Trick or Treat!

What a fun night at the Hollis house. In honor of Hope and Charlie, we all dressed in our Sesame Street best to greet the little candy hunters who came to our door. Caleb got home late, so he is not in the picture above. A friend of Lydia's happily "stood in" for Burt this evening. (Thanks Emma!) Caleb had a good excuse for missing tonight's event, however. His team won the MTAC Championship late this afternoon!! Congratulations Franklin Classical School Knights!!!

Charitable Organizations

W. Franklin Graham III, CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
12/31/08 compensation: $633,722.00
PLUS
W. Franklin Graham III, CEO of Samaritan's Purse
12/31/08 compensation: $308,826.00

Grand Total: $1.2 million if you add in his expense allowance.

Just so you'll know I'm not picking on Franklin:

Richard Stearns, President, World Vision: $336,472.00
Dennis Ryberg, CEO, Young Life: $279,338.00
Charles Stanley, President, In Touch Ministries: $226,704.00
Frances Jones, Executive VP, Feed the Children: $182,952.00
Wesley Stafford, President, Compassion International: $206,673.00

The list of salaries for "nonprofit executives" goes on and on.....I've just picked a few you are all probably familiar with.

My question is, what is a fair salary for these execs? It is a difficult question, isn't it?

A post script to the above Philanthropy Survey, Franklin Graham is now giving up one of the incomes. When the report came out, it apparently caused quite a stir. From now on, he will only receive income from Samaritan's Purse---which in both 2007 and 2008 (including all benefits) exceeded $500,000.00.

While Hope has been recuperating from surgery, I have been home alot more than usual. The doctor's orders were for her to stay away from public places for a month after surgery (only 12 days, 14 hours, and 51 minutes left----but who's counting, right?). Since I am her primary caretaker, I don't want to be exposed to germs and risk bringing them home to her, so I have been staying home and Chappy has been doing the running for the rest of the gang. On occasion, I have felt a bit stir crazy and have wanted to escape my house to step into Target (if for only a few minutes). However, I have tried to use this time to be productive.

So....with my time, I am self-publishing a book. And the best part is, I want to give the proceeds away.

There are two ministries I whole-heartedly believe in. Each sows almost every penny given back into their ministries:

1. Amazima Ministries (http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/)
2. Reece's Rainbow Waiting Children (http://www.reecesrainbow.com/)

I am not computer savvy at all, so it is laughable that I would attempt such a feat. (In fact, I am laughing right now when I think about it). However, I want to do something.....and right now, trapped in the house for another two weeks, I have plenty of time to do something meaningful.

This is my plan:

35% of proceeds to Amazima Ministries
35% of proceeds to Reece's Rainbow Waiting Children
20% to be put aside for our future adoption of a waiting child with DS through Reece's Rainbow
10% of proceeds to be put aside for production/shipping costs

Many self-publishing companies charge a 20% royalty for every book sold; this would obviously defeat the purpose. As a result, I am doing all of the work myself. Not easy. Once it is complete, hopefully within the next 10-14 days, I'll give an update.

The holidays are near, and I want to give....I want to bless others.....don't you??? My plan is to keep the book as affordable as possible while still making enough profit to give money to Amazima and Reece's Rainbow.

That is my news of the day. I've been working on this for about three weeks now and have managed to keep it a secret. Won't it be fun to tally up the money that will go to Amazima and Reece's Rainbow? I am excited to see what the Lord will do with this project.

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Hebrews 13:16

Ode To Hope's Glasses

She rips her glasses off her face,
When she's flustered, quick as a flash;
Across the room to begin my search,
I hurriedly make a mad dash.


***

They have landed in mashed potatoes,
Hit the back of our heads in the car;
Were almost flushed down the potty,
Have been stuck inside Lydia's guitar.

***

In the fireplace they have been hidden,
Deep in a toy box, beneath a chair;
Even thrown into a garbage can,
Thank goodness I thought to look there.


***

So full of smudges and scratches,
How on earth can she possibly see;
Please don't let the dog chew them again,
Is my nagging, but earnest plea.


***

Only if you have a young one in glasses,
Can you fully, to me, relate;
For the day Hope learns they are not a toy,
I can hardly wait!

***


"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
(Psalm 119:18)

Hope For the Orphans

Last December, Lydia decided she wanted to raise money for orphan children with Down Syndrome through an organization called Reece's Rainbow. She made flyers and placed them in mailboxes throughout our neighborhood offering to babysit while parents went Christmas shopping. Many families responded, and the fundraiser was a success. To top off the celebration, Lydia told her dad she would forgo receiving Christmas gifts if he would match her donation. Happily, he did......and Lydia plans to do the same this year.

Since the month of October has been set aside for National Down Syndrome Awareness and the month of November has been set aside for National Adoption Awareness, I thought it would be interesting to combine the two.

I hope you'll take a few moments to watch the attached YouTube video. It is very compelling, because it beautifully shows the children without hope when they were stuck in an orphanage and then shows the transformation that took place after only a short while with their new families....no longer orphans. A little bit of love goes a mighty long way, and this video proves it!

P.S. The face on the video belongs to Micah....he is a little fella' Lydia's support went to help last December. He is one Lydia chose from the many. It turned out, a family in nearby Spring Hill adopted him, and now we are friends with the family. In fact, they are one of the three families who have young children with DS we go to church with. Is God amazing, or what??? He saw ahead and placed Micah in Lydia's heart through a photo on the Reece's Rainbow website long before our families would "officially" meet.

"Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."
Proverbs 24:12

Dad Is Out of Town....Can You Tell???

When dad goes out the door to leave town on business, many of the house rules go out the door with him.....especially the ones having to do with bedtime. Our evenings without dad consist of take-out pizza and late night movies piled in my bed with occasional tickle fights. All 6 of us! We miss dad when he's gone, don't get me wrong, but we put forth our very best effort to make the most from his absence.

Chappy has been gone since early Sunday morning, so the kids have had 2 late nights in a row.....a bit much for the 2 little ones. Today, the little night owls finally gave up the fight to keep up with the big kids and passed out asleep right where they were. These are pictures I took around 4pm this afternoon; aren't they dear?

You've gotta give 'em credit. Hope and Charlie may have extra chromosomes, and while everyone else may know about it, they don't seem to. Each day, they do their best to keep up with the big kids around the house, and I love 'em for it!!!

"Rest, little Hope and Charlie, in the Lord....." Psalm 37:7

Language for the "Special Ones"

Many children with Down Syndrome do not begin to verbally communicate until sometime between the age of 4 and 6. Some never communicate verbally. Hope, who just turned 4 in September, is still not communicating with us using words. She's making lots of sounds while using very expressive hand motions, so we believe speech is coming soon. When speech does eventually come, we know Hope will catch up on all of the lost time! Even though she doesn't communicate verbally, she communicates using different signs. Currently, she knows 50 signs.....but she only uses them when they benefit her. Ha! Ha!

When Hope turned one, we began three different therapies: Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy. When I first met her speech therapist, I was surprised when she began teaching Hope sign language; but what a welcome relief! Hope picked up on it right away and was less frustrated, because she had a new way to tell me what she wanted or needed. Since we were learning this new language together, we completely understood one another (and still do!)

Above is a picture of Charlie and Hope sitting together this morning watching a new sign language video that was recommended by a friend. They LOVED it!!! They sat together for 30 minutes and watched the entire DVD without moving. I was able to sneak in and take a quick photo without disturbing them. Amazing. This is just another kind of "different" that goes along with a "special one".....it is not bad, at all.....just different!

"Who has made man's mouth? or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Have not I the Lord?" Exodus 4:10

Hope will speak at the precise time that has already been ordained by her heavenly Father, and not a moment sooner. I trust Him and can hardly wait! When she finally says, "Mommy", I believe all of Nashville will hear a big "hoop and holler"!!! Then, post celebration, I will fall on my face and thank the Lord.....



I have to brag on Caleb's football team for a second.....the Knights will play Aaron Academy for the MTAC Championship this Saturday!

What is "Normal", anyway???

Life's no longer "normal",
But brimming with new-found fun;
Every day is unalike,
With my Special Ones.


Heaps of pursuit and therapy,
Have only just begun;
Still toting and changing diapers,
For my special ones.

Mealtime is oft a challenge,
You see, neither can be outdone;
Food is playfully thrown everywhere,
By my special ones.

A total joke is discipline,
No need to become undone;
For life is always a party,
For my special ones.

Learning time, I suggest,
Answered with hugs for everyone;
They'd rather love than do their work,
They're the special ones.

Placed into chosen families,
A gift from the Son;
Bringing boundless joy to share......
Sometimes more than your heart can bear.....
The special ones!

At the end of each day, Chappy and I sit around the Great Room with our older children to have prayer, Bible Study, and a "family meeting". During our time together, it is amazing how frequently we talk about Hopey and Charlie, often remarking how incredible it is to be loved so completely by them, and to in turn, love them so completely. Our cup truly runneth over.....they are little treasures....there is nothing else in the world like this gift!

"And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness----secret riches . I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the One Who calls you by name." Isaiah 45:3