Most of you know Stellan...

He just went into prolonged V-tach. Please pray for him. They are working on him now.

Calling all Card Angels!

Here is our first chance to show some support in the form of prayers and cards, should you choose to accept the challenge. Please click on the button and read about Little Jonah. This is a family who has seen heartbreak and is now going through a very tough time with their new little one. If you would like to send a card of support they have their mailing address on their sidebar. If you would like to donate cards for the effort that would be great as well. If you would like to just say a prayer for baby Jonah, that is wonderful too.

Show Jonah that we care.

Grab the button and lets get the word out about Jonah.

Thanks everyone!

After debating the next post

I decided to write about a topic we all struggle with. Decision vs. Choice. Know the difference? Let me illustrate with a point. Last time we were at church there was a story about a family that contributes 30% of their income to the church. Sounds crazy especially in these times, right? After pondering what it would take to do this, it occured to me that it is more of a decision vs. choice deal. They decided to donate X amount of money each paycheck. It was not treated as a choice, like what we choose for breakfast. We make a lot of decisions in life, even inaction is a decision. It is very easy to choose not to donate to charitable causes. I, myself am guilty of this one. I have lots of causes that I "wish" I could donate to but dont. But why? If I told myself to save a dollar a week for specific causes and follow throught it would be simple as that. It is hard to part with money in that respect, but I figure I buy things that I really dont need sometimes and that money could instead go to causes that really need it. Pocket change even helps. My whole point is that we choose what we do to help. We can choose to tell ourselves that we "can't" help, or we can decide that we will.

Another point to ponder. When someone faces something that is hard, like REALLY hard, tradegy hard, you always hear people say "I dont know how you do it" or "I couldn't do it" but what people forget is that they didnt choose this route, they have no choice but to continue on. They make it through because they have to. That simple.

Where I Found my Change!

After reading the previous post, I set to work locating any loose change around the house.
I checked the usual places.

The shelf over my washing machine. Mostly I found items I had pulled from my hubby's pockets. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of change there.

Ah-ha! A dime on the floor of the laundry room!
Checked under the sofa cushions. Not much there either. Although, there was an AWFUL lot of crumbs and barbie shoes. *Note to self: fire the maid.
OOoooo, a little more change on MY nightstand!
But the next place I looked was where I hit the jackpot.

Sassy Pants Wifey, I know you recognize this. Any guy that came back to the U.S. from Iraq and went through Germany has one of these. It was like a must purchase item. EVERY SINGLE guy in my hubby's unit bought one of these on their way home. Anyway, anyway, the point...JACKPOT!

This, my friends, is where my hubby dumps his change every day. I'm thinking most guys have a stash like this somewhere. Just take the money Ask your guys if you can have it for "the cause."

Now, I wanna see where you found YOUR change! Throw the pics up on your blog, tell your readers about us and what you plan to do with the change, then comment back here to let us know so we can check you out! I think it would be fun to see where everyone finds loose change!

**Should I add a Mister Linky widget here? Let me know**

Wanna see change really work?

Okay, so here is the first challenge I am issuing to anyone and everyone who reads this post.
Everyone wants change, or at least thats what a majority supposedly voted for. So what has changed as of this far, not much. People are still unhappy, still struggling. But is it possible to look past what the obvious and find something that is hiding beneath it all? I say yes!

I challenge everyone who reads this to put their change to work. However, put it to work for someone else. Run around your house, check your car, shaky shaky those piggy banks and collect all the change you can. (dont forget the dryer!) Now, don't count it. First, think of something or someone that really means something. Maybe a best friend who needs a pick me up, or maybe a charity or non-profit that means something to you, maybe church, maybe you just want to let someone know you care about them. Now, take that change to the bank. Cash it in and use that money for whatever it is that you decided on. Send a card to someone just to say hello. Take your girlfriend to coffee or if you really found a ton, to get mani pedis. Take your kids to the zoo. Write a check to the humane society. (lets not forget that especially in tough times our humane societies suffer greatly) There are limitless possibilities. Maybe it isnt a bunch of money, but guess what, every little bit helps. You can brighten someones day with just a small gesture.

If you dont know what you want to do, this is what I will do with my change. Saveavet.com is an organization I volunteer for. It is so close to my heart. See, my husband has PTSD. He is a Marine combat Vet. It is something that impacts your everyday life. This group is working to figure out ways to help our returning military through other ways besides medication for the rest of their lives. I will share part of an email I got just last night. The founder and Vice President of the group, along with 2 other men they served with attended treatments at a center that they are looking at for guidance as they build their organization. The following is a portion of the letter:

"The treatments we received were done over 5 days, 8 hours a day, starting with an intense strength training workout with Norm every morning. Treatments received were: Ionic Detox Foot Bath, Far Infrared Sauna, Far Infrared Migun Table, Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Cranial Release, Reiki, Self Hypnosis, EFT, PRRT, Counseling, Life Coaching, Trigger Point Massage, Tai Chi, Herbal Medicine, Classes on psychology, and a Q&A with the local VA. We went to Traverse City with a business mindset, go through the treatments so that you can know what you're talking about and can describe it accurately. What happened is something that nobody expected, and something that changed my life forever.

After 4 days of these intense treatments we were getting worn down. Our bodies had never felt better, the Bodywork that they performed fixed pains that we had had since before we could remember. All those muscular and skeletal pains that go with being in the Marine Corps infantry were gone. I didn’t know that it was possible to live without pain! The constant relaxing treatments in such a loving and genuine environment had broken down our walls that normally mask our feelings and emotions. Here we were, 4 big, bad, combat Marines sitting around talking about our feelings and talking about everything that had made us feel good or bad while in the Marine Corps and after. The constant alertness was gone, I no longer leaped everytime someone dropped something, I didn’t feel unsafe or angry, and I was sleeping like a baby for the first time in at least 6 years."

Now, just reading that it is possible for these guys to actually feel "normal and pain free" gives me such hope for all the Marines we personally know who are currently dealing with PTSD. So, that is where my change will be going. I also sell shirts on my Etsy site, and 100% of the proceeds go to them. I am looking to maybe expand and sell more items also, but am not sure what yet.

So, dear readers, thank you for stopping by and please let us know what you plan to do with your change.

With just a tiny bit of effort, we can all make a change. Change is what you make it. Change can be a good thing if guided with a steady and caring hand. So get out there and make some change!!!

Conspire to inspire y'all!

First Post!

Hello all!

So I had this bright shining idea. I have been wanting to start my own non-profit, however that takes money and know how. I don't really have either. However I have some great bloggy buddies and a passion for helping people. So here is Care Across the Cities! My vision is to establish a network of bloggers with a similar purpose. This purpose is to find little ways to brighten someones day. Since I have been blogging I have come across blogs that I read everyday. Blogs that I visit on occasion and blogs that I just stumble across. Whether it is a blog that I frequent or not, if someone is going through something I always find myself wishing I could help. Cards or a little something to show I care. Thus sprung the idea for "Hometown Hearts in Bloom" which has yet to become an established non-profit, but it is what I like to spend my spare time doing. I try to bring flowers to nursing homes, hospices and hospitals for people who don't get many visitors. I don't get to do it often, but would like to get it going more regularly.

For this site however, I would like to establish a "Care Committee" of other bloggers who share this vision. We would accept e-mails for requests for people who might need a little pick me up. I can't guarantee anything elaborate, but Cards, prayers and extra cheer would be on the list of things we can offer. I would love other bloggers to join in, donate time or gifts or really anything. A blogger in every major city is my goal here people. This is something that could take 5 minutes of your day but could make someones entire day. So please, if you would like to join in, leave a comment, send a letter, use morse code (okay, dont do that one if you want a response...) Just let me know!!!

This has the potential to touch a lot of people's lives. This is just something that we can all do that makes a difference.