Vogue? Yes Please!

I have not blogged lately because I am overwhelmed and a little upset with myself...why am I having such a hard time leaving the consumer life-style behind?
I am a bit of a whiner, so forgive this rant...I am aware that there are people starving and I am prayerful everyday that God would intervene and give me opportunity to assist those in need.

                      BUT can I still love my Vogue magazine? 

What about an eyebrow wax and hair cut - are those "necessary" expenses?  How is it possible to research milk goats and the latest fashions for Fall 2011?  IS that craziness?  Can I unplug from the consumer culture and still care about fashion and how I look?

It is a little embarrassing how much I struggle with this.  I am much too old to focus so much of my attention on how I look, right?  Is this a cultural thing - to strive for beauty and style - or is it a function of the media and advertising agencies?  And how does this jive with the global poverty crisis?  It makes me furious that an intelligent woman is advocating for her beliefs and media outlets comment on her clothing...but don't I do the same thing?

We are programmed to filter everything through how a person appears - I want to stop that - WHOLEHEARTEDLY, but is it hypocritical to want to be fashionable at the same time? 

Fashionable Woman in Suit

How do girls that live in a single wide trailer dress?  Should I wear flannel and denim with work boots?  Or is it wrong that I want Egyptian cotton - 800 thread-count sheets on our used full size bed that was purchased for $20 at a garage sale? 

Please pray as I face these issues.  I want to live a life that is honest and genuine - where my values are expressed in all areas of my life.  I do not struggle (not too much) with reducing what we have - it is necessary. But I am struggling with WANTING - I want a new fall wardrobe and cut/color and an eyebrow wax and a mani/pedi - does an authentic woman, follower of The WAY, conscientious world citizen still WANT as much as I do?

I  no longer crave the big house and new car - but I do love to shop and get a contact high from cashmere and worsted wool.  I love the clean lines of a freshly cleaned suit and black leather pumps.  I love french manicured nails and bright red toe nails.  I am not currently purchasing any of these things - but I still love them and want them.

Does this fit into my new life?  Does this fit with heartache for Ethiopian orphans and Sudan? Does this fit with wanting to live on less and focus on God and my family?  Does this fit with wanting to impact the poor?  Can you feed the homeless with french manicured nails and black leather pumps - do these worlds fit together?

So - today, no cute story or inspirational thought - just me spinning my wheels in the mud and trying to figure it out...

Love to you all...

Guess what DOES fit in my Single Wide Trailer...



Dad preaching at Lighthouse Ministries

MY MEMORIES!!!

My father, Herschel Holley, would have been 60 years old tomorrow (7/13).  He died about 3 1/2 years ago.  I miss him everyday. 

He was the senior pastor at Lighthouse Ministries in Columbus, Ohio and a friend to all that crossed his path.  The day before the surgery that would take his life - he was giving me instructions from his hospital bed to check on a lady in the trailer-court next to the church.  She had just had a baby and didn't have health insurance - he was very worried about her physical and mental health...

He loved our church people. Mike and I served with him at the church  - as did my sister and her husband - it was wonderful to minister together and to be under his teaching.







Mom and Dad (2006)

 My mom and dad grew up on the south end of Columbus, Ohio - mom lived in "the neighborhood" and they both graduated from Marion Franklin High School.  None of my grandparents finished high school.  It was not a fancy start. 

My parents met at a little church on Lock Avenue and were married right after mom finished high school - they would have been married 40 years on 7/10/11.  Their love for each other created a safe place for our family - including their grandchildren - dad could NOT get enough of his grand babies. 






Dad, Christian and Caden
(10/2003)





Dad and Christian at Spring School Play

(06/07)





These are just a Very few examples of his love...notice his smirk and smile in all of the pictures - he was such a wonderful Papaw...

Dad and Meredith at Cade's Birthday Party (04/2006)



At this transition in my life I would love to hear what he would think of our life change - what advice he would give.  I know that he would worry and shake his head at the drasticness (not a word - I know) of it all - but I also know that he would tell me how much he loves me and that to follow God's plan is the only way to go.  Dad's love for me - always gave me the courage to try - because I knew that if I failed - he would be there to help me pick up the pieces...many times he had helped me dust myself off and start again.  His unwavering confidence in me gave me strength.

The great news is that these same supports are available to me from my Heavenly Father.  I am so thankful that my father taught me about our Father and His path.  I would not be where I am today without this knowledge of God.

Dad left me his grandchildren as his legacy - and he would demand that they be brought up in the way of the Father...this lesson travels to the small single wide trailer in Ross County, Ohio.  The example and principles my dad taught fit easily into the small spaces of our new home.  I am so thankful for him and for the Faith he showed me how to live everyday of his life.

Happy Tuesday Everybody!! And Happy 60th Birthday, Dad - we miss you and love you!







Sudan

One of the results of having your eyes opened to the world around you - is to realize that there is MUCH suffering.  I realize that getting a post regarding suffering does not make the day more pleasant - but please take some time to be informed and pray!

Please follow this link to read the post from Kimberly Smith's report on the atrocities in the Sudan.  As Southern Sudan builds its own free nation - we need to be even more diligent with our prayers.

http://kimberlylsmithblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/today-we-face-our-worst-times-with.html

It is important that we encourage our congress persons and senators to maintain pressure on President Obama to support this new nation state.

This post is for mature audiences only - the pictures of the suffering are quite graphic.

Thank you for your time and compassion for our brothers and sisters in Sudan. God bless you - have a great Monday.

Korah...



Korah Dump

 On my journey to our single wide trailer, there was an important stop outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  This was a place called Korah.  It is the city dump for the large capital city of Addis.  Having a city dump for a large city is not unusual - but to have it full of people scrounging for survival is heart-breaking. 

There is a leper hospital near Korah - lepers are outcasts in society and in a desperate attempt for medical care and a place to take their families - lepers began moving in and around the dump - now three generations of people  - 75,000 strong live in and near the Korah Dump.


Man with leprosy weaving straw mat.



The man in this picture to the left has five children.  He works tirelessly without fingers to weave straw floor mats to sell at the leprosy hospital.

I have been home from Ethiopia for about a month - and have waited to write this blog post because I can't do justice to the suffering there with my words.

Because of the way these precious people forage for food - they smell pretty bad and are ostracized by the people outside of the Korah.  Their children are made fun of at school - if they can afford school - even by the teachers.  The adults cannot get work because towns people can smell where they are from.  The towns people will not even sell there wares or hand crafts.  These are a forgotten people by everyone.

But they are people - people that love their children and fight for survival. 





Little girl in Korah

 Also, the people there have been promised help repeatedly and still no aid comes.  Their children are starving - rummaging through trash and eating what they find - right there in the trash heap.  They dig through hospital needles, bloody bandages and animal feces to find something that resembles food.

These are real children living in deplorable conditions with no hope. No way to get an education, clean water, food or clothing.  There is no promise of -"if you work hard and do your best - you can get out of here".

I have never felt such hopelessness - I thought to myself while we were there - this must be what Hell is like. Starvation, death, disease and NO HOPE.


BUT HOPE DID NOT DIE...

While were there we met a young man who grew up in Korah.  One day a kind missionary picked him out with a group of about 10 young people.  This missionary family gave him clothes and a way to go to school and taught him about Jesus.  This young man's name is Yemamu Ahmed.  He finished school and went to college and instead of running away as fast as he can from Korah - he is returning with a plan.




Yemamu Ahmed

Yemamu has been granted land within Korah to begin a feeding program and a mentoring/tutoring program for children at Korah.

AND I AM SO PROUD AND THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE!!  That on July 4, 2011 - Yemamu's group did their first feeding program with WONDERFUL results!!  Yemamu wrote that while the USA celebrated their freedom - on that same day we were able to feed people in Korah!!

Delivering Hope, Inc. - the non-profit that I traveled with to Ethiopia was able to contribute while we were in Ethiopia and is continuing to work to build a partnership with Yemamu.

There is still much work to do. If you are interested in helping the people of Korah - I will be happy to pass along information for Delivering Hope...

Thank you for taking time to read this post - I pray that God will bring the people of Korah to your mind so you can join in praying with me for them!

When I look at the strength of these proud people -- it inspires me to continue to strip away the unnecessary things and move toward simplicity - to free up time and resources for our brothers and sisters who need our time and our resources.

Have a great weekend everyone!!




Women and children at Korah



Holding my breath...and letting go of the beam.

Okay - well today has been a challenge.  This transition, at times, SUCKS! Sorry to those of you who are sensitive to that word.  I am just overwhelmed by the changes today.  The Waverly School system does not believe we are moving to the area - and has put our request for open enrollment on hold - I am sure that this is policy BUT - REALLY - do you think I am going to commute to Waverly from Columbus just so my boys can go to school there?

We are on our way with the trailer we are moving into - however, we are still not sure what to do with our home in Columbus.

And now I am faced with the problem of what to do with our stuff...we are giving it away - selling it for charity - forcing it on family members - but how do I get rid of my outlines from law school - they could be very important - someday.  And my Martha Stewart and Country Living Mags - I am still going to need things to read in my Single Wide Trailer - right?

I did not start this blog to complain - but my head is fulll of worries and I am attempting to get them out so I can let them go.  I know the Father is on it...and I am to cast all my cares on Him.

It is interesting that this reduction in living is clearing a lot of the things that I turned to instead of Him...I am thankful for this.  It is lonely out here in crazy girl land - except for my husband and partner-in-crime Jaime Glandon - I am alone in my choices and overwhelmed by the PULL of the things I am trying to leave behind.

Someone posted this video today...and it inspired me - hope it does the same for you...Francis Chan - the Balance Beam

But the truth is I am NOT alone - there are many of us working out our Salvation in different ways...

I choose to continue to "let go" and follow this adventure!!  Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

Me and my sweet boys!!