Happy Thanksgiving All!

Boy, I have so many fun things to share with you--but they will have to wait, as we are now heading up to DH's parents' for Thanksgiving.  I pray you all have safe travel and a joyous and peaceful time with your loved ones today and this weekend!  (And, um, any of you are welcome to pray the same for us. ; )

one way to support widows and orphans this holiday season

I have mentioned on this blog before our local fair-trade non-profit Trade As One, which sells beautiful hand-made things from around the world.  Most of the things they sell are actually made by women--often women who are widowed, or abandoned (which, practically-speaking, amounts to the same thing), who have been rescued from the sex trade, or who have HIV.  Trade As One partners with programs in-country that help these women learn to make things from their homes, which enables them to support themselves and their families.   So when you buy from fair-trade organizations like Trade As One, you are helping support widows and orphans--and getting some lovely things in return.

(These eco-shopping bags are gorgeous in person!) 

I am not an advocate of buying a lot of stuff.  We Americans typically have way more stuff than we actually need, and I would love nothing more than to see a nation-wide movement to buy less, to accumulate less, to owe less, to value material items less.  Less really is more. But that does not mean that buying things is in itself bad--it just means there are ways to spend money that are healthy and wise, and ways to spend money that are not.  I hope someday we, as a nation, re-learn our whole way of thinking about spending and stuff. 

Recycled tire pencil case!

Still, even if we cut down on our consumption, we are still going to be buying.  Clothes wear out, things break--we will always be consumers, so the key is just buying with appropriate  moderation and with lots of thought. 

Recycled plastic lunch bag!

Now as the holidays approach and most of us are going to be thinking a lot about gift-giving, we have the perfect opportunity to try to put into practice whatever ideals we have about healthy and wise ways to spend money.  And this is where fair-trade organizations come into play--because the beautiful hand-made things you can buy through them not only give a living wage to struggling people around the world, but also give them hope, and dignity. 

Peace Blend Coffee--love the name, love the meaning.

(double-click on the image to read the package)

Some things are more expensive when you buy them fair-trade.  But think about it--who loses out when you or I find a bargin so good we call it a "steal"?  It's not the corporations, or the factories who lose out on any money--it's the people who themselves make the goods.  So, what is the value of a child slaving under harsh conditions to harvest your cocoa for chocolate?  What is the value of a woman who has no means of income except selling her body for a few coins, even with her children hiding in the next room, in a desperate attempt to feed them all that night?  Our money is more powerful than just its face value--it sends messages to corporations about what has worth, and it corrupts our hearts if we value it more than the people who earn almost nothing so we can get a good deal.

Absolutely adorable kids' apple hat! (see the worm? too cute!)

But I have been pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of the things available at Trade As One are not more expensive than I would expect--one of my favorite earrings I bought through them cost me less than I could have bought them at the mall, and some of their beautiful things are cheaper than similar hand-made items on Etsy.   

Organic cotton reversible napkins--LOVE the color and pattern combo!

So, as you shop this holiday season, please consider making some of your purchases fair trade.  It's giving a gift that will bless not only your loved one who receives it, but also people in need around the world.  I am fortunate to know the people who started Trade As One, and my daughters and I have just started volunteering for them during this busy time of the year, but there are lots of other places you can find fair-trade items, so do an internet search to find other retailers online, or better yet in your local area.  

Organic fair-trade chocolate advent calendar!  What's not to love?!

Organic olive oil and coconut bath soap--feels soooo good. 

Recycled magazine star ornaments

(shhhhhhh. my kids are getting these in their stockings this year--so beautiful!)

Ruler photo frame.  Upcycled, vintage, retro--it is even cuter in person.

Unique Batik embroidered clutch--the workmanship leaves me in awe.

Dark Velvet Chocolate--the smoothest and creamiest dark chocolate I've ever tasted. 

Girl's flowery ear-warmer. 
I think the ear-warmers are almost as adorable as the girls,
but I'm a little biased. ; )

All of the things I chose to feature here I have seen and touched in person--really nice stuff!  Do you have a favorite fair-trade store or item?  Please share it in the comments!

How You--Yes, You--Can Support Adoption Right Now

Do you remember when I wrote about a little nine-year-old girl named Katie who is being adopted rescued from an orphanage in a former Soviet country?

Her family is in country now, preparing to take this fragile little life home this weekend. 

They need prayer!

Please read this post to hear how God has been working quietly for His Good purposes behind the scenes already, and to better understand just how dangerous the travel back to the States could be for little Katie. 

And then, please pray.

One unique and potentially huge way to support orphans

I will be blogging about adoption here and there throughout this month, in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month (finally a National awareness I can get behind--I'm not so much into talking like a pirate or Special Recognition Days that seem invented by greeting card companies).  First I want to finish writing about the various ways that regular old families like yours and mine can help support orphans and adoptive families.   Probably most families who are not seeking to adopt never realize there are so many things they can do to help the plight of helpless and suffering orphans.  Keep in mind, I am going to blog about these things with the assumptions that you read my previous posts on the subject last week, and that if you are a family that claims to follow Jesus, you have been commanded by God to care for widows and orphans.  Alrighty then.

One way families in America are uniquely situated to help orphans is through something you have most likely never heard of--a short-term hosting program called New Horizons For Children, the heart of which is described by an adoptive and NHFC hosting Mom at her blog, My Garden Hat: 

Once again, over 200 Ukranian and Latvian orphans will be spending Christmas in America in the homes of Christian families who want to respond to God's call to answer the distressed plea of the orphan. For a few weeks, those families will love on kids who perhaps have never known love at all. They will help the child learn some English, a valuable tool that will give them an extremely valuable boost in their opportunities to succeed once they leave their orphanages at age 16. They will show the children who Christ is and what His love can do for them. For the first time, some of them will know that they have a real Father who will never leave them, never forget or disappoint them.

Some of them will find their forever families as a result of their time in this country, where Christian Americans' hearts break from the things that break God's heart -- like the plight of orphans. Not so in Eastern Europe, where orphans are considered tainted and where families don't even take in their own.

The NHFC program is for hosting orphans, not for adoption--but often a child who is brought to the US for either the Christmas or summer hosting program gets "seen" by families who either want to adopt or who fall in love with the child and just can't bear sending him or her back to a life of being unwanted and unloved.  The blogger mom over at Five is the New Four represents one such family; they hosted Sergiy this summer for four weeks, and believe he was meant to join their family then and forever.  You can get a glimpse of the story of how it began at this post, entitled "He had me at birthday," of you can jump back to her posts from late Spring/early summer to follow the journey from host family to adoptive family. (The adorable photo below shows Sergiy, in green, getting a group farewell hug from his soon-to-be siblings and cousins--but before any of them knew if they even could adopt him.  So they all loved him not knowing if he would be "theirs" or not--what an incredible gift to give an orphan.  As his adoptive mom writes, "I am pretty sure he left knowing he is loved!")

So, through the NHFC hosting program, these orphan kids--who have been personally screened and chosen to participate in the program based upon their potential for benefitting from it--get an amazing, possibly life-changing opportunity to experience what a family is like, which I can easily imagine might have a potentially big impact on how those kids interact within a family of their own someday.  And I can imagine those kids would be impacted by feeling worth having and loving, something most orphans struggle with.  Those things alone make the program worthwhile, but knowing that a child, whom the program directors believe has a good chance of thriving in a loving family, is getting the chance to be seen and heard and known and wanted and might therefore end up being claimed through adoption. . . that is what is making me advocate for the program and its orphans now.

Some of the blogs I read are advocating for specific children as I write this, children who they think are great kids who should be snatched up for hosting/adoption, but who currently have not been:

Five is the New Four is advocating for Vova, whom you can read about here and here. 

My Garden Hat is advocating for Vlad, whom you can read about here.
Do you have a heart for adopting older kids, esp. those who have been "vetted" by professionals and American families and sound like really great kids?  Do you know of anyone who might be interested in hosting these boys for Christmas? 
Here is the thing--this is not just about playing the wealthy benefactors at Christmas and doing the feel-good, pat-yourself-on-the-back, Daddy Warbucks thing of taking in an orphan for the holidays and showing a kid a good time and sending him home with a few presents.  This is about kids who belong in families getting a chance to find one--or at the very least learning a little about how God views families, love, worth that might drastically change their lives for the better.
My Garden Hat wrote another post that underlines the impact of this hosting program:

Tonight, in my looking, I saw this [photo] again. Every time I see it, I have to look a long time. I look at the blonde hair of a child, the size of him compared to the small car. I see the shadows of the trees, the lift of his foot as he walks, the brick wall ahead of him. The brick wall ahead of him.

The brick wall ahead of him.

In this photo, it was graduation day at an orphanage in Eastern Europe. The mission team had arrived just as a small group of 16-year olds had been dismissed from the orphanage and told to find their way. Good luck. Hugs. Maybe you can go to college. Never mind where the colleges are located or how one would go about getting into one. But good luck.

At 16. That's when the children age out. Graduate.

In America, a 16-year old is a high school sophomore. He's just getting his driver's license. He's taking algebra class and learning the elements of a short story. If he works, it is for family, because he's too young to legally work elsewhere. His daddy still takes him to the barber shop on Saturdays, and his mama makes him eat his vegetables at dinner.

But this boy does not live in America, and he has no mama and no daddy. And he is graduating.

Like this boy, some children leave the orphanages with a few treasured belongings, maybe a change or two of clothing. A few have a piece of luggage to carry away with them, like this boy who had been hosted and had received luggage from his American hosts.

This boy is much luckier than many, because he had been given an opportunity to travel by airplane to America, where a family had shown him love, taught him a bit of English (a valuable talent in his country), and had shared the redemption of Jesus Christ with him. Though he was not adopted (not all of the hosted children are adopted; NHFC is not an adoption agency), he leaves his orphanage leagues ahead of most orphanage graduates.

She sums up the need for programs like this so perfectly.  So, now you know about New Horizons For Children--would you consider telling others about it too?

Steampunk-esque winter boots

Today I received the most delightful email from MIL, which she had sent to both me and DH's sister, who's birthday is this month, the day before mine:

Anyone need me to buy them some waterproff leather boots for winter?  They are lace up Keens...  

http://www.zappos.com/keen-clara-high-boot-cameo?channel=41&si1514481=&mr:referralID=0c424f51-0b6c-11e1-931b-001b2166c2c0

(Or you can chose your own style... or something else)You both have birthdays coming up - so chose your present  :)

Is that not totally sweet?  Best of all, I have been wanting to get a new pair of boots for YEARS now, since the only pair I own are ugly and I even thought so when I bought them about 14 years ago, but I was a grad student in Denver, CO and desperately needed a pair of boots I could slog through the snow in but then look respectable teaching my college writing courses in. . . I couldn't find a pair I liked, so I just got a pair that were ugly but met the need.  But I'm tired of wearing those ugly boots, and think by now I've gotten my money's worth for them, and can justify a new pair.  So, I've kept my eye out. . . knowing roughly what I like, but never seeing a pair I liked that I could afford. 

Ideally I would want a pair of boots that are waterproof, or at least highly water resistant--we don't get snow here in the winter, but we do get lots of rain, and I would want the boots to be flexible for when we do visit cold, snowy climates.  But I would also want them to be attractive, since in the winter I like to wear boots with skirts to church.  And if I had my druthers, they would be a wee bit Steampunk, just because.   

MIL's email this morning got me looking around there at Zappos, and I was THRILLED to find that what I posted before about shopping with Becky and realizing that neo-Victorian/i.e. quasi-Steampunk styles are popular right now, is true in the shoe world as well!  And after only a minute's search, I found THESE:

Timberland Boot Company Lucille Tall Boot

Just the right heel!  Just the right height!  Full-grain leather and organic canvas!  Totally Steampunk!  Alas, I also proved to myself once again that I have excellent (i.e. expensive) taste, as those beauties run $340.  Sigh.  MIL is feeling generous, but that's just too extravagant for either of us to justify.  Even if they are sooooooo gorgeous and practical too.  Sigh.  Well, I guess they are also a little too steampunky for someone like me who is only planning on having one pair of boots to go with everything. 

Ok, I thought--after running the emotional gambit between ecstasy and pragmatic dejection in a span of two minutes--surely these can't be the only quality steampunkish boots out there.  A few more minutes of searching proved me right:

Timberland Earthkeepers™ Bethel Buckle Mid Lace

Also a week bit steampunk and yet still practical.  And a much more reasonable $175.

Merrell Tetra Launch Waterproof

Oooooh, reliable brand, original design, full-grain leather, waterproof, and would dress up nicely.  Much more modern in feel because of being so streamlined, but the military-feel detail allows them stylistic versatility. $160.

Born Sage

Another good brand and interesting design--but they are most attractive (and most steampunky) in this color, which is not the best suited for my own wardrobe.  $190.

Betsey Johnson Rally

These boots get the award for the most creative design I've come across today--and which I can't decide if I like or loathe.  Even the person who wrote the description for these boots on Zappos was not sure: "This undeniably feminine Betsey Johnson™ boot is a sight to behold."  Why, yes.  And I think a creative Steampunk gal could work these into her ensemble really well.  In fact, I'm not quite sure who else could. . . a modern-day saloon showgirl on her day off?   $180.

     

Ariat Highland

These boots are well-named, but are still a wee bit steampunk simply because of the leather tones and the buckles.  Oh, yes, steampunks love buckles.  $240. 

Sofft Bachet

These are a little more modern in feel, and less rough/distressed, but I could see these really working with a steampunk outfit.  Straps and buckles, yes please!  $200.

Jessica Simpson Bombai

Not that I think these boots will be as well-made as some of the others, but they get kudos for original design--and if there is anything steampunks like more than buckles and straps, it's grommets.  $170.

Frye Melissa Tall Lace

On the other hand, a simple and lovely pair of neo-Victorian boots is always steampunk.  These are beautiful--probably my favorite of all of these.  And, of course, $398. 

Fossil Gayle

Another attractive, similarly Victorianesque boots.  Unfortunately, still $238. 

Frye Rogan

The vintage airman look to these would perfectly complement a ladies' steampunk airship ensemble.  $398.

Frye Jenna Cap Toe Lace Up

These is just something about these I really like, even though they are so stylistically ecclectic they are not quite one particular genre.  I think with these it's the distressed and neo-punk and color scheme and almost cobbled-together look about them that I could see working really well with steampunk.  But any prospective buyer had better have as much money as flair, because these boots will set her back $428.  (I am neither that daring or that rich--but it's fun to include them here.)

Lucchese Annie

I like how simple these are, and the detail along the side that has a vintage/miliary feel.  $336.

Mojo Moxy Bravo Luggage

More brass and buckles, with a cool vintage toe design.  $170.

Nine West Waggin

I really like the unusual mix of black straps and brass buckles on the brown boot.  A little too busy for what I need, I think, but definitely a bit steampunk. $180.

Boutique 9 Floyde

Another really creative style, and pretty easily adapted to a variety of looks, including steampunk. $240.

Vintage Shoe Company Bastrop

Also really nice vintage toe and lace detail on this one.  $389. 

Ok, that's it for the mid-calf or knee-high leather Steampunk-esque boots on Zappos.  I can tell I will need to look some more before I can take up MIL on her sweet offer, but finding all these has been encouraging.  As you can see, the things that made a boot steampunk are material (leather, canvas), metal detail (brass is most steampunk), color (a rich brown with brass detail is quintessential steampunk), and embellishments like front laces, buckles, straps, and grommets.  I would say the toe should be slightly pointed too.  The type of heel is not as important--what is more important is how the elements of the boot all work together. 

I know I said I would be posting my steampunk stuff over at Minnie Zephie's Steampunk Treasure Trunk, but since these shopping-for-clothes-to-wear-in-real-life posts are things I want to share with YOU all, I hope you don't mind.  I will be editing this post (nobody at the other blog would appreciate the references to my MIL) and putting it over at Minnie Zephie's when I get a chance--esp. since I noticed I how have *five* followers there!  (um, thanks Jessica and Aubrey ; )  I'd better give my steampunk readers some eye-candy every now and then!

But those of you here, please comment away!  Let me know if you like any of these (the reasonably priced ones. ; )

FYI: an old-timey giveaway!

In my breakfast blog-reading this morning I came upon this family blog and a giveaway for some very practical, old-timey items.  I would love a nice wooden drying rack!

So, if you are interested in looking at the giveaway, here is the link:  HomesteadDryingRacks.com

the ways I'm currently supporting adoption

So, I was writing yesterday about my desire to adopt, which may or may not happen, but which at least seems like it will not happen any time in the near future.  But at least I believe God has shown me ways I can obey his command to care for widows and orphans, esp. through supporting adoptive families.  There are lots of different ways we can obey God and love Him by loving "the least of these," but I'll just share the main ways I think God is encouraging me to be His instrument. 

The main way I support adoptive families is by praying. And just so you know, I am no saint, or "prayer warrior," and used to be terrible about saying I would pray for things/people and then forgetting. I know, true confession time. But I taught myself two "tricks" so I would be true to my word and remember to pray for people:

1. Any time I find myself thinking about a person (whether affectionately or negatively ; ) I pray for him or her. (And I have to say, it has been a little unsettling a few times to have someone come to mind throughout the week, but NOT pray for him/her, and then later find out that person was going through something really hard and sure could have used prayer! Looking back, it sure makes me wonder if I had been given nudges from the Holy Spirit to pray for that person, and I ignored it, to my shame. So now, if I find myself thinking about someone seeming out of the blue, I pray for them!)
2. And then the second "trick" that keeps me honest and faithful with prayer is that when I tell someone (or say in a comment on a blog) that I will pray for them, I pause and do it right then.  If it was in a conversation, I do it as I walk away, or drive away, etc.  Just as soon as I possibly can, while the needs are fresh in my mind and heart.

I don't fully understand the way prayer works, and why God would urge us to pray for people when He knows their needs and hears their prayers. It seems He has designed us for relationship with each other, and with Him, and prayer is part of what knits us together in deep relationship, and brings out our compassion and care for others.  Also, just as a Mommy knows what her child needs but still likes to be asked, so I think it is with God. Our coming to Him with our needs and wants is honoring to Him and pleases Him, esp. when we are seeking the good of others. All I do know for sure is that God has directly answered my prayers way too many times to count, so I believe He is there and hears me, I believe He is fully capable of intervening as He sees fit in any situation, and I believe I have witnessed Him do so with miracles.  

Miracles, people!  (And from the things I read on so many of the adoptive families' blogs, miracles are happening everywhere to assist those trying to rescue orphans, all over the world!)

Ok, so prayer is the #1 way I am trying to support adoptive families (and not just Christian ones, either--I know of a few non-Christian adoptive moms, and my heart aches for them when things are rough, because I can't imagine how they do it without the strength and hope and patience and everything else the Holy Spirit would offer, if they believed in Him)  But there are also ways I can help adoptive families financially.  With DH's blessing, I have given gifts between $10 and $50 to help get orphans into their families as quickly as possible.  Sometimes that looks like giving towards the adoption fund of a child who is still waiting to be claimed, sometimes it looks like giving directly to a family who is ready to go get their child but is still short of funds.  It feels SO GOOD to be part of helping individual children--whose faces you can see through online pics, whose stories you can follow on their parents' blogs, who you can sometimes actually watch being transformed after the adoption by the love and care they are now receiving.  But even better is feeling like you were a part of a much larger thing--that your small gift was just one of hundreds, but it was Used to change the world for the better. 

Sometimes I tell you all about some of the kids and the families who are in dire need--because if a need is huge, maybe one of two of you will be moved as I have been, or will pass along the info to others who might be able to help a little.  The blog realm is so huge, and can be such a force for Good, so I just can't help using my little voice here (with all of its approx. 20 readers!) to see if it makes a positive different.  You never know, it just might!  But of course I don't expect any of you to be moved the same way I am, or to give towards what I give to--but it sure thrills me to think you might. ; )  So, really, advocating here on my blog could be considered another way I am supporting adoptive families.

Finally, I sometimes send little love gifts to families I have met online who are dealing with really huge post-adoption issues--there is often an enormous emotional/spiritual/psychological cost to adoption as well, esp. when families have adopted kids with neurological or attachment problems, and my heart is so with these moms who love so deeply but who suffer so much pain for it, over and over, from their kids, from judgemental churches, from ignorant service providers, from the whole wide world that does not understand the core issues.  It might be a little chocolate to someone who enjoys that, or a restaurant gift-card to a mom who is spending a lot of time in the hospital with a seriously ill child, or even just an encouraging letter or email!  A little bit of love goes a long way, and since I love giving things (must be one of my love languages) it just seems a natural way for me to support adoptive moms. 

BUT even more better than that would be supporting adoptive moms in my local area!  Interestingly enough, while I have heard of a few families in the local area who have adopted whom I could possible support, and I have reached out to them, no relationships have come from it.  So I am very open to God sending a local family/mom my way whom I can give a little love and support to "In Real Life," but so far He has not--so I will just continue to support the women and families I am meeting in the virtual world of blogs. I really do believe that God puts you where He wants to use you--and I guess He is making good use of the free time I love to spend on the computer reading blogs! 


So, anyone reading--how are you supporting widows/orphans/adoptive families?  I would love to hear!  (And for those of you who are enjoying this topic, I'll post tomorrow about practical ways to support adoptive families if you are lucky enough to know any IRL.)

my near-story of non-adoption

I was just reading the other day one of my adoption blogs that President Barack Obama has officially proclaimed November as National Adoption Awareness Month. Well, good for him.  And hopefully good for the approximately 163,000,000 orphans world-wide.

163,000,000.  That is a really big number.
 
Just in case any of you were wondering--and if I have not already said this before--I do not think DH and I are supposed to adopt at this point.  That might change, and I am very open to it! I want to adopt--but it sure seems like God has gently shut doors on adoption for us so far. Here is one example of why I think so: years ago, when we first moved to CA, and had two young ones, I was really interested in learning more about adoption, esp. from Haiti.  (I had been wanting to adopt from Haiti since college.) I found an orphanage online that had a photo listing of about 80 children. As I read through the notes about the children, a sibling group of three girls caught my eye, and tugged on my heart.  And I thought that tug meant something.  Was a sign. 

But DH had never been very interested in adoption.  I honestly think he had just never considered it, so it was a completely foreign idea to him.  Also, he comes from a family where blood seems to determine family, and I think he grew up with a pretty rigid idea of who "family" is.  (I feel very blessed to have grown up in a family that had a much more loose definition of "family," and not only did I grow up with an "adoptive" older brother (a Chinese graduate student who for years was there for every birthday, for every holiday, who we loved), but even my grandparents on both sides had relationships and stories that continually blurred the lines between "friends" and "family.")

But one evening, my heart was just aching for those girls, and the orphans in Haiti in general, and so I asked DH to come look at the photolisting for just a minute, to humor me.  I said I knew we were not going to be persuing adoption any time soon, but I was just curious to know if we ever were to adopt, what kind of child might he lean towards?  So DH humored me, and came and looked.  And he choose the sibling group of three girls. 

My heart leapt.  The sign was a SIGN!!!!

And then, not more than a few days later, I saw an annoucement that the government of Haiti had ceased all international adoptions. 

And months later, there was still no change in the political environment there, and no indication of when the Haitian government would once again allow international adoptions.

Even though my heart grieved, I knew that was a sign.

(And I tried to contact the orphanage several times, since DH had agreed that maybe the girls were meant to be "ours" by some kind of financial sponsorship from afar--but no one ever responded to my emails or letter, and the photolisting was removed from the web.  That seemed like another sign.)

So, I don't know what that was all about.  But I do know it gave me hope that one day DH and I might be of one heart and mind towards adoption, and that God knows when and where He wants us to jump in, and that was not it.  And maybe that's all we were supposed to take away from the experience. . . So, until God indicates that part of His plan for us clearly, we are not going to persue adoption.

Oh, and I really do want to clarify that **I do not believe Christian families should wait to adopt until they see a "sign" from God.** The Bible is really clear that caring for widows and orphans = loving and obeying God. I strongly believe that every God-fearing family who claims faith in Jesus should be actively involved in caring for widows and orphans in some manner, and that God wants ALL his orphaned children in families. And that it should be the norm for Christian families to open their homes and hearts to children who need families, no matter where they come from. But even if it became the norm that believing families adopted, I also believe that there would be families that God would keep from adopting, for His Good reasons. So, yes, I do believe that people who claim to follow Jesus should pray and search for clues about whether or not He wants them to adopt; however, I also believe that "waiting for a sign" is a big cop-out for families who claim to love and serve God but who don't want to give up their comfortable American lives to do so.

Ok, end of sermon. ; )

So, right now, we are not adopting.  But I think God has been drawing me more and more into the whole world of adoption (virtually!) and I think I am doing things that fulfill His mandate to care for widows and orphans.   Reading the blogs of adoptive families I have learned so, so much about the world, about God at work, about the needs of those precious to Him all over the world, about practical needs of adoptive families--and that knowledge is helping me know how to reach out and support families who adopt. 

Whew!  This is getting longer than I intended, so I'll end here for now, and continue tomorrow.

Anyone who reads this, I'm mainly writing today for those who claim to be followers of Christ, just to encourage us all to think and pray about what He might want us each to do to obey His command to care for widows and orphans. 

But if you are not a Christian--well, what do you think about the need for families for the millions and millions of orphaned children around the world?  I would love to know what you think humankind's responsibility is for those who suffer, who are forgotten, who have no voice, who are at the mercy of the whims of bureaucrats and slavers, so please feel free to leave a comment!

Nostalgia Week

It started with looking at photo albums of Dear Husband's childhood, kindly brought down by his parents when they visited this past weekend. 

Then came Halloween, and stories of different costumes we had as kids, and then going out and building memories with our own kids. 

Then it was me introducing the girls to "moonwalking" and MJ gliding through a live Motown performance of "Billie Jean" (I'm passing on "Thriller"--so not into the whole zombie thing).  (And since I can't help myself, "Beat It" led to a whole long discussion of Mr. Jackson's place in music history and American culture which covered slavery and MLK and Jim Crow laws and radio and records and the advent of rock-n-roll and R&B stations and teenagers.)

Then it was looking at slideshows together of our digital photos from when each of the kids were toddlers, which then suddenly morphed into dancing to and acting out "Mr. Roboto," "Don't Pay the Ferryman," "Holding Out for a Hero," "People Are People," and "The Sun Always Shines On TV."  (This time DH was being the DJ, with me leading the silliness and remembering fondly my sister Rebecca's K-Tel Hot Tracks record album. Which was, like, the best record ever.) 

This morning the girls asked for "the stories" of each of the dolls they slept with the night before, which were all mine as a girl and which I have given to them for birthday or Christmas presents.

And then the LitWits workshop today was on From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which just so happens to be one of my childhood favorites--and I even had the exact same well-worn copy on my shelf for Merry and Sunny to read. 

Then tonight we spread out an old blanket on the floor and watched The Love Bug, which is famous in my family's lore. (Oh nooo! Oh nooo!)  (And this is when it really pays off to have kids who are not so oversaturated with TV and desensitized to where such a wholesome movie is deemed lame--their shrieks of laughter at the over-the-top-silly climax was just too adorable.  Smiley included!)

You see, it's Nostalgia Week, which I dreamed up a few months back.  DH and I had so much fun thinking about the things we wanted to share with the kids that we remember fondly from our childhood--although, oddly enough, much of that centered on specific sugar cereals and Saturday morning cartoons.  (Yes, our Sat. morning is booked ; )  We waited until we had what seemed like a good week, and almost waited too long, since I wanted to do it before the holidays (and the sugar rush) started in earnest.  So, what with Halloween night, and other things going on the past two nights, we have had a slow start with our family fun--just the odd breakout of 80's music and telling stories of the past.  But tomorrow night is game night--and I have a feeling Park N Shop will be the choice game, since would you believe both DH and I grew up playing it?  (And most of you have probably never even heard of it!)

 Photo credit here--with a great description of the game!

Or maybe we should introduce the kids to Mille Bornes, which we also both played in our youth (and which would fit nicely following the children's enjoyment of Herbie's hijinks tonight):

Trust me--you want these cards.  Photo credit and game description here.

Whatever we end of doing the rest of the week, we will not plan it out too much, and just relax and enjoy one another, share bits of ourselves with our kids, and together build their own memories of family life.  The kids so far are so excited that we are going this special week, even if we have not done all that much.  I can tell this is a new family tradition in the making!

the obligatory halloween post, with food for thought

I was thrilled when the girls wanted to continue the new tradition of basing their costumes upon literary characters--even more thrilled when they chose characters we already had good costume pieces for.  So above you see Mary, Laura and Carrie Ingalls with their little brother the rent-a-cop policeman, and their good friends the Elephant and the Bobbysocker.

And just for fun, we made our dinner fit the pioneer theme too--beans and cornbread.  Merry even had the idea of using out stainless steel plates and cups, which we could imagine were the tin items the pioneers might have had.  I only wish I had taken a pic of the table before we all dived in!  But eating quickly was part of the plan, since we were meeting friends at the neighborhood above us for trick or treating.

Home with the loot. Tradition says the children spread their haul out on the floor, and then they get to sort through it and choose what they want to keep for themselves, and that goes in their own personal half-quart canning jar.  Whatever does not fit goes into the family basket--and is fair game for Daddy's lunches or Mommy's teatime.  This year was the most that they have ever received, and their jars and the family basket are overflowing.

And it was once again just the right amount of the holiday, with the right focus.  Having special friends join us also per tradition just makes it all the more fun.

And then this morning, on facebook, I saw this article linked: Why Halloween is the Most Godly Holiday.  While his title is easily argued against, he raises some excellent points about this holiday compared to our other national holidays that I had never considered before.  Earlier this year, one of our pastors said in a sermon that whenever a non-Christian invites you into their personal realm (their home, their life, their feelings, etc.) that we should consider it sacred space.  That is the space in which they will be receptive to hearing Truth and considering Love made carnate.  I think that is so true, and I will be remembering that next Halloween--an opportunity to engage with neighbors and build bridges. 

Now if you will excuse me, it's time for my afternoon tea.  and chocolate.  Thanks, kids.