Small Things Are Big Things

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by: Kara Noel Lawson

OC Solidarity March

I had a dozen emotions during yesterday’s OC Solidarity March. Watching people of all races, religions, and professions declare, “We will not allow hate to destroy our community” was more powerful than I could have imagined.

OC Solidarity March

In the midst of all the anger and violence in the media, I can’t help but question what I can do to make a difference. A huge part of me thinks, “you are a white housewife in suburbia… you don’t have the authority to say anything about racial issues.” And that’s true in a broad sense… I won’t be spearheading any social media movements or writing laws to protect against unwarranted police brutality. But not saying anything, feels the same as agreeing with what has become the racial norm in our cultural.
And I don’t agree.
You know I think small things are actually big things. And in this case, the Small Thing was participating in the OC Solidarity March (hosted by COR), then talking with my kids about why the March was so important. (Read the OC Register’s coverage of the March here and here.)

I can’t change laws, but I can impact four children and their racial viewpoints. Four children who will become men and women, who will have children (I hope), and who will impact their children. Then maybe someday my great great great granddaughter will read this post and won’t even be able to understand the need for such a movement.
Maybe.

Our family began to have intentional conversations about race after the Charleston Church Shooting.  (Passionate side note for my church-going friends: If the Charleston Shooting didn’t rock you and/or your church didn’t talk about the impact this should have on us as THE church… you should consider starting the conversation… or finding a new church.)

Before the OC Solidarity March my church gave some really great conversation starters and we used them before the March. Below is what that conversation looked like:

We read Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Then talked about what “as far as it depends on you” means. I used the analogy of a bully asking Eli to pick on someone. If Eli agreed then he would (obviously) be responsible for his actions. But what if Eli was just a witness to someone being bullied? Or if he knew someone was about to be bullied and didn’t step in? Would he be responsible… accountable… even part of the problem? Yes!

Then we talked about the recent shootings – law enforcement being shot and law enforcement shooting (specifically) unarmed black men/boys. We talked about the significance of law enforcement being at the OC Solidarity March. By showing up, they were saying, unwarranted violence won’t be tolerated here. We also compared the bully analogy in regard to law enforcement. If we see something that doesn’t seem right, even if law enforcement is involved, we should speak up, or record what is happening.

families at the OC Solidarity March

Finally, we talked about why it was important (and unique) that people from all religions were at the March and that we don’t have to agree with people, to live in peace with them. (Oh what a world this would be, if that one truth was realized more often!) 1 Samuel 16:17 says, “…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We can be strong and secure in our faith without being hateful toward other religions. We prayed for people who are hurting because of what is happening in the world today.

One of the best parts of our talk was pointing out that although our community is diverse, church services aren’t! My kids had never noticed, not because they are “colorblind” (news flash, they aren’t) but because that’s the accepted social norm. That’s the way it’s always been… but it doesn’t always have to be that way in the future.

Overall, I wanted my children to understand that we saw a way we could to stand for peace, and we actually did it. We can be strong and secure in our faith without being hateful toward other religions. We prayed for people who are hurting because of what is happening in the world today.

The conversation was beautiful and I cried.

OC Solidarity March with kids

Why you won’t hear me say #AllLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter

Just to be clear, this event was not for #BlackLivesMatter, the purpose was to show solidarity in our community. We are showing support and saying we desire harmony with public service departments, within the church and between races. But I feel like I should talk a bit about the different hashtags going around.

I’m not sure why, but the hashtags of #AllLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter has never set well with me. Everyone can agree that all lives matter so it doesn’t really need a movement. And yes, blue lives DO matter… that’s why we pay for their guns and bulletproof vests. The birth of these two hashtags is akin to a childish comeback after a spat. A spat when you can’t think of a better rebuttal so you just say, “back to you.” Please, read my heart in this… I love law enforcement. LOVE. I trust them to protect me and do what’s best for the community. The Black Lives Matter Movement is something else entirely.

Some further reading…

 

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Magic in Reading – A Dollar in your Book

I’ve always felt there was magic in reading a book.

When I read, the story becomes so vivid in my mind that I feel like I’m watching a movie. I have even been interrupted from reading a good book and then gone back to the TV and turned it on only to discover I wasn’t watching a story… I was reading a story!

Yes, there is magic in reading. When you read a book it’s like be admitted into a secret club.
And it’s delightful.
When I finish an excellent book, I like to imagine all the people who have read the same words and felt the same feelings before me. I like to wonder if we loved the same characters, hated the same characters, cried in the same chapters. And I love to think about the people who have yet to read the same words. Some aren’t even born yet.

I would love for everyone to have that same feeling of wonder when they read a book.

My grandpa always said he would never pay over a dollar for a bookmark… because then you can just use the dollar. Wise words, don’t you think?

I use a dollar to mark my library book pages, because I can’t dog ear them. (Yes, I dog ear my pages.) One time, I accidentally left the dollar inside when I returned the book. At first I was like, crap. Then I was like… how fun for the next reader! And I’ve been doing it ever since.

Tuck a dollar into the books you return at your local library to create a little magic in reading in your neighborhood. Doing Small Things in my community gives me all the warm fuzzies.

magic in reading

Side Thought: Sometimes I wonder if the librarians take the dollars. Ha! Someone should check out this book and let me know if they find the dollar!

 

by: Kara Noel Lawson

#IheartOC – Because Small Things can Impact your Community!

It’s #iheartoc Giving Day!

It’s the 30 hours of the year where everyone in Orange County donates (at least) $25 to their favorite non-profits! Last year, I shared about why we donated to Safe Families.

Gosh I love Safe Families.

This year, 3 of the 400 non-profits involved are near and dear to our family. Safe Families, Age Well and Arts & Learning Conservatory.

Remember my post about Edith? She is one of the seniors on our Meals on Wheels route. My children have fallen in love with her, and it’s pretty amazing to watch. During last month’s food delivery route Cora Jane suggested we invite Edith to see our friend’s daughter perform in The Lion King with Arts and Learning Conservatory in two weeks.

My mind was racing with all the reasons this wasn’t a good idea: “We’ll have to pick her up and drive all the way to Santa Ana… We have fun with her during 20 minute food drop-offs and quick chats, but 3 hours is a whole other story… She can hardly walk… she shuffles… what if we have to park far away from he theater… It will be too late of a night for her… I mean, she’s 87… and what if people want to hang out afterward and she ruins all the fun.” (Yes, I thought that.)

My gut reaction was to say no. Then I looked at Cora Jane in the rear view mirror and she was glowing. She gets it.
Haven’t we wanted to instill a sense of responsibility to our community?
Haven’t we wanted to empower her in her faith?
Haven’t we wanted her to listen and obey to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

So I said, “That is a great idea! Let’s invite her on our route today!”

An we did.

Edith was beyond excited as she wrote the details on her calendar!
But she didn’t remember us from our last few visits.
We promised to return the following week with a flyer of information written out clearly.

And we did.

She seemed a little overwhelmed. I was a little worried she wouldn’t remember us when we showed up for the play or that going to the play would be too much for her. We agreed to pick her up right at 6pm.

And we did.

Edith was ready when we arrived to her home, and she remembered us. We drove to Santa Ana and had lovely conversation. I was able to pull up the car right to the front of the theater and drop her off. She loved the musical and only fell asleep half a dozen times. (Hehehehehe.) And she was thrilled to be invited to ice cream with all of us afterward.

We drove her home and as I walked her to the door, she said, “This was wonderful! Thank you, going out with your family made my day… actually it made my week!” She wanted to pay us back for the ticket and for her scoop of ice cream. I assured her, it was quite all right.

And it was alright.

All the reasons I had for not inviting Edith were petty.
Beyond petty, selfish, really.

Often, we think parenting is about big things like using the right discipline tactics, or enrolling in the best schools.
And it can be.
But that’s just a part of a whole.
It’s all that, and it’s reading stories, and eating dinner together, and it’s making mistakes.
As parents, we need to step back and look at the whole… the bigger picture.
Parenting is making room in the small moments, for our small people, to share their small ideas, that may turn into big ideas.

Bringing Edith to this play was a small idea, from a small human, that became one of the most shining moments for our family.

And all because we did.

Meals on Wheels family

And this is why we are involved with Orange County Community Foundation #iheartoc Giving Day.
Because a lot of small donations from folks in Orange County can make a HUGE impact in this community.

#iheartoc OCCF Giving Day 2016

Giving Day started today, April 27th, at 6 am, and ends at noon on April 28th. Please consider donating! You can find all the information at www.iheartoc.org. I bet a non-profit you are already involved with is on the list!

Arts and Learning Conservatory Arts and Learning Conservatory

by: Kara Noel Lawson

To Never Know War – A Window into Meals on Wheels

She looked right into my eyes and said, “I hope your children never know war.”

She held my gaze, and her steady eyes were beginning to brim with tears. I could see she was remembering her childhood in Germany during World War II.

I was starting to cry a bit as well.

Those powerful words meant so much more coming from this petite woman.

Her name is Edith and she is one of the seniors I get to visit monthly on my Meals-On-Wheels route. Edith was 8-years-old when her and her sister, along with most of her classmates, were sent out of Germany into Czechoslovakia. She left Germany with a tiny suitcase, and a tag hanging from yarn around her neck printed with her name.

Can you imagine sending your 8-year-old child to another country?
Without you.
During a war.
With no assurance of their safety.
And not cell phones or texts or way to contact them.
Without you… during a war!

Edith and her sister lived in Czechoslovakia for three years without their parents. Her mother was able to visit once, and when she saw where Edith was living she moved her to another family. Edith starts to tell me about the family she was placed with first, then stops as she glances at my children. The only thing she says is that she had a rough childhood and the family wasn’t good to her.

She remembers when the Russians invaded Czechoslovakia. It was the middle of the night when her teacher had to quickly get all the students into a cattle truck and drive back across the border into Germany.

Edith knows war.

Edith has lived in California, New York, Japan and India.
She has wonderful rich stories to tell.
And using her words, her life “is almost like a novel.”

Meals on Wheels rug shot

Edith doesn’t have any children, and has been alone since her husband of 52 years died 8 years ago. She talks to her sister on the phone daily in Germany but she says she is lonely and difficult to make friends when you can’t drive.

I asked if we could pray over her. She said, yes.
Then she asked if she could pray over me and my children. I said yes.
She prayed the Lord’s Prayer in German.
It was beautiful.

This is why we do Meals-on-Wheels.
Life is just a collection of small moments… a collection of small stories.
Stories we get to tell to our children and more importantly stories we have the privilege of listening to.
From people who matter.
Like Edith.

by: Kara Noel Lawson

#iheartOC Giving Day {$2 million dollars can go a long way!}

I’m thrilled to be a small part of the first ever OC Community Foundation #iheartOC Giving Day!
What is this “Giving Day”? (You’re thinking)
Well, Thanks for asking!
The short answer is:
OCCF is rallying together all the amazing folks in Orange County to raise $2 million dollars toward OC non-profits, within a 30 hour period – from 6am on April 21 to noon on April 22. #iheartOC
Easy, right!?!
And you have 350 charities to choose from!
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Now, I’ve done the math and there are 3.114 million people in Orange County, so if everyone gives $1.56 during #iheartOC Giving Day then we can call it a day!
Who says small things can’t make a big difference in your community?
You know how I feel about that!
But I’m guessing not everyone in Orange County will pitch in, so you better donate at least $25 to make up for all the folks who might flake out. And it just so happens, that donations start at $25! 😉

The long answer is well, a lot longer:
One of the Charities on the list is Safe Families for Children. Our family has been extremely blessed to be involved with Safe Families. We have hosted 3 Orange County children.
Our first hosting was a 5-year-old homeless boy for 10 days, you can read about here, here and here. It’s a doozy!
And the third hosting was a 2-year-old boy who he lived with us almost 5 months, and we are still involved with his family today.

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The hosting in the middle was a beautiful 3-year-old girl named Abby. You can read all about it here. Below is an excerpt from that post.

“But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it could be in Abby’s best interest to be adopted. If Casey was pregnant and made the decision to adopt her newborn, it would be considered a noble choice. To some, maybe even the highest act of love a parent can do for their child.
But Casey isn’t pregnant. She has 5 children under 9-ish, with 5 different men. She is a good enough mom and is overwhelmed.
I feel like there is some disconnect for kids like Abby.
How can spicy/sweet/smart kids like her catch a break?
Adoption?
Luck?
Fate?
Or people like you and me doing Small Things?
We don’t have to be asked to do a task – when we see we can help with something, we should.
Like $12 shoes that fit.”

I asked Cora what she thought of Safe Families. I was able to catch her response on video. My two favorite lines are: “Safe Families: if kids come to our house they become a Lawson…and if they are at they their house, they are still our family!”

After you’ve donated to one of these amazing Orange County charities, like Safe Families, you MUST enter to win $150 to grant to the nonprofit of YOUR choice! OCCF is giving away three $150 grants. It’s as easy as following the instructions in the box below! Enter the #iheartoc giveaway and show your love for Orange County. You have until April 20th to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you have entered to help out your favorite non-profit, I’m going to gift you with this free printable. This is one of my favorite quotes. What a perfect reminder that even if we don’t have millions of dollars to give away, we still have the power to help others. I’ve made two per sheet so you can print one for yourself and gift another to a friend.
You’re welcome.

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by: Kara Noel Lawson

It’s Hot. Eat Ice Cream { ice cream maker giveaway}

About two months ago I was walking past a neighbor’s house, (people we had never met about 7ish houses down the street), and I noticed they were painting an array of chairs in bright colors.
Um… painting old crap bright colors… that’s right up my alley. So of course I stopped to chat. Then invited them to our house to see all our brightly painted crap.
A few weeks later they invited us over for homemade ice cream.

photoHow rad is that!?!?
We had the best time devouring homemade chocolate almond ice cream, and talking into the night, while our kids played with their grandkids.
It was a sweet memory.
And it was something very easy to do.
Small Things are Big Things in your community.
If you had an ice cream maker would you invite neighbors you haven’t met, over for ice cream?
Let’s find out!
Me and some of my blogger friends are giving away an ice cream maker.
But wait…
How about you bless one of your friends with an ice cream maker too?

Ice-Cream-Giveaway-SM
Leave a comment on this post and let us know who you would gift the other ice cream maker to. Then follow the instructions in the box below…
Let’s change the world one ice cream at a time.
Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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You and your friend can win the Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-quart automatic frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream maker. $165 EACH!