I've never been good at keeping New Year's resolutions, but this year I want to really focus and not treat my resolutions as a to do list for January.
To help me with my resolutions, I've decided to adopt the "Movement" series from the Vineyard Nola and SKL. (Want to know more? Check out my blog HERE or the church's website HERE.)
UPWARD:
1. Read the Bible in a year, and study more theology. (GeEk alert!)
2. Pray throughout the day - not just the start of my day (a 30 min commute to work can sometimes be good) or in an "emergency."
INWARD: (myself)
3. Write in a P-journal - 4 days a week. Of course, I'd love to do it everyday, but I'm trying to make this realistic/doable. :) So what is a P-journal you ask? It's a short entry that states a Peak (high for the day), a Pit (low for the day), a Praise (thankful for the day), and a Prayer. I'm really looking forward in journaling more. I used to journal a lot in college, and I'm looking forward in doing it again. I enjoy having a way to express myself and have a time to reflect.
4. Maintain a healthy body. Has anyone noticed that as you get older that this area gets more difficult? Ok...just making sure I'm not the only one. I want to try and improve eating habits and get out and exercise more.
INWARD: (others)
5. Get to know my neighbors. This year, I really want to make this a
priority like I stated in my previous blog. My husband and I for
Christmas made goodies and personally handed out to a few. (It's a start!). I
was sad that we couldn't hand out more, but many were not home.
6. Continue to work on loving people in my everyday ordinary life - even if it means letting people who cut the line into traffic - Ugh! Um...still working on that one.
OUTWARD
7. Continue to pray for my friends in Zambia, Africa.
8. Volunteer more often at our church's food bank - Bag Hunger (and purchase food for it every month).
These are a few personal/fun ones:
9. Quit biting my nails. (unfortunately this makes my list every year.)
10. Grow my hair long enough to donate to Locks of Love. (currently working on this one, hopefully I don't loose patience!)
Lastly, I am starting a new tradition this year with my husband. We will have a "Memory Jar" in the kitchen. Every time we experience something we want to remember we will write it down on a piece of paper with the date and place it in the jar. On New Year's Eve 2012 we will take them all out and read them. I think it will be neat to have some sort of time capsule. How funny would it be to read these in 2022?!
Good luck with keeping your New Year's resolutions, if you make them!
Wishing you a prosperous New Year!
-Miche
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Learning to Live with Neighbors
I can't believe it's been 6 months since we have purchased and moved into our home, and it's been a great experience so far.
One thing I'm learning about is how to live with neighbors. So far, it's very different from what I experienced growing up in my small bayou town. Growing up, my family knew our neighbors very well. It was nothing for my mom to send me to a neighbor's house to ask for an egg, since she was in the middle of cooking and ran out. Trick-or-treating was special since we would receive a special bag prepackaged with our names on it, and we also knew two houses down there would be hot dogs and popcorn balls year after year. We visited one another. If you were outside doing yard work, there was a good chance a neighbor would come by. My mom bought our birthday cakes from a lady a few houses down. My dad knew who he could borrow tools from. In fact, my dad helped an older gentleman grow a garden two houses down. They enjoyed spending time together and sharing the crop. There was a real sense of community and support in the neighborhood.
What have I experienced so far living in my new neighborhood? Well, definitely not the above. In the front of our house is a pecan tree. To my little knowledge, I didn't realize how much a pecan tree looses it's leaves in the winter - enough to fill up 1 1/2 large trash cans with JUST leaves in case you were wondering (and this was just the first raking). One particular morning, I decided it was definitely time to rake since no trace of grass could be seen. While raking, I stumbled upon some unwanted surprises that Iknow suspect came from two small black dogs from our neighbor's house. Immediately inside I felt emotions of rage and revenge. Why can't they pick up after their dog? That's so rude! Are they lazy? Why can't they train their dog to stay on THEIR property. I just want to get a dog (which we don't have) and train it to go in their yard. Ha! That will show them. After about 30 min of ranting in my head while raking, I calmed down and thought is that showing love? Is that how I can get to know my neighbors and form a sense of community? Definitely not. Then I began to look around at my surroundings and felt horrible to see many yards that had OUR leaves in them. Yikes! Some of my neighbor's don't even have a tree in their yard. Now, I know I can't totally prevent the wind from blowing the leaves around, but I could rake up my yard more often, than...twice? I'm sure if I rake more often, then it wouldn't give the wind a chance to blow the leaves in my neighbor's yards. Will this one act make my neighbors become friends with me? I definitely don't think so, but I'm sure they would appreciate it.
Currently, I only know one set of neighbors thus far. This particular set was very close to the family that lived in our house before us, and they introduced themselves to us quickly because they were collecting the mail for the family that moved. They seem like really nice people, and I look forward in getting to know them better. Sadly, I don't know the other people that live in the houses that surround me.
One of my New Year's resolutions this year will be to change that. I want to feel the sense of community and support that I had growing up. I know it will not happen over night, and it will take time. I don't think this is an easy task. I can think of many excuses as why not to - Will they like us? There is too big of an age difference. What should I talk about? etc. My prayer for 2012 is that God would give me opportunities to get to know my neighbors, and that I am brave and bold enough to seize those opportunities.
I'm learning to live with neighbors, how about you?
-Miche
One thing I'm learning about is how to live with neighbors. So far, it's very different from what I experienced growing up in my small bayou town. Growing up, my family knew our neighbors very well. It was nothing for my mom to send me to a neighbor's house to ask for an egg, since she was in the middle of cooking and ran out. Trick-or-treating was special since we would receive a special bag prepackaged with our names on it, and we also knew two houses down there would be hot dogs and popcorn balls year after year. We visited one another. If you were outside doing yard work, there was a good chance a neighbor would come by. My mom bought our birthday cakes from a lady a few houses down. My dad knew who he could borrow tools from. In fact, my dad helped an older gentleman grow a garden two houses down. They enjoyed spending time together and sharing the crop. There was a real sense of community and support in the neighborhood.
What have I experienced so far living in my new neighborhood? Well, definitely not the above. In the front of our house is a pecan tree. To my little knowledge, I didn't realize how much a pecan tree looses it's leaves in the winter - enough to fill up 1 1/2 large trash cans with JUST leaves in case you were wondering (and this was just the first raking). One particular morning, I decided it was definitely time to rake since no trace of grass could be seen. While raking, I stumbled upon some unwanted surprises that I
Currently, I only know one set of neighbors thus far. This particular set was very close to the family that lived in our house before us, and they introduced themselves to us quickly because they were collecting the mail for the family that moved. They seem like really nice people, and I look forward in getting to know them better. Sadly, I don't know the other people that live in the houses that surround me.
One of my New Year's resolutions this year will be to change that. I want to feel the sense of community and support that I had growing up. I know it will not happen over night, and it will take time. I don't think this is an easy task. I can think of many excuses as why not to - Will they like us? There is too big of an age difference. What should I talk about? etc. My prayer for 2012 is that God would give me opportunities to get to know my neighbors, and that I am brave and bold enough to seize those opportunities.
I'm learning to live with neighbors, how about you?
-Miche
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Gifting with a Purpose
Do you have trouble giving gifts to a person who has it all?! I know I do sometimes! I want to show that I care and love someone by giving them a gift on Christmas, but not sure what to give. I love this new concept of gifting with a purpose! What does this mean? When you purchase an Umweo bag (see story below), not only will you receive a bag that is hand made with material from Zambia, Africa, but ALL proceeds are sent to a mal-nutrition clinic in Zambia. It's a win, win! I personally love my Umweo bag when I travel.
Please read my friend's blog post below about her story of how Umweo bags came about and how YOU can help.
Umweo Bags is a non-profit organization (pulling together the final paperwork for being incorporated as a 501(c)3 as you read) that was started in 2010 by Ana Rich. While on a mission trip in Zambia, with her church - the Vineyard Church of New Orleans. Ana had the opportunity to visit a malnutrition clinic in the town of Kitwe. This clinic is a place where children in the community who are malnourished are brought, most often by their parents, to be given a chance at surviving in life. While at the clinic, children are cared for by nurses who do all that they can to provide care, nutrition, vitamins and food to these children; to nurse them back to health so that they may return home to their families, healthy. At the time that Ana was visiting the clinic, there were close to 15 children being cared for and nursed back to health.
Upon returning to New Orleans from her trip to Zambia, Africa, Ana had an overwhelming desire to help, to work to figure out how she could play a part in helping these children survive. While in Zambia, Ana had the opportunity to go to market one day. While there she purchased a handmade bag from one of the local merchants. It was this bag that enlarged Ana’s imagination as she considered ways that she could help those children who are clinging to life over 9000 miles away.
After weeks of thinking and praying, Ana pulled out her old sewing machine, though she had only minor sewing skills, and began to play around with fabric and designs to try and replicate the bag that she had purchased at market. Within a few days, Ana had finally landed on her own unique pattern for the purses. And thus Umweo Bags was born.
Umweo Bags are all made out of fabrics full of vibrant colors that in some way reflect the culture of Zambia. Bags are sold for $30 and every penny that is profit is now sent to the malnutrition clinic in Kitwe and is used to purchase the necessary food and vitamin supplements for the children. Over the last year and a half, Ana has empowered a number of other women in the community to also make bags and today, every Umweo Bag is handmade by Ana and 5 of her friends.
To date, Umweo Bags has sent $2,675 to the malnutrition clinic which in turn has allowed the clinic to purchase food. The clinic usually only has enough funding to purchase formula. However, children over 8 months old are in need of solid foods in order to get the nutrients they need to regain their health. The money that Umweo Bags sends to the clinic enables the clinic to purchase the necessary solids, such as, fruits, mealie meal, ground nuts for protein and more.
Here are some other sobering numbers:
· People travel anywhere from 10 miles to 150 miles in order to find help at the clinic
· Children stay anywhere from 7 days to 30 days at the clinic
· There is a dietician and 3 nurses that work at the clinic
· The clinic has anywhere from 12 children to 32 a time
· There are only 25 beds at the clinic
Since Umweo Bags partnered with the clinic in 2010, over 95 children have been nursed back to health and have returned to their homes nourished and healthy.
It is our heart at Umweo Bags to continue to provide as much as we can financially to this clinic to provide these children with the food and vitamins they need to survive - to provide life.
Here’s how you can help:
1. Like Umweo Bags Facebook page, click HERE
2. Share Umweo Bags page on Facebook, click HERE
3. Follow Umweo Bags on Twitter @umweobags
In addition to this, you may always purchase an Umweo Bag at www.umweobags.bigcartel.com or donate directly to Umweo Bags at www.umweobags.com
In an effort to raise awareness, friends of Umweo Bags will donate over $600 to this amazing cause if Umweo Bags receives over 250 likes on their Facebook page, along with receiving at least 60 shares on FB and 20 new followers on Twitter by December 25.
Friends, thank you for your time and help,
Miche
Please read my friend's blog post below about her story of how Umweo bags came about and how YOU can help.
Umweo Bags is a non-profit organization (pulling together the final paperwork for being incorporated as a 501(c)3 as you read) that was started in 2010 by Ana Rich. While on a mission trip in Zambia, with her church - the Vineyard Church of New Orleans. Ana had the opportunity to visit a malnutrition clinic in the town of Kitwe. This clinic is a place where children in the community who are malnourished are brought, most often by their parents, to be given a chance at surviving in life. While at the clinic, children are cared for by nurses who do all that they can to provide care, nutrition, vitamins and food to these children; to nurse them back to health so that they may return home to their families, healthy. At the time that Ana was visiting the clinic, there were close to 15 children being cared for and nursed back to health.
Upon returning to New Orleans from her trip to Zambia, Africa, Ana had an overwhelming desire to help, to work to figure out how she could play a part in helping these children survive. While in Zambia, Ana had the opportunity to go to market one day. While there she purchased a handmade bag from one of the local merchants. It was this bag that enlarged Ana’s imagination as she considered ways that she could help those children who are clinging to life over 9000 miles away.After weeks of thinking and praying, Ana pulled out her old sewing machine, though she had only minor sewing skills, and began to play around with fabric and designs to try and replicate the bag that she had purchased at market. Within a few days, Ana had finally landed on her own unique pattern for the purses. And thus Umweo Bags was born.
Umweo Bags are all made out of fabrics full of vibrant colors that in some way reflect the culture of Zambia. Bags are sold for $30 and every penny that is profit is now sent to the malnutrition clinic in Kitwe and is used to purchase the necessary food and vitamin supplements for the children. Over the last year and a half, Ana has empowered a number of other women in the community to also make bags and today, every Umweo Bag is handmade by Ana and 5 of her friends.To date, Umweo Bags has sent $2,675 to the malnutrition clinic which in turn has allowed the clinic to purchase food. The clinic usually only has enough funding to purchase formula. However, children over 8 months old are in need of solid foods in order to get the nutrients they need to regain their health. The money that Umweo Bags sends to the clinic enables the clinic to purchase the necessary solids, such as, fruits, mealie meal, ground nuts for protein and more.
Here are some other sobering numbers:
· People travel anywhere from 10 miles to 150 miles in order to find help at the clinic
· Children stay anywhere from 7 days to 30 days at the clinic
· There is a dietician and 3 nurses that work at the clinic
· The clinic has anywhere from 12 children to 32 a time
· There are only 25 beds at the clinic
Since Umweo Bags partnered with the clinic in 2010, over 95 children have been nursed back to health and have returned to their homes nourished and healthy.
It is our heart at Umweo Bags to continue to provide as much as we can financially to this clinic to provide these children with the food and vitamins they need to survive - to provide life.
Here’s how you can help:
1. Like Umweo Bags Facebook page, click HERE
2. Share Umweo Bags page on Facebook, click HERE
3. Follow Umweo Bags on Twitter @umweobags
In addition to this, you may always purchase an Umweo Bag at www.umweobags.bigcartel.com or donate directly to Umweo Bags at www.umweobags.com
In an effort to raise awareness, friends of Umweo Bags will donate over $600 to this amazing cause if Umweo Bags receives over 250 likes on their Facebook page, along with receiving at least 60 shares on FB and 20 new followers on Twitter by December 25.
Friends, thank you for your time and help,
Miche
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