2012 was a pretty marvelous year for me. Sure, there were plenty of downs to my ups, but all in all there was much joy and reason to celebrate. The world saw some unspeakable acts of horror. There were obscene displays of consumerism in the midst of severe financial hardship for so many. War ravaged on. Intolerance and hate continued to make headlines. I don’t want to be dismissive of such heady stuff that peppered 2012. But from my little corner of the universe, life was unmistakably grand. For every hardship and sadness, I find exponentially more reasons to be grateful.
I still marvel at watching my little boys turn into big boys. They are each wonderful and bright and insightful little guys. Seeing them healthy and happy is the mark of a good year in my book. Every day I am so thankful for a happy home and the kind of family I dreamed of.
I also spent 2012 supporting causes that are ever so important to our world, our nation, our community. Kindness abounds in these circles.
SAFEchild – Working to eliminate child abuse. It’s a lofty goal but attainable. Trust me, you have no idea how abuse permeates every corner of our community. SAFEchild helps countless children and their families. Their stories are not mine to tell, and I don’t know that I could muster the strength to retell them. I serve on the board of this organization and have seen firsthand the difference it makes to children who have faced the pain of abuse. Donate here to our Push to Goal campaign.
Food Bank of Eastern & Central North Carolina – The Holiday Meals Drive (for online donations) has been losing a bit of steam. The food bank is trying to raise enough money to fund 1.7 million meals and needs your help to reach their goal by midnight tonight — they’re only 69% of the way there. Plus, any gifts from new or lapsed donors will be matched dollar for dollar, so your donation could be worth double the value! Please help out your neighbors and their kids. I proudly serve as a social media ambassador for the food bank and am amazed at commitment of the employees and volunteers to end hunger in our community. One click to donate!
Shot@Life – I went to Uganda with Shot@Life, and the lenses with which I view the world have been shattered. It’s true that one visit to Africa changes your life. Never again will I view my own vaccination scars without a prayer of gratitude. $20 vaccinates a child in a developing country, meaning your small contribution has a big impact on global health. Give a child (and a mother!) a shot at life.
Organizations have just hours left to make their fundraising goals. I can assure you that each of these organizations spends its resources wisely. I promise you their contributions to our world and our lives is immeasurable. I am humbled every single day by the people who toil selflessly to keep children safe, nourished, and healthy. Please donate what you can. And yes, you’ll get a 2012 tax deduction! These organizations need your hard earned money more than Starbucks (or insert-big-box-retailer-name-here) does.
Wishing you a safe new year’s eve and an auspicious start to 2013.
XOXO