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...

What Are Do-Gooders and Are You One?

by Elisa | Aug 5, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Being World Changers, Create Awareness

The Official Do-Gooder Definition According to great old Merriam Webster a do-gooder is actually defined as follows: "1.) someone whose desire and effort to help people (such as poor people) is regarded as wrong, annoying, useless, etc . . . 2.) an earnest often...

Summer Movies To Awaken Activism

by Elisa | Jul 29, 2015 | Children-in-Need, Create Awareness, Human Rights, Sex Trafficking

Summer Movies to Create Awareness In Your Life Every once in awhile I throw one of these posts out there--keeping you informed about recent new documentaries you might want to check out. It isn't like these are the "things" as there are hundreds of short documentaries...

Six Steps to Advocate With Credibility: Sex Trafficking Statistics in the USA

by Elisa | Jul 11, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, United States

What About The Facts? Sometimes I wonder, are the trafficking statistics I share accurate? A few years ago I was reading about the globally misunderstood plight of women (learn more here) in the foundational book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into...

Art of Advocacy: Finding and Slaying Your Pet Monster

by Elisa | Jun 28, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Hard Conversations, Spiritual Discipleship, Stuff of the Heart

Internal and External Projections In this week since moving back to the West Coast, I’ve noticed that people are a lot more free with their personal style than in the D.C. metro area. I’ve seen surfer hair cuts I haven’t seen since high-school, and there are more...

Storm Chaser; Change Chaser: On Saying Goodbye

by Elisa | May 14, 2015 | Art of Advocacy, Community, Family & Relationships, Hard Conversations, Spiritual Discipleship, Stuff of the Heart

How Can Anyone Say Goodbye? I'm starting to feel all panicky that I am leaving all my friends in t-minus four or so days. Thoughts keep cropping-up like "WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING?" or "WHY DID WE THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA?" and mostly, "WHY IN THE WORLD ARE WE...

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

What to Do With that Blasted Holy Discontent (I used to be a radical)

I used to be a radical. I used to be a radical–until I wasn’t. After high school, I...

Ethical Fashion, Fair Trade Products, Giving Back, Socially Conscious Brands

How To Not Be a Bad Advocate for Social Change

Occasionally, the best way to learn how to do something well is by learning what not to do. I empower people to be good advocates for social change, but these days I am seeing a lot of bad activism. Here are things not to say if you want your advocacy and activism to be better-received.

Children-in-Need, Clean Water, Conflicts, Wars, Genocides and Atrocities, Global Health, Good Charities, Helping that Doesn't Hurt, Human Rights, Poverty, Refugees and Immigration, Seeking Justice, United States

Spectrum of Belief About Justice Issues: Art of Advocacy

Not everyone shares the same beliefs, so using the Spectrum of Belief graph helps us to have healthy conversations about justice that aren't so black and white.