Want to Change the World? Be Humble.

by Elisa | Nov 5, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers, Create Awareness, Hard Conversations, Spiritual Discipleship, Stuff of the Heart

We've been getting into this series, Waking Up to The Good vs. Evil Plot over the last few weeks. With heart-wrenching wars in the Middle East and little children on the verge of death from starvation, there is a challenge to step into the larger picture, one which...

How To Know If You Are A Baby-Lover & Operation Baby Rescue

by Elisa | Oct 31, 2015 | Children-in-Need, Global Health, Good Charities, Ways to Make a Difference

How To Know If You Are a Baby-Lover I am proud to announce I have a perfect way for you to advocate, oh lover of babies! I am pretty sure you have already self-diagnosed yourself as a baby-lover if you are one, but in case you are unclear, I made a simple test to help...

Why We Don’t Try to Change the World & The Someone Who Did

by Elisa | Oct 26, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers, Spiritual Discipleship, Stuff of the Heart

This past week, I'm hoping that you didn't need to see bomber jets flying or hear gunshots in the street to help you actively remember that we are living in a big and important story, where our decisions as crucial as those made during a war. In the first post of this...

Art of Advocacy: Waking Up to the Good vs. Evil Plot

by Elisa | Oct 18, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers, Create Awareness, Human Rights, Seeking Justice, Spiritual Discipleship

The Good vs. Evil Plot Have you ever tried talking with someone else about something you were excited about when it came to helping/loving others, and you were met with indifference? Or were given a weird look and the subject was changed because that cause was just...

If Syria Was the USA: What is Happening in Syria & How to Make it Personal

by Elisa | Sep 27, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Create Awareness, Human Rights, Refugees and Immigration

Our Collective Son, Aylan A horrific image of a drowned boy came up on my news feed a few weeks ago when the shock value of these images thrust them into the global spotlight. The boy was three--on first glance, he could be my youngest son--and his name was...

Are You a Terrible Parent to Your Sponsor Child?

by Elisa | Sep 19, 2015 | Children-in-Need, Create Awareness, Helping that Doesn't Hurt, Poverty, Ways to Make a Difference

The Terrible Parent We all feel like a terrible parent sometimes, right? I know I am not alone in this. Even when we we are on our game balancing the whole family dynamic, sometimes other relationships fall to the sidelines, or fall away all together. It is no wonder...

A Farewell Letter to my Sponsor Child

by Elisa | Sep 2, 2015 | Children-in-Need

They Told Me It Was Time To Say Goodbye Recently I received the news that the humanitarian program for one of our sponsor children is being shut down. Because the organization was gracious, they spelled out clearly what this tangibly meant for us: Yes,...

What is a Homemaker? Transcendence.

by Elisa | Aug 23, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Busy Moms, Hard Conversations, Identity, Spiritual Discipleship, Stuff of the Heart

Have you ever found yourself in an identity crisis? I had been bitterly putting the finishing touches on a lovely dinner when my husband came home from his relaxing day. Our house was in that rare cleanish form, our kids had enjoyed a great time at the pool,...

Art of Advocacy: Decluttering & Simplifying Life

by Elisa | Aug 12, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Ways to Make a Difference

Why I Began Simplifying Life Although it’s been about two months since I landed in San Diego, I have a couple walls of boxes that are still packed. After living out of a suitcase for over seven weeks (at least three weeks before the move, and four on the...

Adventure

Swamp Wisdom: An Ecclesiastes on Human Rights

Ever heard of ancient King Solomon? He was said to be the wisest of them all as he philosophized...

Busy Moms, Community, Family & Relationships, Raising Kids

Identity Crisis #3467 – My Messy Beautiful

The other day, my daughter was excitedly expressing her admiration of the teachers and helpers at her school. I usually resist the temptation to to ask my kids what they want to be when they grow up because at some point in my...

Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Mental Health, Recovery, Safe Spaces

Understanding Terms for Poor Nations vs. Rich Nations

Terms of Poverty Whether in public political addresses or in pleas from non-profits, we have all heard some of these terms thrown around at some point or another. But just because we can infer their general meaning, I...