FATIMA..A LITTLE LIGHT OF HOPE.

I went to a fundraiser for the YWCA last week, and was blown away by some of the speakers. As many of you know, the YWCA offers assistance for women of all ages who are suffering from abuse well as many other programs such as adult education, after-school programs for young women, etc. I listened to several women tell their heartbreaking stories of verbal, emotional and physical abuse from their significant others. One woman left after her abuser went to work, with nothing but the clothes on her and her 14 year old son's back. They found shelter, support and counseling at the YWCA. The Y is currently helping this woman transition from the shelter to a home of her own, thanks to their women in transition program.
I listened to a 13 year old girl tell us how Girls, Inc. (the Y's after school program for adolescent and teenage girls)has increased her self-esteem and helps her make better choices at school and with her friends. A mother gave a powerful testimony about losing her own daughter to domestic violence.
10 women in the state of Tennessee DIED from domestic violence related crimes last year.

There was a beautiful young woman from Rwanda that shared her powerful story. She came to this country after she had lost her family in the genocide that occurred in her homeland. She came with $500, and a promise that help would be waiting. She landed in Nashville to find no one at the airport waiting for her. Her cab driver helped her the next day and compassionately opened up his home to help her get on her feet. As if losing your family and leaving your home wasn't enough, Fatima came here only to be disappointed.

I met Fatima in 2006, she was looking for a new place to live, and had a man in her life and a baby on the way. She is beautiful, with sharp, dark eyes and rich deep skin. Her smile goes from east to west. She settled in to her new place and all seemed well. She showed up in my office one afternoon very pregnant only to inform me that the baby's father had changed his mind and did not want a life with her and their baby to be. She was heartbroken; I remembered asking her if she could go back to her family and she whispered "I can't go back". My company was able to let her leave her place without the enormous costs and penalties involved.

This beautiful young woman on the YWCA platform this morning was Fatima! She completed her GED through the YWCA's adult education program and is working, thriving and looking forward to going to college. I was able to catch up and talk to her. I remembered so vividly our conversation that day when she pregnant, abandoned and alone; I had no idea that she really had nothing in Rwanda to go back to. This woman is a survivor. She is resilient, and her inspiring story humbled me.

I want to go back to the YWCA programs a second and just share a few things, this organization is amazing. Their outreach efforts are so powerful! Check out their site at ywca.org.

Religulous...Is a really good documentary

Maybe I am getting old, but I am starting to enjoy a good documentary. Seeing the stark reality in this form is very raw, gripping and inspiring to me. I saw "Religulous" this week, a documentary filmed by and narrated by Bill Maher. Maher interviews people of different faiths, namely Christians, Mormons, Jews and Muslims as he questions them about their faith, their belief in Creation, in the existence of heaven and hell, their religion's views of peace and war, comparisions of each faith's spiritual leaders, etc.

Maher does not believe in God and is very upfront about that. The film has moments that are hilariously funny, as he catches people unsure of how to answer him, or his responses...he is SO sarcastic. But I have to applaud him because he did his homework, especially on the Bible, and at times, is more educated on the literary facts than the ones he is interviewing. His seeking soul won me over too; this is a man who is almost convinced there is no God, but has taken the time to really dig deep for the answers here. He lets believers pray with and for him. He sees the injustice in women praying in a seperate area in the Muslim temple built in Jerusalem. He is enlightened (for just a moment) with comparision of the Holy Trinity to water,steam and ice(if you were raised in the Bible Belt and went to Bible School...you know what I am talkin bout). He is just so honest about this quest that I can't be angry at him for some of the views he expresses.

I thought about the movie in bed after I watched it and what my repsonse to this movie would have been a few years ago. I would have been outraged, insulted, I probably would have cut the movie off early. But I understand now, more than ever, doubt. Doubt in myself, in God, in everything. I also understand grace, and forgiveness. I understand faith, even though I can't taste it, touch it, see it. I just understand that it is there. I know there is a God who loves me and created me, I don't really know every single minute detail, but I know he did. I believe in Jesus and that he lived and died for me, and because of this I have a relationship with my Creator. I know He hears me, and He cares about everything in my life.

And I can't give you all the historical facts about Jesus, about Creation, or about the future of mankind. But I know that it is so real in my life, and that I also struggle with doubt too.

If anything, I walked away from that movie admiring Bill Maher for digging REAL deep, probably deeper than alot of the leaders he interviewed. I hope he finds something that satisfies the quest he is on. He challenged me to dig deeper so that my words and actions will coincide and speak volumes for the things I cannot explain.

My faith became the most real to me through the love and actions of others, which prompted me to seek more truth from classes and books. Whether or not Maher realizes it, his little movie may be the springboard alot of us need to push into the deep waters of our faith.

Go to Redbox, or Netflix, or Blockbuster and get it. Trust me, if you have an open mind, it won't offend you. If it does, I will give you a dollar for watching it.

Some Twists and Turns, but its all good....

Right now, I think everyone is experiencing the vulnerable state of our world. You may not be financial trouble right now, but your world is probably affected by it in some way, shape or form. Everyone seems on edge right now, unsure, yep, maybe even freaked out.

It is easy to hide out and run away when things don't look good, but is that really gonna help me? Nope. Even if I haven't felt like it, I have gotten out in the sunshine and joined the human race.

Last Saturday, I rode down to Pulaski, TN and hung out with a good friend of mine. We rode around in the country for almost three hours. I saw the most beautiful swinging bridge over a creek, we stopped on the side of a hill and watched the clouds pass over the valley and you could see the shadow of the clouds; it was breathtaking. I ate a FRIED PIE. It was decadent, to say the least.

I had dinner with two of my dearest friends this past weekend. They are both a little frazzled by the state of our world because they don't necessarily know what is next, but we ate and laughed and talked about life, and it reminded me again that things can come and go, but our relationships and connections are priceless.

I guess what I am trying to say is "don't worry". This is so hard for me, worrying is like water for me. I have literally been a worrying soul since I was in Pampers. But what good will it do me? All I can do is love my family and friends, do good in life, work hard and hang on. I mean, really, that's all we can do. The moments are what matter anyway. Like the sunpatches on the valley that I saw last week, I have to live for those, they are golden. Sure, the clouds will come up, the sun will go away, but it will come back! It's kind of like when you cry yourself to sleep, I always wake up feeling better the next day (I look like hell, but I feel better).
"weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning"

Who says greatness has to be grandiose?
Maybe it is the touch from a single mother to her child leaving for school in the morning?
Or the smile given to an elderly person sitting alone in a restaurant?
It could be the change that buys a homeless man breakfast.
Maybe it is the warmth coming from the hands that cradle an abandoned puppy?
In that moment, in the lives of those being comforted, IT is enormous, even grandiose.
It is the song they dance to. The incentive to live.
It is greatness.

Heart of Stone Documentary

As alot of you know, I went to the Sundance Film Festival as a guest of Puma Footwear on behalf of Soles4Souls. Puma had a three foot long sneaker that celebrities signed; the shoe will be auctioned off online and the proceeds will benefit Soles4Souls. It was indeed a very surreal experience, to have conversed with people like Ashley Judd, Mo'Nique, Pierce Brosnan, Jeff Bridges, Michelle Trachtenbug, Susan Saradon, Nick Cannon, Anne Heche..just to name a few, wow.
But the highlight of my week came in the form of a chance meeting with producer Paul Bartick and his teenage son Max, who were waiting in our area to get their photos taken. After we asked each other what brought us both to Sundance, Paul and Max told me about the documentary they were showing at Slamdance (which is a part of Sundance representing more independent projects) I was captivated by the story behind the film, and this incredibly sweet family, and Paul brought us tickets.
The documentary blew me away, it is the true story of one man's mission (Principal Ron Stone) to change the culture of a what once was a prestigious high school in Newark, New Jersey. It highlighted the lives of three students (two of them being the neighborhood leaders of the Crips and Bloods, who are friends thanks to the influence of Principal Stone. The film was just AMAZING, and a reminder of the footprints we can leave in the lives of others. It is also a portrait of a great human being, Ron Stone, who decided to leave his comfortable principal's office and go out into the culture of students and DO life with them.

I am going to attach a link to the trailer for this wonderful film. It won the Slamdance Audience Award for Best Documentary!!!! Yay!!

PLEASE WATCH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7oW8c6_VLc

So, amidst of glamour and glitz and snow of Park City, UT, I left challenged by this humble film. And reminded that it is what we do as individuals, in the circles around us, that matter the most!

Some little bits and pieces that will make up a BLOG

Hey Ya'll,
There is a plethora (look it up) of things I want to write about that, so here goes;

1. Livin the Music Benefit/Soles4Souls
Last week, the 501c3 Livin the Music (www.livinthemusic.org)hosted a concert to benefit Soles4Souls at the popular venue 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville. We had over a dozen artists perform at the event as well as participate in three shoe distributions that day. We gave out shoes at Lighthouse Mission Ministries, which runs a rehabilitation program for men who are struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. Then we headed to the International Newcomer Academy, a Metro Schools program for children who are refugees. The Academy tests their literacy, and teaches them English before they mainstream the students into the public school system. The last stop of the day before the concert was at the YWCA. We were able to visit their battered women's shelter and spend time with some very special women and children.
The concert itself was incredibly special, but I enjoyed the distributions the most. Big Machine Recording Artist Adam Gregory joined us for the events and sang at each stop, which was such a treat. The one on one contact with the men and women and children that we gave shoes to will be forever in my mind. I helped one young woman at the school lace her sneakers because she didn't know how. She was 14 years old.
It was a very special day and I was SO glad it went well!

2. Singing "Foreigner" tunes at church.
OK, I am very fortunate to be a part of such a GREAT church(www,hopepark.com) and I am frequently involved in the music there. Last Sunday, I covered the Foreigner tune "I Want To Know What Love Is". It was definitely a hair band moment, the people loved it, I often felt like I needed a perm and bangs while singing it. But I scored some serious points with this volunteer that I have been trying to reach out to for a couple of years. I always smile or say Hi and he just never really responds...being the people pleaser I am, I just keep trying...:)
Well, I walked by him Sunday and HE spoke the ME..."Great song, I loved it".....wow.....
OK, if it takes some hair band power ballads, I am all over it.

3. DEWEY
I just finished the book "Dewey" by Vicki Myron...sniff sniff. If any of you know me, you know how much I love my kitties. This nonfiction book is amazing. It is a MUST read. It is just another simple story about how ordinary people and things can make an extraordinary impact. I cried the last 5 chapters and for a while after I finished it, because it just impacted me SO personally. Please pick it up.

Alrighty then, that's it for now...Hey, FYI I am off to the Sundance Film Festival to represent Soles4Souls with Puma. We are going to have celebrities sign Puma shoes and then have an online auction and all of this will benefit Soles4Souls. So, stay tuned!!!!!!!

Home

I think the weather messes with my head sometimes. If it is rainy or cold. I just want to be sad, to withdraw to myself. I wish this part of me didn't surface at times, but it does. So, on this cold, rainy day, I am going to polish off this last bit of my melancholy mood and let it go.

Last week, my mom called me with some interesting news. My childhood home, her childhood home, too, had been demolished to the ground and the rest standing was set on fire. It was done on purpose, and I knew it eventually was going to happen. The house has been uninhabitable for a number of years, but the thought of going home and not seeing it there just saddens me.

It was a little farmhouse that my grandparents added on to. To most people, it would not mean much. It wasn't big, nor was it fancy. But for me, it was home. My mom and I moved around so much, and yet, I lived there repeatedly during my childhood, and then in my early twenties, I lived in it's backyard, I could ALWAYS see it.

On the patio, my Papa had a huge freezer, and a washer/dryer. And JUNK. I remember being little and looking at the dead frozen ducks in the freezer....really, what were they doing there? My cousin Davy threw a kittycat in the dryer one time, and we rescued him quickly. The back door was brown, with a window in it. You walked in and there was a kitchen/den combo.
In that den, I had my very own Christmas tree. I made the star with yellow poster board and dressed up like the Virgin Mary and wrapped my bean bag baby Jennifer up in swaddling towels as the baby Jesus. I have a picture of this.
The kitchen had beautiful wooden cabinets in it, and one night I saw the biggest mouse...RAT in my life on the counter.

There was a long hallway that led to bedrooms and the front of the house. My papa used to stand at one end, and growl at me...."GRRRR...I'm the boogaman...." I would squeal with delight.

The front left bedroom was MINE. My mama painted it a baby blue and moved my canopy bed in it, and I woke up in that pretty little room and I felt like a Paxville Princess. I prayed for Mr. Franklin, the man who laid the dark blue carpet down, for 3 years...God Bless Mr. Franklin.

There was a door with a window that led to the "formal" living room, and every Christmas they taped the face of Santa Claus inside it....He was always watching me. I would stand in front of the wall heater across from that door to warm up after bathtime...I burnt my baby doll's hair there drying her off too.

Every Christmas, there was a huge tree in the living room, and a stocking for every child, and grandchild, on the mantle. That was a lot, because my mom was one of six...so let's count. Nanny, Papa, Uncle David, Aunt Cherry, Uncle Dan, Momma, Aunt Betsy, Uncle Matt, Uncle Steve, Aunt Terri, Aunt Carolyn, Uncle Johnny, Cousin Jenny, Me, Cousin Stacie, Cousin Davy...there more added later...

Upstairs there was an a-frame bedroom that my cousin Stacie and I shared in middle school. One night, we attempted to sneak out, of course, I was too much of a chicken to climb down the ladder. However, I did manage to fall down the staircase without a broken bone.

Wow, the memories. I could go through the yard too, and recall every bump, bruise, puppy and kitty...I am so full of emotions right now. My heart is so happy to hold memories like this, and sad too, it was where I really called home, and it won't be there next time. But I am so lucky to have had something like this in my life, not everyone does.

On my nannies tombstone is the quote, "Let me live in a house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man" A plaque with this inscription hung on the kitchen wall, and my momma now has it. I remember this house always full of good food and laughter, family and friends. Yes, this was and always will be...Home.