March 17, 2011

BEING The CHANGE.

Last week everything was good. It was March Break and the kids were home from school. I was hanging out with the 11 year old boy and one day I said, "C'mon Boy! Let's wrap up all the loose change in the house!"

At first he complained, but he couldn't resist my enthusiasm.


We collected all the dimes, nickles and pennies, and wrapped them up in rolls.

Then came the fun part: counting the money. It came out to a whopping $45!! Enough for a pizza party.

But we decided instead, to donate the change to "A Dog For Deeds", to help him get his autism service dog.


Three year old Deeds needs that dog more than we need another pizza party.

I felt happy. Everything was good.

And then this happened.


Ohhh...Japan.


I tried to grasp it. And I became afraid...


Then I wept.


But most of all, I felt ...powerless.


And then I remembered that I was not alone.


There are, in fact, quite a number of us. And in our own small ways we are all hoping, praying, giving and working to make things better.


Wrapping up loose change is a really, really great activity to do with your kids on March Break.

Share!
Posted by The Animated Woman at 12:11 AM
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23 comments:

  1. James Cordeiro SEOMarch 17, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    You are so absolutely astounding at writing a great heart warming and thoughtful story :) very impressed, oh if I could share with the world! Oh, wait, we can... click click click, share, stumble, tweet :)

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  2. The Sisters' HoodMarch 17, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    You just gave me goosebumps.
    You need a publisher and a huge book deal :)

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  3. CarynMarch 17, 2011 at 12:33 AM

    Beautiful. That is all.

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  4. Dot and LilMarch 17, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    Beautiful post and a great sentiment and call to action. I have a few giving ideas brewing, too.

    As a side note, it is terrific how perfectly and accurately you depicted your own brow-furrow. I mean, it's EXACTLY like it is in real life!

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  5. So Who Is The Crayon Wrangler?March 17, 2011 at 12:39 AM

    Wow. This was amazing. Thank you for your wrapped change and thank you for sharing your heart.

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  6. ShanonMarch 17, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    Ah...Sweet post, JC.
    And yes, there are "quite a number of us".

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  7. Serene @ MomFoodMarch 17, 2011 at 12:42 AM

    *hugs*

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  8. Brandon DuncanMarch 17, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    This was sweet. Go you! :)

    (BTW, I could totally see you getting a book deal if you went for it!)

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  9. NormalToEatPBMarch 17, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    So beautiful I often feel helpless when u have such in ur heart to give to people so far away its easy to feel that way

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  10. jillsmoMarch 17, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    This is awesome. I love this.

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  11. DebMarch 17, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    So awesome! I'm sharing!

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  12. SusanMarch 17, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    Beautiful post x

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  13. AnonymousMarch 17, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    So perfect. We sent our change to those in Japan this week instead of Deeds account. Beautiful post.

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  14. JennyMarch 17, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    I was so touched when I read that you sent your money to Deeds, and then I read the next statement.

    Excellent post. I will be RT'ing this! :)

    Deeds' button is still up on my blog. My ASD son loves it.

    And I think you need to be a Wednesday's Woman on my blog! Check out the tab w/the guidelines if you'd like to be featured.
    www.manyhatsmommy.blogspot.com

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  15. Linda NakanishiMarch 17, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    Thank you for your comments on my article. Love your illustrated story of what you are thinking about.

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  16. Jan RossiMarch 17, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Ditto the "you need a publisher and a large book deal"!

    OR-
    just learn how to publish directly to KINDLE!

    Awesomeness is here and I liked it!

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  17. Derek W.March 17, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    JC, those are not tears in my eyes... just a little dust in the area... great post.

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  18. EndithinksMarch 17, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    This was wonderful. You have such a talent to convey emotion through your illustrations.

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  19. A Week With My FatherMarch 17, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Wow...so very sweet!

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  20. KathyMarch 17, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    Beautiful and touching ((hug))

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  21. Maria V @SoNailiciousMarch 17, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    Nice post! its really great to see that people all around the world are feeling and doing the same - i.e. helping Japan with whatever they can!
    Truly great! As a fashion blogger I appealed to my readers with the same message "Together - we can help!"
    xox
    Marusya
    http://crashingred.com

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  22. SteveMarch 17, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Simple, poignant, beautiful...and, I hope, right at the heart of where all our 'time-wasting' on social media is going. If we can channel that time and energy into output and action like yours, we'll be making a massive stride forwards.

    Thanks.... keep inspiring!

    Steve

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  23. UnknownMarch 23, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    Amazing how the simple act of giving can end up reflecting more goodwill to you than your gift did your beneficiary. Beautiful.

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Cuz You Rocketh.

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