Sunday Best

Today I put on my grey turtleneck and my black leggings and layered a couple of things on top-a denim skirt and a grey shirt. I thought my 2 pieces wouldn't be great for church. At the same time, it was already nice to change up my outfit. Sigh.

I don't wash my clothes everytime I wear them. Of course, yesterday...first day I wore this outfit, I dropped some food on it. Enough that I would ususally throw it in the laundry. I was too tired last night to wash it so on it went to church this morning. Tomorrow I will wash it. I felt a little dirty wearing it today knowing I wasn't as clean as maybe I would usually be for church. Sigh.

I think about these two things. Having a bit of change and being clean. Two things that women and girls being trafficked do not get to have day after day. It is more of the same horrid, awful circumstances and feeling dirty all the more as time goes on. Sigh. My heart breaks for these women. My heart breaks for all of us who cannot escape the imprisonment of the heart.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10). I love this Proverb sandwiched between verses about slackers and rich men. Suffering women who need a strong tower are neither slackers nor rich men. They are hurting and and can run into a safe Savior who is not just waiting for them, but chastening them every minute of every day. Helping them to run to Him and not be hopeless; that is the goal, that is the need, that is what our voice can do for them.

Sex Trafficking All Around

Today begins a mere one week of wearing the same outfit in hopes of helping myself understand the lack of choice women, girls and even boys have throughout our world, country and even Ohio where sex trafficking is running rampant. Not only sex trafficking but horrible, unfathomable attrocities that are being done to women all over the world because they are not valued highly enough to have a voice. I want to be that voice. I want to stand in and do what I am certain I would be crying out for if I was in their position. I do not stand because I want to be a good Christian, however. I stand because Jesus would stand if this were during His time on earth. He would set free those caught in places that are being held captive because that is why He came. In Luke 4, He STANDS UP and says..."THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him."

A friend of mine wore the same dress for 6 months and was not only changed hereself, but was able to bring awareness nationally to human trafficking. I am reading a book called "Half the Sky" by a married couple named Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It has really been an eye opener for me. As a result of reading it, one of my favorite authors, Carolyn Custis James wrote "Half the Church" talking about how women can have a voice for women. God is up to something in the area of social justice. I am not wanting to jump on a bandwagon, but I am wanting to join God with where He is working and I want to impact wommen in ways that are outiside of comfortable Christianity.

There are so many other human atrocities are done to women everyday
o Aborting female babies
o Leaving female children to die
o Forced labor
o Girls malnourished while boys are well fed
o Girls named names meaning “Rejected” or “Unwanted”

Some startling statistics...

Toledo, OH is the 3rd largest source of human trafficking in the U.S.

All over the world...Taiwan, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Haiti, China, Congo…everywhere…

Between 14, 500 and 17,500 trafficked into the U.S. Annually
Between 600,000 and 800,000 women and children trafficked between countries throughout the world annually.
3rd largest grossing crime industry (32 billion dollars with a total of 27 million enslaved today).

Some harsh realities...

Victims are forced into a "debt slavery" situation by coercion, deception, fraud, intimidation, isolation, threat, physical force, debt bondage or even force-feeding with drugs of abuse to control their victims. Once they are addicted to drugs it is difficult for them to leave the brothel because they cannot get drugs to feed their addiction. As well, many girls end up having children who are then possessed by the brothel and the girls don’t want to leave their children behind. The intention of the pimps is the children provide services as well.

So here I sit with my grey turtleneck and black leggings that I will be wearing until next Saturday wondering what God wants to speak to me this week. I am curious what He has for me and for the women at my church as we journey though this together.

May women be set free...

10 pounds by the time I turn 40

T minus 3 months to go. The 10 pounds that have inched their way back on this almost 40 year old tent is not welcome and not allowed to stay! So, for reasons such as this as well as the laziness that has set in the last 2 months, plus the amount of food consumption that has sky rocketed with all the fun we are having in Dayton, I must take drastic measures. Today is day 3 and we are well on our way to a slimer, healthier me (us)! Here's hoping!

A Fresh Start

"No one can go back and make a fresh start, but anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

Ahhhh...I love fresh starts and now is the time of year! Again, the blog. A fresh start with it. But, this year promises to be a little less hectic without a move like last year, right? Well, we'll see. However, it is my hope. My aim is to see with people this year. Not just to get life done, but to be a part of it in new ways. As we start a new year, Jeff and I have taken to scaling back on several things this month...sweets (food in general, actually), TV, and late nights. Our hope is to add exercise, pursuing the kids, and, especially for me, more friend time, craft time and relax time. SIGH. Sounds so good. I have had to reflect the last few days on why these many things are not so much my way of life. This is not the first time that this is the focus of a new year or the focus of any fresh start in the last 10 years. I can say, though, that each year God inches me closer and closer to the things I long for and that is what it is about. That is all I can do is look to Him for true change. As I consider the areas that I need to change, I find I am grateful for where I have come. So, to fresh starts. That is a worthy pursuit.

Finding my New Self

It has been a process of entering my last year in my thirties. Since this past summer, I have just been looking at myself and realizing that I want to move forward on all the things I
"will someday do". It is time...here is my list...

• dive into interior design
• do something with my figure skating (compete, teach, something more than skate once a week)
• pursue my love for broadway
• get time for me in new and inventive ways
• develop for my kids a love for cultural things
• do ministry out of what I love most...speaking, counseling and seeking justice

It is time...for the rest of my life. God, direct me and give me your heart on the things you have for me!

On the First Day of Christmas...

Here I am on the first day of the busiest month of the year and I am getting back to my blog! What am I thinking?! I suppose these last 6 months have been pretty reflective for me. I am hoping that since I get little time to write down my thoughts and try to understand them, my blog could help to give me a chance to do that! After all, I am at my computer quite a bit! So this morning, we were all excited about starting the chocolate advent calendars with it being the 1st of the month (I picked them up last night just in the nick of time!). We were running around getting breakfast together...grabbing bowls, spoons, milk, cream cheese, shouting out what kind of cereal each wanted when Colin turns to me and says, "We are all crazy here!". I thought, "Colin, you are so right!" I had to chuckle! I had told the kids they could have their piece of chocolate after breakfast just today instead of after lunch and they were all nuts about that! Colin, had no idea what these calendars were all about so he was waiting and waiting to see what it was. Too cute!
So...I got my Christmas shopping almost all done so that this month can be more about celebrating and reflecting than about thinking about gifts and shopping for them. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE giving gifts (very high on the Love Language list!), but I have found in the past years it is what most consumes me and the holiday feels empty and rushed. I so don't want that this year! Let's see if I can learn something after 10 years!
So, welcome December! I know I would not have said that even a few weeks ago...and thank you, Lord for getting things to this place. Let's enjoy!

Shhhh...it's a secret

For my mother-in-law's Christmas present I am framing pictures of the whole family. Scott and Mindy, their 5 kids-in order: Trevor, Alayna, Logan, Chase and Grant, Gary and Amy, Me and Jeff and Christy with her precious dog, Gracie. (Siblings are Gary, Scott, Christy and Jeff). It is coming together...except, of course, that our camera broke and I have 2 more pictures to take (obviously they are of our kids!!! (Our printer is in need of ink too-again...can't get all the technology working at one time!!!) Anyway, Here are the pics for the frame. They will all be in sepia...I am praying it can all happen SOON!

Enjoy!