The Sudan, Diamonds, The Congo, and YOU!!

I like to believe that I am in some small way an activist for the Sudanese people, and the people of Darfur. I try to educate people of the genocide going on there, of the terrible living conditions the refugees must face to try as they might to protect their families, and of the fear in which the people live and why. I also speak out against the diamond trade and I advocate for the victims of that trade. I tell people of the atrocities taking place each day so that rich Americans can have diamond rings and other jewelry. I don't wear ANY kind of fake diamonds...on necklaces, earrings, bracelets, headbands, etc. because I don't want to perpetuate the idea that diamonds are desired, that they are beautiful. It sickens me to see people wearing them. It sickens me that people use another peron's death or pain or fear or suffering to show their love in a wedding ring. There is nothing okay about wearing a diamond, real or fake. Wearing one advertises to the world that you are okay with hurting other people so you can look pretty. I have recently learned of the holocaust in the Congo. I am trying to educate myself further about what is happening there. It sickens me that people are using rape as a weapon of war. I don't know much about what is going on in the Congo, but I will learn more. These are things about which I feel very strongly. I want to let others know of the horrible things taking place in Africa, because I don't think many people know at all! I didn't for a LONG time, and look now, I didn't even know about what was going on in the Congo! I just wanted to blog about these things to put it out there...to give a voice to the voiceless, to speak out for those who have no way to speak for themselves. There are horrible things going on all over the world, even right here in the US. I don't want to be on a soap-box here, but I was thinking a good idea would be for everyone (myself mostly!) to think of one thing happening in the world that they don't think is fair or just or right, and learn more about it. Even if you can't DO anything about it, being educated is half the battle, I think. KNOWING about it at least shows you CARE. Also, if you know about something, you can better advocate for those victims. I think it would be amazing if everyone reading this blog posted something they feel strongly about! I, as well as everyone else, could learn about what YOU feel strongly about. Maybe my list of things for which I advocate would grow! I would LOVE that!!!!!

No Foster Child for Christmas

We have not heard back from the Utah Foster Care office. I am sad about this because it indicates they do NOT, in fact, have a programme for fostering a child just for Christmas. I was so looking forward to doing this service for a child in foster care. My heart aches for those children.

AFRICAN CULTURE ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEUM!!!!

So I wanted to be sure and let everyone know about an exhibit coming to The Utah Museum of Fine Arts! This exhibit will explore the traditions of Kente cloth, woven in Ghana. This cloth is a symbol of African pride, culture and identity. It will be on display from December 16-January 4. I am SO excited to see this exhibit!! I know there is a FREE MUSEUM DAY on Saturday, November 20, and that day at 2:00 there is a free craft project, I think. Anyway, on DECEMBER 27 there is a KWANZAA CELEBRATION from 12:00 (noon)-4:00. The celebration is FREE, but a canned food donation is appreciated. Also, I am not sure if regular admission into the museum applies, but then the celebration itself is free, or if it is all free. ADMISSION: **University of Utah students are FREE **Children under the age of three are FREE 6-18 is only three dollars 18 and over is only five dollars

A beautiful picture

I love, I mean LOVE photography. Sometimes I come across pictures that I just love for whatever reason. This is one that I really love. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Sleepless, desiring to serve

I woke up and could not go back to sleep. I am thinking so much about what I am supposed to do to serve others. I know I must sound CRAZY... I found online this AMAZING group of people doing wonderful things to help others. Check out theworldrace.org. I feel inspired to do more. The small things I want to do to help others are are so...small...there is SO MUCH MORE to be done. Children to hold. Widows to touch. Men, broken and tired, to uplift. Tears to wipe away. Prayers to offer. I want to jump up and go NOW, although to where I don't know! I am excited and anxious to get to Ghana and serve the children at Lucky Hill. I feel there is all this compassion boiling inside of me, pushing to be let out. I believe the more service one does, the more one desires to serve. I hope and pray our journy to Africa will give my son the desire to serve. I pray that, despite his young age, we will be able to serve side by side. That his innocence and youth will touch the hearts of the adults I wish to serve, and that his pure spirit and happiness will reach out to the children whose pure spirits may better understand him than they may me. I pray that because of his youth he will be able to bless those with whom we come in contact, perhaps better than I. I pray that for the time we are in Africa he will be wise and mature beyond his years. I believe God works through children, and I pray that God will work though him. Taiger has only been away from Heaven for three short years. Many of those we are going to serve have also just recently come from the realms of Heaven. They are all so pure. I am so blessed to be able to be with Taiger every day and feel of his strong spirit. I am so thankful he will be with me on this journy to Africa. I am sure he will be able to serve better than I. I am sure he will be more open to the promptings of The Spirit, although I pray I will also be able to feel the Holy Ghost and be led in our service in Africa.

Hosting a foster child over Christmas!!!!!

So, my Mom had a wonderful idea! Tonight, just as I was dozing off, she came into my room and told me that she had heard on the news something about helping a child in foster care during Christmas. I looked it up, and it wasn't what she thought. However, she said she had heard of families hosting a foster child over Christmas, and she thought our family should do that! She said it was my "job" to find out more information and see how we could go about doing that. I was suddenly wide awake and googling away on my computer, looking for information. It took some time to find the right thing, but I think I got some phone numbers to call tomorrow and get more information. I think if the numbers I found prove to be of no help, I will just call the Department of Child Services (is that what they are called? I don't know, but you know what I mean) and just ask them if they have such a program. I told my Mom, if Utah does not have a program for that, I will start one!! Anyway, I will keep you posted. I will be sure and post the information I find so others reading this blog can have the information readily available if they wish to host a child as well. (And so others searching for that information online can find it more easily than I did!) NOTE: I DID find quite a bit of information on hosting Russian/Ukrainian orphans, not necessarily over Christmas. A GREAT experience, I am sure, but not quite what I was looking for. Anyway, if anyone is interested in doing that, there is a lot of information on it if you just google something like "host an orphan". You KNOW if I had my own house, I would do that in a heartbeat!!!! :) Of course, then I would not want to "send back" the child I hosted and I would "HAVE" to adopt a little Russian child.... :). Along that same line, I have heard of hosting international orphans coming to America for medical treatments. That would be another "fun"/rewarding experience!!