Some harsh reality for women in Haiti

Caution-this is a heart-rending post.

Not for suitable for children or the faint of heart.

Click here to read Two True Stories.

And another one:

Natasha

Totally Random......

You just got a mall gift certificate. Where do you head first?
Hmm, I don't go to the mall very often. I guess I'd probably check Mervyns, Sears or JC Penney. Depends on what I was looking for.....A mall gift certificate is too much choice for me! LOL

You're on amazon.com. What's in your basket? (Use your imagination if you've never ordered from them.) We Are Marshall, Facing the Giants, The Food Mood Solution, among other things.

You go to the video rental store. What are you looking for? Same as above-We Are Marshall, Facing the Giants, ???? I haven't been to the video rental store in a really long time.

Where's the marker in your Bible? Exodus in my 'main' bible. The other versions I have are FULL of post it notes/markers as I use them to study and for work/presentations. I used to mark the passages I would refer to with post its, and I have not seen the need to remove them. they are good reference points in my study bibles. I love to compare versions of the same passage.

What are you hiding from your family? Nothing I can think of at the moment.

What's your game? I like Bejeweled and Bookworm for freebie vid. games. But right now, I'd have to say Football-given that the Arizona Cardinals are going to their first Super Bowl!

What's the last movie you saw at the theater? An American Carol

You're next up at Starbucks. What do you order? Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte, usually. Or a Mocha Latte.

What's in your CD player? one of the newer WOW compilation CD's. I don't feel like looking to see exactly which one, right now.

You're packing. Where are you going? Haiti, Haiti, Haiti.

What's your biggest goal for this year? Got a few goals-complete & submit dossier. Research a specific project to help kids, pay down debt and grow my private practice.

What's your biggest event this year? I don't know yet-it's only January. My guess is that any trips to Haiti will be highlights.

What should you be doing instead of this? Finishing up some work I brought home.

Feel free to post on your blog and add your own questions. I took this from Kathy at Our Haitian Adoption Thanks for the diversion, Kathy! :-)

Fishing class? Or Purse Party. You decide the title..It's kind of both.

Ok readers, you already know my heart for Haiti.

IF you've been reading here for more than a minute, you know what I am talking about. If you've talked to me for more than 10 minutes since July 2008, then you know what I am talking about.

You can read my declaration of love as it happened here.


Well here's something I love that I just can't help but share.....


On my last trip I was fortunate enough to get to visit Heartline Haiti. What an amazing ministry this is. I got to meet Sheila and see the place where the Pre-natal classes, Literacy classes, and Sewing classes happen. I also got the opportunity to meet some of the students and their children. All I can say is, WOW. Here is a program that is not just giving the women of Haiti a fish, but teaching them how to fish (sew) so that they can take care of themselves.

Briefly, the women take a sewing class at Heartline. As they progress, they make bags and purses, which are then sold. The money is then split up-part going directly to the woman, the ministry and part going into a savings account. That way, the woman can eventually buy her own sewing machine. And guess what? It's working!

Directly from the Heartline Haiti site:

"Our first sewing class started on February 18, 2008 with fifteen women and seven graduated. Five of the women who graduated have started to earn money from their sewing skills. Even those who did not complete the class have gained skills that are allowing them to earn some money. Three of the graduates have earned enough money to purchase their own sewing machines. In fact, one woman has made enough money that she has been able to bring her children back from the village so that they can live with her and have her raise them. Within a six month time frame she has earned about 6 years worth of wages (half of it going back to her business). None of the women that started the program were able to provide for their families before the class. Most of them worked as merchants buying and selling products, but unfortunately, most of the merchants end up in debt to those who provide them goods as they are unable to sell enough goods at a high enough price. This class has been a miracle for these ladies as they can now provide for their families in a positive and healthy way.

We are allowing the women who graduate from the sewing class the option to work at our facility several days during the week when our facility is not being used by other programs. We provide the material, machine and a safe place and then each woman gets to keep 50% of the sales proceeds from each item they make. We currently have an onsite store to sell the bags and other items made by the women. As women earn enough money they will buy their own machines and be able to work out of their homes."


After having been to Haiti and seeing the ministry and some of the women it's impacting, reading this is enough to bring me to tears. Teaching these women a skill is saving their lives, and that of their children. This and education of/for the children of Haiti are vital to improving life in Haiti and changing things for the better. Without education the options for earning a living are minimal. Education is so important.

Another way you can help is by sponsoring a student (child) at Three Angels Christian Academy. I've written about this before, and will continue to do so, periodically, because in order to improve things in Haiti we must educate the children. You've heard it said that children are our future-well it's true-they are the future leaders of Haiti. $27 a month can send a child to school and change the future.


Back to the purses.....

Consider this your invitation to an online purse party. There is no hostess gift or program. I am just spreading the word to see if we can't help more people.

I got to see a variety of these purses and bags in person and they are great, one of a kind items. I love them.

So, if you're shopping for a bag or a purse, check this out (go here to shop) and DO something GOOD while you're at it.

Even if you're not shopping for a bag or purse, check it out anyway. Do good, anyway.


I love it.

:-)

I am a Marilyn....fun personality quiz.....

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be direct and clear


• * Listen to me carefully


• * Don't judge me for my anxiety


• * Work things through with me


• * Reassure me that everything is OK between us


• * Laugh and make jokes with me


• * Gently push me toward new experiences


• * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

• * being committed and faithful to family and friends


• * being responsible and hardworking


• * being compassionate toward others


• * having intellect and wit


• * being a nonconformist


• * confronting danger bravely


• * being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

• * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind


• * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself


• * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of


• * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger


• * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right


• * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

• * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn


• * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger


• * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent


• * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel


• * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

• * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty


• * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence


• * worry more than most that their children will get hurt


• * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

God speaks in many ways....

The question is, am I listening?

You know how sometimes when the radio is on, the music is background noise? It's either there for mood or to keep us company, or it just sort of fades into the background.

And other times the music is the focus? We're listening to our favorite song or artist and sometimes singing along.

Well, the other day, I was driving, and the music was definitely background noise, I don't know what I was preoccupied with but it was probably how tired I was and my 'to do' list, as well as being a safe, courteous driver. LOL. (you can read that as I was griping and complaining in my head about all I 'had' to do and basically feeling sorry for myself, if you like. You wouldn't be incorrect.) ;-)

But suddenly the music became the focus because a single line in an unfamiliar song-literally 'jumped out' at me. Almost like it was inside my head, rather than on the radio.

You also know how frequently radio stations go from one song (or commercial) to the next and don't tell you who the artist is or the name of the song? Well after this line from this song caught my attention, the dj actually said the name of the song and the artist, both. Seriously, that almost never happens, especially when I want to know!

The song is called 'What Life Would Be Like' by Big Daddy Weave from their album by the same name.

The chorus is:

"He made the lame walk and the dumb talk
He opened blinded eyes to see
That the sun rises on His time
Yet He knows our deepest desperate need
And the world waits while His heart aches
To realize the dream
I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus live thru you and me"


The line that 'jumped out' at me was: "And the world waits while His heart aches"

The world WAITS while HIS HEART ACHES. I must admit that I have never thought of it from this perspective. That Jesus is waiting to return, and that the world/some of us are waiting for Him to return. And that His heart is aching. I can sure relate to an aching heart. This waiting is a hard thing to walk through. Knowing who your children are and that they are far far away and there is nothing you can do but (paperwork and) wait.

I've "met" many wonderful waiting adoptive parents online. We've had many discussions, blog posts, emails and comments about how our hearts ache for our children, and we just want them home, yesterday. I even met one mother whose biological infant died. I met another mother whose precious Haitian daughter died during the waiting time. And a few others whose birth parents changed their minds. Read about Noah here. And Anchise here

We are waiting and our hearts are aching. Plain and simple.

Go back and read the lyrics for the chorus-and notice the line before the one that caught my attention:

"Yet He knows our deepest desperate need"

He knows our deepest desperate need. Wow. He knows.

Then I was reminded of Matthew 7:9-11:

9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (NLT)

The Message states it like this:

7 -11"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? (The Message)
***********************************

We love our children and want good things for them-I can barely comprehend the love God has for us. God is love. The love we feel for our children-is NOTHING-only a speck, compared to the great love that God feels for us. WOW. Hard to comprehend, because I feel a LOT of love for our boys.


While all this stuff is milling around in my head (which admittedly can be a scary place sometimes lol), because God is trying to get my focus back in the right place-on Him; I had someone (who I haven't spoken to in ages, and really doesn't know me all that well these days) ask me if I was worried that my feelings about our kids would change or if I might change my mind during the process because it was so long. I was like "WHAT?!?!?!" As if. Do your feelings for your biological children change because you've 'had them' a few years?!?! WHAT?!? I just had to shake my head and move on. I see it as evidence of how little this person knows me, God and my relationship with God. That's all.

And so, with all of this, I was snapped out of my lil pity party and God helped me to put my focus back in the right place, on Him. When I focus on God-and all the details that He has brought together in my life, in this adoption, there has been confirmation after confirmation-I cannot help but feel comforted and secure in trusting Him to work it all out. It is CLEAR that God has put this together. And God does not do things halfway. So I trust Him and move forward. One step at a time.

I'm guessing that this waiting time will be a season of growth and stretching like none other. Having gone through a few other seasons of growth, I'm frightened by that, and yet, grateful, and awed, by that. That God cares enough to want to grow, stretch, teach me. Wow. It really is awe-inspiring.

I also know it is for my own good, because God is love. So, I am waiting while my heart is aching for God to grow me/my faith-whatever He needs to do.

God's will be done.

Wow. God is great.

Part I




Part II



Good resource for women and men impacted by abortion:

Healing After

The Ransomed Heart - A Warring Bride

This is taken from the book 'Captivating'. If you are a woman and you have not read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks. Lena

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"Ladies, you are the Bride of Christ…and the Bride of Christ is a warring bride.

Now, often the hardest person for us to fight on behalf of is ourself. But you must do it. Your heart is needed. You must be present and engaged in order to love well and fight on behalf of others. Without you, much will be lost. It is time to take a stand and to stand firm. We are at war. You are needed.

Yes, men are created in the image of the Warrior King. Men are warriors. But women need to fight, too. It is a powerful good when a man battles for a woman’s heart and stands between her and her enemies. But oftentimes, there is not a man present in a woman’s life to fight on her behalf. And even when there is, God desires the woman’s spirit to rise up in his strength as well. One day we will be queens – we will rule with Jesus (Rev. 21). We need to grow in our understanding and practice of spiritual warfare not only because we are getting beaten up by it but because it is one of the primary ways that we grow in Christ. He uses it in our lives to strengthen our faith, to draw us closer to Him, to train us for the role we are meant to play, to encourage us to play that role and to prepare us for our future at his side.

Much of what he allows in your life is not just for you to accept, but to get you to rise up! God wants you to know how to wield the weapons of warfare, how to take a stand and how to fight.

“One day you will be a Queen and you must open your eyes.”
(William Wallace to the Princess in Braveheart)

Women are not meant to be helpless creatures. God has given us a fierceness that is holy and is to be used on behalf of others. "

(Captivating , 195-196)

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