Global Food Crisis Day Challenge…Day 3

March 6, 2009 at 2:49 pm (Compassion International)

Oh dear, someone’s brewing coffee…and the coffee pot is right outside my office door!  It smells so warm and inviting but I can’t go there. I’m having a tough time not having caffeine of any kind this week.  Products with caffeine costs too much to fit into my $2 a day challenge.   I’ve been working some pretty crazy hours for the past few months and I’ve realized this week that I had been functioning with the help of caffeine.  Totally messed up! I ’ve been SO tired since this challenge started. I ’m tired today. And ill.  And my head is hurting.

Now the whole point of this challenge is to learn something.  To become more aware of what I have and how I can give….in fact, can probably give more to help others.   Today, I’m living in the awareness that my lack of energy will only last until this challenge is over.  Millions of children who are living in poverty know no other reality than that gnawing feeling of emptiness in their precious tummies. Their moms are desperately clinging to the hope that they will have ANY food to eat today.

Wess Stafford is the President of Compassion International and he recently shared that while he was visiting with a mom in Africa he asked her what she does when the family has no food. She looked at Wess and told him that she and other moms will take any water they can find (clean or not) and boil it so they can give their kids something warm. Imagine giving your kids some warm water to make them “feel” as though they’ve had something to eat?

Yes I’m hungry and I want my caffeine. Yes, I dropped two eggs yesterday…one in the morning and another one last night. I had carefully planned what I could eat each day of the week and those eggs were my dinner last night. So I had to take from other food that had been set aside for today. I had a plan B. The 12,000 kid who will die from hunger-related diseases today had no plan B. Had no one in their village to help them because other families were suffering just the same.

The truth is…you and I are plan B for these families. Ghandi once said “There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” If you want to help people see God in this lifetime…I hope and pray that you be the Christian that takes the time to help.

Click here to read about Global Food Crisis Day and find out how you can help!

bread-kenya

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Global Food Crisis Day Challenge…Day 2

March 6, 2009 at 2:45 pm (Compassion International)

So the Global Food Crisis Day Challenge continues.  You can read all about it and Day 1 here

More than likely you live a crazy busy life!  And you probably enjoy the convenience of other people making you coffee or food!  I’m there with you.  So many days I simply head to Starbucks and Stacy or Micah make me my coffee and we chat for a moment and then I head back to work.  Then, later in the day I may be too tired to even think of cooking when I get home so I’ll stop by some place like Quiznos and grab dinner to save myself time and effort.

That coffee and sandwich costs me about $10 on the days I decide to do that.   I’m sitting here thinking of how often I grab things at a store or restaurant and don’t even give it a 2nd thought.  It’s there I have the money and I do it.

This week I’m grateful for the chance to take a step back and evaluate how I’m spending my money.  Not only for this Global Food Crisis Challenge but for the sake of my relationship with God.  I can a waste a lot on things that really don’t mean a thing.   Things that don’t serve a purpose.  It’s not that you or I are bad if we do that…it’s just that we need to be thinking bigger.  If I have $10 to throw down on coffee and a sandwich in one day…I definitely have $14 to feed a child for a month for the Compassion Global Food Crisis Day.   In fact, I probably can help Compassion and other organizaztions that are helping build the Kingdom of God.  Helping meet needs in a way I could never do on my own.

This week I’m living in the awareness that each day day of this challenge, 12,000 children will die from hunger-related causes.  So by the time I get done with whining about not having coffee for a week, and only eating lentil soup, eggs or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches…84,000 kids will die.

Really puts things in perspective for me.  These kids need me.  These kids need you.  Simply put, as the body of Christ we need each other.

Back in 2005, I spent some time traveling around Lima, Peru and visiting Compassion International churches.  The very churches that will be distributing the money you’re willing to give to help with this food crisis to the families who are facing the greatest need.  The photo above is what kids see on a soccer field outside of one of these churches.   The words are from John 8:36, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

I truly believe we are called to be Christ to people in need.   I hope in an effort to do that you will commit to pray with me for the Global Food Crisis Day, for the parents of the 84,000 kids who will die this week and feeling the loss no parent should know…and for how you can give to help release children from poverty in the name of Jesus Christ.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can do that…click here

Thanks for doing what you can!  : )

ss

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Global Food Crisis Day Challenge…Day 1

March 6, 2009 at 2:43 pm (Compassion International)

Here’s a picture of what I was able to buy with my $14 of food for the week.

food-300x258

In case you haven’t heard I’m doing this Global Food Crisis Day Food Challenge for the week.  On March 11th we’re teaming with Compassion International and hopefully you to help raise money for kids caught in the middle of life-threatening situations because of the global food crisis.  Click here to read all about it and get involved

Angela saw this pic posted on my Facebook and this is what she said: not bad….(the food). Isn’t it just amazing, what we think we can’t live without?  So here’s what I’ve had to eat today:

Breakfast: 2 eggs (good protein!) and Water!

Lunch: P B & J and Water! (i don’t remember the last time i had PB & J. I feel like i’m 5 yrs old!)

People have been making a big deal out of only $14 of food for the week but it goes further than you would think!

Ways people have already given and taught me a lesson:

1) when I went to target to buy my food I had $14.  The order came up to $14.06.   I started to ask the cashier to take something off and man standing behind me gave me a nickel and the cashier gave me a penny.   I know it sounds so small but the truth is…either I was going to have to put something back or someone had to help in a small way.  That penny and nickel meant a lot to me.  And usually we just look at pennies as being meaningless and of little value. Sure adds up!

2) Our morning show co-host, Dale Best, surprised me with a cup of coffee today. I think that’s partially because I’m becoming known as the “coffee monster” around KDUV. I literally have 4-5 cups of coffee a day and I’m coming face to face with the reality of my addiction to this stuff since I’ve been weaning myself off it for a couple of days. I spend about $40 a month on coffee alone because I buy it from a place in Savannah, GA that makes the stuff I like. Wow, close to 4 kids could eat for a month off what I spend on coffee each month!

The point of this week is to remind you and myself how EASY it is to give! Most of these families living in poverty worldwide live on less than a dollar a day. The US dollar goes so far and buys SO much in these countries. 14 US dollars can feed a child for a month! The question is 1) will i give up the everyday comforts and live on less than normal AND 2) will people get involved in their own unique way? prayer, giving, etc.

And if you do that…praying and giving…thank you for the difference you’re making! : ) ss

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The Civil Wars

February 13, 2009 at 9:15 pm (movies and music)

So excited about a new project Joy Williams is part of.  Love this Cohen cover and had to share!

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oh dear joaquin, where have you gone?

February 13, 2009 at 1:38 pm (life in general)

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25 things

February 3, 2009 at 12:27 pm (life in general)

if you’re on facebook you may have already caved in and done one of these.  i’ve been enjoying reading 25 random things about other people…learning new things about people i’ve known for years.  if you’ve done this i’d love to read yours!

1. As a kid I had to go to speech therapy for a speech impediment and lisp…that’s why I don’t always sound like I’m from Alabama

2. I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. upon realizing we were supposed to aid in recovering of plane parts and possibly people parts…I freaked and bailed.

3. I was a victim of the grunge era. All pictures from the 90s in which I was wearing doc martens and plaid have since been destroyed

4. I lived in Albuquerque years ago and I still miss that city and the friends I made there.

5. While living in Albuquerque I once took off and drove across half the state of New Mexico and was unaware that I had friends worrying about me back in the city. we didn’t have cell phones back then kids

6. when i am nostalgic, melancholy or just plain bored…driving helps me process things

7. people have told me i’m aloof and hard to get to know…i’m just particular about who i trust and who i share things with. it’s called boundaries people. ;)

8. I am passionate about children living in poverty internationally and am actively involved with the ministry of Compassion International as a child advocate and radio event coordinator.

9. i sponsor a child in the compassion program named Ronald who lives outside of Lima, Peru. he’s just turned 11 and he’s the coolest kid ever. great artist and he hopes to be a teacher someday.

10. i honesty see myself working for compassion international someday. shocking, eh? ;)

11. i can’t stand pro football but i’m a true southern girl….i love the SEC and still passionately follow the auburn tigers

12. i literally ran into tim mcgraw while in nashville a few years ago. the first thing i said when i realized i had run into him “you’re tim mcgraw.” he laughed, chatted for a few minutes and then hugged me goodbye. i smelled like tim mcgraw’s cologne all day

13. i knew i wanted to work in radio when i was 12. still have the journal entry from the day i decided.

14. i am obsessed with the office, 30 rock and 24

15. one of my most embarrassing moments involves accidentally grabbing a CCM artist’s butt because i thought he was a friend of mine. long story but everything made sense in my head until the guy turned around and i had some serious explaining to do. he was very gracious but everytime i’ve seen him since he jokingly covers his backside.

16.two of the most meaningful days of my life were spent as a liason to brennan manning. to be able to hear some of his life experience first hand and hear his advice on something i was going through at the time…it’s beyond words what that meant to me. when i dropped him off at the airport we cried and he kissed my check and told me he’d see me in heaven someday.

17. i really want a dog but having a dog i an apartment isn’t fair to the pet. so i sometimes stop by the visalia dog park and play with the dogs and hang with their owners…who are usually senior citizens who are lonely. seems like a win win!

18. the night i went to see a midnight showing of lord of the rings: return of the king i hit a bunny rabbit while driving home from the movie theatre. it was about 3:30am and i stopped on the side of the road and ended up crying over that rabbit. have i mentioned i love animals?!

19. i know he couldn’t sing too well but i still love rich mullins. that man understood connecting with people and just being real in ministry. miss him to this day

20. when i was a kid i believed anything my brother told me…including his story that my mom had a sister who ran away when my mom was little. he told me not to mention it to my mom. turns out my mom only had 4 brothers.

21. at 16 i was bitten by our family pet…a bassett hound named Buster. I required hundreds of stitches…and still get a little nervous around bassetts

22. i have a savings account that’s strictly for my future trip to italy. i have this dream of going to assisi, italy and traveling the same roads that st. francis did

23. my fake name “steele” came from trey steele who interned with me at reality radio in birmingham, al. he suggested i use his last name and it’s stuck ever since

24. despite a fear of water i went on a cruise in 2007. while on that cruise a certain friend and i went on a pirate ship excursion to an island outside of puerto vallarta and she got seasick and threw up on a man on deck. that still makes me LOL to this day.

25. i was one of the 425 people graced with salmonella poising in feb. 2007. i will NEVER eat Jif peanut butter again.

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Blasted Insomnia

February 3, 2009 at 8:42 am (life in general)

what do you do when you can’t sleep?

1) read about insomnia to understand why you’re so tired yet want to cry because you can’t stop tossing and turning and find some peace and REM

2) catch up with facebook friends you have’t connected with in weeks…because you haven’t had the time

3) watch the new episode of the office at 3am.  this is stress relief my friends!  just hope i didn’t wake up the roomie when I was laughing

4) wake up your east coast friends with a friendly 2:30am wake up call.  hey, it was 5:30am there and at least one of them appreciated catching up!

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Hallmark makes me cry like a baby!

January 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm (life in general)

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American Idol -remember the name Scott McIntyre

January 13, 2009 at 11:07 pm (movies and music)

American Idol’s new season premiered tonight and I’m wondering if I was the only one who was a bit disappointed?  There were a couple of bright spots but overwhelmingly I was glad it was TIVOed so I didn’t have to spend two hours watching it in real time.

Two contestants stood out to me:

Arianna Afsar is 16 years old and lives in San Diego.  She started a program called “Adopt-A-Grandfriend”.   A while ago she visited her grandmother in a nursing home and recognized that many senior citizens who live in care facilities don’t have friends or family members coming to visit them.  Arianna started “Adopt-A-Grandfriend” to change that.

Scott McIntyre is a classical pianist who happens to be blind.  This guy is incredible and I bet one of the only ones we’ll all remember by this time next week.  Not only does he make music, but he skis…I can see and I’ve always been terrified to give skiing a try!  I loved that when the judges were giving their feedback, Kara pointed out that Scott was brave because he came in to audition without having his instrument.  If you play an instrument and sing you know it can be tough to separate the two and feel completely comfortable.  He did an incredible job and I’m excited to see how far he goes in this competition.  He definitely has talent…much more than other selected to go on to Hollywood.

Who did you like?  Comment and let me know!

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Why Guys Aren’t Asking You Out

January 13, 2009 at 4:46 pm (life in general)

i came across Andy Merrick’s blog and have been so intrigued by his “Why Guys Aren’t Asking You Out” series.

Oh dear, the questions I’ve asked that he addresses in his own unique way.  I’d really love to know what men think of Andy’s series…I mean he is speaking on their behalf.

I can’t wait for the day when the questions are over.   Cuz all the questions end when you get married, right?! ;)

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