Oh Mary Poppins, What Shall I Choose to Remember?

Sharing our own stories and listening to others.  This season of remembrances and reflection bring out laughter, old pictures, funny stories and sometimes sorrow.  I cried through “Saving Mr. Banks” on a date with Mr. Bridges last night, feeling so much compassion for that little girl who loved her daddy and so painstakingly tried at all costs to protect her memories and skewed realities as she preserved them in a childlike sugar coated fashion.  I saw a picture posted on FB by a past student of one of my own father’s 6th grade classes and notes about how we was a favorite teacher.  My own beautiful children currently building their memories and childhood that will last a life time.  What will stand out to them?  Have I done enough?  Have I been who they need me to be? Will it really matter as they will choose to remember the way they wish?

How can we choose the best memories fashioned in neat and tidy little boxes to recall and to have and to hold forever?  How do I have compassion and tenderness and survive the emotional sensitivity?

What will my precious children in my village remember when they are grown?  What memories will they coat with kindness to survive the harsh physical realities that surround them?  Will they remember tenderly the moments shared around a family coffee ceremony with tiny little cups and the abundance present when sugar, salt or butter are offered as condiments?  Will they hear the synchronized breathing of family members when startled at night and choose to hold tightly the feelings of  being close together rather than the cool mud floor or the howling heard through the walls?  What about soft popcorn seeds clutched in a tiny pocket shared with friends at school as a treasure that is not always afforded at all seasons, will the memory be gentle or will they coddle the sense of starvation?

Everyone must process and share uniquely in how they give notice to their memories.  Some may more easily shut them out, see them in glistening form and some may not pay any attention at all.  I suppose for me I remember my own struggles and memories and must process for myself what I am going to do with them and how I’m going to let them influence me for today.   I often clearly see the pains others hold from times past making their current existence cloudy.  I also have the opportunity in helping shape the memories today of others around me like my children by birth and my children in the village, memories to last a life time.

While at one time, studying psychology, I suppose I set out to help others make way through the journey from whence they had come.  After 10 years in business and 14 years of parenting myself, I have decided to help make the most of the present, as that I all I can truly do.  Action.  Taking action.  Helping bring life where there is pain and sharing the LOVE of the only one who can truly soothe our hearts with His compassion, tenderness, gentleness and inclusiveness.  Yes, he wants all of us.

Anyway… this week I am taking delight in sheep.  Because of my friends who share gifts with me to pass onto our families, we are sending a Christmas delicacy, a big sheep dinner, food and special treatment.  I think this is one of the only ways I have found to salve the painful tenderness I have to the stories of others.  Share.  Give.  Make a difference for a current need and build a treasured moment and memory for others that will last a lifetime.  I must.  It’s the privilege he has given to us with the ability to make wonderful love happen in the present.

Choose to delight and sugar coat a memory that once was sour.  Choose today to make a precious memory for someone else that will last forever.  Choose Love.

Tweet Tweet and Frozen Ground

Yesterday morning as I pulled out of my slippery driveway and I glanced over to see tiny little birds hopping along the frozen grass  over on McKinney street and seemingly getting some breakfast, I made a mental note that I should pick up some simple bird seed as our winter seemed to come so hard and fast this year.  I kind of wondered if they really needed it, as God is so good to provide for the needs of the simplest creatures and then thought again, I should still do my part!

Yes, I often have such conversations and discussions with myself.  Not bragging and hopefully you won’t recommend me for the looney farm, just how I guess I process my thoughts and ideas that I believe God puts in my mind, thus the need for a “discussion”!

Before the delicate birds were even ushered out of my mind, beautiful brown eyes flooded my soul.  I should really pick up some extra seed…really?  And for these precious kiddos?  Yes, I am working hard to do my part.  No guilt, no pressure, no pain….just how much more God loves the little children and does he desire that not even one would be brought pain or go hungry.

I’m pretty sure that seeing the birds made me think of seed, otherwise it would have not been on my radar…pretty sure that visiting Arjo opened my eyes orginally to a completely off my radar need.  And I also feel certain that there are seasons.  Times when the birds can flourish in excess of slippery plump worms and tiny fresh bugs.  Times when our lives have plenty and hours, days or months when life feels frozen financially, spiritually or physically.

So what’s the point?  Maybe the discussion isn’t really finished.  Open our hearts and our eyes to watch for what God wants to show us.  Know with confidence that seasons come and go just like the frozen times of our lives.  Share with those who are in a season who could benefit from sharing our excess.  Spread seed, love often, listen for His voice or heart prompting.  Let the conversation continue.

Coupons, Discounts and Free Stuff… LOVE!

I love high quality stuff that is super efficient and serves a specific purpose.  I am not much for trinkets and frills.  What’s more, is I love a great price.  I often like to consider a big purchase in how many hours I would have to work after taxes to get it.  Is it really worth it?  If you are a Dave Ramsey fan, you would say that I am the NERD.  I take it as a compliment and use it to our advantage.

Sharing the same mindset at Embrace Compassion has really helped us.  We must use every dollar wisely entrusted to us for a purpose.  We must see results.  And what’s more, we must add other value to the $ money given to us to really make it go far.  I thought it might be fun to give you a peak into our “nerdy” penny pinching, and extreme generosity from our volunteers just from December. 

When we pinch our pennies and God multiplies the gifts like loaves and fishes, every little bit goes so far!!!

We were given extremely generous sponsorship gifts to host the Christmas parties by Immix Law Group and the Alibi Restaurant so that 100% of our gifts the nights of the events go to our programs.  We took those gifts and stretched them….

We purchased paper and envelopes and stamps… our AMAZING team under the volunteer supervision of Lisa Thoele produced our beautiful invites and letters…design, some of our copy expenses, stuffing, stamping, writing, database management etc were all put together by volunteers.

Michael Schmidt has given countless hours to design and maintain and continually update our website and our systems.  Thousands of dollars squeezed from a big heart.  Another volunteer maximizing our gifts.

Our little office space, utilities and the use of wonderful color printer…all donated for the last three years.

Discount shopper gurus continually watch for the best deals, like three $68 sewing machines that should have been $200 purchased on “Black Friday” and then an employee discount thanks to Shana Reece’s mom.

What about products that are awesome given at a deep discount like over $8000 in solar given to us for a third of the cost, thanks to GoalZero and their desire to bless our community.

And then there is free stuff like our Leatherman knives given to us, just because for our moms.  I love this!

Coupons saved and used so we could get the perfect shelving at Home Depot and at more coupons at Michaels and Croc shoes.  LOVE THE COUPONS.  Suzanne found a coupon and took her receipt back to the store just to give us a few more dollars and Nicole and Mick both have saved their Michael’s coupons to use on things we have needed.

Shana Reece donates her accounting skills…incredible talent in multiple ways behind the scenes that allows our dollars to be stretched so far.  Thousands of dollars of her time, that truly is priceless because her time is not for sale, only as a gift to us, because she believes.

Anna went shopping for our Bright Spots and scored big and brought Origami books for our kids that were donated to her.  Jennifer Shuggart has been sewing and sewing and sewing, little leggings and needed items.

The most extravagant cookies were made for our event by our friends, I mean absolutely beautiful and delicious, stretching our dollars because we did not have to pay a penny.  Thank you to Nicole Callen for coordinating them…. and then our gorgeous venue was donated thanks to the Putnam’s opening their home!  Don’t forget the clean up crew who pushed through to the end!  AND we are looking forward to this coming weekend at the Butler’s home.

We saved coupons and gift card give backs from the Container store to purchase extra shelving and watched for sales at REI for a couple more needed bags for traveling.  At the fragrence counter at Macy’s a salesperson shared tiny bottles of perfume with me as I shared our story of our moms.

Vivianne carefully handpicked fabric to mail to her sister who sewed headscarves for each of our mamas.  Gorgeous!

Like new clothing has been donated to us from estate sales, kiddos growing out of clothing and friends like Rosslynn who brought us jeans.  We only have to pay for the cost to take them on the airplane, that is it!

Rachel Coggins, a high school student, set up at a Christmas Bazaar and the Red Sled donated the space to sell some of our treasures.

Friends helped watch friends’ kids to give moms time to share.

Tammy Fraser worked with her mom to put together 30 beautiful hand crafted blankets to take for our kiddos!

Nichole and her family sold mistletoe on their farm, a true labor of LOVE to give toward a project.

Kids like Micah and Phoebee share the story of the village at school at the Christmas fair.  Wow!

I’m sure when Shana see’s this post, she will carefully begin to strategically produce a formula and spreadsheet that will soon allow us to say, for every $1 that is donated… we produce $X dollars of blessing!  She is just super cool like that!  Until then, please know that we are so careful and we love to maximize each and every gift.  We treasure your trust and love to give back with pictures and stories of the difference in lives that your gifts make!

So many details made possible by incredible people giving of themselves. 

Your gifts get stretched SO FAR! 

Misty, Shana, Anna, Amy, Mick, Shane, Lisa, Michael, Nicole, Vivianne, Tegan, Kaytlynn,

Jennifer S., Suzanne, Rachel, Nancy, Tammy, Cassie, Rebecca, Carmen, Alex, Bryan and Dee,

Renee, Phoebee, Micah, Nichole, Kristi, Kimberly and Aser

Time given and gifts multiplied just in December…

You are Embrace Compassion and YOU make us great!

December 2013, Tualatin Life

We ALL Can Make a Difference…
The journey began three years ago. I went into the heart of Ethiopia. Then Ethiopia made its way into my heart. I fell in love with the village of Arjo, a tiny metropolis of mud huts and tin-roofed shacks nestled among rock-riddled, rolling hills. My love for the people of Arjo became a deep desire to improve their destitute lives. Desire grew into an action plan, and that plan became my passion: an organization called Embrace Compassion.

What began with building a well to give the people access to clean water soon grew to three wells, and now we have three more in the works. What began as a mission of mercy to one family has become our Bright Spots sponsorship program for 27 children. What began as a handful of gifts for a few people has become a plethora of livestock, clothing, bedding, sports equipment, medical supplies, and more, touching nearly every life in Arjo. This global sharing from our American abundance costs us so little, but it has done so much to counteract the poverty, hunger, desperation, and hopelessness.

The more time I spend in Arjo, the more I realize how much I take for granted. Nights spent huddled on a flea-infested dirt floor make me thankful for the comfort of my own bed. The desperate wails of a woman begging me to take the disabled son she cannot care for make me squeeze my own children a little tighter. Bruised and broken people toil from the first pink light of dawn to the last golden rays of dusk, but they never get ahead. Emaciated children, already bent with the cares of life, carry water on their heads and sadness in their eyes. My journey is a constant contrast of heartbreak against hope, despair against determination.

But I am not alone on my journey. So many from our Tualatin community have partnered with Embrace Compassion, coming alongside us in our endeavors. I am particularly encouraged by the young people who have opened their arms to touch lives halfway around the globe. These are the leaders of tomorrow who are changing the world today.

Jessica worked at Lee Farms to earn money for a car, but dipped into those hard-earned savings to share love with Arjo. Brittany donates a portion of her Jamba Juice salary each month to sponsor a baby born in Arjo during my visit last September. Kaytlynn and Harrison make and sell chocolate chip cookies to sponsor two Ethiopian children. Tegan, a Tualatin Middle School student and Red Rider in Tour de Cure, put aside her personal struggles and sold her handmade jewelry to help Africans who are struggling even more. Five-year-old Haiden offered up lemonade stand money she was saving for an upcoming Disneyland trip. Pint-sized Bethany worked on her family’s farm so she could buy a cow for a family in Arjo. And these are just a few of the stories!

I am thankful for every dollar, every gift, every sacrifice. There are so many needs, and so many opportunities to make a difference. Together we can do incredible things that would be impossible to do alone. We can offer hope, promise, joy, and possibility. I am moved and motivated by the collaboration of our community in making these missions a reality. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your selflessness. Thank you for teaching your children that living with love matters. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together in the future!

Thank you Nancy Drummond for helping us share this story in “Tualatin Life”.  You are such a blessing!

A roller coaster of a journey.

I enjoyed the rides this weekend.  I loved watching my children’s faces.  Watching Alex hold on for dear life and seeing him squeeze his eyes so tight as he began to curl into a fetal position…and then just as quickly as the ride would begin, it was over.  Sharing these experiences as a family adventure is bonding and is joyous.  Living to tell the stories is priceless.

How do you describe to someone what a roller coaster is who doesn’t understand electric power, who has never been in a moving car or and who’s feet has never left the ground.  No perspective of height, depth or speed.  Even a picture does not give a sense of the anxiety that overwhelms me and makes my knees suddenly weak as I’m standing in line and my palms begin to perspire.  My stomach gently flip flops anticipating the loops twisting and the turning and swinging of my body upside down like a cloth doll.   The sense of dropping, falling, flying and the sheer moment of panic when you feel like your going to die…  Perspective.  The discussions afterward carry on for hours.  “My favorite part was when we think we are plummeting into the ground on Goliath, or Tatsu makes me feel like I am going to fall out at any moment.  That one freaks me out!”  Even a shadowing poster picture  of a coaster across from the hot dog stand can release excited terror with just a glance.  How come?  Because we know what the ride feels like.  When we see the picture we have perspective and a memory, a physical body response that without warning can take us on a ride for a moment once again.

I laughed as Shane’s long legs squeezed next to me into the little kid car ride going up and down around the circle.  The spinning force pushed his large man sized body against me and pinched me up against the outside wall, my stomach began to turn and I could feel myself beginning to feel faint.  Entertainment.  So much effort and expense for our amusement. It just hit me as ironic.

The differences in our lifestyles are so extreme, that that I can’t even imagine trying to describe it to my “mama”.  The look I imagine on her face is similar to the face I sometimes see when I try to describe staying in a mud house and in the countryside.  My friends want to understand, they are intent on my words and my stories and give great compassion and often sacrifice to help me.  The same physical responses elicited in the anticipation of a roller coaster even standing in line are the feelings that well up inside me without warning when I think of our precious family, the desperation, the joy, the depression and survival.  My words come up empty.  The poster on the wall and the shadowy picture just isn’t digging deep enough into the consciousness of those who have not been on the same ride.

Beautiful brown eyes, curious and watching me as I move across the mud floor to pick up a basin and small pitcher to wash hands of the guests who have entered.  A child quickly comes and  gently pulls the articles from me as to keep me as their treasured guest.  Such honor and respect they give me for which I don’t deserve, simply they love me for no reason at all. 

Around and around and around, pressure pushing against my chest until I can hardly breath, dropping so fast I sense I am leaving my stomach behind.  Where am I?  Complete black surrounds me for a moment until I shoot up out of the ground and high into the air again.  Up and down and up and down until I am begging for the power behind the roller coaster to stop…please, I’m getting too old for this and I can’t take one more spin and drop!  Sheer elation…that was better than I remembered!  The rides.  Completely birthed out of our culture of excess.  Our need and desire for a new thrill, new excitement and testing the limits of our power and what can be created.  Incredible inventions for our pleasure.  Yes I do love them.

A paint brush for the very first time squeezed between fingers pushing it down firmly into the water and then into the brightly colored water paints.  As the wet pigment on the brush strokes against the clean white copy paper, amazement and bewilderment fill the face that intently follows the movement.  Everyone watching becomes still and and mesmerized by the demonstration.

Crops.  Food.  I think it begins with food.  Hunger stifles creativity, learning and in my American house can bring some grumpy attitudes.  Sharing a meal together can bring peace to a difficult relationship, shows friendship and partnership.  Breaking bread even represents forgiveness and a fresh start.  When food is lacking, starvation follows and the very essence of a beautiful culture looses its luster at best and breaks down at worst.

Building hospitals, schools, factories…big stuff.  What good is it if the people don’t have food?  Buildings can be a source of pride and excitement, a demonstration of a great accomplishment and hope.  Yes.  And for me the prospect of such large endeavors elicits fear.  How do we maintain overhead for on going projects like these?  How do we keep from appearing pretentious? How will we get properly trained medical workers and patients who can pay the bills?  If we have an exclusive school for a few, how do we choose who we accept and how do we keep the elite student from leaving our village once they are finished and provide them challenging work?  How can the workers perform in a factory and produce a product if the food source locally grown can not keep them healthy and full of energy for a full work day?

In my mind I swing and swing and swing, around and around and around until I am so dizzy I can not see straight.  Oh sweet Jesus, please help me to think clearly.  Help me to know what is next.  Help me to focus on what you would have me to gaze my eyes and thoughts upon. 

What should I farm?  What would not compete with the local farms, take a minimal amount of land for now and being something desirable to a palate that has enjoyed traditional foods for years?  Irrigation, containment, protection from the animals and the sheer energy and labor to plant, maintain and harvest this dreamy crop.  Possible?  Yes.  Nothing is ever easy.  Cooperation by my family and friends in the US and in our village.  Working together.  Desire.  Could we have as much excitement in saving lives, in bringing hope, in minimizing starvation as in free falling 800 feet from the sky?  Could we be compelled to come back year after year, to convince our family members to go along for the thrill?

I don’t mean to sound like I am haphazard and spinning in my attempts to help because I believe fiercely that God gives us one step in front of the other and that our efforts, however meager combined with His great power make an eternal impact.  The thoughts, the prayers and the planning that go into the pulling together the details for each and every child, and family member is extensive.

I am convinced there is a perspective that can be learned.  In the same way riding a roller coaster gives new insight into the terror and excitement and thrill of a theme park, sharing a relationship with a child, learning the cast of members in their family and following the setting in which their drama plays out each day can bring a new perspective and appreciation.  Take the journey with me.  Follow the stories of the families, taste the food, visit with others that have lived in such a place.  Allow yourself a moment or two to take the ride to our village, imagine their lives.  I promise you leaving for a moment our culture of excess will give you a ride of your life that can bring great satisfaction.

Grandpa and a trip to 6 Flags

It’s all for grandma.  Shane’s grandma.  Kaytlynn and Harrison’s great-grandma.  In just a few hours we will be leaving for California.  A good family road trip packed tighter than a sardine can is actually exciting to me.  Something about leaving after work, racing against the clock and sleep for the thrill of seeing grandma’s face light up and that big squeeze we will get.  We might as well be Hollywood movie stars, as excited as she is to see us.  The great sense of being wanted.  Grandma always wants us, loves us and dotes on us.

This time is a little different.  We are going to say goodbye.  Grandpa’s body is feeble. His once tall body and demanding stature is melting. While physical aging can be difficult to watch, much less embrace, seeing his body deteriorate is not as difficult as his person being absent. What we have enjoyed about grandpa, his love of Westerns, playing cards for hours, walking the golf course nearly everyday is no longer part of him. He always loved his grand kids and cherished time spent with them. When he doesn’t know their names or who they are, it just doesn’t feel right.  Grandpa had his quirky side too. Sleeping straight up with his mouth wide open, never removing his tall sport cap perched on the very top of his head or the way he liked grandma to wait on him all the time. Does he know who we are past the blank stare?

Grandpa loved Jesus. When he talked of heaven and his savior there almost always was a tear in his eye.  He sang along with the old hymns on Sunday mornings and that was the only time his hat was off out of his deep reverence.  I always felt like grandpa had a special connection with Jesus.  He loved to talk of the cross and what Jesus had done for him.  There was a sense of respect for his past being washed away and made new.  The freedom he found in being a new person was something he wanted so much for all of his children,  grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  At special family holiday meals grandpa rarely could pray without being emotional praying for the family he loved so dearly.

The memories of the grand-kids and the great-grands do vary a bit.  Shane can recall the younger agile grandpa who used to jump in the pool and have contests of who could hold their breath the longest, and of course he always won.  The annual New Year’s Eve party with all of the cousins, eating snacks, playing cards and watching the parade never grew old. Grandpa and grandma both were always interactive and very attentive, they always played.  And being short on cash was never a problem because grandma always had some chores we could do to make a little cash!

Grandmas dedication to grandpa over the decades in nothing less than astounding.  While grandpa was wonderful in many ways, his health really struggled.  Midway through grandpa’s career, still too early to retire, he became injured at work causing paralysis in his neck.  Leaving his life as a welder and the extremely heavy helmet became necessary.  Colon cancer, diabetes and insulin shots several times a day, kidney failure and dialysis and finally Alzheimer’s, grandma has been quite the nurse and still is.  Grandma has beat the odds, fighting through a failed marriage during a time when the culture shunned a single mom, working hard without the help of the system and she waited tables and worked full time in a career at Kmart.  She earned her keep.  When grandpa got sick the first time, she cleaned houses so she never had to leave him at home more than a few hours alone at a time.  And then later she had her booths with ceramics and crafts and always worked hard to supplement their income.  While grandma enjoys getting out to play bingo and volunteer with her senior group, she doesn’t leave grandpa now.  Now when it’s hardest and she is still so young at heart she doesn’t leave him.  She is dedicated to caring for him.

Grandpa had a great laugh and loved to chuckle when he pulled one over on you.  Not only did he love to play cards, he often had a magic trick ready to be demonstrated.  He loved Twinkies, Hostess pies, junk food in general and never went without his Pepsi or a big glass of milk.  On those hot summer days he insisted on fresh ice each and every time filled to the top.  In 36 hours of him arriving at our house, our ice machine would be begging for mercy!  Did I mention him and grandma would make the drive every summer to come stay with us for a couple of weeks and love on us?  Making jam and cookies and potty training Harrison.  There is just nothing like having a grandma and grandpa coming to visit.

Grandma is so smart, so careful to be mindful of grandpa’s wishes and has been an incredible wife all of these years.  She can make jerky & peanut butter cookies to make any grand-kid survive broke through college.  Yes, we speak from experience, Shane and me.

Saying goodbye to grandpa is really hard.  Even when he probably won’t remember who we are, we still remember that man that once was who loved walking outside and greeting the neighbors and yelling loudly at “his” Rams when they weren’t showing their stuff.  I hope we will hold the memories close, see past what the present looks like and be thankful for his full life.  Be thankful for the time we have had and be grateful we know he will spend eternity with Jesus when his time comes.

Besides saying goodbye, we have much to look forward to this weekend, a very Happy Thanksgiving with thousands of cousins, hah!  and a little treat of a day at 6 flags.  We get to hold on tightly to grandma, see grandpa and love on him with the hope that he will know he is loved.  It’s time to be thankful for the years we have had and to really cherish each and every moment we have while we have it.

We love you Grandma and Grandpa

more than all of the sand in the ocean

Some people lovingly ask me, “Do you miss Ethiopia?” 

I don’t now that there is a word in English that describes my miss… maybe it is how a child and parent sometimes describes their love back and forth.  I love you more than all of the sand in the ocean, more than the stars in the sky, more than all of the Pop Rocks in Candy stores, more than the leaves blowing in the fall….

I miss mama more than all of the mud huts in Arjo.

I miss the kiddos more than all of the cornstalks in the fields and the wheat kernels being roasted on the fire.

I miss the smell of the coffee and the conversations as we huddle even with the language I don’t understand more than all of the pot holes we bounce over and many donkeys we see along the way.

My heart feels wrung out, twisted, stepped on and put back in sometimes.  Is that what “Miss” means?

HOWEVER, much of that is changing for me.  I feel less and less like I miss them and more and more like I never leave.  Sometimes I just pretend I’ve left, like running errands or being away for the weekend.  I know I will be back really soon and being wherever I am, they are still with me.  I am still tirelessly working alongside others to prepare for what’s next.  I know that each time I walk through that stick fence that I am greeted with an even deeper love and understanding.

When I need a reminder I make a strong black fresh cup of coffee and add a little ground clove as the water seeps through the grounds.  The sting in my mouth temporarily takes me home with mama.

Even Taresa has learned a few words at 2 years of age… “Tank Ewe”!  “Good Nite!”

I long to hear those words yet am learning to know it won’t be long. 

Just a really long weekend away.

February 2nd, 2014.  Soon.

Letting go of self for the best Collaboration ever…

Collaboration is truly one of my favorite concepts and it is even better when it’s seen in action!

As Defined BY Wikipedia
“Collaboration is working with each other to do a task and to achieve shared goals.[1] It is a recursive[2] process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, (this is more than the intersection of common goals seen in co-operative ventures, but a deep, collective, determination to reach an identical objective[by whom?][original research?]) — for example, an endeavor[3][4] that is creative in nature[5]—by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Most collaboration requires leadership, although the form of leadership can be social within a decentralized and egalitarian group.[6] In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources.”

Last Wednesday I nearly melted in awe as I saw 7 women around my dining table ignore any of their own inhibitions or insecurities that conspired by sharing about themselves and they simply stated “Collaborated”.  Each gal shared about their desire to be a part of the group and the reasons why being in a group wasn’t their favorite.  We have internal processors, external processors, teacher personalities, driven types, creative and concrete thinkers.  Numbers people, words people, let’s get cozy and friend peeps and those happy to work alone.  The truth is, we are a bit of an unlikely group except that we have all come together for a common goal, for a purpose bigger than ourselves.  Together we are better than what we would be as individuals.  We all want what’s best for our families across the world so we are willing to step aside from our own insecurities to share, to learn and to build something beautiful.

Incredible.  Truly my Favorite.  Collaboration.

When I think of Ethiopia in general, and all of the wonderful people who love the country, I am thankful for the collaborators who have been so wonderful.  I think of Jerry and Christy Shannon who have dedicated their lives to serve in the day care of Kore and begin a fresh start for mama’s who are really struggling.  They continued to stay open to many ways that God could use them and now they are pastoring in a prominent church as well.  Just three short years ago we were newbies and really “fresh” and they never acted arrogant or better…they always gave us the privilege in working alongside them in some small way, whatever we had the capacity to do.  They were always patient with us.  Their gifts back to us in teaching us, inviting them to know their family and to share generously with us was by far a gift to us much more than we ever gave them.  And then when we started to fly a bit on our own in our distant area of the country, they still encouraged us, and let us know they loved us and that we are on the same team for the same kingdom purposes.

When organizations collaborate, we exponentially enjoy creativity, greater resources and ultimate rewards that benefit the families and children.  Collaborating with excellence never makes us less significant, less important or less valuable.  It is simply is not true and those feelings come from insecurities, not truth.

Just today I got to see collaboration in action at the Fountain Church.  Pastor Sean and Kristy Boyd loved on us.  They shared their unpretentious hearts.  Another couple shared about their work in the Philippines and how media has been such a blessing to share Love with the people of Asia.  Partnering with the local people, collaborating with them, teaching them and leaving their equipment so that the local people can create incredible life changing media.  No need for credit or back patting, training and checking back only for the purpose of seeing others be blessed.  And then, they shared with me ideas of how to use media in Africa.  I LOVE that.

Pastor Sean helped all of us today tell our own stories, he shared the spotlight with us and encouraged his followers to encourage us.  This just encourages me so much.  I know that there will only be blessing that comes from all of us working together, bringing whatever gifts we have of time, talent and treasure of any quantity for the great blessing of working together.  I pray God will pour out a blessing on the Fountain Church that will be so specific to them, all will know it is only from Him.

Collaboration Together is Beautiful.

I believe there are many examples of beauty in this area.  I would also like to believe we have room for improvement.  Can I be so bold as to say, those of us who have the same passion to love specifically those precious families in Ethiopia, we should ban together.  We should be creative, share resources, set aside a need to be singled out or whatever it is that keeps us from fully benefiting from working together and just simply love and collaborate.  If there have been offenses, let’s set them aside and try again.  We are on the same team.

How precious to me was our Wednesday of beautiful faces enjoying each other, yet more than that, inspiring each other to be and give our best that only came from each of taking one little piece of the work load. I am so thankful.  I am so incredibly blessed.  I do hope the spirit of working together and sharing of love would increase among us so that blessings can be the greatest possible for our families and children in Ethiopia.

Scolded for the Kiss

Compassion can not be suppressed when I am among my family in the village. 

Their stories are so beautiful and often painful while being lived within my reach.  I keep an element of strength and composure as my protection to keep from falling apart.  It pains me that I might even come across as harsh at times as I protect my ability to come back to the village safely where as rumors don’t start that I am easy in giving away anything and everything.

One such day I was walking with Alex through the countryside researching the local mills and visiting families.  A woman ran after me on our little pathway, yelling desperately for me to stop and help her.  Of course I don’t yet fully know what they are saying as my language skills are still so infantile, however the urgency heard in her voice was not mistaken.  She was begging me to take her child.  Her only living child.  When the story unfolded we learned of her first four infants who each died at birth.  A fragile marriage at best struggling with extreme poverty and loss, birthed a child unwelcome in a culture who only knows the heartache and doesn’t understand the blessing of a child with development disabilities.  He left.  

I quickly responded that this was not my plan.  We are not taking children.  In a community where I have witnessed orphaned children being given new families within their own community, I would never want to disrupt how they were providing for their own, even if this mother truly was justified in sending her child with me.  The rope tied around the little boys ankle and his emaciated tiny body made me go numb.  I couldn’t begin to feel or process the experience that was before me.  I had to get more details, I had to think clearly away from the situation. And we did.  We found out that the neighbors were harsh and not supportive.  We heard she was treated like she was crazy when she went to the mill to grind her grain into flour and begged to go to the front of the line instead of waiting patiently like all of the others.  What mother wouldn’t be a little crazy with a disabled starving boy left home alone tied in the house for his own protection knowing that someone may intentionally want to hurt him while she was gone?

So what’s next?  How could help without hurting?  I simply had to buy more time.  We sent messages through the family members to be passed on to her that we wanted to see her.  She walked an hour or so from her house to mama’s to come see us.  On the last day before we left, she arrived.  Sitting with me and the others in mama’s house, calm and collected though probably shy and reserved because of my presence.  Alex shared with her how we believed her boy was valuable.  That he was precious and that he needed food.  We drank coffee, she ate a meal prepared by mama and we sent her away.  She carried the over sized bag of grain, blankets for the two of them, and one of my favorite pieces of clothing, a fleeced jacket which was the only warm thing left I hadn’t given away.  Mama committed to her to have food for her if she ran out.  To come and check-in.  

Before she left, I let my tenderness flood me for a moment and I grasped tightly her hand in a traditional way and kissed both of her cheeks.  I could feel the emotion in me desiring to erupt and I held my composure as best I could as self-control is highly valued and I tend to loose face when I cry.  Tears are not welcome.  She cried.  I couldn’t hold it any longer.  Tears, just a few.  Then quickly the others ushered her out the door, down the gigantic steps of mama’s porch and on her way loaded with an incredible weight of grain.

Scolded.  Painful.  I need to be careful who I embrace.  I could get sick.  She was beneath the class of the others.  Tears again and I slipped away behind my little curtain.  Truly she is no different than the others, no greater health risk than so many who greet me.  My heart wrenched with pain.  She needs love and tenderness as much as anyone.  Compassion came for the other who didn’t yet see it how I saw it.  The others felt great protection for me and I love them for that.

What’s next for this little boy and mama?  I will be checking in again on them in February.  Just a few short months.  Hope.  I pray God will send hope with us for this little boy and his mom.  More kisses of kindness and tender love.  The story is just beginning.

Our Vintage Christmas Sponsors!

What’s a Vintage Christmas Party? 

Old fashion fun, delicious treats and sharing in friendship with some of our favorite people!   A chocolate fountain, home baked goodies, Christmas carols sung to the sound of an accordion, cute and tacky Christmas fashion, and the debut of our 2013 Embrace Compassion Promo video! 

Need I say, it is going to be a grand time?

Such a generous Christmas spirit has started with our business sponsors…we couldn’t do it without them!

Immix Law Group

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US Tax Services

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