Gettin' Crafty

What's the best way to warm up a chilly, snowy day, you ask?  Why, gettin' crafty, I say! 

I'm in the process of redecorating my room and today, I crafted a little paper flower bouquet to adorn my dresser.  

You can check out the instructions for these (easy, but somewhat time-consuming) paper flowers here.  I used newspaper to make them, but they'd look great in any lightweight paper!

Mocha Club

Today, I finally did something that I've been meaning to do for quite a while.  I joined the Mocha Club!  A friend introduced me to this organization a few months ago, and I've been meaning to join.

The whole idea behind it is pretty basic:  for $7 per month (about the cost of 2 Mochas), you can help fund relief and development projects in Africa.  You pick a project (Child Mothers + Women at Risk, Clean Water, Education, HIV/AIDS + Health Care, or Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children) and your money is used to fund one of the project sites.  It was near impossible for me to choose a project...they're all so important!  But I eventually settled on Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children because one of the sites is Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where I was this past summer.

I also started a team and you can join it by clicking here.  Or you can start your own team.  Either way, I'm pretty sure you get one of their awesome t-shirts, which only further helps you spread the news about Mocha Club.  A simple $7 each month can really go a long way.  For example, you can provide one African with water for one year with just one dollar...think how far $7/month can go!

I encourage you to check out this organization...they're doing some pretty cool things.

Oh, and if you've ever seen that button on the right hand side of this blog that says "I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me" and wondered, huh?  That's Mocha Club.  And this quote pretty much sums up my experiences on that amazing continent:

"I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me."

Friends + Music

I have a few friends/family members who are doing some pretty great things with their music these days.  

My dear friend, Lacy Blaine, just put a lovely little trio of songs up on Noisetrade called "Beginnings".  You can download it for free, or leave Lacy a tip for her talent.

My brother, Mark, and cousin, Zac, form a duo that they call Jaymar, and they just finished a little ditty called "Global Warming".  You can listen to it on Purevolume.

Zac also has a number of solo tracks up on Purevolume.  They're pretty awesome as well.  I recommend checking them out.

An etsy list

I enjoyed posting yesterday's list so much, that I thought I'd continue with an etsy list!

If you haven't visited etsy, stop right here, and go check it out (then come back!).  Its a mix of handmade, vintage, and repurposed pieces that range from clothing to housewares to photography to jewelry.  In short, its great.

Here are some of my etsy favorites!

PearandPeacock

April421

PeaceTraveler

Old Empire Imports

Handwarmer Mugs

Old Empire Imports

LoveMely

A thankful list

Life has just been so bizarre lately, but I think one of the easiest ways for me to process thoughts is to put them down in lists.  So, here's a little list of the things that I've been especially thankful for lately.

_______________________________________________

family, and the fact that we're close, both relationally and physically

friends, both close by and far away

time to relax and regroup

snow

dance

a hot cup of tea in a large mug

friday night dinners out with the family

blankets

books

_______________________________________________

In Remembrance: Poppy

My grandfather, Bob Gettis, passed away early in the morning on Saturday, January 1, 2020.  We've been busy this week preparing for the funeral services, and the past two days have been a whirlwind of friends, family, tears, emotion, laughter, and remembrance.  Because I don't know what else to say, I thought I'd post what I read today at his funeral.

How does one begin to reflect on the life of someone who has touched so many?  My grandfather, Bob Gettis, “Poppy”, as we affectionately called him, left a legacy.  Last night, over 300 people walked through the doors of the Klee Funeral Home to say goodbye, and I’d be willing to bet that those 300 were just a glimpse of the lives he was a part of, transformed, and inspired.  But for the six grandchildren, eight children, and wife he leaves behind, I’ve noticed that most memories of Poppy revolve around one of his favorite emotional expressions…laughter. 

Poppy was a great educator.  After achieving a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education, he continued studies at Temple University, and received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies.  So naturally, whenever one of us would tell Poppy about a rough day at school, his response would be “well just quit already!”  And when you showed off your report card, proud of the fact that you got that 96 in English, Poppy would quip, “what happened to the other four points?”  He also never hesitated to remind us that he knew everything.

Despite that, Poppy was always supportive.  He loved supporting us in our sporting events and musical concerts.  No matter what sport—whether it be soccer, field hockey, tennis, basketball, bowling, volleyball, or softball, Poppy loved watching and cheering us on, keeping track of scores and statistics, and celebrating victories, like Logan’s half-court shot, or Mitch’s tennis championships.  He instilled a love of baseball in all of us, and could always be seen rooting for his favorite team, the Reading Phillies.

While Poppy never allowed his MS to define him, he did put his scooter and wheelchair to good use.  Until we were too big, Poppy would drive up and down the driveway (and sometimes around the mall) with one of his grandchildren perched on the back.  I’m pretty sure its illegal, but I remember even going through a Burger King drive-thru just on Poppy’s scooter once!  And while he wasn’t always the best driver, like the time he ran over Mark’s foot at the Franklin Institute, he wouldn’t hesitate to make it up to you by letting you ride around all day with him.

Poppy had a confidence to him that was something to marvel at.  Once, while wandering around Philadelphia, he told Matt, “If you don’t know where you’re going, just act like you do.”  He also appreciated a freebie, and was always confident enough to sign up for credit cards and sweepstakes with a fake name (though keeping the initials RBG).  He and Zac spent quite a few summer days fishing for foul balls hit during batting practice out at the Phillies, and probably could fill a few bags with the ones they retrieved.

Poppy was also pretty competitive.  He liked being (and always was) number one.  However, that was one thing he passed on to his grandchildren.  Matt has a very specific memory of Poppy that goes something like this: Before p.m. kindergarten, I would sit on stool next to Poppy in his big blue chair and we would play Sorry or dominos everyday. He laid a long piece of plywood over his lap and we would play all morning long (that is until the Price is Right came on at 11). On the top right hand corner of the border read the names “Poppy” and “Matt,” and under our names he tallied the winner of every game, for everyday that entire year. A few years ago we found that piece of plywood. I beat him by one :-) (looking at Uncle Chris say, "Coincidence, I think not!").

Above all, one of the things that always amazed me most about Poppy was how innovative he was.  From building his home with his own two hands, to creating the “PoppyMobile”, which Mark termed, “the most unrideable vehicle ever created”, he never stopped building and crafting.  He even founded his own club, The Blue Club, and welcomed all of us kids in, if we met the criteria, of course!

But perhaps one of the most profound and common memories of Poppy is touching fingertips.  Because we couldn’t always reach him, the six grandchildren always said goodbye to Poppy by touching our fingertip to his.  Parting without partaking in this ritual was simply unheard of.

Poppy is a model of strength, confidence, humor, wisdom, joy, gratefulness, devotion, love, freedom, and so much more for all of us. We love you Poppy and we miss you.

Poppy, you've left a big hole in our hearts.  We remember you with love and laughter, and will miss you always.