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I’d make you a parfait if I could

September 28, 2011 By 10 Comments

This past year, our little family of four has volunteered with over 40 non-profit organizations in over 20 states. Our very first project was with The Giving Tree in our hometown of Tucson, AZ.

We served a special dessert to the homeless at a weekly gathering called Project F.E.E.D. – yogurt parfaits! We packed 2 plastic tubs of plain mountain high yogurt, a box of granola, a bowl of fresh fruit [diced apples, oranges, bananas, and raspberries], clear plastic party glasses, and plastic spoons. Then, we layered the ingredients, added a dollop of whipped cream, and handed them out.

Re-watching that video takes me back to all of the emotions before we left. A year later, I still believe in volunteerism. I believe that individuals can make a difference. Most importantly, I believe that giving is most powerful when it happens in the context of relationships, not through random acts of kindness.

Today, I celebrate the uncelebrated. The weary mother. The caregiver to the elderly relative. The friend who remembers who you are when you’ve forgotten yourself. The persevering teacher who cares more than 40 hours per week. I salute you – In fact, I’d make you a parfait if I could.

I am participating in a compensated program by Plastics Make it Possible® in partnership with the American Chemistry Council and Ogilvy PR. 

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This is what we should do today.

August 4, 2011 By 16 Comments

4 year old with kitten This is what we should do today.A few weeks ago, over breakfast, I asked Kayla, “What should we do today?“

She replied matter-of-factly, “Make money for people who don’t have money. Bring clothes to people who don’t have any. Be with our family. Be with other families. Be nice to other people. Believe in God.”

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7 ways to get to know your neighbors

July 20, 2011 By 256 Comments

A press release landed in my inbox last week: The majority of Americans know the names of their neighbor’s pets but not their neighbor’s kids. Crazy, right?

neighborhood 7 ways to get to know your neighbors

When we lived in Vail, we knew most of our neighbors…but not all of them. In fact, we had some regrets when we moved out because we wished we had made a greater effort to get to know the people around us.

Tim & I have made a commitment to be much more intentional about being neighborly wherever we end up after this year of traveling the country in an RV.

I did a bit of brainstorming and came up with 7 ways that you (and I) can get to know our neighbors better:

welcome to the neighborhood 7 ways to get to know your neighbors1. Give a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gift when a new family moves in. Even a small gesture goes a long way. Perhaps homemade cookies? A pie? A bouquet of flowers or a few fresh tomatoes from your garden? Include a little tag with your name, e-mail address, or twitter handle (whatever you feel comfortable with). Check out this FREE Welcome to the Neighborhood printable.

2. Have an ice cream sundae party. Serving dinner to a group of strangers can be an intimidating and overwhelming prospect. Throw an ice cream party instead. Buy a few gallons, plastic bowls and spoons, and toppings (or you can have each guest bring a topping – M&Ms, cherries, whipped cream, bananas, strawberries, Reese’s, etc.).

3. Open your backyard. If you want to host a meal, you certainly don’t have to plan a formal dinner at your dining room table. Go outside and serve hamburgers, BBQ chicken, or stew from a Crock-Pot.

4. Keep popsicles in your freezer. As kids run about the neighborhood in the summer, it’s nice to be able to have a quick snack to offer. Popsicles are just the ticket – no preparation required!

5. Ask for an egg. If you’re baking cookies and you realize that you don’t have an ingredient, don’t jump in your car to go to the grocery store. Ask a neighbor.

6. Create a Facebook page for your neighborhood. Start up a page with your neighborhood’s name – “West Hills Neighborhood” or “Sunset Ridge Street.” Set up a few guidelines and invite your neighbors to join. Everyone can then post announcements, get-togethers, business ventures, etc.

7. Use WhitePages Neighbors to “cheat” when you forget someone’s name. WhitePages Neighbors is a new service that allows you to type in your address and find the names & contact info of people who live near you. It also allows you to organize a block party and send out postcards to your neighbors…FREE.

How many of your neighbors do you know? What do you do to get to know the people that live closest to you?

whitepages neighbors 7 ways to get to know your neighborsWIN IT! One winner will receive a $100 VISA gift card to plan a neighborhood meet-up of your own! To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Wednesday, July 27 at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!” or “Love it” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

* WhitePages is compensating me for this post and is also providing the $100 Visa Card for the giveaway.

*UPDATE* The winner is #196 Sandy. Congratulations!

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8 nights in Bolivia

July 3, 2011 By 28 Comments

bolivia flag 8 nights in BoliviaFor two weeks this summer, I dreamed in red, green, and yellow – the colors of the Bolivian flag. I googled images of the country, watching the mothers carry their babies on their backs with wide-brimmed hats on their heads.

Tim & I were recently invited by World Vision to be on a team of bloggers traveling to the country at the end of the summer! We were delighted, thinking about what it would be like to brush up our Spanish and soar over the skies.

We wrestled over it (we so wanted to go!), by we ultimately declined.

It would have been too hectic to drive full speed ahead in our RV back to Arizona. It would have been more change for our girls, who have already had a hefty amount of change in the past 6 months. It would have been 8 nights away from our favorite faces.

climbing central park 8 nights in Bolivia singing in central park 8 nights in Bolivia

Our 4-year-old was very much a part of these conversations, listening as we listed the pros and cons. When we told her we decided not to go, she asked matter-of-factly, “But who will help the Bolivia kids?“

Children always have the very best perspective: Who will help the children indeed?

I explained that there were other bloggers…and then I realized that I had the answer all wrong. WE will help the children, I told her. We can pray. We can give. We can remember them – the children of the world who need us.

Have you followed any of the bloggers who have gone abroad with World Vision or Compassion? How many nights have you spent away from your kids?

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oh, me of little faith

June 22, 2011 By 28 Comments

Faith is one of those things you don’t realize you lack until you’re forced to have it.

Last year, we had a house with a yard in suburbia, two vehicles (three if you count Tim’s dirt bike), a modest but comfortable income, and medical and dental insurance. We shopped at Target and Trader Joe’s.

walnut leathr couches oh, me of little faith tims jeep oh, me of little faith

I even had my own craft closet (I seriously miss that):

my craft closet oh, me of little faith craft cubbies oh, me of little faith

Now? We’re traveling in under 400squarefeet – without a dishwasher, an icemaker, a garbage disposal, a steady income, or insurance. We have to taken turns in between showers to “wait for hot water.” We bump into each other when we cook dinner. If people come over, we don’t have a leather couch to offer them. We shop at Wally’s.

truck and 5th wheel fredericksburg oh, me of little faith

It’s hard to describe why we chose this.

By most accounts, it’s crazy. Who gives up everything to learn how to give? It doesn’t make sense (even to us sometimes).

house for sale oh, me of little faith for sale novembr 2010 oh, me of little faith

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been brought to our knees. So often, we pray with two words: “Help, Lord.”

In a society that tells us to save up storehouses, we’re giving up ours. We’re letting go.

I don’t know what’s next for us after this year, but I know now that I’m ready to jump. Faith is a lesson I’m learning.

(I just wish it wasn’t so hard to learn it).

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Part III: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 10, 2011 By 10 Comments

standing in advance nc Part III: How To Volunteer With Small Children

There are some seasons in life when it might not be the best idea to make an outside commitment to a non-profit.

Perhaps you are car-less or sleepless or you have a wee newborn or a busload of kids.

Don’t be disheartened. There are plenty of ways you can give to your community…from your little house in Anytown, USA.

You can:

  • knit socks for premature infants.
  • donate breast milk.
  • foster a child.
  • put together packets for the homeless.
  • spread the word about your favorite charities – via Facebook or Twitter.
  • organize a lemonade stand, bake sale, or yard sale…with all of the proceeds going toward a needy family or a 501(c)(3) in your area.
  • deliver a meal to someone who is housebound, elderly, ill, pregnant, or with a new baby.

ALSO – Remember that service to your family matters most of all. I often meditate on what Mother Teresa reiterated time and time again: “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones…the ones at home.” As a parent, you may feel like you’re not really serving…but, oh, you ARE. As you brush teeth, give baths, read stories, go on walks, listen to questions, and love intentionally…you are changing the world in the biggest and most important way. You are making an un-eraseable, irrevocable mark on your child’s life. Never, ever take that for granted.

* This is Part III of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part I and Part II].

What other ideas do you have for how parents can volunteer with small children?

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Part II: How To Volunteer With Small Children

May 9, 2011 By 3 Comments

4 year old volunteer Part II: How To Volunteer With Small ChildrenOur family volunteers with non-profit organizations about 3 days a week. We typically spend between 1-2 hours at any given place. At first, I was terrified of that prospect. I thought it might be a little much for two very active little girls (ages 2 & 4).

The reality, however, is that our girls usually enjoy the new environment and the hustle & bustle of completing a project.

Of course, things aren’t exactly Utopian. We’ve learned to expect imperfection and to laugh at little snafus that come up.

We’ve also learned that these 4 things make volunteering with babies and toddlers MUCH easier.

1. Try your best to schedule volunteer projects when your kids are freshly fed and rested. After breakfast tends to be a good time for our young ones, but take your own child(ren)’s temperament and nap schedule into consideration.

2. Bring a backpack. Include diapers, wipes, extra clothes, extra underwear, a wet/dry bag, a snack, and/or a bottle of water. It’s also a good idea to bring along a few coloring books and crayons in case you end up waiting for a project coordinator or instructions.

3. If possible, include your spouse or another adult (grandpa, grandma, your sister, etc). It’s much easier if volunteering involves the entire family. The more adult hands, the more peaceful the project will be.

4. Understand what you are contributing. We recently put together boxes at Manna Food Bank. Our 2-year-old worked slowly, lifting the heavy cans with all her might. Our 4-year-old was a little more adept, but I found that I was supervising for most of our morning – making sure that no one got conked in the head or run over by other volunteers.

Would I say then that what we gave was insignificant? On the contrary!

Volunteering is much more than just completing small projects. It’s awareness as you talk about the experience to friends. It’s encouragement for the staff as they see young ones at work. And let us not forget the impact that service has on a child’s mind and heart. Your child may not remember the details, but the impression is sure to last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for practical ideas on how to volunteer from home!

* This is Part II of a three-part series on How To Volunteer With Small Children. [Read Part I and Part III].

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