Bless Her Heart

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 18}

Day 18 ~ This reminder: 

Sometimes I need

  only to stand

        wherever I am

            to be blessed.

                        ~Mary Oliver (It Was Early)

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 18: The Sierra Club

From their website: 

Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with more than two million members and supporters. Our successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. More recently, we've made history by leading the charge to move away from the dirty fossil fuels that cause climate disruption and toward a clean energy economy. For more information, see our Mission Statement and Strategic Plan Overarching Visionary Goals.

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 17}

Day 17 ~ Sister of mine...

Lover of music, dance, art, laughter, family. She's the keeper of the family stories, holiday puzzle partner, world-traveler, new friend-maker and most excellent gift giver (see world-traveler). Our days are richer for the warmth and humor she brings to the room, each and every time she joins us. I'm so grateful to have her as my sister and the best freaking auntie for my kids. <3

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 17: International Rescue Committee

From the website:

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. 

Thanks to the generosity of IRC supporters, more than 23 million people benefited from IRC programs and those of our partner organizations in 2015—nearly 5.5 million more individuals than we were able to reach in 2014.

 

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 16}

Day 16 ~ Liam's perseverance (and smarts).

48 hours into the great computer crash of 2016, Liam was able to resurrect all of the files and programs from a corrupt hard drive and Frankenstein together a bigger and better computer for the shop with no data loss and minimal cost. This evening we all breathed a huge sigh of relief when the company files populated in their rightful places, like magic. Only it wasn't magic at all...it was Liam's patience, perseverance and know-how that made everything right again. That's a big fat *whew*....

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 16: Amnesty International

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 15}

 

Day 15 ~ “Love can be its own reward.” ~Arnold Lobel

I sat down on my couch yesterday and opened the cards and gifts from the families at my school. Man, oh, man....I am so lucky to work in an environment filled with such love and joy each day. <3

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 15: Human Rights Campaign

From their website:

The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together serve as America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 14}

Day 14 ~ Virginia

My sweet work wife. She's the bees knees to work with. Compassionate, level-headed, inquisitive, warm, inviting, hilarious, fair...all of the things you would want in the director of your elementary school. Today was the last day of classes until after the winter break, and I'm feeling immensely grateful for another semester spent working together. I love her so, and I'm just ever so excited about her growing family! <3

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 14: Together Rising (and Glennon Doyle Melton)

From the website:

"Okay, beloveds, circle up. I am going to break this down as simply and clearly as I can because there is no time for fancy words.

ALEPPO. I need you to understand that if you are watching Aleppo and lamenting your inability to help- stop lamenting. YOU ARE HELPING THERE. RIGHT NOW. Through Together Rising, you have given more than $2,000,000 to refugees in the past year. You are helping to send a mobile hospital this week that will arrive in Aleppo on Christmas Day. WE HAVE A PLAN TO DO MORE. DO NOT SHUT DOWN. STAY AWAKE, PLEASE. WE ARE THE ONES WE’RE WAITING FOR."

Complete post here.

Donate HERE

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 13}

Day 13 ~ This man. This love.

"The minute I heard my first love story,

I started looking for you, not knowing

how blind that was.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.

They're in each other all along."

~Rumi

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 13: Refugee Services of Texas

From their website:

Guided by the principles of human compassion and dignity, Refugee Services of Texas welcomes refugees, immigrants, and other displaced people and supports them in integrating and thriving in their new communities. ​

Our five service centers have programs uniquely designed to assist refugees, asylees, survivors of human trafficking, and related vulnerable populations, helping them gain self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. Our programs are also tailored to meet the needs of the host communities as they welcome these newcomers. RST employs the use of a refugee management system to proactively meet the needs of our clients. 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 12}

Day 12 ~ Lady Tribe (only partially pictured here).

p.s. photos of Amy making me bust a gut, taken by Jodi Egerton. <3

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 12: Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations

From their website: 

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), Founded in January 2012 in France, is a coalition of humanitarian, non-governmental, and medical organizations from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Turkey. Member organizations pool their resources and coordinate joint projects to provide independent and impartial relief and medical care to victims of war in Syria. UOSSM chapters work under a unified strategic framework to increase the effectiveness of the humanitarian response in areas of crisis.

UOSSM provides humanitarian and medical assistance to all Syrian victims of war regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

Donate HERE.

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 11}

Day 11 ~ Three simple words...Staff Holiday Party. Truly the best way to spend a Monday evening.

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 11: Multicultural Refugee Coalition

From their website: 

Community and Training Center

MRC's Community and Training Center is located on North Lamar Boulevard in the heart of Austin's refugee community. Services have included ESL, child care, citizenship classes, computer workshops, food stamp renewals, sales of discount bus passes, and our 10-week sewing training course. Monthly potluck events at the center bring neighbors together to share traditional foods, help each other navigate the transition to life in Austin, and enjoy activities rooted in the traditions of their cultures, such as sewing circles, soccer games, and musical ensembles. 

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 10}

Day 10 ~ These two met in a Primary Montessori classroom over 10 years ago. I'm not exaggerating when I say that every single time I have the honor of spending time with them together I am overwhelmed with gratitude for their friendship. They are goofy and playful, love each other dearly, call each other on their bullshit, and more often than not can be found sitting right next to each other with their noses in their respective books (or Snapchatting each other). I think every year, during this time, I acknowledge my gratitude for Kate and this fantastic friendship. I can't help myself...I feel it all the way down to my toes. <3

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 10: Amplify Austin

Hi I'm Justin and I Amplify Austin from I Live Here, I Give Here on Vimeo.

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - {Day 9}

Day 9 ~ For the relationship that these two goofballs have and the warmth and humor they bring to each other and to the world.

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Fighting the Good Fight, Day 9: Heifer International