Susan the Sloth Goes Zip Lining thru the Jungle!

                                                  

Susan ready to zip!

That would make a great Children's book title I think. Or a REAL title for my friend Susan's memoir! Maybe just Susan the Sloth for her title. I am sure I have shared Susan's story in the past, but she really does need to write a memoir I feel! Her story is just too incredible and inspiring NOT to share it with the world. She doesn't like to be considered inspirational, but she is anyway!

                     

Pure joy that face is!!

Of course the name is endearing, and not mean at all... even though it may sound that way. Susan LOVES sloths, which I found out on our trip to Costa Rica. And she kinda looks like a sloth when she smiles :0). And she definitely moves like a sloth! Again, endearing, not mean as Susan knows all this. When I called her Susan the Sloth in Costa Rica she smiled and shook her head yes! We didn't see any sloths in Costa Rica because we spent most of our time on the beach. However, our driver had taken a video of a sloth he had seen. He showed Susan that video and she loved it of course.
                                 

She really is a good sport <:0)

Susan's dream, and the whole reason we went to Costa Rica, was to zip line thru the jungle. I have to admit I was a little nervous about it, but if Susan wants to try something I am all for it! When we got to the zip line I was even more nervous. I just didn't see how it could possibly work out. But I have also seen some amazing things while hanging out with folks who have challenges to overcome. Plus the guys working there kept saying "No problem, we do this all the time". So we trusted them and Thank God we did!

WoooHoooo!!1

     
 It was truly amazing, fascinating, incredible, spectacular and a few other adjectives thown in, to watch these young men at work. There were 4 of them helping us. One guy would lift Susan out of her chair up to another guy. That guy would clip her onto the zip line, then clip himself to her and ZOOOOM, off they went. So cool to watch Susan's face!! THEN the 3rd guy would lift Susan's CHAIR up to the 4th guy and he would clip it in and clip himself and ZOOOOM, off they went! I was a little flabbergasted to be honest, because I didn't understand why they needed her chair so high in the trees?? Trust is a must.

                                   

Oops! My old eyes saw this wrong. This is Susan zipping away. Not her chair! 

This IS her chair zipping :0)

So then I went zipping behind them. At the platform I found out why they needed her chair. They got Susan down and put her in her chair and then they pushed her across a SWINGING BRIDGE!! I kid you not! It was perhaps the most riveting thing I have ever seen. All of it was totally safe too, I promise! Susan had the time of her life and so did I!!

                               

Swinging Bridge fun!

After 3 zips, the guys looked at us and said "We have a short cut where you can do 3 more zips and be done or we can go the long way where there is a super fast one". I am not sure if they wanted us to take the short route or expected us to? But I do know they didn't know Susan like I do. Even though I knew the answer I asked her what she wanted to do. Susan is aware of herself and she never wants to be a burden on others (and she is NOT), so she meekly said "I would like to go on the fast one if that is OK". The guys were like "Sure, no problem" and off we went!

                                     

Super fast zip! It was about 100 yards long too!

They truly weren't put off at all. I think they get some people who just don't know what zipping is all about and they WANT to do the short cut. Just not Susan :0).

The Crew! We Thank You!

So as the New Year comes to be... you may find some challenges come your way... think of Susan and realize that ANY challenge can truly be overcome with some hard work, determination, trust AND faith!!

    Now Go Out and Hug Your Friends Today!!!

Someday At Christmas

I have probably sent this out before, but it seems more and more poignant each and every year. Will war ever end? Will children ever live in a world of TOTAL peace? Can we stop their suffering? Or do we just pray that they will be taken care of in the next phase of whatever is next? I don't know the answers of course, but I think it helps to stimulate our emotions this way and stimulate conversations about what we can do to help in this lifetime.

I love this song and video which was done by two humanitarian clowns who have traveled to Russia with Patch. Maybe other places too? I don't know them personally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHbnGnr9f6A

Enjoy the video for what it is. An offering of Love, Peace, and Empathy! Cry, Laugh, be Emotional. You have my permission :0).

Now Go Out and Hug a Child Today!!!

Emanuel, What an Appropriate Christmas Gift

Susan and I were in Costa Rica just before Christmas, as most of you know. And we got a very pleasant early Christmas Gift. It came from a man named Emanuel. How appropriate is that? He had a demeanor and kindness in his eyes that I imagine Jesus might have had.

Emanuel was standing behind us, while we waited for dinner, playing some music softly. He looked at me and asked "Does she like my music". I asked Susan and she asked "Can he play louder?". He replied "No, I really can't", but then proceeded to pull up a chair and sit right next to Susan so she could hear better. Over the next 30 minutes he played beautiful music for us! What a gift!

An even better gift was getting to know him a bit. During his playing of some Bach, Susan asked if he knew any Vivaldi or any Aspergios? I don't even know what make of cars those are personally, but Emanuel knew. He said he used to be able to play Aspergios some before he developed Parkinsons. I hadn't even noticed his tremors til that point. His music certainly was beautiful. He played some Aspergios for Susan and apologized for not being very good. No apology necessary!! We loved his playing!

Susan offered him a tip, thinking he was working... he said "Oh no, I don't play for money. I am just here on vacation and I bought this cheap guitar to play while here, just for fun". We were sure glad he did and that he shared his gift of music with us! It truly was one of the biggest treats we could have ever received at Christmas time.

              Thank You Emanuel!!!

Now Go Out and Hug a Musician Today!!

Daniel, My Brother

Mark Ogle started S.A.C.C.A. with the help of his wife Naomi and some Rwandans. I had the honor of visiting S.A.C.C.A. in 2006. The BEST Christmas I have ever had, hands down! While there I met a lot of great young children who lived on the streets for various reasons, but were getting help from S.A.C.C.A. The kids there are not my brothers of course, but I consider all the young men I met there as brothers.


One in particular was Daniel, My Brother. Below is a photo of him and I. Loved his smile and attitude! Remember, he lives on the streets in Rwanda, yet has a smile to light up a room.

I got an email recently from my friend Mark with the photo attached. In his email Mark told me that Daniel had emailed him (in perfect English) to let him know he completed his senior year with amazing marks and is hoping to get a government sponsorship for University! Of course, the government would be foolish not to sponsor him!

It amazes me how a young man who grew up on the street could graduate "high school" and learn to speak a second language fluently! Truly incredible and I am truly thankful I got to meet him and others. And I am thankful for people like Mark and Naomi who start programs to help kids like Daniel!

Daniel and I in Rwanda

Now Go Out and Hug a Brother or Sister Today!!!