Advent

Yup, that time of year has arrived...the precurser to winter...fall. OK, so it has been here for a few weeks, but the weather was nice so I ignored it! Today, the wind is whipping around and my walnut tree is naked(which means more raking on my behalf). The stores are showing off their latest Christmas junk that they eagerly want us to buy. I want to use this next few weeks to think about Advent.

I am inspired by the Advent Conspiracy. Thanks to a couple of friends on Facebook, I was able to connect to their web page: www.adventconspiracy.org. There I discovered a movement that totally fits in with my desire to waste less money and help others more. It is worth looking into! Their ministry is to reconnect relationally at Christmas...spend less time in stores, spend less money, make gifts, spend time together. And then....here is the kicker...give the money you save to help the less fortunate! What a concept....well at least for the gimme, gimme folks out there.

My attempt to curb gifts this year has already begun. I have been making Emma make a Christmas list. She will only be getting two gifts off that list, or only one if it is more costly. She doesn't need more stuff, and she is old enough to learn that other people in the world are hurting and need basic things such a water and food. She can be a part of the solution by giving up toys!

I hope anyone reading this blog checks out the Advent Conspiracy website and becomes inspired as well.

God Bless

Striving to Be More Thankful

I had my "a-ha" moment in church this week. It was a tough week, Emma getting in trouble at daycare and written up twice. I was tired and struggling to figure out what was going on with her. She wasn't any different at home, in fact she had been behaving really well at home. On Sunday, I got to church just feeling weary. I was not looking forward to the next week, nervous that there would still be trouble at daycare, and not really "feeling" the worship service. Then it happened...communion. I started crying, and felt as though God was saying, "You get to start over every time you screw up, so why can't Emma?" I had to let go of my anger towards her behavior at daycare and start over. Emma and I shared communion together and it was lovely. I think the thing I left out of my week was thanking God for the good in my life. I made a short list at church.

I am thankful for: 1. A little girl with lots of spunk! 2. A chance to influence a life! I checked my bad attitude and began to focus on the good...what a difference that little act can do.

Kibogora, Rwanda

I am so psyched about my church's upcoming mission's trip to Rwanda...I want to go so bad. Unfortunately, being a single parent to a four year old, I probably can't this time, but oh, oh, oh...I want to go! I even casually mentioned it to my ex-husband, just to see if there would be any offer of: "I could keep Emma" but his response was of course just his normal negative response that the US is always helping others only to have those that are helped come over and kill us...such a uplifting person he is!

The piece of the trip that has me so excited is the week at Kibogora Hospital. This was a place that my cousin worked at as a missionary surgeon for many years, so I remember hearing updates at church as a kid. It would also be a place where I could use my training and make a BIG difference...and perhaps be talked into performing other tasks that I wouldn't here!(you never know if they might need a hand in surgery!) My friend Jenn told me that there is a new initiative in the medical missions world to enhance and train people in the principles of physical therapy...what a lasting gift! What a purpose! I would love to to that!

I definitely need to pray about this...this might not be the trip for me, but I trust that other opportunities will come up once Emma is older that will allow me to experience something like this. My two big concerns would be if something happened to me while I was gone, then Emma would be without her mom(yikes!, although, God would look after her, I know this in my heart, but my head says YIKES!), and once I meet those with nothing, help them, and then come back to the US and treat the selfish babies that want everything for nothing, I might quit my job and move to Africa!!!!!

Could It Have Been Any Easier?

I am quite frustrated today...why? Today was the day that I was delivering donations for the Ronald McDonald House in our community. Donations of paper towels and grab and go size snacks. Our department was collecting a donation as a part of PT month. I am so angry because in a department with almost 40 therapists, all making a decent salary...only a quarter participated. We only dropped off 12 things...and I know that I brought in two of them as did one other therapist. I just can't believe that others in our department could not afford a few dollars for some snacks or a couple of rolls of paper towels. They don't seem to have a problem getting new vehicles, nice phones, or travelling...I am ranting. The people at the RMH were so happy to get the little that we brought! That did make my day...I just wish we could have been more giving as a department...it really showed me where people's hearts are.