Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 17

"P.U.S.H. -- Pray Until Something Happens" -- unknown


"...be the kind of people that have enough passion to change the world. If we let ourselves be fire, thunder, or lightening, we could alter everything." -- Diary 43 Freedom Writer's Diary


"You want to get a cupcake with me?" she asked as we sat in our monthly team meeting. "I can't," I responded. "Oh, you on some kind of diet or something?" she asked. "Well not really. It's this thing at my church called 25 in Change" and I told her all about what we were doing. "Well I'm not going to have a cupcake then either." "No, please if you want to eat a cupcake, feel free, this isn't the first nor will it be the last time I will be around food." I told her. "No, if you're only eating rice and beans, I can go without a cupcake," she said with a smile. "Now how do I get involved?" she asked. The following week I sent her some information and she kindly sent it out to her friends and family, and within minutes of her e-mail I received this from her cousin.


"We would love to participate and I wanted to share with you why.  About a week ago, I was putting Karter to bed and before I left the room he said “Mom, are their kids in Africa who don’t have food?”  I told him yes and that there were hungry children and people of all ages around the world, even right here in our city.  He said that he wanted to use the money he has saved from cat-sitting his Aunt’s cats to feed the kids in Africa.  He has $51.  I told him that we would look together and he could choose which program he wanted to use it for.   I know he would love to support you Andrea.  So we will register for $100, $50 from Karter and $50 from us.  Good luck on this journey!!!" 


I was blown away. Not only were they willing to support someone they didn't know, but their 6 year old son was thinking of children all across the world that he didn't know and wanted to help. It brought me to tears as I read this. At 6 years old, I don't remember thinking about the children across the globe, I think I was mostly interested in what toys I was going to play with that day and if Ernie was on Seasame Street. But this little 6 year old was thinking of others and wanted to do something to help. To save his own money to donate just blows me away. Once again, I am in awe of the miracles that God has worked over the past 18 days and I am so grateful for children such as Karter, and for parents like Karter's who have taught him that to get along in this world we cannot think of only ourselves, we must think of all of humanity as our brothers and sisters. Please remember the children in Africa, in India, in China, in Chile, in the United States who all must go hungry, and remind yourself of little 6 year old Karter's generosity. May he inspire you as much as he has inspired me! God bless


"How our children live tomorrow depends on what we teach them today." -- Our Daily Bread


"From what we get we can make a living. What we give, however, makes a life." 

-- Arthur Ashe

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 16

"Be quiet and listen and when called upon act." -- James Ahlschwede

I got this in my e-mail today from http://www.inspiremetoday.com, it is written by Vicky Darden, I thought I would share it as it seemed fitting for this time in my life Hope you enjoy!

"A few caring people will change the world; they are the only thing that can."

 ~ Vicky Darden

If I could share 500 words of wisdom to summarize what I've learned so far in life, these are the important things I'd want to pass along to others...

None of us know when our last day in this realm here on earth will be, as each moment dies in order for the next moment to be born.

Know that we are not our experiences. What happens to the physical does not need to alter the spirit, the essence of who we truly are. You are not your stories, if you don't like your Story, tell yourself a new one, a more positive one. Create your story the way you want it to be.

In full knowledge that I am lucky to be alive, each day is a blessing. Each day starts with thoughts of gratitude. I believe when we are grateful for what we have, no matter how small, we bring blessings into our lives, those blessings may come as a smile from a stranger, a hug just when you need one, a meal when you are hungry, or simply the courage to find your way through a really tough day.

The two most important questions I ask in my life are, "What can I do for someone else today?" and, "What will I do for myself today?". I ask them in that order because in doing something for someone else I've done something for myself. The world should be looked at as a "favor bank," a place where we continually pay things forward.

In a world that seems to live as if each one of us is a separate being, I challenge that belief with my knowledge that we are all connected. The air you are breathing has been breathed into the lungs of someone else next to you, miles from you, and even halfway around the world.

When we understand our connectedness we realize that whatever we do to someone else, we do to ourselves. Kindness given is kindness received. You may not find that kindness in the person you gave it to but kindness will return to you. Live in present moment awareness and you will see the blessings.

Kindness, unlike stuff, is one thing that creates more joy and more blessings in our lives. So many people believe that if a small amount of "stuff" makes them happy, then surely the more "stuff" we have the happier we will be. I have found this to be exactly the opposite. The less stuff we have, the less complicated our lives are and the simpler we live the more grateful we are.

I truly believe that at the end of the day if we were asked what is right with the world we need to be able to say, "I am." One person can make a difference and should always strive to do so, one act of kindness at a time.

"When we allow love to define who we are as we work, we become irristiable leaders for a contagious passion for what we do." -- unknown

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 15

"Instead of telling the world

What it is supposed to do,

Why don't you immediately do it yourself?

In this way, I assure you,

Your happiness will be surprisingly multiplied." -- Sri Chinmoy

I received an e-mail from my mom about my post that I had written on Day 13 and I just want to clear a few things up and apologize at the same time. First and foremost, my post seemed to read that I was ungrateful for all my loving friends and family that have stood by me and supported in so many things and I want all those people to know how grateful I truly am for everything that you have done, there are no words that could express my gratitude or my deep appreciation for the friend, family, and loving supportive people that you all are. With that said, I also want to make it clear that my anger in that post is not directed at any one person, but more at our society as a whole, which includes myself. How could we be living like this, where much of our nation is overweight or obese, while literally millions of children go starving every day? It's time that we wake up and do something about it. And in case you missed the message in Day 13, as I gathered I wasn't very clear about what I was trying to say, (I'm gonna blame this one on the rice and beans brain) As I wrote that post, I went from blaming others, wondering to myself, "Why have they not done anything? Why does this not matter to them?" but by the end of it, I was reminded, that I must be the example. I must be the change that I want to see. My mom kindly reminded me that we're all bombarded with tons of good causes that we could get involved with or donate to etc... and sometimes people's passions might not align with my own. I understand this, and I hope you all know that I am grateful for each and everyone of you, who have donated, and for those who have not, but have stood beside me in this challenge and many other "crazy" things that I've done. I also want to make it clear that this is not about the me, the other 24 advocates, or the money that is donated, but more so about the awareness of making a world change. Saying, Enough is Enough, it's time we do something about this! Let's get crazy!!!


 (My dad said to me the other day, 'I don't want to hear about any more crazy things you're going to do anytime soon' Doesn't he know that "the crazy one's are the one's who see things differently?... They change things, they push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy one's, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the one's who do.")


P.S. Thanks Mom for always making me the best that I can be, I really appreciate you and all your support and love! You are amazing:)

"Nothing that really calls you is ever for you alone." -- Bishop T.D. Jakes

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 14

God is the real start of our story, but it has been awesome to see how he has used us to make an impact on so many lives." -- Kim & Krickett Carpenter The Vow

"Give with no expectations" -- Daryl Wizelman

If you read my post from yesterday "Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 13" you will know that these people named below are not in that group that just wants to sit back and hope for change to come their way; no these people are the change makers. They understand that change isn't going to come unless they change themselves.


 Like one of my favorite artists, Michael Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror" says,

"I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs...

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
 

These people are making a change. Thank you to you all for helping support me, my fellow advocates and all the children in the world who you have helped feed. You are truly a blessing from God.

Deba Larson

Rachel Stewart

Renae Weidenkeller

Marnie Phillips

Danielle  Bushaw

Steven Dodrill

Anna Oertli

Pat Bucci

Richie  Rodriguez Erica Montgomery Kaitlyn Herbert Anne Bliss Nicole Jui Laura Peters Charles MacDonald Lisa Bucci Katy Stewart Betsy Phillips Alicia Ready Gayle Kilker Brian Brito Kristine  Solis Joyce Swanson Jodi Schanil

"Every so often do one small thing to enhance someone else's life." -- Regina Brett Be the Miracle

"You have a heart that is so beautiful to me." -- Kim & Krickett Carpenter The Vow

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 13

Emotion is what creates motion." -- Tony Robbins

"...empathy only produces more of itself. It is never satisfied or quenched, and where empathy exists, walls fall down, and the love of God built into human beings only grows stronger as it comes in contact with someone else's empathy. Empathy, and more formally understood as love, is the most contagious and inexhaustible gift from God." --Andre Roux

I finally made a team 25 in Change meeting the other night and I cannot tell you how grateful I am that I was there. Our topic of discussion was empathy. Empathy defined by the dictionary is: Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. We broke into our small groups to discuss further this concept of empathy and the journey we have gone through in accordance to empathy. As we sat and talked I thought a lot about the past 13 days and the pains, and disappointments that I have gone through. When I signed up for this I didn’t realize the effect it was going to have on my body, my mind nor my soul, but as I reflect back on the past 12 days I have come to see that this has already impacted my life in such ways that I wasn’t prepared for. When Minde, our missional director at Pathways Church, spoke about this revolution of 25 in Change I was totally in, both feet, ready to jump and ride the waves wherever they took me as her message was so powerful and moving. I felt compelled to do something (See “I Want Change Day”) but after these 13 days my attitude has shifted. 

(Author disclaimer: I’m about to get real so buckle up. If you cannot handle the truth, stop reading and go back to your TMZ Magazine)

 It’s day 13 and I’ve found my empathy directed at myself and the 24 other advocates that are partaking in this challenging endeavor instead of at the children that we are supporting. My anger no longer lies in the absence that the world isn’t doing anything, but more so that those who I consider my support system (my friends and family) are not doing anything! (Another note, thank you to all of you that have supported me, and a huge shout out to those people who are not even friends of mine but still found it important to donate. All of you are helping to change the world) Sure, they may ask, “How’s the rice and beans?” (typically with a smirk of, you’re crazy for doing this, or occasionally with a look of sympathy like, I feel bad for you as I can see this has made you miserable,) but neither of these makes me feel better, more often than not, they only make me feel worse as I want to scream, if you feel so bad for me, why don’t you do something about it? There’s a quote that I always loved but it’s never meant so much to me as it does now… “I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” – Lily Tomlin

As I read this, I am reminded that you can rely on no one person to make a difference. If you want to see a change made, you must be the change. If you want something, you must go out and get it. If you want to be the advocate for these children all across the globe who are literally starving to death (14,000 children every day die from starvation) you must understand what it is like to starve and writhe in pain from hunger, for without this understanding, you would never be able to understand and empathize what these children go through, and you would be just like everyone else, sitting back, hands in your pockets, clinging to your dollars, with those sympathetic eyes that say, "I feel sorry for all those children who are starving, that's sad, but this sure is great pizza."

Want to be a change maker, visit: www.25inchange.org

"The major key to your better future is you." -- Jim Rohn

"Pray as if everything depends upon God, but you got to act as if everything depends on you." -- Oprah Winfrey

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 12

Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows." -- Ben Stein

Driving into work this morning I turned on Gil’s past Sunday sermon needing a good laugh and words of

encouragement as day 12 has left me feeling a little emotionally and physically drained. Gil’s sermon was

about friends and the relationships of those in our lives; just what I needed. Gil spoke of buddies vs.

friends vs. family. He said, buddies are people you may grab a beer with or share in a story with, friends

are those people who support you and remain loyal to you in situations, but family, family are those people

who no matter what, are always by your side, cheering you on, encouraging you, telling you the truth and

truly sharing in life with you. Those family friends are the people that you open up to, that you share in life

with and they in return do the same to you. Listening to this I started thinking, how many of my “friends”

are just buddies and how many are like family? I’ve always considered myself blessed by the number of

friends that I have in my life, but as I listened to this, I was struck with the realization that some of those

“friends” are just buddies, while others are loyal friends, and very select few are like family. Although this

may seem discouraging, thinking that out of my group of “friends” I only could name a handful that are like

family, I am more than encouraged. People come into our lives for very specific reasons and they play a

certain role in our lives while they are there. I would relate this to a football team, being the quarterback

you carry the team, wins, losses, it all rides on your shoulders. But even though the team depends on you

as the quarterback you typically have your select few that are your go-to guys, however you need the

whole team to win games. Take Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne for instance. From 2001-2010 Wayne

caught 787 passes from Manning totaling 10,748 yards and scored 69 touchdowns, to an outsider it may

have seemed that Wayne was the only guy on the team capable of making big time plays. Let us not

forget, Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, Joesph Addai, Brandon Stokley, all great players just not

Manning’s go to. Aaron Rodgers has Donald Driver, John Elway had Shannon Sharpe and Terrel Davis,

and the Raven’s have Ray Lewis. I would argue that these guys are not just considered buddies or

“friends” to these organizations, but family, however none of these guys would be what they are/were if it

were not for the others on their team. Buddies, friends, and family all play a significant part in our lives, we

need each one, just as a quarterback needs lineman, and defensive ends, as much as he needs running

backs and wide receivers to win championships. What I am trying to say is that I am so grateful for my

buddies who I can grab casual beers with on a Friday night, I’m even more grateful for those friends to

whom I know I can share in stuff with and who will be loyal friends until the end, but mostly I am so

thankful for that handful of friends who are more like family to me. For they are the ones I will do life with

forever, they are the ones that I can count on in any and every situation, no matter how tough or terrible.

These family friends are supportive in all that I do and they push me to be a better version of myself, just

by being the wonderful selves that they are! As I mentioned, today is day 12 of 25 in Change, which means that I still have 13 more days to go. YIKES! I know if it were not for my family friends and the 24 other advocates who fight with me in this battle I would never have made it this far. In closing, think about your friendships, do you have family friends? If not, I pray that you allow yourself to open up to others and begin to form that family friendship, because without that community, life is so much harder. As I always say, “Life was not meant to be lived alone, if it were, God would not have created an earthly world where we are all in this together.”

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 11

"It is not important how much time you have on earth but what you do with it that matters." -- unknown


"It's only when we forget about ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered." 

-- Rick Warren The Purpose Driven Life

This will darn near break your heart, hope it breaks it in a way that makes you want to get involved and help put an end to world hunger! To get involved, go to www.25inchange.org

"Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." -- Proverbs 3:27


"For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in." -- Matthew 25:35

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 10

"God does notice and he watches over us. But it is through another person that he meets our needs." -- Spencer W. Kimball

---

No food in my stomach to fuel the creative juices in my brain, so I am posting a poem written by Kymee.


 Starving Are the Children by Kymee


Starving are the children
In this world of ours today
Days go by without any food
Which makes it hard to play.

The children search in the nearby dump
For whatever food they can find
Most often it is rotten
Which makes their health decline.

Their bellies are empty and full of worms
Distended and in pain
By not receiving healthy food
It depletes the children’s brains.

It’s really hard to go to school
Sit there and concentrate
Certain children get to eat first
While the young ones have to wait.

No child should ever go hungry
In a world so abundant with food
Still they must suffer in silence
With no options on what to do.

They need us to feed the hungry
Which is a essential for them to survive
Too often we turn our backs on them
And their suffering and being deprived.

I pray for those who have no food
In hopes to get them help
Their circumstances are unnecessary
And don’t warrant a life of hell.

"Be the example; spread hope." --unknown

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 9

Start getting comfortable with getting uncomfortable!


"Once we hit that wall, we don't quit, we don't give up. We flip a switch called will, and when 
we start using our will power, we're going to will. Yes, we're tired, yes, we're hungry, yes the mind is saying give up, yes it's saying quit. But we cannot quit because we realized we have not reached the goal yet. This is not the goal. This is not what I dreamed about, this is not what I said I was going to do, this is not what I talked about, this is not what it looks like. And then once we get past that place... we become comfortable with being uncomfortable. We no longer thrive to be in the comfort zone. We no longer place ourselves in positions that make us feel good. We no longer put ourselves in position that make us comfortable, that gives us that warm fuzzy feeling. Because listen here... some of what you want, some of what you trying to get, ain't in the comfort zone. So if what you want ain't in the comfort zone, you've got to step out of the comfort zone to get what you want."


 Stumbled upon this guy, Eric Thomas, the other day as I searched videos for inspiration as day 9 of rice and beans has left my typically positive mindset a little below average. Can't get enough of him. Check out this video, he says it so, plus is passion is so contagious! Step out of the comfort zone and get uncomfortable!


Thanks ET! 


"I gotta be willing to get past crying, I gotta be willing to get past hunger, I gotta get past self defeat saying you can't do it, I gotta be willing to get past low self esteem, and saying if anybody else deserves it, I deserve it. It's mine!..." -- Eric Thomas

Today Is: 25 in Change: Day 8

"If you don't like the world the way it is, change it -- one step at a time. Be prepared for how long change might take and how hard it will sometimes be."

-- Marian Wright Edelmen

"Look deeper into the actions you take and the truths you take for granted. Ask why and then ask why again." --Walter Mosley

Day 8 has come and I've been thinking a lot about the difference that we are making, wondering aside from the numbers of children that our supporters have helped feed, have we made a difference? Have I done all that I am capable of doing to ensure that none of the 25 advocates have to go hungry, in turn helping more children have access to food? What is it that I want people to know? That I am hungry or that there are millions of children all over the world, many here in our own country, that face starvation day in and day out? It's hard to remember that change is occurring when you cannot see the consequences first hand, but I believe that what the 25 advocates are doing and all of our supporters are pledging to do is making a difference, even if it takes time, I believe it will be worth the wait.

We are living in an era where waiting is a thing of the past. We expect answers as quickly as we asked them, or responses immediately after our invitations were sent. With such rapid technology allowing everything to be given almost as easily as hitting the Easy button, it seems that every aspect or our lives should be just as quick to respond and as easily maneuverable. However, time and time again, I am reminded that this is not the way that life works. Life seems to be on it's own time clock. Coming and going as it pleases, starting and ending with whomever it sees fit. Life stops for no one, and it never rushes to meet your schedule or follow your to-do lists. Life has it's own set of rules and it never seems to make exceptions. I must remind myself of this often, as I tend to dream big dreams believing that change is possible overnight, more often than not though I find myself waking up to the consistency of the day before and wondering, "What did I do wrong? How could I have failed?" Sometimes, the answers do come at me immediately, 'You didn't do anything to make that dream a reality", while other times, it seems that my dream and reality just weren't aligned leaving me with the dreaded feeling of failure. And this is where I must remember, life takes time and time isn't on my watch. Instead of letting the hand stop at failure, allow your mind and your soul to sit peacefully as those hands make their way around the clock to that time called opportunity. When it arrives, I hope you know, it's just on schedule.

"If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk; crawl, but by all means keep moving." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

"God has called us to active duty. When we sense His prompting to help someone, we should be willing to say, 'I believe God wants me to help you.'"

-- Julie Ackerman Link