HELP

So you may be wondering why I fell off the grid for awhile, or maybe you didn't. But it has been quite awhile since I posted anything. Amid other activities and constantly trying to wrangle my three little hooligans, I participated in a planning retreat for the non-profit organization of which I serve on the board of trustees. It was really amazing. I love being a part of it. For all you blog stalkers out there who have been reading about my boys and know very little about me, I started working for HELP International about 4 and a half years ago. I took a hiatus after I had Cody, but they couldn't live without me so I agreed to go back. It was the absolute best job for several reasons; 1-I could make my own hours, 2-It actually fit with my degree, and 3-I was truly passionate about what I was doing. Before I had Colton, I decided I wanted to direct my full attention to my family, so they voted me onto the Board. Now I just get to be a part of the good stuff without having to worry about the day to day junk. So now you are asking "what the heck is HELP International anyway?"

(At this point I just have to make a side note: Do not attempt to look up their website, it is quite pitiful and I am somewhat ashamed of it. We began creating a new website several months ago and in the interim - supposedly 2-3 weeks - had a volunteer put up this basic website. Well, in the world of non-profit, some things just get pushed to the wayside and for us, this year, the website was just one of them. However, the new one should be up and running around the middle of next month - so I will give you the go ahead when it is okay to check it out. Until then, you will just have to read this blog for what it is.)

So back to the original discussion, HELP International is a non-profit organization started 10 years ago by a group of ambitious college students and one crazy professor. The goal of HELP International is to assist the poor of the developing nations to improve their quality of life while developing competent student and community leaders for tomorrow's continued fight against poverty. HELP focuses international development and social entrepreneurship. Formally, the mission is to provide a life changing experience through service to the poor. We accomplish this by recruiting and training college-age volunteers who then work to achieve sustainable development with our local partner organizations in Uganda, Guatemala, or El Salvador.

The following are accomplishments of this summer alone:

• 65 homes visited with personal health instruction
• 170 graduates form English training courses
• 190 graduates from business training courses
• 500 graduates from teacher training courses
• 420 stoves built with cement and chimneys supplied
• 600 people with access to new square foot gardens
• 3 school rooms constructed
• 6 showers constructed for HIV/AIDS positive individuals
• 1 playground constructed
• 1 chicken coupe constructed
• 1 pig pen constructed
• 1 computer lab constructed with 4 computers donated and installed
• 3 libraries constructed with over 1000 books donated
• 100 school kits donated
• 100 hygiene kits donated
• 3 wheelchairs, 2 standing frames, and 1 sitting frame donated to children with disabilities
• 6 mattresses and covers donated to needy families
• 1000's of hours spent with orphans, street children, disabled kids and adults, teen mothers, and other abandoned children
• 89+ social entrepreneurs created, young adults from up and coming generation who now have a better understanding of their world and the difference that they can make

I know that alot of these are just numbers, but all of these numbers have faces - individual faces of people whose lives were changed this summer. I am so proud to be a part of this organization and hope that I can continue do serve and work to alleviate poverty for the rest of my life.

Stay tuned with a box of tissues for the real-life stories that go with all these numbers . . .

Colton's blessing

Colton is alomst four months old and we finally had his baby blessing. It turned out to be a great day and gorgeous weather! We had a brunch before with a few friends and family. Thanks to everyone who came and especially to those who participated in the blessing. I was so happy to have a couple of my cousins there as well - what a pleasant surprise. Thanks Adam and Isaac! Russ did a great job, and of course, I always get all teary eyed. I love my boys!

Garden Surprise

So I've had these plants growing in my "garden" (aka the multiple flower beds that have yet to be planted), and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. They just started on their own a month or so ago. At first I thought they were weeds, but Russ assured me they were not. He thinks they are pumpkins, I thought they looked like watermelons, but now I'm not so sure of either. So all of you green thumbs, any ideas?

After downloading these pics, I realized you can't really tell how big these things are. They're only about the size of tennis balls and they don't seem to be getting much bigger than that. A few of them randomly have the yellow stripe. Weird, huh?

Gone again

Since my husband is out hunting - again, I thought I would post some pictures from his last hunt. He is out in the same area now, so you can check out the pics and think "Oh, it's so beautiful! I'm so jealous, I wish I was there." Or you will think "He is so crazy. I am glad I am in my nice, cozy, clean home." Enjoy.

Can you find the man in camo doing a little fishing?

Russ' hunting buddy (aka Dad)

Where they slept at night (and during the 4 hour rainstorm).
Yes, it really was that steep in places. And yes, my husband is a little crazy.

Giving the horses a little break - afterall, they did all the work. :)

Homemade Kites - they actually worked!

On Friday we went to the Spanish Fork Kite Festival. It was close and fun. They had professional kite performers flying kites from the back of jet skis. That was sweet. The boys' favorite part was making their own kites and then trying them out. I was quite skeptical because the wind was irregular and they said you had to make them just so for the weight to be right. But alas! It worked! I think the boys could have done this all afternoon. They loved it!

cold and rainy Labor Day

So besides Russ working, Labor Day was also a bummer because it was TOTALLY COLD! It was stormy and rainy most of the day Monday, which I guess is good because now we don't have to water our lawn for a couple days. The boys were happy also, because they finally got to wear their rain jackets. . .which didn't last very long when they realized how cold it was. But they had fun playing firefighter for a little while.

Yes, they are playing with the hose in the rain. Oh well. You can't be a firefighter without a water hose, right?

After naptime, I decided we needed to get out of the house, so we went to this place called Jumpin Jacks. Its an indoor bounce house sort of place with lots of slides and inflatable fun. So the boys and I had a fun day afterall.

My husband is home! Sort of.

Just in case any of you were wondering, Russ finally made it home after 8 days in the mountains. He was out bow hunting with his dad. Unfortunately he had no elk to show for it, but he did have a nice beard . . .

So now he's "home", but back to work. Next week he will go out again and give it one more shot. Maybe we'll get our meat for the year - wouldn't that be nice!

Russ took some awesome pictures, when we get them downloaded, I'll have to post a few. The area where they hunt is absolutely gorgeous and totally inaccessible to "normal" people. Stay tuned . . .