Our kid’s last school was onto it when it came to promoting environmental issues. They encouraged minimally packaged lunches, on one occasion weighing a days worth of rubbish, and then attempting a week later to radically reduce the volume, which they achieved.

Their new school is wonderful (They LOVE it) but at ‘Meet the teacher’ nights was surprised when teachers requested we pack the children’s lunches in throw away plastic and bags to eliminate lost property. Miss E who campaigned for more environmentally friendly measures in our home, now re-wrapping her lunch in plastic to be the same as her friends.

Although by no means a very good or hard out greenie I’ve bought it up at school, as in this day and age think we all need make an effort and changes towards reducing our carbon footprint.

Talking about lessening rubbish, check out this: (You may have seen on Gail's blog) a couple in NZ; has challenged themselves to create no rubbish for a whole year. They’ve begun-1st February 08, and are blogging their “rubbish free adventures and compiling a database of rubbish free solutions and useful links here at- www.rubbishfreeyear.co.nz

Plenty there we can employ too...And for those of us with overflowing bins, a quick list of CAN do’s to get us going:

-Keep plastic, cans, glass and paper out of your rubbish - and put them in your recycling bin.
-Take your own bags to the supermarket… (Remembering to take them, a big one for me!)
-Choose products with less packaging.
-Support companies which recycle packaging and products
-Purchase unpackaged goods-loose fruit and veggies
-Stop buying plastic water bottles…heard about how bad these are on TV this morning!

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We all snuggled on the couch and watched ‘Evan Almighty’ this wet Saturday morning. A message from the movie; “If you want to change the world, change it one random act of kindness at a time” Such kindness evidenced in the following story emailed to me this week…

“In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket.
Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two.
Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it.

I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck.
The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in t hat had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night.

I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel.

When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.

One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana? I wondered. I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires.

I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boy’s pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.

On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up. When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes.
I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat.
Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.
As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop....”

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More great neighbours…We always seem get the best ones!

Since moving house a month or so ago we’ve been blessed by the kindness of the people round and about us

We came home one Sunday to discover our neighbour had mowed our front lawn. His wife bringing treats for the kids

On the other side a lovely little Lebanese lady who regularly pops in with cake,flowers,bread... or invites us for coffee

A few doors down an English family who have more than once dropped off books & puzzles for the kids and magazines for me to read

Today the family over the road giving us a big tray of mangoes

How nice are they!

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What a weekend!

They did it… BP and Malcolm biking from Sydney to Wollongong faster than they thought they would/could! BP thought it would take him 4 hours but was there in 3 hours and 14 minutes-not a ‘Hubbard’ (Got the gear but no idea) at all! BP in action...and in lycra: (Which my brothers will find amusing)
In NZ Gee and Gee..... made a massive effort too as they beat the street for 3 and ½ hours, also raising money for the house we’re building for 8 orphaned children

THANKS HEAPS....
-BP, Malcolm, Gail and Gillian for the miles you covered for Watoto, it was our best fundraising weekend yet!!!
-Kerry and Anya for the bike you super kindly donated up for auction- The bike won by Isaac.K.
-AND all our amazing friends and family who sponsored BP for his ride, THANK-YOU!!!!!!!!! We have both been blown away by your generousity…and laughed at some of the comments! It’s been exciting receiving them.

Our fundraising page still live at ‘My Cause’another week for anyone who wants to have a look, or make a last minute donation

Thanks again! Your contribution making a difference in 8 children's lives.

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A BIG THANK-YOU to those who have sponsored Brendan for his ride this weekend…And for others who would like to: It’s not too late!!!!!!!!

He’s very excited as a friend has offered him the use of a really good bike… optimistic about his performance, thinking he’s going to beat Malcolm (Our other rider for Watoto) by an hour and a half-ha ha! A bit of healthy male competition going on here

You can sponsor Brendan by clicking HERE

Thanks again…every contribution worthwhile and so appreciated

P.S. Gail and Gillian are doing their half marathon for Watoto this weekend too-Go girls!!!!!

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BP and our friend Malcolm(&maybe Renee?) are biking from Sydney to Wollongong as a fund raiser to build 8 orphans a home in Northern Uganda. Champions!
Both are not normally avid bike riders nor that fit but have risen to the challenge for the cause. All right!
Check out their ride here.... and sponsor them
here, here or here if you're able! THANKS:)

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Our VERY generous friend has donated this quality brand new bike as a Fundraiser for Watoto

"The 7.2FX has a light, Alpha SL aluminium frame and shimano gears and components designed for regular use. The 7.2 can be as sporty or as casual as you want to make it. Also available in a ladies step through style frame.
Specifications
FRAME Alpha SL Aluminium
FORKHi Ten steel with low rider mounts
SIZES15, 17.5, 20, 22.5. 25". Also Ladies 15.5, 17.5, 20"
WHEELSAlloy front, Shimano rear hub. Matrix 750 rims.
BRAKESTektro V brake with Shimano levers.
SUSPENSION n/a
COMPONENTS Shimano TX71 crankset and Alivio rear derailleur.

You can bid for this bike by leaving your name and bid in comments below...highest bid by November the 4th and it's yours!

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How Flipp’n awesome are Gail and Gillian!!!
Click here to read up close what they’re doing to help us raise $$ for Watoto:Thanks heaps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's mindblowing what can happen when us girls rally together for a greater cause...

Cheering you on!

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Did I tell you after asking friends if they want join me in fundraising for Watoto, 4 have come alongside-our first fundraiser on Saturday a hit...

We invited friends to an ‘Absolutely Fabulous Night’
Our night in brief:
~Bubbly and conversation on arrival
~Welcome and 10 minute DVD on the kids we’re raising money for, before introducing 'Absolutely Fabulous' hosts
~Part one of the presentation-‘Understanding your figure type’ and how best dress it. Apparently the hour-glass the most desired of body shapes…me a short-legged rectangle!!!
~Scrumptious supper-The 5 of us had organised bring 2 things each. Loving Marta’s chilli!
~Part two on ‘the nature of colour and its impact on our appearance’ …

A great fundraiser
If you are a non-profit organisation and there are more than 30 in attendance an 'Absolutely Fabulous presentation is complimentary so you recieve the maximum benefit of the admission price!
For more info contact Michelle

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BP and I just completed the Foster Care training course yesterday…polices checks, medical, life story to write and 3-4, 3 hour interviews in our home to go! (Great though that potential carers are thoroughly screened!)

Two years ago mid way through ‘Colour Conference’ I had a picture that our cot (BP handmade!) would have more babies in it. The experience so overwhelming I wept. I went home telling BP I think we should foster babies, his response not favourable-hey we’ve 4 of our own! The timing, obviously not right so tucked it away in my heart, knowing if it’s meant to be……

At the beginning of this year I stumbled across, and attended a ‘Foster Care Information Evening’, this time BP surprisingly agreeable when we discussed it. We decided together to begin the process required to foster babies, having them in our home until the court determines what next.

Still a way to go in getting approved…

BP commented; “You’ll probably become attached to them, but perhaps shouldn’t do it if you didn’t.”

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Had here on Saturday to raise $$ to build 8 orphans a house in Northern Uganda

A Hangi (Earth Oven), All Blacks on big screen, kiwi treats and lolly scramble for the kids

Sweet As!

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Sent this out to a handful of friends last night:

“Hey there!

JUST decided it would be cool to start a mums on a mission kinda group this term …

Earlier this year our family set about raising $19,000 to build a house for 8 orphans in Northern Uganda. We’re up to $1000 Wahoo- BUT have been thinking how awesome would it be to gather more women than just myself to fundraise and really make a difference together… How much MORE can we accomplish when joining forces!!!

So I’m thinking a low key group at my place fortnightly on a Friday morning where I’m sure we’ll make and enjoy good friendships as well as discussing and planning ways to bring in dollars for those less fortunate than ourselves
Ideas such as…dinner parties, movie fundraisers, Kids Readathon, table at the markets, trivia night, morning teas, etc etc

Too good an idea to not act on, even if only one of you are keen that doubles what I can do!

Chat soon
Love Rebecca”

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“All labour that uplifts humanity is worthy of honour and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence”

Martin Luther King

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How cool is this…

BP arrived home from the Post Box with a bundle of mail, amongst it a letter reading;

"...Toward the beginning of the year God spoke to me. He told me to give your Family $500. At that time I had no idea what God had planned for the money. I didn’t know why I was to give you the money or what it would be used for.
That is, not until I read you best life “Adopt an Orphanage home project” much later. When I read it I immediately knew what I had to do.
So…I would like to purchase half a brick please!
I pray that many more people come forward to help you to help others. After all, life is about our relationship with others – close and afar.
God bless you.”
To the anonymous giver: thank-you so much, we’re all very excited and so appreciative!
Feeling that much closer now to being able to paint in our first brick.
Few other fundraisers in the pipeline, and our ‘cereal for dinner’ dollars mounting up.

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“I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution,and what we did - or did not to - to put the fire out in Africa.

History, like God, is watching what we do.”
-Bono,2nd February 2006

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Building a house…

“If ONE women can change her world, imagine what ONE company of women can do”-Bobbie Houston

Alongside many others I felt challenged at the COLOUR conference to do something for the orphaned children of Africa…in particular building a home

After Colour “Networks of women”, in partnership with WATOTO(Uganda) are now seeking to raise the finance needed to build these Orphanage Homes in Kampala, Uganda, and also homes for the rehabilitation of rescued or escaped child soldiers in Northern Uganda…

WATOTO which means ‘The child’ in Swahili provides “safe, loving and heaven-bathed HOMES for eight children…and also new beginnings for a widow, who will become mother and carer to the children” Each home costing $19,000 Australian dollars to build
In a western world, full of trinkets and goods, I’m pumped to have our kids on board with this project; looking-out beyond our own four walls, surroundings…AND STUFF!

Building a house…

BP’s jig-sawing out a house shape and 19 ‘bricks;’ Each brick representing AU$1000 which will be painted and attached to the house when that goal is reached.* Hoping too it will become an art piece for our home; a visual reminder in years to come of this first home we set about building

Brick by brick:

We would love it if any of you/families could join us in raising money by taking on a ‘brick’ or ‘1/2 brick’ (which we’ll need at some of the edges!) In doing so being part of a home that will live and breathe with 8 little rescued lives!

1 brick- $1000
½ brick-$500

The colour sisterhood has some great fundraising ideas here to get your brain ticking…

And a few I’ve been thinking about:

Inviting friends to a dessert and coffee night at our place-(Because I’m not all that confident in my mains!) We whip up a selection, make menu’s with prices!, set the tables and open the doors for business…BP at the coffee maker, the kids and I taking orders and serving dessert

Worth a try!!!! Asking the school principal if my children’s classes could have a mufti day, with a gold coin donation for the privilege

Already wrote a letter to our local cinema asking if a group of kids could receive discounted admission-the difference supporting this cause

This week a friend hosted a morning tea in support of International Women’s Day with a cost/donation $10+ on the invite, raising much needed funds for Mercy Ministries

The skies the limit and looking to me like fun in the process!

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“There are women in Heaven whose
lives have been cut short...
Who will take care of their babies?”




“Uganda has endured the scourge of civil war and the deadly AIDS epidemic. Approximately 2 million children in Uganda have been orphaned by these calamites. Currently there are 940 000* Ugandan children living as orphans as a result of AIDS (*UNAIDS stats).”

At ‘Colour' today:
A video on the invisible children in Uganda; children abducted by rebels and forced to become child soldiers, others literally stacked together asleep in a hospital fearing abduction, the depth of pain heard in one boys cry.

Marilyn Skinners stories of what they’re doing to help the orphaned child in Kampala, Uganda, and steps now to become involved in rehabilitating the rescued or escaped child in Northern Uganda,

Aussie girls sharing of how they rallied together to raise the (AU) $19,000 needed to build one house that provides a home for 8 parentless children and one widow.

And then a beautiful 16 year old Ugandan girl who told of being rescued off the streets and the blessings of being raised in a “safe, loving and heaven-bathed HOME” at Watato Child Care

Tears streaming down my face,

my heart stirred with compassion….

Now, I know I MUST act.

Coming home tonight, telling my kids “We’re going to build a home!”

Trying to go to bed before, my mind too wired thinking how to best raise the funds??!...
Be it organising events with a group of friends, mobilising 19 women/families to raise $1000 each… I don’t know yet?
But if there’s anyone interested joining with me please leave a comment or email rebecca@bestlife.com.au

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Pretty little Samantha has been part of our family too for almost a year now.
Once a month (Sometimes more) we pick her up to come over or go on a family outing with us.
In Australia you are able to be part of a child’s life through an organization called ‘Aunties and Uncles”… after being screened etc first.
It's lovely to to see the joy Samantha finds in hanging out with us...i think it's quite an experience for most?! :)

We’ve been fortunate to have a little sweetie in Samantha…she is always well behaved and joins in enthusiastically with all our families doing.
She’s sleeping over tonight, so have just tucked her into bed after going out for gelato and then watching a movie at home.

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