tis the season

Well, thanksgiving came and went and no blog, so here is a collage of some of our thanksgiving images. We had a great day and dinner at the big parsons home, and we were so thrilled to enjoy time with all of jeremy's family (all of his sisters were in town), and it was such an AMAZING meal - susan slaved all day to create the worlds greatest feast, and yours truly made a couple of casseroles to contribute. Then the day after, the four of us did our usually family tradition of buying our Christmas tree. It's such a funny contrast living in the city as opposed to living out in a small town. In our Colorado days, I remember miles and miles of tree farms surrounding the town where we could go and cut down our own tree. Now, living in the city, our tree farm is a cement basketball court in the middle of the city with some youth group kids hoping to make a killing off of their trees from the weatlthy city-dwellers in the surrounding area. Therefore, our tree was the shortest one they were selling...well, besides the charlie brown trees that were about 3 feet tall. We had a great friday decorating it with the boys and relaxing the rest of the day as we cuddled up and watched the Charlie Brown Christmas movie.


On another note, with it being the shopping, I mean, Christmas season, we have lately been challenged. We find ourselves incredibly blessed in a country that has way too much money, and immediately the thoughts of all the grand things we will give and get start flooding our heads by the millions. It's so easy to get caught up in making our lists and checking them twice that we really get tunnel vision and tend to forget that there are others who are in need for things more immediate, much greater than a nintendo wii or an apple iphone. Jeremy's sister sarah is a good example to us. In a culture predominantly focused on self, she is incredibly "others focused" and this refreshes and convicts us. We have been talking with her, talking with our small group friends, and starting to make a list of some of the things that move us that we can be a part of - things that will shift our focus this holiday season from what is entirely temporary, to providing real change for others who have real need.

here's some of what we've stumbled upon:
feed just one is based on the beautiful words of mother Theresa, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." They provide tangible ways that your four cents can feed one hungry person a meal. feeling moved to feed the hungry, but don't know where to find them? visit their myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/useyourcents


rosa loves is a t-shirt design company that has made themselves aware of tangible needs all over the world, and decided to do something creative to meet those needs. By buying one of their incredibly uniquely designed t-shirts, you are providing financial hope to the person/persons in need whom the shirt was designed for. all profits go to those whose stories are being told, whether it is children in Africa, or the family of a disabled man in bangladesh. We LOVE their designs, and many of our loved ones will probably be proud owners of some of these stories this season. to start wearing someone's story, visit http://rosaloves.com/


advent conspiracy is "an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by worshipping Jesus through compassion, not consumption." The idea is to get creative with Christmas and first, think of how you can give the gift of meaningful relationship this season instead of the gift of stuff. Then, the money that is saved on all of the crap you'd never use 4 months down the road anyways is given to clean water projects such as Living Water International or World Relief so that people who have no clean water to drink may finally have some. if you are interested in giving those you love something more meaningful, and someone you've never met a clean drink, check them out to join their movement at http://www.adventconspiracy.org/


even closer to home for us is the ministry of nueva esperanza. Our dear friend, Sarah, relocated herself down in Chihuahua, Mexico last year to open a home for orphaned girls who were too old to stay living in the orphanage system. By having a home for them to live in and grow in, she has provided them with a place to grow up into very capable young women who can discover God's love and purposes in their lives. She has gone from being a 27 year old single woman, to basically a single mother of 6 teenage girls, and we think her very heroic!! To support the expenses and schooling costs for those in the house, send your financial gifts to sarah c/o "FUPC" at 1321 9th Ave. Greeley, CO 80631 and check out her blog at http://www.nuevaesperanza-2006.blogspot.com/

a pic I took of sarah in october - I am hoping to visit her and the girls next March!


so, for those who were feeing like they had no power to change anyone's fate this season, here are some people in need. If you heart is moved by any of them, we ask you to join us as we try, in very small ways, to change the lives of others this Christmas.