Better Than Recycling

Hi friends.  I've been essentially holed up in my house for two and a half weeks.  We have attempted a few brief and unsuccessful outings, but more importantly, I have made three trips to the pediatrician (one for each child)... since Thursday.  Between the snow and the sick, I'm reeeaaaalllly tired of being here.  

However.  As I was wallowing in my own self-pity, complaining about being stuck in my warm, safe, (though germ-infested) home, I was reminded that there are people who have no home.  Or if they have a home, it may not be warm.  Or safe.  I thought of many types of people... the homeless, the child sold to sex-trafficking, the children kidnapped to become soldiers in a horrible war, or perhaps those who lost their homes and other possessions due to fire, flood, tornadoes, hurricanes, or bankruptcy... the list goes on.

So yes, I'm a little overwhelmed with cabin fever (and a new blizzard here, keeping my home for at least another day, but probably two), but I'm trying to be thankful.  Thankful that I have a home.  Thankful that I have heat and electricity and running water.  Thankful to have logs in the fireplace that even when not used for essential heat, can provide a cozy environment for snuggling up with one of the books on my list, or on a night like tonight, a good movie with my husband.  Thankful that I can take my kids to the doctor.  Thankful that I can take care of my kids.  Thankful for my kids.  Just thankful.  

I have provided many links over the weeks of easy ways we can "see past our own nose(s)" (to quote Mary Poppins), like Project Love Day, Beanies for Pakistan, and bags for the homeless.  

But the other day, through a funny series of facebook comments and google searches, I came across THIS BLOG.  Cereal boxes for Haiti.  They take cereal boxes, cut them into strips, and turn them into amazing jewelry.  But what is better?  The organization that runs this jewelry making, The ApParent Project, makes it their goal to help women provide for their children on ridiculously low income.  This jewelry - made from our "trash" (or recycle at best) - provides income for Haitian women and food for their babies.  They call themselves an "Un-Orphanage", trying to "address the Haitian orphan crisis at the root, by responding to the needs of families before they are at the point of desperation, driven to give their children away to an orphanage because of extreme poverty."  Love the idea that these moms, who if you read the Hendricks blog, already battle great odds just to have a healthy delivery in such a poverty-stricken place, are doing something positive to sustain their families.

Now, I don't know about you, but I am so excited to read this blog post.  And the timing was perfect.  You see, we *might* have forgotten to take our recycling to the curb for at least a month, and we eat a lot of cereal.  And as I flipped through, I noticed there were some pretty cake mix boxes and a few other lovely colored boxes that are the right weight.  

So I'll be sending my cereal boxes to Haiti.  Anyone want to send theirs too?  I'd be happy to add them to my shipment!