Unexpected blessings

I have a friend. She is 10 years old, and lives half a world away from me. She shares my birthday. And she brings a smile to my face.

For the past two years I've been sponsoring this friend of mine through Compassion International, and I never imagined the blessings she'd have brought into my life. I mean sure, sure, they have all these stories about how sponsors were in awe of what they got out of the experience, and how it made them cry when their kids wrote about how they and their family pray for them, and how you get to see your sponsored child grow over time as you correspond.

But, see, as it turns out, it's all true! At first, I got a picture, and some basic information about the child I'd sponsored. Then my first letter arrived. I write letters to her as well. Things catch my eye that I think a kid might like-- a postcard of a faraway (to her) land, or some stickers she could share with friends. With each letter I receive, and with each new photograph that occasionally accompanies them, I really have seen her grow and learned more about her. She writes to me about her family, the different kinds of fish they catch in the lake near her home, how she is doing in school, and the fact that she has 2 goats and 4 chickens (which is exactly the kind of detail I would love. Perhaps she has picked up some idea of who I am, as well. Or maybe I just love the same kind of details that a 10-year-old kid would love).

And she does write to me about how she and her family pray for me. And asking me to pray for her as well. Or for specific requests, such as for family members. How amazing is it to know that someone across the world-- a child, no less-- whom you've never met, thinks you're worth praying for? That is why I never forget to remind her that I keep her and her family in my prayers, as well.

When her letters arrive in the mail, I don't even bother to sit down when I get in the door... I just open it up and read it, like a kid opening a long-awaited Christmas present. When I got in to this, I thought it was a good thing to do. Some small way to share the blessings I've been given with someone who needs to be blessed, as we're supposed to do. I really did have no idea how much I'd get out of it.

So, many thanks to my young friend (who will probably never read this). But thanks anyway. And to those of you who are reading this, don't imagine for a minute that you would ever miss that small monthly bit of your paycheck that would go toward sponsoring a child. Sure, there may be months when you really had something else you could have used it on. But just wait till you get those letters. Those pictures. That faraway (or not-so-faraway) child who puts your name into their prayers.

See, this is one of those aforementioned stories like I read, and still didn't really get it. But just go ahead. Start. You'll see. And hopefully someday I'll be hearing your story about the blessing that you just didn't expect.

Compassion International

My love/hate relationship with Fall

I have mixed feelings about fall.

On one hand, it is the season of football, voting, and my birthday. It is the time of year when, after months of sweltering summer, making soup and hot chocolate starts to sound good again. It is a season of cool, wonderful sleeping weather. It is the beginning of a season of holidays that involve lots of good food and magical twinkly lights. It is when I start to think about Christmas shopping, and fleece pajama pants, and warm hats.

On the other hand, it is the beginning of a long season of needing fleece pajama pants and warm hats (and gloves, and coats, and scarves, and sweaters, and etc.). It is a time of blustery winds (especially since I moved to Denver which, no one tells you, is a very windy place) and icy rains (though that less so since I moved to Denver, so I suppose it's a trade off), and snow soon to come. The changing colors of the leaves mark the end of summer days of barbeques and glowing tans and sandals all day long. It brings drastically shorter days and nights that start too soon.

This is why I have mixed feelings about fall.

Here are a couple of fall pictures from the last few weeks.

Best story I've seen all week...

Ok, so I promised heartwarming... I guess this is heartwarming, since the ending is good, but really it's mostly just amusing. Thanks to Lizz for passing along this entertaining tale-- I'm including a link to a different article with less high-tech graphics, since the first time I read it I was on a computer where the picture didn't show up, and that is just CRITICAL to the optimal entertainment value of the story. Poor Gracie!

Horse gets head stuck in tree

Promised happy items

In the below post, I promised happy and heartwarming. I'll find heartwarming later. Here is fun & happy.

I Can Has Cheezburger

The Original Laughing Cat
(put on your speakers)

When all you can say is "WHY??!"

Lately, there have been several stories on the local news that just had to make me exclaim out loud, wondering why on earth such things even happen. Here are the two I found most disturbing. I don't even know what more I can say about them.


This is Bobo the dog. A neighbor called the police about a fire in Bobo's apartment. He was found hog-tied on his back, on top of a burning phone book on the stove top.

They said on the news that his owner may have mental health problems. I should care, but I find myself entirely unmoved by that detail. Anyone who can manage the premeditation to realize the dog would need to be tied, and that phone books are a good flammable fuel source, does not get my sympathy. Bobo does.


This is Judi Lawrence. She was 19 years old, and had a learning disability herself. She met a man on Myspace-- a soldier from Fort Carson-- who convinced her to meet him. She was supposed to be at a bowling class at a special education school. She never made it.

Instead, she met up with the aforementioned soldier. He took her into the woods for sex, then blindfolded her, gagged her, and slit her throat as she stood there.

This is something like the 5th murder that has been connected to that Fort Carson unit. War is traumatizing, I bet. But people who prey on the mentally disabled also do not get my sympathy. Judi, and her family, do.


I swear I'll find something happy and heartwarming to post on here soon.

Oh... and in case you were wondering, Bobo, despite being burned on 50% of his body, is expected to be ok in the end. They found him in time.

Why I'm probably voting for Boulder liberal Mark Udall

A couple of months ago I wrote a post about the rather humorous ridiculous attack ads that various campaigns were launching against their opposing candidates, but which in general just made me aware of things I actually like about the opponent. For a refresher, read here.

So anyway, one of these batches of ads is that attacking "Boulder liberal Mark Udall." Oh yes, it is apparently quite important that we understand not only that he is a "liberal" (gasp! does the FCC seriously allow such obscenities on TV??) but that he is from Boulder, which of course means that he is the worst variety of hippie/snow-bunny/trust-fund liberal. One of the ads literally shows a map behind the evil liberal's head, clearly demarcating the location of Boulder on a rectangle which is apparently intended to be Colorado. I'm not entirely sure though, as "Boulder" was the only thing the marketers chose to include on the map. They perhaps intended to mark its place amongst the circles of hell.

These ads, beyond the declaration of "Boulder liberal Mark Udall" (which is all the discreditation they really needed, you know... "what?? Mark Udall is a Boulder liberal??" I asked myself as the commercial began. "Well, Committee to Elect Bob Schaffer, enough said! How can I sign up for your campaign?") these oh-so-creative ads decided to take it one step farther, and point out some of the horrors which BLMU (as I shall hereafter abbreviate the monster) supports.

"BLMU is against massive new offshore oil drilling projects!!"
...egad! The horrors!!

"BLMU supports oversight of massive corporations and financial institutions!!"
...gasp! Why would he even think such a thing??

"BLMU opposed widespread slaughtering of cute baby puppies!!"
...he should not only not be elected, he should be indicted for such national treason!!

Ok, so maybe the last one was not a real ad. I think it may have been about kittens, or something else. But you get the general idea. Insert ominous music and depressingly dark hues, and you have a conservative scare campaign that raises the bar to a whole new level.

So, after all of these ads had pointed out the many horrible things which the evil Boulder liberal Mark Udall supports (and which, it turns out, so do I), I was already starting to think I'd probably be voting for him. I'll be looking into his positions and history further, of course, to make sure he stands for the things I'd want my senator standing for on my behalf, but it isn't likely that the attack ads got it wrong, seeing as they're actually supposed to be for the other side, and all. But nonetheless, I like to be as informed a voter as I have the means to be.

But then I was sitting in my living room one evening, checking my e-mail or cooing over new pictures of my fabulous nephew & niece, or something else half-distracting while the TV was on, when I hear none other than the Boulder liberal Mark Udall himself, his sinister liberal voice oozing from my TV... "lock your doors and hide! It's me, Mark Udall!.... just kidding!" and going on to remark that it's important to keep a sense of humor, and making some mildly cheesy but upbeat comments about bring Coloradan (or is it Coloradoan?) common sense to Washington. All while standing in a a very Colorad(o)an-looking dusty scene, leaning against an old wooden cow fence or something. Looking somewhat rugged and Colorad(o)an and blue-collar-y in a denim shirt (which of course, actually HAS a blue collar, as you might guess) and somewhat-too-tight jeans. All while wearing a big belt buckle with a cowboy scene or a buffalo on it. Ok, I made that part up. Just the belt buckle. The rest is accurate. But still beside the point.

So in addition to apparently agreeing with Boulder liberal Mark Udall's platforms, I also appreciate that he does have a sense of humor, as well. And in addition to laughing with him, I can also laugh at him in a good-natured sort of a way, since I find it entertaining that-- while I'm sure he meant "just kidding" about needing to lock the doors and hide, it actually comes out sounding like he's "just kidding" about being Mark Udall.

Which, maybe is what he meant, on second thought. I mean, who'd want to be identified as Boulder liberal Mark Udall? He sure sounds like one scary guy.


Boulder liberal Mark Udall: They'd accuse him of making obscene gestures at the French, but then they remembered that they hate the French.