So, I haven’t really had much thoughts lately, I’ve just been soaking up the friendship here in good ole Virginia. We left for our annual pilgrimage to visit some friends in Virginia last Friday and have been enjoying every minute. I have, however, taken over 100 pictures. Here are my favorites.

I think most Mom’s can relate to this. I made the mistake of watching it with my girls. Oy.

We are leaving for a road trip tomorrow. Yesterday I was overwhelmed with the amount of things that I needed to get done to ready 4 people and a house for a week away. Sooooooo, I made a list. And then I did something shameful and totally unprecedented–procrastinated. I proceeded to work on some sewing projects. I have a short term memory problem and apparently also a penchant for doing things not written on a list. I had to show that list who’s boss–”don’t tell me what I CAN’T DO, list”. It wasn’t so bad though because I was being productive. If I’m doing something else productive it’s not bad, right?! Right?!!!

Anywho, I blame this book:

I got it for Christmas, and decided that if I didn’t sew at least one thing from there by spring break I needed to slap myself upside the head. Now, since I spent yesterday at my sewing machine, instead of cleaning out my fridge or washing clothes, I will probably double slap myself for doubling my list of to-do’s today. But, I got this really cute top for one of my girls out it:

And then, instead of removing 50 lbs of compost from my van and starting to pack, I made two of these:

It breaks my Mommy heart when I look to the back seat and see my girls sleeping with their neck at a 90 degree angle, so I whipped up some of these with some flannel and some stuffing from an old pillow.

So today my work load is doubled–but at least I satisfied my need to sew!

I’ll never forget riding on a train through the slums of Bangkok over ten years ago. Just a few feet from the train tracks were hundreds of homes put together with scavenged materials–cardboard, corrugated metal, plastic and tarp. These didn’t look to be temporary living quarters, but homes where men, women and children spent their days eating, sleeping, playing and likely battling rodents and thieves. There was no carpet or stylish hardwood floors beneath their feet, but dirt and filth. There was no popcorn ceiling to complain about, but likely a leaky makeshift roof that let in rain and bugs.

I couldn’t believe that people were living in conditions worthy of only rodents. I imagine for many people in slums like this their next meal is often an uncertainty; often our only uncertainty is which restaurant to eat at. How is it that for some the most basic of human needs–food and water–are so elusive, yet to others they are as ever-present and available as the sunshine or rain. It blows my mind that we all share this same planet yet have vastly different experiences and circumstances. Yet, what is the difference between us and them? The difference is where they were born.

Even though children are born everyday in slums that we cannot imagine–that we don’t wish to imagine, they are not without hope. The past several days a handful of bloggers have been sharing about Compassion International and the hope that the sponsers bring to the most destitute communities around the world. Not all of us will see these dark places around the world but these bloggers are doing a stellar job of telling the stories in word and picture of those who usually don’t have a voice in this world. They are also telling stories of changed lives–of children being freed from poverty through sponsorship. And just as importantly it teaches us who have more to part with some of our wealth. Kristen from We Are That Family put it perfectly when she said “Sponsorship rescues them from poverty, but it has rescued me from wealth“.

Anyways, I beg anybody reading this to spend a few minutes to get a glimpse of a life that could have been yours, if you were born in another place. Here are a few notable posts from bloggers visiting Kenya.

Today I Went to Hell

Sight For the Blind

Full Circle

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

The Hope of the Mathare Slum

So, I’m really feeling in the mood for being teased. It’s been a while since anyone has pointed and laughed at me, if you don’t count my children or my husband. I thought I would share something intensely personal today–so you could get a peek into my Canadian psyche. Below is a video vignette that used to play on Canadian television when I was a kid. So while many of you American’s may have childhood memories of fireworks and backyard football, we crazy Canucks remember with fondness lumberjacks burnin’ down the white water.