Charity Begins at Home

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Gwen

One thing I always knew as we were growing up was that no matter how poor we were there were always people who were much worse off than we were.  In fact for the most part I didn’t know that we were poor.  We always had a roof over our heads and plenty to eat.  I know my parents, especially my mother, worked very hard to make sure that we had a warm home with everything we needed.  We also knew that it was in our power to help others who were not as fortunate.

I want my sons to be aware that there are people in this world that need our help, many of them in our own community.  Especially at this time of year, when we are getting into the Christmas and Advent season, there are so many opportunities both near and far to help out our fellow man.  I have plans to help out  a few charities this year including the food bank, Operation Christmas Child and I think a family through the Christmas Bureau or St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Kerrisdale.  I know that Aidan especially will feel good about helping out children who need a little Christmas in their lives.

Operation Christmas Child is our first for the season.  Aidan and I will go out this afternoon and fill up two boxes with toys and notebooks and pencils and crayons for a child  somewhere in a very poor country.  Sometimes they go to countries recovering from civil war, some from natural disasters or famine.

***

We went out to find some things for our two boxes.  So far we have a small stuffed animal, some dinkies, pencils, crayons.  There is still a bunch or room so we will put in some more practical items like toothbrushes, a comb and maybe a t-shirt.  Aidan is also making a Christmas card for each box as well.

I hope that Aidan and Quinlan will grow up knowing that we can help people.  I hope that by doing these things while the boys are growing up that they will develop a sense of social responsibility.  Those of us that have means should help in some way, whether it be helping out a food bank, or sponsoring a child, or helping out a school in our community.  I think I am on the right track.

Posted in Aidan, Christmas, Quinlan | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-11-07

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Gwen
  • The only part of school Aidan struggles with involves coloring & not talking on his way to doing things. Working on these leads to tears. #
  • NaBloPoMo 4: In which I talk a bit about body image. (I am just rolling out the feel good posts.) http://bit.ly/cpSDTa #
  • And it is almost 11. I guess I should get some sleep before the boys decide to wake. #
  • Huge rainbow. Look outside now! http://campl.us/loM #
  • Intense rainbow with a full visible arc. Beautiful! http://campl.us/loN #
  • We are here. #
  • Been waiting a half hour at the drugstore. I may need to get tea for the walk home. #
  • Finally on my way after long wait at the drugstore. #
  • I swear I didn't mean to make NaBlaPoMo a real downer. All my posts right now are pretty introspective. #
  • One part of a productive kitchen morning. Apple crisp for the boys. http://campl.us/lqv #
  • Another part of my kitchen morning. Banana bread. Yum! http://campl.us/lqx #
  • Next on the agenda, lasagna. #
  • Three lasagnas ready to go into the oven and then two to the freezer. Yay for making easy meals. http://campl.us/lqD #
  • Can you smell the yummy lasagna? http://campl.us/lqM #
  • All in all a productive day. 1 clean kitchen, 1 banana bread, 1 apple crisp and 3 lasagnas. Anthony got the living room habitable. #
  • Off for a bit of a walk in the rain. The boys need to run off some steam #
  • The problem with the 4 km out, is the 4 km back! 🙂 #
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More Truth: What I Love About Me

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Gwen

Since I spent the morning cleaning and baking, and we all spent the afternoon caching, I am tired and not sure what I want to write about so I shall tackle Day 02 of the30 Days of truth.

Day 02: Something you love about yourself.

It is a lot easier to find something you don’t like about yourself than to find something you love about yourself.   I love that despite being shy I can put myself out there, go into situations where I know no one and get to know people.

I love that over the last two years I have gone out of my way to go and meet new people that I have been interacting with on twitter and on blogs.  I love this especially because Anthony and I have made some very good friends.  These are people that I know I can call to go out and talk, or if I need some help.  I love that they know that they can call on me for either of these things as well.  I love that our kids get along.

I have some very good friends now, all because I decided to put my shyness away and pretend to be confident.  I guess sometimes pretend confidence can lead to real confidence, even if you sometimes still feel like hiding under the bed.


Posted in Gwen, memes, National Blog Post Month | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Letting Go of the Reins

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Gwen

I have for the past few years been in charge of a church choir in an unpaid position.  Before that I was a singer in the choir as a favour to the organist.  This year I am not in charge.  This year they brought in a new organist who is very young and very enthusiastic.  It is a good thing in some ways, but I must admit I am having a bit of a hard time with the change.

I love the enthusiasm that the new organist has for the organ and music.  He is a fantastic organist and can play like nobodies business.  He doesn’t however know the practical accoustics of the church, and he doesn’t yet know the core of people who put so much into the Advent carol service every year.   Oh god, he doesn’t know the politics of finding the readers, the extra people who come to be part of the choir and service.  Ugh.

This is my problem. How do I help him be paid for a job I did without payment? How do I help him in such a way as to make sure that I am not pushing my ideas on him?  How do I get the people who make this service possible come back this year?  How do I give him my practical knowledge of the building’s accoustics without sounding like I am telling how to do his job?

My other problem? How do I get over the feeling of not being appreciated?  I did a lot of work for free while the interim organists were paid per service.  I tried not to be bitter, and mostly I am not.  I know that I didn’t get the choir to sing more often because I had a lot on my plate and organizing took a lot of my time.  I might have been much more motivated if I too, had some sort of an honorarium, like all the other musical organizers and interim organists had.

I am feeling a little ambivalent about this year’s service.  Do I try to pressure the outside help to come and help again this year?  Do I just give over the music to M. and hope he doesn’t screw it up?  Or do I put aside all my feelings, try to get a meeting with him and make sure we have all the bases covered for this year and let him change what he wants next year?

I hoped that by writing this out I might come up with some answers, but I am still not sure.  I feel like I was excluded from all the decisions that lead up to him being appointed organist and choirmaster, and it is a hard transition.  I love this service and I want it to be beautiful.  I also don’t want to feel like a stranger in my own church and choir.  Sigh. Maybe I need to find a new choir outlet and let this one be. Anyone want a good alto? Apparently I am cheap.

Posted in Choir, Gwen, National Blog Post Month, rants | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments