I feel like I finally had enough time to reflect on my day with out shoes yesterday, April 8, 2010. My first thought was that my toes needed to be painted. Right, I was going to be going with our shoes, and my toes needed to look cute. So I was going to get ready to paint them the night before. I had to talk myself out of it several times. Reminding myself of the whole point of this activity…to bring awareness to the thousands of children who do not have shoes. I am sure that their concern is not if their toes look pretty. So I left mine the way they were.
I stopped to get gas, I walked through the parking lot of AMPM with out shoes. I was disgusted, worried about the things I would step on and I was tempted to put my shoes back on. I did not.
I went to work, my feet were cold. I was walking on the cement in the early morning hours. I resisted the urge to put my shoes on until an administrator told me that for safety reasons I needed to put my shoes back on. I did. I had them on and off through out the day at work. I took them off after the last bell rang and walked to my car with bare feet. At this time the afternoon sun heated up the cement, it was nice and toasty, but the longer I walked on it, the more my feet began to burn. Again, I fought the urge to put my shoes on. All the while thinking about children that did not have shoes. Not even one pair. I thought about all of the pairs of shoes I had. I am sure I have 5 or 6. On the grand scale of what most people have this is kind of minimal, but 5 or six and some CHILDREN have NONE!
I think about my self as a parent and how I would feel if my children did not have shoes. My heart is sad not only for those children with out shoes, but also for the parents that are not able to provide their children with shoes. My heart broke. I was HARDLY uncomfortable in comparison to those with out shoes.
My day went on, and I had my shoes off while I was at home and walking around, hardly something that is out of the ordinary. We went to the library in which we had ot wear shoes, but once we were out of the library, our shoes were back off. Then, I had to go to my other job, in which my boss already knew I would not be wearing shoes.
I went other places all with my shoes off, and I have to be honest, when I came home, my feet HURT, and not just a little bit, my feet REALLY hurt! Their were no cuts or bruises or gashes or anything, just soreness….which then again made me think. Of all the kids that did not have shoes.
The day was very emotional as I had said before, and I am not sure even how to end this other than the fact that we will be purchasing Toms shoes in the very near future, and we will be looking for ways in which we can support this cause as well.
I will announce my winner of the gift card soon!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
One Day With Out Shoes....
Hello again to my blog followers, and everyone else that reads this! I am hoping that some of you may have already seen this and are interested in participating, because I HOPE you are!
I took the following information straight from the TOMS onedaywithoutshoes.com web site. I think that they wrote it best, I am just linking you to them.
One Day Without Shoes is the day we spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. On April 8th, we ask people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience a life without shoes first-hand, and inspire others at the same time.
It’s Hard Without Shoes
Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, AND shoes facilitate life’s fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.
The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.
Take a walk with us on April 8th, 2010.
Facts:
• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.
Learn more about our mission and giving at www.TOMS.com.
Today at work, I work at Oak Hills High School, I gave out fliers. I posted them on bulletin boards here also at VVC where I work On my way to work tonight I am leaving about 30 minutes earlier to post them on the boards at all of the Starbucks that are on my way. I know that this event is tomorrow, but I urge you to share this through Facebook, Twitter, your blogs, your e-mail…whatever means you can, I think that this is a very important cause that can really make us think.
I can honestly say that although my kids are not in need to shoes now, when they are, we will be purchasing TOMS shoes. We will talk about the importance of why we are buying TOMS shoes and where the other pair is going.
As many of you know, Eireland has a VERY soft heart. (Yes, she is a bit feisty at times…ok, lots of times! But when it comes down to it she has a very soft heart!) This is a passion of hers believe it or not. The idea that other little girls do not have shoes when she has a few pairs just does not seem fair to her. It also is making us think about wants and needs. Yes, it would be nice to have shoes that were more dressy for church, but does he NEED those? No. This has been a great conversation starter for our kids, and I hope that it is for your too.
If you choose to participate, then please, will you leave comments? E-mail me? Something? I would love to know how this has made your family think about giving, sharing or about anything! Tell me your experience and One LUCKY person will win a $10 gift card to TOMS! I am not going to pick at random, I REALLY want to hear how this has effected your family, how this has made you think. I will pick based on which story was the most touching...most inspired....and it will be just me picking the winner. I just wanted to be honest! This will come out of my own pay, so, please, respect my decision in picking the winner. Spread the word! And, walk a day with out shoes. Find out more information regarding One Day With Out Shoes
Oh, Ps! pictures will be added later! :)
I took the following information straight from the TOMS onedaywithoutshoes.com web site. I think that they wrote it best, I am just linking you to them.
One Day Without Shoes is the day we spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. On April 8th, we ask people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience a life without shoes first-hand, and inspire others at the same time.
It’s Hard Without Shoes
Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, AND shoes facilitate life’s fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.
The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.
Take a walk with us on April 8th, 2010.
Facts:
• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.
Learn more about our mission and giving at www.TOMS.com.
Today at work, I work at Oak Hills High School, I gave out fliers. I posted them on bulletin boards here also at VVC where I work On my way to work tonight I am leaving about 30 minutes earlier to post them on the boards at all of the Starbucks that are on my way. I know that this event is tomorrow, but I urge you to share this through Facebook, Twitter, your blogs, your e-mail…whatever means you can, I think that this is a very important cause that can really make us think.
I can honestly say that although my kids are not in need to shoes now, when they are, we will be purchasing TOMS shoes. We will talk about the importance of why we are buying TOMS shoes and where the other pair is going.
As many of you know, Eireland has a VERY soft heart. (Yes, she is a bit feisty at times…ok, lots of times! But when it comes down to it she has a very soft heart!) This is a passion of hers believe it or not. The idea that other little girls do not have shoes when she has a few pairs just does not seem fair to her. It also is making us think about wants and needs. Yes, it would be nice to have shoes that were more dressy for church, but does he NEED those? No. This has been a great conversation starter for our kids, and I hope that it is for your too.
If you choose to participate, then please, will you leave comments? E-mail me? Something? I would love to know how this has made your family think about giving, sharing or about anything! Tell me your experience and One LUCKY person will win a $10 gift card to TOMS! I am not going to pick at random, I REALLY want to hear how this has effected your family, how this has made you think. I will pick based on which story was the most touching...most inspired....and it will be just me picking the winner. I just wanted to be honest! This will come out of my own pay, so, please, respect my decision in picking the winner. Spread the word! And, walk a day with out shoes. Find out more information regarding One Day With Out Shoes
Oh, Ps! pictures will be added later! :)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Eireland's Garden
Eireland had a wonderful birthday. She got many wonderful gifts, and I must say that her favorite gift was her PINK gardening gloves! (Thank you grandma, grandma!) She also got gardening tools, an apron and a kit to make her own gardening stepping stones. (Thank you Aunt Jenna, Uncle Matt and cousin Silas!) She is SOOOO excited because her seeds that she planted recently should be popping up soon. She is counting down the days and she is looking every day! EVERY DAY! She waters them and she cannot wait to plant them in the ground.
On Tuesday night we will be planting carrots and the first round of corn. I realized that you need to plant corn in stages...otherwise ALL of your corn will be ready at one time and then...pun intended...you will have corn coming out your ears. Anyhow, so we are working slowly and we need to get ourselves in gear, hopefully after Wednesday I will have the afternoons and evenings off for a week and a half because VVC will be on Spring Break, so, we will be planting and transplanting! (FINGERS CROSSED!) She is SO excited!
Other than that, that is all of the progress that we have made on the garden. I HAVE tried several new organic and natural products. ALSO, I have new websites that I would like to promote as well! HOWEVER, I don’t have time! LOL! Welcome to the life of a busy mama! I think that later on tonight I will have some time once the kids get in bed! So stay tuned!
On Tuesday night we will be planting carrots and the first round of corn. I realized that you need to plant corn in stages...otherwise ALL of your corn will be ready at one time and then...pun intended...you will have corn coming out your ears. Anyhow, so we are working slowly and we need to get ourselves in gear, hopefully after Wednesday I will have the afternoons and evenings off for a week and a half because VVC will be on Spring Break, so, we will be planting and transplanting! (FINGERS CROSSED!) She is SO excited!
Other than that, that is all of the progress that we have made on the garden. I HAVE tried several new organic and natural products. ALSO, I have new websites that I would like to promote as well! HOWEVER, I don’t have time! LOL! Welcome to the life of a busy mama! I think that later on tonight I will have some time once the kids get in bed! So stay tuned!
Friday, April 2, 2010
PLANTING! :)
We started our planting yesterday! (pics to come soon!) First, we mixed our organic potting soil that we bought at the .99 store with the Grounds For Your Garden from Starbucks! Then, Eireland and I cut down out plastic cups from Starbucks and our plastic water bottles that we had saved and planted lettuce and peas! They are now in our window just getting some sun. Eireland checked them this morning and quickly informed me "They are NOT growing." So then, we checked the back of the packages and figured out how many days it will take for them to poke through the soil. We learned a new word...Germination! She seemed to accept that answer. Here is the dates for our first planted seeds!
Seed: Date Planted: Days to Germination:
Peas (Set 1) April 1 7-14 (April 7-14)
Lettuce (Set 1) April 1 7-10 (April 7-10)
Peas (Set 2) April 2 7-14 (April 8-15)
Lettuce (Set 2) April 2 7-10 (April 8-11)
Honey Dew (Set 1) April 2 7-10 (April 8-11)
Today, we planted a different kind of lettuce, Honey Dew mellons, and more peas!
Also, today I worked the dirt a bit more, and REALLY worked the soil where the carrots are going to be. We need to make sure that the soil underneath the carrots is very soft and worked 18 inches deep. This way the carrots can grow nice and straight. I also worked in the Grounds For Your Garden into the area that we will grow the carrots. Carrots will most likely be planted tomorrow!
I will be updating later on with photos of yesterday and today's adventures! Later on this evening I will be blogging about Cliff Bars! YUM! And some more wonderful Organic snacks that I have tested and tried! I will also be doing a website review on Franklingoose.com! A fantastic website!
Seed: Date Planted: Days to Germination:
Peas (Set 1) April 1 7-14 (April 7-14)
Lettuce (Set 1) April 1 7-10 (April 7-10)
Peas (Set 2) April 2 7-14 (April 8-15)
Lettuce (Set 2) April 2 7-10 (April 8-11)
Honey Dew (Set 1) April 2 7-10 (April 8-11)
Today, we planted a different kind of lettuce, Honey Dew mellons, and more peas!
Also, today I worked the dirt a bit more, and REALLY worked the soil where the carrots are going to be. We need to make sure that the soil underneath the carrots is very soft and worked 18 inches deep. This way the carrots can grow nice and straight. I also worked in the Grounds For Your Garden into the area that we will grow the carrots. Carrots will most likely be planted tomorrow!
I will be updating later on with photos of yesterday and today's adventures! Later on this evening I will be blogging about Cliff Bars! YUM! And some more wonderful Organic snacks that I have tested and tried! I will also be doing a website review on Franklingoose.com! A fantastic website!
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