NO MATTER WHAT.
And while we may know that, they don't. They are the girls, women and children, that are being trafficked.
I am trying to educate myself on the whole issue of human trafficking by reading articles, reading books and talking with friends that have been in the trenches but am having a hard time getting my mind wrapped around the entire thing. I am at the point where maybe I do not need to understand it all, I just need to show up and be there, that I need to TRUST God in the things I don't understand and remember this verse:
"Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater" Luke 12:48
You and I, we are "those whom much is given" and it is our responsibility to help. Locally and globally and we can not think, "well, who am I ? " or " I am only one person" or " I can't make a difference" because we are the "whom much is given" and we can.
Maybe we can't get ourselves onto a talk-show to talk about it, stand in front of congress and fight for it or raise millions of dollars to go towards it, but we can do something.
"Each one should use whatever gift he's received to serve others." Peter 4:10
Every once in awhile I am going to do a little round up and tell you about what is going on in my creative world, things I am working on, things I am loving and things that you can do. I will be also including these things in a newsletter, so don't feel like you are having a de'j'vu (or however you spell that!)
Creative Junk
Still carving away thoughts, ideas and plans to either teach in store, online or just sell these one of a kind stamps. Probably do a little of each..maybe.
Carved this little one last night and I like how it turned out. It does remind me of the stamps I have done with Purple Onion but the difference is, I made it. That is the best part. Not that "I" made it, but that it is handmade. You know what I mean. After carving one, well, I carved another and them stamped them on a hanging tag and played with a few more colors that I do not usually use. I like it..don't love it, but did not throw it away.
Speaking of throwing away, I have a winner from the "my out-of-the-trash stamp" on Monday! The winner is....
#1 or #3 I live in a rural area so #2 is not an option!I love Bon Jovi too!
Congrats Ann! Please email me your mailing address and I will get the stamp off to you..and thank you for loving Bon Jovi, too!
and speaking of Bon Jovi..if you watch American Idol next week, I believe it is the 14th, they perform on the show.
Classes
I am scheduling some classes near and far. Continue to watch here for more details. Coming soon is my "A Whole New Doodle Class" from last year that was previously found over on the Scrapbook News and Reviews site. An email will go out about that and the upcoming classes I am working on!
Do Something
As you know, I am passionate about "doing something" and I encourage you to look into doing something yourself!
This past Tuesday, the high school swim teams held a NEGU meet against the local rival school and it was awesome to see 100's of NEGU swimmers all come together for some friendly competition and gather toys and donations for Joy Jars.
Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer and the NEGU National spokesperson, Kaitlin Sandeno, Tina & I worked the booth, shared Jessie's story, talked about the Joy Squad and sold sweatshirts because it was FREEZING!!!
All of the swimmers showed great spirit and overall it was an awesome event! Thank you Trabuco and Mission swimmers....(and p.s"Way to go Blue!" we won the meet...whoot whoot)
To join the Joy Squad, click here and help spread JOY to a child every month of the year. Your contribution of $20.00 a month send a jar of joy once a month to children fighting cancer. During the month of March, every contribution will be matched! Double the joy!
Be sure to go to www.negu.org the check out all of the ways you can help, from donating toys to stuffing jars! There is alot that needs to be done!
Brave Girls/Dahlia House/She's Worth It
oh my, this is a big one, more that you are going to hear me speak about alot. Human Trafficking. bad bad bad, wrong, wrong, wrong, just plain disgusting.
BUT...
I am helping change that by joining in with an amazing group to help encourage, restore, empower and heal those sweet girls that have been rescued. One sweet brave girl at a time...and you can too, in fact we all can and we are.
Please consider a donation. Donate $10.00, 20..whatever you can to help buy a house. a HOUSE!?! a house that will provide safety, security and growth. Please consider donating. I am fund-raising myself for another worthy recovery program, but right now, I am asking you to maybe watch Mel, see what is going on and consider making a difference. Once the funds have been raised and the house is purchased, I am saying out-loud, right now, that I am going to go paint on that wall with Melody and crew and would LOVE to paint your name on a petal..watch the video..
okay, that is all for now..I am sure I could go on, but I will stop and let you enjoy your day!
There are some phrases that I feel pretty passionate about and one of them is We Are Better Together, because we are.
While I may not be able to change the world, I can make a difference, and so can you sooooo..if we work together, just think of the positive damage we could achieve!
I have been telling you a little about the She's Worth It Campaign and in a nut shell, it is about rescuing, encouraging, teaching, empowering, protecting and loving. I dare you to take a closer look into what is going on in our world, in our country, in our states and not be moved to help. There are so many things we can do together, and I invite you to join in with me to remind her that She's Worth It and that
She's Worth It Blog - http://shesworthit.org/blog
Meet the Treasure Hunters - http://shesworthit.org/meet-our-treasure-hunters
Get Involved - http://shesworthit.org/get-involved
She's Worth It Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shes-Worth-It
In January of 2008, I made a decision, well, sorta like a declaration and said something out-loud..and well, after what I thought I was going do do 2008, I wrote this in October of 2008.
Fast forward several years, to late 2012, as my church, Saddleback started to talk about the twelve new churches in 12 countries.
Oh boy, I opened my heart, my mind and my mouth and made another declaration, circled a box on a little white card and made a decision to start planning to "do something"...DUH, I should know...it isn't about my plans. I know that and just as I thought I was ready to commit to a "mission" and just as I thought I would start "planning" what I thought was going to do this year, "my plans" were diverted and things are shifting to HIS plans.
It started with a few emails, texts, conversations, prayers and truth cards
that traveled to the Philippines with Melody...and from the day she left, it spiralled perfectly "in-control" and things have started to come together, not by my doing, but by HIS doing.
I am not going into all of the details just yet because really, I don't have all the details yet. I am still in the "give it all to God" and saying "yes" stage, praying for wisdom and direction but I will share this with you...Part one.
I am joining efforts with an amazing team of women and diving deep into the world wide epidemic of human trafficking in a way that is going to "gloriously ruin" me, just as Kay Warren wrote in her book, Dangerous Surrender.
Me?
I am just an ordinary girl and what in the world can I possibly do to help or change this human traffic crisis??? It is way out of my comfort zone, will be uncomfortable and likely disturbing and at the same time, I cannot stop thinking about it.
Me?..yes me.
You?..yes you.
We?..yes WE!
WE can do something by reminding rescued women how they matter, what they can do to create a living, that trusting, having faith and being brave is necessary and that they are loved.
Part one for me is helping to raise money for the She's Worth It Campaign that will go towards rescuing, teaching, empowering, educating and loving the girls that need to know that they matter, that they are capable, that they are worth it!
I am asking for 50, 75, 100...of my friends to donate $10.00 and also share the cause....because we are better together, and together, we can change the lives of many.
"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can."
