C Me As Hope

Very exciting!  Thanks to the folks at the 700 Club for creating this logo for us.

Tears filled my eyes this morning as I sat on the couch, eyes glued to the television screen.  Flashes of Lang first days and months in the ICU flooded my mind as I learned about a young athlete’s fight for survival from a severe traumatic brain injury from a snowboarding accident.  An athlete, like Lang, doing something that he loved, all changing in a moment.  My heart aches for his family and I recognized the hurt and hope in their eyes as they spoke of Kevin’s recovery and their prayers for him.  Overwhelming joy filled my heart as I read the words of encouragement bombarding his Facebook page.  Kevin Pierce is an amazing snowboarder and was training in Utah for the Olympics and was injured on December 31st.

Please keep Kevin and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  All the supporters for Lang know how scary and exhausting the recovery process will be.

Grace & Peace ~ Carla

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead.

I love this quote because it truly reflects what I feel in my heart.  I am committed to change the world one small gesture at a time.  I believe that no effort is too small or wasted.  My mindset is to show kindness everyday of my life in one way or another.  It is a phone call to a friend, spare change to the man on the street or in the tip jar at the coffee shop, shopping locally to support our community, teaching the value of giving to my child, friends, and family, giving food to the food bank, collecting unwanted items and donate them to the organizations that can use them, recycling, reusing…you get the picture.

I am confident that if more people committed to showing kindness each day that we could change the world.  My small group of thoughtful and committed people is my husband and my son, a few of my friends and my church.  What are you committed to?  And do you have a small group you do this with?

Would love to hear some of your thoughtful and committed ideas!

Carla

Our segment on the 700 Club has been rescheduled and we are still waiting to hear from the producer what day it will air.  I am told, “Soon”.  No worries though.  We will post a link on this page for you to get to the segment.  So one way or another, you can see if you want.

An update on Lang’s progress as well.  After the year mark, we were told that recovery would slow down but it would still take place.  Today was a big step for him because he ran outside on the trail that runs parallel to our house all by himself for the first time.  It was a huge step to regaining more of him independence.  I was a little nervous but I trust his judgment now and if he thinks he can do it safely, then I have faith in him.  He was gone an hour and said it was a great run!  I am so very happy for him.

I would like to wish all my fellow human beings a very Happy Valentine’s Day!  I know this holiday, like many others can bring a variety of strong feelings…good…bad…or indifferent.  This year I see Valentine’s Day as a day to show love to everyone around you.  Not just your boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.  But all of those who love you and all of those who you love…mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.  If you care about someone, show them…tell them.  Nothing feels better than bringing a smile to someones face, especially on a day that can bring such loneliness and reflection.  I wish we could/would do this everyday.

This Valentine’s Day I am very blessed to have my amazing husband by my side…filling my heart with love songs.  However, I have not always viewed my life as blessed and for some reason, Valentine’s Day had magnified that.  Many lonely V-Days had come and gone, filled with bitterness and contempt.

My favorite V-Day memory is that of about 4 years ago.  I had just changed jobs, was between dating “Mr. Not-Right #5″ and “Mr. Really-Not-Right #6″ and wasn’t feeling all to great about where my life was at the moment.  I sat at my desk, dreading the moment when I would be the only female in the office without a declaration of love for all to see.  With each delivery of flowers, candy and balloons, the voice in my head got louder and louder…”I HATE VALENTINE’S DAY!”  As I heard the door open and looked up expecting yet another delivery man, I saw my (at that time 5 year old) son holding an amazing bouquet of flowers that was literally bigger than his head.  My jaw dropped, tears filled my eyes and a slight squeak escaped my throat.  How?  What?  Then right behind him was my brother and my sister-in-law.  “Happy Valentine’s Day!”, they all shouted.  At that moment, I had never felt more loved and lucky to have such an amazing family!  That is when I changed my view of the day.  Why be so bitter when there are plenty of people that love me and show me that love everyday?  Just because they weren’t my boyfriend or spouse didn’t make the love less valuable.  I will always remember that Valentine’s Day.

Last Valentine’s Day was the day that Lang finally got his voice back after 3 1/2 months of not being able to speak after his accident.  It was the weekend that his daughter was seeing him for the first time after the fateful day when all of our lives were changed.  It was also the week of her 4th birthday.  Lots of exciting stuff and hearing Lang’s voice just made it that much better!

This Valentine’s Day we are being featured on the 700 Club to show our love story to the world.  (It is actually showing on the 15th.)  I live our love story everyday and I find it hard to believe most days.  Especially when I look back to where I was that Valentine’s Day four years ago when I thought myself to be unlovable and a lost cause.  It’s amazing how drastically and dramatically my life has changed.  It wouldn’t have been possible without the love of my family, friends, co-workers, church and of course, my Lang.  My heart has changed and now I know that love is an amazing gift to give and to receive.  The most important lesson that I have learned so far is the more you give the more you open up your heart for amazing things/people to come into your life.

Happy Love Day!

xoxoxoxo ~ Carla

Thank you to everyone who donated items to C Me As Hope for the relief effort in Haiti.  We collected everything from blankets to shampoo to toothpaste to bars of soap.  We received so much stuff that we actually filled 3 shopping carts!  Darian and I dropped off all of the items to World Care in Tucson.  We are so excited that we were able to support those in need. We are still collecting items and/or donations…Haiti will need continued support and prayer for a long time to come.

Every little bit helps!  Thank you!

Carla

I got to help a friend today and it felt amazingly-amazing.  The kind of helping where you didn’t even know there was a problem, they sought you out and you were able to be part of the solution.  My heart is warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

I wasn’t feeling well today.  Really tired, achy, upset stomach and stressed.  I have so much school work to finish this week and I am not sure how I will get it all done.  I sort of wallowed in it today.  Then my friend called.  When I knew I could help, all my aches and pains went away.  I forgot about my stress and I suddenly wasn’t tired anymore.  (Proof is this post…I am usually fast asleep by now…9:49pm)  I was able to give someone the gift of peace of mind and that, in turn, gave me peace of mind.

It reminds me of a book that Lang bought me for Christmas, after hearing me talk about it.  It is called, “29 Gifts; How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life” by Cami Walker.  I haven’t read it yet but I think I will start it tonight.  (I have at least a few books started at any one time so I may not finish it anytime soon but still…I will start it.)  The author is a 33 year old woman who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis only a month after her wedding date.  It’s her journey of healing through the power of giving gifts to other people.  I saw her speak on The Today Show and all but a few of her symptoms of MS are gone.  It sounds like a very inspirational story.  I am excited to start reading it.

Anyways, today’s events made me think of that book.  Made me think about all the sadness and stresses in the world and maybe this is a way that we can do something about it.  Selfishly giving to others to make ourselves feel better.  Does that really sound like such a bad idea?  Hmmm…something to think about.

Carla

I have thought a lot about the difference between hope and denial.  Is there a difference?  If there is, I think it is a very, very fine line.  Today at church, the sermon was about celebration and more specifically, joy.  It got me thinking about the days in the hospital with Lang and the joy that I had each day for the smallest things.  The sunshine, a walk, brushing teeth, holding hands, sharing a meal, watching a movie, listening to music, etc.  Where did this joy come from?  And why did I feel it inside, even on the days when I cried due to loneliness or uncertainty?  And why do I have a hard time holding onto this joy now on a daily basis…in my normal life?

The sermon today spoke that Jesus said that in the joy we find in our faith, we will also find our strength.  This was interesting to me.  So because I had faith that God was in control, I had joy, and therefore, had strength to confront life head on.  I don’t feel like my faith is less strong.  I don’t feel like my circumstances are less than ideal.  So what has changed?  Control.  For me, the thing that has changed is control.  When things are bad, I turn to God to make it better.  To take control of an out-of-control situation.  But when things get good, I say, “Thanks God.  I can take it from here.”  That’s when my joy starts to drain from my body.  The more joy that drains from me the more I try to control my situation.  Things may start to seem hopeless and chaotic.  I get tired and don’t want to confront life head on anymore.

So what is the difference in hope and denial?

I believe the answer is joy.  Because of the faith I carried in my heart while Lang was in the hospital, I found joy in a very joyless situation.  This gave me hope.  And through this hope came strength.  The very strength that I needed to battle the tears, weariness, fear, doubts, and loneliness.  It is in our everyday lives that we have to remember this.  That our strength comes from something bigger than us.

I truly believe that with hope, you can get through the darkest of times.  That you will find the strength to persevere.  And I know that without hope, one can die…emotionally and physically.  For me my hope came from the joy I found in my faith in God.  You may find it somewhere else and for different reasons.  I am convinced that no matter where you find that hope, that the important thing is that you just find it…and hold onto it.

Carla

What has happened in Haiti and to all of the victims in Haiti is absolutely horrible and an example of the power of a natural disaster.

http://www.cnn.com/search/?query=tragedy%20in%20haiti&primaryType=mixed&sortBy=date&intl=false

It breaks my heart every time I see or read about what people are going through over there.  Tears stream down my face, feeling the pain of losing everything you have, seeing the devastation in our fellow humans eyes…compassion is what I am feeling.  So Lang and I are asking ourselves, how do we turn our compassion into action.  As Christians, Jesus has tasked us to take care of those in need.  To pray for them, to give to them, to care for them, to serve them.  Did you know that there are over 3000 verses in the Bible that instruct us to take care of the poor, the oppressed, the needy, the widows and the orphans?  So how do we do that?  Thousands of miles away?  Just two regular US citizens that don’t have hundreds or thousands of dollars to donate.  Is this too big for us to make a difference?  The answer is no.  And Jesus would say that if every small contribution, every small effort is noticed and effective.

Lang and I will be collecting basic items, things that you probably have laying around your house, for the next few weeks, or as long as necessary.  Things like gently used blankets, towels, and sheets.  How many of us shop at Costco and have a stock pile of toiletries in our closets?  Any extra bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, etc?

There are other ways to help, but this is the way that Lang and I are choosing to show our compassion.  I encourage you to find a way that works for you and put it into action.  If you would like to donate any items to be sent to Haiti, please contact us to make arrangements or just drop it off at our house, if you are in the area.  (Or find somewhere that you can donate in your area.)  We are also collecting items at church each Sunday and bible study on Wednesday nights.  You can also donate to this foundation, C Me As Hope and the funds will be donated to the victims in Haiti.  Thank you & God Bless us all.

Grace & Peace ~ Carla & Lang @ C Me As Hope

The following is a list of items that are in high need in Haiti at this moment:

EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES REQUESTED FOR HAITI’S EARTHQUAKE:

We arrived home from WA late last night…or perhaps early this morning.  It was a nice long vacation with our family and friends in WA full of holiday cheer.  Although I miss my hometown tremendously, I am glad to be back in my house, in my bed, and in the sunshine! 

Some of the great things that we did over the holiday season:

• Took the kiddos to see The Nutcracker at the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
• Ate too much at the Cheesecake Factory.
• Visited all family members.
• Had dinner and drinks with some of our most favorite friends.
• Exchanged gifts.
• Drove through the neighborhood and admired all the Christmas lights…twice.
• Played Wii and got sore the next day.
• Caught up with friends and discovered that some friendships are meant to last the test of time and circumstance.
• Slept…alot!
• Went to the movies…alot!
• Ate at all of our local favorite restaurants…Boatshed, Spiros, Red Robin, Family Pancake House, Azteca, and Global Bean.
• Babysat our nephews…and got lots of baby time!
• Ran in the cold and sometimes icy conditions…and up hills!
• Rode on the ferry.
• Read an entire book from cover to cover.  (The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind…it is a true story, very humbling and eye opening…I recommend it.)
• Returned to the site where Lang first asked me out…Harborside Fountain Park…what memories!

We had such a great time at home but as with any vacation, we were eager to get back to our normal life.  Today is filled with laundry, cleaning out the fridge, and getting ready for the upcoming week.  Darian and I both go back to school tomorrow.  And Lang will be hard at work finishing up his book and begin submitting it to publishers.  Our fitness routines return in full force this week as well, along with half of America.  Which reminds me…New Year’s Resolutions.

I am not a big fan of them but I did actually make a few this year.  Yes, fitness is one of them but that is always on my mind so it sort of doesn’t count.  While on vacation, I learned that I should be a nicer person so this year I am going to work on “how I say things” versus “what I say”.  I am also determined to enjoy each day that I have no matter where I am at.  Be it Arizona or Washington, at home, in church, at the gym, soccer field, etc.  You get the picture.  The resolution that might be the hardest will be letting things go.   I have lost some friends this past year and that makes me sad.  I have to mourn that and let it go.

Other than school, my work on our foundation (C Me As Hope) is on the top of my list as well.  Lang and I have decided to really focus on a few organizations, find out what they need, how we can help and then start talking to people about how they can help us accomplish that.  We would also like to sort of “adopt” a family that is in similar need that Lang and I were in, just last year.  So stay tuned for more on what we are going to do with the foundation.  It is going to be very exciting!