Quick Update

O My - I've been so insanely busy that updating the blog has been last on my mind - but I realize that I really need to do it more often and so I've made a commitment to do just that (at least for the next few days). You can read about my summer insanity under my youth ministry blog and that will fill you in on all the fun I'm having.

We have also been working to get our non-profit gym up and running. And so I have got to spend the next three weeks really focused on just that. We would love to see kids from our town in the gym nightly so we know they aren't out making bad decisions. We have lost two teens to death this week - one from drinking and driving and the other one shot (unknown why yet). I'm busy looking for grants and anything else to help make this happen. It is also our chance to share with them about God.

We did take off Saturday and relax at Llano River for fourth of July. Here's a pic of Chris - you can tell he's really benefiting from that P90X!

Cub Scout Campout & 20th anniversary

We have definitely been busy - between the gym, summer starting, school ending, photography, and cub scouting - it is a rare day when I find time to blog. All my websites need updating - especially my photography website. We are hoping that the studio will get completed soon as I have a maternity shoot coming up - but in the meantime, we find ourselves on yet another scout camp out.

Chris and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary tomorrow. By doing nothing. Now hold on - it's a Tuesday and we live in a small town and run a gym where we have to be at every night. So this weekend, we are ditching the kids and heading to San Antonio for a long weekend with just each other. We were laughing because we cannot remember the last time we went somewhere for a weekend without the children.

I'd tell you what I got Chris for our anniversary but on the very OFF CHANCE that he might actually read my blog - I won't. I think it is hooky but I'm sure he'll love it. He's more of the romantic than I am - which I adore. I can't wait to see what he's been plotting and I know he has because he has had several covert conversations with our middle child. And if I ask, he just says - if you want, I'll tell you but then you won't be surprised - which usually shuts me right up! Not sure what we 'll do in San Antonio - but I'll have my camera and my best guy - what more could I ask for!

I'm Back!

It's been forever since I've blogged but I've been insanely busy - subbing at the high school, photography shoots, working at our new gym! About 8 weeks ago, Chris was "given" a part of a building to use as a gym. He really needed a place to work ot and a client who had a building just sitting there empty. Long story short, he had another acquaintance who was closing his gym and gave him a whole bunch of equipment. Then the church loaned him the mixed martial arts mats. We had a bunch of boxing equipment and when we got the space all loaded up, it became evident that we had this super cool fighting facility.
So, we put the word out - word of mouth advertising no print - and now we have about 30 members. Which might not seem like a lot - but it is limited space and only open for 2 hours a night. We also teach two cardio classes (or I do). We are planning on opening from 5 - 11 once summer starts which is in a week or two and so we suspect many more!
There is also a room in the building that I am using for a photo studio - we have to paint walls and floor but once that's done - it's good to go! So excited!!
I've also been looking into grants for teaching as I've about decided to go back to college and get my teaching degree, and I've been working on developing a professional photography website.
Add to that - the extras: Cub scouts, mom's taxi surface, businessman's paperwork woman, etc. I've included a shoot of our recent bridging over - where Joshua's pack bridges over into Bear!

A Night at The Rescue - Austin

Anna Lee and I headed to Austin Sunday, August 26th to reinforce those that were at the Rescue down at the Capitol. We were a little surprised when we parked and got to the camp as there were so few people! What happened to the 700 from the night before?
Maya Angelou was scheduled to come out at noon to Rescue everyone, but apparently she took ill and was unable to come. I guess lot of people got discouraged and decided to leave.



As night set in, Courtney Smith showed up to stay the night. We then laid out our tarps, and prepared for a long night. Then the cops showed up. Apparently, unless you have a permit, you can not sleep on the capitol lawn - and apparently, the protest permit had expired. Then we heard about the weather. Huge Storms with lightening. We debated for a while on what to do. Sleeping under trees with lightening was not a good ideal - we had to figure something out. Finally, after much debate, we decided to call it a night and head home. At 1:30 a.m.

I checked the website today and at 11:36, they were still there - in the rain, torrential rain, twittering and waiting.

I was so disappointed at the organization of this protest. Being my first protest - I just didn't know what to expect; however, I think it could have been organized so much better. I don't think it was a reflection on the invisible children organization - I just think that when you put 19 year olds in charge of such a huge event, it would help if they had oodles of experience! Our group decided they should have hired youth leaders to organize it!

I'll keep watching the website throughout the day - I've sent emails to various news channels (seen nothing on the protest on any channel) and even to Bill O'Reilly (why isn't anyone showing anything about such huge international event?). Hopefully those that are left (college students) will be rescued soon.

CubMobile Race 2009

Today was our annual CubMobile Race in Lampasas. It is one of the favorites!! Our kids are amazing as always. Last year, we took last place. But this year, we took FIRST!! Wahoo! There are lots of pictures at my picasa web page so if you want to see exactly what a cubmobile looks like, check it out at http://picasaweb.google.com/uthmama/CubmobileRace2009#. All in all, it was a great day - a chance to reconnect with friends, get a lot of sun and cheer on our favorite cubbies!! Whew - can't wait to take a break!!

RESCUE US!

This weekend, the Jackson Family will participate in an event in Austin called The Rescue. To learn more about this amazing event, check out an amazing website - www.invisiblechildren.com.

The plight in Africa is a burden that both Chris and I share, and so with our tshirts in hand, backpacks packed, and Joshua in tow, we will be heading down to UT where we will join about 3000 others and walk in silence to our refugee site (aka The Capitol). We will wait there until a mogul shows up to rescue us. A mogul is member of the media, someone with the government or a celebrity. Letters and emails as well as youtubes have been going all month in order to get the attention of this high profile types to bring them to our event.

If you are not in the mood to check out the invisible children website then the short version of why we are doing what we are doing this weekend is to bring attention to the plight of the 3000+ children who have been abducted by Kony and forced into the LRA (Lords Resistant Army). The LRA is the group of terrorists that are terrorizing their own - genocide. These children are the only ones left for Kony to brainwash into killing for him. He targets boys ages 5 - 12 and gives them a choice - to kill or be killed. Often, they have already seen their entire families destroyed by this man.

Add to that, the children that fear for their lives and become night commuters in order to escape Kony and his evilness. And then add the children and families that are forced out of their villages and into refugee camps (where they have been told their needs would be met) where they spend the entire day searching for food, building fire, walking miles for water (which most be boiled)and basically trying to figure out how to survive (and by survive - I mean eat 1 meal a day). Their basic needs are not truly met in these camps and most would rather go back to their villages and fend for themselves. Children are not able to go to school, yet their parents must pay a fee for them not going to school; however, their parents can rarely if ever get a job.

I get very upset when I think how powerful this nation of ours is and yet, we have not stepped in to put an end to such terrorism. When the war on terror was proclaimed, why did we choose to overlook the plight of 1000s of Africans? Is it because we have no oil interests there? Or because they did not directly end American lives? I know that America cannot super impose itself on every nation in need, but from what I have studied, we've been asked to intervene on this situation and we have not. My question is Why? I know this is not a politically correct commentary - so please don't send me a gazillion angry emails. I supported what Bush did as far as going after the SOBs of 9/11.

Today, I have worn my AK47 in remembrance of the children stolen by Kony, and as a why to share about the event on Saturday.

If you do not hear from us soon - please come to Austin and bring a mogul to rescue us! The kids really need to go to school Monday.

The Rescue!

Chris and I have committed to participating in The Rescue - a call to action for Invisible Children. The Rescue will take place in Austin, April 25th (not to mention about 100 other cities, both international and stateside). Invisible Children is about rescuing and putting an end to the children that are abducted by the LRA in Sudan, Uganda and throughout Africa. The LRA cannot find any adults that want to participate in their genocide war and have resorted to abducting young boys, ages 5 - 12, brainwashing them and either making them kill others or be killed. There really are no words to describe the brutality.

Several years ago, 3 college students went to Africa seeking the truth and documented it in this amazing video. They have since put together and promoted various outreach "activities" in order to educate not only us "lay people" but to educate the government of the US. How could we possibly continue to turn our heads when children are being massacred, and made to kill in order to survive? How is it that America watches 1000s of families, many children whose parents have died, being displaced into refugee camps for the sake of survivable, yet only to slowly die because of lack of food, medical care, etc?

Chris and I have always supported Invisible Children; we've bought bracelets (which the money goes back into the refugee camps) every year since we first discovered the organization. We give them as gifts, we share the DVDs we've bought with anyone that will pay any attention to them. We have always had a youth event during the big Invisible Children events, and so this year, we are delighted to be able to fully participate in the event.

The premise is that a huge contact campaign has already started by participants to the media moguls as well as political figures and celebrities in order to get the attention this cause needs. We all walk 1 - 3 miles to our "refugee" site, and wait to be rescued (media, moguls, celebrities). We can't leave until someone shows. And we all wear the same shirt. There are approximately 800 people registered and confirmed for the Austin event. We are so excited.

If you want to learn more, check out their website at www.invisiblechildren.com. If you want to participate, find a city near you and register. If you want to support, we encourage you to do so. $12 for the Tri Campaign will help us save about 3000 children who are currently working in the LRA war. That's a month. That's two fast food lunches you would give up, 2 ventis at Starbucks, or the money that has slipped into the cushions in couch.