Posted in accomplishments, Advocating for special needs, charitable organizations, charity, children, Creating, death, drivers, economy, elderly, emergency, family, finances, giving, health, help, hospital, Impact, inspiration, kids, life, loss, medical, mental and physical health, MONEY, tagged charities, children, dogs, donation, elderly, funding, gas prices, homebound, Impact, make a difference, MONEY, non-profit, organizations, support on July 3, 2008|
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This week charities received some press time when it was revealed that Leona Helmsley left a whole lot of money for her dog, Trouble, and charities that take care of dogs. Out of the billions of dollars that Leona left behind…most of it will go to charitable organizations. That got me to thinking, while animals are important; and, organizations that work towards protecting them and providing them with care are wonderful…hopefully, some of that money could be used towards charities that do the same types of services for human beings.
There really are some great organizations and non-profits out there who really try to make a difference. I love it when someone creates one when their hearts and minds get touched by an experience in their lives or the lives of someone that they care about.
Today i read about another one that i think sounds wonderful and hopefully, other individuals will be inspired to create charities when they feel moved to do so. The one i read about today was called, Kid One Transport. Their website is: http://www.kidone.org/index.php (more…)
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Posted in armed forces, Celebration, charitable organizations, children, emotions, family, fathers, Fourth of July, grandchildren, Heart, help, Holiday, home, Honor, husband, Impact, inspiration, kids, life, loneliness, love, mental and physical health, military, mom, mother, news, Patriotism, Remembering, service, support, Time, well-being, writing for children, writing project, tagged Afghanistan, America, armed services, brothers, card making, cards, celebrate, children, country, craft projects, daughters, emotions, encouragement, family, fathers, first time, fourth of july, freedoms, friends, Holiday, honored, husband, Iraq, lonely, loved ones, make 2 tell 2, Marine Corps, military, mother, mothers, Nebraska, need, non-profit, overseas, parades, patiotism, picnics, pictures, roomate, sacrifice, Sad, school, scrapbooking, sisters, sons, support, Time, veterans on June 27, 2008|
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The countdown has begun, we have an 8 measly days to prepare for the fourth of July. How do you plan to celebrate the freedoms that you have, that were purchased by the men and women of our country’s military? All branches of the armed forces deserve to be honored. How about along with those picnics and parades, you carve out a litle time to make and send a card to thank them for their sacrifice?
Did you know that there are many service people who don’t get words of encouragement or support from anyone? Oh, alot of our military men and women have their own friends and family who are strong in their support…but some really and truly don’t. Some are lonely or sad; some are on their own, away from home for the first time. When my husband was in the Marine Corps years ago; he was blessed to have a mother who wrote to him daily, all four years of his service. My husband had a roomate who never received any cards or letters. Out of compassion, my mother-in-law sent him a letter; it moved that roomate to tears. He said to my husband…you do not know how much this means to mean to get this. It was a moment of support that that young man desperately needed. Here is a program that i heard about and loved the idea of from the very moment I heard about it. It is a non-profit organization called, Make 2 Tell 2.
The whole idea behind make2tell2 is to make two cards of encouragement, good wishes or support; and then, telling two others about the program and getting them to do the same. The organization will collect the cards and then send them on to our military personel in Afghanistan and Iraq. There isn’t much time left, we only have 8 days including today! Can you help? These are our sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, fathers and mothers…they are sacrificing time away from their own support systems to serve our country.
How about sitting down the children who are out of school; let them unleash their creativity. By this point, the newness of being out of school for the summer has set in and they are complaining of having nothing to do. This is a great craft project for them. Once they get started they won’t want to stop. Or, do you know someone who is a scrap booker and loves to use their skills to make their own cards and such? This is a perfect project for them. Use your imagination as far as who would be willing to help…this really is a wonderful way to celebrate the fourth of July and celebrate all that we are blessed with here in America.
For those service people who are overseas…this will help them to feel appreciated and a little less alone. Here is the contact information for the program. Feel free to include your contact information, on those cards and letters if you feel led. Or if you are uncomfortable with that…make them, and just sign your name; either way, this is a great way of serving your country. It is such a small sacrifice of your time but it can have an amazing impact on someone. Make 2 Tell 2
991 Road 325
Harvard, NE 68944
I am doing this myself, with my children today…and I am asking you to do the same. Make a little time to give back to the greatest country in the world. Celebrate the veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow…who knows…they just might be one of your very own loved ones!
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Posted in baby, bride, children, crime, emotions, Faith, fathers, finances, foster parenting, Frustration, health, help, home, kids, law enforcement, legal, life, loss, mental and physical health, mom, mother, news, parenting, power, pregnancy, religion, sadness, safety, trauma, tagged abuse, abuse of power, appeal the verdict, appeals court, beliefs, children, danger, department of child welfare, family, fathers, foster care, Fundalmentalist Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Sa, guilty, injustice, innocent, legal, limits of authority, low income, mothers, non-profit, power, prosecuted, protecting, puberty, safety, state, suspicion, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Update on May 22, 2008|
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In Texas, an appeals court overruled the state’s decision to remove the children of the sect, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The appeals court has found that the CPS department had not proven evidence of immediate danger of physical health or safety of children who had not reached puberty. The court also said that their beliefs, in and of themselves, did not place children in danger of abuse.
This is a victory for the 41 mothers who brought the suit against the state for removing their children. Initially, the state had said that 31 of the mothers were under the age of 18. It has since been determined that 15 of that 31 are OVER the age of 18. What that means, for the other mothers, isn’t clear.
Does this mean that the children will be returned back to their families? No one seems to know for sure. The ruling is being reviewed. It is possible that the 450 children who were removed; could be removed from temporary foster care and returned to their families.
No one really seems to mention the fathers. It is almost as if by accusing some of the fathers of sexually abusing young women…they all are guilty by association. This is wrong. Damage has been done to “whole” families…some of them may even be “INNOCENT”.
Part of the problem here is that in America, we are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty. That didn’t really happen here. Truthfully, children need to be protected. However, in “protecting” them…the system damaged others. This whole case is disturbing. Allegations that can be proven true, of abuse, are horrendous…and should be prosecuted. Those who were under suspicion and are proven to be innocent have been done a great injustice.
The mothers had been represented by the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid. TRLA is a non-profit organization. They help people, in southwestern Texas, with low income to receive legal services. http://www.trla.org/ TRLA has been instrumental in helping these mothers to find a pathway to once again regain custody. Update 5-23-08 Today it was announced that the state of Texas child welfare officials will appeal this landmark decision. In a notification to the court the state says that a motion will be filed later today! Keep watching to see what happens….as the outcome will surely define the limits or lack of limits on the department of child welfare that the courts will enforce. This affects us all!!!
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Posted in Uncategorized, tagged blog, Business, cause, cerebral palsy, comfort zone, disease, idea, illness, Impact, life, Michigan, Neil Sauter, non-profit, organization, Passion, possibilities, program, raising awareness, raising funds, six weeks, support, United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan, walking, walking on stilts, website, Wisconsin on May 18, 2008|
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Have you ever felt passionate enough about something that you were willing to step outside of your comfort zone to make an impact on the subject?
Here is a story about a man who has been affected by the condition, cerebral palsy and wanted to raise funds and awareness for the United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan. You can also choose to support their efforts here: http://www.ucp.org/ucp_local.cfm/87. He is making his impact in an unusual and intriguing way.
His name is Neil Sauter and he has a mild form of the condition. The way that he has chosen to raise awareness, is to walk a total of 830 miles ON STILTS over the next six weeks across Michigan. He started on May 5th and hopes to end the walk up by the Wisconsin/UP border. He has already raised approximately $5,300.00. He is making a passionate impact on this issue.
You can make a passionate impact on any area of your life that you choose. Update: Neil has completed his long journey on stilts…what an accomplishment. Good job! He was able to raise more tha 64,000 dollars by a matching grant program through the US Department of Education. You can read more about this at: www.stiltstory.org.
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Write where you are 