October 12, 2025

Canada Celebrates Today!

 

I am thankful today for friends and family both near and far. 

For harvests that have been brought in from the fields

The sun that is shining, and the leaves that are changing

Beauty is all around.

Open your eyes and take a deep breath

Despite the turmoil of this world, 

I am thankful to be Canadian.

To celebrate and be thankful 

For the random little things that make up this big beautiful life

Bumps and all I AM THANKFUL

💗 Di

October 11, 2025

Day 11 Ultimate Blog Challenge

From Breast Cancer Awareness to another awareness that is near and dear to my heart.

 International Day of The Girl - This year's theme

The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the front-lines of crisis

A timely and powerful statement in light of all the things going on around the world today.

On December 19,2011 The United Nations declared October 11 to be  International Day of the Girl Child, a.k.a.Day of the Girl, or Girls day  is a date set aside annually to recognizing the rights & unique challenges of girls based on gender. 

International Day of the Girl is both a celebration and a call to action. It’s a moment to pause and reflect, to recognize how far we have come, and how far we still have to go to create a world where every girl can learn, lead, and live freely.

This day shines a light on the barriers that still stand in the way:

• Access to education
• Unwanted child marriages
• Gender-based biases
• Medical & Nutrition access

It’s about rewinding the tired old stories that tell girls what they can’t do, recording and amplifying new stories focusing on what they can do!

It’s about claiming space, ceilings, and changing the story for the next generation of strong girls and confident leaders.

It is about giving them the tools and knowledge to be able to achieve their dreams. Or simply be able to dream them in the first place. 

International Day of the girl is near and dear to me personally, firstly because I am a mom of 3 daughters.  Each of them unique, each of them strong, each of them grown and thriving, each of them a huge blessing in my life. 

However it is through an opportunity I had in the fall of  2011 that changed my life. It was when I travelled to Niger, West Africa and walked the orange sands of the Sahel region that my eyes were opened and my heart was changed. 

I was part of a team from western Canada,to work with a group of young women at a local girls school, and teach them to sew. These bright girls taught me more about determination, creativity, willingness to learn, patients - (I had 0 language skills) and true JOY  - than I taught them about sewing I am certain. 

Their sewing machines were hand turned - NO electricity, NO treadle like grandma.  The girls fed fabric under the needle with their left hands while skillfully turning the wheel with their right that moved the needle up and down.It was much harder than it sounds, I tried and failed.  Despite the communication challenges we managed to learn from each other.  We laughed a lot, we gestured wildly, we danced, we sang, and I loved every minute of it and each one of those girls has a special place in my heart.  

I came home feeling conflicted, asking myself questions that truly have no answers, such as why me, why I was I born to life of privilege in North America?  Why does my corner of the world have it so easy by comparison?  Weather wise, life options, food availability - Honestly coming home was a bit of culture shock.  Eventually the question I started asking was what's next? What can I do from home, that will continue to benefit the girls?   What do I need to learn?  

Life can truly be random sometimes, I stumbled upon a booth at a small state fair -and I stopped to look and asked questions, and I had my answer -  Enter Days for Girls into my life.  Days for Girls was educating women on the fact that the number one reason girls struggle to stay in school  to get a decent education in many parts of the world is because every month they miss up to 4 days of school.  4 days x 12 months = 48 days of missed school  approximately 1.5 months.  It is impossible to catch up when you miss that much.  Add to that their help was needed at home, cooking, cleaning, collecting water or fire wood, and that was seen as more important for the girls than school.

Why do they miss that many days?  It is because they lack proper feminine hygiene products, meaning that during their periods they have to stay home until their period passes. From my North American POV that was hard to fathom, I could walk into my local walmart or grocery store and have 142 options...  YES I COUNTED... wings, without wings, Jr, heavy, regular, overnight, long, extra long, cardboard applicators, no applicators... you get the picture.  We had an over abundance of options, while often cardboard was the best option for our sisters in other countries. 

Days for girls was  providing solutions.  Sustainable cloth pads, that were being sewn by volunteers in the US & Canada then being sent to countries where they were needed through church mission trips, humanitarian aid trips, or NGO requests.  With the eventual goal of having  1 Million Days for girls kits sent out world wide, with chapters in locations around the world providing education on female health, sanitation, as well as sewing lessons so that they provide sustainable cloth pads to their local communities.  Empowering women, building each other up and allowing girls to stay in school.

When I learned all of this I was hooked.  I learned how to put the DFG kits together, sew the pads - connected with a volunteer chapter in Canada and eventually became a founding member of the Days for Girls Canada Board of Directors. 1000's of kits sent meant that 1000's of girls lives were changed, doors were opened, all because they were able to stay in school. 

I no longer work with Days for Girls, but I will forever share the story of the work that they continue to do because it matters.  Education matters, life skills matter, personal health matters, having choices matters, each girl matters,  It is more than just a few days of school that has been reclaimed, it is living example of the African proverb,

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

International Day of the Girl is a reminder that if we work hard together we can go far and truly change the world.  One story at a time.  One person can make a difference, I know that first hand, I came back changed because I went.  

+

October is PINK MONTH

 October 9,2025 

OCTOBER is PINK MONTH

Or more formally, Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

Designated so in 1985 in the USA by the American Cancer Society, with early support from former first lady Betty Ford - A survivor herself. It has evolved into a Global 

For those of us who ever heard the words 'You have breast cancer' there is no escaping the awareness.  Whether a person has just heard those dreaded words or you are weeks, years or decades past treatment and in remission, there are scars. Physical, mental & emotional scars.  They are seen and felt everyday, and therefore have a love hate relationship with pink month.  

I do, very much, understand and appreciate the need for pinpointed focused awareness - for research, for the community building that happens through walks, and gatherings that celebrate and remember.  It is vitally important to find others who understand and are compassionate, to join the journey towards understanding & better health. 

Here are a few things PINK OCTOBER should make you aware of:

Your own body! 

• Learn how to do a self exam. 
• Do an exam regularly - Pick one day  and do your exam on that day EVERY week
• Make the time - it could save your life. 
• Get comfortable with your body.        
• Look at yourself in the mirror - take notice of what you see.       
• The more aware you are of your body, the quicker you will recognize changes sooner. 

Know the warning Signs

• Any lump, bump, area hardness in the breast area. Remember breast tissue extends to the armpit area
• Tenderness, swelling, warmth, or redness on or around the area
•  Changes in skin consistency
•  Itchy, scaly, or rashy area around the nipple 
•  Any pain in a single spot that does not go away over time, or intensifies 

If you notice any of the above, please make an appointment with your Doctor.  Early detection is key.

The best way to detect breast cancer early is to get regular mammograms.  Use PINK OCTOBER as your reminder to book your mammogram.  A mammogram can detect a lump as small as 2mm - about the size of a head of a pin vs 22mm - the size of a small grape. The average size lump you might find doing a self exam. 

No one will advocate for you better than  you!

• Be Strong
• Be vigilant 
• Ask questions
• Speak up for yourself
  

Be aware this PINK OCTOBER.

I am ONE of the 1in 8 - it is hard to escape, if you are not one of the 1 in 8 then more than likely you know one or more of the 1 in 8.  We are stronger together.  When we rise to support and listen!  In the next few days I will be sharing the story of my journey.  

🎗Di

  

 

 

October 8, 2025

Day 8

                                Surprised by time.... 

How is it that we are surprised by time? More specifically the passing of it. The arrival of a new month, baby, birthday,or season,can mark time in ways that leave us questioning our memory. Time just pops up from out of nowhere and SHOUTS SURPRISE I'm here.

Just last week I was watching late night TV - Jimmy Kimmel was doing a bit mocking the local news stations, 47 different variations of, "Wow, can you believe it is October" or "I can not believe it is October already" one clip after another. I sat there chuckling, then sobered quickly when I thought, this is me. Oh Boy! 

October snuck up on me too, I had places to go, people to see, parties to plan and writing to do - things that I had not given much thought to:

• Birthdays
• Anniversary
• Friends that will be in town that we have not seen for years
• Thanksgiving (Canadian here loud and proud)
• Appointments to get to
• The realization that Christmas is less than 80 days away (You have been warned) 
• And this 'The Ultimate Blog Challenge'

As a first time blog challenge participant,Iwas anticipating my participation, I had plotted a plan and was ready to jump in day 1. 

I thought I was ready to go...

Then the emails began to arrive.

I got into my head & started over thinking the whole process and  froze. Writers block set in, publishing block set in, I lost my focus and froze. Mostly, my brain was in overstimulated each email had suggestions of what or how to post and my brain created 5 to 10 additional ideas, I was drowning in creative thought.  It was time for some creative expression.    

I stepped back and took a deep breath,& had a bit of an epiphany

I asked myself what it would take to reign in my brain and refocus

The answer was simple:

• Review your original plan 
• Stop reading the emails 
• Get on with it 
• Remember to breathe
• Hydrate
• Stick with your plan and write

So moving forward, that is exactly what I am going to do.

I have had the privilege of hearing many stories of others, I consider it an honor to be trusted with them. In my 60 years of life I have a lot of my own stories, sharing them freely is not something I have done much of. It is time to change that. 

I am a cancer survivor - but have never shared my story

I like to talk to random people and that always nets a good story or two. 

Travel adventures

WHERE WERE WAS I WHEN? 

Thinking about moments in history that have had an impact on me throughout my life, how they may have changed me, my thought pattern

A question I have been pondering while reading both memoirs and historical fiction, what was I doing, how old was I when...? 

Do I have any memories associated with...?

My original plan was to step out of my comfort zone and share the stories that have given me my great big life. Those stories, musings and moments that make make up the Little bits and pieces of my random life.

Buckle up, and come along for the ride. 

I'm so glad you're here

Di

 

 Day 6

Thank you Paul for a great prompt for today's UBC, and because my blog is called Little-Bits-Of-Random, and my A.D.D. brain fires on random cylinders here is my oh, so random take.

The Reno connection...

I am a sucker for a good story, I collect them. My personal library is full of them, people share theirs with me, I listen in crowds, I read obituaries, and I write random bits. Through the years I have learned that it is stories that connect us. It is stories that connect us, that make us realize we are more the same than different. When we take the time to hear another person's story our lives can be changed.

One thing I know for sure is that history rarely disappoints, add moving trains, robbery and Reno and I am engaged. It also sounds like puzzle pieces of my family history.

My paternal great great grandfather that hopped a train train in Quebec and headed west, leaving his wife and family in Quebec (He did later send for them all) This same adventurous family member is said to have been an expert axe marksman – something that has always intrigued me.

A distant uncle on my mom's side delivered mail with the pony express along the Oregon trail. I can only imagine the adventurous life that would have been.

And then there is my Uncle Bob, from Golf Pro in the Bahamas to dealing blackjack in Reno. My uncle (is the short guy), with Jackie Robinson & Sidney Poitier/  He was the cool uncle. 

I am not going to lie, Uncle Bob was my favourite,it was always exciting when he came home for a visit. You always knew when Bob was at Grandma's, because he could be heard before walking in the door. His loud voice & laughter filled the air. To say he was charismatic was an understatement. His first words were always, 'how about a little sugar' code for come and give me a hug.

He was a story teller, crazy and wild were his specialty. True? False? Who really knew - but we were thoroughly entertained. Tales of the characters who sat at his blackjack table, famous people he had met we were captivated. Then there were questions about mob connections, like the real MOB, which he would never answer one way or the other, but there was always a twinkle in his eye. Our imaginations ran wild after he left and the stories would take on lives of their own much like he told them.

We used to joke that he moved back to Canada because he was running from the mob. True? False? Who knows... these are the stories that take on lives of their own and provide entertainment and questions for generations to come. I will forever be thankful for these stories, the true, the false the unanswered,the ones that hang in the air and keep us talking. These are the stories that draw families together.

What are the stories that live on in your family? Have they taken on lives of their own and evolved?

This day in history

P.S.  On this day in history, circa 1988. I was losing sleep and running through the mental check list of what felt like a million little things that had to fall into place the next day. Bridesmaids, photos, food, seating plans, flowers.... thinking that if it had not been done by now it was too late. I would be walking down the isle the next day. Tonight I had to ask how many years it had been..... 37 and I would choose the same guy, but I think I'd choose to elope.

October 1, 2025

Here I am, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

A friend, knowing I love to write, challenged me to start blogging.  Aware that once upon a time a long, long time ago I used to blog, she directed me to join 'The Ultimate Blog Challenge'  - Yikes!  The challenge blog once a day for the month of October. double yikes!

Did I put off deciding – Indeed

Am I currently writing at the last minute – Sigh, old high school habits die hard.

Will I  second guess myself along the way – You bet

Do I have more ideas than days to write - For sure

Here I am:   

• Doing it scared
• showing up for me
• stepping out of my comfort zone
• picking up the 'pen' after a very long time
• trusting the process
• picking up  Little-Bits-of-Random after 10+ years 

Bring on October - Blog Challenge Accepted! .

Welcome to my world of Little-Bits-Of-Random, I am happy to have you here. 

Di

No excuses.... no looking back..... just going to post.

It is said that with good friends, you can simply pick up where you left off and go from there. No questions, no excuses, no regrets, no worries, no guilt.   Well that is how I am feeling about my blog, I am just going to pick up and go forward, no should have, could have, or would haves.  (well maybe just a tiny bit of guilt - but I can deal with that).  It is time to sit down with a good cup of java and write on.
 
This morning while sipping my coffee I was truly moved to tears for the 3rd blog entry in a row, by this....

It is so worth the time to read...

http://hopefullearning.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/mom-and-daughter-speak-for-the-first-time-beyond-hello-day-3/

Who says that ONE person or ONE group can not change the world?  It is possible, and it is happening in one of the reportedly worst neighbourhoods in Canada.  Listen to your heart.  How are YOU going to change the world? (How am I? - Know that anytime I ask those sorts of questions I ask them of myself too.)

ONE amazing story. ONE woman following her passion .  ONE Down Town East Side (DTES) resident's world has been changed FOREVER.  ONE daughter many, many, many kilometers away has had her world changed too.  Kristi - the blog writer touches the deep corners of my very core and rises to the surface memories of days gone by.

This story resonates with me deeply and I am transported back.... 

ONE day many, many, many days gone by.
ONE little girl sits on her dad's knee looking at family photos. 
ONE finger pointed
ONE face she did not recognize.
ONE question; WHO is that?
ONE Father struggling with an answer
ONE old wound opened
ONE  journey that led to the DTES
ONE long lost father reunited with his son
ONE grandfather meets 2 of his granddaughters for the first time
ONE meal shared
ONE memory made
ONE old wound starts to heal....   ONE is a good place to start!

There is power in ONE! So much power. . . . I know that it did for my grandpa, for my dad, for me!  For Cindy, and it can for YOU too!

Imagine....

Happy Birthday Day

Days for Girls

(a day late, but you know what they say... better late than never)

 

I feel so blessed to be a part of such a great organization. 

Founded in 2008 Days for Girls has been changing the world one pair of panties at a time! 

 

  How is that possible?

 

SIMPLE

 

Every Girl. Everywhere.

Period.

Days for Girls aim is to empower

girls and women worldwide

to have access to sustainable quality

feminine hygiene, health, education

and dignity ​ by 2022.

 

This is done by sending feminine hygiene kits to girls in developing countries.

 

Each kit contains

1 Pair of panties

2 shields

8 liners

face cloth

2 large Ziploc bags

(aka the world's smallest washing machines)

&

Instructions for use and care.
A bar of soap is also added when they reach their destination.

 

That one pair of panties included in the kit changes the girl's . . .INSTANTLY!

 

I.N.S.T.A.N.T.L.Y.

 

Imagine, not having to look through garbage heaps on the side of the road, using paper, leaves, dried animal dung, cardboard, old rags pretty much anything you can find to block or try to stop their periods.  Imagine not having the means to be able to purchase what was needed each month. Imagine going to the store and there is NOTHING on the shelves to be able to purchase even if you were able.  Imagine using anything absorbent that you happen to "find".  Imagine washing disposable products to try to be able to use them again.   Imagine.....   for 100's of 1000's of young women around the world they do not have to imagine, for this is their reality. 

 

To a woman in a developed nation any of the above scenarios seem unimaginable. We go to the store and face a wall of options, dozens of choices,  with applicator or with out, with wings without, heavy days, light days, thin pad, long liner, regular, ultra thin.... the list goes on. Then we have the audacity to get upset when the ONE style we prefer is out of stock.   Imagine life without those options.... 

 

If you can imagine even a portion of the struggles girls in developing nations face, then you can imagine the change a hygiene kit can make. In that instant, there is hope.  Hope opens doors.   

 

Based on a montly cycle lasting 7 days & each kit lasting aprox 3 years, each kit reclaims
 252 DAYS of living.

 

Days where they do not have to stay at home

Days where they can go to school

Days when they will not have to feel like they do not belong

Days they will be educated

Days that that they will be able to work

Days where they can support  their family

Days when they can participate in life!

 

252          DAYS

6048       Hours

362, 880      Minutes

21222800    Seconds

 

When she receives a kit she will no longer have to saty at home when her period arrives.  Education is possible,  an educated girl WILL change her world.

Imagine the possiblities..... 

 

 

 

  



 

5 min Friday free write.....

I recently linked to Lisa-Jo's site via another blog I read and was immediately drawn to the concept of a 5 min free write,  

"No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real"

 

Every Friday at one minute past midnight a new writing prompt is posted and off you go.....  well I totaly forgot about it at one min past midnight so here I go now..... with a little bit of trepidation.

 

 

 

 

Oct 5

 

Welcome......

 

Your Welcome  - politeness

Welcome to our Home  - hospitality, graciousness

Welcome to the world -  Excitement newness
Welcome to the family - Hopefulness, wondering

Your welcome to try....  - Fear, adventure, learning

you do not want to overstay your welcome....  - oh oh.

 

(Ugh phone rings...answer or let ring.. right now it is NOT a WELCOME interuption... )

 

Welcome to my world, when I sit to do something I often get interupted. In a house of 5, and 2 extras under 4  2 days a week, it is inevidable.  Sometimes those are welcome interuptions such as a visit from a friend,  or a quick kiss from my sweetie.  Other times they are not so welcome, the knock of a child on the bathroom door when you just NEED 2 min of quiet.  We have all been there.  

 

BUT How often am I the interuption?  How often are my interuptions welcome, or unwelcome?  I pray that I do not overstay my welcome, that when I knock on the door people truly desire to welcome me in - Do I even think about such things in the moment?  Or do I just assume? 

there is one with whom I know without a doubt I am always welcome...  I am thankful that I know without a doubt when I knock on the door of heaven one day I will be welcomed with open arms, and that on that day there is no overstaying one's welcome because I will finally know where home truly is.

 

(Shoot, I over shot by 1 min.. must have been the phone call or first time jitters) 

 

Sticking to 5 min was a little tough, once I got started I wanted to keep going. The urge to go back re read, re type was strong, old habits are hard to break.  I look forward to next week and playing along again. (maybe I will even remember at one min after midnight....)

 

     Click the link to join the fun.  I know all my scrapbooking / journaling friends will love it.  (O.K. Some of you will and others are thinking... here she goes again preaching the importance of Journaling -  Remember only you can tell YOUR story!)

 

Happy writing

Di

 

 







"WINNER" in the lottery of LIFE....

Be it by simple luck of genetics, birth right or purely by the luck of the draw I have won the Lottery of life, as have most of you!  The lottery of life is not a major influx of cash, though we are wealthy, it is not a new car, though in all likely hood we have at least test driven one in our lives, it is not flashy or rare, but it is most valuable.   The lottery of life winners are winners simply because of where they have been born.  I win because I have been born in Canada, in North America.  Others win because they were born the USA, parts of Europe, Australia and a handful of other developed nations in the world, nothing more, nothing less simply LOCATION of birth. 

That's it.... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION -  they say that is the key element in business, in retail product placement and now lottery winners!   By simple location of birth we are wealthy, the vast majority can easily provide the essentials of life food, clothing and shelter, with out much trouble.  Remember I said ESSENTIALS of life, not the EXTRAS.  So many people, simply because they were not in a Lottery winner LOCATION at birth do not have the LUXURY of providing the essentials.

I challenge you to take 18 min of your time and watch this TED video....  and maybe YOU can help someone win the lottery despite their location.

Together we can make a difference.

Graduation..... what a beauty.

Today's wordless Wednesday was a no brainer.  Graduation of our second daughter has taken the spotlight.  Hard to believe, time flies......

Wordless Wednesday take 1

Working on a new WED feature....

I have to confess this is not a new idea fresh from my own head, I first saw it on a friends blog
Hopf In Niger , I love the concept of a day dedicated to photos, life as it is right now etc.  I have since found a few other sites that do similar things. The concept is quite simple, we all know the saying a photo is worth 1000 words, post a photo or photos on Wednesday, and let them speak for themselves. 

I am going to give it a try.  I know that means I have to be on the ball, to get photo's ready to roll each week, I am hoping it will motivate me in a few ways.  First to pick up my camera again, Second to actually download them and deal with them and finally to share and blog regularly.  Let's see how it goes.  First photo(s) to be added today....... I hope you enjoy !

Trash & Blessings

I love it when all the pieces fit together, especially in unexptected ways. Turning trash to treasure, and blessing many people in the process.  

Inventory is never a fun part of any job, this year as we faced a warehouse downsize, inventory certainly was going to be a bigger challenge than ever.  We counted and sorted and the trash pile grew.  There were lots of useful things that had been sitting on the shelves not selling, in some cases for years, we needed the shelf space, so they were getting the heave ho.  So sad, these were perfectly good products that had huge potential to help someone.   I asked my boss what his plans were and he said he would like to donate them somewhere but did not know where to even start.  WAHOO... I jumped in and told him that I would ask my connections in Niamey, Niger, West Africa if they thought the items could be of use.  Doc Ace assured me that he thougth the items could be put to good use.

That was all I needed to hear, we were off and running. I packed up the "trash" and took it home.  Thankfully my husbands office has this HUGE empty basement area that we are able to store things if we need to.  So off to his office went the 5 very large boxes of "trash" to be stored untill I could figure out how to get it to Africa.  Worst case senerio it would take a couple of years and return with team members heading back after some time home in Canada in 2013.  I was o.k. with that - but kept my ears open and let a few people know that I had things to send to Niamey.  The prayers went up and I waited...


God had a much faster plan.  Just before Easter, my momma called to say that they had a speaker at their church from Niamey, and that she was going back in a week.  YIPPEE!   I sent of a quick email, asking her if she had room in her suitcase..and if so would she mind taking a few items with her.  Not only did she have room, she was only travelling with one suitcase so I could send a whole FULL suit case with her.  God certainly was putting the pieces of the puzzle together.  So I packed up 48 lbs (limit is 50 - but you never quite know how close scales are. so better to be safe than sorry, or paying the over weight charge.) of wrist supports, knee braces, cervical collars, walking boots and a few other odds and ends.  Said a prayer that they would get into the hands of those who can use them and off they went.

Yesterday I received an email from Deborah an occupational therapist that works at Galmi Hosptial, several hours outside of Niamey. The Suitcase had arrived at the hosptial yesterday, simply marked Gamli, with no "attention to" or proper address, they had no idea what it was, where it came from or who it was for.  Peices of the puzzle, coming together yet again. A doctor at the hospital opened it, took one look and said, this is for Deborah.  She was over the moon excited - and stated that she had been praying last week about their need for wrist supports.  The suitcase had just what she needed, God had answered her prayer BEFORE she prayed it.  I had picked the trash, packed the suitcase and sent it on it's way BEFORE she even uttered the prayer of need.  How utterly cool is that?   God is in the business of BIG PICTURES,  He sees them and put the peices of the puzzle together in perfect order.

I sit in awe, I am blessed beyond measure to be part of the big picture.  I wonder how the pieces will fit together for the next suitcase, there are still several boxes good "trash" to go.   Secretly I hope and pray I will be able to carry it and deliver it, to see in person the final destination.  A girl can dream.  In the meantime I am happy to put it all together at this end so that our trash will be someones treasure.  Blessing all who are part of the BIG PICTURE.

Lets fight.....

Today is International Malaria Awareness Day. 

Malaria is deadly, Malaria is preventable.

Read more about malaria awareness day and what can be done here.

Education is key.

The best Christmas gift I received this year was from my family, mosquito Nets for 2 families in Niger, West Africa.  To these 2 families this is the gift of life, and peace of mind.  Knowing that they are protected from the mosquito's at night, the mosquito's that carry the deadly disease, the disease that worries mothers & kills children.  A simple mosquito net used correctly will save lives.  Let's fight for these lives.  If you would like to know more about purchasing mosquito nets for families in Niger, please take a min to look at page 3 of the Alliance Gift Catalog and page 22 for the donation form.  $25 can save a life... or 2 or 3 depending on how many are sleeping under it. 


  

Simply sad....

So many things in my life are good.  It is not perfect, but it IS good.

Simple things truly make me happy;

Family & friends.
Watching a one year old discover bubbles.
The first signs of cherry blossoms showing their pink ruffles.
Hearing my favorite song on the radio.
A good book, or a good cup of Cinnamon coffee.
A random meeting with an old friend in the mall.
Laughter, the kind that ends with tears rolling down my cheeks . . . . . . . Truly simple things!

Too bad life is not always simple.

Sometimes things happen that strip that simplicity.

Things that on every level are complex. 

Today at the beginning of my relatively simple happy life,  I read this...
Up In Flames

A blog entry written by my friend Chantelle, director of the Niger Vocational Girls at Risk School, this is where I was in September of 2011, working with the girls, learning from these girls, falling in love with these girls.  I left a chunk of my heart there with these girls.  Today as I read, my heart was broken, deep down in a I am helpless, what can I do sort of way. 

Up in flames... very litterally,  a few days ago, the local market, the market I shopped in, bought fabric in & walked through, was burned to the ground. Chantelle's blog entry shows before and after photos, it tore at the core of my beeing.   Before I even finished reading I had tears streaming down my face, and I felt totally & utterly helpless.  WHY?  Do these people not struggle enough?  HOW will they even begin to rebuild?  It seems so unfair   So many people who had so little to start with now have nothing..... litterally NOTHING but ashes and chared messes where livelyhood once stood.

Fire is devastating in any uncontained form, but like this it is unfathomable.  Homes & jobs can be lost, all that a family has can be wiped out in the blink of an eye.  We truly have no comprehension of such loss here in North America where we have fire regulations, insurance,  built in sprinkler systems, not to mention resources to rebuild.  In Niger, where the economic situation is bleek at best, a land where water is scarce, famine has a stronghold & where refugees are streaming in from surrounding countries  by the 1000's, adding to the stress on resources, a fire like this has unmeasureable consequences. 

My heart is there with these people, as they try to look ahead to what comes next. Praying they find the strength, resources and courage to move forward.  Wondering if there is anything that can be done from here.  It is complicated...  sending $$ may be easy for us, but is it best for those there in Niamey?  Culturally is it best for them?  Is that what need?  Or do we go, with hammer in hand to help build?  Work beside them as they reclaim their livelyhoods?  No matter what happens,  one thing for sure, it is going to be a long, long journey. 





 

Something worth thinking about.

In light of my last post, this photo really pulled at my heart strings.

I have looked at this photo for a very long time this is what strikes me.

The first being, I can not even begin to imagine this life.  My life in North America is so very different.  I realize that my observations come from a very naive and inexperienced place. A place that however naive is compassionate to the plight of this group of people. I believe that such photos raise awareness, and when we are more aware, we are better able to adjust our way  thinking and be people of action and advocacy.
 
It looks hotter than hot.

This well is HUGE.  ( Has anyone ever fallen in????)

I guesstimate that there are close to 200 people in the photo ( I tried to count, but my eyes are not that good)

There appears to be at least 2 or 3  pots / containers per person.

I look and I wonder how many people come to this well each day?

How big are their families?

I wonder how far they have to walk?

I find it interesting that both men and women gather at the well.

I wonder how long this well has been active and how long before it runs dry.

Just a few of the things that popped into my head...

What do you see? What strikes you? 

I hope in the very least it makes you thankful for the running water in your home.


On a side note I would love to give credit to the person who took the photo, but could not find the original source.  I will continue to look, and when I do will happily  post proper credits.

World H2O day.....

Awareness is key. 

Thinking about a world - or area of the world - with out water is difficult for many.  Especially those of us who live and grew up on the "wet" coast.  In a city where the annual rainfall is1117.2 mm per year finding water is not a problem.  It's simple, we turn a tap and voila safe, affordable, clean water for anything we need.  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is available.  On the rare occasion the water main is turned off for maintenance, we think we suffer.  We get notice of when that suffering is  o happen and are given an approximate time line.   We "prepare for the disaster"by filling pots & containers, refrigerating, and if it is going to be a really long time we fill our bathtubs  "Just in case".  We think we suffer. HA, we do not know the meaning of the word.  In my small home alone there are 8 sources where water comes into my home or yard.  Water is available in a wide variety of locations.  From my home I can drive for less than 1/2 an hour in several directions and end up at the ocean or at a fresh water lake, where I can swim, and enjoy many recreational activities.  Water is certainly NOT scarce. We are most fortunate, we should not take this life giving resource for granted.

"Water" source ... notice the garbage and the goats

However, that is not the reality for 100' of 1000's of people who live in climates where they see under 20mm rainfall per year.  If that rain comes in "HOT" season, the water often evaporates BEFORE it even hits the ground.  Then imagine not having a tap, imagine having to walk for  2 kms or more to fetch water only to have to CARRY it back home, on your back, on your head, in buckets by hand.  Only to have to repeat this task again the next day and the next and the next, every day of your life when you require water.  This is how you obtain the water you will use for EVERYTHING, drinking, cooking, gardening, feeding animals, bathing - E*V*E*R*Y*T*H*I*N*G.  In many cases the water source is small, stagnant, polluted, shared with animals, used for bathing and laundry,as well as 100's of people who also walk several kilometers there and back daily just for water. Scenarios like this are ones we in North America can not even begin to fathom. Yet this is REALITY for millions in this world.  Water, the most basic of human need clean drinking water is not something they ever take for granted by these people.

"drinking" water in a market stall in Niamey

Women gather at the well for water

As with most things, unless you have experienced this first hand you can not fathom the issue.  Awareness and education are KEY.  That is why we need world water day.

Here is a little history of World Water Day. 

If you are looking to be able to help,  here is  a link to the Alliance Compassion Catalog  see page 4 on wells and helping get them built.  Page 22 is the form to fill out in order to give. 

This is my friend Adam, a village leader, drawing water from one of the wells built as an Alliance Compassion project. The well is just a few 100 meters from the center of his village.  It provides fresh, clean, safe water for his village of about 1000 people.  Saving them 1000's hours of "water walking" annually.  Adam has also said that the health of his village has improved since the well was constructed.  That is an invaluable gift.  It is the gift of life, of health and most of all the gift of HOPE for the people in Teppe.  It is Water.....it is life!

Remembering March 1st.....

March 1st,  marks what would have been my Grandma's 98 birthday.   98, I can not even imagine what life would be like to be 98.  The world has changed so much in the past 98 years.  One thing I know for certain is that had she still been with us she would have adapted, tried new things, laughed as she said, I am too old for this and above all she would have LOVED watching her great grand children grow up.   As a child I knew beyond measure that I was loved by her, and when my girls came along  I KNEW that she adored them, nothing made her happier than a visit with her Greats! 

Oh how I miss her, certainly time has lessened the ache, as we have learned to do life with out her. The old adage "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is certainly true, especially on this day,  Her birthday!  I always remember even after 14 March 1st's, without her.  So today, I pulled out the scrapbook I did for her memorial, and remembered all that she meant to me.  Sure there were a few tears,  but mostly my heart is full of gratitude for all her life meant to me.  For all she taught me.  Ultimately for the gift of laughter, the ability to laugh at one's self, and to enjoy a good joke or prank here and there.  She will always be remembered with a happy heart, for I know that is how she would want to be remembered, with a smile in our hearts and laughter on our lips.

Gram, I miss you, I love you, and today I remember with a huge smile in my heart.  Blessed beyond measure because I had the privilege that is shared by only 10 others in this whole entire world, the privilege of calling YOU Grandma! 

Sometimes it really is the little things in life....

So, O.K.  I confess, I love Pizza!  I know in terms of health benefits it is not the healthiest choice, but, well if the US congress  can justify pizza sauce as a vegetable, hen really can it be that bad for you?   Mocking aside, I love pizza in almost any form.  My Grandma used to make a fruit pizza that was yummy for sure.  I have a recipe for chocolate pizza that is fun and easy and also yummy, however my fave is still the standard thick crust, tomato sauce variety.  Oh the topping combinations are endless, so really it is never the same pie twice. 
Until it comes to left overs, it may be the same pie, but it is never quite the same the second day. That was until today, no more microwave reheat for me, and putting it in the oven always takes too long.  Well low and behold, you can get crispy, right out of the pizza oven goodness, from your fry pan.  Thanks to Pinterest, for the awesome hint.  
Dry frying pan, medium heat, pizza, covered for 3 - 5 min = glorious crispy crust and ooey, gooey cheesy goodness on top.  Pizza left overs will never be the same again. 
Now the question is, do I share this with my family (who I know do not read here)  or just let them figure it out for themselves and leave more left overs for me.