This makes for something interesting

Well kids, I got a job. I'm not sure what to think about it. I am glad that the place I've been working day-in and day-out since January finally decided to hire me. But.... then there's the more important pending issue. I'm not too worried. I hate hurting people's feelings though. I knew this day would come sooner or later, but lately I've been hoping for "later". I still have my eyes on the prize though and hope to hear something soon. In the mean time, I've got to look out for number one...

What to say...about today

I can't say much, but today was pretty super! I'm working to learn patience, something that I've rarely used in my life, but am striving for now. It'll be a few weeks, maybe even a month. But there's a reason that nothing's happened (here) as of yet. Everything sounds positive and that's how I'm trying to remain...pray for me.

It's amazing...

...what you can learn from the Internet. This week I learned that my grandfather (my dad's dad) was the mayor of his city since 1995! I had no idea. He and his wife are also very philanthropic and apparently have been for years and years (maybe that's where I get it??). The town recently threw a celebration for him and his wife for their many years of service and dedication to Laurel Hill

Laurel Hill honors Doug & Estelle Rogers at reception
In recognition of their many years of combined service to Laurel Hill, the city honored former Mayor Douglas Rogers and his wife, Estelle Rogers, at a reception in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church. (May 17, 2008)

I haven't been in contact with this side of my family since I was about 12 (1992). I had no idea how well they were doing, or honestly, if they were even still living. It makes me happy to learn good news like this and has even made me consider including them in my letter writing... we'll see how that goes. I have included pictures from the celebration. (Top Left: Estelle and my grandfather awards in hand, Below Left to Right: (1) My dad; (2) My dad, Aunt Ginger and my cousin, Jordan; (3) Estelle, my grandfather, Aunt Ginger, Jordan (4) Laurel Hill HS Class of '45 my granddad left, Estelle right) My uncle John was also there, but I can't get any pictures with him to upload...technology.

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Boy do I have some exciting news....stay tuned...

pitter patter

Everyone I know is having a baby... well, that's not true, not even close actually, but there are quite a few bundles of joy coming right around the corner! I'm so excited about all these new babies and have found the most wonderful gifts for them... Pigtails & Polkadots , Angela (Morgan) Wimmer's monogram online store is wonderful! In addition to all the precious baby things, there are things for toddlers and even adults. I've already placed one order which received rave reviews and I'm getting ready to order 5 more things. I think that everyone needs something monogrammed! Angela can do special orders too, so check out her site and get to shopping!

I learned a new word

Peanutopolis (noun) - A state of mind making you feel very strong and powerful, almost mayor-like.

Is it worth it?

Some of you are privy to the fact that I have recently taken up letter writing... it's a more personal way to stay in touch with all the people that I miss! There's always email, yes. But there is something so wonderful about receiving a letter in the mail. The price of stamps rose a few months ago, I was a little upset - as I had just bought stamps and still had some left. Luckily for me, they didn't return my mail, insisting that I give them one more penny! I remembered today that I have been walking around for a week with 3 postcards in my purse and no postcard stamps. Who has postcard stamps? Apparently no one. I even went to the Post Office one day last week so that I could mail 3 large envelopes and 3 postcards. The line inside was very long so I opted for the machine where I could weigh my envelopes, buy postage for them and also buy stamps. After about 10 minutes, I discovered that you cannot buy post card stamps on this machine! I could get as many regular stamps as I wanted and I could get other random amounts - as long as they were at least $1.00. Needless to say, I still have the post cards in my purse. I'm about to bite the bullet, put a forever stamp on each and call them sent.

Give me half

I just read a story about a remarkable girl in Atlanta and I feel compelled to share:

By Rusty Dornin CNN

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- One day while driving with her father, Hannah Salwen noticed a Mercedes stopped next to a homeless man sitting on the curb.

"I said to my dad, 'If that guy didn't have such a nice car, then that guy could have a nice meal,' " the 15-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, recalled.
And so began the tale of what the Salwen family calls "Hannah's Lunchbox." Watch why family wants to give away $800K »

It started as family discussions about what they needed versus what was enough. Hannah's father Kevin, an entrepreneur, is on the board of the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and is no stranger to community work, but he said this family conversation was life-changing. "We stopped and paused and thought about what are the things in the world that could really make a difference, a little bit of difference in the world," he said. They talked about selling their cars or other things, but it was Hannah's mother, Joan, who came up with selling their 6,500-square-foot house, donating half the proceeds and then moving into a house half the size. For nine years, the family lived in a historic 1912 mansion near downtown Atlanta. It boasts five bedrooms, eight fireplaces, a kitchen that would make any cook jealous and even an elevator. See the new and old houses, side by side »
When Hannah would bring friends over, she said, often their jaws would drop and they'd gasp, "Wow, you live here?"
Like most teens, Hannah loves to shop, and she jammed every space of her massive walk-in closet full of clothes. But she also knows many people are less fortunate; she volunteers at a local community food bank and other relief agencies.
Joan Salwen, a teacher, said the mansion was her dream home. "It was a challenge," she said of giving up that house. "It was a test, almost, to see: How committed are we? I mean, how serious are these kids about what we should do? And they all nodded and there we were." So the Salwens put the house up for sale in May 2007 and started figuring out what they would do with half the proceeds, which would amount to more than $800,000. They spent six months researching charity organizations before deciding on the Hunger Project, an organization dedicated to helping end world hunger through people helping themselves. Hunger Project Vice President John Coonrod said the family met with organizers in New York and notified them months later that the charity was the winner.
When the Salwen house sells, the money will be channeled through the Atlanta Community Foundation over a six-year period and end up in Ghana, Coonrod said.
"This will underwrite a process in more than 30 villages to enable people to meet all of their basic needs on a sustainable basis," he said. "They will be able to grow enough food, to build clinics and schools, and the villagers will be doing the lion's share of the work."
Coonrod said he'd never heard of a family donating in this way.

"Hannah's awakening to social injustice, and her family's ability to make a difference in that issue will make a profound difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people," he said, estimating the money could affect more than 20,000 people in Ghana.
Hannah's 13-year-old brother, Joseph, was so impressed with his big sister's ideas that he made a three-minute video of the family's project. Watch Joseph's video
The video won the grand prize in the 2008 "My Home: The American Dream" contest, sponsored by Coldwell Banker and Scholastic Publishing.
In the video, Joseph tells viewers, "We're showing you can redefine the American dream."
But the Salwens' house has sat on the market for more than a year. It's a tough time to sell any house, let alone one with an asking price of nearly $1.8 million.
Real estate agent Sally George said she's shown the house 40 or 50 times, and there have been nibbles but no buyers. See the house's real estate listing
Many people are interested in the house's rich history but often don't know anything about the philanthropic aspects of the family's project.
"I've never handled a house selling for this reason," George said. "I didn't learn about what the family was doing until early this year."
Hannah and Joseph said most of their friends at school don't know about it. "We didn't do it for the fame or the glory," said Joan Salwen. "This was something Hannah sort of yanked us into."
Even though it was Joan Salwen's idea to sell the house, it has been tough for her to give it up. "I have to admit," she said, "I loved living in this house. Does that make me an evil person? I hope not because it's a beautiful place."
The family recently moved to a house less than half the size of their mansion four blocks away. While Hannah's friends called her old home the "wow house," this one is more ordinary and that's fine with her. Lately the family has spent a lot of time around the kitchen table talking about an upcoming two-week trip to Ghana. The Salwens will spend six or seven hours a day visiting the villages where their money will be put to work. Kevin Salwen said the new house is great, it's just smaller.
"We as Americans have so much," said Salwen, a former Wall Street Journal writer. "We love the concept of half. We are going from a house that's 6,000 square feet to a house that's half the size, and we're giving away half the money.
"And we do think everyone can do something if they think through half."

[Don't Miss Family Web site: Hannah's Lunchbox The Hunger Project In Depth: CNN Heroes Impact Your World: Learn how you can help someone ]

The Salwen family realized they could live richly with only a portion of what they had. Most Americans live with such excess and don't even realize it. I have witnessed people with nothing and people with more than they know what to do with, I, myself have fallen into both categories. I really enjoy helping those less fortunate than myself and love to hear stories of others doing the same. This family has definitely earned their wings...

Happy Independence Day!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July. I'm at home this weekend soaking up the sun and fun of Birmingham!