Just Sit Back and Relax

So we have ups and downs with both kids. Eli gets a bit 'unpredictable' when he is low on sleep and Maddux is going through a phase that I can't quite name because it encompasses so many *fun* aspects. For this post I am throwing all of that out the window and will shamelessly explain what just happened before bed.

At Eli's request, the book tonight was the Bible, specifically his Action Bible. Last night he read about the birth of Jesus with Lehr, so tonight we tackled when Jesus went to the Temples in Jerusalem when he was 12. Eli asked a few questions, and we moved on to the Orange Parenting video for the week. (I have the app on my phone and the kids absolutely love it...so do I!) This video was about struggling with having and wanting 'stuff', and how stuff is fine as long as it doesn't become more important than people or Jesus. We had barely turned off the phone when Eli said, "I think I will just keep four of my presents at Christmas and then give the rest to the family." (Sidenote: during the reading or the video, we talked about the opportunity we've been given on Christmas day to deliver food to a family who needs it. This is 'the family' Eli is speaking of.)

So of course my mouth is hanging open and tears are welling in my eyes and I want to say, "Oh sweetheart, you don't have to give up your presents." But I don't; I let him keep talking. "Mom, I think what I'll do is open the presents, and then I'll pick four to keep and bring the others, like maybe legos or books or cars, to the family when we bring them food." I take a deep breath and tell him that his idea is awesome and that I love his heart. I didn't want to make him sign a contract binding him to it, but I also wanted him to think about it more and hopefully go through with it, but of his own free will. I asked him to pray about it and remember that on Christmas morning. At this point Maddux says, "Mom, I think I'll do that next year. Not this year, but definitely next year." I told her that was fine and that it was a great idea no matter what year it was. But a few minutes later she changed her mind and said she wanted to bring some presents too, but she wanted us to wrap them back up so that the kids could open them for themselves. I then reminded the kids that we didn't know what family we'd be delivering to yet, and they might not have kids the same age as them. Eli said then he'd just bring the gifts back home and give them to someone else.

I fully realize that as amazing and generous as this conversation was, the thrill and shiny new of Christmas morning may change things. But it was a conversation prompted by the kids and I am choosing to see it as a step in the best possible direction. I think I'll go to bed right now and end my day on the best possible note.

Giving From The Heart

It was the kids' last day at VBS and they were sad. Eli told me all week, "I wish we had 100 more days." I'm so glad that they had such a good time with their friends. Even though Eli didn't give me a great run-down each day of the events at camp, he proved that he was listening last night. As he was leaving VBS he tried to whisper something in my ear, but it was so loud that I couldn't hear him. Around dinner time I asked him to tell me what it was he was trying to whisper. He told me, "Mom, we have to bring money to VBS for Aroba." I was confused and asked him to repeat a few times before I remembered that the church was collecting money for a little boy in Ethiopia. Obviously they've made the whole campaign very personal for the kids; Eli was so excited to bring money for another little boy that likes to play soccer. He even told me why we were giving him money. ('Because he doesn't have any to buy food and toys with.') So cool. After breakfast (after he reminded me three times) I gave Eli a $20 bill to put in the collection for both he and Maddux. And as soon as we arrived at the church, he rushed over to the box and deposited the bill before I even realized what he'd done. So proud of my little man!

Donation Corner: Prayer

I know, I know....it's been a long time since I've been consistent with the Donation Corner. I've let 'life' get in the way. And not just on the blog, but in many areas of my life. That is part of the reason why this time around, I'm focusing on prayer. This post may read wrong. I may ruffle feathers. I may alienate some of the few readers I have for this section, but I'm going to try to be honest.

Charities, foundations, non-profits...they are all GREAT and there are many that are well-deserving of our money. However, giving money to those less fortunate, or less healthy, or less privileged has become 'easy' for me. That's not to say the money our family gives couldn't be used in other areas of our budget. But I have found that it has become rather routine for me to donate to a charity or two each month. And then I find myself mentally checking that cause off my 'to-do' list for a while. I think that is wrong. I KNOW that money is needed and very appreciated, but needed at least as much is prayer for those in need of the funds, supplies, medical attention, etc. And I haven't been keeping up that part of my 'donation'.

I guess what it boils down to is that donations should be an act of giving. And while I am giving monetarily, it's not enough of a sacrifice to me. It's like if you heard that a multi-million dollar company donated to the Red Cross. $1000 whole dollars. For any one of us to give that much would warrant a big "WOW". But was that really the true spirit of giving for Richie Rich, Inc? Or was that more like a 5% tip? My practice of giving money without prayer is starting to feel like a 5% tip....

What IS most valuable to me is my time. Way more than money. My time with my husband. My time with my kids. My time with my work. My time with me. To give that up is a BIG sacrifice. One that I don't often make. But I think God calls me to do that. Because I've been so blessed to have health, family, a house, a car, food on the table, I think God may be a bit ticked with me for not taking time each day to pray for those that haven't been as blessed in this life. So starting today (and hopefully going forward EVERY day), I plan to take at least 15 minutes each afternoon (during my hour of 'down time') to pray for others. That could mean Haiti, that could mean my neighbors, that could mean Kenya, that could mean our government...who knows. I hope that once I start, I'll find I have a lot of prayers on my heart.

If you feel so inclined to join me in this Donation Corner, you can check out a site my church set up this year for prayer.

Merry Christmas!

Even though Maddux was in her crib singing a fast-forward version of "Jingle Bells" until 11:05 last night, both she and her brother were awake around 8AM. We turned on the tree lights, put the pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove, cranked up the Christmas music, and went in to greet the munchkins. We quickly got dressed so we could go downstairs and start our day.

Eli remembered that the first thing we do is put Baby Jesus in the manger (since now He is here!!), so as soon as we went downstairs, that's what Eli did. We also quickly revisited our discussion about Santa and the three gifts, so Eli was excited to see what might have been left. He said, "I'm gonna open them all right up!" We'd talked about that and decided that Santa has to go to a LOT of houses, and he doesn't have time to wrap all of those gifts, so Santa typically just puts bows on his gifts. Sure enough, there were three gifts for Eli and three gifts for Maddux near the Christmas tree! Eli got two different Lego sets and some new 'BOB beginning reader' books. Maddux got a talking Woody (Toy Story) 'doll', a Dr. Seuss book, and a Crayola coloring 'thing'. The kids loved it. They played and played until we had breakfast (Dutch Babies and strawberries and orange juice).

From there we started with the gifts under the tree. Although taking turns to open isn't the easiest for a two and four-year-old, Eli and Maddie did pretty well. They each gave Mommy and Daddy special gifts, and Eli was VERY excited about giving those gifts...especially the one for Daddy. We took another break to play and good family fun followed. Maddie's play-doh factory got opened and the four of us sat at the table and made burgers, fries, hot dogs, pickles, chips....everything!

Next on the agenda was the stockings. We decided (as a family) to open the Jesus Stocking first, since it was Jesus' birthday. (*Side note: We haven't talked about who put the gifts in the stockings yet...the story we're going with for now, if and when they ask, is that Santa fills them if they're empty, but usually families fill them. We figure this leaves the door open for us to do a name draw for stockings in years to come. Plus, we put gifts in Jesus' stocking, so it may not make sense to them that Santa then fills theirs.) Eli and Maddux definitely got a little squirmy as we went through His stocking, but the end was amazing. Even though they were antsy, when we finished the last item, I decided to press my luck and ask them to pray with me for the families we helped in His name. I then asked them each to pick one of our gifts to Jesus to pray for specifically. Eli picked three: the family we bought mosquito nets for, the kids we bought soccer balls for, and the chickens we bought for a family. Maddie chose the kids we bought blankets for. I started the prayer and then passed it over to Eli. He did great...praying for the family, asking God to help them to not get bitten by mosquitoes, then Maddux took over, doing her very quiet, whisper prayer (pretty much the sweetest thing ever since she forces her eyes shut while she does it), then Lehr, and even after I closed us, Eli asked to pray more. He'd forgotten to pray for the chickens and he didn't want to miss them. It was really really good stuff.

After naps (well, Maddie's nap), we opened the last few presents and played until dinner. Maddux and I put the finishing touches on the birthday cake for Jesus and we ate our feast of fresh pasta, homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs. The kids each had a piece of cake and then we took a family walk. It was awesome! We bundled up in jackets and walked up the street to see the lights and Nativity Scene. Baby Jesus was now in the manger and the kids were very excited about that. Eli and I had a blast walking, running, skipping and bounding (he has taken to doing boot camp with me when we go for walks). Before we left the house, Eli told me, "I hope Daddy and Maddux leave first so you and I can walk together, just us." MELT!

The day has not been perfect. There have been some stern words, a few almost time-outs, and some frustrated 'why are we trying so hard' moments, but the good parts have far outweighed those times, and these gems have proven to us why we strive to do Christmas this way. Sure, the kids love the presents, but we have not opened much (at least by today's "Super-Sized" standards) and they could not be happier. They have been mindful about whose day it is. The four of us have spent quality time together, and nothing has been rushed at all. The focus has been off of the material and more on the experience. The togetherness. The celebration of Jesus. The one-on-one time with the family. The gratitude for what we have, excluding the presents.

Donation Corner: Operation Christmas Child

Same as last year!! It's such a great charity...check it out!!

I spotlighted Operation Christmas Child last year, but it's such a neat charity that I had to include it again. Every year, Samaritan's Purse collects thousands of shoe boxes (or plastic storage boxes of similar size) filled with gifts for children living in poverty. I personally love this opportunity to donate because it is a great way to involve the kids. Eli and Maddux get to pick out some toys, socks, toothbrushes, and other little goodies for 'udder kids' (as Maddie calls them). Then they can easily sort them into boxes based on gender or age. Even though we don't know what country our specific boxes will go to, we talk about a few of the places they might go, and I try my best to explain to the kids why some people need us to send them hats and books. Some great conversations have come out of this donation of time and materials in the last three years, and I can only hope it's helping Eli and Maddux to be more aware and giving little people. The collection week is fast approaching (November 16-23), so you don't have much time left to donate this year. If you miss the cutoff, you can donate year round by mailing your boxes to OCC's headquarters. If you finish your box by the 23th, you can drop it off at any number of collection sites.

Donation Corner: charity: water

Sa-la-cker!! That needs to be my new nickname because I have not posted a new Donation Corner in several months. My blog posts have been sporadic due to busy schedules (mine) and unruly behavior (the kids'). Those are poor excuses though, so I'll start today fresh.

Lehr stumbled across charity: water a few months ago and we both fell in love with their simple, effective and amazing model. One of the coolest things about this charity (and there are a LOT of cool things about them) is that 100% of money raised goes to the cause. 100%. And the guy who started it is a normal guy. Living his life in NYC until he took a trip overseas and had his perspective changed. I love how he talks about the Bible story of compassion: "Only one had compassion." That's all it takes, right? For SOMEONE to have compassion. For SOMEONE to give a little of what they have. And if you are reading this blog right now, you 'have'.

charity: water sites that unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness. Every day, women and children in developing countries walk many hours a day to gather water that is unsafe, because that is all that is available to them. Of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation, 90% are children under 5 years old. That means had Eli and Maddux been born elsewhere, they could be part of that 90%. Gut check.

Check out this video....peruse the website...buy some gift cards for friends' birthdays or holidays....act. now.

The story of charity: water - The 2009 September Campaign Trailer from charity: water on Vimeo.

Talkin' Bout Money....AGAIN!

I know, I know....I have brought up the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer too many times on this blog. But short of knocking on your doors, this is the easiest and most effective way to reach my peeps.

If you have already donated, thank you SO MUCH...you can stop reading now.

For the rest of you, I understand...the economy is making it hard to pay the bills, let alone pass along money to charities. Let me remind you that your donation would be tax-deductible. What? Still no takers? OK, how about this. At Lehr's suggestion (and a good one, I think), I am currently offering 'free' photography services in exchange for donations. I don't print out pictures, but I will shoot (in the photo-sense-of-the-word) you or your kids or your family and provide you with a CD with the full-quality shots. If you're interested, check out my work and let me know.

Donation Corner: An Orphan's Wish

So I've slacked on this portion of the blog for the last month or so. I got busy, but that is no excuse....in fact, it basically is the opposite of the sentiment I try to embrace by spotlighting a charity each month. Life is busy. We've all got stuff going on: good and bad. But someone else always has it worse, and if it is in our power to help them, we are called to do that. Off the soapbox.

I found An Orphan's Wish while reading a blog and I knew right away I wanted to bring attention to it. I definitely have a soft spot for charities surrounding kids, and when it also involves orphaned children, even more so. An Orphan's Wish specializes in healing and helping kids with special needs, medical conditions and Cerebral Palsy. Located in China, this center helps kids of many different ages and ailments, including club feet.

One of the coolest things about this organization (to me) is the freedom to give in so many different ways. You can find out about specific kids at the House of Love and commit to donating to them on a monthly basis, or you can make a one-time donation. You also have the option to give in support of a specific project or program within An Orphan's Wish. If those options don't suit you, they are always accepting general donations.

Donation Corner: My Stuff Bags

A few weeks back, a friend pointed me to a blog that has consumed my time and my heart since I read the first post. Matt lost his wife the day after their daughter was born, leaving him to deal with grief and joy, both at once. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I have not read in his words that he is a believer; personally I have no idea how he has managed to care for his daughter in the amazing way he has without faith. That task seems next to impossible for me... I don't know that it was God's will for Liz to leave this earth so quickly after her daughter was born, but I do believe that God can turn any situation around to have a profound and positive impact. While I'm sure most people would agree that it might have been best for everyone if Madeline would have been able to grow up with both parents alive and present in her life on earth, I think that the relationship between Matt and Madeline will be better and closer than ever possible had things gone another way last March. Through the tears, Matt seems to have become this awesome "Mr. Mom" who has done all he can to make sure his daughter knows she is loved and cared for every second of the day. (I urge you to read the blog, but keep Kleenex nearby because it is real, it is raw, and it is heart-wrenching.)

One of the things Matt has done to help others in hard situations is support My Stuff Bags Foundation. So many children in our country need to be rescued from dangerous home environments: more than 300,000 each year! These kids often have to leave home quickly, without a chance to pack their belongings. As they make that scary transition from their home to foster care, My Stuff Bags hopes to put a My Stuff bag into every child in this situation.

Now is the part where I tell you how you can help. Obviously, money donations are accepted. You can also collect or buy toys or books for these kids and send them to the foundation. Some items they need are stuffed animals, coloring books, small toiletries, small photo albums, rattles, school supplies, books, hats, and toys. Handmade crafts are always a nice touch also. If you want to make a cuddly (and easy!!) blanket, here are the directions. And finally, if you live in SoCal, you can volunteer your time.

Donation Corner: Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer

I know...I'm behind in my posts. Over the holidays I signed up for a walk that I made the decision to walk back in October. I guess I'm behind in other areas of my life too!!

For the last few years, I've walked in the Atlanta 2-day Walk for Breast Cancer. As great an organization as that is, I'm trying a new walk for the same cause this year. In October I'll walk 60 miles in three days with several other thousands of men and women who also raised money for the cause. This is not only a longer distance than the 2-Day walk, but I also need to raise more funds: $2,300.00.

Let's talk a little more about that cause. Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds for this year's even will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Every advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education and prevention in the last 25 years has been touched by a Komen Grant. And most everyone has been touched in some way by breast cancer through a mother, a wife, a sister, or a friend.

Please join me in raising awareness and funds for this amazing organization. (Click here to donate.) They have helped so many women cope with and survive breast cancer; I'm walking so they can continue to do just that.

Amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen.


I have been feeling this way for years now. Lehr and I made a conscious effort a few years back to cut back on our (useless) holiday spending on friends and family and each other. Why do the stockings have to be overflowing with cheap plastic trinkets that get lost before the day is through? Why do the gifts under the tree have to total a certain amount, even if it means buying things we know the person on the receiving end probably won't like? Silly. It's silly, I tell you. I am sure we've offended some friends and family. I'm sure a few of them have even thought, "Wow...I guess they just don't feel we're important enough to buy for anymore." That's not it; I assure you. We've really tried to be mindful of our gifts. They usually consist of more time-consuming sacrifices than wallet-reaching sacrifices. They are usually something that we hope will mean something years from now, not just for a few weeks after the holidays. And more importantly, we hope Eli and Maddux see that we use our 'extra' money to help people who don't have the means to provide for themselves.

For several years now we've participated in several charities throughout the year, and especially at the holidays. I'm not posting this to say 'yay us'; I hope this helps families who want to create similar traditions. We adopt a family with a terminally ill child for Christmas. Together with a few other families, we provide a Christmas filled with wants and needs for a family who otherwise would have a bleak holiday due to the demands of medical bills. Eli has really gotten into this practice the last few years, and I hope Maddux starts to understand a little more next Christmas. We also go through the World Vision catalogue and pick out a few things to buy for kids, families, and villages all over the world. Be it water or food or mosquito nets or soccer balls, Eli gets to choose how he wants to help.

I'm not doing a formal 'Donation Corner' this month. Instead, please seek out your own charity. I have several charities linked on my Donation Corner page if you need ideas, but I urge you to pray about it and find what need speaks to your heart.

Donation Corner: Operation Christmas Child

I spotlighted Operation Christmas Child last year, but it's such a neat charity that I had to include it again. Every year, Samaritan's Purse collects thousands of shoe boxes (or plastic storage boxes of similar size) filled with gifts for children living in poverty. I personally love this opportunity to donate because it is a great way to involve the kids. Eli (and now Maddux) gets to pick out some toys, socks, toothbrushes, and other little goodies for 'udder kids' (as he calls them). Then he can easily sort them into boxes based on gender or age. Even though we don't know what country our specific boxes will go to, we talk about a few of the places they might go, and I try my best to explain to the kids why some people need us to send them hats and books. Some great conversations have come out of this donation of time and materials in the last two years, and I can only hope it's helping Eli and Maddux to be more aware and giving people. The collection week is fast approaching (November 17-24), so you don't have much time left to donate this year. If you miss the cutoff, you can donate year round by mailing your boxes to OCC's headquarters. If you finish your box by the 24th, you can drop it off at any number of collection sites.

Donation Corner: Double Time!

Since October has 31 days, and since I'm actually posting on the first day of the month, I decided to double it up and put two organizations in the spotlight this month! Given the cooler temps, I find myself spending more time outside, usually doing an activity of sorts, so both charities this month fall into an 'active' category.

First up is Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program. If you're like me, you go through several pairs of tennis shoes each year, only to throw them in the trash after two months of training. What a waste! They're not good enough to donate, but I have never found a second home for them until now. Nike, as part of their Let Me Play program, started grinding up old sneakers (any brand, any make) in an effort to cut down on waste and to help build sports surfaces such as basketball courts and playgrounds. Just to give you an idea of how many shoes are used for these surfaces, here are a few numbers:
• Outdoor basketball court: 2,500 pairs
• Mini soccer field: 10,000-20,000 pairs
• Playground: 2,500 pairs
• Indoor basketball court: 2,500 pairs

The only catch is how to get the shoes to Nike. This link allows to to search by country and state, but many of you might not have a nearby drop-off location. You can mail your shoes directly to Nike (which will cost you postage); I suggest you collect shoes from a few families, or maybe even your neighborhood, before sending in a shipment. It might take a little leg-work on your end, but isn't that what 'giving back' is all about?

The second charity I want to spotlight is Medals4Mettle. I read about this charity in a recent Runner's World magazine, and I was instantly touched by the sentiment behind this organization. As an active person, I have completed several 5Ks, 10Ks, and other various races. Every time you complete a race, you get a tee-shirt. Over the last several years, my collection has grown and the tee-shirts mean very little to me because I have so many. Some people compete on a higher level and run a few marathons each year. When you complete half and full marathons, your prize includes a medal. I assume after three or four, the medals become less important to those runners as well. In 2005 a doctor completed a marathon and went directly to work. He checked in with a cancer patient who was in the midst of a rough round of chemo. The doctor presented the marathon medal to the patient because compared to the battle the patient was enduring each day, a marathon was a walk in the park. (For those of you, like me, that didn't know what mettle meant, it is synonymous with courage.) So for those of you who run marathons and want to do more than just run for yourself, you can donate your hard-earned prize to someone who runs a marathon (and then some) every day. (You can also donate money for ribbon production if you don't have any medals to give.)

Donation Corner: Operation Smile

Yes, I'm late with my donation pick this month: sorry!! Between school starting and other things, the first week of September just flew by!

This month I'm spotlighting Operation Smile, an organization dedicated to helping children with cleft lips and/or cleft palates smile. A plastic surgeon and his wife founded Operation Smile when they traveled to the Philippines and saw hundreds of kids with untreated deformities. A cleft palate or lip is when the tissues of the mouth or lip do not form properly during fetal development. In the United States, clefts occur in 1 in 700 to 1,000 births, making it the one of the most common major birth defects. Clefts occur more often in children of Asian, Latino, or Native American descent. The good news is that both cleft lip and cleft palate are treatable birth defects. Most kids who are born with these conditions can have reconstructive surgery within the first 12 to 18 months of life to correct the defect and significantly improve facial appearance. The bad news is, in many countries, funds and medical professionals are not as widely available as they are in North America, so too many children do not have the option of surgery. A child with a cleft lip or palate tends to be more susceptible to colds, hearing loss, and speech defects. Dental problems - such as missing, extra, malformed, or displaced teeth, and cavities - also are common in children born with cleft palate. Speech, eating, drinking and social interaction are also challenging for those afflicted with a cleft lip or palate.

As always, the easiest way to help Operation Smile is to donate funds. There are other ways, however. If you want to volunteer time, there are Mission trips going to different countries every month, and extra hands are always appreciated. If you are a medical professional, your skills are even more valuable.

I encourage you to check out some of the stories surrounding this wonderful charity. The impact Operation Smile is having on these children is larger than life.

Donation Corner: The Jessica Project

A friend of mine recently started a foundation to help put a smile on the face of cancer patients. When you battle cancer and go through chemo therapy, hair loss is often the inevitable. For a woman, that can be a bitter pill to swallow, as hair, whether it be long, short, curly or straight, is often paired with femininity. Brittney Davis founded The Jessica Project to collect scarves and donations as a way to reach out to cancer patients going through the same thing her sister, Jessica, did several years ago when she battled cancer. Please join me by making a donation to this worthy cause.

Donation Corner: Angel Flights

I've posted a spotlight to Angel Flights already, but recent events motivated me to draw attention to the very worthy cause once again. (You can read the story here.)

Earlier this week a fellow clubfoot parent suffered a great tragedy during an Angel Flight home. The plane left Iowa City only to crash just after take-off. The mother and child (Sydney) were injured in the flight, and the child passed shortly after arriving at the hospital. Sydney had just finished meeting with Dr. Ponseti for treatment of her bilateral clubfeet.

This story hit home with me because, although I've never spoken directly with this parent, I followed Sydney's story on one of the clubfoot-parent message boards I frequent. I cannot imagine what Sydney's family is going through right now, but I know they'd appreciate any and all prayers right now. They were very grateful to have the opportunity to use Angel Flights, and to see Dr. Ponseti. Sydney's mom has told us on the board that of all places for this to happen, she was grateful it was in Iowa City, where she was surrounded by so many great people. She has had the support and love from her 'clubfoot family' through it all.

You may be thinking, 'Why are you spotlighting a cause that brought on such a tragedy?' This crash was a total fluke...accidents happen and in no way does Sydney's family blame Angel Flights. Their organization provides free flights to families who cannot afford them so children can receive necessary medical treatment that is not available within driving distance. If you'd like to learn more, you can read more about Angel Flights here. (There is not a link from that website to donate just yet, but you can donate here.)

Donation Corner: MercyCorps

This month's donation corner spotlights a big charity: MercyCorps. It's similar to a few others, World Vision, for example, in that they offer opportunities to donate in numerous areas. I'm choosing to narrow down the donation to one specific area of need. In Jakarta's impoverished neighborhoods, breastfeeding rates are lower than low. MercyCorps offers a Breastfeeding Kit to help train counselors to support mothers and families (at a clinic) in their efforts to give their children a healthy start. The site mentions that breastfeeding has been called "a natural safety net against the worst effects of poverty." Indonesia's high rate of neonatal mortality and childhood malnutrition could be reduced by improving early and exclusive breastfeeding in these neighborhoods. So, in honor of Mothers' Day, this month I'm asking that if you feel led to donate, consider purchasing a breastfeeding kit to donate to the mothers of Jakarta.

Donation Corner: Idol Gives Back

Before you roll your eyes and mutter, "How cheesy" under your breath, hear me out. American Idol's charity concert covers a lot of different needs. Go here to give a regular old donation. OR learn more about the charities they support and either give to one on your own or donate in another way (time, goods, etc.)

Donation Corner: Red Scarf Project

This month I'm highlighting the Orphan Foundation of America. Once orphans graduate from high school, it's often forgotten that they still need family and love. OFA works to send care packages to orphans in college and trade school.

The "Red Scarf" portion of this organization allows you to give in a more creative way. Inside those care packages are hand-knit red scarves. Taking the time to knit a scarf is a great way to let these kids know someone cares enough to take the time out for them.

If you're not handy with the sticks, there are many other ways to donate time and/or resources. Maybe you could write a grant, or sponsor a scholarship, or become a virtual mentor. There are also opportunities to package and donate complete care packages as a community, church, or neighborhood.

Donation Corner: Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer

This month's choice was a no-brainer. Not only did I just sign up for the 30-mile walk, but February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Being a woman, and a mother of a daughter, breast cancer is obviously something that is on my mind from time to time. Unfortunately in the past five years I've known several women who have been diagnosed with some form of breast cancer. The statistics are shocking to say the least: someone in the US is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and someone dies from this disease every 13 minutes.

The cool thing about this particular walk is the amount of money that actually goes back to the cause. Because there is not a third party organization running the event, most of the money generated flows right into the funds for research, support, financial assistance, treatment and awareness programs in Atlanta. The Atlanta 2-Day Walk's goal is to give back at least 70% of all money raised. That is a big number!! (Avon and other breast cancer walks are wonderful, but their percent of 'return' is much lower than this.) In the past five years, this walk has raised $4 million to fund local programs.

Due to a very large and generous donation on my first day out of the gates, I've already raised the minimum funds required and met my original goal. (I've since revised that goal.) I don't consider an achieved monetary goal a reason to stop trying to raise money! If you would like to donate to the walk, you can click on my link to the right, or go to the general donation page. Any money is good money, as far as I'm concerned!