 |
| Nate, 1993 |
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
1993
Valentine's Day 1993 I had my first date with the handsome college sophomore Nate Corrona. We had recently noticed each other at the girls home basketball game, while he sat taking tickets and I sat in the stands. Little did I know 19 years later we'd be married with two little girls, living in Atlanta, Ga. I still think he was quite a catch, and Im so glad he's mine :)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Embracing Orphans
My cousin, Carl Robanske, has been such an inspiration to me. He is a PE teacher at Garrison Middle School in Walla Walla, Wa. (my Jr high :) who decided to take a short term missions trip to Jamaica in December of 2007. Now he heads up Embracing Orphans, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for the orphaned, abused, neglected, and also trafficked children of Jamaica. I am incredibly encouraged and inspired by his willingness to go for it, to take a step of faith and really make a difference in the lives of others. I hope you are encouraged too.
The following is an excerpt from the first Embracing Orphans Newsletter in January of 2008.
"It was only days after my return from my first trip to Blossom Gardens when this letter was sent to my friends and family. This short story embodies the essence of Embracing Orphans - to show them they are loved, so that they may experience and understand the Father's love.
January 2008 Carl Robanske Embracing Orphans Newsletter
It was Friday, the last day before our schools winter break. I'd been looking for options to put my faith into action during this break. It didn't come together with a lot of time for planning, but God will take what you give Him and use it for His glory. And He did.
Blossom Gardens is an orphanage for children months old to age seven. In addition there are also children up to age ten who have mental disabilities. There are sixty five children at Blossom Gardens with the most attention being needed in the toddler room. Thirty five toddlers live in this room. Our attention was spent embracing, making faces, bottle and spoon feeding, and lightening the load of the care givers. The majority of the time two staff members tended to the needs of the thirty five toddlers including the five with Cerebral Palsy and five with Autism.
I'd like to share one story with you from my time spent at the orphanage. Nap time came at about eleven o'clock. Children were falling asleep on their colorful mattresses, but one looked uncomfortable, confused, and heart broken. Her eyebrows dipped and her lower lip stuck out as she looked at the kids around her. Then a single tear rolled down her cheek. I asked a staff member how long she had been at the orphanage. She responded, "Two weeks, she never talks". I could read the hurt on Monesia's face. Throughout the time I spent at Blossom Gardens she barely made a noise, until the last day. I took Monesia to the classroom upstairs. I got out picture books and read to her. I took out the stuffed animals and pretended they were talking to her and kissing her. I picked her up high in the air over and over again. She started to laugh. Much to my surprise as I embraced her she began to sing. In a still small voice she sang.
How often we forget that we are loved."
(story continued...)
Since then, Carl Robanske has used every school break and summer vacation to travel to Jamaica. He founded the nonprofit Embracing Orphans organization and has racked up a lengthy list of projects for Blossom Gardens and other orphanages. Those include building and furnishing a playroom and library; facility maintenance work such as drywall, painting and electrical work; starting a preschool program that includes teacher training and supplies; funding dental check-ups; installing hands-on toddler toys and two commercial-style playgrounds; replacement of all toddler cribs and paying overdue utility bills. Embracing Orphans has also funded training on issues such as autism and abuse and neglect, and provided appreciation dinners for the facility staff.
More than 100 volunteers from a dozen states have joined him in eight trips to embrace orphans, he said. "Which is, in my opinion, incredibly amazing. We have a ripple effect from that, one relationship builds another relationship, building a whole other community of people. "
His life is probably not exactly what his parents pictured when they were raising him in Dayton, Robanske speculated with good humor. "I think my parents think it's odd. I think all of us in my family are odd, so it works out all right."
He continues to love teaching and has no immediate plans to leave the field, he said.
"I try not to do too much long-range planning. Then you take the guess work out of what God really wants to do."
(excerpt taken from Union Bulletin article on Carl Robanske)
To learn more about Embracing Orphans and how you can be a part of their work in Jamaica, visit their website by clicking here or contact them at embracingorphans@gmail.com.
 |
| My cousin, Carl Robanske of Embracing Orphans |
The following is an excerpt from the first Embracing Orphans Newsletter in January of 2008.
"It was only days after my return from my first trip to Blossom Gardens when this letter was sent to my friends and family. This short story embodies the essence of Embracing Orphans - to show them they are loved, so that they may experience and understand the Father's love.
January 2008 Carl Robanske Embracing Orphans Newsletter
It was Friday, the last day before our schools winter break. I'd been looking for options to put my faith into action during this break. It didn't come together with a lot of time for planning, but God will take what you give Him and use it for His glory. And He did.
Blossom Gardens is an orphanage for children months old to age seven. In addition there are also children up to age ten who have mental disabilities. There are sixty five children at Blossom Gardens with the most attention being needed in the toddler room. Thirty five toddlers live in this room. Our attention was spent embracing, making faces, bottle and spoon feeding, and lightening the load of the care givers. The majority of the time two staff members tended to the needs of the thirty five toddlers including the five with Cerebral Palsy and five with Autism.
I'd like to share one story with you from my time spent at the orphanage. Nap time came at about eleven o'clock. Children were falling asleep on their colorful mattresses, but one looked uncomfortable, confused, and heart broken. Her eyebrows dipped and her lower lip stuck out as she looked at the kids around her. Then a single tear rolled down her cheek. I asked a staff member how long she had been at the orphanage. She responded, "Two weeks, she never talks". I could read the hurt on Monesia's face. Throughout the time I spent at Blossom Gardens she barely made a noise, until the last day. I took Monesia to the classroom upstairs. I got out picture books and read to her. I took out the stuffed animals and pretended they were talking to her and kissing her. I picked her up high in the air over and over again. She started to laugh. Much to my surprise as I embraced her she began to sing. In a still small voice she sang.
How often we forget that we are loved."
(story continued...)
Since then, Carl Robanske has used every school break and summer vacation to travel to Jamaica. He founded the nonprofit Embracing Orphans organization and has racked up a lengthy list of projects for Blossom Gardens and other orphanages. Those include building and furnishing a playroom and library; facility maintenance work such as drywall, painting and electrical work; starting a preschool program that includes teacher training and supplies; funding dental check-ups; installing hands-on toddler toys and two commercial-style playgrounds; replacement of all toddler cribs and paying overdue utility bills. Embracing Orphans has also funded training on issues such as autism and abuse and neglect, and provided appreciation dinners for the facility staff.
More than 100 volunteers from a dozen states have joined him in eight trips to embrace orphans, he said. "Which is, in my opinion, incredibly amazing. We have a ripple effect from that, one relationship builds another relationship, building a whole other community of people. "
His life is probably not exactly what his parents pictured when they were raising him in Dayton, Robanske speculated with good humor. "I think my parents think it's odd. I think all of us in my family are odd, so it works out all right."
He continues to love teaching and has no immediate plans to leave the field, he said.
"I try not to do too much long-range planning. Then you take the guess work out of what God really wants to do."
(excerpt taken from Union Bulletin article on Carl Robanske)
To learn more about Embracing Orphans and how you can be a part of their work in Jamaica, visit their website by clicking here or contact them at embracingorphans@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
My Favorite Shell, Part 2
Happy Saturday! Here's a bit more from my favorite shell of a guy, Marcel. Hope you enjoy as much as we have.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Dealing with Perfectionism
"Even housework done incorrectly still blesses your family." ~Fly Lady
If you have a dream or a goal you are pursuing and in need of encouragement in just 'going for it' I hope you will take time to read this post by Jon Acuff about dealing with perfectionism. Sometimes we want so badly to do something right that we end up not doing it at all, whether it be learning a new skill, following a dream, or simply cleaning the house. I often get discouraged to go for things when I know it might not be seen as perfect. Or if I know it wont remain perfect.
Take cleaning the house, for instance--within hours it is a mess again and I become frustrated with continually trying to get it right. The same goes for teaching a Bible Study--I know there will be moments of awkward silence and nervousness on my part and sometimes it seems it would be easier to just be a participant rather than reveal the 'less than perfect' parts of me. But I was encouraged to by what Jon said in his post:
"The things you create and actually share will always out perform the things that stay stuck in your head or your desk or your laptop." Doing something is always better than doing nothing.
If you have a dream or a goal you are pursuing and in need of encouragement in just 'going for it' I hope you will take time to read this post by Jon Acuff about dealing with perfectionism. Sometimes we want so badly to do something right that we end up not doing it at all, whether it be learning a new skill, following a dream, or simply cleaning the house. I often get discouraged to go for things when I know it might not be seen as perfect. Or if I know it wont remain perfect.
Take cleaning the house, for instance--within hours it is a mess again and I become frustrated with continually trying to get it right. The same goes for teaching a Bible Study--I know there will be moments of awkward silence and nervousness on my part and sometimes it seems it would be easier to just be a participant rather than reveal the 'less than perfect' parts of me. But I was encouraged to by what Jon said in his post:
"The things you create and actually share will always out perform the things that stay stuck in your head or your desk or your laptop." Doing something is always better than doing nothing.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
To Be Young Again
What I'd tell the younger me about the school years, knowing now what I wish I'd known then:
1. Concentrate more on relationships with girls than boys. Boys will come and go, a good friend is a treasure.
2. Play the sports you want to play not just the ones your friends are playing. Trying something new is a great way to grow.
3. Don't stress about Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, and Trigonometry. The grades might be important but you are right, you won't use them (or at least you wont be aware you are using them.)
4. Try harder to learn Spanish. You will wish you had.
5. Enjoy the small pizza, coke, and full size Snickers you eat for lunch everyday. And the free money your mom gave you to buy them.
6. Love your body and dont compare yourself to others. But may I suggest trying some different hairstyles?
1. Concentrate more on relationships with girls than boys. Boys will come and go, a good friend is a treasure.
2. Play the sports you want to play not just the ones your friends are playing. Trying something new is a great way to grow.
3. Don't stress about Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, and Trigonometry. The grades might be important but you are right, you won't use them (or at least you wont be aware you are using them.)
4. Try harder to learn Spanish. You will wish you had.
5. Enjoy the small pizza, coke, and full size Snickers you eat for lunch everyday. And the free money your mom gave you to buy them.
6. Love your body and dont compare yourself to others. But may I suggest trying some different hairstyles?
 |
| 4th grade |
 |
| Jr High/Middle School |
 |
| High School |
 |
| Senior Year |
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
My Brother From Another Mother
I have yet another inspiring family member I shall introduce you to today, my brother-in-law Von. Nate's younger brother is an artist doing everything from traditional studio work to street art, like this piece he recently made for his sweet mom (my mother-in-law) Gussy.
Breathe Slow, it's Wednesday
 |
| Mars Ill's Backbreakanomics album, artwork by Ward Jenkins |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)