oh, yeah. You know I'm interested now.

I love the idea behind 7 Billion Actions because it goes along with what I've discovered about giving and serving. Small actions count, and they count in big ways.

Have a minute? Click over to meet some everyday world changers.

(email subscribers may have to click here to view video)

Question for you: How do you feel about our population reaching seven billion people? Any worries that go along with this number? Is seven billion number you can comprehend? Let's discuss, shall we?


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Linking with Jen.

Carving for a Cause

Most of our family's pumpkins turn out the same: diamond eyes, triangle nose, and snaggle-toothed, but not this year. This year we plan to Carve for a Cause.

Better Homes and Gardens is using online, pumpkin stencils to help others. In addition, to promoting awareness for seven charities, BHG will also donate $2.00 for every stencil downloaded (Downloading stencils is free!). Plus, BHG worked with the charities involved to create a stencil that reflects each charity's mission.

Here's how it works:

1. Go here.
2. Fill out two, short info boxes.
3. Download.
4. Carve.

Happy weekend, friends.
*Comments are closed.

The Island of Me

Community.

I’m a community girl. People seeker, party planner, secret carrier, event attender, friend supporter, me.

Except lately.

Lately, I’m more of a let-me-live-alone-on-an-island-in-peace-kind-of-girl.

Relationships prove difficult. Community hard, and island living calls out to me. See, on the Island of Me, I get to do what I want and not be troubled by well, life.

I hear about 2:00 a.m. friends, the kind of people you can pick up the phone and call in the middle of the night. I wonder who my 2:00 a.m. friends are, and if I still have what it takes to be a 2:00 a.m. friend, and I start to question, do I even want that kind of investment?

Then, I get the call. It’s not 2:00 a.m., it’s 9:03 p.m., and it’s from one of my forever friends. Her teenage nephew endured a terrible car wreck. He may never walk again.

My friend called because she needs hope, and she needs prayer, and you know what? She needs community, community that rallies in unthinkable situations.

For now, I brush away barriers, forget about island life, and join her right where she is.

Question for you: Do you have a 2:00 a.m. friend? Are you a 2:00 a.m. friend? Tell. Tell.

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Joining Michelle and Jen.

Pictures From Our Almost Sleepover and Gratitude

Author, Ann Voskamp, encourages people to notice the teeny moments that fill our days and in turn, create our lives. In addition, she asks us to write down the blessings we see. Sometimes I write my blessings in a worn-out journal. Today, I share them on a computer screen with you.

This weekend we held a celebration (along with girls from thirty-five other states) for a local cause. Take a peek at our moments filled with love and  intention, and get a glimpse at the pieces of life topping my gratitude list.

234. Carmel apples that drip with goo.
235. Grown-up artists sharing their talents and encouraging aspiring artists.
236. Cards written in marker and addressed to sick kids.
237. Tiny hands.
238. Cool dance moves led by an even cooler teenager.
239. Friends that show up to help.
240. Friends that photograph your life.

Postcards of Encouragement and Share Your Story

Today I'd like you to meet Carolyn, author of Just Another Ragamuffin. In today's Share Your Story, Carolyn writes about anonymous service and comfort brought by postcards.

Here's Carolyn.

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When tragedy or hardships strike our loved ones, we all want to help in whatever way we can. 

When my precious Mama passed away in March of this year, I heard constant offers of assistance. “What can I do to help?” “Let us know how we can support you.” “Do you need anything?” Augh! The only thing I needed was my Mama back! That’s what was going through my mind. And the whole how-can-I-help thing was as tiresome as it was well-meaning.

There were actually about five things that I asked for from close friends, but for the most part, I just always answered with, “just pray for us.” I meant that. We desperately needed the prayers. I wish I had something more I could have given our friends and family to do so that they would feel like they were helping more. I’ve surely been in their shoes – wanting to help but not able to do anything tangible.

There was one person – whose identity I still do not know – who took it upon herself (I have it on pretty good authority that it is a “her”) to encourage me in the way she knew how. She started sending me postcards. There were actual pre-printed postcards and others were handmade from card stock with lovely patterns printed on it. Some even had a little glitter on them. They were addressed to me and sent locally, but they never had a return address or signature.

Each of these postcards had a handwritten Bible verse on it. There were verses from the Old Testament and from the New Testament. All were meant to comfort me and give me some direction at a time when I had lost one of the brightest stars in my universe. This went on for about a month. There were eighteen postcards in all. I still have every one of them.

This woman served anonymously, without thought for thanks from me. I’m sure it also worked for her in some way – maybe she is a single mom who doesn’t have much time to invest more than just a short message. Regardless of her circumstances, what she gave was a precious gift.

In the quiet of our house – after family and friends had gone back to their routines – I would take out these postcards and read through them again and again. There is not a price that could be put on the fact that somebody was thinking of me and reminding me of God’s promises.

Remember that just like the widow’s two mites, no gift is too small. Small, anonymous acts of service can be as meaningful as bringing food, sending flowers, sitting up with a friend, or sending handwritten postcards.

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Thank you so much for sharing with us, Carolyn.

*Comments closed today. Please take a minute to pop over and check out Carolyn's blog.

Interested in Sharing Your Story? Click here for details.

Image credit.

Writing Your Heart Out

I admire those taking the 31 Day Challenge.

Thirty-one days of anything can be overwhelming, but these people are blogging for thirty-one consecutive days, and you know what? The voices and topics I've discovered are too good to keep to myself.

Here's a little mid-week treat for you, a few of my favorites:

If you're a parent of a girl:
31 Days to Nurture Her Self-Esteem. Patty Christopher inspires with amazing photos and powerful words of truth. Plus, I like anyone who thinks it's important to share things like this:



If you like storytellers who tug at your heart and make you choke out those hard, ba-ha-ha-ha laughs:
31 Days to Letting Go. Flower Patch Farmgirl, Shannan, has a gazillion followers for a reason. Go see why.

If you like books: 
31 Days of Library Living, Michelle from The Great Read highlights fantastic finds from the library. Fun read- Look What I Did With a Leaf.

If you like wine:
31 Days of Wine. Need I say more? Jill gives you the scoop on you guessed it, wine.

Question for you: What fun, new blogs and voices have you discovered lately?

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Linking with my friend, Rachel, for Working Mom Wednesday where the prompt focused on sharing  good blog discoveries:

Neuroendrocrine Cell Hyperplasia and An Almost Sleepover

Neuroendrocrine Cell Hyperplasia used to be a mouthful of words that dominated our life. 

Five years later, the burn from that time still dances in my head and reminds me of the gift of good health.

Our family’s three and a half year struggle with the health of our oldest daughter led us to connect with other families who struggle in the same way.

This is why we chose The Rathbun Center as the non-profit we are honoring through our Almost-Sleepover. The Rathbun Center provides free lodging for those traveling to Asheville, North Carolina to seek medical attention, and the Rathburn Center happens to be adding a children’s wing.

Here’s the part where we come in.

It’s time to party it up, (in a pajama clad, tween sort-of way!).

This coming Saturday my eight-year-old, Amelia, and her friends will gather to raise awareness and goodies for the new children’s wing at the Rathbun Center.

Here's a peek at the video we made to show the girls on Saturday:

We aren’t the only family you may know in blogland participating in this national event. My friends, Jen and Alicia are also hosting Almost Sleepovers in Texas and Iowa.

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Linking with the crew at Finding Heaven.

Question for you: Do you have any funny or favorite childhood sleepover memories?

A Little Something About Your Cheerleaders

Do you have a cheerleader in your life?

Someone who believes in your ideas even when you forget why they are important?

Does your cheerleader scream praise from a megaphone, or quietly pass you handwritten notes on important days?

Sometimes cheerleaders applaud from your living room (or a nearby forest).

Other cheerleaders are strangers who grow into friends.

We long to impact others with our actions, but too often become overwhelmed at the daunting task.

“There’s so much and so many who need help, and I have a heart for that, but find myself with gears jammed because I don’t know where to turn first. . . ” –Patty Christopher, Finding Serendipity.

Our gears jam.

My challenge for you this weekend is to unjam your gears by using your voice to impact.

Think about your cheerleaders, appreciate them, and then, remember to look and discover the people around you in need of a little cheering on.

Question for you: Who can you always count on for encouragement?

This and That

Sometimes we have This and That for dinner. This and That is a combination of good things that don’t really go together. The same concept applies to today's post, but I promise this post is better than waffles and green beans (A real example of a This and That dinner at our house).

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I know you long for simple.

I feel it in your posts, see it in your comments, and read it in your email, but with fall already showing it’s fabulous colors, the season of stuff is upon us. Struggling with this fight of accumulating more of things?

Me too.

Thankfully, Megan’s article over at Simple Mom laid out some practical ways to focus on the fun and not gifts. Sure, Megan talks about birthdays, but the same ideas apply to all kinds of holiday fun.

Want a peek? Go here.

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People continue to scream about being a social media expert and all of the things you must do to promote your message and yourself (eek, I hate that).

Jon Acuff said this earlier in the week, “The best social media campaign for a movement that has no soul will die a quick, loud, public death. But a movement that has soul will always grow, even if you’re not an expert in social media.”

I knew I liked that guy.

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I’m reading Death by Suburb, (reccommended by her). It talks about finding God when we look beyond perfectly cut lawns, SUV’s, and soccer awards.

One of the author's, David L. Goetz’s, first bits of advice is to forget about that peaceful, log cabin in the woods when you think about connecting with God. You need to search out God right here in your life right now. 

That's hard for me. I always think I will make time for God when I get home or when my girls are quiet or when I'm not busy preparing green beans and waffles, but I need to make time in the now.

Even if the now happens to be a smidge crazy. 

Question for you: The idea of simple fun, social media, and Death by Suburb. These good but random topics are a perfect combination of This and That. Tell me a little This and That from your life, or tell me I'm not the only person who serves my family waffles and green beans.


Happy Wednesday, friends.

On Sneaking Away to Mass

Yesterday I snuck away to mass. Yes, mass, as in the Catholic variety.

Baptized, raised, and confirmed Catholic, rote prayers meant little during my plaid skirt and knee sock wearing days.

My trouble-making, best friend and I spent most required school masses thinking up inappropriate, alternative lyrics to responsorial psalms. “Hosanna, Hosanna, I’m high.”

And as for preparation for the Eucharist, I never viewed communion as a union with God or each other, but I do remember exactly what happened to that missing wine. Sorry, Sister Rita (and I think I just felt myself losing ten followers).

But through the years, the religion and God I scrambled to get away from has taken on a different meaning. Catholic prayers, hymns, and reverence no longer seem boring and out of touch. The stained glass figures no longer haunt, but comfort, and although the kneelers are still hard, now, I want to use them.

I guess that’s why sometimes when life screams for deeper meaning and structure, this non-Catholic girl finds God through a missal at a crowded mass.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28  New King James Version

Question for you: Are there any practices from the faith of your childhood that you once disliked and now appreciate? Do tell.

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Linking with Michelle and Jen. Why don't you clickity click and join us there?

Image credit.

The Clock Is Ticking

For many girls who live in poverty, being twelve means they are considered women.

Yep, twelve. Bam, woman.

Think of a twelve-year-old girl you know.

Take away her TV remote and ipod. Now, take away her cell phone. Stop sending her to school. Give her a husband or HIV (or both), and then, hand her a baby. Perfect. Now you have the life of millions of twelve-year-old girls who live in poverty.

Have you heard about The Girl Effect? The Girl Effect believes the world needs a kick in the pants, and they believe real change happens with girls and with education.

This week a blogging campaign exploded to help spread the word about The Girl Effect, and guess what? (A big opportunity is coming. Can you feel it?) You can be involved.

How? Easy. Do one (or all) of the following:

• Watch the video below.

• Visit The Girl Effect.

• Bounce around a couple of the sites from the hundreds of bloggers involved in the 2011 The Girl Effect Blogging Campain.

• Love your twelve-year-old daughter, your almost twelve-year-old daughter, your nowhere near twelve-year-old daughter, your niece, goddaughter, granddaughter, or best friend’s kid. In summary, love your girls.

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I first heard about The Girl Effect here and here.

I Hate Fasting

Years ago, Loraine and I shared a wall. She and her newlywed-hubby lived on one side of the wall, and me and my newlywed-hubby lived on the other side of the wall. 

That thin, apartment wall wasn’t the only thing Loraine and I shared; clothes, coffee, popsicles, tears, and pieces of life were exchanged daily.

Loraine’s the kind of friend that calls my cell in the middle of the day, and with two short words she prompts me to cheer aloud and dole out imaginary high-fives. That’s friendship: comfort, laughter, and imaginary high-fives.

We’ve talked about many ways to take the focus off ourselves and serve others, but we’ve never talked about fasting. It’s just like Loraine to bring up a new topic like that.

Today I share with you a girl who has shared much with me.

Here’s Loraine:

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Fasting. I hate fasting. As soon as I hear the word I feel guilty and hungry at the same time.

I know it's Biblical, but it's hard, and I like food a lot. I participated in the obligatory youth group 30 hour famine to raise money for the starving in Africa, but I just don't like it.

Today, however, I am fasting. Why? Because a young friend of ours is in a lot of trouble. He did something stupid, really stupid and right now he is in court. He deserves to be punished but it will impact his life for years to come, if not forever. So today I am fasting and asking God to show His grace and mercy; not because this guy deserves either (who of us does, really?), but because I don't want this to wreck his life.

I am not fasting because I think God is a genie in a bottle or that my fasting will make Him work in my favor. I wouldn't want to serve a God like that anyway. I am fasting to show Him that I am just plain serious about this request. Whether He honors it or not is irrelevant. I think for the first time in my life, fasting might be starting to make sense to me.

My son just offered me the rest of his mac and cheese and the hungry part of me really wants to eat it. But I won't, the stakes are too high.

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Questions for you: What are your thoughts on fasting? Describe your fasting experiences good or bad.


Good stuff, yes? Thanks Loraine for Sharing Your Story. Watch for this girl, her new blog will be up in a month.


Do you have a serving related experience that left you changed? Click here for details on sharing. 

I Hope You Are Failing

Have you failed lately? Good.

Do friends and family question what you create? Great.

Have you tried to schedule more exercise time, but find yourself working out two days a week instead of three? Bravo.

Do you write something, read it a week later, and decide it is suck-ish at best? Fabulous.

Have you reached out to friends only to have them not "get" it and worse, not "get" you? Well done.

Do you commit to save money, but instead buy that killer skirt at TJ Maxx (um, hypothetically speaking, of course)? Stellar.

Why am I so happy about failure? Failing means you care enough to try. 

Here's to being brave enough to try.


Question for you. How are you pushing yourself? Are you failing at anything lately or just playing it safe?


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Linking with friends at Soli Deo Gloria.