Today

Today I am kind of crabby. And my heart hurts. And it's probably only just begun. So let me cry and let me hurt. Because there is no way but through this. I am strong during the week, probably because I am more distracted. Weekends have been tough. It will get better, and I believe in the hope of greater things. But it still hurts.

Not going away

The slide below explains why I (and many others I know) won't stop talking about Water.

Thinking about Water

I am thinking about Water this afternoon. I'm not yet to the point of thinking ahead about projects to come...although, I do need to be thinking that way by Sunday. Instead, I'm thinking about what was accomplished recently. Like First Gift, which raised over $10,000 online in 24 hours through gifts of $10. Like a huge weekend in the Muscatine and the Quad Cities with charity: water president Scott Harrison, bringing awareness to the issue of clean water and raising $30,000+ in 3 days. Like a church who chose to take an offering on Christmas Eve that would be used to give clean water to the people of Liberia...and the people gave $65,000!

I'm thinking about the people who have chosen to give to something greater than themselves. I'm thinking about the people I care about who have chosen to care about this cause. I'm thinking about the people who will have clean water because others have decided that it is not okay that people are living without clean water and suffer from diseases and death from unclean water. Lives are being changed across the ocean and here, including mine.

What we can control

"...we can't control whether we win or lose, but we can control ourselves..."
-Lisa Fernandez

I have gotten so much better at this in the last few months. It's easy for me to teach this when I coach, but it wasn't so easy for me to put into practice. My highly competitive nature is good to a point. It was all very clear to me this summer when a teammate and I got into a fight during a game. Not good. Not good to the point that I cried on the way home. I'm not embarrassed about that...I should have been in tears because the whole thing was quite ridiculous and it was my fault. Everything was fine soon after. The best part is that I've changed. I'm still competitive, but I'm much calmer (generally). I just do the best I can and whatever happens, happens. I'm sure it helps that I am on a really good team, but I'm pleased with how I respond.

How to stand tall

"You can stand tall without standing on someone..."
-Harriet Woods

Water video

A local high school student, Steven Bieber, followed our water efforts this fall. He started taping at the Run/Walk 4 Water and continued all the way through Water Weekend with Scott Harrison. Thanks for caring about the cause, Steven, and thanks for being a part of the team!

Water 4 Christmas Fall 2009 from Steven Bieber on Vimeo.

Thanksgiving 2009

This year we had Thanksgiving at my mom's house. My sister's family, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and one cousin were there. It was a full house, but it was great to all be together. I wanted some good pictures to hold the day in time. Here are a couple...

My grandparents and me

My sister, mom, and me with my mom's parents

My sister's family with our grandparents

Where's my focus?

This is going to be honest. Today was a melancholy day for me as I came off of a very busy and emotionally tiring weekend. It was all worth it, so that is not the point. As I was cooling down after my run tonight, I realized something. I realized that sometimes I lose sight of heaven. I forget that there is something far better than this waiting. Instead I can get caught up in the pain and frustrations and busyness and stuff of this life. And then I sometimes spend my time dwelling on things I can't change instead of moving on. That was part of my deal today, too.

So when I got frustrated tonight at volleyball, I reminded myself that it's not really that big of a deal. Life went on. I know that seems silly, but I do believe change starts in small things. Tomorrow will be a new day, a day that's never been used before. And a day to have the right attitude and focus.

Essential

"Water is essential to life. Without water there is no life."

Water Weekend - Day 1

Day 1 of Water Weekend was a huge success! We are so excited about the impact this can have. Scott Harrison tells the story well. People are rising to the occasion and making a difference. I can't wait to see what today has in store!

On the brain

I have water on the brain. All I can think about is Water Weekend. The events. The people who will be at the events. The people who will have clean water because of the events. All of the work and energy is 100% worth it. All of it. Because clean water matters.

Scott Harrison is coming to town!

This weekend, the founder and president of charity: water, Scott Harrison, will be in Muscatine and Davenport. He will have a very full schedule, speaking at multiple events between two cities. I cannot even wait to meet him and hear what he has to say! Click here for a full list of events. I think everyone should consider attending at least one of the events; it will definitely be worth your time.

The first gift was a big one.

The results from $10 Friday came in earlier this week, and...over $10,000 was raised in 24 hours! Absolutely amazing! That's the equivalent of 1,000 people in Liberia getting access to clean water for 10 years. 1,000 lives that will change because many people let the first gift they gave this holiday season be the gift of clean water. Thank you to all who participated!

Do something

I borrowed this from Amy's blog because I like it...

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little.” -Sydney Smith

Waiting

And now we wait. We wait for the total from $10 Friday, where people from all over donated $10 online so that people in Liberia can have access to clean water. $10 can give 1 African clean water for 10 years, and that's a very big deal. People were generous and passionate about the cause and spread the word so others could participate in this big day. So it is okay that we wait because we know that there are people in Africa who won't have to wait much longer for clean, safe water.

Africa

Jody is in Africa right now with charity: water. They are witnessing why water is so important, meeting the people, seeing the projects that are already done. She has been posting on her blog some details of the trip. Can't wait until they get home to hear the stories and see the pictures. And not gonna lie, I wish I was in Liberia with them.

Water for Christmas Team collage

And because I just really like this...

The Water Team

Here we are. The Water for Christmas Team. Well, most of us. A few of the team members could not attend the meeting tonight, so they aren't in the photo. Plus, there are the family members that sacrifice time with their spouses and parents so that the work can be done. And then there are people like me who volunteer their family members to help with projects (Thanks, Mom!). All of these people and their families are fabulous, pouring their time, energy, and talents into something greater than themselves.

There is big stuff coming up this month for Water. Check out water4christmas.com for details.

100

As in dollars. Life-changing dollars. Thanks to Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Sheryl and family, and Kelly (plus my part), 5 Africans will have access to safe, clean drinking water for 20 years. That's what my birthday was worth this year. I've never given someone else something for my birthday, but with others' help accomplished that this year. Very cool. Very grateful for the people who honored my request. And hopeful that 5 people in Liberia know that their life matters so much to people in the middle of America.

Run/Walk 4 Water photos

Over 300 photos from the Run/Walk 4 Water are on Flickr. View them here.

2009 Run/Walk 4 Water

A couple of months ago, the planning began. And yesterday it happened. The first ever Run/Walk 4 Water occurred along the riverfront in a town in the middle of America. People gathered for a cause, to run or walk or donate or volunteer for something greater than themselves. To give life-changing clean water to the people of Liberia. They gave something that we don't know what it is like to go without.

Businesses provided financial and in-kind support, allowing 100% of the registration money to support Water.

168 people signed up for the cause.

Add to that another 25-30 volunteers. Media coverage in 3 local newspapers promoted the event, and 2 of those papers told a bigger story of what Water for Christmas is doing.


Perhaps I see the whole event in a little different light since Jodi and I worked on it from the beginning. But in the end we see the same thing. Clean water.

Destruction

I had a procedure done on my left foot late Friday afternoon, leaving numerous open wounds that I must take care of. And I do because I am supposed to and I'm afraid of infection. The sheet the doctor gave me that tells me how to take care of them calls it 'destruction.' That sounds pleasant; although, I do hope that is exactly what happened because then I will be done dealing with this in approximately 3 weeks. Three weeks isn't that long, right? That's what I'm telling myself as I think about how I really don't enjoy this. And yet I know I have nothing to complain about.

I see water.

I am taking a class at church called The Truth Project. It's about worldview and is really very good. During the class tonight, a short video was shown about some terrible, evil things that have happened - murders by serial killers, bombings, etc. One of the clips was from the genocide in Rwanda. At the front of the picture was a yellow jerry can. I immediately thought, "They don't have clean water." Granted, that was not the biggest issue at the time for them since the country was experiencing genocide. It is just very clear to me that my eyes have been opened to something. I see the need for people to have clean water. No turning back.

What I should be interested in.

"...God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy." - Rick Warren

Birthday weekend 2009

I spent my birthday at one of the best places on Earth. No, not Disney World...Wrigley Field. Four friends and I went to see the Cubs play the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they won! (Birthday present from Chicago #1)

High fives all around after the win

We then went to a couple of spots in Wrigleyville. At the first stop, I ordered a piece of cake since I wanted birthday cake. It was huge, and I brought most of it home. The best part...they gave it to me for free since they found out it was my birthday. (Birthday gift from Chicago #2)

After spending some time in Wrigleyville, we went back to the hotel. We stayed at Hotel Allegro in the theater district. It was amazing, and I was only able to stay there because I got a great deal. I had called a few weeks ago, and during our conversation they found out we would be in the city for my birthday. When we got back to the hotel, a bottle of merlot was waiting for us with a note from the staff. (Birthday gift from Chicago #3)

Today we went to Millennium Park and saw some very cool sculptures. We then walked a few more blocks to Lake Michigan and saw the many boats at the Yacht Club. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful weekend!

"The Bean"

Another sculpture in Millennium Park

Looking up from inside "another sculpture"

Iowa vs. Iowa State

This month I got to attend my first Iowa vs. Iowa State football game. Although the outcome was not in Iowa State's favor, it was still quite an experience. I could not believe how loud it was for the whole first quarter. Very cool. I love all of the red and gold and the atmosphere in Ames. And I got my 'Not a Hawkeye' shirt. I wore it proudly the next day even though ISU lost the game. I will forever and always be a Cyclone!