Summer fail?

Well, after research and thinking, and thinking and reading, I realize that I can't start a non-profit for a very very very long time. This is ok. It will give me a lot of time to make more inventory, since right now I do not have a whole lot! Maybe after school? Maybe next year?

Part of me says that this summer was a fail, but I know that it was not. I realized that I want to help children with developmental problems, open a business, and continue to learn more about this war.

Today after reading a darling email from a friend, I realized that I needed to add more patience into my life. Now I am a pretty patient person, I would like to believe. However, there are some things going on in my life right now, such as the business possibility, that I need to be patient for. Things will happen and I know that. I just have to be patient.

Sewanee in two days!!!!!!! :) Thankkk goodnesss!!!! I have so much faith for this volleyball season. I do not want to be let down for the 3rd time, and I have the greatest feeling that it is not going to happen. I know that the season will be fabulous!

Can this happen?

Well, I have been sewing out of my mind!

And I am starting to think...am I crazy to be doing this right now? I was talking about it with my mom tonight and I think that we brainstormed some pretty awesome alternatives.

All I know is that I know in my heart that something must be done and this is how I can contribute. This war must come to an end. The Congo must become free. We as a world should work together to create a conflict free world. This is a passion. This is a dream. I have to do this.

I'm going to go through with it

Well, today I re-talked myself into the Etsy shop! I am going to start emailing fabric places to see if they can donate any spare fabric. If anyone reads this and has any spare fabric please email me at blair.barrows9@gmail.com! I would really appreciate it!!! I plan on donating 100% of the proceeds to non-profits for the Congo, so donating fabric would help out sooo much!!! Well, I hope that this works out!!

My inspiration for today that sent me over the edge:

http://fallingwhistlesretour2010.wordpress.com/

These guys are living their protest. They are traveling sharing their voice as their weapon for change. They are my inspiration and they should be yours.

1 step forward...10 steps back???

Well, while I was watching the Ellen show I learned about a brave teenager named Constance. When wanted to go to her school's high school prom and she wanted to bring her girlfriend. Her school told her that not only she could not bring her girlfriend but she could also not wear a tuxedo, even though that is what she would have felt more comfortable in. She said that the school said that it was ok for her to wear one but they just did not want a man to show up in a dress. The school told Constance that she could bring her date on the condition that they could not hold hands, kiss, or make anyone uncomfortable. If they did make anyone uncomfortable then she and her girlfriend would have to leave. After the school dealt with some outside battles, they cancelled the prom all together.

This is UNBELIEVABLE!!! At least it is to me. I feel like things have come so far but this just shows me how much further things have to go. This just makes me angry because I want to go into education! Today I listened to women say how frustrated they were with teaching. I know that it is a difficult profession but it is what I want to do. But do teachers even have any power? The school board trumps over all. Teachers can inspire and change children, teens, and adults. However, if the school does not allow the inspiration to happen then what are teachers faced with?

Nice people

After a rough night of not sleeping and thinking the most refreshing thing happened this morning! My dad and I went to Waffle House, a after church tradition. When we walked in we were welcomed and introduced to a lovely older couple! Her name was Verna and she quickly began complimenting me and my dad. We all sat down to wait for a table and she began to tell us about how her and her husband had been married 60 YEARS and met at the Marist (a local school here) prom all those years ago. She raved about her husband, constantly complimenting him about how wonderful he is and has always been! I was overwhelmed with how nice she was and the beautiful story of her life love. I only wish and hope that each person is able to experience that in their life. I feel like today if a person is hopeful about the future it is seen as naive and unrealistic. People ask themselves why they should believe in life happiness and happy endings. Yes we are faced with horrible situations everyday that allow us to think this way. However, happiness exists in the world between people. I am 100% sure of it.

Craft challenge!!!

Alright, I am making a craft challenge for myself! Do something crafty EVERYDAY! Maybe now I can finally finish all of the knitted gifts that I have promised everyone! And get some fun care packages together for some fun people! What have I done today? I hand stitched the back of the two baby blankets that I made! The blanket stitch that I learned in brownies has never been so helpful...

In other news: If you have not heard of "The Swell Season" then what are you doing??? This is one of the most beautiful bands of our generation! ...Or mine at least...

They speak of truth and beauty and belief. What more could we ask of our musicians? Please give them a listen! You will not be sorry!

Smile

I know that a smile is one of the few universal facial expressions thanks to psychology and anthropology classes. However, I never realized how universal the smile was until yesterday. I was in the park watching a really cute schmedium sized dog. The owner spoke spanish and was playing with his daughter. We spoke different languages, but for a second we both shared a smile. I know it sounds cheesy, but come on, I'm a cheesy person.

What I have thought about: This beautiful story

The man without a face, or rather a nose and his wife who still stands by his side. I almost started crying last night while watching this amazing story on the news. He choose to live without a face than die with one. His story is touching and I believe that everyone needs to hear about it.

In other news, I finished two baby blankets yesterday! My domestic skills are growing? I owned that bias tape!

Changing History?

What challenged me: Altering Books?

I feel like whenever textbooks get changed it is a super conservative party fighting that their children are learning material that is "too liberal" for their mind. It reminds me of parents thinking that their children will turn gay from reading Harry Potter. I saw on t.v. that Texas had voted to change their history textbooks. They wanted to change specific words in it to make them sound more "friendly," and add more information such as the Conservative resurgence. I just don't have a good feeling about this...

In other news: I am breaking out the sewing machine tomorrow!

Pondering Ideas

Today I talked to one of my best friends and it amazed me because we are still so alike! We both have similar world views and ideas.

Thing that challenged me today: religion as a deal breaker.

I like to think that I would be open to marrying someone of a different religion, and part of me thinks that I still would be ok with it. However, I don't want to go to church by myself. Also, I do not want to fight over what to raise children. Does this make me a less open person? Or a practical one?

Another thing that I pondered: Jane Austin

I picked up a Jane Austin novel thinking that I should read the classic work. However, I cannot actually understand anything that she wrote. I struggled with sentence after sentence wondering why a college student of nearly 20 could not understand it. Does this mean that I am not well read? Or does this mean that I am not and will never be an "english person?"

A third thing that has bugged me today: Oil spill

WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN FIXED? I am sure that this is wayy beyond my understanding of anything but I feel like it should have been fixed by now. Maybe I'm naive, but I just think that something should have been done by now.

Workout mania

I am in the process of visiting a gym in Atlanta. And let me honest, it's kicking my butt! (Some of it :) ) I have really enjoyed trying these new things that I have never tried before. This week I have tried kick boxing, boxing, and spin! I have never done ANYTHING like kick boxing before! And gheeze would I suggest it to anyone to get a good workout! I felt so powerful it was crazy! My new favorite move is kicking!

Today is also about to get very good very fast! Buy one get one free reeces freezes at Baskin Robins!!!!! I'm just going to tell myself that I can afford to eat one after my workout today!

My new favorite show: Minute to Win it! People are faced with challenges (weird ones) that they have to complete. The last person to finish is eliminated. Right now they just finished unwinding two rolls of party paper by making a windmill motion with their arm. It's a really cool show!

What's on my feet?

This is what got me thinking today--what is on my feet and why do you care? I am an avid chaco wearer, as I am sure of it that there are hundreds out there, and I constantly get flank from my family and friends about wearing them as much as I do. I wore them to church Easter sunday with a lovely dress (I was not dressed like a rag-a-muffin) and I am STILL not hearing the end of it. Why would God care what shoes are on my feet as long as I am in church? This is what I have a hard time with. One may say that I am not showing respect but I show up, give God my attention and meditation. I do not understand what could be more respectful about that?

Others have told me that I should "grow up" and stop wearing them. I am old enough to realize that they will not be worn to a job on a daily basis, nor did I wear them to my sister's graduation today. However, I do not understand why people will not get off of my case about this. Yes it may sound trivial but this made me think today so I am going to talk about it.

My favorite verse, 1 Samuel 16:7, which in blair language reads: "Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart." I'm in church, I'm living, learning and loving.

1st step that I am going to take this summer: stop criticizing, laughing at, or pondering people's clothing.

I know that I might sound crazy or something by saying something so materialistic but small steps and changes lead to bigger ones.

Big step for the summer: etsy shop. If it is even a good idea...which I think that it is!

Goodnight :)

Spent today with family

Well, nothing really stood out to me today in terms of challenge or thinking but it was a beautiful day of sorts. My sister is graduating from high school tomorrow and we have family in town, family who I rarely see in some cases. I find it both beautiful and stressful to see them, which seems to me that those two should not go together. I find it beautiful because I can sit in the kitchen and watch the news with my granddad, talk with my aunt and mom, and then go and play rock band with my cousins, sister, dad, and uncle. I also realized how much I laugh when everyone is together. I had the hiccups tonight and I could not hold my breath because I kept bursting out laughing! I think that is a good thing. Actually, I know that is a good thing. Laughing is such a great way to connect with people. A smile is one of the few universal facial expressions that everyone understands.

When I look at my face and see already the wrinkles that are forming by my eyes, and cheeks I wonder if that is a bad thing. I am about 20 years old, this should be seen as a bad thing. However, I believe that it is good, as the wrinkles are smile lines.

I hope that when I am old I have lots of smile lines and just as much as a "crackle" (as we call it in my house) laugh as I do now.

Well, now I am thinking and I am thinking about laughing. Maybe that is seen as naive or immature but I see it as a bridge. Call me eight years old, which lord knows sometimes I believe that I am eight, but laughter is important. Not just laughing, but smiling.

"Smile and people will wonder what you have been up to"

I am so grateful for my family coming together to celebrate my sister. I could not be more proud of her.

Home Now

Well, now I am home! And maybe now I'll actually write on this more.

So I'm going to write about things that inspire me, things that challenge me, things that get me thinking. Yes, this would be good for me to work on.

Sleep time? I stayed up until 4 am knitting...I am secretly 80 years old

New Week

I have a feeling that this week is going to be amazing! :)

I have a lot of work, but I think that it will work out. Sean Carasso of Falling Whistles is here this week!!! YAHOO!!!!! I just know that wonderful things are going to come out of it.

Education

Another thing that I am passionate about is education. Tonight on the phone I cried after finishing up a debate about current educational problems. I cried because I feel so much passion and force in my heart. I hurt thinking about the problems that our education system is facing.

I want to teach more than anything. It is the only thing that I am sure about in my future. The education system has so many problems right now and it is so troubling to be to see it happening. I want to help. I want to teach children and help the education system. In the last post I spoke of the power of one person. A teacher is one person. Every child should have a teacher that was inspiring to him or her. That inspiration goes a long way.

I should go to sleep. Sleep is only sometimes good for college students :)

One of those days...

Well hello! Yesterday, I had a wonderful day! And I also realized if I want to get anywhere with this blog then I have to write all the time, not just when something "profound" happens.

Well, something profound happened yesterday.

First, I went to a talk about the Invisible Children hold-out in Oklahoma...which was awesome! I have the highest respect for the Sewanee students who went. They are truly some of my hometown heroes. Not only was it amazing hearing them tell us about the experience and everything else that was going on, but the director of the documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So," came to tell us about his new documentary and to applaud the students who held out in Oklahoma.

Daniel G. Karslake is the director of the documentary. His newest film he is working on is called "Every Three Seconds." When he came into talk to us, he said that he wanted to show that one person could make a difference. I am a firm believer in the fact that one person can make a difference.

A few weeks ago in one of our Whistler Society meetings, we were talking about this very thing, and how challenging it is for us to fully grasp. It is something that is difficult for me to keep thinking. After time, one just begins to think..."I can't do this on my own...what can I possibly do on my own?" Lord, I can't even being to think how much I've been there. I am not saying that one person is the way to go. People are definitely powerful in groups. However, one person can accomplish something that seems astonishing and wonderful. One single person. One idea. Crazy huh? I think so.

So here is idea. I am going to make an etsy shop online called "crafts4thecongo." I am going to make bags and whatever else I can manage to sew and knit up this summer. 100% of the proceeds will go to non-profits who help the Congo. This is my idea. And I am going to work hard to let it happen. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Although, I could just be one person. But like I said, one person matters :)

Small Change

Well, in response to my previous post, the Sewanee Whistle Society went out door to door on the Sewanee campus to ask for spare change or dollars to help out Falling Whistles. In all, we got about $1000!!! AWESOME!
The coolest thing about it though I think is the fact that we had $110 just in spare change that was collected. We had a debate when we were sorting coins about pennies and change in general. Personally, I am pro penny. And this shows why. Over time change adds up, just like over time groups build momentum and membership. Right now our small Whistle Society, which only has about 10 regulars, may seem like a penny. It may take us time to build up to nickle or even golden dollar status, but one day we will be something useful. I just know it. And I sure hope that I get to be a part of that

Turn This Thang Around

Hey guys!
Well, I realize that I have not posted in a very long time and I'm sorry for that. I have been thinking about things that I am able to do myself that can change the world and it has been a struggle. I realize that not everyone is on the front lines acting and fighting but I am trying to find my role. This is what I have realized...
I love. I love people and I am compassionate. I will educate the young minds that will grow up to be great things. And I will love them. I will work with children, adults and elderly. And I will love them. I will love and support and fight. I may not be on the front lines, but I will be on the sidelines cheering.
It took some work to get to this point. And I was not always happy with the results. This is who I am though and I will do nothing but embrace it!

Tonight I learned that the organization that I support, http://www.fallingwhistles.com/splash/index.php, the founder, Sean Carasso, is running out of money to live off of. 100% of the whistle sales go to the rehabilitation of war affected children in the Congo. Him and his staff, continually putting their heart and money into this, do take any out and are living on nothing. They need help to keep Falling Whistles going. Here is where you and I can help. I have decided to start a story on the popular "webstore" etsy.com, where people can sell their homemade goods. I am going to make tote bags and 100% of the profits will go into not only Falling Whistles, but any other organizations as this one.

I've been looking for a place to help out...well...looks like I've found one! I'll keep posted on trying to start an online business and be a college student!