The Delight is in the Details

More raw photos from my favorite photographer, 

age 4 years and 5 months at the time of these shots

Fresh out baby

Self-Portrait

Love Heals

Love Heals. Who can argue with that motto? Thistle Farms is a social enterprise and growing community of women in Tennessee who have come out of trafficking and prostitution and are learning that love does, indeed, heal. The women are given a safe home and taught job skills through the expansive undertaking of running Thistle Farms and creating their products literally from the ground up. (Best. Chapsticks. Ever.) It's an organization that is easy to get behind because:

1.) Their mission makes the world a better place. 
2.) Their products are all-natural and quality.
3.) My spouse actually admits* that he likes their chapsticks and candles better than the drugstore variety.

*To me. In private. Now indirectly on the internet.

I've been following them and buying their products for a few years now, and this year I have chosen Thistle Farms as the charity I am supporting in lieu of birthday presents. So...choose your own adventure.

If you were thinking of buying me a birthday present, go to Page 124.



If you were not thinking of buying me a birthday present, go to Page 27.





Page 124
You go to the Thistle Farms website. You're immediately taken with their clever lavender colored thistle motif. You become distracted by their products. If you decide to by a little something for yourself, go to page 34. If you decide to buy a little something for me, go to page 58. If you decide not to buy anything, go to page 72.

Page 27
You're kinda appalled that anyone would be so gauche as to practically beg for a birthday present, but this social enterprise concept intrigues you, so you decide to go to the Thistle Farms website anyway. You're immediately taken with their clever lavender colored thistle motif. You become distracted by their products. If you decide to by a little something for yourself, go to page 34. If you decide to buy a little something for me, go to page 58. If you decide not to buy anything, go to page 72.

Page 34
You buy a lemon verbena candle and a lip smoothie. Your package arrives in the mail. Soon, your lips grin and gleam. There is a gentle flicker in your living room and clean fragrance drifts around the corners. These scents were hand grown! you muse. Gratefully, you clean your kitchen and kiss your kid and drink an extra glass of water. It's been a good day.

Page 58
Whoo hoo! Score! Congratulations! You receive one hand-written thank you note and treasures in heaven.

Page 72
No curses are called upon your head. No dredged up debts are invoked. You live happily ever after until Christmas time when you are trying to figure out what the heck to get your Aunt Myrtle.

Baking Cakes in Kigali

Our library is more than a bit unreal and feels like a Spanish country club. I am always subconsciously concerned that someone is going to ask me to prove membership.

If the library rented rooms, I think Ben and I would live here.

Seriously, how can this place be free?

Sometimes I use the private study rooms as meeting places for work. The other day, I drove away from a work meeting and nearly stomped on the brakes from the sudden realization that I had not checked out the library book I selected. I pawed through my laptop bag and indeed found the tome tucked away. Turns out that I had unthinkingly swept away all of the items from the work surface and unwittingly deflected the library scanners from detecting my theft by placing the book next to the electric signal of my laptop. The book that I successfully lifted from the library?

Yes. How to Buy a Love of Reading. Sigh. Three generations of library employees just shuddered.

I also like studying here and roaming the aisles looking for books that have NOTHING TO DO WITH TRAUMA. Between social work classes and human trafficking research, my brain is pretty full up on tragedy. Unfortunately, the only "fairy tale" element of the last book I picked up from the fantasy section ended up being a coping mechanism of the main character who lived in death row. He poetically narrated a story filled with horrifically cruel child abuse, sexual assault, murder, torture, and perversion of justice. It was like "Shawshank Redemption" meets Ted Bundy. The Dungeon turned out to be the solitary confinement wing, the Lady was a private investigator of death row cases, the guilty Priest was a prison chaplain with a sordid past and so on. Yikes. 

I say all of that to preface a pretty fun read I found that you can buy for only $4 (including shipping) on Amazon. (Or, you know, borrow from your local Spanish country club.) The main character is a middle-aged woman who runs a cake-making business in Rwanda. She had a soft heart and a practical mind and always ends up kindly fiddling in the lives of her clients. What I enjoyed about this book was that it managed to touch on some pretty tough themes (poverty, aids, sexual assault, genocide, orphans, prostitution, stigma, first world interference, etc.) while highlighting the strength and joy that are also a part of life. Instead of crying, I ended up laughing aloud so many times that I convinced my husband to read it too. We have both traveled and were amused by the author's ability to relay the humor of cross-cultural interactions. Unlike my other blog posts, I'm not urging you to change the world through this one, but you might change a little if you read it and enjoy yourself in the process.

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin

Photography Project

I'm helping my friend promote a photography project. This unstaged, unedited series captures a lazy backyard BBQ.

Yep, that's me.

So, what do you think?

A word on the photographer: he is four-years-old and had not used a camera before this first series. Every picture was unposed and only had one "take." I always said he was a genius.

When did us adults start become afraid of trying new things?

Hope Rising Ministries

In addition to my anti-trafficking work through Forever Found, I am very proud to be on the board of Hope Rising Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit headquartered in Texas that is likewise dedicated to ending human trafficking. Hope Rising's main project at the moment is the establishment of a safe aftercare home on a ranch in Texas for American girls who have survived sex trafficking. The property has been purchased, and we are raising funds for the buildings and proper licensing. I've visited the ranch and felt my soul relax and expand watching the horses cavorting in the sunset. Our equine therapy program is already up and running serving survivors who are housed elsewhere, and we're seeing definite results in girls opening up and learning to trust and rising to the responsibility of proper horse care.

One of the main reasons I have confidence and commitment to Hope Rising Ministries is my friendship with Sherri Clement, our founder. I attended a Hope Rising fundraiser in Santa Paula several years ago and heard Sherri speak about her outreach to women in the sex industry. Over the next few months I was pretty busy with work but felt as though God was telling me to get in touch with Sherri. After (finally) contacting her, I found out that she had kept several business cards from the fundraiser and prayed over connecting with those people. Of course, one of the business cards was mine. I ended up volunteering for Hope Rising for about a year. Sherri and I both became certified as Hands that Heal trainers, a faith based training for aftercare providers. After putting on a four day training in Houston together, Sherri and I traveled to Thailand to train staff at two aftercare homes for child trafficking victims. 

Just arrived in the Bangkok airport via Korea - legit Thai ice tea!

Getting a fish pedicure in Chiang Mai

A lifelong dream!

Being unexpectedly hatted + hugged by an elephant
(As you can see, I am ecstatic!)


We had a lot of fun adventures but also saw some heartbreak in Thailand and on an unexpected jaunt across the border to Burma. We tried not to take too many pictures of the kids in the aftercare homes to respect their privacy.

Burmese immigrants living in a dump in Mae Sot, Thailand

Home in the dump

Literally walking over the border into Burma

Burmese gas station

Unless you're CIA trained, it's pretty hard to hide who you really are after 27-hour transcontinental trips, strange diets, shifting schedules, and dramatic stories of healing and heartbreak. Sherri has one of the kindest and most generous hearts I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. She asks Jesus to change and grow her and she leans into heartache to offer healing. Plus, she was brave enough to venture into Burma! It's pretty neat to be able to see someone's character in such an unusual setting, and I'm glad that she is the leader of Hope Rising.

You can find out more about Hope Rising Ministries through our website and also through their Facebook page, which I help to propagate. If your heart is to support equine therapy or an aftercare home for American children, this is definitely a good investment for your donation.

Connect 2 Ministries

I have blogged about my 2012 and 2013 trips to Haiti in the past: learning about identity and contentment through Peter, picture updates of Peter, and depending on God's strength instead of self. 

About a third of the kids who attended

My life circumstances changed so dramatically over the past two years that I did not keep up with the ministry in Haiti that hosted my trips, although I continue to reflect on the people I met and the lessons I learned. As part of merging our lives, Ben and I began attending a new church together in April of last year. I was surprised and gratified to find out Conejo Church sent members to the same host ministry in Haiti. Similarly to my experiences, God used the heartbreak and hardship of Haiti to change and grow these people from our church. One of the men decided to host a fundraising lunch for Connect 2 Ministries. It just so turns out that the founder of the Haiti ministry lives 20 minutes away from our church and was able to come and share between his frequent trips. We were able to attend and support through money and prayer. (Let's get real: good wishes don't buy food or diapers.)

This kid used the googly craft eyes to become "four eyes"

Usually when you give money to an organization working internationally you are putting your trust in that organization's leadership and reputation without having the chance to see the projects on the ground. I think it's really cool that 1.) I was actually able to be onsite and meet the orphans and churches supported by this ministry and 2.) Even though resigning from my former job meant no more trips to Haiti, God actually brought the head of the ministry to my church for the very first fundraising lunch he's ever attended!

The kids got pretty comfortable after three days. 

Here are some pictures from my second trip. Most of them are from a VBS in a newly built church that is essentially the host of social services in the town just outside Port au Prince. I have also attached the flyer I made for our church's fundraiser. After visiting orphans and people in tent cities, I can share that a little really does go a long way, and I challenge you to forgo a luxury this week (dinner, movies, Starbucks, new dress) and give that money to Connect 2 Ministries or another organization that is helping people living on the margins.

Our team visiting a tent city

Another four eyes

Three friends

Life in the fast lane

This blog has declined in output ever since I ...

Married this guy

Started grad school for social work

Started working at Forever Found

My new series of blog posts will focus less on musings and more on the projects and lessons from these pursuits.

Dance with your nose up!

Well, folks, I'm getting hitched in eleven days. That's right. You didn't think I disappeared from the blogging world just to paint my nails and ingest unsulfered mango, did you? I've been trudging away discarding excess silverware and unworn skirts in order to cram my dowry into my fiancee's abode. In honor of my impending nuptials, today I am sharing 3.5 minutes of two of my favorite things: Vince Guaraldi (aka composer of the Charlie Brown music) and interactive live music with elders. According to Ben, the first gift I gave him was a compilation of Vince Guaraldi songs. Sorta like a modern version of a mixed tape, except that I was more concerned with improving his quality of life than with making a move. Hope this snippet does the same for you!

About as mushy as it gets...

Email subscribers click here for the surprising video above.

Congrats to me

The prolonged absence from my adoring readers is not my fault. You can assign blame onto the broad shoulders of BDR who had the overwhelming audacity to propose to me on Christmas Eve, thus inferring with my entire holiday schedule and hijacking all conversational topics for two weeks. Here is a picture of my reaction:

Okay, I lied. That picture was taken a few hours afterwards, but I think it captures the spirit of the occasion. I am dazed but happy; BDR is relieved. Ta da!

Guilt-Free Gratitude

Indian Nomad - National Geographic

Sometimes we are "guilted" into gratefulness by exposure to people who own less than us or are in more pain. The contrast principle can be helpful in realizing the preciousness of our gifts, but surely there has to be a way for us to value what we have been given due to its own merits. My family is a gift because of who they are, not because other people's families are abusive or neglectful. My creature comforts are a gift whether or not I ever realize the depth of other people's poverty.

Today I am grateful for:

-supernatural grace

-living in safety

-mobility

-literacy

-loving friends and family

Putting the Pieces Together

In the past week and a half, I have driven to San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Agoura Hills, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, La Verne, and Pasadena. Whoosh!

As many of you have heard, in August I resigned my position with Joni and Friends. After a couple of months of respite, I began volunteering part-time as the Ministry Relations Director for Hope Rising, a brand-new nonprofit combating human trafficking in the 805 area. Yes, it is discouraging and draining to fight human rights violations, but I absolutely love focusing my energy and attention on helping people suffering from violent oppression. It has been inspiring and educating to meet law enforcement, social service workers, and victim advocates likewise laboring in abolitionism.

What is your passion? What is your "treasure in the field"--the thing you would sell everything to obtain?

Speaking of which, I am still looking for part-time work to supplement my thrift store shopping compulsion and other odds and ends like food and healthcare. Connect with me on LinkedIn and/or let me know if you have any leads. I'm not sure exactly what the future will look like, but every week brings another piece to the shape. The cause of justice is always worth our best.

The End of Today - The End of Slavery

This past week I have been working on Hope Rising projects, graduate school applications, and job searching. I spoke recently with a friend who self-initiated a similar revamp of his circumstances. He shared that it is easier to jump into an entirely new set of circumstances that are generally uncomfortable than to try to be slightly uncomfortable with one new change at a time. It's just too easy to return to comfort when you are a little bit uncomfortable with a new change. This was certainly the case for me this past August, and despite the discomfort of not having a scheduled plan or income, I am incredibly happy to be focusing on abolitionism.

Much of today has been spent sitting in my new home office (thanks, Brother) looking through material about human trafficking. Despite the tragic reality of this brutal industry, at the end of today I am reminded that rescue is possible. Prevention is possible. Even healing is possible. Here is a brief montage from "The End of Slavery" by the International Justice Mission that summarizes both the urgent need and the hope.

It's a Conspiracy!

Why I am applying for a master's in social work

Preamble to the Code of Ethics, National Association of Social Workers

The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well­being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well­being in a social context and the well­being of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.

Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals’ needs and social problems.

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective:

• service
• social justice
• dignity and worth of the person
• importance of human relationships
• integrity
• competence.

This constellation of core values reflects what is unique to the social work profession. Core values, and the principles that flow from them, must be balanced within the context and complexity of the human experience.

Ethical isn't icky.

Mom after consuming a Green and Black milk chocolate bar: "That chocolate bar you gave me was really good!"
Me with amusement: "Actually, that was Pop. He found it at Fresh and Easy. But yes, I don't eat fair trade just because it's ethical. They usually taste better."

Brief, shameless marketing coupled with further discredit of my candidacy for sainthood--my blog posts are finally conforming to popular culture!

One of my many "favorites"

Justice Summit San Luis Obispo

A justice conference in my favorite city? I'm there!

http://mbabolitionists.org/

Add to the Beauty

Sara Groves' song "Add to the Beauty" has been scrolling through my mind of late. When I saw the video below, I thought they made an excellent pairing. Enjoy.

We come with beautiful secrets.
We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls.
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold -- that only we can hold.

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are.

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story.
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside.

It comes in small inspirations.
It brings redemption to life and work -- to our lives and work.
It comes in loving community. 
It comes in helping a soul find its worth.

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful.
This is grace, an invitation.

"Add to the Beauty" by Sara Groves and Matt Bronlewee

Birthday Business

Hi Friends,

My birthday is one month from today, and my mother has begun asking about celebrations. These largely center around food in my family, but you may recall that a few years ago I decided to "donate" my birthday to a different organization every year. Here's how it works: no presents, no presumption, and no pressure! "No presents" indicates that I have more than enough "stuff". "No presumption" is included because I feel awkward assuming that people are going to be turning up beaming at my door, arms overflowing with gifts. "No pressure" summarizes that I am going to take advantage of social convention to let you know about causes I consider worth supporting but I don't expect you to contribute. Deal?

So...for 2013 I am participating in a fundraising walk with Zoe, an organization that works to rescue and restore children who have been sex trafficked in Thailand. I'm brand new to a relationship with this organization but have been invited to be a part of the Hope Rising team. Hope Rising is a burgeoning organization in Ventura that will provide a much needed role of training service providers and faith communities to work with survivors of human trafficking. Click here to go to my fundraising page and read more.

Thanks for your time!
Katie

Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer

Example 1,467,201 of why the internet is hilariously disconcerting. Read the reviews of this product.