A few weeks ago my husband Chris and I were talking with our two children about the “perfect” and the “pit” of our day. A dinner time tradition we have try to have several times a week about how our day went.

This lead to our son asking me who in my life has made the biggest impression of kindness to me. I shared that so many people in my life have shown kindness in many different ways. That the birthmothers of my children gave us gift of being parents, my sisters for always being my biggest cheerleaders in life, to EOR child donor Maya for saving all her money for one year and giving it to the children in Ethiopia, to my dear friend Merrie for taking on a Mother role when my own dear Mom passed away to my sweet cousin Tracy for always making sure our family’s burial site has flowers on the anniversary. Anthony, our son,  then asked “what one thing did somebody do for you that made you want to pay it forward to someone else?”

I immediately had the answer. About 26 years ago I was a poor nursing school student and had a friend getting married several states away. My dear friends Jeff & Sherri knew all my money was going towards college and that I had no way to travel to the wedding of our mutual friend. They invited me to lunch one day and handed me a round trip airline ticket to attend the wedding. I will never forgot that moment of kindness as long as I live. They gave the gift with one requirement, that one day I too pay it forward and help a friend in need.

I doubt Jeff & Sherri knew at that moment the profound impact they made on my life. We since have paid it forward and shared with them our story and someday when they are able to also pay it forward.

February is national kindness month. It’s a time to pay it forward to the ones you love, maybe the ones you struggle to love, to strangers, to random people. It doesn’t have to be a plane ticket, it can be opening the door for a stranger, smiling at the grocery clerk, saying thanks to a co-worker, paying for the cup of jo of the car behind you, leaving flowers on a door step, having your children create some art on paper and deliver it to the local nursing home, making a donation to your favorite charity in honor of a friend, sending a hand written note to a long lost friend, and so much more. Random acts of Kindness don’t have to cost a penny as they are coming from your heart.

So I challenge each of us this month to practice random acts of kindness and then share them with us by leaving a comment on our blog.  For the next 14 days each random acts of kindness comment, I’ll make a donation of $5 donation in your honor (not to exceed $250) to the EOR Children’s Heaven fund.

Kim

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Thanks friends!

I was explaining this to my daughter about Gotcha Day. She asked, “Is it my birthday?” No, I said, “Is it one of my brother’s birthdays?” No. It is the day we all became a family. As I explained it to her, I realized this is one of those things in your life that not everyone gets to experience. Its not every family that gets to have a Gotcha Day.

There are a whole lot of things that are very painful to explain with regards to adoption. There are, usually, a whole lot of things that people may want to ask but don’t. This is one of those things thats pretty straight forward and celebrates adoption and your whole family, not just one member as during birthdays, or mother’s day. This is a family day, at least it is in our house.

To all the other families celebrating Gotcha Day, Cheers to you. Its a pretty cool day for your family.

Molly

These events could not happen without our talented, endless energy, amazing auction volunteers! We’d be lost without them.

So we come to you our friends….can you share a favorite auction item that you’ve seen at fundraising events? Were always looking for creative new ideas that will WOW our guests and open their pocketbooks.

Proceeds from both events will fund our current and future projects in Ethiopia. So just think when you are raising that bid card high in the air and bidding $700 on a chocolate cake, $14,500 on a trip to Mexico, $165 for a beautiful Ethiopian Scarf,  $240 for a autographed shoe, $100 for a scrabble tile necklace or $10 for almost 4 mosquito nets your going to be making a big difference in Ethiopia.

Can’t wait to hear what your favorite item is and maybe we can have it at one of our events.

For questions about our events or to receive an invitation please email us at info@ethiopianorphanrelief.org

I just paid how much for that cake?

Lauren and Kim in total shock that Mexico sold for over $14,000

Proud Brandon Roy Shoe Owner

Paige

There will be red carpet photos, a Wall of Wine and lots of items for the silent and live auctions.  There will be food, a band and our NoW signature cocktails.  Tickets are only $25 in advance and $35 at the door.  If you plan on bringing some friends you can get a table of 8 for $175.

Night of Warmth: EOR fundraiser now has a page on facebook. So make sure to stop by and like our page. We will be posting photos of some of the auction items.  It’s also a great way to get details on next years event.

February 25, 2012 @ 6:30 p.m.  Xenos Cafe 1340 Community Park Drive Columbus 43229

We wanted to share this beautiful insight from a friend of EOR and Lola Children’s Home, Tiffany who shared with us first hand how YOUR generosity is helping. 

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your work. I’m a volunteer who has spent time at Lola Children’s Home for the past two summers. Everything you have done for them, I know has been much appreciated, but I wanted to share this story with you- to reiterate the beauty that is the Lola/EOR van!! Last summer, one of our little ones(and I mean little) had to have a tooth removed- it had been damaged and staff had located a dentist that did pediatric work-so one late afternoon, I went with her and a staff member to the dentist. This took quite a walk followed by two or three different bagets (little 3 wheeled cabs) in the rain to get to the dentist. Then after a traumatic dentist visit for our little one- which was just as traumatic to her English speaking ferengi(me), we had to make that same trip home while also stopping at the pharmacist. This whole process probably took at least an hour and half longer than it should have. I’m so glad they have the van now!!! Your organization is amazing and directly impacting many children. I just wanted to say that.

Thank you Tiffany for your uplifting letter. We love the children at Lola and all that our gracious donors provide for the orphan and vulnerable children in Ethiopia. 

Then we were home and I was a mom of four kids and two years went by
and I found myself missing this place, Ethiopia, the way I miss my
birthplace of Colorado. I met the ladies of EOR and fell in love
again. This way to give back, to remain connected, to attempt to make
even a little difference, was more than I could have hoped for. For
all of these reasons, and for the millions of orphans needing hope in
Ethiopia; when Kim, Lauren, and Paige said they were going back to
Ethiopia this fall, I was overjoyed and booked my ticket.

Kim requested a guest blog for our site and I happily agreed, wanting
to share the Ethiopia that I saw this time, with fresh eyes, with all
of the love I have developed for this country. I could write a million
pages about our trip. But I decided this morning that I was going to
write about bananas!

Shanto is a village in Southern Ethiopia and the home of EOR’s partner
FOVC. After an emotional welcome, we set to work, building, painting,
playing, assessing, and absolutely adoring these children and the
amazing staff. It was a busy and intense time while we were there. The
children were so adoring and so happy to have us there! Thursday
afternoon in Shanto is Market and we decided as a group that we wanted
to give a little treat to the children. So into Market we went to find
nearly 200 bananas! We purchased the bananas from a local woman.
We took the bananas back to the school compound and shared them with
the children. These children, who have so many needs in life, lined up
graciously and waited for their banana. I watched them as they enjoyed
this treat the way our children relish a birthday cake. This was an
extraordinary treat. This fruit that grows plentifully in Ethiopia,
that often go bad sitting on my countertops, that my children have
enjoyed nearly daily; this fruit is a surprise and a joy for these
children.

More than anything, what I learned in Ethiopia, is gratitude.
Ethiopians do not wallow in their hardships, they live life and they
are grateful for its blessings. They do the work that needs to be done
and are grateful every step of the way. I am so grateful to Ethiopia,
for my daughter, for the life lessons I have learned there, for the
friends now in my life because of Ethiopia, and for the knowledge that
I CAN make a difference.

I think it was John Kennedy who said, “to whom much is given, much is
to be expected.” EOR is for me, that way to give back to a place and a
people that has given me so much. And to think, it could all have
started with a banana!!!

Annie ~ EOR Volunteer & Lights of Hope Auction Committee

The beautiful wise young girl Maeve is the daughter of EOR donors James & Annie. Remember this face as I’m quite confident she is going to change the world someday. This month Maeve was highlighted in her school newsletter for collecting soccer balls for kids in Ethiopia. Take a moment to read her sweet note.

My baby sister Viola was born in Ethiopia, which is located in the NE corner of Africa. Since we brought her home my mom has worked with Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc. (EOR). This year my mom and some other ladies from EOR went to Ethiopia. They brought backpacks full of stuff for the kids, supplies for hospitals, tons of clothes, and soccer balls signed by the kids from my 4th grade class, as well as my brother Quinton’s 2nd grade class. The soccer balls were given to girls at Children’s Heaven and kids at Lola and the orphanage care center in Shanto. 

The first time my mom went to Ethiopia she brought home something for our family, my sister, but this time we wanted to leave something from us there.

Thank you Maeve for your giving heart & the beautiful example you are for so many of us.

Kim

Who’s there?

Year End Giving.

Year End Giving Who?

Year End Giving….YOU!

Have you realized there are only two more days of 2011? I know you spend most of these days wondering when your house is going to clean it self up but you must now turn your attention to year end checklists. At the top of that list should be giving to your favorite nonprofits to round out your donations for the year. If you are a follower of EOR and have yet to donate, now is the time. If you you haven’t read EOR’s latest newsletter, check it out. After you read it, you will be amazed at what a relatively small amount of money can do for a very large amount of people.

Don’t forget that all year end gifts must be postmarked by December 31st which also includes any on-line giving. When you use our portal, Network for Good, they will keep track of any donations you make throughout the year which is a handy thing come tax day. Also, it makes you feel good to see how much you’ve donated throughout the year.

Time to donate, time to clean up your life, your house and your checkbook. Start the new year off right by knowing you ended 2011 well with a donation to EOR.

*and remember, Paige, Ethiopian Orphan Relief’s Vice President, has pledged to match the first $500 EOR receives between now and 11:59 on December 31, 2011.  Double your donation today, and help even more children who need YOU!

Molly