Tonight @Gloria we sponsored our second child from Compassion International.

Before we left the house tonight the spouselet and I talked about it.  We.were.not. sponsoring a third child until the commitment that he (the spouselet) had with another organization expired or our other compassion kid graduated the program.

But then Shaun started talking.  I have a spot in my heart for starving children in third world countries.  I also have an awesome spouse who recognizes my passion and said “raise your hand” so, I did and we got Mario’s packet.  My grandmother, my mother, my niece and my sister (for her son) also picked up kids to sponsor.

I am so proud of my family this evening.

Now, I can put Mario’s picture right next to the 15 yr old and Vladimir who is also 15 (just 5 days older than my own kid).

Tonight, the spouselet and I went to see Gloria at CBC. I bought tickets as soon as I heard that Shaun Groves was going to be there because he is one of my favorite online people. I started following him back when Compassion went to Uganda…I am not even sure how I ran across him and Carlos and Heather but I did and since that time, my entire world view has changed.

So, I had to go…
And when I got there the spouselet talked me into doing the meet and greet. I only got those tickets because I wanted a good seat. See, I have a bit of the ADD and if I am not down front, my mind tends to wander and I totally miss important stuff. But the spouselet wanted to see what the whole meet and greet thing was about because he had never done one either…

So we walk through the hall and around the corner and there is Shaun Groves AND Travis Cottrell and I stick out my hand and say “Hello Shaun, My name is Molly and we are friends on facebook”.

Oh, yes I did.
Someone should have just shot me.
There is a reason I don’t do meet and greets!

And the spouselet, the one who wasn’t even sure he wanted to GO with me says “I don’t really know you guys, but I wanted to thank you for what you are about to do.”

Yeah, mister NEVER open his flippin’ trap is smoooooth and I, I am the idiot.

So, mortified, I ran away and bought his latest CD.  It is the least I could do.

And then we ran into my sister, my niece, my mother and my grandmother as well as one of my sisters friends, we almost took up an entire row.

So, the show starts and we are loving it. Really, if you ever get the opportunity to go to Gloria (like next year) it is a great thing. At intermission I went back to the CD table to get the Gloria CD, but they only sold them in packs with the other CD’s…

So, I got those too…and gave my niece the Shaun Groves one because she said that Miley Cyrus LOVES Shaun Groves.

Oh and I also got…..

and….

But more about him later.

My son has a favorite teacher.  His 3rd and 4th grade teacher, Miss P.  Actually, my whole family loves this woman.  She makes such an impact in his life.

STILL.

She is one of those teachers that makes teaching great.
She chose to leave an “easy” job in one of the wealthiest areas of our state to teach in the inner city.  Where every kid needs her, every day.

The begining of the summer the 14 yr old and I had lunch with her and she told us about her kids.  She told us how 5th grade graduation is celebrated like the prom.  These kids go all out, snazzy dresses and 3 piece suits.

Why? I asked.
Because, their parents know most of them won’t see another graduation.  5th grade.
FIFTH GRADE.
They will have babies, they will go to jail, they will join a gang and just drop out.

She told us that the school security guard won’t chase people off the property who break into the dumpster, it is that dangerous.
Yet, she is down there, every day.
She has had security escorts to her car because she made one of the parents angry.
She has had threats, more than once.
Yet, she is down there, every day.
She also is one of the most loved and most requested teachers in that school.
She is one of those teachers that makes teaching great.

So, we are having lunch and she was telling us stories about these kids and my heart was breaking.
And my 14 yr old, he wants to do something about it.
He wants to help.
So, help, he did.

Before school started he (and I) took a trunk load of school supplies to her classroom.
Here is the email I got after the first day of school (names have been changed)

OH MY….I know that I can’t even put into words what a difference you made at school today!!!
Unbelievable…But I have to try and share…

Scenerio:
Most kids are walking into their new classroom with backpacks, supplies, chatter etc. “Where’s my desk? Where do I put my things?…Where are my friends?”

In walks T…’Mean-muggin” all the way. His face is angry…his arms are folded…he won’t speak and slouches into his chair. “I hate being here…I hate this…I hate life in general…I hate you.” That’s the body language says….and I’m reading the same thing on a quite a few of my new ‘crew’.

Of course, one of the first things we do is find out how to ‘organize’ and put our supplies in the right places. Make our space our own…T is hating all of this. He has a folder he borrowed from someone and a notebook on top of his desk…just so it doesn’t look like he has nothing…nothing…

Mean-muggin’ bad time…shooting daggers to kill…

I continue, as you know I do so well….but I introduce our “New” Supply Store!! I continue to tell them that I know they have supplies on the way, but I want to make sure everyone has everything they need on the FIRST day…so…(my hope-to-be brilliant idea) we have an IOU system at our store…

Pause — the IOU system…I tell them that I don’t give things away for free (which is what many of them expect). I told them that they may borrow from the store and earn the right to own. However, earning isn’t in $$$ value. They checked out at the store with their name and what they were ‘borrowing’ and I would let them know the plan to ‘own’. — This is a great incentive throughout the first month(s)…responsible behavior, errands, kindness, ’special’ jobs, playing with someone that they don’t know…etc. Each time I see these positive behaviors they privately ‘earn’ one of their supplies.

If they do bring in supplies throughout the week(s) they may trade or donate to the “store”.

Back to T…this boy’s attitude made a 180 degree change in 30 min. All of the sudden, he was happy — talking to kids in his table group (team)…and loving his first day at school. Writing labels and his name on folders, notebooks, brand new school supplies. He was no longer….different, unprepared and ‘without’….

16….yes 16 of my 28 students shopped at the “supply store” today. That’s 16 lives impacted today.
My eyes are teary just remembering.

I am still an ‘academic’/grade teacher, but I have ,over the years ,begun to think of myself as a teacher of not only content — but resilience. There are so many aspects of these kids’ lives they can’t control….and I have to teach them to not use their environment as an excuse — but use strategies to become resilient and overcome their circumstances with choices they CAN control. This is my mission — and often times, battle.

Something as simple as the “Supply Store” (although I know you had to sacrifice to donate $$$ — that was not simple) made such a huge impact in my students’ lives toward building resiliency. The first step on the First day — be comfortable in the environment where you will learn and want to learn. Be (and feel) prepared.

I know I may be rambling…I’m just so greatful for what you did. I wish you could have seen their faces…and the ease and stress of ‘not having’ disappear. It was beautiful.

And BTW…T walked by me after he labeled all his supplies (like he was going to the garbage can) and said quietly, “Thank you Miz P…” That’s it, right there —

Please share this story with “the 14 yr old”. I want him to know how his compassion has impacted the lives of many young 4th graders in my school. So far….far away. Maybe make HIM think forward…:-)

I did share that story with my 14 yr old and he wants to do more.  I am so proud of my kid and the compassion he does have.  It makes my heart swell with pride.  I know when I was his age, it never would have occurred to me that something so simple as spending a few dollars on supplies (when they are so cheap before school) could make such a difference in lives.

Next year we are going to try to do more…maybe get enough for her supply closet to expand down the hall-or throughout the school.

I was at Target tonight and I noticed that they still have supplies really cheap and they are starting to put the more expensive items on clearance.  Maybe there is a teacher in your area that could use a few packs of pens, paper and glue-maybe it is in your own school.

Or maybe it is just offering a bit of service to a teacher who has changed your kids life.

The past two times I have gone to Springhurst there has been a woman sitting in the median with a sign that reads

“Even a penny helps.  Pray For Me.”

Heart.
Breaks.

Over the weekend, I read Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America and this month I have been working through the My 30 Days Under the Overpass: Not Your Ordinary Devotional (great books, both of them).  One of the suggestions is to keep a few bottles of water, gift cards to restaurants and chewy granola bars in your car to hand out when you meet someone in need.

The best part of having these items available is that you CAN help someone with out helping any destructive habits they may be dealing with as well.

I have those items in my car.  In my trunk, a lot of good they did me, or the woman at the intersection, if I can’t reach them.  I need a small box in my front seat.  Knowing that the economy is slow to recover and people have been living irresponsibly for years (self included) seeing homeless people on the streets (even in the east end) is going to be more of an issue.

…apparently now gets its own week…

and web site.

Visit Acts of Kindness for some great ideas on impacting others lives…and really, I don’t think they take points off if you extend it to beyond this week.

Seriously.
One week.

Humans are funny.

January 11, 2009.

I know people who would swear that slavery no longer exists.  But it does.  It is all around is.  My twitter friend Lynn Mosher did a blog post on the topic and that lead to one of those web site worm holes where we rarely come out the same on the other side.  Her article mentions several resources, please visit her blog for those.  (no need for me to recreate the wheel).

The Freedom Center in Cincinnati (right up the river) has an article about Slavery Today with examples from our own country-seriously shocking.
In reading, I found instances of sex slave trade in Nashville Tennessee.

NASHVILLE people.

Not For Sale has several ways you can help, actions that take a minute, an hour, a week.  Go see if there is something there you can do to help.

Plan USA my husband sponsored a child from PlanUSA before we even met.  I am comforted to know they are taking steps to prevent slavery as well as feed and educate kids!

Children of the Night is a Calfornia based organization that is helping to eradicate child prostitution from their streets.  They  have several opportunities for volunteers, if you are in California, you might want to check them out.

The Barnabas Institute (from their site) a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that raises awareness about human trafficking and sexual exploitation

Have you seen the new issue of Architectural Digest?
(go look, I will wait-better yet, go out and buy the sucker!)

Brad Pitt is on the cover.  There is a whole spread on what he is doing to help the people of New Orleans get back into homes after Katrina-centering on Make it Right Project.

Now, Mr. Pitt was attractive back in the days of Thelma and Louise.  But the older he gets-well he isn’t getting less attractive by any means.  I am not generally one to swoon over celebrity-because-well I out grew that a few years ago.  I do however get a little giddy over philanthropy.

Paul Newman used his celebrity for good and toward the end of his life was better known for his food and salad dressings than his movies with the younger bunch.  Since the mid 80’s he donated more than $250,000 to various charities…it says it on ALL of his packaging!  (I noticed while snackin’ on some really good ginger hermit cookies).

Oh yes, back to the point of this article…

Back in 2005- I remember seeing Sean Penn riding through the flooded streets in a power boat with his own film crew-recording all of his good deeds.  I remember hearing of other celebrities showing up and donating time and money when all eyes were still on New Orleans.  Most of them have now gone back to higher ground.  Mr. Pitt and Ms. Jolie, however, are still there.  They have a home in the French Quarter and Brad is still there helping people re-build.

People still know the man for his movies because he is one heck of an actor, but he is becoming more known as the days go by for the good he is doing for the people of NoLa.  The houses are designed for living  in a flood prone area and they are environmentally responsible buildings.

So, I can’t wait to read the rest of the issue.  AD used to be one of my favorite publications.  But, from just flipping through it, the article on Mr. Pitt and his affordable housing, is my favorite and it isn’t just because of the pictures either!

I think this year, more than most people are scaling back, buying less and giving more. Or maybe it is just the folks I hang with.

I know in my own family we have agreed to cut back and for that, I am very thankful. It frees resources for us to give to others who have never had shoes, want to be self supporting or are getting an education to change their world.

My cousin is the Student Ministries Pastor @Flat Irons Community Church and his wife is the Children’s Ministry Program Director. I listen to every sermon on i Tunes and occasionally watch on their site. They also have a blog and of course, I read it too. Sometimes I wish that I either lived in Colorado OR there was a community like theirs here. They are doing AWESOME things.

Today’s entry on the blog is exactly how I have felt about the Christmas season for the past several years. Actually, I feel that way MOST of the time, but Christmas especially because our rampant consumerism is so obvious.

Check them out.
They are good people! (and I am only related to two of them.)

In keeping with my Buzzard Status…I thought I would bring one out of the vaults this week.

I remember when this was first on MTV. And looking at it now…wow, they were all so young…I was surprised at how many people I remembered. These artists were my music-loved them all…but really Boy George looked better with all the colored dreds than he did with the orange doo.

Part of me is sad that this is still an issue after almost 25 years….but it also gives me hope that people STILL care. Head on over to Compassion International and see how you can help “feed the world” this Christmas or make a difference in the life of ONE child. (you can also click the link to the right).

Visit Amy for more great music today!

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First thing I do every morning after I get the 13 yr old off to school is check my RSS feeds.

This week, it is obvious that Thanks is going to be the theme and I love it. What I find super interesting is that the professional blogs I read (Real Estate, Technology, etc) are the ones that are REALLY hitting this topic hard.

One of my favorites is from Kathy Drewien, How to Develop an Attitude of Gratitude. She is a Realtor in Atlanta and her blog is always filled with fantastic information. One of my favorite reads. While you are there, you might want to check out the “I feel your pain” video…really funny, even if it DOES hurt.

And then there is Brad Ruggles. I would like to say that he is my twin separated at birth, but he is much younger and it appears (much to my chagrin) much more creative. Check out the letter his family is sending out this year. I LOVE It. I want to steal it, but I am resisting. I will come up with my own, much less cool version.

So, what have you read today that has you all inspired?

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