-William Arthur Ward

Our Amazing supporter Dean Oullette raised $1697 last week, with his weekly challenge, for Saint Monica Children’s Home. This money will go directly to the home and will feed the girls for THREE months. Dean, you and your supporters did an AMAZING job. Everyone here at Mothers Fighting For Others, our partners, Sisters Arise, and all the girls at Saint Monica Children’s Home, say “THANK YOU!”

If you would like to follow Dean. you can at:
http://Twitter.com/DeanOuellette
http://Facebook.com/DeanOuellette
http://MyWeeklyChallenge.com

Thanks Again Dean!!

If you’re from West Virginia, you are probably among the minority of people who can name the woman who started Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, and her Mother, Anna Reeves Jarvis.  If you’re from Grafton, WV, as I am, you couldn’t escape Mother’s Day history if you wanted to. Grafton is home to the International Mother’s Day shrine and the site of the first Sunday service honoring Mothers.  It is the pride of a city that has seen much better days. And that history has always been a source of pride for me as well.

Today, my feeling of connection springs from a different source. Because what many don’t know is that the first Mother’s Day was organized by Anna Reeves Jarvis as a day to “raise awareness of poor health conditions” in her Appalachian community, “a cause she believed would be best advocated by Mothers. She called it ‘Mother’s Work Day.’” Anna was a Mother fighting for others.

So, today I say Happy Mother’s Day with a renewed sense of pride and in the spirit that Anna Reeves Jarvis originally intended.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

The power of the 3 Yard Shift

One of my favorite Bible stories is about a group of experienced fishermen who went out on a lake to fish on an inky black night.  As time wore on, it became depressingly apparent that no fish were going to be caught in the net that night.  The prospect of dragging the water logged net back to the shore was the only thing that separated the engulfing gloom from the faintly emerging rays of dawn.

As the three contemplated their misfortune, a voice emerged from the diminishing darkness and shouted out a question, “Gentlemen, did you catch anything last night?”  Although they could barely discern the form, they responded by yelling back one miserable syllable…”NO”!

Most people would have shut up, for although misery loves company, most of us would prefer to leave it alone.  But not this guy.  Instead he offered an unsolicited word of advice.  He told them to drag the heavy, soggy net out of the water and deposit in on the other side of the boat.

Amazing!  Unbelievable! The guy was on the shoreline.  Did he even know anything about catching fish?  You wonder what went through the minds of the fishermen.  Did they question the logic of a ridiculous command?  After all, would it not have made more sense to make a suggestion about the stuff that everyone knows can affect a catch like…the fish aren’t biting because it’s the wrong part of the lake or you simply chose a bad day?

But to their credit, the fishermen obeyed.  And the narration records an extraordinary moment!   The text says that the fish rushed into that net that had move location a grand total of a FEW YARDS with such force and vigor that the huge number of fish began to break the net.  What a difference a 3 Yard Shift can make!

This story demonstrates the power of little shift.  More often than not, the truly impactful moments in my life can be traced to ‘just one little thing’,  a simple moment in time when I made a quality decision or took a deliberate action.  While not all these moments have been good ones, many have had monumental impact in my life.

I’ve learned to respect the dawn of awareness and recognize the fact that profound revelations rarely occur the limelight.  In fact, some of the richest shifts have occurred in the dark nights when my life boat has found itself moored on a lake which seemed devoid of opportunity and reward for my efforts.

It is there that I’ve learned to value the voice of intuition and wisdom which comes from a place where my rules and limited perceptions failed to make sense. I found that they don’t matter.  And as the dark scales  lifted from my eyes, it  becomes increasingly clear that the solutions have often been simpler and closer than I imagined.

The world of social media has shown that the ripple effect of one little thing can change a lot of things in it’s wake.  Today, the lives of several precious girls are being transformed because one individual decided to shift just a little and open up her heart to embrace some little ones at the Orphanage of St. Monica.  And in the process, many of us have shifted  our hearts alongside Rocky Turner’s mission.  And if this ancient story holds a deeper truth…there are many more who will be called to join.

So today, I’m encouraging you to set aside a few moments in your life to be open to a 3 Yard Shift.  It will require humility.  The sort that allows you to be open to guidance from unexpected sources.   But, I promise you…if you will listen and obey the voice, guidance will come.  For the solution is rarely about what’s out there; it’s more about the shift that comes from inside you…in your heart.

*this story is my paraphrased version of event.  An exact rendering of the ancient text can be found here.

You may have heard me talk about an organization I am passionate about in my local neighborhood, The Miami Shores Heidi Hewes Chapter of the Woman’s Cancer Association of The University of Miami.  Yes the name is long, but we refer to it as “Heidi Hewes Chapter of the WCA” locally.  I’ve been involved with this cause for almost 4 years now in all kinds of roles including president.   What’s amazing about this organization is that it is a purely a volunteer effort where 100% of proceeds go directly to cancer research.

The organization is composed of a diverse group of Miami Shores residents (and also various close-by neighborhoods) who unselfishly give their time and talents organizing different fundraisers.  We meet the first Wednesday of every month at one of the member’s houses.  There are 2 main fundraisers every year, The Miami Country Day Walk for Cancer and The Miami Shores Homes for the Holiday Walk.  This coming Saturday is the Miami Country Day Walk for Cancer, hosted by the school and organized by the students.

I recently attended the school’s Walk for Cancer Assembly that gets the kids pumped to reach their goal – to raise $50,000 to benefit our “Heidi Hewes Chapter” – here’s what I said about that assembly,

Miami Country Day brought the reality of cancer to the assembly by inviting Dr. John Goldberg from The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – a pediatric oncologist who specializes in the early phase of clinical trials.  Dr. Goldberg explained how seed money is used to start research and how his team is responsible in many cases, for taking the lab research projects to clinical trials that give hope to real terminal patients -  in some cases even 5 week old infants with Leukemia.

After talking to Dr. Goldberg for a while, I realized how important our grass roots efforts are – the fact that we help fund, with seed money, different research projects, is what gives the chance of life to many.  Dr. Goldberg was so grateful and explained how many of his clinical trials, which have saved many lives, would not be possible without the help from organizations like ours.  (SIGH) – talk about reality slapping you in the face and realizing that we are making a difference.

The Miami Country Day Walk for Cancer will be held this Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 AM at Miami Country Day School (located at 601 NE 107th St. – North Miami, FL 33161-7199  (305) 756-1207).  If you cannot attend but want to help our organization, consider sponsoring the Holiday Walk (sponsorships available in $100, $250, $500, $1000 increments or more).

Please consider getting involved at a local level – you will experience a real sense of community that is absolutely priceless.  Also take a look at what was accomplished at BlogWorld this past week with the help of Social Media.

BeatCancerEverywhere

The Guinness World Record #BeatCancer event is officially over….Thanks to all of you who have tweeted, put up Facebook Posts & mentioned #BeatCancer in your blogs. In the end, you helped raise more than a penny per tweet. In all, four cancer organizations have earned over $70,000.

It wasn’t until she went for an MRI that she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Tracy, a young healthy, active woman, was about to begin a different journey from her childhood visions. There is no cure for MS.

Today, Tracy continues to battle this disease. She will never give up. But she has decided it is time to make a difference for others who are faced with this Multiple Sclerosis. Tracy is on a mission—Tracy Alva’s Mission. The organization exists to confront MS and help people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis manage the physical, emotional, and financial challenges they face every day.

Now Tracy has developed, with her good friend Dr. Robi Ludwig, a beautiful and inspiring way to raise funds and support for this cause. Robi designed the Believe Pendant, a beautiful silver filigree disc with a vintage look, that says “believe” on the back.

Tracy says, “My mom just adored Robi. You know, when your mom speaks about friendship and special people stay in your life from start to finish – well, Robi was one of those people. It was natural that we would ask Robi to be the one to design a piece of jewelry for my mission.”

Robi, a renowned psychotherapist who has appeared on the Today Show, CNN, and FOX, joyfully created the special pendant – the first inspirational jewelry line designed for MS.

“As a therapist I know how powerful words can be,” says Robi. “I loved the idea of a butterfly, because it represents transformation during times of transition. It’s also a hopeful symbolic reference for rising above problems during difficult times.

I wanted the word ‘Believe’ because that’s what we so often need to remind ourselves to do when life presents us with it’s multiple challenges. Reading an inspirational word, or having it near our body can sometimes give us the hope and little extra boost we need, to get us through the day.”

Click here to buy the pendant or learn more about Tracy Alva’s Mission. For more information about Multiple Sclerosis, you can go here.

• 1.  This week I catch a matinee performance of the film Julia & Julia.  Afterword, I’m consumed with an intense desire to cook something imaginative!  Alas, my efforts don’t yield anything close to Julia Child’s culinary creations…

• 2.  Tuning in to watch the President address the nation and congress about the healthcare reform my attention is arrested by one man who cannot contain his passionate disagreement and yells out ‘You Lie‘ while the President is speaking.  I’m stunned…

• 3.  Oprah launches her 24th Season with a live performance by the Black Eyed Peas.  What arrests my attention is not the show on stage but rather the show OFF stage in which a crowd of thousands performs an orchestrated dance which pulsates with live electricity.  I’ve never seen anything like it.   It’s called a ‘flash mob.’

My heart in your hands

(photo is courtesy of aussiegirl on flickr)

What underscores all of these random moments is Passion.  Passion for the perfection of the art of cooking, passion against perceptions and fears about a proposal, and the ebullient passion of a random crowd of strangers gathering together to create a spontaneous moment of celebration.

Passion is raw power.  It has the ability to move us to embrace our better selves or induce us to display our basest instincts.  Passion can embody good or ill, light or darkness.  Passion always creates a difference, but we must decide what kind of difference.

Passion colors life with vibrancy. Without passion, life is lived in between hues of dull grey.

Passion!

Is the inspiration behind genius.

Passion!

Is  purity which Loves for it’s own sake

Passion harbors gritty endurance

That withstands the gale of withering opposition

Passion is a nectar…

Which provides sustaining grace in the face of extreme odds.

Passion is the gift of insight which perceives a reality obscured to the casual observer.

Passion plays center stage in it’s own  drama

And dances to the beat of an unknown drummer

Passion manufactures it’s own joy…

And nourishes it’s own truth

Passion understands it’s own unique sorrows

And endures to reap it’s own peculiar Reward.

The mission of Inspire The Child empowering girls to be strong and independent women of Kenya inspires me. Helping bring the confidence and determination to be all that they can be could be seen as a light at the end of their tunnel.

I’m reminded many times of the inspiration that children provide, often without recognizing they are even doing it.

Alexandra “Alex”  Scott was diagnosed with a childhood cancer shortly before her first birthday. She fought. She met many milestones that her parents, Jay and Liz were told would probably not occur. In 2000, the day after her fourth birthday, Alex told her mother “When I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand.”  Her plan seemed simple in her mind… she’ll raise money from her lemonade stand and give it to the doctors so they can find a cure for cancer.

Did I mention Alex was a fighter? She passed away in 2004 at 8 years old, after being the inspiration for lemonade stands and fundraisers to donate over $1M to childhood cancer research.

Although Alex’s family lives in my area, west of Philadelphia, the lemonade stands spread the country. Many national companies have jumped on board in helping the cause, like Volvo and Applebee’s Restaurants. The family and board members continue growing Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to fight the fight and find a cure for childhood cancers.

Like I’m sure most of us have, I’ve battled some challenges lately. When I look at what Alex was able to accomplish while fighting the fight of cancer, I’m inspired. I’m humbled.

How can you help?

• Encourage a lemonade stand in your area – get the children involved!
• Commit to a 5K run or walk on October 25th – no matter where you are – join The 1st Annual Lemon Virtual Run/Walk
• Buy a $1 virtual cup of Lemonade at Volvo’s virtual lemonade stand
• Volunteer virtually. Find and Follow Alex’s Lemonade Stand on Social networks.
• Get your school involved

Sometimes just being yourself is an inspiration to others. Sometimes it is sharing your story. Sometimes it is creating a Foundation. But one rule is steadfast… don’t do any of it out of self-service … it just doesn’t work that way and it might bite.

 

 

 

 

 It started like any traditional birthday party.  My friend Jackie had hit one of the milestone years and her grown children (ages 27 and 29) had decided to give her a surprise party. 

Knowing very few of her friends, I chatted politely for an acceptable amount of time and was ready to leave when her husband stopped me and said “Don’t you want to see the show?”  Well, of course I stayed. 

Twenty minutes later there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.  Her children started their show by sharing with us how every evening while their mom was tucking them into bed she would sing her favorite song:  I hope you dance by Lee Ann Womack.  One by one the photos of their childhood flashed up on the screen as I hope you dance was playing in the background.  Jackie was singing along, her eyes welling up with tears of joy and love as she watched and remembered the precious moments of her children pass by. 

I have always felt there was something very special about Jackie. Her contagious joy of life and caring spirit are ever present and it was clear to me that night that her children deeply appreciated their mothers unwavering love and encouragement. 

Today, as I write this and think about our Inspire the Child program, similar thoughts and pictures come to mind of our remarkable founder and mom Rocky surrounded by the orphan girls in Kenya whom she loves so much.  If you look at the photos, the laughter and love is on every girls face.  Whether Rocky is hugging them, playing with them or handing out school backpacks, the joy on the girls faces show how much they need and thrive on her unconditional love and inspiration that their mothers were unable to give to them. 

In a week, Rocky will be off to Kenya just to make sure that her girls, our girls, have everything they need for the start of their school year.  But, most importantly, she decided to go there because she sensed that they needed to be reminded that they are loved and that she and all of the wonderful women of Mothers Fighting for Others will be there for them so that they too can grow up with dreams and a sense of safety.

 For our girls, and for our own children here at home, lets all sing softly:  I hope you dance!

                                                                                         I hope you dance on YouTube