Community

I always knew that having friends, being in community as it is called, was a good thing. Of course it is. We all want friends, people that get us, that will have our backs, that will help us move for the fifth time (our friends get the moving us award for sure). I know that community is good because of God. God is a triune God, experiencing perfect community within Himself in His three person-hoods as Father, Spirit and Son. God created humankind to reflect that community and so gave us each other, that is, man and woman, and called it "very good" in the garden.

However, it is not until now, when I am on the verge on losing my community, when I have ever valued it so highly, nor ever treated it ever so casually, so recklessly. For reasons I can't even explain, I have been the opposite of everything I aspire to be to those in my community. Instead of humble, arrogant. Instead of kind, rough. Instead of a servant, a bully. Instead of encouraging, a cynic. I have been fighting against this place I have been in my life, and instead of leaving it with the Lord, I have brought it with me everywhere I have gone, and rubbed it off on a lot of innocent people. I hate that.

The truth is that I have been wrestling a lot with the church. Not the big "c" church, just my church. And I love my church, so this wrestling hurts. I have listened to enough sermons to know that you don't just leave a church. I have watched enough people leave in the last 12 years to know that every time some one leaves, I feel a bit betrayed. I have been solidly embedded in the "stay and change things from within" camp if you are not entirely happy for a long long time. But that's sort of the thing I have wrestling with, we have been wrestling with. How long do you stay and fight? I have never felt free to leave before. God has always told me stay. And I have always stayed. Patiently or not so patiently. I have continued to pray, to cry, to speak out, to run the ministry God has blessed me with, to serve, to be in community, to try to fit in some awkward way always feeling slightly out of place.

Until now. Now God has finally released us. And it feels so good. And it feels so bad. So scary. All I want to do tonight is hang out with the small group girls that have been a part of my life for the last eight years. If they would even have me. Because I have not been a very good friend to them lately. I have been caught up in my own drama of feelings and hurts. And I've been divisive and loud. Oh, and also generally not that great to be around. But I don't want to lose them. They are treasures to me, each one of them. I pictured our kids all growing up together, some of them marrying each other, being a part of each other's lives forever. And I still believe that will happen (at least I know Adeline is planning on marrying Joey so that she can be Kate's sister and Haddie's cousin).

I don't know what the next six months will have for us. I don't know where God will plant our little family. I am confident that he will lead us into community where ever we go. I don't know if it can ever compare to the community that we have had the past eight years with our group, or the past 12 years, the past 14 years at our church. But I do know that God is good and that He is faithful. That is enough for me.

Pictures Away

First off, what a fortuitous morning! I opened my daily zuilily only to find that two of their featured brands today were fair trade brands! And they were both new to me - Bambino Land and Green Kids. I needed a shower gift for a girlfriend who is having a little baby girl (shhh!), so I got to order a little something something from Bambino Land (no pictures until the shower because it is a surprise!).

Then, thanks to my Ethical Rag subsciption, I found out that ModCloth, a super cool site, has recently been buying from Mata Traders, a company that works with co-ops in India and Nepal. Very Cool! note: I can not speak as to whether all of ModCloth's clothes are ethically sourced. I have actually written to them to find out more because so little is available on the site, but have not heard back. It would be shocking to me if it was, however, just due to the sheer volume of goods they stock.

Well, on to what we've been wearing.

I spent the weekend in beautiful Sonoma county and sported my Noonday silver earrings all weekend. They no longer carry the particular ones I was wearing, but these are somewhat similar. Not sure if you can tell from this picture that Jonathan took of me while he was inside a Redwood tree, but there you have it.












I've also been wearing another pair of Noonday earrings (I heart my Noonday) this week. When I wore these earrings to pick up the boys from school, the fifth grade crossing guard told me (I swear), "I like your earrings." I mean, it doesn't get any better than that.













Adeline's been rockin' her new pink Chooze shoes. She loves that she didn't have to go to Africa to get them, and I love that they are so cute.



So that's what we've been wearing - how about you? Post pictures or comments and let us know!

What We Wore Wednesday

NEW FEATURE!!!

Have you see this girl's blog? It's cute, right? So I had this brilliant idea to take her idea of photographing outfits and use it to show that wearing fair trade clothes could be cute! Since I have this thing about fashion, and I have this daughter that has this thing about crazy outfits, I think we can come up with some pretty decent photos. I completely reject the notion that fair trade has to be hippie and boring, all oatmealy and gray. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! I want to hear/see from you too! So post in the comments section each Wednesday anything you or your kiddos wore or ate/drank that was fair or direct trade over the past week. Let's help each other find cool products and places to purchase ethically. Whether its just a pair of earrings or a whole outfit, I want to know what you've got going on.

Starting TOMORROW!!

Hero

I didn't start to become that interested in Martin Luther King Jr. or his ministry until maybe two years ago. In school we learned about him only superficially, going only as deep as the high points of his "I Have a Dream" speech, lumping him in with other African American leaders during a week in February (black history month). I found nothing particularly fascinating or overly interesting about him. If what I was taught in school was true, he was an effective civil rights leader during a turbulent time. I really couldn't have told you much more about him.

Then I read a book on inspirational Christian leaders that contained a short (maybe 35 page) biography of Dr. King, his faith, beliefs, non-violent practices, and his passion for all things just, from civil rights to compassion for those in poverty and I got really interested in this revolutionary man. There was so so much more to him than the cursory knowledge I had picked up in school. Dr. King truly was a man who lived out the gospel in its truest form.

It is because of Dr. King that I am able to have the family I have today. And that my sons are brothers, just as he dreamed fifty years ago. And that any of my children can and will marry whoever they choose, not based on race, but based solely on character and love.

In Biblical times, heroes as big as giants seem to emerge page after page - Abraham, Moses, Daniel, David. Men who led their people out of oppression, who wrestled angels, or survived lions, men who led vast armies to victories, or who slayed giant men with a flick of the wrist. Men like that don't seem to come around much anymore. But Dr. King was one of them. He led his people out oppression. He defied his enemies with no more than a speech. He heard God and obeyed. A hero of true biblical proportions, that enacted true justice on earth.

Women should Exercise

But not the kind of exercise that makes you all sweaty and gross and is hard. I mean, if you're in to that kind of thing, go for it. What I'm after is getting women to exercise their right to vote, and I don't care a lick who its for.

Let me take you on a short walk (pretty and painless I promise)through the history of the women's suffrage movement in the good ole U.S. of A.

1848 - the first time some women and men got to together in any official fashion to talk about voting rights. key words: Seneca Falls, NY. key people: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott key ideas: women and men should be treated equally under the law, voting rights for women.

1869 - a plan is formed! Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton draft legislation for a Constitutional amendment that would give women the right to vote.

1869 - WYOMING!!! becomes the first state to grant women the right to vote in state and local elections. This also lets women participate in jury service, so one victory and one defeat....

1893-1918- Sixteen more states get smart and give women the vote.

1920- on August 26th the 19th amendment (that same one that Susan B. Anthony wrote 50 years prior) is FINALLY signed into law, giving women the right to vote in federal elections.

It may have taken us 70 years and a lot picket lines to get, but in 1920 we finally achieved having a say with our national elected leaders here in America. This won us a lot more than just getting to stand in line on election day - this won us a piece of the national budget. Once women started voting, we started mattering to the policy makers in Washington D.C., who all of a sudden wanted our vote.

One startling but true statistic reports the reality of this situation. Prior to women receiving the right to vote, maternal health care in America was dreadful. In fact, more American women died in childbirth during World War 1 than American soldiers in battle. The average in 1915 was 608 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. However, after 1920, health care for women started improving, and by 1940, a mere 20 years later, the rate had already declined to under 100 maternal deaths per every 100,000 live births. One reason for this was that in 1935 legislation (called Title V) was passed aimed specifically at bettering and promoting health care for mothers and children. Coincidence that this legislation was passed 15 years after women gained the right to vote?

By modern day, the rate is now at an average of 13 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. While that rate is among the lowest in the world, a deeper look will show us that we still have a long way to go.

First however, lets look at how some of our sisters around the world are faring in the health care arena.

In most of the majority world, women's health care is an afterthought at best. Prenatal care is not an option, and birthing options are extremely limited. Most women use a mid-wife if one is available and give birth at home. If they do choose to have their baby in a hospital, they most likely will be required to supply all their own medical supplies, including sheets, gloves, soap, etc... These supplies are expensive and most women do not have the means to pay for them.

Therefore, the tradition of having babies at home continues. While this is a tradition that has resulted in babies for centuries, it is a practice that puts the mother and baby in harms way. Unsanitary conditions cause postpartum infections, which is the number one cause of maternal mortality in third world countries.

And while mid-wives provide a valuable service, they are not trained doctors or surgeons, so they are unable to provide key medical interventions when desperately needed. Another high cause of maternal deaths in the third world is sepsis and other complications that accompany a woman not able to get a c-section in time.

These are the realities. One mother dies every minute in the majority world due to a pregnancy related complication. She may leave her baby behind. She may leave other children behind. They may be cared for, they may not. Maternal health care is one piece in the puzzle of the orphan crisis, of the overall static economic picture of the majority world.

Policy changes at the highest levels of governments are needed. Education for girls is needed so that they can be informed and vote and rise up and become national leaders and change their countries on a federal level. Ground support is needed. Basic health education is needed for women. So much is needed. Women need to know they are valued and they matter. Every message their society sends them says the opposite.

And before we get all high and mighty, let's revisit our own statistics. Although we enjoy the best medical care in the world; although we can go to hospitals and there are surgeons that are capable of amazing feats, who can operate on our babies in the womb; we send some very disturbing messages as well. 13 mothers on average die per every 100,000 live births, but this is just the average. In actuality, the rate is triple that among African American women, and is also higher among Native Americans.

What is the message our society is sending? If you are white you matter, if you are black you don't? Are you disturbed? Bothered? I am. That's why I treasure my vote.

Gift Guide Volume 2

Just a couple of addendum's to my gift guide. Just doing my part for the black Friday/ local Saturday weekend shoppers.


Music for the City: Austin musicians giving back to Austin = awesome. There are now two albums to choose from. The first album benefits Austin Children's Shelter and Safeplace. The new album (which for some reason is unavailable online, but available at local stores like Waterloo) benefits Mobile Loaves and Fishes.

Love41: Love41 works to support one of my all time favorite organizations - Africa New Life. Africa New Life has done and continues to do amazing and life changing work among the people of Rwanda.

Rwanda baskets: Another way to support the people of Rwanda is buy one of these incredible baskets. They come in as many shapes and sizes as you can think up a use for.

Divine Chocolate: Chocolate that you can feel good about buying and giving. Divine chocolate is some of the only chocolate in the world made completely without forced labor. In addition, the workers at the co-op farm own 45% of the company! These chocolate bars make great gifts to give out to neighbors. They are available online and at Whole Foods stores.


Thanks everyone for shopping kindly this year. This is such an important part of what Christmas is really about.

My Gift Guide

The holidays are officially upon us. I know this because my mailbox is now just a depository for the onslaught of adverts and catalogs that we get everyday, and every commercial on tv is accompanied by a Christmas jingle. With the holidays comes shopping, and though shopping responsibly can be a year-round mission, starting out or focusing on buying items that also give back during the holidays is a great place to start. Here is my official unofficial gift giving guide, with all of my favorite organizations and companies. This is by NO MEANS an exhaustive list - any Google search would tell you that - this is just a list of MY personal favorites, divided up by category. I hope you find it helpful as you search for gifts to give your loved ones this season.

Jewelry:

Noonday Collection: Ahh, my heart always beats a little faster when I go to a Noonday trunk show or window shop online at their beautiful earrings, necklaces, knitwear.... Everything, and I mean everything, is made by local artisans around the world, and your purchases go to support families seeking to adopt as well (so, double good!). An Austin born and raised company!

Raven + Lily: LOVE this stuff, its just plain cool. Another local Austin company (we are a really cool city) that stretches itself to reach out and help women around the world. Their metal-worked jewelry is made by marginalized women in Ethiopia and India, and they pour profits back into those same communities to establish healthcare, education, and micro-loans in order to combat the cycle of poverty.

Funky Fish: This lady does jewelry like no other. Another Austin gem, Dawn Patterson of Funky Fish supports all sorts of other organizations through Funky Fish, including Project Hopeful and Hope in Ethiopia. I especially LOVE her bracelets (you could get one in every color, I swear) and her name necklaces. BUT, word to the wise, she is closing up shop for 2 weeks while she moves to North Austin (YAY! Welcome to my hood, Dawn!) so ORDER NOW if you want her stuff (and you do, trust me!).

Shoes:

Chooze: Cutest shoes EVER. Did I say ever? I totally meant it. Too bad they are for toddlers... If you live in Austin, Sandy's carries these, if not, there is always the interwebs. Their model of sustainability and working within the communities that they are trying to help kicks Toms's butt, and I have a feeling they might be a bit more durable.

Sseko: These sandals are all over the pages of magazines these days, and you can order them through Jessica and Noonday, or directly from the Sseko website itself. They train young women in Uganda in business and accounting while they are on their way to college in order to give them real business experience. Plus I love the swap-strap idea, but then anything that reminds me of the 80's :)

Roma Boots: This company is sort of along the lines of Toms, only instead of shoes, they take these rain boots over to super rainy and muddy areas of the world to give to children. Its a one for one concept. The boots are very cute, if only it would rain here....

Toms: Well, if you don't know what Toms is, you might just want to go to their website. They do have some Movember specials and holiday shoes out for the season.

Simple: You might not immediately associate Simple with this line-up of companies, but they are actually a super awesome company. They make all their shoes out of recycled materials and their supply chain is completely clean and maybe the most ethical one out there. Their shoes are really cute too!

Clothing:

Good and Fair Clothing: OMG, when I first found Good and Fair clothing I thought I was going to faint. I LOVE basic tee's and they have them! They have their cotton sourced right there on their website. Once you have felt how soft these shirts (um, and underwear) are, you won't want to wear anything else.

Threads 4 Thought: I stumbled upon this label one day while looking for a hoodie for my hubs, and now I don't know what I would do without it. They have super great basics. They stand for sustainability and give back to the International Rescue Committee.

IOU: Have you heard? Plaid is the new black. Or something like that. This clothing line is unique and handmade and each item has a personal story. For the plaid lover in your life.

Punjammies: Sleep in style. These jammies are such a great idea for a gift, or just for yourself. They are made by women in India rescued from a life of forced prostitution. They are beautiful, and the women behind them are even more beautiful.

Accessories

Open Arms Open Arms is located right in the heart of downtown Austin and employs refugee women in a manner that they can support themselves. Visit their website and consider purchasing one of the unique scarves or other creations made out of recycled t-shirts.

Krochet Kids: Hats and other fun things knit by women in... Uganda! Love me my Uganda! Krochet Kids has actually exploded as of late, and now they have all sorts of clothing and such, but their core remains the same - buy a hat, change a life.

Warby Parker Eye wear: Is your future so bright that you have to wear shades? Thought so. Warby Parker is committed to keeping your eyes protected and doing good throughout the world. Now that is a bright idea. Check out their web page for more info.

Lifted Uganda: My friend Katie is living over in Uganda right now with her husband and kids and she is helping out some women by selling handmade bibs and burb cloths. The lag time on these is considerable, (coming from Africa), so order a bunch to have on hand for baby showers throughout the year.

Hello Somebody: What time is it? Time for you to get a watch! Or two or three or four watches... Hello Somebody is an organization that partners with other orgs to support them - and right now they are partnering with Africa New Life to help get some really sweet street boys of the street and into school. All you have to do is buy a watch (or a shirt, etc...). These are a great price-point to give out as gifts as well. If you do buy a watch, please type in the boy I am trying to help get off the street, Emmanuel Niyomugabo in the notes section.

Feed Projects: From cool large bags to (gasp) Clarins pouches, Feed projects raises funds to feed kids the world over. I reeeaaaally want one of the over-sized burlappy ones (hint, hint).

Toys

Fair Trade Sports: Fair Trade soccer balls, basketballs, and footballs for the sports enthusiast in your life!

Cosmetics and Body Care

Lush: This is sort of a weird company, but a couple times a year they do something really cool. Right now they have these awesome "charity pots" of all organic fair trade cocoa butter they are selling, and giving 100% of the money from these to grassroots charities around the world. Mmmmm. I can feel my dry skin healing as I type.

Radiant Cosmetics: ANOTHER Austin-based company. We might be the most socially-minded business city out there. Radiant cosmetics is involved in fighting human trafficking, and they have beautiful make-up and skin-care.


Well, that's what I've got for you. I've left off food items, like coffee and chocolate and such, as well as entertainment, like musicians and photographers that are giving back this time of year. I am already seeing that I will need to do a follow-up post. But, this is a good jumping off point. Again, these are just MY favorites, there are many other organizations and companies out there giving back and doing good!

Update: Here is volume two.