Upcoming Giveaway

In times of old I was known to have an occasional giveaway.  With my absence over the past year or so… they have become but a memory. 

 

As Spring seems to be popping up all around and the newness of life is all around, I want myself to give back.  So many of you have stayed with me over this time of change in my life.  Many of you have even came searching for me when my voice was not heard over a period of time.  For this I am so grateful.  You will not know the many times that those emails or comments hit me at exactly the time I needed them most. 

 

I do not know exactly what it will be except that I am going to put together some of my items from my Etsy Shop now as well as some ideas I have been toying with and have not posted as of yet.  Thank you again for all the prayers, support and simple friendship you have bestowed to me.  Blessings

Update to Earlier Posting - Ryans Story

Earlier today I posted about the aftermath of the tornados that ravaged through our state earlier this week. One of the accounts that I spoke of was a pregnant mother who attempted to shield her three other children (5, 3 and 15 months) by placing herself over them in the bath tub. Although her efforts were heroic and all she could do, the family was thrown in multiple places as the tornado ripped through their neighborhood, taking their home down to the foundation.

The mother, daughter, and 15 month old son were later found and taken to a nearby hospital. Cole, the 15 month old later succumbed to his injuries and passed. The mother and 5 year old daughter, remain in critical condition. I also spoke of Ryan, the three year old son who was still missing. I found out earlier today that he was found early this morning. Despite hope for a better outcome, he did not make it.

Attached is a link in regards to their story as well as means to help the family out if any of you feel led to do so. There is nothing more heartbreaking than the loss of a child. The hurt seems to be felt more when a face can be put with the one who is no longer with us. Three short years is a brief time to have an impact on this world, yet from the smile on this little boys face, I can tell that he touched many. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to struggle with the events that have befell them this week. The loss of two of their children (and brother) as well as the continual recovery of the mom and sister as well as rebuilding.

The Need is Still There

Remember Those In Need

This last week, life for most of us has continued as usual. We are awaiting the coming of spring and preparing our summer gardens. Many of us have been vacationing due to spring break. We are enjoying time with friends and family.


Yet on the other side of the world life is not so normal. Throughout the week I have watched coverage of the continuing disaster in Japan. The earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear threat is beyond anything that most of us have ever or will ever have to endure. Yet still these quiet stoic people do just that.

Tears just seem to not do any justice for the fate which has fallen onto the population of Japan. I watched today as Americans and others left the country to escape the threat of what may come. Yet just moments later I watched as older native people were set up in camps as they are unable to travel. I watched as the little children were scanned for nuclear activity. I wondered what about them. What about those who are not able to run or fly out of harm's way?

I hold them in my prayers and thoughts. Knowing that ahead of them is a road that few could travel. In my travels on Esty I found a wonderful artist Naokosstop.  She is from Japan and is living in New York. I purchased some art from her last year as I simply love the simplicity of her work. I came across her site the other day and found that one of her pictures she is donating 50% of the cost to the Red Cross. I usually do not publicize such things yet the picture entitled "Thinking of Home" seems so fitting.

I have also included other sites that revolve around the relief effort for Japan. Once again our world is faced with a need that is far greater than those who are effected can satisfy. If only with a thought and a prayer or the lighting of a candle: remember those who are hurting.

Global Giving

Red Cross Donations

Samaritan's Purse

Doctors Without Borders

World Vets

Remember Queensland

I am sure many of you have heard about about the terrible flooding in Queensland Australia.  Because blogland has no boundaries many of us have friends and some even family that is affected by this disaster. 

While visiting Wendy at Butterflies and Breezes I picked up this link for donating to the cause and thought I would share it with others. Queensland Flood Relief




The rains are still coming and this ordeal is very active.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Hearts for Haiti - Featured Blog

A multitude of options are available to any and all who may want to in some way contribute to the relief efforts of Haiti.  I truly believe that there is something for everyone and that no matter what your circumstance you can find something that will fit you and your situation so that you can give in some manner.  It gives a good feeling that so many are so willing to give to this effort as it is one that is monumental. 

Yesterday I ran across this site and thought I would post it as my featured blog for the week.  It is not neccessarily a blog yet it shows the ability to help quite nicely.  Esty has created a specific site Hearts For Haiti where any of their patrons can contribute an item for sale.  All proceeds (after esty fees) will go to the relief fund for Doctors Without Borders.  I have went to the site often and it is amazing how it continues to grow.  Not only with contributions of items to sale yet also with the amount that has already been sold.    Thus far when I last checked which was this morning they had already collected $6963.00.  Not bad... Not bad at all

I know that in my post yesterday there were remarks of how helpless people felt.  As if they felt like there was nothing that they could do.  It can look overwhelming yet the magic has already started.  Millions and Millions of $ have already been donated (although it will take Millions and Millions more).  People have stepped in and given of their time and energy to help in a physical sense.  There will be other needs that arise as time passes also.  This can make one feel as if there is so little that can be done, yet still I look back to the simple drive from Red Cross.  The Cell Phone Text of Haiti to 90999 donating a mere $10 raised over 22 million dollars in less than a week.  That is a nice dent in the bucket if you ask me.  Every penny truly does count.  So I encourage you to drop by this site and see whats going on....

Overwhelming

Tragedy is something that occurs on a daily basis. Devastation and death is truly an everyday occurrence. However in most cases we never hear about the things that occur or if we do they are but fleeting blimps on the nightly news. It takes a catastrophe of great magnitude to hold our attention for a long period of time and truly make us see the pain and loss that occurs. This last week on January 12th we witnessed such an act in the earthquake that hit Haiti. I have purposely kept myself from watching too much of the coverage as it is simply too overwhelming. Small doses are all I can seem to process as the stories are graphic and brutal reality.

The other evening I watched as a doctor from Canada spoke of the medical facilities they possessed. Literally they had none; A mere three bottles of alcohol, a hack saw, and a couple bottles of rum and vodka that had been given to him by someone. In the background the hack saw was being used to amputate the leg from a small child. I wondered as I listened if that child was even given any form of pain relief before the "operation" occurred. Even now the sheer brutal reality of the situation overwhelms me.

I know that so many have come to the aid of Haiti and rightfully so. Yet the degree of need is so great that it will continue to be there for some time. Battered already from several tropical storms in past years, this final blow was just that a final blow. Homeless people cover any open area available. The dead are piled high and at time moved with front end loaders and put into a dump truck to be taken to a mass grave so that the smell can be subdued somewhat. The basic act of survival can be seen in the panic of looting and fighting for whatever food or fresh water can be found.

I daresay that we and most others outside of Haiti can’t even begin to understand completely the degree of this event. We may try and yet I do believe that effort is futile. The fear of not knowing if other family members are alive; a child, a mother, a father. The pain of inflicted medical issues that have gone unattended for days; many just waiting to die. The hunger and thirst for food and water as there is none and has not been since the earthquake occurred. My heart especially goes out to the children. Earlier today in reading about Haiti, I learned that before the earthquake 48% of the population of Haiti was below the age of 18 before the earthquake occurred. This fact means that the majority of this devastation has occurred to mere children. There has been a rush of attempts to adopt children who have been orphaned yet only those that were in the process have been continued. There is a fear that this event could cause an increase in possible child trafficking and so any new adoptions are being slow to start up.

Although I know that this post sounds somewhat of a rant, it truly is more of a cry. I understand that no one can go into this and fix everything at least not overnight. There were already issues to be dealt with in Haiti even before the earthquake occurred. Those issues are still there and are even more compounded now. Yet it truly is a time when we as people need to rally together and truly help the cause. Lay down our differences, whether due to race, politics, financial status, religious beliefs and so on and help our fellow man, woman and child.

One of the easiest ways is the Red Cross Cell Phone Text Drive. A simple text of the word Haiti from ones cell phone to 90999 immediately donates $10.00 to the Red Cross Haiti relief fund. This drive has already donated a total of $22 million dollars, which is roughly one fifth of the $112 million that has been received from the Red Cross so far. It is truly the simplest form of donating there is. The amount is minimal yet the amount collected thus far shows just how fast it can add up.

There are numerous organizations to donate to. One can easily feel confused when looking at them all. Yet there are a few that I would like to speak of as I feel they are worthwhile and offer something that is specifically needed at this time in Haiti. The first one is Doctors Without Borders. This organization has been in Haiti prior to the earthquake in response to medical needs and is there now as well. The medical needs are astounding at this time and any assistance that can be given in this manner is well appreciated.

The next organization I would like to mention is Unicef. With the multitude of children who are now homeless or orphaned it seems only fitting that their need be looked after. This is a worldwide organization that has been around for many years and has done some exceptional work in regards to the rights and needs of the child.

These are only three of the several organizations that are out there yet there are some definite reasons I choose these three. There is no middle man or at least very minimal here. The money is given and already it is closer to where it can start working immediately. I urge you to please consider contributing to any or all of these as well as the others that are not listed. The need is great…. And we can do so much with so little. Blessings to all