On My Mind....

It's amazing how slow June was and yet July and August have decided to make up for it. With everything going on, I've been trying my hardest to be better organized and have returned to the use of the TO DO list, steadily checking items off my list.

However amongst the to-dos, there's a lot on the mind too, even if frequently it all goes hand-in-hand :)

Reading

My first book club novel arrived on Wednesday (The Help). I'm really looking forward to reading through it and for the comraderie that I hope will develop amongst our members. First meeting is in a few weeks!

However before I start on The Help, I wanted to finish the main book that I have been reading. I recently borrowed a book from my gal, N, who is also an avid reader. You all know that I'm really into personal narratives and non-fiction, but this go round I was in the mood for something a little different. Yesterday I blew through the rest of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, and I LOVED IT. It was an incredibly easy read, covered family and mother-daughter issues which are right up my alley of things I like to read about, and taught me something new via it's historical fiction context (Russia: Stalin era).  Plus the author is from the PNW--love supporting all things local. ;)

There were a couple of passages that completely resonated with me:

"....They would always be a family, but if she'd learned anything in the past few weeks it was that a family wasn't a static thing. There were always changes going on. Like with continents, sometimes the changes were invisible and underground,  and sometimes they were explosive and deadly. The trick was to keep your balance. You couldn't control the direction of your family any more than you could stop the continental shelf from breaking apart. All you could do was hold on for the ride." (pg 329)

"...And maybe that was how it was supposed to be, how life unfolded when you lived it long enough. Joy and sadness were part of the package; the trick, perhaps, was to let yourself feel all of it, but to hold on to the joy just a little more tightly because you never knew when a strong heart could just give out...." (pg 383)

Family Shenanigans

And a good portion of the quotes probably resonated with me, because in my head I feel like I'm still trying to sort out my transition back into my immediate, extended, and husband's family. After being away for two years, it's definitely a change to figure out how those relationships should look now, and how to integrate my husband to best meet his needs AND the needs of my family members. Additionally, there have been some changes in some family relationships, near and far over the last six months, and I feel like the first quote is a good bit of advice for me (and maybe for some of them too) on some of those changes.

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a loving and positive family--one that is truly based on acceptance and unconditional love. In the last two weeks I definitely have spent more time with family members as I got together with two cousins, dropped off garden goodies to my aunt and a cousin, and my brother took me to a Portland Timbers game against my other national love: Argentina. ;)

This weekend we will all come together for the celebration of Granny's 100th birthday, starting with a smaller family BBQ this evening for those of us in Portland and ending with back-to-back bashes on Sunday. My husband and I will provide airport transportation and a place to sleep for my eldest brother's quick 24 hour trip. I'm glad to provide for family... but I have to admit to some apprehension based on a strained relationship between my brother and I this year. However, I know it will be great to have each member of the immediate and extended family here to celebrate the life, lessons, love, and optimism of our granny!

Socialization

They're coming in droves from out-of-state! On Wednesday we'll pick up our friends from Chicago and show them as much of Oregon as we can in a week. We're definitely excited for them to come, and based on their personalities, we know they're absolutely going to love Portland and the PNW! Plus hub will get the added benefit of being able to take them to our home town and hang out with some of his high school buddies. One of my favorite gals from my MPH program will be visiting from California next weekend, so I'm looking forward to getting together with her over breakfast next Thursday. A high school friend of mine who also lives in Cali will be in our hometown mid-month, so I'm going to need to figure out how to schedule in a trip down south to catch up with her and meet her guy. ;) (On the plus side, we'll get to hang out with one of our other favorite high school gals and I'll get to see Mom & Dad too!) I'm heading on Tuesday to see one of my gals who recently had a beautiful baby girl, and I'm seriously bubbling up with excitement about the possibilities of this book club! From what I can tell most the other gals seem pretty stoked too. Add onto that the Bridal Shower I'm throwing for my gal N and it's going to be a pretty socially full next few weeks.

Social Justice---Donations

The Horn of Africa continues to be on my heart and mind. Mercy Corps, who rarely sends me a "tin cup," continues to send updates. The most recent stated the following: "Families in Wajir County are among more than 2.4 million people in Kenya in need of food, water and other critical aid, according to the UN. Our team reports hungry women and children are streaming into towns around northeastern Kenya. Many husbands and fathers continue to search for water and forage to keep their precious herds alive. Up to 80 percent of livestock in the region have already perished." If you look at the updates and pictures on UNICEF, Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, or any of the INGOs, the information is heart-breaking.....

While I am seeing this occasionally show up on the major news stations and papers, it seems so sad that it is not more publicized. It takes so little to make a large difference for others that suffer around the world---a skipped outing to Starbucks, one less microbrew, or bypassing that great deal that one finds at Target but doesn't really need. I know many of us are tight for cash these days, but I still see how well are basic needs are met and how little we fight for basic survival. I know there are mixed feelings out there, but I can't help but ask that if you find it in your heart, you might be willing to give, no matter how little the amount.

 

"But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."--Luke 12:48

 

Working Hard for the Money

Term continues--trying hard to prep now for the next two weeks so I don't have to worry too much about the course while we have friends in town. Same with the training I'm in, trying to cram as much in before they get here---but truthfully it's almost over anyway. A few more activities to do and then I believe it'll be concluded. :) September will mainly be planning for my fall courses, especially the ones that will be new.

 

Ironically, while we're on the topic of employment......I've been missing working with soldiers since our return and have found that frequently my veteran students have really enjoyed working with me, since I have a greater understanding of their military lives, mentality, and potential issues than the average civilian instructor/worker. I've been telling hub and a few friends for the last two months that I wonder how I could work with veterans without going back to school to complete my MSW (tried that, didn't finish, and the way I'm feeling I may be completely done with school....). The irony is due to the fact that this week an internal hire position just got sent out via email for a part-time Veterans Resource Center Specialist at my campus....hmmm. I'm not 100% qualified and I have apprehensions (ie would vets prefer working with me vs an actual vet in the position, its a completely new program/center/etc meaning that year 1 would be a LOT of work), but I also feel that I could be a great fit and bring lots of skills to the program. I do plan to apply but I'm not entirely holding my breath either.... ;)

 

The Garden

We've been passing out lettuce and rhubarb like it's nobody's busy, and additional irony arrived yesterday with another full head of lettuce arriving in my Organics to You box. We also just entered into zucchini season---there are already 5 in our produce drawer and this is the first week of harvesting! ;) Marionberries are putting out about two bowls a week right now and the green beans and snap peas are coming on. Tomatoes are going to go nuts in a few weeks and even the pepper plants are starting to show lots of peppers starting. Hub harvested about 15 heads of garlic this week---they're laying on the deck to dry.

 

We're finally having a few more days of sunshine--helping to promote garden growth and put a smile on this face, and today we started an introductory conversation about creating covers for the raised beds for winter gardening ;)

 

SOOOOOO---lots to do, lots on the mind, but its nice to be busy and purposeful. Hope each of you is doing well!

 

PS I've seen COCONUT cream pie show up TWICE this week.

Here and here. Definitely might have to beg hub to give one a try!

Disturbed.

Tonight I'm thinking about one of the topics that I hate reflecting upon. By now I should know not to watch certain things....or read certain things...or listen to certain conversations, but every once in a while I let something slip through without remembering how easily I can be triggered.

Right now hub is watching Dexter---an already disturbing show but one that I can usually half-watch without minding it too much. Earlier this evening however, I walked out of the living room and will continue to be apprehensive at least until he tells me that a certain character on this make-believe show is dead.

Everyone has topics, realities, or fears that leave them unsettled, pacing the halls, or awake at night, and one of mine happens to be related to child abuse. Manipulation, mental, physical, emotional, or sexual---doesn't matter what type of abuse it happens to be, it's one that so easily makes me uncomfortable and disturbed.

Six or seven years ago I worked at Child Welfare. Even though I was on the happy end on the spectrum (permanency and adoption), I still read and reviewed the case histories of the kids on my caseload and on the caseloads of my coworkers. If you want something to keep you up at night--just read the intimate details of what some parents do to their children behind doors. The two months that I carried a heart-wrenching incest case disturbed my sleep and dreams for another six months. I could tell you stories about incest, biting newborns as punishment, adolescents who were chained to their beds, and kids that were starved and crawling in feces---I could go on, but I won't. And folks, in case you didn't know, these parents really can be the ones sitting right next to you in the grocery line, church aisle, or next office cubicle over. In fact, they are just as likely to be those individuals as the ones we may want to stereotypically envision.  Add onto my 10 month stint at Child Welfare, another summer spent as a substitute teacher in a behavioral day treatment setting for kids and I'm sure you can understand why these issues pull so truly on my heart strings and why I'm hyper-vigilant when it comes to parent-child(ren) interactions.

While everyone else sang praise to the movie Slumdog Millionaire, I was left disturbed by the atrocities suffered by those children in poverty. Same thing happened when we watched The Kite Runner, except the part that kept me up that night was the rape of the boy(s). Last week I read a news headline announcing the finding of a 14 year old boy who had been starved by his parents so much that he was under 70 pounds. Tonight, I caught five minutes of a psycho husband who broke his son's finger as punishment and locked his daughter in her room (plus the fact that she was sexualized which can frequently be an indicator of sex abuse....), and yet he was a pillar of his church and a well-regarded community member. While some of these stories and plots may be written for entertainment and be based on non-truths, these same types of stories do occur in real life...many times over for many hundreds of thousands of children across the globe each and every day.

...and if that isn't something to keep you up at night, I don't know what is. I'm sure in a few hours I will be happily sleeping and tomorrow will be a new day of new thoughts and realities, but unfortunately for many who sleep in this world it is not restful and tomorrow may be just as bleak as was today. So to each and every one of them, I pray for the end of suffering, the relief from pain, the ability to forgive or forget, and for the arrival of so many moments of absolute and pure joy.....

The Hospital By the River

(For some reason, I can't get the picture to rotate correctly)

Two months in the making and I finally sat down to finish this amazing story this afternoon. This is the story that made me think about going back to school, this is the story that melted my heart, this is the story that left me thinking again beyond our nation's borders, this is a story that I hope you too will take the time to enjoy and be moved by.

Taken from the back of the book (British spellings in context and possibly written by John Little):
"Gynaecologists Catherine and Reg Hamlin left Australia in 1959 on a short contract to establish a midwifery school in Ethiopia. Over 40 years later, Catherine is still there, running one of the most outstanding medical programmes in the world. Thousands of women have been able to resume a normal existence after living as outcasts.

The Hamlins, both active Christians, dedicated their lives to women suffering catastrophic effects of obstructed labour. The awful injuries that such labour produces are called fistulae, and until the Hamlins began their work in Ethiopia, fistula sufferers were neglected and forgotten--a vast group of women facing a lifetime of incapacity and degradation.

Catherine and Reg, with their team of dedicated surgeons, have successfully operated on over 25,000 women, and the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, the hospital they opened in 1974, has become a major teaching institution for gynaecologists from all over Ethiopia and the developing world. Since Reg's death, Catherine and her team have continued the work...."

Catherine and Reg were two incredibly self-less individuals who devoted their lives to women living in Ethiopia. These women frequently were married off and producing babies by 15 years of age, before their bodies were entirely developed for childbirth. These women who frequently live in rural areas without access to medical facilities nor professionals, who birth alone or with a few family members in dirt-floored huts, and who frequently face days of difficult labor. The women who do develop vaginal area fistulas (leading to incontinence) are frequently abandoned by husbands and family, moved into huts on the edges of town, and left to suffer and survive in isolation.

The book is an incredibly easy read, and while it includes Christian views which may dissuade a few of you, the reality that these women experience is one that I feel all of us should be exposed to and do what we can to help, while the story of Reg & Catherine's amazing outreach and repair work will warm your heart. You may also find additional information (and donate to the cause) via the Fistula Foundation.

It's Been an Interesting Day

You know the day might be starting out sort of strange when you wake up to a text message informing you that one of your former clients is on trial for murder  of an innocent individual.....and as much as I know that there is no excuse for murder, somehow my heart breaks for both the victim and the perpetrator. As I read some of the details of what had become of this client throughout the last few months upon her transition back to her home state, I couldn't help but become saddened especially when I remember how hopeful she'd been about her future....

Further news headings only left me more saddened by what's going on in the world as I read about the continued devastation in Japan, especially with the impeding snow in some areas, the continued lack of water, and now the horribleness of melt downs and explosions with the nuclear reactors.

In a family conversation this last weekend, my sister shared how someone pointed out during her recent trip to Africa that truly we in the USA are all rich compared to most Africans....this is something that the hub and I discussed further throughout this last week.....

Thus the events brought to my attention at the start of today only left me further thinking about how much so many of us have and how much so many of us take for granted....and it's left me wanting to complain and worry less....and to attempt to appreciate that which we do have even more....

--So today I enjoyed picking up and vacuuming my home, because at least I have a wonderful new rental to call home....
--I enjoyed an afternoon visit with my cousin and got in touch with several others who I need and want to see now that we've pretty well settled.....and felt fortunate for the individuals who I have in my life already....
--I picked up part of the backyard and started to think about the garden...and I didn't even mind the moments when the rain came down on me.....because at least I know that my rain is clean (for the most part) and that I am so fortunate to have this yard for my dogs to roam and the space to plant and garden....
--I enjoyed running an errand with the hub, I put in a call to my Granny, and I felt overjoyed when the cat that we thought had gone missing....hopped over the fence and into our home.....as I know that my routine is something that is so frequently taken for granted....

So while the morning may have started out somewhat depressing, sometimes those moments are the ones we need to kick us in the butt in appreciation of what we have, to do more to help others that we can assist, and to pray even harder for all those situations of which we have absolutely no power over....

May each of you appreciate the gifts of your todays, extend a hand to those that you can, and send some positive energy or a prayer toward a better society and world should your heart so desire......here's to you and yours!

Christmas Thoughts

Finally moments of Christmas day, following my old solo tradition....a final quiet hour tucked into the couch pondering upon the glow of the Christmas tree, the blessings of life, and the desire to lift the want and need of so many of those who are walking upon this earth....

No matter how joyful the season due to the birth of a most magnificent gift, I'm always left pondering on the messages that he came to this earth to teach us--that of loving and providing and caring so deeply and profusely for the brothers and sisters who walk this earth with us.

A rather relaxing day begun with traditional coffee and sticky buns and a few opening of presents (mainly socks under our tree!), conversation, cooking, a meal with friends, and the evening wrapped up together with a viewing of my old holiday favorite A Christmas Carol....

This particular year we watched the 1984 version and for the first time the scene where Scrooge is exposed to the ghoul-like children Ignorance and Want struck a cord. Why I never quite got all the symbolism this movie provides I'll never know....but this year it made sense just why this particular movie reaches straight down into my core. Ignorance and Want which can be the ruin of the best of men and which encourages many and most of us toward indifference to others in this world. Ignorance and Want which lead us to make poor choices. Ignorance and Want which lead us to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to our fellows.

So frequently I get caught up in the ease of Ignorance and Want, but how much I do not want to be within its grasps...

And so this holiday season--frequently full of materialism---I am grateful for the simple blessings that surround. The large items: Family, friends, work, passion, health, love and on down to the small: lights a' twinklin', fuzzy blankets, warm socks, dog sighs. I am reminded that to those whom much has been given, so easy it should be too give and from whom much can be expected.

And to each of us regardless of our stead in life, well Tiny Tim summed it up best when he said, "God bless us, EVERYONE!"

So in this holiday season and as our Christmas comes to a close, let's head into a new year thankful for all that we do have, expressive to those who have done much for us, and open and willing to give to those who could benefit from our abilities and gifts. May each of you be passing through your own version of a beautiful, silent night headed toward a most blessed and fortunate year ahead.

What I'm For SA---Part 2

Sometimes there is a thin line between being authentic, being empathetic, and being PC.

So just what am I for, all things considered, I thought to myself as I drove home from work yesterday with a lil Pat Green blaring from the CD the hub made for us.

I, Simply Authentic, take great heart and mean no offense to the emotions and life situations of others when I say that I am for the following:

I'm for dancing barefoot in the kitchen with the dogs up on their feet,
Environmental regulation and global outlooks,
I'm for smart population growth and increased adoption up front,
For committed marriages and rights of domestic partnerships.

I'm for turning out the lights when you're no longer in the room,
Tailored educational programs and renewed job training focus,
I'm for strong family values and increased parental involvement,
Organic, home cooked meals on a shared table each night.

I'm for equal access to basic life needs,
Health care as a human right,
I'm for increased physical activity,
Pets as an extension of your heart.

I'm for decreasing toxic exposures and increasing public knowledge,
For getting kids outside and technological reduction,
I'm for respecting our soldiers even if we don't agree with the fight,
Empathy for the little man on the wrong end of the corporate "right."

I'm for multilingual abilities,
Acceptance of cultural differences and global travel,
I'm for appreciation of Mother Nature,
The unconditional love message of Jesus Christ.

I'm for respecting elders and active family participation,
Fine arts appreciation and human evolution,
I'm for taking time to smell the roses,
Reintegration of gardening and preservation traditions.

I'm for paying off my debts both emotional and financially,
For free higher education and increased professional maturity,
I'm for reduced work week hours,
For increased financial giving and volunteer productivity.

I'm for reduced overall consumption and for increased mpg,
For needed alternative fuel and energy sources,
I'm for natural personal care products and integrative health care options,
For leave for adoption, maternity, and paternity cases.

I'm for natural child care choices and for free contraception,
For hunting, fishing, and vegetarianism,
I'm for family farms and CSAs,
For lifetime friends and smiling at strangers.

I'm for secured privacy rights and confidentiality,
For storing up treasures in Heaven rather than on Earth,
I'm for supporting small town football,
Enjoyment of bonfires and beer on the beach at night.

I'm for total recycling and cradle-to-cradle production,
For GMO regulation and local economic development,
I'm for art and personal creativity,
For furry friends and bird songs in the morning.

I'm for exercise causing sweat to pour from pores,
Delicious organic, free trade coffee brewing into my cup,
I'm for reducing plastic usage,
Design and construction sustainability.

I'm for giving the homeless scarves and apples,
Care for veterans and non-mandated drug treatment programs,
I'm for people first, government second, corporation last,
And for changing my mind based on the circumstances.... 

Have You Seen the Face of Domestic Violence?

You may have been expecting another home post, but I wanted to share something else that is special to my heart and mind right now. Last week it came to my attention that a female I once attended school with had been stabbed to death in her shared home by her boyfriend. This particular individual was someone I didn't interact with much as a kid, but the reality of her death still disturbed me. She was a strong female (captain of a city rugby league), with a smile for the world, and the type of individual who does not fit what many would picture as a woman suffering from domestic violence.

I've never been one with the right words to discuss domestic violence and its one area of social work I've always known I could never effectively work in. Thus I turned to one of my dearest friends and asked if she would so kindly write a guest piece for me. Not only is Nancy an amazing friend but she has fairly self-lessly and passionately worked in the field of domestic violence for almost six years. Graciously she wrote the following and wrote it as if she was speaking to a fellow friend:

A definition of domestic violence is probably a good place to start. I'm often surprised by what imagery the term conjures for different folks. Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that can include physical, psychological, sexual, economic, and emotional abuse, perpetrated by one person against an intimate partner with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control (Oregon Coalition Against Domestic Violence).

Before going further I feel I need to make the obligatory statements, you may have heard it before, but if I don't do it, people will accuse me of being sexist and/or a man hater... Domestic violence happens to men and women (although 85% of the time violence in perpetrated by men against women and because of this I may use the word she for a survivor and he for an abuser). I call them survivors because in or out of an abusive relationship they are definitely surviving. Abuse occurs across all racial, ethnic, socio-economic, age, and religious groups. However, as a service provider we usually see the most economically disadvantaged folks, because they do not have the same kinds of resources to achieve safety.

Domestic violence comes in many shapes and forms, though through the lens of pop culture and the sensationalization of the news media, many think of it in terms of physical violence only. The Duluth Model Power & Control Wheel does a really good job of illustrating what abuse can look like. Abuse usually starts out small and can seem insignificant. Sometimes the jealousy a partner uses as an excuse for their behavior can even flatter us and make us feel protected or cared for, but abuse often escalates over time in both frequency and severity.

The question people most often ask is "why doesn't she leave?" While I'll attempt to do this question justice, my caveat is that it is not the victims responsibility to end the abuse, but it is the responibility of the perpetrator. The answer to the question however is complex. Leaving is the single most dangerous time for a survivor. In Oregon we have had what seems like an outbreak of homicides connected to domestic violence. In most of those cases, the victims (victims, when they are no longer surviving) had left or attempted to leave the relationship. Given the danger, it is amazing how many survivors do leave. When someone leaves an abusive relationship they don't just leave their partner, they often have to cut ties with friends, family, and communities in order to attain safety. Leaving an abusive relationship prompts many difficult decisions. Survivors must attain housing, employment, childcare, transportation, and it all must be done away from the abusers network and community in order to try and maintain safety. Survivors face incredible barriers when leaving, including the complexity and sacrifice of making a new life, and the difficulty in actually achieving safety.


There are many "red flags" or "warning signs" of an abusive relationship. Although the presence of one sign does not necessarily indicate an abuser, the more signs there are the more likely a person is an abuser and some of the warning signs are abuse in and of themselves:
1. Jealousy
2. Controlling behavior
3. Push for quick involvement or committment to the relationship
4. Unrealistic expectations
5. Isolation
6. Past battering
7. Blames others for problems
8. Rigid gender roles
9. Cruelty to animals or children
10. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality
11. Verbal abuse
12. Threats of violence
13. Breaking or striking objects
14. Force in sex
15. Any force during an argument
16. Stalking behavior

If you have questions or concerns about your partners' behavior and want to talk to someone, you should feel free to contact your local hotline. Don't know your local hotline number? You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. They can connect you to local programs and have translators available.

Finally, a lot of people feel at a loss when someone they care about finds themselves in an abusive relationship. If you know someone who is being abused the best thing you can do is to believe them. Don't minimize or try to explain away abusive behavior, as chances are the person is already doing that and it will only reinforce the idea that s/he is somehow responsible for the violence. Let them know you are concerned for their safety and tell them it is not their fault. Many survivors turn to family and friends before they reach out to agencies, so ask what you can do to support them and respect their decisions. They know their partner and situation best, and are the best judge of what will be safe for them. If they do decide to leave, continue to offer whatever support you can. It may mean accompanying them as they seek out assistance from the legal system, seek financial assistance from a state agency, or reach out to a domestic violence agency.
 
MANY THANKS TO NANCY! Domestic violence is such a sad and sensitive topic, and she covered it much better and professionally than I would have been able to do. Please if you know of someone in an abusive relationship, offer to help them in any way you can and let's continue to combat the stigmas and stereotypes that exist in the world.

Food, food, glorious food

Okay, so I've pretty much been bristling with excitement like a kid on Christmas. Not only have I been prancing around through leaves on my walk downtown today, but I was at the front door to retrieve my delivery this afternoon before the van had even left the curb. Today was my first Organics to You delivery and now my little side of the fridge is packed! So exciting!

This what the delivery box actually looked like:


It contained:
2 little acorn squash, 2 big onions, 4 red potatoes, 6 apples, a bunch of carrots, a head of cabbage, a bag of grapes, 2 large tomatoes, 1 red pepper, 3 pears, 2 large cucumbers, a bunch of leeks, and a bunch of green leafy things that I have no clue what they are (I'm sure my housemate will though). I am currently signed up for a once a month delivery, as it will take me about that long to get through all of that probably. I still had a bunch of veggies left from the past month, and my side of the freezer still has plenty of items in it as well.
Add to that the leeks, spinach, arugula, collards, beets, and other greens my housemate has growing in the back yard, and I think I'm pretty well set. Mainly all I have to buy from the store is bread (which truthfully I know I could make my own) and soy milk. Very nice.

All of this comes as I've been reading this week about population growth, food, and hunger throughout the world.....Such a sad topic, as enough food exists to feed everyone on the planet--it just doesn't get distributed fairly. I never knew that many low-income countries actually produce a large quantity of food, but they depend upon the money they can make from exporting it. Can you imagine? Growing food, watching your children and fellow citizens be hungry, and yet because of the world market, needing to sell that food in order to feed your children substandard fare....
Makes me desire all the more to eat even more local, although I'm sure there is much more to the story than I know....

The Beginning

I suppose I could say that this whole part of my life started six months ago, but then I know that wouldn't be quite true either. Even as a young child I remember moments of being enthralled with nature and having what one of my undergraduate college professor's called "sacred moments" in which one recognizes and is taken in by the beauty and spirituality of being one with nature. I remember, too, moments of recycling and my environmental science courses while a middle school student in Eugene. At one point, we developed a worm farm and an advanced school recycling program-something I have yet to see replicated in another educational institution. It was during that class that we also went door-to-door in an attempt to educate community members and persuade them into trading in their old shower heads for water-reduction shower heads. What a change it was then to move from liberal Eugene to a more conserative community on the coast, where "tree hugger" and "recycling" were thought to be bad words. Thus began a period of attempting to keep my liberal ideals to myself and trying my hardest to be a closet environmentalist, although I don't know how well I actually did at trying to disguise all of my ideals.

Now a bit older, I have begun again to demonstrate and advocate for issues such as social justice, sustainability, health, education, and spirituality. However the most profound of my individual changes began approximately six months ago, and slowly I am trying to incorporate more avenues into my life in which to make my individual foot print smaller from a consumer impact. What was this change you might ask? Well those that know me well already know that it initially stemmed from watching the movie Blood Diamond. Now how could Blood Diamond completely alter someone's life you might ask? Well let me tell you! It was through that movie that I again was faced with how lucky I have it living in the United States, where (although I may complain about choices of those who govern us) I am generally free and can live without the fears that face so many of those who share this planet with us. I have shelter, clothing, transporation, food, employment, and I also realized how MUCH of all of that I had. How could I have SO much when others had so little? That began to be the question that wormed through my mind and has remained settled on it throughout the past months. Directly following that movie, my mother and I went through our linen and coat closets and donated a trunk load of items to the local gospel mission. And from that time on, I have embarked on a mission to lessen my load and to try to live a life that is more friendly toward others and the planet.

To me, all of these subjects correspond with one another. When we are acting in a way that is best for the Earth then we are looking out for the welfare of all who inhabit it. When we are looking out for the welfare of others, then we are encouraging the health and vitality of those that inhabit the Earth. When we remember that the Earth is a gift and embrace it, we are again embracing our spiritual connection to each other and to God. All of these concepts, as well as all of these life changes can positively alter all areas of our lives.

You will find attached to my blog several links to other blogs from individuals that are reducing their impact upon the Earth, as well as links to other resources. Among the blog community, there are many who making huge changes (such as trying to reduce their carbon footprint by 90%) and others that are making small changes on a gradual continum to decrease the negative impact we as humans can leave on the planet. Wouldn't it be great if we only left our positive impacts on the world?

Through writing here, I am not trying to impose my beliefs on others-only to create awareness. I do truly hope that every person is engaged in some aspect and care of improving our relationship to each other, to our environment, and to our spirituality. Our recent Sunday sermon inspired me through it's call to "live distinctly" thus through my blog I hope to increase awareness of issues, share a variety of "Elizabeth" thoughts, and to hold myself accountable to live in a "simply authentic" nature.

May you all have a wonderful rest of the week!