Sharing a little bit of Christmas Joy

If you don't already know, I work at a large church. Because it's a church, people often come in asking for help with food, gas, Christmas gifts for their children, rent, and all utility bills. There is one woman in particular who has come in many times since I have worked there, and she has touched me.

She often asked for food and bus passes, and occasionally asked for help with some bills. She used to come by frequently to use a phone posted in our hallway by the office entrance. I could see her through the glass walls, and she would wave at me, make a short phone call (which I did not mind), and leave. She eventually got an apartment of her own - which, even in her 60s - is a huge milestone because she has never had a lease in her name. It seemed like she was extremely proud of being able to keep an apartment and to truly own that responsibility. Now, she is also taking care of two grandchildren who are in elementary school and middle school because their mother (her daughter) is in prison. This woman, who has obviously had a rough journey through her own life, is now responsible for taking care of these two girls when she can hardly take care of herself.

She now rings the bell for The Salvation Army outside a shop near my apartment. She yelled a merry christmas at me from across the parking lot one day and gave me a huge hug. Since then, I have seen her there several times, and I have wanted to do something special for her. If I were a gutsier person, I would do so many things.... But instead, on a whim tonight, I spent some time at the store picking out nice lotions and soaps and fancy chocolates (that I don't even buy myself!). A woman who works this hard to make ends meet for the other people in her life deserves something special for herself - and she certainly deserves it more than the rest of us.

I cannot wait to surprise her tomorrow.
Imagine if everyone did something special for the person who least expected it.

Christmas Music Wonderment

So I was listening to some ridiculously bad Christmas song while I was buying gifts last night, and the song mentioned something about wishing for (yes, here it is) peace on earth and goodwill toward men. I'm sure most people have thought about what a world like that might look like, but I had not thought about it before in quite this way:

If we perceive good and wonderful things because of their contrast with tragedy and misfortune, then how would we perceive "peace on earth," if there were nothing to remind us of the bad things we were missing? In other words, if Good is good because Evil exists, how can Good exist if there is no Evil in the world? If were actually to achieve peace on earth, would we be able to full appreciate it?

I'm not sure it's possible. . . at least not on earth.

Real Beauty

Today at work, a member of the church called to say she was bringing in some socks and things for the men we host on Tuesday nights for Room in the Inn. (Room in the Inn is an outreach program of Campus for Human Development, which helps the homeless in the winter to feed them, give them a warm place to sleep, a place to shower, etc.) She and her son came in with their "socks and things":

• 12 men's coats
• 14 women's coats
• 9 women's sweaters
• 15 pairs of adult gloves
• 1 pair of children's gloves
• 36 men's undershirts
• 18 pairs of men's underwear
• 24 children's jackets and sweatshirts
• 18 pairs of women's socks

These were all new and from Costco. She clearly bought every coat they had left. She even insisted we call her if we need more! Amazing. This is the kind of person who redeems the greedy/selfish qualities of others who have so much but give so little.

Obama supporters eat granola?

Amusing article from the New York Times about voter preferences of food based on their choice of presidential candidate. It probably has little or no merit, but I thought it was amusing!

For the People

Election Day 2008

I have decided that the highlight of my evening actually happened after we left Kara and Jon's little Election Day party. On the way home, we stopped by Kroger and there were 5 people at the front of the store: 4 African Americans, and 1 Sudanese girl. As we walked through, someone announced over the PA system that Barack Obama was officially announced to be the next President of the United States. The people looked up as we walked in, and I gave a little kick of excitement at the announcement. Their faces were lit up with smiles, and this young guy who had just voted in what could only be his first Presidential election, gave Chris a huge high five as we walked past. The Sudanese girl was running around on her cell phone and talking excitedly in another language to the person on the other end of the line. This was not about the candidate. This was about American people feeling empowered and influencial in a governement that otherwise seems distant and unlikely to affect our small lives. I am so excited to stand up with record numbers of Americans, especially young adults, and prove that we can be informed and active citizens, no matter who we voted for today. I am thankful for Barack Obama's campaign, that he gave us a platform to unite us as a group, and I hope that we continue to be informed as the transition begins and real work starts to take place. This is not an end. This is only the tip of an iceberg-for black Americans, young adults, and for people who never thought their voice would make a difference. Welcome to the government that was designed by the people and for the people of America.

Putting things in perspective

So I was at a party last night, and of course, when you put a bunch of women together, there's bound to be lots of laughter, gossiping, and "Oh my gosh-you're kidding!"-ing. But towards the end of the night, the conversations in the room took a quieter and more serious turn, and it set me in a very reflective mood. I often worry (as Chris would confirm!) about money, jobs, family, what-ifs, etc... And seeing all of these other problems that were below the surface made me more confident about the choices Chris and I have made. We don't have much money, but we make smart choices to help us use what we have wisely. To me this is common sense, but I don't think all people make hard decisions like that intuitively. Anyway. It makes me sad to think of what so many people I know struggle with, but it is also encouraging to realize that in comparison, we're not as badly off.

AND I am SO excited about election day, I might actually scream. I can't believe how many young adults are involved, voting, and excited for their candidate! I voted a couple of weeks ago, and I have been dying with anticipation to see what will happen! I will seriously be glued to any TV or internet connection within my reach all. day. tomorrow.

I <3 Obama.

Lesson Learned

A word to the wise: Lasange takes forever, is a TON of work, and by the time you get to eat it, you're less interested in it than you were to begin with!

I think this is why everyone swears that it tastes better the second day.

I agree.

How to Get Fat Without Really Trying

This news report from Peter Jennings says a lot about what we have heard so much of already: That government subsidizes corn, which in turn contributes to most of the processed foods on the market; Obesity levels have never been so high in Americans; Type II Diabetes has never before been seen in children at such a young age...

But here are things I learned for the first time:

• Food Styling is an actual job title (and a huge industry), focused on making food look irresistible by using non-food products to whet the appetite.
• Other countries around the world have banned advertising directed at children under a certain age, or advertising for children at all!
  

Yet another reason America is so far behind the power curve. Why does it always seem to take us as a nation so many years to understand the validation behind arguments that people all over the world have been supporting for years? I just can't help but feel bad for children who are so young and already going downhill toward being overweight. Adults can make bad choices for themselves, but children cannot. One of the interviewees in this movie had the audacity to say that beginning at age 6, children are more mature and are capable of making decisions, since they are out of the house and experiencing the world. (Paraphrasing, of course, but that's pretty darn close!)

And of course health care issues are a hot topic with the presidential candidates right now. Sure, a lot of it is based on the lack of funds to support medicare and medicaid to meet the growing need, and the government will also be slammed when the baby boomers hit their declining and ailing years en mass. But instead of only having to worry about the poor, the sick, and the elderly, we will soon have to support the growing numbers of children, young people, and middle-aged adults who make poor food choices and will face rising risks for disease, injury, and chronic illness.

Peter Jennings compared the obesity & food issue to the way Americans had to rethink the view on cigarettes and smoking. You would think we could learn from our mistakes...

On moving forward

So my husband has finally decided to pursuit a career we can both agree on: being an officer (and maybe even a pilot!) in the Coast Guard. I am excited for him because he has been struggling for two years with the big picture of who he wants to be, and how it will reflect on us as a couple. Having grown up in an Army family, I am excited to follow his dreams and represent the country in a branch I know very little about. Of course, this all begs the question for me of what I will do when we move. I love kids, but I cannot imagine having a family this early in our lives. If I can make the most of these changes that are coming about at St. George's, then maybe I will have a good foothold to move up in the business end of something really inspiring in the non-profit sector. I have no problems with the business world in general, but I am learning more and more that I have a heart to help people who need an extra hand, and I think I am certainly capable of providing what they need to thrive.

What inspires me?

• The earth, and talking/encouraging others/learning about small differences everyone can make to make a big impact for ours and future generations.
• Reading books about people living in parts of the world that have managed to retain their cultural values, where people actually eat dinners together, grow their own food, and share in very special family traditions.
• Helping teenagers experience parts of society for the first time - watching the wheels turn, their world grow, and their hearts grow in new ways.
• People who seem unaffected by the pressures and preconceived notions the world has on their lives, what they're supposed to be and do, and what they will be able to contribute to make the world a better place.
• Music. Not from the audience, although that is a special experience. I am most inspired from sitting in the oboe section, creating music from a piece of paper that looks like gibberish to so many people. If you know what it's like to feel touched by a scene in a movie accompanied by great music, then you know only a tiny fraction of what it actually feels like to create music's magic moments and send that emotion moving out into the world.

I am also inspired by living my small life with my husband and our puppy. I have a small impact by working at a church nearby, and I try to take pleasure by living minimally, enjoying the tiny joys of everyday life. My life is nothing to be ashamed of, but I hope I can have the courage to take opportunities to do bigger things.

Okay, enough with this philosophical nonsense!

What happens now?

Well, I learned yesterday that my fabulous boss is leaving for another job. This is a little sad because we will all miss her, but it's the right decision for her to make at this point in her life.

I am going to be interested to see what happens now, because there is no way they will be able to find someone who can effectively do all that she does. It's like being the CEO, CFO, and HR manager for a growing company all at once! And the drama continues....

So now what?

Is this enough?

The only problem I have with Facebook and blogging is that you spend so much time reading other people's amazing stories that you wonder what YOU are doing with your life.

Am I actually changing the world? Because I want to be...

If there were nothing to hold me down, what would I be doing with my life right now?

And how do I get there from here?

All this thinking made reminded me of something I wrote my freshmen year in high school:

Experience is the greatest teacher of all, and some of life's most valuable lessons are learned from it. Over the past year, I have learned that straight-A students can fail, and that failures can change the world. I've learned that from winning you can gain the most amazing feeling of success, but that from making mistakes, you can learn what success really means. I've learned that children are much smarter than the world gives them credit for, but that true intelligence is hard to find. Mostly importantly, however, I've learned that life is about passion, and that achievement is worth a lifetime. Everything is possible. Anything can be achieved. The sky is no longer the limit.

Reality

You know what? I get tired of hearing people talk about these debates and this election. But when they finally got around to health care tonight, I just can't stay quiet anymore. I see people everyday who need health care. We are practically the only industrialized nation that does not have some kind of government program to offer health care to people who would not otherwise have it. I'm talking about the single mothers with children whose 1st job only negates the cost of daycare required for her to be able to go to work in the first place. What about seniors who don't work and don't qualify for medicare or get the amount of help they truly need? Businesses pay an average of $12,000 each year for employees to have health care, and then there are still co-pays, medicines, visits and procedures not covered by insurance, and deductibles to meet. Five thousand extra bucks will only help the people who already have health care. It will not provide adequate health care for the people that cannot get health care otherwise.

I know we send a lot of money to other nations, but can we start investing in the lives of Americans who have been waiting for this country to pay them some attention?

Grrr.

McCain makes me want to scream...

I can't help it...it's true: John McCain makes me want to scream. I don't think he's a bad person, and I don't think he has bad intentions, but we are 1 hour and 3 minutes into the first debate of this electoral season, and he has barely talked anything but the war in Iraq. Okay, there was an oil reference here and there, and some discussion about spending (with no specific examples or references about anything but the military).

Let me clarify by saying that I grew up in an Army family, and I loved it! I loved the pride of being a part of something bigger, and I almost cried the day I turned 21 and my military ID became invalid. But there is so much more to this country than involvement in military conflicts. And McCain doesn't genuinely demonstrate that he cares about us "little people" down here waiting on each pay check.

My favorite John McCain quote of the night: "If you have to do things, you have to do things." Sounds like someone learned his speech-giving skills from Bush.

I also enjoyed the part where he said he would hate to see health care in the government's hands because those decisions should be made between family members and their doctor. As if the role of the government would ever be to decide for you what health care you would receive. The government would only be making it possible to pay for certain health benefits for everyone, not mandate that you wouldn't be allowed to pursue treatments beyond what would already be supported with your health care.

This is terrible for my stress level...and this debate is a terrific example of why the rest of the world thinks we're all a bunch of idiots!

Food for Thought

Quick facts about the food Americans eat:

• A generation ago, three-quarters of the meals consumed in the U.S. were made at home. Today, three-quarters of meals are prepared outside the home, mainly at fast food restaurants. A fast-food kitchen is merely the final state in a vast system of mass production.
• Many of you have already consumed genetically modified (GM) foods. Between 50 million to 70 million acres of farmland are currently sown with GM seeds- mostly soya, corn, cotton, potatoes, tomatoes, and wheat. Four years ago, the acreage was zero. The FDA does not require food labels on GM foods.
• According to the Pesticide Action Network, more than 20,000 pesticides are registered for use in the U.S. About 75% of the chemicals (some 2.2 billion pounds annually) are used on more than 900,000 U.S. farms at an annual cost of $8.3 billion.
• News reports recently noted our exposure to man-made chemicals through our food is suspected of being a major factor in the increase risk to cancer, nervous system disorders and endocrine system disorders.
• Groundwater contamination caused by pesticides has spread pollutants to our world’s rivers, lakes, and oceans- often killing wildlife and aquatic plants.
• Some experts believe that certain agricultural chemicals can be toxic to fetuses.
• 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides, and 30% of all insecticides are considered carcinogenic by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• In 1987, the National Academy of Sciences reported that an estimated 20,000 cases of cancer a year can be linked to U.S. pesticide use.

For more information, visit The Turnip Truck.

Puppy!

So even though I am not in school anymore, I suddenly am involved in all kinds of things all at the same time! I finally have a regular sub spot in the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, and we are playing a concert at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Oct. 4th (It's free!). I am pretending like I remember anything about playing the violin by playing in a bluegrass band at St. George's. (They don't know how terrible I sound!)

And there's the youth group at West End UMC, which is tons of fun, and our new addition to the family: Lucy, who is a 13 week-old Schnauzer. Schnauzer is code for "big, ferocious dog in a tiny, adorable puppy's body."

Chris and I are pretty much entertained all the time by Lucy and her antics. She's always trying to get extra treats by doing tricks at random times. She also likes to bring treasures home in her mouth when we go on walks...things like: clumps of grass clippings, pine cones, sticks that are at least 3 times her size, and any piece of trash that is totally inappropriate for her to eat. She's fabulous! Everyone should have a puppy!

The Big Move!

Wow, so I have successfully spent most of the morning at work today trying to figure out the following:
a) did not get an apt for the month we'd hoped for
b) have the possibility of having an apt immediately!
c) Made an appointment for this afternoon to see said apartment
d) Figured out potential travel arrangements for Chris if he gets a job he cannot walk to when we move
e) Emailed our current landlord

Whew! Too much craziness. And too much coffee!
But I think this will all probably work out fine. And we can have our moving/packing party soon! I heart packing...

Now it's time to actually accomplish some kind of work-related tasks!

Reinventing the Blog...

So I am a huge slacker.

After three years, I am finally beginning to foster an addition to Facebook, and I think this is a great time to see if I really want to keep up with this blog or not... ::grumble::

I am having a a really slow week at work! After a fun, energizing, and humbling trip in Atlanta, I would rather be walking 10 miles a day in the summer heat than sitting in this chair at work. Luckily, I have decided to re-evaluate the way we help out people in need at work, so all that experience is going straight into this project. Now, if only we had more money to help more people....