The time is here

For us to be

More concerned

With We than Me

However you help

And whatever you do

I hope you’ll be happy

If we share in it with you

We should continue

To make the choice

To use our Hearts

 Hands and Voice…

To make this world

A better place to be

Where getting by is easier

Because of You and Me

So much for regular blogging, eh!!!  It was really my intent back in December to be writing more blog entries here...

The year has been much different than I was planning on (go figure) and I have had to do an extra amount of typing for work and also for the www.HelpingHandsCR.com website. 

With HHCR we have been building the new site since December and it ended up being my job to get all the content together (which I had anticipated, but didn't realize the size of the job until it was upon me). 

This has been an interesting time for me because I ended up taking some contract work at the end of January to do the same thing - creating website content, for a local Real Estate Developer.

In addition to writing for this Developer’s website I was appointed the job of writing a voice script and narrating for their online video.  As far as the vocal narration went, I have received great reviews from friends and family on my work, and now I am looking to take up being a voice talent! (Just here in Costa Rica to begin with.)  Last year I was on the radio 2 times for Community Service announcements sharing about Helping Hands CR events.  I’ve been educating myself on what it will take to get started, and also just giving the whole idea more thought.  It’s always fun to branch out – right?!

I’ll let you know how it all goes…and now it’s my turn to go and poke around on some of your blogs and see what everyone has been up to.  See ya soon!

(This photo was taken at our last Helping Hands CR event - BINGO & Bake Sale.  The dancing girls are from a low income community with a empowerment dance class and they performed for us.)

 

Ohhh nooo!  Can it be true that I haven’t blogged here (or anywhere) since July!  This is no good…be prepared for many more entries from me, as I’m now on a mission…

This past year has been filled with lots of new and exciting projects/stuff for me.  In January I started a volunteer organization in Costa Rica called Helping Hands CR.  Through this group I’ve been able to meet some amazing people here in CR and help out in many big and small ways.

Last night I was reading through my friend’s blog and saw a blog entry with my name in it…it made me smile and feel all fuzzy to see that my efforts are paying off and being recognized: “There are, thankfully, so many worker bees volunteering time and energy, donating food and clothing, fund-raising. But Ginnee and Phil, like Barry, Nanci, Evangeline and Gail, are leaders. The glue. The force. Without them digging in, the rest of us wouldn't know where to start.”

This is why I started our little organization – to inspire and encourage people to do more! Looking back over 2007 I am really proud of what I have helped others to help themselves achieve.  Now I look very forward to a fabulous 2008.

You can see photos, project information and more at the helping hands cr webpage: www.endpoverty.meetup.com/44

I wish you and yours all the best for the coming year!

*In the photo my daughter is helping me make a mess of the dog food bags and my 4 dogs are eagerly waiting for any messes!*

Something that bothers tourists who visit Costa Rica (among many other countries with the same problem) is the amount of stray cats and dogs that roam free to be abused, tortured, and hit by cars.

One thing that I have began doing is bagging up small bags of dog food that we can sell for an affordable price of $2, to people who can't buy anything more.  These pet owners have pets...whether they can feed them or not.  It's very sad and it's a tough subject when some of these families want animals, but can barely afford to feed the children.

The great thing about selling this dog food is:
1. Someone gets to make extra money
2. The poor little doggies can maybe get something to eat

I'll let you know how it works out

Last Friday I spent the morning in La Carpio, with my good friend and mentor Gail Nystrom. 

Instead of buying myself anything nice for my birthday (March 23^rd) I wanted to spoil some other people.  So we supplied 3 in need families with fruits and vegetables to sell, and also food for their families to eat.  Some of the kids were lucky enough to get a few toys and school supplies.

It’s always a mind and heart breaking/opening experience visiting these in need communities.

I saw…

Children playing on the street alone

Starving dogs

A girl who bought just one egg

Garbage that had been littered everywhere

Teeny tiny black and white TV’s

Houses with dirt floors, tin walls, NO WINDOWS!

People missing lot’s of teeth

Curious eyes staring back at me

 

I felt…

Overwhelmed with a desire to create a cleaner, healthier environment and mentality

Sad

Welcomed and appreciated

Numb – sometimes I couldn’t think, just look

 

I touched…

Hands that were old, warm and soft – one of the nicest handshakes I’ve had

Small, hungry children who gave me hugs and smiles galore

A rose.  It was given to me by a woman who I complimented on her flowers.  Best gift I’ve received in awhile.

**** This photo is of Meranda and myself after we had our hair cut.  Mer was very instrumental in pulling together the volunteers to cut off their locks, and also the funds we recieved.  Thanks Meranda!  You're a wonderful friend ****

What a great little event we had, if I do say so myself!  It was my first planned public event and I am very happy about what we achieved.

We raised $2200

We collected 10 ponytails all over 10 inches

We are planning to make this an annual campaign!

And we have events happening in schools in the near future

All so exciting!

***Would you cut your hair to show you care?  Donated hair can be sent to Locks of Love http://locksoflove.org/   OR to Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths www.beautifullengths.com

Cutting Hair to Show We Care

We’re showing our support & bringing awareness to the effects of diseases like Cancer that cause hair loss - by collecting funds and cutting off hair for wig donations  

The funds raised will be donated to the Fundacion Pro Unidad de Cuidado Paliativo who assist children and people living with illness's.

Please donate to our cause online HERE: http://hairfundraiser.chipin.com/cuttinghairtoshowwecare

I am cutting off 14 inches of my hair along with 7 other caring people on Monday February 26^th

________________________________________________________________________

How you can get involved:

• Donated hair must be 8 inches long, clean, not chemically damaged, no more than 5% grey, and in a secure ponytail or braid with elastics.  Check out websites for hair requirements
  • You can donate your hair to LocksofLove:  www.locksoflove.org  
  • OR the Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths campaign www.beautifullengths.com

• Collect a group of people to donate 8” of their hair then organize a small or large event

If your New Year’s Resolution or 2007 commitments included doing more for others and the planet, then I say let’s get started!  If you have already started, please share some of your ideas and plans with me/us!  I am all ears and open minded!

If you need some help getting going, then I extend my hand of assistance to give you some ideas and a little push to get you going in the direction you desire.

What I’ve gone and done was pick up the phone and call a few people who run small organizations and foundations located here in my community, and found out what their current projects are, what help they need, and how I could be of assistance.

If you’re like me and have a hard time deciding which causes mean the most to you, then I say make a list and start searching online and in your local telephone book.  You may have a conversation with some one that shifts your immediate concern towards a certain matter.

If we all do something in our corner of the globe, then we can cover the map with our efforts and see major positive effects, right?

I’ve gone and started a Meetup Group called Helping Hands Costa Rica.  I’m just happy to bring some good people together, and try and help them help others.  It is under the “end poverty” category, but to me ending poverty is one of the many things to be done around here in CR. 

I would be TOTALLY STOKED if someone wanted to start a Helping Hands Meetup Group in their community!  

It’s always nice to get some people around you to help you stay motivated, be creative with, while enjoying the company and encouragement.  Meet-up groups of any kind are great for this, and of course, Zaangha’s are the best kind!  I say get your caring family and friends together and make a plan for the month, or the year.

 

Let’s Just Do It!

 

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

I'm all for conspiring with the universe, so let’s decide to make a difference.

-Food

I am thankful for the ability to buy myself any food that I want, when I want it.

-Time

I am thankful for family and friends, but especially when they can take the time to come and visit me because I am so far from “home”

-Love

I am thankful for my dogs who make me smile every time I look at them, and warm my heart with their love

-Electricity

I am thankful for power outages so I can live without my electronics for awhile, even if my daughter drives us bonkers by walking up to the TV saying, “On, on, on”.  I am super thankful for all of our electronics, especially the computers!

-Help

I am thankful for my housekeeper and nanny who help keep my home clean and my daughter safe and happy

-Existence

I am thankful for my time on this earth, and for people like you to share it with

 

To be continued…

 

I’ve been tagged by WeeWarrior - who is one Lovely Lady. 

Here are 5 Things Zaadsters wouldn’t know about me…

1. - I’ve wanted to adopt my children for as long as I can remember.  When I was 12 yrs old I asked my Mom if I could have my “tubes tied” like she had, and she told me that I had better wait on that.  I’m very happy that I had my daughter and am already excited and planning to adopt my next one.
   

2. - During the 9 months of pregnancy I was sick the whole time! In my 3^rd month I had lost 25 pounds and found myself in the hospital for a few days getting re-hydrated and monitored.  I finished it all up with having the baby with no medication, yikes!

3. - I’m cutting off my hair in support of the fight against cancer, and I’m looking for more willing participants.  I also plan to add the “cut your hair” pledge on pledgebank.com, and ask 8 other people to cut off their locks.  Do you think you would cut off your hair to show you care?
   

4. - I went to a spoon bending day 6 years ago with my Mom and the event was life changing for me.  Seeing people bend the spoons with only their minds was amazing.  They did have to bring their finger towards the spoon, but I swear some of them didn’t touch it! Mine took more of a nudge because I’m thinking “I can not do that!”  Well, now I can!!!

5. - Lately I have been buying more stuff for other people than myself…mainly to give away to needy families and kids.  I’ve been very conscious of my unnecessary spending and am trying to focus on other’s needs this year more than my own.  I’ve even been able to refrain from buying myself the usual coffee, tea, chocolate, etc and put the money towards food for others!  It’s a start…

   Thanks for reading this!  It was fun to come up with these tid bits of info about me.

   Now I tag:

   -Renée

   -The Red Skirt

   -Zoe

   -Peacey

   -Roderick