More Beautiful You
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
[Chorus]
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are
[chorus]
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl
[chorus]
I really like this song. And I just wanted to share it with you all, because it was really encouraging to me when I heard it recently. So now you can all listen! (If you click on the title it will take you to the youtube video so you can actually listen!) Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Observations 2
As I've said before, I love to people watch. Lucky for me, I flew home for spring break and airports are quality people watching places! I apologize if these observations are perhaps more cynical than previous observations, I didn't mean for them to be. Again, I will add a disclaimer: I have no idea what is actually going on in these peoples' lives. I am not a mind reader. Anything said hereafter is purely a figment of my imagination based on the people I see around me.
Not my best seating choice as far as people watching goes.. My first seat would have been better. But I wanted one of the cool comfortable chairs with outlets on the side. Turns out they don't have free wifi, so the outlets really aren't necessary...But the chair is comfortable. I just can't see the whole section of people to properly people watch. I'll make do.
Woman to my 12:00. She's been sitting in one of those wheelchairs they use to push people to their flights since before I got here. And I've been here for quite some time now. She doesn't seem like she's in a rush to get anywhere. Sometimes, I wonder if people actually need the wheelchairs, or if they are just overweight and don't want to walk. Exercise, novel concept isn't it? I get the feeling Woman to my 12:00 falls into the latter group...She's not obese, but she for sure won't be running a marathon any time soon. I don't think she'll be running any where for a while. She keeps shouting into the mouthpiece of her phone. Literally shouting. Excuse me, ma'am? There's a lot of people in the terminal...and you're being quite loud. And by quite...I mean, I think whomever you are talking to just went deaf. I think she's one of those people that just likes to talk about their problems to anyone who has ears. As if the whole world exists merely to listen to her and sympathize with her problems. A word to those people, we don't really want to hear. Sorry! She's been talking the gate attendant's ear off for 20 minutes now. I hate to break it to you, Woman at my 12:00, but the gate attendant's job is not to listen to you tell about your day, she does, in fact, have to help people get on the plane. It's disappointing, I know.
Frazzled woman to my 2:00. Another difficult personality, if I had to guess. She, however, is the one who thinks she is 100x more amazing than she really is. The one who thinks she's a gorgeous young trophy wife with all the right brands on. Unfortunately, Ms. Frazzled, your Gucci bag is a knock-off, and your Reeboks don't quite say "high fashion!" She has this look on her face that says "I have a million places I'd rather be, and a million friends who wish they were with me right now." With all due respect, Ma'am, you're flying to Midway, not LA. And the velvet sweatsuit? Really not doing it for you...
Business Man. 3:00. I think he might be pretending to be a business man. Or maybe he's a not overly successful business man, but would like the world to think he is. Nice black suit (I don't know anything about suits. It could be a cheap black suit...) but the brown shoes underneath the black dress pants are a dead giveaway. Sorry, sir. You tried to cut a dashing figure, but you just didn't quite make it. A tie would have helped. And a Mac. He's trying to look important as he sits with his ancient Dell and one finger resting on his temple. "I'm really very important, and doing incredible important work right now," is what he would like us all to think. I'm on to you, Mr. Fake Businessman. I'm on to you. In reality, he's probably wishing he had gotten here earlier so he could have completed his fake look with one of these fine chairs I find myself sitting in. They he could look the part of a highly successful business man with a very important job to do on this very important business trip. As it is, the brown shoes, lack of tie, ancient Dell and non-comfy chair is just shy of the the mark. Good try though. You almost had me. Now he's on a very important phone call. And he wants to be sure he talks loudly so that everyone can know this call he's on is of utmost importance. I bet it's his wife, telling him to be sure to buy milk on the way home from the airport. Maybe he's not on the phone at all. I'd believe it if he were faking a call...
Welp. Boarding soon. Until next time!
Not my best seating choice as far as people watching goes.. My first seat would have been better. But I wanted one of the cool comfortable chairs with outlets on the side. Turns out they don't have free wifi, so the outlets really aren't necessary...But the chair is comfortable. I just can't see the whole section of people to properly people watch. I'll make do.
Woman to my 12:00. She's been sitting in one of those wheelchairs they use to push people to their flights since before I got here. And I've been here for quite some time now. She doesn't seem like she's in a rush to get anywhere. Sometimes, I wonder if people actually need the wheelchairs, or if they are just overweight and don't want to walk. Exercise, novel concept isn't it? I get the feeling Woman to my 12:00 falls into the latter group...She's not obese, but she for sure won't be running a marathon any time soon. I don't think she'll be running any where for a while. She keeps shouting into the mouthpiece of her phone. Literally shouting. Excuse me, ma'am? There's a lot of people in the terminal...and you're being quite loud. And by quite...I mean, I think whomever you are talking to just went deaf. I think she's one of those people that just likes to talk about their problems to anyone who has ears. As if the whole world exists merely to listen to her and sympathize with her problems. A word to those people, we don't really want to hear. Sorry! She's been talking the gate attendant's ear off for 20 minutes now. I hate to break it to you, Woman at my 12:00, but the gate attendant's job is not to listen to you tell about your day, she does, in fact, have to help people get on the plane. It's disappointing, I know.
Frazzled woman to my 2:00. Another difficult personality, if I had to guess. She, however, is the one who thinks she is 100x more amazing than she really is. The one who thinks she's a gorgeous young trophy wife with all the right brands on. Unfortunately, Ms. Frazzled, your Gucci bag is a knock-off, and your Reeboks don't quite say "high fashion!" She has this look on her face that says "I have a million places I'd rather be, and a million friends who wish they were with me right now." With all due respect, Ma'am, you're flying to Midway, not LA. And the velvet sweatsuit? Really not doing it for you...
Business Man. 3:00. I think he might be pretending to be a business man. Or maybe he's a not overly successful business man, but would like the world to think he is. Nice black suit (I don't know anything about suits. It could be a cheap black suit...) but the brown shoes underneath the black dress pants are a dead giveaway. Sorry, sir. You tried to cut a dashing figure, but you just didn't quite make it. A tie would have helped. And a Mac. He's trying to look important as he sits with his ancient Dell and one finger resting on his temple. "I'm really very important, and doing incredible important work right now," is what he would like us all to think. I'm on to you, Mr. Fake Businessman. I'm on to you. In reality, he's probably wishing he had gotten here earlier so he could have completed his fake look with one of these fine chairs I find myself sitting in. They he could look the part of a highly successful business man with a very important job to do on this very important business trip. As it is, the brown shoes, lack of tie, ancient Dell and non-comfy chair is just shy of the the mark. Good try though. You almost had me. Now he's on a very important phone call. And he wants to be sure he talks loudly so that everyone can know this call he's on is of utmost importance. I bet it's his wife, telling him to be sure to buy milk on the way home from the airport. Maybe he's not on the phone at all. I'd believe it if he were faking a call...
Welp. Boarding soon. Until next time!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Spring Break 2011
Well, here I am, back in Greenville after returning from a relaxing and muchly needed break. I know what you're thinking: Spring Break in snowy Wisconsin is in no way relaxing. But if, in fact, this is what you are thinking, I'm here to tell you that you are dead wrong! The snow was almost completely gone when I left... True, our beaches were still frozen solid, but I fully enjoyed my time at home, even if I didn't get a tan. ;)
I flew into Midway Friday night, met my dad on the other end and we drove back into Zion. Saturday was spent at Zion Benton High School getting ready for the Camp Zion Spaghetti Supper and Dessert Throwdown fundraiser! And of course, Saturday night was said Throwdown. It was a great night filled with food, friends, and auctions! Not sure how much the camp brought in, but it was an awesome time to be sure! Church on Sunday at CCC (always love being there for church!) and birthday dinner with the family at Hu Hot. (Note. If you don't enjoy being sung to at restaurants, don't go to the bathroom and give your parents the opportunity to tell them it's your birthday. Though at Hu Hot they make a big fire for you when they sing, so that's cool I guess.) After nap time, Mom and I hit up a few stores, and that was Sunday! Monday I left to drive back up to the DoCo while my family went over to camping convention near Wausau. I am proud to announce that Molly and I successfully made the drive to the DoCo without getting lost or pulled over. I am pleased. :) We drove straight through (no stops!) and made it just fine. Tuesday was my birthday (!) and I celebrated by getting my hair cut! I can no longer call myself a teenager; I think I'm ok with this. I also spent the evening with my two dear friends, Kayla and Andrea. Our typical hang-out when we're all home is Culver's and a movie. Culver's, as per usual, was delicious, and the movie, as per usual, was ok. Johnny Depp did make an interesting lizard, but Rango wasn't my favorite movie... Wednesday I didn't do a whole lot, same with Thursday. It was really nice to just be able to lie around and not have to worry about having something to do but watch shows on TLC. Friday my family and I drove down to Milwaukee to watch the Bucks play! I don't really follow the Bucks, but hey! It was free! And we had great seats, AND the Bucks won! Sweet! So that was pretty fun. Saturday, again, didn't do a whole lot (except for pack and visit with the Johnsons) and then I headed back on Sunday. Had to drive through rain, sleet and snow to be able to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL 70 degree weather we have going on down here! Hope it's here to stay!!
That was my break in a nutshell! It was greatly needed and very relaxing. Sometimes doing nothing is the best relaxation there is! And now I'm ready to tackle the rest of this semester, and then it's summer time! Hooray!! :D
I flew into Midway Friday night, met my dad on the other end and we drove back into Zion. Saturday was spent at Zion Benton High School getting ready for the Camp Zion Spaghetti Supper and Dessert Throwdown fundraiser! And of course, Saturday night was said Throwdown. It was a great night filled with food, friends, and auctions! Not sure how much the camp brought in, but it was an awesome time to be sure! Church on Sunday at CCC (always love being there for church!) and birthday dinner with the family at Hu Hot. (Note. If you don't enjoy being sung to at restaurants, don't go to the bathroom and give your parents the opportunity to tell them it's your birthday. Though at Hu Hot they make a big fire for you when they sing, so that's cool I guess.) After nap time, Mom and I hit up a few stores, and that was Sunday! Monday I left to drive back up to the DoCo while my family went over to camping convention near Wausau. I am proud to announce that Molly and I successfully made the drive to the DoCo without getting lost or pulled over. I am pleased. :) We drove straight through (no stops!) and made it just fine. Tuesday was my birthday (!) and I celebrated by getting my hair cut! I can no longer call myself a teenager; I think I'm ok with this. I also spent the evening with my two dear friends, Kayla and Andrea. Our typical hang-out when we're all home is Culver's and a movie. Culver's, as per usual, was delicious, and the movie, as per usual, was ok. Johnny Depp did make an interesting lizard, but Rango wasn't my favorite movie... Wednesday I didn't do a whole lot, same with Thursday. It was really nice to just be able to lie around and not have to worry about having something to do but watch shows on TLC. Friday my family and I drove down to Milwaukee to watch the Bucks play! I don't really follow the Bucks, but hey! It was free! And we had great seats, AND the Bucks won! Sweet! So that was pretty fun. Saturday, again, didn't do a whole lot (except for pack and visit with the Johnsons) and then I headed back on Sunday. Had to drive through rain, sleet and snow to be able to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL 70 degree weather we have going on down here! Hope it's here to stay!!
That was my break in a nutshell! It was greatly needed and very relaxing. Sometimes doing nothing is the best relaxation there is! And now I'm ready to tackle the rest of this semester, and then it's summer time! Hooray!! :D
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I dedicate this to my bestie!
I do not normally write birthday posts. However, today is the birthday of my closest and dearest friend Kirsten Richards, and since I cannot be with her to celebrate today, I felt she deserved a special birthday post!
Kirsten and I have been friends for a looooonnnnnnnnngggggggggg time. As in, forever. She is exactly one week older than I am, and I cannot remember a time in my existence when she was not a part of my life. I do not remember the act of becoming friends with her. I just remember always having my best friend. Most people when they say they've been friends with someone for twenty years have a friend that they met in high school of college that they're still close with years later. They usually aren't about to turn twenty. But that's how our friendship is! As we've always said, "Ours is a friendship of fairy-tales!"
This is Kirsten and I on our very first soccer team. Aren't we stinking cute?! We were CLEARLY dedicated soccer players. There are several things I would like to point out about this picture. 1) I do not know if this was a game or not. But the fact that we are wearing uniforms would lead me to believe we are in fact playing a game. Like I said, clearly dedicated to the beautiful game. ;) 2) Kirsten is wearing tennis shoes. Another sign that we were for sure there to play soccer, and not just enjoy each other's company. 3) Growing up, Kirsten's hair was always perfect. I never quite knew how Kim did it, but she always had all five of her girls dressed with beautiful hair. And when I would stay the night, I got the same deal! Six girls, hair all done, I'm still impressed. 4) I think this says a lot about our friendship- skipping around without a care in the world, oblivious to the things around us. :) It was always Kirsten and I, and we never had any worries of anything else!
Those of you who have known us for a long time will remember the matching days. Yes, we could go for days on end wearing the exact same clothes. And yes, we frequently did just that. And yes, as seen above, we had matching pjs. And yes, we really did think we were the coolest people ever. It was fun while it lasted, but thankfully those days are gone. And in case you're wondering, we didn't normally wear our hair this way. I think it was stunt night at camp...
Kirsten and I first went to South Africa together as wide-eyed sixteen year olds. Those two weeks were some of the most incredible, and life-changing two weeks of my life, and I'm so glad we had the chance to make that trip together. Things that stick out in my mind from that trip: 1) trying to synchronize our in-flight TVs to watch a movie at the same time. 2) First day of ministry, dancing with the girls in Wedela (pictured above). 3) Washing our hair in the sink and finding out our brain stems are VERY ticklish! 4) Cutting up hundreds and hundreds of oranges to distribute to the kids that came to the VBS. 5) Cleaning out the shed with the Pinelands team. 5) Getting a chance to serve the amaZioni people, and work alongside our wonderful missions partners. 6) Seeing real giraffes!
Kirsten is now on her third trip to South Africa, this time for a six month stay. I'm so proud of her and the heart she has for helping and working with the people of South Africa. I can't wait to hear stories of how God has used her during her stay there! Maybe someday we can go back again together. :)
I could go on for pages and pages about the 20 years we've spent together. But instead, I'll put up some of my favorite pictures of the two of us and let you see for yourself the memories we've made! I've been richly blessed by this beautiful girl's friendship. I can't wait to see where the next twenty years (and beyond!) will take us.
Kirsten, thanks for sticking with me for this long. Happy Birthday, love!
Kirsten and I have been friends for a looooonnnnnnnnngggggggggg time. As in, forever. She is exactly one week older than I am, and I cannot remember a time in my existence when she was not a part of my life. I do not remember the act of becoming friends with her. I just remember always having my best friend. Most people when they say they've been friends with someone for twenty years have a friend that they met in high school of college that they're still close with years later. They usually aren't about to turn twenty. But that's how our friendship is! As we've always said, "Ours is a friendship of fairy-tales!"
This is Kirsten and I on our very first soccer team. Aren't we stinking cute?! We were CLEARLY dedicated soccer players. There are several things I would like to point out about this picture. 1) I do not know if this was a game or not. But the fact that we are wearing uniforms would lead me to believe we are in fact playing a game. Like I said, clearly dedicated to the beautiful game. ;) 2) Kirsten is wearing tennis shoes. Another sign that we were for sure there to play soccer, and not just enjoy each other's company. 3) Growing up, Kirsten's hair was always perfect. I never quite knew how Kim did it, but she always had all five of her girls dressed with beautiful hair. And when I would stay the night, I got the same deal! Six girls, hair all done, I'm still impressed. 4) I think this says a lot about our friendship- skipping around without a care in the world, oblivious to the things around us. :) It was always Kirsten and I, and we never had any worries of anything else!
Kirsten is now on her third trip to South Africa, this time for a six month stay. I'm so proud of her and the heart she has for helping and working with the people of South Africa. I can't wait to hear stories of how God has used her during her stay there! Maybe someday we can go back again together. :)
I could go on for pages and pages about the 20 years we've spent together. But instead, I'll put up some of my favorite pictures of the two of us and let you see for yourself the memories we've made! I've been richly blessed by this beautiful girl's friendship. I can't wait to see where the next twenty years (and beyond!) will take us.
Kirsten, thanks for sticking with me for this long. Happy Birthday, love!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Lead Me
I've been listening to Sanctus Real's album Pieces of a Real Heart a lot lately, and I love it! I just got it not too long ago, and so far I haven't found a song on the album that I don't like. Their lyrics are so very powerful (this is me telling you to go listen to their album! Any of their albums really. They're all really good!) and their song Lead Me really struck me today. So I thought I would share it with you.
Lead Me
I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames, I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling, but on the inside, oh, I can hear her saying
Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams
But what about us
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone
I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself, "They'll be fine; they're independent"
But on the inside, oh, I can here them saying...
Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams
But what about us
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone
So Father, give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way to lead them
Won't You lead me?
To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing things that I could give up
I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this a home
Lea me, 'cause I can't do this alone
Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone.
I love that last verse. And the pre-last verse (maybe there's a technical name for it? Like maybe a bridge? Maybe not.).
Father, give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be. Maybe what God is calling you to be isn't going to be easy. We need His strength to lead us. So many times I try to do things on my own, and it never works out. Only when I give it to Him do things fall into place. It's still not always easy, but by His strength we can get through. And by His strength we can be strong the the seemingly impossible tasks he calls us to do.
To lead them with strong hands, to stand up when they can't, don't want to leave them hungry for love. We live in a hurting world. That much is obvious. Who will speak for those who can't speak for themselves? Who will show love to a child who is seeking it in all the wrong places? Who will defend those who have no one else to defend them? You don't have to go overseas. Look around you. There are people hurting everywhere.
I'll show them I'm willing to fight...so we can call this a home. So we can call this a home. So that we can make this earth a safer, better place to live. Are you willing to fight? To show someone God's love? To make their lives better? To make it better for our children after us?
I don't want you to feel like I keep writing things to guilt you into doing something. I know several of my posts lately have probably done just that. Honestly, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. But then again, maybe we all need to feel guilty about some of these things. And more importantly, maybe we need to start acting on these things. Maybe we do need to start treating our husbands, or wives, or children, or roommates better. Maybe we do need to start pleading the cause of the fatherless. Maybe we do need to defend those who would otherwise be defenseless. And maybe we need to show someone that they don't have to keep being hungry for love. I know I need to start doing these things. How many times do I turn a blind eye to the hurting in our world? More times than I would like to count. Or how many times do I give once, or help once and think I've somehow reached my quota as if there isn't a whole world of suffering around me? Yeah well I donated to charity once. Yeah well I went to a homeless shelter once. What more do you expect of me? Yes, helping once is good. But so is helping more than that. So is making a commitment to ease the suffering we see every day in our world. And actually following through. So we can call this a home. I don't want you to feel guilty. I want you, and me to do something. But I know for sure we can't do this on our own. I can't do it on my own. So Father, won't you lead us? With strong hands? To fight for those who no one else fights for? Lead us, Lord. So we can call this a home.
Lead Me
I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames, I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling, but on the inside, oh, I can hear her saying
Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams
But what about us
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone
I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself, "They'll be fine; they're independent"
But on the inside, oh, I can here them saying...
Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams
But what about us
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone
So Father, give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way to lead them
Won't You lead me?
To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing things that I could give up
I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this a home
Lea me, 'cause I can't do this alone
Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone.
I love that last verse. And the pre-last verse (maybe there's a technical name for it? Like maybe a bridge? Maybe not.).
Father, give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be. Maybe what God is calling you to be isn't going to be easy. We need His strength to lead us. So many times I try to do things on my own, and it never works out. Only when I give it to Him do things fall into place. It's still not always easy, but by His strength we can get through. And by His strength we can be strong the the seemingly impossible tasks he calls us to do.
To lead them with strong hands, to stand up when they can't, don't want to leave them hungry for love. We live in a hurting world. That much is obvious. Who will speak for those who can't speak for themselves? Who will show love to a child who is seeking it in all the wrong places? Who will defend those who have no one else to defend them? You don't have to go overseas. Look around you. There are people hurting everywhere.
I'll show them I'm willing to fight...so we can call this a home. So we can call this a home. So that we can make this earth a safer, better place to live. Are you willing to fight? To show someone God's love? To make their lives better? To make it better for our children after us?
I don't want you to feel like I keep writing things to guilt you into doing something. I know several of my posts lately have probably done just that. Honestly, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. But then again, maybe we all need to feel guilty about some of these things. And more importantly, maybe we need to start acting on these things. Maybe we do need to start treating our husbands, or wives, or children, or roommates better. Maybe we do need to start pleading the cause of the fatherless. Maybe we do need to defend those who would otherwise be defenseless. And maybe we need to show someone that they don't have to keep being hungry for love. I know I need to start doing these things. How many times do I turn a blind eye to the hurting in our world? More times than I would like to count. Or how many times do I give once, or help once and think I've somehow reached my quota as if there isn't a whole world of suffering around me? Yeah well I donated to charity once. Yeah well I went to a homeless shelter once. What more do you expect of me? Yes, helping once is good. But so is helping more than that. So is making a commitment to ease the suffering we see every day in our world. And actually following through. So we can call this a home. I don't want you to feel guilty. I want you, and me to do something. But I know for sure we can't do this on our own. I can't do it on my own. So Father, won't you lead us? With strong hands? To fight for those who no one else fights for? Lead us, Lord. So we can call this a home.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Not 4 Sale
Not too long ago (as in last week) I was sitting in chapel listening to a representative from the Not 4 Sale campaign, an organization dedicated to the abolition of modern slavery. I tried to walk out of chapel that day and not think about there still being slaves in the world today. But this is something that kind of sticks with you. If you think slavery ended with the Civil War, you are horribly mistaken. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar operation, and there are some 27 million people enslaved in the world. Today. And no, that is not a typo. 27 million people (probably more, as it is hard to get an accurate count of enslaved peoples). Most are children. They will be beaten, sold into prostitution, forced to make your cheap tennis shoes, and a whole host of other horrific things. Some were kidnapped, and forced into slavery. For life. Others were sold by family members. By their parents. Slavery is real. And it is happening in our backyards. Even here, in the Land of the Free. Slavery is very real. We cannot turn a blind eye any more.
Please, take some time to read through this website. This organization is working in countries all over the world, and yes, even in our own country to end modern slavery in our life times. And we can help. Read through their information, download the App that allows you to see what companies are using slaves to produce their products, or make a pledge to help this campaign. March 13th is Freedom Sunday, and churches all over the world are rising up to help put an end to slavery. We can help. You can help. Each one of us is capable of making a major difference in the lives of people being held in slavery. This website can show you how. Will you help? Will you attempt to make a change someone's life? To donate money? To make a point to purchase things that were made without the use of slave labor? I'm not asking you to radically change the way you live. Maybe some of you will do that anyways. But you can start small. Maybe you will start buying chocolate that is made with free labor. Or maybe you'll stop buying a certain brand that is known for using slaves. (Don't know which companies are good and which are bad? The Not 4 Sale iPad/iPhone/iWhatever else app can help! It gives a grade to several big-name companies and can help you see which companies are not using slave labor) You don't have to do something drastic to make a difference. But you can make a difference.
Now you know. We can't pretend it doesn't exist any longer. Please help take a stand against the injustice of modern slavery.
Please, take some time to read through this website. This organization is working in countries all over the world, and yes, even in our own country to end modern slavery in our life times. And we can help. Read through their information, download the App that allows you to see what companies are using slaves to produce their products, or make a pledge to help this campaign. March 13th is Freedom Sunday, and churches all over the world are rising up to help put an end to slavery. We can help. You can help. Each one of us is capable of making a major difference in the lives of people being held in slavery. This website can show you how. Will you help? Will you attempt to make a change someone's life? To donate money? To make a point to purchase things that were made without the use of slave labor? I'm not asking you to radically change the way you live. Maybe some of you will do that anyways. But you can start small. Maybe you will start buying chocolate that is made with free labor. Or maybe you'll stop buying a certain brand that is known for using slaves. (Don't know which companies are good and which are bad? The Not 4 Sale iPad/iPhone/iWhatever else app can help! It gives a grade to several big-name companies and can help you see which companies are not using slave labor) You don't have to do something drastic to make a difference. But you can make a difference.
Now you know. We can't pretend it doesn't exist any longer. Please help take a stand against the injustice of modern slavery.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Homework break post!
I'm taking a homework break. (Which, if you would like the literal translation of that statement means: I'm over studying for this test tomorrow! I can only take so much review of Second Language Acquisition!!) So instead of studying and making flash cards (I also have a Spanish vocab quiz this week. AND an Anthropology quiz! Sheesh! Three quizzes in one week!) I am wasting time on the internet. Story of my life....always seems to work out in the end for me though! And since I don't have anything horribly exciting to write about...you get random updates from my life right now! Yay! :D You don't have to read them. I'm just tired of homework. So here goes....
1) Today it rained. But since I recently caved (I resisted for a long time. I couldn't decide if I liked them or not) and requested/received rain boots for Christmas I was good to go! I actually enjoyed splashing through the puddles with my rain boots and rain coat. My roommate always laughs because it seems like every time I put my rain coat on it stops raining, or I get caught without it in a downpour, but today I successfully wore it in the rain! I was pleased. (Don't judge. You know you love splashing through the puddles.)
2) Due to a recent start in our off season workouts (lifting and such) I have sore muscles that I forgot even existed! You don't use all your muscles every day, and every time I start again with a sport or new work out regimen, I hurt all over!! At least this time, it's the whole girl's team that is having trouble getting out of bed and up and down stairs, and not just me. I suppose I don't really mind too horribly much. I just have to keep reminding myself of the end results!
3) I finished Don Quixote! I started the 982 page book over break. It was on my list to read and I figured I would have plenty of time to read it during my long winter break, right? WRONG! I just now finished it, and while I wasn't able to read it as much once school started, I read every chance I could. And it still took me forever! It was good, but honestly! How many adventures can one hidalgo get himself into???
4) I spent the day Saturday playing in our indoor soccer tournament. Long day. But fun. Greenville had two teams- Orange and Black. I was on orange, and we beat Prin! But that was about it. It's ok though. We fought hard all day! AND I scored. :D Black ended up going on to the semi-finals and winning the tournament for the second year in a row! Hooray!! Good job girls.
5) Though I'm really quite terrible, I've been playing my guitar lots lately! And even though I fumble over the notes and chords, I get excited every time I do make something work the way it was intended to! Someday I'll be able to actually play. But for now I'll keep stumbling my way through, and be pleased with the small victories I have. It's a work in progress...
Anyways. I should probably get back to my homework now...So... later gators!
1) Today it rained. But since I recently caved (I resisted for a long time. I couldn't decide if I liked them or not) and requested/received rain boots for Christmas I was good to go! I actually enjoyed splashing through the puddles with my rain boots and rain coat. My roommate always laughs because it seems like every time I put my rain coat on it stops raining, or I get caught without it in a downpour, but today I successfully wore it in the rain! I was pleased. (Don't judge. You know you love splashing through the puddles.)
2) Due to a recent start in our off season workouts (lifting and such) I have sore muscles that I forgot even existed! You don't use all your muscles every day, and every time I start again with a sport or new work out regimen, I hurt all over!! At least this time, it's the whole girl's team that is having trouble getting out of bed and up and down stairs, and not just me. I suppose I don't really mind too horribly much. I just have to keep reminding myself of the end results!
3) I finished Don Quixote! I started the 982 page book over break. It was on my list to read and I figured I would have plenty of time to read it during my long winter break, right? WRONG! I just now finished it, and while I wasn't able to read it as much once school started, I read every chance I could. And it still took me forever! It was good, but honestly! How many adventures can one hidalgo get himself into???
4) I spent the day Saturday playing in our indoor soccer tournament. Long day. But fun. Greenville had two teams- Orange and Black. I was on orange, and we beat Prin! But that was about it. It's ok though. We fought hard all day! AND I scored. :D Black ended up going on to the semi-finals and winning the tournament for the second year in a row! Hooray!! Good job girls.
5) Though I'm really quite terrible, I've been playing my guitar lots lately! And even though I fumble over the notes and chords, I get excited every time I do make something work the way it was intended to! Someday I'll be able to actually play. But for now I'll keep stumbling my way through, and be pleased with the small victories I have. It's a work in progress...
Anyways. I should probably get back to my homework now...So... later gators!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)