Adventurously Expectant

Anxiety and the Extrovert I was at WalMart when I thought I was...

revolutionarychick — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:18:00 -0700

Anxiety and the Extrovert

I was at WalMart when I thought I was going to die.

It was Christmas time.

I just needed lights, ornament hooks, gift tags and Clorox wipes.

It was raining, and I couldn’t find a parking space. I almost ran over a lady in a polka dot rain coat.

My chest began to tighten.

And my heart began to race.

I felt like I was both going to throw up, and explode.

“I am going to die. I am going to die in a Walmart parking lot.”

I called for my sister, even if she wasn’t with me. Its what I do when I’m scared.

“I can’t, I can’t do this.”

I was sure I was dying.

I drove away crying.

And I pulled into an alcove, and began to cry some more. What is happening?

Even if I am not dying. I want to die. This can’t be my life.

I was having a full blown panic attack.

Then I began to cry again. And hyperventilate.

In my car. In an alcove. Outside a WalMart.

I had visions of agoraphobics and how they never left their house. I replayed scenes from “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and how their mom just stayed in the house, and ate her way to a crazy death. (Yes my brain went there).

Then I whispered, “God, I don’t know what’s going on. Help.”

Then this song came on (the one at the top of this blog :)). I don’t remember even turning my iPod on. At the time, I felt like it was a mockery of the moment.

“Its not over….”

Over time, it has become my anthem.

“Its not finished…”

And the thing I truly believe for myself.

“When God is in it.”

It has not been a Damascus Road I did not have an encounter and was transformed immediately. With the help of my amazing Christian therapist and my beautiful Jesus, I have been walking the path of healing. I am learning to fight against thoughts that are not God’s towards me. Thoughts that are not God’s best for myself. I choose to accept peace. I choose to trust God when I don’t know and really mean that when I say it.

I war for God’s best for my life.

Everyday.

This week, I am ready to tell you about some of the journey. As with most of the stories of my life- Some of it is funny, awkward, revealing, amazing, revealing, and weird. But all of it is mine.

I am praying for you today. And if you struggle with anxiety, depression, insecurity, rejection or with anything that seems like it will eat you alive, please know I am specifically shouting to the heavenlies for you. I am asking the Lord reveal His Son to you in a new way, so that you would know that there is Another in the fire with you, and He keeps you in the midst of feeling like you will be consumed.

Love you,

Renee

On the mountain top. In the valley.

revolutionarychick — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:28:34 -0800

I have decided. To follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.

These are the things that they won’t tell you.

Following Jesus. Its hard.

Sometimes, the easy way is tempting. Even when you know the narrow way is rewarding.

Hold fast, brethren. (doesn’t that sound just so Christian?)

The temp in temptation stands for temporary.

The feeling will fade.

But then what will remain?

So hold tight. To the hand of the One who doesn’t change.

Even if you have to hold so hard, your knuckles whiten.

Hold.

Tight.

Hold.

Fast.

Hold on.

The mountain top is on the other side of the valley.

The awakening

revolutionarychick — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:43:00 -0800

I have not written in a while.

Mainly because, I have felt too busy to write.

Then too overwhelmed.

Then too, just TOO.

But those are excuses to say- I don’t write when I don’t understand.

I get so caught up in circumstances that I forget to just

BREATHE.

BE.

LIVE.

So I am at the beginning again.

Which if I’m going to be honest, I don’t think we ever leave the beginning.

If we are smart.

We will grow.

But it will do us well to keep ourselves close to the beginning.

It is in the beginning where all that mattered was Love.

Not knowledge.

Reputation.

Friendships.

Just Love that saves.

Rescues.

Comforts.

Redeems.

This is the awakening of the beginning.

My morning...

revolutionarychick — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:22:05 -0700

Class got out early this morning.

I tried to go to Starbucks. They were closed due to a sanitary issue (ewe)

So I tried to go to the office (it was still closed)

So I ended up at Panera Bread. Eating cheese and bread.

Heavenly.

I’ve been working for 2 hours.

And forced myself to take a break.

And I forced myself to see how beautiful life is.

In the middle of a constructed reprieve.

In the middle of the great inbetween.

In the middle of things not being what I thought they were.

In the middle of having to choose to believe the best in people when I don’t want to, but know I need to.

I could choose to see the congestion of this concrete jungle.

I could choose to see defeated decisions by victorious people.

But I choose beauty.

I choose hope.

I choose love.

I choose transformation, even if its only for myself.

I don’t care how unpopular it is.

I choose Kingdom over environment.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1

10 years- a love story

revolutionarychick — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:33:44 -0700

I have not committed to much in my life.

I don’t live at the same place for longer than 3 years at a time.

My hair never stays the same color.

Or length.

I like fake lashes.

Disposable plates.

But 10 years ago today,

In a Hollywood Hotel Room.

I said yes to Jesus.

It has been the one thing that I have committed to.

And even when I have had days when I have wanted to quit.

On days when I wasn’t doing my best to honor Him.

And days when I asked if He had forgotten me.

I have perfected the art of holding on.

Through storms that I thought might overtake me.

To His promises.

To His Word.

To this life that I got that I never deserved.

It did not fail me then, when I chose to just believe.

It has not failed me since.

I remain eternally changed, and forever- adventurously expectant

We wear Him

revolutionarychick — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:30:13 -0700

We’ve been having a 3 day revival at my church Jubilee Christian Center.

You may not know this about me but I’m a sucker for a fire tunnel and prayer time. There is seriously no place I would rather be, than in the middle of a move of God. My heart cries out to not just be a part of a move but of a revolution (moves can be one time things, revolutions happen over and over again- but thats a story for another day).

Yesterday during prayer before service, Pastor Michelle said something that made me feel born again, again.

Imagine, God standing before you. However the way you see Him. And imagine yourself looking at Him. Now have your moment, have Him reveal your heart, what is inside of it. Have a moment with Him. Then. Step into Him. Now open your eyes.

This where you’re standing. This is what we bring there. We bring ourselves clothed in Him. We cannot conjure presence, we bring it with us.

Oh yes, I should write

revolutionarychick — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:23:07 -0700

While rewarding, working for yourself is also extremely difficult. No work, no eat, no electricity. I haven’t written in a while. I start work at 5am and sometimes don’t get home until 10pm. When your whole business relies on being on the computer, trust me, logging on after a 17 hour day seems like the worst idea EVER.

When I told a close girlfriend how hard my work schedule was, she said, “I really don’t believe that, you always look like you’re having fun.”

There are days that I have cried in my car the whole way home, sometimes from pure exhaustion, other times, because I am a bit overwhelmed.

Just because I am having fun, doesn’t mean that its easy. As a matter of fact, choosing to have fun is the oil that greases my wheels.

I choose to not complain.

I choose to pray when I have nothing better to say.

I choose that hard work pays off, and on bad days, the Lord is refining me.

Believe me, I could say some things. I could bring up ways I have been treated unfairly, or how people have chosen to speak to me or about me, sometimes without realizing I was standing right there in the hallway.

But what difference would it make? Would it make my life better? Would it make work easier? Would it make a 17 hour day more bearable?

Nope. It wouldn’t.

So on those days, I choose joy. I choose Jesus. And I decide that if this is going to be the journey, I will stand, even if I have to cry a little to get there.

xoxo,
Renee

I am sitting in the bookstore. This used to be one of my...

revolutionarychick — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:44:00 -0700

I am sitting in the bookstore. This used to be one of my favorite things.

The smell of cut paper and ink that tells stories. The bump and texture of embossing on a front hard cover.

I was literally giddy walking through the aisles, as my hands grazed over bindings and my eyes took in all of the colors.

Today, in the middle of a Barnes and Noble, I remembered- I am a writer.

Before my life changed a month ago. Before I decided to travel the world. I was a frustrated supervisor, wanting to escape reports and deadlines and 5 AM events. One day, something beautiful happened to me on a balcony of a Borders that no longer exists, a dream that my 7 year old self had was resurrected. I remembered that I wanted to write stories like Mr.Henshaw I wanted to make people feel things like Sadako,I wanted to experience an evolution like Shirley Temple Wong and Jackie Robinson I wanted to live a life that tells stories but I also wanted to write them.

In the flurry of life and of chasing a means to fund my need to be a writer, as odd as it sounds, I forgot that I AM a writer.

Today, in the middle of Barnes and Noble, I wanted to put my nose in a book and take a deep breath of its possibility. I wanted to twirl around and giggle, at the wonder of feeling “Home Again.”

I came back to myself.

I must write.

With grace.

With intention.

With purpose.

I am a writer.

Out of your mouth

revolutionarychick — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:58:00 -0700

I was in a meeting the other day, and the person I was talking to didn’t flinch when they cussed.

It was kind of like “OH SH**, that’s right.” or “OH F*** I’m running late.” There was something about it that bothered me, I think it was the complete callousness to profanity.

So let me confess, I drop a bomb now and again, its a habit I have had a hard time breaking.

But let me also say, I know the moment the word hits the end of my tongue and goes out into the atmosphere, that ugh, I fell short. I know the moment I choose to say something I shouldn’t that I shouldn’t have said that. There had to be a better way to communicate that. Everytime I feel that way. Everytime.

Everytime, I feel like “Man Renee you can do better than this.”

Using profanity, unfortunately is a norm in society. On any given Tuesday, my twitter feed is filled with profane words,and even lewd trending topics.

Crazy thing? These are from my Christian friends.

Here’s my concern, I am concerned that we have become calloused to it all. We don’t even recognize our iniquity.

There can be a profanity ridden twitter feed with scriptures interrupting prolific profane rants.

We make excuses. We say, “I’m just being real.”

We say, “Well don’t we all say it?”

Instead of being repentant, instead of saying, “God help me be better.”

We make excuses.

Most people will say, its too hard to change. Its too steep of a standard. That’s true. It’s been 10 years, and I am still struggling. But I think at the heart of it, God doesn’t necessarily desire our perfect speech.

I don’t think He sits with Gabriel and Archangel Michael and does a cuss counter on us.The Bible says He looks at the heart. I believe He looks at our hearts, and He sees if we are trying to change or if we have just submitted to defeat of our culture. I believe He is watching to see if in our hearts we are working on “Resisting the enemy.”

More and more I am getting convicted to truly be separate. To take the hard road and not worry about who feels uncomfortable because of the standard I believe I am challenged by God to uphold for His Namesake.

What is your stance on cussing? Are you aware when you utter a curse word, or do you feel the world has calloused you to profanity?

Blessing Number 6

revolutionarychick — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:17:14 -0700

Praying and declaring blessing number 6 today:

The very people that tried to bring you down will have to stand there and see you promoted. That every weapon formed against you shall turn around and have a boomerang effect in the back of the very people that tried to bring you down in Jesus Name - thanks Bishop Michael Pitts

You're Different

revolutionarychick — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:02:50 -0700

Last Wednesday, I saw a friend at Church. He looked at me, kind of scanned my face and said, “You look…different.”

To which, I, as a girl, responded, “Different good or different bad?”

He said, “I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure its different good.”

Umm okay.

I texted him the following day and said, “Seriously!! But do I look different better or different worse?!”

I should have never texted. I already know the answer. And that is, Different BETTER.

Its not because I’m using a new foundation, or a brighter shade of lipstick, or because my hair is a richer hue of blue. All of those things by the way, I’m totally down with.

I know something happened leading up to and in the Philippines. I have been really protective of it. So much so, I have alluded to it but have yet to write about it. I don’t even know if I can.

Here’s what I can say, in the Philippines, I made the decision that I was just going to accept myself.

This woman I am?

I was just going to be okay with her already.

I would rejoice in the loud voice that comes out of my mouth, instead of being worried that it was TOO LOUD for everyone else.

I would be my quirky and weird self instead of being what made people expected or wanted.

I would start thinking I was as awesome as I believe everyone else is.

And I started believing it. Living it. Loving it.

Then two weeks ago, someone told me I wasn’t awesome. They told me I was worth nothing, and that I took liberties based on what I thought I was versus who I should be.

I believed them for 20 minutes. Then I remembered everything I had learned in the weeks since March 16th. Then I stood up for myself.

For the first time maybe since my salvation experience, I believed in me more than what someone believed me to be. In the past, hidden under the guise of “humility” I would let people dishonor me, and just keep giving them the other cheek until I ran out of cheeks, because they surely did not run out of insults and judgements.

Until that moment, I didn’t realize by allowing myself to believe or passively agree with what people “said” about me, what I was really doing was dis-agreeing with what God had created me to be.

I lessened myself, for their comfort. Who is really being honored in that scenario? Certainly not me, and certainly not the God that created me.

So here is the difference, and I am walking it out like a baby foal. I get it somedays and I stumble into it other days but regardless I am committed to walking it out, the difference is, I choose me. I choose to believe I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I will choose to know that even on my worst days when I say the wrong thing, and I don’t know the answers when I should.Even on those days, there is Someone that calls me beautiful and believing that anything less than that is not an option.

I choose

revolutionarychick — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:59:20 -0700

We make zillions of choices a day. They start with, “Will I wake up right now or will I snooze the alarm?” Followed with, “Do I snooze for 5 minutes or 10 minutes?” Coupled with “Do I throw my phone across the room or just get up and get dressed already?”

By the time I hop in the shower, I have made 10 different choices already and all that is before I choose my outfit for the day (a whole slew of other choices are in that bag of animal crackers).

But the most important choice I make is not a one time choice. Its a choice I make throughout the day.

I choose God.

I choose His way. I choose to hold my tongue when I really want to just give you my opinion. I choose humility, when I really want to railroad my way. I choose Love, when its easier to disengage. I choose to bless even when its more fun to complain.

I choose God. Every second, Of every minute. Of every hour. Of everyday.

I choose out of a transformation that happened to me almost 10 years ago, when I chose to make His way higher than my way.

I choose to be continued to be transformed by His word. His Spirit and most importantly His Love, which is so evident by Him giving His Son so I would not have to live a life where there is no joy, no love, no peace, no grace, no amazing good stuff that I love so much.

I choose God. I choose to believe He makes every crooked path straight. I choose to be uncomfortable though I long to control every aspect of my life. I choose to know that He sees me, He loves me, He is for me and He is protecting me. I choose that I am His child and I was created to be blessed and be a blessing.

I give myself no alternative. I choose God.

No preparing for it

revolutionarychick — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:54:47 -0700

I had a rough week.

I have been mad about it. Hurt by it. Saddened by it. Put every word you could use to associate with a yucky situation (infuriated, frustrated, distraught, disappointed- need I go on?)

I have had every opportunity to react poorly. And to be honest, I’ve said things in my head and to my best friends that if I didn’t know how much they loved me, would have embarrassed me.

But yet, in the midst of one of what started out pretty horribly (not the worst- those weeks are reserved for August 5,2008 and May 28, 2011), I sit in the sun on a Friday, basking in thankfulness.

I stood my ground through the rough patch and found myself on the other side. Although the full plan has yet to reveal itself, I know His goodness. I know the Love of a God that gave His Son for me. I live in the dominion of applying His blood to my life.

I pray that for you today. That you would get a revelation of a great God that loves us and gave His son for us. And then we wouldn’t be able to help it, we’d find ourselves thankful.

Despite what your situation may look like because of that Blood you will always win. Every battle you want to fight for yourself is being fought and won in your favor. Every false word spoken against you would come back voided and in its place double blessing.

He is good. He is faithful. He is for us. And that will turn around any rough start.

How was your week?

Second Quarter Catapult

revolutionarychick — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:52:49 -0700

For the past 2 weeks since I have been home from the Philippines, I have been telling anyone who would listen to prepare for their 2nd quarter catapult.

At the end of last year, I began to think of 2012 as follows:

20= the double of 10 which is known as the number of restoration, also quadruple grace (the number 5 for grace 5x4= 20). So quadruple grace and double restoration. Things stolen from you, would not just be restored, but they would be restored double. (see my posts on The Great Retraction , The Sound of A Train Coming)

12= the number of government. (12 disciples)

By January, I came to declare this year as the year of double restoration, ultimate grace and reigning. We would get double for what we had lost, and where we had been slaves to some things, we would be masters- those that reign. Those that have dominion.

Then by January 10th- I was sure I was wrong. My life began spinning out of control. Things that I had counted on started not being dependable. Plans I had made started unraveling. Blessings I had waited on felt like they were fading into the oblivion.

In February, when everyone was excited about a leap year, and taking leaps. I could barely keep my head above water. Where was my double redemption? Where was my year of reigning? Where was my grace that runneth over?

I left for the Philippines just in time (don’t worry, I’ll write all about it tomorrow). It was there, in the heart of my motherland, that I realized that the first quarter was a stripping. A pruning of my past, so that I would be trim for my year of double restoration, quadruple grace, and reigning.

My first week back, assailed by jet lag, I spent many a 3AM conversation asking the Lord what to expect for the rest of my year. How do you come down from such an amazing high? One day, while I lay awake in bed. Sleep nowhere in sight, I heard the Holy Spirit say “Second Quarter Catapult”

Now for those of you that read this blog often, you know my next question would be, “Lord, what does that mean? How does that apply to me?”

And here is what I heard:

In the second quarter of the year (April-June) you are being catapulted into your destiny.

The stripping many of us experienced in the first quarter and even over the past couple of years has been necessary. The lighter things are, the farther they can fly [catapult].

The stripping also has revealed the condition of our hearts. When a house is stripped for instance, you see where the house needs repair. In His grace and mercy, God is revealing areas we need His blood to wash us, heal us, and redeem us.

So today, I pray for you dear friend. That you embrace your second quarter catapult. You would be bold. Fearless. Feel the wind in your hair as you fly into the sun and on forward into your destiny.

And if you have anything weighing you down, I pray, that you have the faith to get lighter so you can go farther. Dig deep. Go big. You can do it! Your next level is waiting for you!

xoxo,
Renee

What Would You do with Half a Billion dollars?! I don’t...

revolutionarychick — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:36:50 -0700

What Would You do with Half a Billion dollars?!

I don’t gamble. I am not very good at it (I lack both patience as well as consistency) and I can always find better things to spend my money on (shoes, clothes, condensed milk) that I would just as well pass on the slots, card games, or the lottery.

However, lately, everywhere I go, somehow in the conversation slides in the question, “If you were to win the MegaMillions, what would you do with it?” With the total pot at almost $640M (cash prize of $492M) its nice to hear what everyone would do if they COULD, and I found myself dreaming too. Trips to Australia. Buying mom a new car. Getting my family a lot and building a family compound.

So today, I broke down, and bought 20 Lotto tickets. My friend Eric had to tutor me in how to fill out the Lotto scantron doo-hickey, and I won’t lie, even if according to the Los Angeles times I have a 20 in 175,711,536 chance of winning, I felt HOPEFUL.

Because while it may be a longshot, its at least a shot. For me, its easier to stomach defeat knowing you were a contender, rather than knowing you chose to sit on the sidelines, because then, at least you tried.

I have always thought I was one in a million anyway, now I can say I am one in a hundred million.

So tell me what would you do with half a billion dollars? (my answers below)

I would:

Buy my mom a new car, and house and set her and Lola up for life
I would give my car away to someone that needs it, paid off, and then buy myself a Lexus IS in steel grey.
I’d tithe my 10% and give a couple of offerings to some of the most impacting leaders in my life
I would give a million dollars each minimum to the people that I love dearly and insist that they spend $10,000 of it at least on just themselves.
I’d build another orphanage in Davao or Zambales
I’d buy school supplies for all the teachers in East Side Union High School District (do you know they have to buy their own supplies out of pocket?!)
I’d build a family compound, on acreage with huge houses for my Ate, T’s Family, Papa, Mom, Lola and me (like so huge it would be like a mini village called NaesVille)
I’d put away $100 Million dollars of it (in investments and to save and to live off of)
Then, I would take $2M and travel the world and give out money to those that need it. I’d get a stamp in my passport from every continent, and I would take a lot of pictures

Doritos+Taco = Locos Taco adventure.

revolutionarychick — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:35:20 -0700

Doritos+Taco = Locos Taco adventure.

A private “Hunger Games” screening and why I think...

revolutionarychick — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:17:24 -0700

A private “Hunger Games” screening and why I think I’m from District 7 (or whichever district has fish) featuring my bestie Liana Pons

All this in ONE bag?! And other missions chronicles I have...

revolutionarychick — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:28:34 -0700

All this in ONE bag?! And other missions chronicles

I have traveled 36 hours in the car, been on 5 plane rides, been sunburnt, car sick and swallowed a fly (yes that really happened).

People actually are really befuddled when I say that I travel to third world countries, because its so unlike me.

I guess that’s how you know its God right?

Anyhow here was my reaction to finding out I can only take a backpack on a three day trip.

Philippine Missions Day 2- SM Mall Davao City-Shopping with 33...

revolutionarychick — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:40:04 -0800

Philippine Missions Day 2- SM Mall Davao City-Shopping with 33 kids!

I have these moments in my life, where I kind of bookmark them in my head. They’re times when I just want to pause and just say “click” and start recording because it is just that good, and amazing and life changing, and beautiful.

And there in the middle of SM Davao City, a Philippine shopping mall, when we were met by the best kids from Love the Children foundation, I had one of those moments.

For those of you just joining our missionary adventure- Love the Children (LTC)is an orphanage for abandoned street children. Sometimes LTC finds a child who is so little they don’t know their own name or birthdate. LTC names them, and estimates their birth to give them a “foundling” certificate, basically an equivalent of a birth certificate. I write that so that you can understand how these children begin. They begin as society’s throw aways. Abandoned, alone and without even a name to stand on. Love the Children, gives them a home, and in essence they become part of this huge family.

I’ll write more about that some time this week, because I just think everyone should know what an outstanding job the (founders of Love the Children) are doing.

Anyhow, given that LTC is a non profit organization and they are sustained on donations of finances, supplies and of course clothing. Today, was a unique experience, because some of us witnessed some 14 or 15 year olds get their first brand new, never been owned by someone else thing EVER.

And that kind of thing, like I said before, is a moment. You’d think these kids might approach it like a shopping spree, and just GO CRAZY and want to buy exorbitant sponge bob type things. But these kids, are like no other you will ever meet.

The kids stayed up all night the night before, writing lists of what they just had to buy. On the lists? Not pillow pets or Ninjago or Transformer type things. Practical beautiful things,

A pair of black shoes so I can go to school.
Socks.
Headbands.

Our rules? each kid gets 500 pesos ($11.90 US equivalent) and they must buy a pair of shoes, shirt or pants before remotely thinking of going to the candy or toy aisle to spend whatever is left over. We wanted the shopping trip to be a blessing but also remain realistic.

Some of them did 4 laps around the entire store, before they could commit to the thing they HAD to have. Others, broke out calculators to total things up, and then there were the ones that teamed up, and lent out what was left over of their 500 pesos so another could get the pair of shoes they wanted as opposed to having to settle for a shirt instead.

In the end we bought about 17 pairs of shoes, 4 jackets, 16 shirts (they were buy one get one free- you know I snagged that up!), a couple of headbands, and one Princess tiara that one of Pastor Cynthia’s kids had to have.

With the money left over, rare treats of chicharon, piknik sticks, candy bars, and skyflakes crackers were purchased.

Yep, a wonderful beautiful moment. There’s no other word for it. And like one kid said, as we were leaving, “I had the best time of my life.”

Philippine Missions Day 1-Davao City “Blankets for...

revolutionarychick — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:03:39 -0800

Philippine Missions Day 1-Davao City
“Blankets for everyone!”we cried out. It was like Oprah with the cars but with blankets. It was a long travel day- SFO to Manila to Davao City.

We had 30 minutes from the time we touched down in Davao to get ready and head out to the orphanage.

As many of you know, visiting the Love the Children Orphanage changed my life last year. It was an honor and a privelege to be able to visit some of the most rockstar, sweet, resilient kids.

You would think seeing them again would make me cry. Seeing little hands grabbing for flannel blankets and bed sheets, excited to have one thing to call their own (they have to share most things) would urge me to tears. But oddly, I was sans water works for most of the day (shocking), until Cynthia Chu, the founder of Love the Children addressed us as a group and said, “Most people visit us once promising to be back, but we never see them again. Thank you for remembering us, thank you for coming back.”

Ugh. Just typing it makes me want to cry. These kids, more than blankets, and more than the shoes we will buy today, more than that, what these kids will embed in their hearts, is that on this day, they were not the forgotten ones.

That some people do as they promise. Some people remember. And I for one, love being an ambassador of that hope.