WHAT A YEAR

Happy New Year To You

Enjoying the simplicity and endless beauty in Iceland- 1 year ago.

Happy New Year To You
This time last year we visited our friend in Iceland and it was magical. There was something so beautiful and simple and you felt it everywhere you went. I came across this photo when I was reflecting back on the year and this moment by the sea but felt like being on the moon, made me smile and made me think.
There are people, places, and moments that touch your heart and stay with you forever. This year was one of those years was it not? In the beginning, we were in awe of what was happening as if it wasn't really happening and then we watched acts of kindness from all over the world. We saw dolphins swimming in the canals of Venice and deer and peacocks roaming around. We saw for the first time in years, clear clean skies and heard sounds we forgot existed.
We watched people lose their lives and some of us lost our loved ones and we learned so much about ourselves and with the people under our roof. Our family had so many silver linings I thank my lucky stars every day. I know this year did not "look like" what is usually on the calendar year, but maybe we needed a year like this to be exposed, to learn the truth about a few things, to watch how we show up daily and how deep-rooted some of our beliefs are. What I know is this, we were all put on this earth with a gift and it's up to us to discover this and to use it. When you find it you share it and you lend a hand to others along the way. I have made the choice to see the world with love, strength, and compassion, and the most important thing I've learned, "remain teachable" if not you will swim upstream and harden as time goes on. For the unknown years, I have left on this planet... I will remain teachable. after all earth is a school and we are the students.
Have a blessed New Year and New Growth
Thank you for reading and for your grateful support. it never goes unnoticed.
Rock On!
#gratefulforyou

"You are beautiful for you are fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:14

xo, Janet

WHAT IF?

After I received the email below, I’m not sure where it originated, but after reading it I did feel a sigh of relief and overcome with a peaceful feeling. Since COVID-19 began, the three of us have had many conversations, walks, movie watching, dog washing, cooking lessons, cleaning and sitting in moments of silence; all of these small moments feel joyful and bring tears to my eyes. Like many of you, I find myself thinking, oh God, when will it end, while at the same time thinking, please don’t let it end… meaning, please don’t let us all go back to the way it was. The outpouring of love and kindness, honoring the real everyday heroes and the feeling of community all fill my heart. I have a new-found respect for all the grocers, truck drivers, teachers, our healthcare workers and so many others who suit up and show up every day. I see photos of dolphins swimming in the canals in Venice Italy, deer exploring the streets of Michigan and now we have crisp clean air. How can we really learn to simply yet remain fruitful in this new world?

As a parent, I ask myself what the future will look like for our son and his family…for all these kids. I know we’ll never have this much isolated time with our boy and each other again for the rest of our lives, but for now, we are just grateful to be healthy and together, most of all, we are grateful to realize how our son is teaching us. You know the quote “When the student is ready the teacher appears?” Wear are all students right now and I’m learning lessons I’ll never forget.

Kids of today’s world.

What If?

What if instead of falling "behind," this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this?

What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing?

What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet? 

What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? 

What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home? 

What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less? 

What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home? 

What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday? ️

What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place? 

What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life? 

What if they are AHEAD?

What if??

Stay safe, stay healthy, we must believe there is something better for us all.

Thank you,

xo, Janet

Ways To Give Back

GIVING TUESDAY - GIVING BACK - WITH NAM HARRISON

Since it’s Giving Tuesday I’d like you to meet someone super cool, super giving and I’m proud to know him; Nam Harrison. We've known his parents for about 18 years now and when Nam came into their life it sparked a wonderful journey and we all watched a lot of goodness unfold. Nam was adopted at age 1 from a village located outside Hanoi. The Harrison’s endeavor is one of joy and gratitude and Nam's overall gratitude doesn't go unnoticed! Nam is the first to say how “We take a lot of stuff for granted like houses, water, toilet, even a school,” So Nam had an idea. Instead of asking for presents for his 10th birthday, he would ask for donations to help build a playground in Vietnam.

Nam has awesome memories of playing on a jungle gym and he wants to help build those fun memories and more for other kids. See how Nam’s favorite sandwich shop stepped up.

Donate Now

The founders of Mendocino Farms caught wind about what Nam and his family were planning and decided to jump in. Their chef came up with the idea of a sandwich that gives back and a portion of the proceeds went to Nam’s charity and almost 30,000 sandwiches were sold and $10,000 was donated. With the help of his parents and family friends, Nam and Clara Wilson built a kindergarten in Danang that serves 122 kids every day. Nam visited the school for the first time in August 2017 and was inspired to do more.

Nam wants to build the young children of the ethnic minority C’Tu tribe a primary school. After visiting the tribe in the Truong Son Mountains, and seeing the shack the kids use for a school, the connection was made, and Nam is unstoppable. “They should have a school too, Mom. Let’s do this!”

Nam had a goal: Build this school as soon as possible so no child has to wait to learn! $43,000 more is needed and with Nam in charge, you can count on his dreams coming true.

So for giving Tuesday, you can help Nam and these global citizens reach their goal and any amount helps! Nam, you’re amazing and for everyone who knows you, we are very proud of you and thank you for sharing your journey with us and of course… thank you to your parents.

Thank you. “Cảm ơn bạn”

 More about the Project

Nam’s summer visit to Truong Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province to visit with the C’tu children, their families, local officials and see their temporary school - Watch Here

Why The C’Tu?

According to UNICEF, a pressing need in Vietnam is to have more children start their education at an early age, however, limited access to quality early childhood education in very remote areas has led to “significant bottlenecks to education outcomes for ethnic minority children.” (UNICEF annual report, 2013) Being behind other children academically adds to the many factors that could lead to dropping out of school and leaving behind the opportunities a good education can provide. Ethnic minority children are particularly at risk and have much to gain from early education:

• Ethnic minority children make up more than 60% of all poor children.

• Facing language barriers and long, difficult treks to school, ethnic minority children are 20 – 25% less likely to complete the first five years of primary education than Kinh children.

• There are high drop-out rates among children from ethnic minorities in remote villages due to:
  (1) high rates of poverty;
  (2) poorly equipped schools in remote areas; and
  (3) lack of information.

We can replace this shack with a real school!
With your help?

#givingtuesday

So for giving Tuesday, you can help Nam and these global citizens reach their goal and any amount helps! Nam, you’re amazing and for everyone who knows you, we are very proud of you and thankful for your parents.

Thank you. “Cảm ơn bạn”

Thank you for reading & happy holidays!

xo,

Janet