Give Me Your Eyes-Brandon Heath

I have been looking for this video for 2 years. I could not remember the name of the song until it played on family radio in the car today. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Cheers.

Loving Cookies & Loving Life

This should be in a fortune cookie as it struck a cord in me when my 9 year old son made the statement before going to bed:

"Those Who Love Cookies, Loves Life."

It took some time before I understood the depth of this simple childlike saying. Cookies for him meant the advantages or enjoyments or elements or things life has to offer. Things that are for our enrichment or meant for us to enjoy. Cookies is the ideal in his world at this time. What is your current "Cookie"? Is it your job? Is it your children? Is it your parents? Is it someone who has supported you? Is it a good meal? Is it paid overtime? A new house? An "A" in a course you were taking?

We can go so much deeper with this but I think you get the idea. Life is about enjoying the things around you and being grateful for them. Don't take them for granted. All the good in our life is sweet and again, enjoyable. Loving your life is about loving everything in it, including yourself. Appreciate everything you have. Savor it. In so doing, you'll find, you love life.

*Inspired by my 9 year old MMY

The children read to me.

I was asked to read with my son's class but my schedule just doesn't permit; until this week. The person who had Wednesday mornings canelled and the parent organizer asked me to help out. She even gave me her day, so that I would be able to come in on a consistent basis.

The teacher called seven students, one by one to come with me to a table in a wide carpeted hallway, which connects classrooms. Each student read to me so I was able to pick up on their strengths and weaknesses. One was very funny. One student gets distracted easy telling me about her new beta fish and what she did and will do over the weekend. You had to bring her back by saying, "I can't wait to see what's at the end of the story".

The next student read but decided to share about a confrontation with another student that happened to him almost two years ago and we spoke of how to handle it if he found himself in similar situations. Then I had a great opportunity to have my son read to me. I was so proud as he was in his element with reading. The last student out shined everyone. She was reading chapter books.

So my time was about giving praises, tricks to reading, a short counseling session, more praise, listening and talking about what intereats them, all while reading books. What a rewarding day. I had no idea I would enjoy myself so much. "It was a pleasure reading with you. I really enjoyed myself".

I can't wait until next time. I implore you to take advantage of your children's school and get involved. Use your talents for them. It's an undescribable high. And they will remember you.

Love is...

Love is a powerful weapon. A tool for mending broken relationships. It can be used as a platform to draw people near or as a humble lowering of self to show those who are dear.

Love is a word to be used with delicate tones for communicating truths and sternly for breaking through lies. Love is essential although taken lightly by some. It should be shared fairly from the greatest to the least and proportioned with equality from the west to the east.

Love is a feeling that dwindles and fades when within interactions; strongest when proven by the filter of time. It's most accurate by the work set forth and weakened by the consistency of materials bought.

Love is a challenge as it takes account of those without verses those on top. It sifts the heart and opens the mind. It stumbles the man and fathoms his essence for a search he cannot find or a bond that does not bind.

Love is kind. A virtue well hidden in some. A freedom to be released in many. It is best when practiced. It is best when shared. It is best aged and treasured, a fine wine of sorts. It can be traded, passed on, borrowed and taught.

Love is inspiring. Contagious in it's natural form, a closed line, from the giver to the receiver to the giver again. It is euphoric with no reachable height. It is expansive with no limited shape. It is for all a beacon of light.

Love is expansive encompassing all. A covering to those whom embrace it. A wall to those who spite it. It is an entity in itself protecting and endearing. To some wonderfully appealing and others painfully revering.

Love is all these and more. A choice by the viewer and receiver. An experience in itself lonely yet precious with another. The love I choose is best served with the former.

MLK Day of Service

What are you doing for Martian Luther King Jr. Holiday this Monday? This day has become historic in helping our communities and those who live around the world. It's the essence of what he was all about, so it should reflect as a day of service. There is so much one can get involved in such as volunteering at food banks, nursing homes, cancer centers, and so much more.

Join your local community in prepared events for the day. We will be helping out at a tutoring program, attending a gathering for advancing the education of children and a conference at Howard University for discussions on Pan-African issues. My favorite organization Hope worldwide will be asking for volunteers as they do each year throughout the US. See below for details. Make this a day of giving back and paying forwards. It will be unforgettable for those you contribute and donate to.

Hope worldwide, MLK Day Around the Nation

A New Year for Giving

Well it's pretty nice to be able to disperse the funds collected from last years recipient for the Ethiopian Foundation's Scholarship fund. We are expected to call Nathaniel this week to inform him of the first installment of two to be distributed for the beginning of the school year.

Now the fun begins as we will begin our selection process for the second round of applications. We have started momentum for "Giving Ethiopia" as well. More to be announce later. I have been learning so much sinse this organization is up and running. I have also witnessed other organizations going through what I call a metamorphosis. It takes on it's own entity and life, in a way. The bigger it grows the more responsibility for good and sometimes what we didn't expect but you have to "roll with the punches" at whatever phase you are in.

For now we are in a good and healthy phase. We will have to start the process of getting grants soon. Until then the team is working together well. That's hard in all organizations. You'll find new ideas spark and members begin to get involved in other projects as well. This is to be encouraged as a founder. You have to remember you are inspiring and instilling the gift of giving. (Your main objective). With all that the most important is to keep a healthy balance with your family. What's the sense of helping others if you are not loving and helping your family first.

Can't wait to see this year will bring.
Best.

Fundraiser Update

It was great. Dr. Ayele was inspiring and surprised to receive a plaque for his work in Health & Community Service. The guests were amazing. We had a Physicist, Computer Wizards, Professors, two Founders of other non-profits, A former UN staff, Business owners, and more. I was very impressed with the quality of people who came to provide support.

The Clubhouse was beautiful. Here's some pictures below:



The Sunroom is on the other side facing the pool. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas and the fire place was lit. The weather was perfect. I was very happy with how well everything turned out. What I loved the most was guests signing up to attend our next staff meeting in January. Thanks for all your support and well wishing.

The Ethiopian Foundation Team
Teru, Solomon, Deju, Lulit, Tesfa, Ermias, Dr. Ayele, Michael & Petrina