Alaska Living

Monday, May 12, 2008

Kid=tastic!

For those who know me best, it's not a secret that kids are my life..weather I'm teaching, coaching, volunteering, self adopting an eskimo kid from Savoonga, sponsoring them from Africa, or dating single fathers with kids..I love them and once they enter my life they are apart of it forever (like super glued on my heart with added sprinkles)..it's something that I'm proud of and thankful for. I have a few recent photos of the kids that, given different directions by the grown ups in their lives (ie: myself and their fathers), continue to be special to me.. I thought that it would be fun to put them into a blog. Walker and Nichole have been a constant part of my life since they were in 2nd grade(I will be seeing Nichole in a week and will get a photo then) and Login H..only been in my life less then a year but absolutely love the kid, we have a really cool relationship and I promised him (during one of our private "grown up to kid" talks) that I would always be there for him. I'm going to do my best to keep that..hopefully, I'll be able to post updates through his high school years as well..
(Mom, I'm sorry I haven't given you any biological grandkids (that's Eriky's department) but I'll give you slew of adopted ones to care about.."smile". I hope you are keeping a photo album "smile"..and sewing little blankets for each and every one of them. "smile".


Logan's proudly showing me his award and his lost front tooth at the Valdez Subway.

Logan wrestling, notice the focus 'smile"

Walker, mom look how huge he is now.

Reminds me of Erik

World Vision: Child Sponsorship: Aviti Cosma Edward.

A few weeks ago I sponsored an 8 year old boy named Aviti Cosma Edward from Tanzania, Africa through a program called World Vision (which gave a presentation at my church). Since then I've been researching a lot about what the program believes in and actually does with the money they receive..it's pretty amazing. Donations actually go not only specifically to clothe, educate, feed and provide medical assistance to the child but also to the family. They also use part of each donation for community education and sustainable development. They believe in "showing" God's love through caring and action as well as with words..but are focused on actions being key. (I love that!). In addition they provide opportunities for sponsors to visit their child and help in the community, making the sponsorship much more personal. I'm loving it so far and am stoked as when asked as a child what I wanted to do when I grew up, I use to say "Save all the starving kids in Africa"..sounds funny now, but I meant it back then. It is the few lifelong dreams I have yet to accomplish, but figured I could start here and see how far I get. "smile'.

I would like to encourage everyone reading this blog to go to the World Vision web site: www.worldvision.org check it out and make a difference in the life of a child..their slogan: You've got one life; do something!

I would like to visit Aviti whith in the year, so if you sponsor a kid in Tanzania, perhaps we can get a group to go over..travel with purpose-sounds like a heck of a good time to me. I will post photos of Aviti as soon as I can find my download cable..grr.

WWW.WORLDVISION.ORG