Redeem the Day

If you haven't heard . . .

KLove is doing a "Redeem the Day" promotion for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. 
http://www.klove.com/ministry/make-a-difference.aspx

You can go on their website to learn more about it.  Essentially, they are doing something similar to what we set out to do for our Father's Day "Daring Greatly" campaign, but on a much larger scale, of course.  And the very same initiatives we linked to through our campaign would also be great for 9/11!

Their goal is to get 1 million commitments to do something positive to make a difference in people's lives on 9/11.  Much like our campaign, this effort will spread hope and send a message that giving is healing.  We can take back the day for good.

If you still feel strongly about what you saw on 9/11, I would encourage you to think about what you can do to make a difference in someone's life this year on 9/11/11.  You'll never regret it.

Thanks Greatly!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Daring Greatly campaign last week!  Because of your compassion and generosity, lots of kids benefitted from the gifts of your time and resources.  Some of you posted on this blog and others of you sent me private messages.  We are so blessed to have you join us in redirecting our grief in a way to honor Chris and help others.

It seems that Show Hope and Operation-Hug-A-Hero were the clear preferences for many of you!  Both are very good organizations who will use your donations responsibly.

Again, many, many, MANY thanks.  Give to live, and remember to Dare Greatly in your life all year long!  Blessings are all around you if you choose to see them.

Come back again next year, and we'll do it all again!

Warmly,
Heather Brock & kids

How many kids?

"Over 24 million children in the United States today live apart from their fathers. That’s one out of every three. It’s even worse for African-American children. Nearly 64% of African-American boys and girls don’t have a dad in the home. The problem has been getting incrementally worse over the years. In 1960, 11% of children lived in father-absent homes, which is still a terribly high figure, especially when you begin to envision the faces of even just a few of those kids with nobody to call daddy. "

And how many more kids would be added to that number if the children of our deployed military were added?


http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/blogs/Finding_Home/2011/06/16/should-fathers-day-be-outlawed#cfStatistics excerpted from a blog post called "Should Father's Day Be Outlawed?" by Jim Daly.

I Dare You!

I have listed in the right column a few initiatives I am aware of who address the needs of kids who are without the loving influence of a father. There are many more. Perhaps, you are already acquainted with a worthy initiative serving kids who are missing their dads. Sign our Guestbook below and tell us about other great initiatives.

Here's a brief introduction to those I've listed on the right:

• Give 2 The Troops:  Organizes care packages for deployed troops and helps them maintain their connection to their families at home.
• Help Angel Tree:  A Christmas initiative (but runs year round) that links caring families with children whose father's are incarcerated
• Let's Say Thanks:  Free!  Fast!  A website that generates postcards for the troops from quick, web-based postings
• World Vision:  Provides resources for a variety of needs for children all over the world
• Operation Hug-a-Hero:  Through donations, they provide a free huggable picture pillow for kids whose Dad's are deployed or fallen.  These things are cool!
• Show Hope:  An organization caring for orphans world-wide.  Show Hope helps families adopt through grants, operates a home and medical facility for orphans in China with serious medical needs, and raises awareness for the needs of orphans.

All of these organizations serve a very important role.  How could I choose a favorite?!  I encourage you to find an initiative that speaks to you specifically, and give in honor of a father, grandpa or father figure who made an impact on your life.  I dare you!

About Chris

Chris was a man of integrity. He was a decorated Airforce veteran. He achieved the highest security clearance an enlisted man can get—not because of his rank, education or achievement, but because he showed himself to be a man of integrity whom his country could trust.

He was committed to his family. He grew to love his "family guy" role more than he ever imagined before we had kids. Our boys love him dearly, and they enjoyed the many fun things he did with them. He was a very supportive and loving husband, one of the funniest people I've known, and a friend who's hard to live without.

Chris was an independent technology consultant. He dreamed of one day expanding his business to include connecting adults with autism with great technology jobs well-suited to their gifts and abilities. Unfortunately, Chris’ dreams and goals for the good that he could do with his business were cut short. But the impact of his life is far from over.

Daring Greatly

Several years ago, I wanted to encourage Chris and let him know that I admired and believed in him. I found some artwork that surmised my thoughts well. It was hung beside his closet so he would pass by it every day and be reminded of how I felt about him.

It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out how the strong person stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt