Together

Being Together.

One of the gifts of Thanksgiving.

Whether physically with loved ones

or there in spirit,

being together is such a gift!

New ER Under African Skies

My sister recently worked with a silent auction to help

raise funds for a new ER in the mountainous rural

Rukunriri district southwest of Uganda.

Last year local workers converted

two rooms and a closet into one open space.

Stretchers, oxygen equipment, splinting materials,

and storage closets were provided through the

fundraising efforts of two doctors.

On June 2, 2008, the first ER of this kind in Africa opened.

They served 500 people that first month.

I love thinking about this:

Since 8 out of 10 leading causes of death before then

had been because of trauma and severe diseases treatable

with quality emergency care, a significant number of lives

are now saved every day of every month!

This November 2009 silent auction raised $16,000!

But.  I don't believe this is enough.

We can do better.  We can raise more.

I'd love for you to help.

Maybe this could be a Christmas present for

someone you love instead of a traditional gift?

Click on the website below for the nonprofit agency

Global Emergency Care Collective

if you're willing to learn more and help.

Thanks!  I think this kind of present is what

Christmas is really all about.

www.globalemergencycare.org

Racing or Enjoying the Sights?

Which one are you today?

(No fair telling me which one I am!)

A friend sent me a prayer/poem

with these beautiful lines (Thanks Linda!):

     There is no substitute for the present moment.

              To enter it slow down

                     Until it envelops you.

     We are always choosing: either

              in fear, keep busy

                     or in wonder, attend.

     There is no way but slowing down

              to see and live truly,

                     to be here and not elsewhere.

I'm slowing moment by moment,

choosing moment by moment,

seeking to see and live truly.

It's not impossible for me this way.

Moment by moment.

How about you?

Beautiful Souls

We just returned from family vacation in California.

One of our grandaughters was in a

Silent Parade celebrating All Saints Day.

Here she is as St. Barbara.

And here she is as St. Barbara Pinkalicious.

She requested her favorite color,

pink of course, and a cross.

Well ... we had to have fun with pics of each sister.
So we took this one of joyful dancing,
added a magical starry background,
a luminous star on her cheek,
a rainbow of purplicious flowers and crown,
and our princess danced away with her cousin. 

Precious. Precious Souls.

How goes it with your soul today?

Blessed for sure.

Magical Night, Day of Remembering

Last night we walked around

the 16th Street Mall here in Denver

and enjoyed all the creative costumes.

There was also a wondrously fun

pillow-fight tradition at

Larimer Square during

each pedestrian crossing.

Today I'm enjoying All Saints Day

and thinking of dad.

Who are some of the saints you love?