Amazing show- Blood, Sweat and Take Away

David and I have recently watched this show on the BBC called "Blood, Sweat and Take Away" about the high price of cheap food such as human exploitation in third world countries. At first I wasn't sure if I could stomach the show, knowing the questionable things that are done not only to animals, but to humans. For any of you that have spent time in a third world country know what I speak of. Its seen on the streets daily. The difficult life of living as a peasant, barely able to put food on the table for your family, despite the backbreaking labor you have done. This show brings 6 British men and women to Thailand in the first episode, first to see how rice is grown and then harvested. The team was made to live like an average rice farmer, and could only pay for their food and shelter from their combined wages from working in the rice fields. On the first day of planting the rice seeds they, as a team, failed in their task of planting a small field and received only half of their wages.  They were nearly in tears that night when they realized they only had money to buy bananas because most of it went to rent. You could see in their faces and they slowly realized that the world did not live like they did. The hunger pains felt by so many. It was amazing to see their transformation. Even the prissiest of girls was willing to gut fish in order to buy dinner for the night. The show is well made and incredibly convicting, as it should be. We, as westerners, need to have reminders that the world is not as we see it. There are so many things we can do though to help. Here's a few ideas I've compiled since watching the show:

1. First I think as a believer I know that prayers can do amazing things in people's lives. Lift up a prayer tonight for the people going to bed hungry. 
2. Kiva is an amazing organization that provides micro loans to entrepreneurs overseas.
3.Compassion International- you can sponsor a child overseas- by sending in your money they can go to school, or at least have a decent meal
3.Oxfam- This organization is the one promoted by Coldplay in "making trade fair". You can find information on products you buy overseas.
4. THINK LOCAL! Visit your local farmer's market to not only help your local economy- but also you know where you food came from.
5. Still thinking local...My church Bayside Community Church Bradenton sponsors a homeless breakfast every Saturday morning so you can reach out to your local community

So...think twice before you visit your local Taco Bell or McDonald's...on where your cheap food came from :)

Good Beer without the Guilt

For those of you women who are fellow beer drinkers such as myself, I found this article on Women Health Magazine to be very helpful! Now when you head to the beach you can grab an Amstel Light instead of Rolling Rock like I usually do!
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/best-light-beers

PolitiFact | Top 10 facts to know about health care reform

PolitiFact | Top 10 facts to know about health care reform

Posted using ShareThis

Prayer for my poppa in Mexico

Here's an email from my dad sent the other morning. Wanted to share it with others so we can cover his team in prayer!!

Hey sweet family…Friday, I’m heading to Puebla, Mexico with 14 high school seniors and 4 leaders over spring break March 19-26.  We will be doing a number of things from serving at a small growing Christian school with grades K through 6th grade.  Then going to an orphanage to drop off clothes and love on kids.   There is an evangelistic rally scheduled with a high school group from El Camino the local church there we partner with.  Then to the mountains of Cuatatola to help with some construction and ministry projects at a church we also help with.   Can you pray for us?

·         We have an expectation for God to work.   Help us to see, experience and especially cooperate with what He wants.

·         Pray for logistics of travel, health, safety, and unity

·         Pray we would be servant leaders

·         Pray we would be used by God to help bring about life change through evangelism, serving, loving, and listening.  

·         Pray that the different cultures represented (in the mountains it is 3 cultures) will bring glory and honor to God as the viewing world sees the unity we have in Christ.

Thanks…your part helps change things there as well as us.

Funny news post- "Midnight Knitter"

Normally at this time of year, Wilbraham Park in West Cape May, New Jersey is a pretty depressing place.  It’s still at the tail-end of winter there, so everything’s dark and dreary and generally not the most pleasant to look at.  Of course, when spring comes, everything will be green again, but until then someone known as the Midnight Knitter has taken it upon him or herself to knit scarves, leggings, cozies, and yarn coverings for trees and lamp posts in the area.

While the town is mostly pro-Midnight Knitter, there are some concerns, like when the city will take down the knitted yarn.  Residents hope they’ll find a happy medium and remove the brightly-colored works only when they start to fade, tag, or become tattered, and not before then.  The police are asking around, but something tells me that the Midnight Knitter will never be caught of his or her own free will, if only because residents seem enthralled by the efforts.  It seems like a rare thing for knitting needles to be used for their intended purpose in such a fun way, rather than in a hurtful stabby way.

Associated Press

My favorite song by my favorite artist

Blessed To Be A Witness

Credits: 

Ben Harper

Original Artist: 

Ben Harper

corcovado parted the sky
and through the darkness
on us he shined
crucified in stone
still his blood is my own
glory behold all my eyes have seen

i am blessed to be a witness
some have flown away
and can't be with us here today
like the hills of my home
some have crumbled and now are gone
gather around for today won't come again

i am blessed to be a witness
so much sorrow and pain
still i will not live in vain
like good questions never asked
is wisdom wasted on the past
only by the grace of god go i

i am blessed to be a witness

Last week's vacation [pictures!]

Well in the past two weeks so much has happened. My last day at Healthy Families was February 19th :( It was such an amazing experience and I have to say I've really enjoyed all my coworkers. It was really hard to say goodbye but I just can't say no to new opportunities that come my way. After the 19th I had a whole week of vacation before starting my new job at the Safe Children Coalition .
So here's an update from the past week of vacation!
           
                          Monday- Traveled to Tampa Ikea to get a desk set or "workstation" that we  picked out online because I will be officing from home. Kinda blurry picture but basically its a desk/bookshelf combination. Here's the back:

           Here's the front! Its very convenient because it creates a separate office area. 

 

While I was in Tampa I had lunch with my friend Emily. Emily is in her last semester at  the University of South Florida to get her Masters in Social Work

 

During the week I also started on a new craft project to make tile mosaic coasters.

Here's the finished project (not there yet) 

 

I also spent A LOT of time with my dogs while on my vacation-

Roman ate a tree vine

 

 Lily ate a coconut

 

Wednesday- I got a chance to have dinner with a former coworker Patricia at Mi Pueblo's. Patricia is awesome

 

I also got my hair highlighted! The girl actually straightened it for me (I tipped her a little extra haha) 

Friday-I  joined a women community group called "Tea Time" lead by Deborah Peters. We enjoyed some Oolong and White Teas

Her friend also came to teach us how to make Cranberry Orange Zest scones! They were amazing ( I had to stop at two) 

 

      Sunday- ended the week by eating fresh oysters at Siesta Key Oyster Bar with my friends Jenny and Emily (and the guys)