Its us vs. them. Them. Them. Those others. It always has been. For me anyways. Not Forever. Not for everyone. Though for most. There has always been a nemesis, not even a nemesis, just an enemy. I didnt always understand it. How could I? I was just a kid. Why did my people hate others for no reason aside from for a few differences. They ignored the similarities, it didnt matter they both loved Jesus and their families. It was only the differences that got brought up. His skin was different, he liked him instead of her, he was wrong. Now I understand. We were scared. We didnt really know them. They might be dangerous, they might challenge our beliefs or expose in us feelings we shouldnt have. The rest of our people would look at us differently if we even tried to understand. We would turn into one of them. Our power, the only thing we thought we had, the only thing we thought we had to combat our fear would be gone. We would have no one to focus on but ourselves. We would be exposed as weak. Its better to work on others, to focus on their shortcomings, on why we are better people than they, to fix them to be closer to what we secretly know ourselves not to be. It snowballs out of control. Until we forget to check ourselves. Until we know whats wrong with them without questioning our reasons. Thank God Im an adult now. Now I can recognize fear in others. Now I can work on those afraid. They need more work than I. And the circle continues...
Anonymous
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Swimsuit and Towel Drive... and GAGA!
Yesterday was the official introduction of Gaga to BigHouse! I think it went well. There were one or two angry storm offs and a few times someone was NOT hit, even though they clearly were, but all in all I think everyone enjoyed it. I think it is gonna be good here. It doesnt take a lot of skill or practice and you can play with as many or as few people as we have.
We are also really gearing up for our swimsuit and towel drive. If you don't already know about it, we are collecting a swimsuit and towel for every foster child in the state of Alabama, and then embroidering their name on the towel to make it extra special! There are about 6,000 children in foster care in our state right now, so that is a lot of swimsuits, towels, and embroidering! Thanks to my mom and grandmother, we are off to a pretty good start though, they have been dominating the Trussville area collecting and finding embroiderers. We have several other city/regional coordinators throughout the state, so hopefully things will really start humming the next few weeks. We want to have everything collected and embroidered by May 14, when we will have a huge packing party in Trussville. We still have a long way to go, but I am confident God and the good folks of Alabama will help us get this done.
So I just re read what I typed, and I think my brain moves faster than I can type. I know exactly what I was trying to say, but when I read it, some of it was a jumbled mess of words I am not really sure how they got there. That also happened on my journal I kept when I was in Europe. My granddad read it and told me it was interesting but I needed to fix all the grammatical errors. Ha, I really didnt know what he was talking about until I went back later and read through it... it was pretty confusing in some parts, and really, kinda embarrassing. I did write most of it late at night or on a train somewhere, usually when I was pretty tired and looking forward to resting, so that probably contributed to some of it. I guess it could also be that I don't know all of the grammar rules, that was always the worst part of English class, however, I usually can read something and know whether or not it sounds correct. I guess I don't proof read much, so that is probably why my own writing is usually not correct, ha. Anyways, I am rambling about nothing. If youre still reading this, you should leave a comment and buy a swimsuit or towel or both!
We are also really gearing up for our swimsuit and towel drive. If you don't already know about it, we are collecting a swimsuit and towel for every foster child in the state of Alabama, and then embroidering their name on the towel to make it extra special! There are about 6,000 children in foster care in our state right now, so that is a lot of swimsuits, towels, and embroidering! Thanks to my mom and grandmother, we are off to a pretty good start though, they have been dominating the Trussville area collecting and finding embroiderers. We have several other city/regional coordinators throughout the state, so hopefully things will really start humming the next few weeks. We want to have everything collected and embroidered by May 14, when we will have a huge packing party in Trussville. We still have a long way to go, but I am confident God and the good folks of Alabama will help us get this done.
So I just re read what I typed, and I think my brain moves faster than I can type. I know exactly what I was trying to say, but when I read it, some of it was a jumbled mess of words I am not really sure how they got there. That also happened on my journal I kept when I was in Europe. My granddad read it and told me it was interesting but I needed to fix all the grammatical errors. Ha, I really didnt know what he was talking about until I went back later and read through it... it was pretty confusing in some parts, and really, kinda embarrassing. I did write most of it late at night or on a train somewhere, usually when I was pretty tired and looking forward to resting, so that probably contributed to some of it. I guess it could also be that I don't know all of the grammar rules, that was always the worst part of English class, however, I usually can read something and know whether or not it sounds correct. I guess I don't proof read much, so that is probably why my own writing is usually not correct, ha. Anyways, I am rambling about nothing. If youre still reading this, you should leave a comment and buy a swimsuit or towel or both!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Only about BigHouse
We had a great turnout Saturday for our BigHouse workday! My parents and Luc were even able to come down and help out a little bit and get the big tour from Micah. I was glad they came. We had a loooong list of things to get done, and made a pretty good dent in it. We got the left side of the shed torn down, the right side of the remaining shed fixed, a place for the wall dug out, started the gaga pit, got some raking done, cleaned BigHouse, and got a lot of clothes sorted and turned over for summer in our clothes closet. It was a fun and productful day from my standpoint. Im hoping with the volunteers we get throughout the week we can finish up some of these projects pretty soon, the large stack of wood in our backyard makes it hard for the kids to be outside much.
I thought Sunday was a good day. After the workday on Saturday Blake, Micah, Anderson, and I went to my house in Trussville. On Sunday morning Micah spoke to all three services and several sunday school classes at my church about the swimsuit and towel drive, she is a pretty solid speaker! Everyone seemed excited about it, and between two sunday school classes we already got $400 in donations towards the drive.
It wasnt though. God answers prayers, He humbled me.
I thought Sunday was a good day. After the workday on Saturday Blake, Micah, Anderson, and I went to my house in Trussville. On Sunday morning Micah spoke to all three services and several sunday school classes at my church about the swimsuit and towel drive, she is a pretty solid speaker! Everyone seemed excited about it, and between two sunday school classes we already got $400 in donations towards the drive.
It wasnt though. God answers prayers, He humbled me.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Its official!
I am officially a BigHouse employee now! woot, woot. To celebrate, we are having a Chick-fil-A night tonight, Monday February 14, 2011!! Hope everyone can come out and celebrate with me!! or just come out and eat and donate your receipt in the little bin... besides whats sweeter than taking your sweetheart on a date to Chick-fil-A for Valentines Day? (For all of my northern followers, Chick-fil-A is a top notch fast food chain down here) If you cant come tonight, or if you can and want to celebrate even more..., Saturday is going to be a BigHouse workday!! We need as many people as can come to help us with some stuff around here. Bring whatever tools you have! Our big project is going to be tearing down part of a shed in the back, but we will also be building a gaga pit and doing a little landscaping/building a brick wall and stairs!
Thats really all the news for now. I have been thinking of a getting a new hobby.. I need something to get out and do. Joy thought I should take up cooking, which is sort of already a hobby, however, I dont really want nor have the money to be cooking all the time.. its not healthy. So, I need other suggestions people! Thanks, Joe
Thats really all the news for now. I have been thinking of a getting a new hobby.. I need something to get out and do. Joy thought I should take up cooking, which is sort of already a hobby, however, I dont really want nor have the money to be cooking all the time.. its not healthy. So, I need other suggestions people! Thanks, Joe
Monday, February 7, 2011
BigHouse
So, the main purpose of this post is to try and get BigHouse to pop up on the first page of a google search. If you want to know more about BigHouse, go to the website or copy and paste www.ourbighouse.org into your browser. Also, for all of you that follow me, or read me, please put a link on your blog and facebook!
Here at BigHouse we are gearing up for the Swimsuit and Towel Drive. Its gonna be crazy, but awesome! I am working on my fear of calling people. Well, its not really a fear, I just do not enjoy it at all. I realized I really am not a good talker, and I dont just mean because I have been known to mumble a time or two. I have always wanted to be more like Granddaddy, the way he can captivate everyone and tell a story so well. Oh well, practice makes perfect, so, I suppose calling these corporate sponsors will be good practice!
In other news... I need a haircut. Im starting to look like wolverine! I saw The King's Speech the other day. It is a quality film. It got me interested in knowing more about the real life characters its based upon, so I did a little research. From what I could find, the movie was fairly accurate, even throwing in little pieces of dialogue that appeared to be just filler, but actually revealed alot more about the characters real life personas than you realize while watching. I always like smart films like that.
I havent posted in a while, but Joy came down for about ten days a couple of weeks ago. It was so good to see her, especially before she leaves for Ecuador for five months!!. I am excited for her to go, though slightly jealous. I love to travel and know she is gonna have so many amazing times and tales to tell. We had a great time while she was here though. I took her to her first Alabama gymnastics meet!! My entire family went which was really awesome, and I think Joy really got into it. It is rather hard not to when you actually go and see how fun it is. The rest of the time she helped me so, so, so much at BigHouse and we spend just hanging out and seeing friends. I had a ton of fun with her. I miss her already, but I know God will take care of us and really am happy she gets to travel abroad for a while.
At the movies the other night, and then again during the Super Bowl (Go Pack Go), I saw several previews for new super hero movies. I am a big fan so I am pretty excited for them to come out. There is going to be a new Green Lantern, Thor, and Captain America that I have seen so far. I am pretty sure they plan to do an Avengers movie soon after with Hulk and Iron Man too, and I hope with the Green Lantern film coming out, that means they want to make a Justice League movie also. That would be so cool.
Anyways, I am hungry, so I am wrapping this up and going to eat. Peace!
Here at BigHouse we are gearing up for the Swimsuit and Towel Drive. Its gonna be crazy, but awesome! I am working on my fear of calling people. Well, its not really a fear, I just do not enjoy it at all. I realized I really am not a good talker, and I dont just mean because I have been known to mumble a time or two. I have always wanted to be more like Granddaddy, the way he can captivate everyone and tell a story so well. Oh well, practice makes perfect, so, I suppose calling these corporate sponsors will be good practice!
In other news... I need a haircut. Im starting to look like wolverine! I saw The King's Speech the other day. It is a quality film. It got me interested in knowing more about the real life characters its based upon, so I did a little research. From what I could find, the movie was fairly accurate, even throwing in little pieces of dialogue that appeared to be just filler, but actually revealed alot more about the characters real life personas than you realize while watching. I always like smart films like that.
I havent posted in a while, but Joy came down for about ten days a couple of weeks ago. It was so good to see her, especially before she leaves for Ecuador for five months!!. I am excited for her to go, though slightly jealous. I love to travel and know she is gonna have so many amazing times and tales to tell. We had a great time while she was here though. I took her to her first Alabama gymnastics meet!! My entire family went which was really awesome, and I think Joy really got into it. It is rather hard not to when you actually go and see how fun it is. The rest of the time she helped me so, so, so much at BigHouse and we spend just hanging out and seeing friends. I had a ton of fun with her. I miss her already, but I know God will take care of us and really am happy she gets to travel abroad for a while.
At the movies the other night, and then again during the Super Bowl (Go Pack Go), I saw several previews for new super hero movies. I am a big fan so I am pretty excited for them to come out. There is going to be a new Green Lantern, Thor, and Captain America that I have seen so far. I am pretty sure they plan to do an Avengers movie soon after with Hulk and Iron Man too, and I hope with the Green Lantern film coming out, that means they want to make a Justice League movie also. That would be so cool.
Anyways, I am hungry, so I am wrapping this up and going to eat. Peace!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Ice Storm 2011
It was a pretty big disappointment. In other news, it appears it did get cold enough at Bighouse to burst a pipe... well thats just my professional opinion, I dont really know what happened. We do have a leak though and I am just hoping it will not take too much to fix it. It is being added to our list of about twenty other things that needs to be looked at. Were supposed to have a guy coming out this afternoon so hopefully he will be able to help us out a little.
Joy is coming Monday! Im excited for her to be here for a few days. Its a little bit bad timing because Blake is going to have tests all week so he has to be studying, but it will also be good because were finally starting our after school programs back. It will be nice to have her around as extra help that first week.
Joy is coming Monday! Im excited for her to be here for a few days. Its a little bit bad timing because Blake is going to have tests all week so he has to be studying, but it will also be good because were finally starting our after school programs back. It will be nice to have her around as extra help that first week.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Day of New Beginnings
Hi, My name is Joe and this is blog is all about me and my new job! This is actually my third day in my new position which as of yet does not actually have an official title. I am working with a non-profit organization that two of my friends started called Bighouse. It is located in Lee County, AL and we are here to serve the foster families and children of this county. Although I really do whatever is needed around here, so far I am in charge of the tutoring program (we still need volunteers!!!), the whole process of recruiting and hiring interns for this summer (go to our website ourbighouse.org to apply!!), home maintenance, trying to do some advertising stuff, and the after school program's sports and games. Soo.. if youd like to help with any of this let me know!!
If you dont know already know me.... I graduated from UA last May and worked at a summer camp as their video guy before being lucky enough to be hired (through connections) as a PA on a movie shooting in GA. It is a big time movie with big name actors and should be out next fall. It was quite an experience and a huge change of pace from what I am doing now. I definitely got my foot in that door, though I am not sure that business is what I'd like to focus on too much. As of now, I don't quite have that itch where I HAVE to go back and do that for a living. Im just trying to do my best to listen to what God wants for me.. sometimes I feel rather deaf though but thats for another blog!
Peace,
Joe
If you dont know already know me.... I graduated from UA last May and worked at a summer camp as their video guy before being lucky enough to be hired (through connections) as a PA on a movie shooting in GA. It is a big time movie with big name actors and should be out next fall. It was quite an experience and a huge change of pace from what I am doing now. I definitely got my foot in that door, though I am not sure that business is what I'd like to focus on too much. As of now, I don't quite have that itch where I HAVE to go back and do that for a living. Im just trying to do my best to listen to what God wants for me.. sometimes I feel rather deaf though but thats for another blog!
Peace,
Joe
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