"Take an action each day that alleviates suffering in the world. Bring light into darkness."
-Angeles Arrien


Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished:
If you're alive, it isn't.
--- Richard Bach

I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody [to no one]
--Mother Teresa


We were not separated at your birth.
It was the moment at which we began our journey toward each other
.
-Nancy McGuire Roche

Sunday, May 31, 2009

So Excited- Not over yet- New Link

Well today is the final day to contribute to my giveaway/fundraiser and possibly win a stroller ($250 value) while helping build a house for a needy family. I just got a ton of emails telling me my Chipin for my Giveaway ended early and will not let people contribute. It could not be fixed once it ends and I actually had to restart a new one for the day only. When I just checked I was 65% of the way to my goal. I want to thank every single one of the contributors so far. I hope to learn more about the actual family in Vietnam that will be benefiting once the fundraiser ends and keep you all updated with the progress on my blog. I just received a really nice email from the President of the organization that will be building the house and he is going to Vietnam in Mid June and has a few families in need already picked out. If we choose to build a house for one of these families he has already picked here is what he says " I will send you a picture of the place they currently live in, their family circumstances and a after photo when their home is built". Hopefully I will be able to post pictures when the organization can get them to me. I am so excited right now after reading his email. It finally seems real.

Please consider placing a contribution big or small if you have not already. I really want to reach 100% so I am guaranteed they can start construction on this home as soon as possible. You can always sell the stroller on Ebay/craigslist if you don't need it or ask me to pick the most worthy contributor to donate it to. Please everybody keep blogging about this . Please follow this new link since the previous link closed out early. The giveaway will be closing at 12:00 PM PST today. http://doublestrollergiveaway.chipin.com/double-stroller-giveaway-extension



I have actually had a few people email me and suggest extending the giveaway a little while longer ( Maybe 1 or 2 weeks) because I am so close to my goal. I have already extended it once and don't want to get the contributors upset. What do you all think (Especially those that have already contributed)? Please leave a comment right away and help me decide.

If you want to know more about the giveaway check out previous post.

Remember you can also purchase magazines (Deeply discounted off the cover price) and 40% of the cost will go to the same cause. Just click on this link:


http://www.magfundraising.com/childrenofvietnam





Have a Great Day,

Heather

Saturday, May 30, 2009

A challenge for you

Just wanted to post here an email I just sent out. Have a great weekend. Here it is:


I don't have but a few seconds but I wanted to make sure to put out a post today. I have a graduation party to attend today and while out and about this morning was thinking about things. I know my life and views have changed since I traveled to Vietnam and picked up my beautiful children; I consider the change positive and for the better. I am a more compassionate human being who considers every move before she makes it. Every creature comfort I encounter I find myself thinking about how fortunate I am and how people all over the world just struggle for food and clean water to drink everyday. How did I end up here and they end up their? I am not sure but it could have easily been me and I always remember that.

Every time I go to the store or think about going out to dinner or buying a cup of coffee I think about these struggling people (mostly children in my thoughts) all over the world. I think about the instant gratification I will get but that will be over in moments and how if I would take that 5 or 10 dollars instead and give it to a struggling child it might mean the difference between life and death for them. Sometimes to think like this before every move can appear to be a huge burden but I consider it a blessing that my heart has been opened to this struggling all over the world and I might be able to make a difference.

I have a challenge for people this weekend. Please think about what I said and when you go to indulge in that $5 cup of coffee think about where you will get more gratification. I promise giving to a needy family will stay in your heart a lot longer then that coffee will stay in your stomach.


I hope you all have a great weekend.

Heather

Monday, May 04, 2009

Could you use a New stroller? Check this out

I want to make sure to keep this at the top of my blog:

Edited: Stroller Giveaway ending May 31, 2009

I have decided what my next fund raising cause will be; I told you I had an idea brewing and I have come to a decision. This one feels really good. I have always wanted to do something big like this in Vietnam; Change the life of a WHOLE family.
When I traveled to Vietnam in 2007, to bring home my children, I could not believe what I saw. Families (Not 1 but thousands) living in conditions I would not consider adequate for my dog to live in (The average ANNUAL household income in Vietnam is less then $300 US per year); Shacks with dirt floors, no windows or doors and a tarp or cardboard boxes for a roof. I could not leave these people behind, come home to my cushy life in the US and forget what I had seen. I vowed to myself I would try and make a difference. Together WE are going to build a house (or hopefully two) for a very poor family in Vietnam. For every $10 donated you get one entry; Each $25.00 donation will get you three entries (Entries with US addresses ONLY; Anybody can donate to cause-I just can't afford to ship it overseas). If you DONATE AND Blog (with Link back to this blog post) and post my widget about my giveaway you will get an extra entry. Leave a comment here with the link to your blog post to get your extra entry. Even if you don't need a double stroller this can turn into a SINGLE stroller, it would make a awesome baby shower gift, donate it or sell it on craigs list or ebay. It's just 10 bucks so take a chance you just might win the stroller but the true prize is what you will have done to improve another human beings life. Random number generator will be used to pick the winner. Please pass this along it is for a very worthy cause. I need at least 175 donations to make this dream a reality. You can donate by paypal OR credit card through the chip in widget. If you have a paypal account I would prefer you use this because they charge me a fee for the credit card. Credit card payments are fine if you do not have a paypal account.





The giveaway is for a brand new Contours Options Tandem stroller in Red (Retail Value $249.99).

The Contours® Options® Tandem is the perfect stroller to give you the flexibility needed as a parent. For 1 or 2 kids, infant or toddlers, everyone has a great view in any direction with its reversible seats! It is the ultimate stroller with lots of options for your ever changing life style!

Features:
  • • Seats Easily Reverse to Create 6 Different Stroller Options. Children Can Both Face Parent, Face Each Other, Face Forward or Back to Back. The Options Tandem Can Also Be Used with Only the Front Seat so There's Lots of Storage in Back.
  • • Infant Car Seat Attachment Fits Most Car Seat Brands on the Market. Additional Car Seat Attachment is Sold Separately to Accommodate Twins!
  • • Both Seats Recline for Infant's Comfort
  • • Ultra Smooth Ride & Steering with Two 8" Front Single Swivel & 10" Rear Never Flat Wheels
  • • Easy Trigger Fold and Convenient Free-Stand™ Allows the Stroller to Stand on its Own! And if You Remove Both Seats, This Stroller Will Become More Compact When Storing in Small



  • Edited: Stroller Giveaway Ending May 31, 2009


    You can also donate to this cause by ordering magazines from my fundraiser. 40% off cover list price. Just click on banner below.