I've been thinking a lot about this Francis Chan video. It reminds me of the sermon by Gary Haugen from IJM that I posted a link to awhile back. The challenge is similar in both: Will we be brave or will we be safe?
It's hard to be brave. When the going gets tough, the temptation to resort back to "safety" is very strong for me. It takes courage to press on, in spite of fear, and to release my grip on the things I try to control.
I'm being challenged to be brave in several areas of my life right now: leadership, relationships, a summer opportunity for our family (more on that in a future post), and even kindergarten for Jonah (more on that in another post, too). I'm sure I'll fail along the way...I always do. I'll get anxious about these areas and try to hold on to things too tightly. But I want to be brave. And I'm going to try!
What about you? Are there areas in your life that you are striving to have courage in?
P.S. Anyone want to read Just Courage with me? A good friend of mine just read it and highly recommended it. Might be a way for us to encourage one another.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
(Not) Brotherly Love
Yesterday we had our first brother-inflicted-injury-resulting-in-a-trip-to-urgent-care-for-stitches. Nicolas forcefully threw a toy car at Jonah, taking a little chunk out of his lip (eew). One shot, three stitches, one balloon, and two stickers later, Jonah was good to go.
The injury should not have been a surprise. It was one of those days. The boys fought, whined, screamed, and generally disobeyed for a good 12 hours straight yesterday.
Ironically, our good friend Abby had her first trip to Urgent Care yesterday, too! Must have been something in the Valentine air that made everyone a little nutty.
How many brother-inflicted-injuries do you think are in my future? I have a feeling, this is just the beginning....
The injury should not have been a surprise. It was one of those days. The boys fought, whined, screamed, and generally disobeyed for a good 12 hours straight yesterday.
Ironically, our good friend Abby had her first trip to Urgent Care yesterday, too! Must have been something in the Valentine air that made everyone a little nutty.
How many brother-inflicted-injuries do you think are in my future? I have a feeling, this is just the beginning....
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
GreenHouse Super Bowl Party
On Sunday, Rose hosted a Super Bowl Party for the teens of The GreenHouse. There wasn't a whole lot of football watching going on, but for the teens it was a great excuse for a party and they had a BLAST at Rose's house-o-fun!
As is our usual routine when we go someplace, I asked everyone what their favorite part of the party was. Jonah's favorite part was "jumping on the trampoline." (of course...I think he jumped for a good two hours!). Nicolas and Riley's favorite part was "driving to the ice cream store with Abby." (Guillermo pushed the three of them in the toy car and they pretended to go to the ice cream store). My favorite part was when a few of the teen girls asked me how Steve and I met, how long we dated, how long we'd been married, etc. It was fun to share our story with them. They were all shocked to learn that we waited eight years before having kids! Steve's favorite part was having a TV to watch the game on...and a big screen TV at that.
They pigged out on pizza,
hung out on the swing with friends,
belted out Taylor Swift songs on the Wii,
skateboarded and played basketball on the back patio,
played with our kids,
and jumped on the trampoline.
Our family had a whole lot of fun, too.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sisters
I'm not sure when we cross that invisible line, and a friend becomes a sister. But at some point in the last fourteen years, between:
laughter and tears,
praises and pleas,
Celebration of Discipline and Gospel Transformation,
"confession session" and accountability check-ins,
prayer and fasting,
the Tub of Encouragement and acts of service,
singlehood and dating,
marriage and divorce,
birth and adoption,
graduate school and career changes,
bone marrow transplant and cochlear implants,
betrayal and forgiveness,
sickness and healing,
justice and compassion,
death and new life,
"As iron sharpens irons, so a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Super Bowl Party with a Cause
I saw a terrific idea on another blog and wanted to share it here: If you're having a Super Bowl Party this Sunday put out an empty bowl on the food table and ask your guests to donate any used giftcards from their wallet or purse. Then, mail the giftcards to Give Card Giver who will compile them and send them to HOPE International, an organization working on the ground in Haiti to help rebuild. Simple!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Now I Know
Before the earthquake in Haiti, I knew very little about the country. I didn't know that it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of its people living below the poverty line. I didn't know about its painful history, frequent natural disasters, or its hundreds of thousands of orphans (which now might be close to a million?). I didn't know about its utter void in basic infrastructure. How did I not know these things? Has my head been completely in the sand?
When you don't know about something, it's easy to dismiss it.
But now I know...we all know. And, now I can't dismiss it. I can't erase the images I've seen over the last few weeks from my mind. They've left quite an impression on my heart.
I have no idea how to process all of this or what this means going forward. But, I do know that I (we) can't forget about Haiti. As the stories on the news turn to something else, we need to remember the beautiful people of Haiti, as well as those who are on the ground, working day and night to bring love and healing to a country in pain.
When you don't know about something, it's easy to dismiss it.
But now I know...we all know. And, now I can't dismiss it. I can't erase the images I've seen over the last few weeks from my mind. They've left quite an impression on my heart.
I have no idea how to process all of this or what this means going forward. But, I do know that I (we) can't forget about Haiti. As the stories on the news turn to something else, we need to remember the beautiful people of Haiti, as well as those who are on the ground, working day and night to bring love and healing to a country in pain.
GreenHouse News
In the off chance that there is someone who reads this blog that is not on The GreenHouse's e-newsletter mailing list, I thought I'd post our latest newsletter here. It gives a good overview of the latest happenings at The GreenHouse.
(And, if you're not on the e-list, but would like to be, send us your email address. It's a great way to stay connected to what's going on around The GH!)
Thank You!
With sincere gratitude, we’d like to say “thank you” to everyone who donated to The GreenHouse in 2009. Despite the recession, the generosity of our donors allowed us to finish 2009 “in the black” without cutting any of our programs. In fact, we are looking forward to expanding some of our programs in 2010, as you will read below. What a testament to God’s provision and your commitment to the youth in our community!
Two AmeriCorps VISTA Positions – NOW AVAILABLE
Looking for an opportunity to gain excellent work experience, while serving and improving a low-income community? The GreenHouse and New Hope Community Development Corporation are now accepting resumes from individuals who are interested in serving as VISTA members. The positions are full-time for one year and start on April 13, 2010. The VISTA members will work on resource development, volunteer recruitment, outreach, partnership development, and capacity building for our two organizations. To apply for one of the positions, please see the attached Job Descriptions. Resumes will be accepted until February 17, 2010. For more information about the positions, please contact Kacie Stratton at kacie@thegreenhousecenter.org or Enoch Yeung at enochy@gmail.com. To learn more about AmeriCorps VISTA, visit http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp.
GreenHouse Youth are Getting in on the Action
The GreenHouse is one of four organizations city-wide that has been selected to host a Youth Action Team. The purpose of this pilot project is to give youth an opportunity to have their voices heard in discussing ways to address gang activity in our city. This project, supported by the Youth Development Network and the City of Sacramento Office of Youth Development, will be a terrific opportunity for our teens to gain valuable skills while using their gifts in a significant way. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish for the city of Sacramento.
Two Grant Awards Started the New Year off with Bang!
At the end of December, The GreenHouse received a $10,000 grant from the M and M Whitmire Family Foundation for the staffing and curriculum needed to run our Evergreen and R4 after-school programs. Thank you Whitmire Family for your continued support of The GreenHouse over the past four years!
We’re also very excited to announce that The GreenHouse will be receiving a grant this year from the Office of Youth Development in the amount of $26,250. This funding will allow us to increase the number of weekly hours for our current teen programs and add a new Saturday program. The teens can’t wait for the Saturday program which will include service projects, skill-building workshops, field trips, and youth leadership trainings (see Youth Action Team above). We are honored to have been selected for this grant and look forward to partnering with the Office of Youth Development to provide high-quality youth services.
New Volunteer Opportunity
If you’ve always wanted to volunteer at the GreenHouse, but couldn’t get away on a weekday, now is your opportunity! We are now seeking volunteers for our new teen program on Saturdays. Volunteers will form mentoring relationships with the teens while assisting with service projects, field trips, training opportunities and skill-building workshops. If you are interested in making a significant impact on the life of young person and are available on Saturdays, please contact Tim Coburn at tim@thegreenhousecenter.org . Volunteers must complete an application, be fingerprinted and attend a training meeting. Upcoming trainings for all programs are scheduled for January 26th from 7:00-8:30 pm and February 6th from 10:00-11:30 am. To sign up for one of the trainings, go to http://www.doodle.com/ceu2cneqg2g7xz9h.
“Kids at Heart 2010” Planning Committee Forming Now
If you have a knack for event planning, marketing, or fundraising, we could use your talent on our “Kids at Heart” Planning Committee. “Kids at Heart” is our annual fundraising Dinner, Silent Auction, and Community Awards to benefit the youth programs of The GreenHouse. For more information about serving on this committee, please contact event co-chairs Heather Haight at heathorock@gmail.com or Shannon Sturgess at ssturgess@gmail.com.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday, June 6th, 2010 at 5:30 pm so mark your calendar and plan to join us for this very special evening!
The GreenHouse in the Press
Check out this article in Comstock’s magazine about The GreenHouse: http://www.comstocksmag.com/Articles/1209_SR_Cap-Cares--GreenHouse-Grows.aspx.
Contact Us:
For more information, contact us at:
The GreenHouse
PO Box 348138
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916)402-7978
http://www.thegreenhousecenter.org/
Thank you for your interest and support!
(And, if you're not on the e-list, but would like to be, send us your email address. It's a great way to stay connected to what's going on around The GH!)
Thank You!
With sincere gratitude, we’d like to say “thank you” to everyone who donated to The GreenHouse in 2009. Despite the recession, the generosity of our donors allowed us to finish 2009 “in the black” without cutting any of our programs. In fact, we are looking forward to expanding some of our programs in 2010, as you will read below. What a testament to God’s provision and your commitment to the youth in our community!
Two AmeriCorps VISTA Positions – NOW AVAILABLE
Looking for an opportunity to gain excellent work experience, while serving and improving a low-income community? The GreenHouse and New Hope Community Development Corporation are now accepting resumes from individuals who are interested in serving as VISTA members. The positions are full-time for one year and start on April 13, 2010. The VISTA members will work on resource development, volunteer recruitment, outreach, partnership development, and capacity building for our two organizations. To apply for one of the positions, please see the attached Job Descriptions. Resumes will be accepted until February 17, 2010. For more information about the positions, please contact Kacie Stratton at kacie@thegreenhousecenter.org or Enoch Yeung at enochy@gmail.com. To learn more about AmeriCorps VISTA, visit http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp.
GreenHouse Youth are Getting in on the Action
The GreenHouse is one of four organizations city-wide that has been selected to host a Youth Action Team. The purpose of this pilot project is to give youth an opportunity to have their voices heard in discussing ways to address gang activity in our city. This project, supported by the Youth Development Network and the City of Sacramento Office of Youth Development, will be a terrific opportunity for our teens to gain valuable skills while using their gifts in a significant way. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish for the city of Sacramento.
Two Grant Awards Started the New Year off with Bang!
At the end of December, The GreenHouse received a $10,000 grant from the M and M Whitmire Family Foundation for the staffing and curriculum needed to run our Evergreen and R4 after-school programs. Thank you Whitmire Family for your continued support of The GreenHouse over the past four years!
We’re also very excited to announce that The GreenHouse will be receiving a grant this year from the Office of Youth Development in the amount of $26,250. This funding will allow us to increase the number of weekly hours for our current teen programs and add a new Saturday program. The teens can’t wait for the Saturday program which will include service projects, skill-building workshops, field trips, and youth leadership trainings (see Youth Action Team above). We are honored to have been selected for this grant and look forward to partnering with the Office of Youth Development to provide high-quality youth services.
New Volunteer Opportunity
If you’ve always wanted to volunteer at the GreenHouse, but couldn’t get away on a weekday, now is your opportunity! We are now seeking volunteers for our new teen program on Saturdays. Volunteers will form mentoring relationships with the teens while assisting with service projects, field trips, training opportunities and skill-building workshops. If you are interested in making a significant impact on the life of young person and are available on Saturdays, please contact Tim Coburn at tim@thegreenhousecenter.org . Volunteers must complete an application, be fingerprinted and attend a training meeting. Upcoming trainings for all programs are scheduled for January 26th from 7:00-8:30 pm and February 6th from 10:00-11:30 am. To sign up for one of the trainings, go to http://www.doodle.com/ceu2cneqg2g7xz9h.
“Kids at Heart 2010” Planning Committee Forming Now
If you have a knack for event planning, marketing, or fundraising, we could use your talent on our “Kids at Heart” Planning Committee. “Kids at Heart” is our annual fundraising Dinner, Silent Auction, and Community Awards to benefit the youth programs of The GreenHouse. For more information about serving on this committee, please contact event co-chairs Heather Haight at heathorock@gmail.com or Shannon Sturgess at ssturgess@gmail.com.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday, June 6th, 2010 at 5:30 pm so mark your calendar and plan to join us for this very special evening!
The GreenHouse in the Press
Check out this article in Comstock’s magazine about The GreenHouse: http://www.comstocksmag.com/Articles/1209_SR_Cap-Cares--GreenHouse-Grows.aspx.
Contact Us:
For more information, contact us at:
The GreenHouse
PO Box 348138
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916)402-7978
http://www.thegreenhousecenter.org/
Thank you for your interest and support!
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