starting to sound like oprah......

   Today I am feeling like Oprah. I have been thinking about how I (or we if you would like to include yourself) can help kids. any kids. I feel like kids today just get lost in the shuffle sometimes. Between work, bills, and life in general, where does the quality time go? I even find myself wanting to watch t.v. instead of play with lola sometimes. Which i know isnt always a bad thing. But I feel guilty. And then I think about how lucky I am that  my daughter gets pretty much everything she wants and definately everything she needs. And how I have so much family support. so lucky.
  So long story short, what about those kids that have none of that. You know the ones who's parents may not be around much or maybe the ones who only eat meals at school and have no dinner b/c their parents cant afford to feed them 3 times a day?  and what happens to these kids?
  here are a few statistics i found from heartandmind.org.....
1. 1 out of 4 children in the U.S. live in poverty
2. 22% of Americans under the age of 18 -- and 25% under age 12 -- are hungry or at the risk of being hungry.
3.  Everyday 2,660 children are born into poverty; 27 die because of it.

So, not only are these kids hungry, they are also sent off to school where they are supposed to be learning something.  But the problem is that teachers find it increasingly difficult to hold their attention, get them to perform in the classroom, and have no help from the parents with homework correspondence. 
  What are we to do? We are a nation that needs to come up with a plan.  My plan is to start small.  I am going to find a way to help a child in need. Anything from volunteering @ the local school or at my church's outreach programs.  If we all give a little, then we will help enrich our community beyond our imaginations.  I know its hard to do, but, dig a little. find SOMETHING you can do. maybe even donate clothes or food to a drive. Or even better, become a mentor to a child that needs it. Open your heart and doors will open for you to find the plan God has for you!!!!

working on positive thinking.....

I have begun reading a book by Joel Osteen entiteled, "Its Your Time".  I have to admit that I started reading it about 3 weeks ago, but have only gotten to the 4th chapter. Sad, but true. Anyway, it has started to impact my life in great ways, so I thought I would share a little with you.

  The main idea of the 1st chapter is that we need to be a "prisoner of hope".  This is a hard thing for us all sometimes.  Especially someone like me who likes to plan out her life, down to the minute. Which never works......I know, I know. :-)  I began thinking about my life plans, my dreams for my family, and for the dreams Lola will have. I thought, "What if? What if, along with prayer, I gave every path my life might take a bright shiny light that could help me see it through to the end without being bored or losing faith in what i do?" The book says that God plans for great things in our lives to happen if we believe in them.
Well, to be completely honest, it works......
  
 I have been applying the "prisoner of hope" idea to even the smallest aspects of my life.  Its no secret that I hate mondays.  I have to take Lola to daycare, and I dont get off of work until late that night. It kills me EVERY MONDDAY.  But i have learned that if I treat Monday as a day to do something for myself, and as a day to get my work done, it actually has become an enjoyable day. 

I have hope that me and Cody will treat each other with kindness and respect everyday. (Those of you who are married know that is a hard task sometimes.) I have hope that Lola Kate will get all of the tools she needs to be a valued member of her community. I have hope that I can fulfill all the tasks and plans that God has for me.

I have definately not perfected this yet, but I am giving it my best shot. :-)
Thanks for reading!!!