I called my sister Laura this morning. Tomorrow is her birthday. She was in the receptionist office waiting for an appointment. We didn’t have much time to talk. So with limited moments we quickly wondered how much we would shrink as we got older. She claims to be shrinking already and hopes to one day hit her ideal height or 5’ 7”. She is currently 6’2”...and a bit. She has a long way to go before she is old or short.
We also had just enough time to discuss Bok Choy. Because honestly, isn't there is always enough time to talk about food. A while ago her family joined a food co-op. Every week or so they get a bunch of vegetables from the local farmers. It is a great system. Just before I left there a week ago Laura sent one of her boys down to pick up the box of goodies. There piled on the counter was an amazing harvest of local Willamette Valley produce. It looked like allot but really it was leafy, buoyant and for her family of five a decent amount of food.
One thing I particularly like about this co-op system is that it forces you to eat things that are not familiar. The local farmers in the co-op give you what is in season, abundant and fresh. They in essence provide you with an arranged marriage of food not based on what you think you need, but instead based on what they know to be good for you. Farmer knows best.
Sometimes the season is such that the arrangement is easy and familiar; carrots, potatoes, tomatoes... bacon. And sometimes it is less so. This morning Laura and I got to talk about Bok Choy. Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage) arrived in her co-op delivery last week. She prepared it and successfully served it to her family. We were kicking around different ways to prepare it. I came home and with Bok Choy on my mind did a quick search. Here is few of what I found,
It is no secret to anyone who knows me or is around me for long that my family is the most important part of my life. Mom, Dad, Brothers, Sisters, their husbands, and wives, and all their children. This month, daughters of my two older brothers will be in different parts of Asia doing some amazing work. Scott and Anne's two daughters, Lyndsey and Adelaide (Addie) landed first, and Steve and Teri's daughter, Hayley, touches down later this month.
These three Cousins in Arms are amazing young women, doing amazing work, and defining unique and interesting paths full of conviction and dedication. To be sure, these are three wildly different women. And I've got four other nephews and nieces forging dynamic paths for themselves too. But in that these three all found themselves in Asia, working with, empowering and helping children less fortunate then themselves speaks to commonality of spirit which is inspiring whether seen individually or together.
Lyndsey, 17: 16 years old. What were you doing? I was running 70-95 miles a week and cutting my teeth on the muddy trails of Eugene, Oregon. As tough and defining as that was for my young life it pales in comparison to what Lyndsey courageously took on last year. She applied for and won the opportunity to pack her bags and move to to Khon Kean, Thailand as part of a Rotary exchange program. It wasn’t an easy year. In fact, I think it’d be safe to say it was brutal. She was learning a new language, immersing herself real Thai culture, all the while dealing with being a 16-year-old girl. Personally, I can’t imagine. But I saw some of it and through it amazed at her ability to keep taking steps through the process. She made great strides to grow up and live in another culture at the same time. Brutal. And admirable.
She also got to head up to Pattaya and see her cousin, Hayley. The time in Pattaya and other things she saw and experienced inspired her Senior Class project when she returned home last year. Then, in a life of brave things, Lyndsey did the bravest. That’s right, she took her parents to Thailand this June. Her return trip culminated with the delivery of $4090.00 to the Pattaya Orphanage raised from her Senior project, and a reinvigorated love and appreciation (Returning to a Land of Smiles) for the place that helped shape her from a 16 year old girl into a young woman.
Adelaide, 20: Cerebral, artistic, wildly creative and smart Addie spent the year before last in Italy before heading to her first year of college at Western Washington University. She is studying, among about 32 other things, women’s studies and was led to a program called the Little Sisters Fund. Earlier this year she embarked on a letter writing, fund and awareness raising campaign to raise restricted money to specifically support this organization and as many young women there as possible. This accomplished (she raised over $5,000) she dug into her own pocket and bought a plane ticket and headed to Nepal for the summer to volunteer with the Little Sister Fund and the Ama Ghar Orphanage. Her work will give her untold insight and knowledge, and her blog and updates continue to build awareness and funds in support of this important work.
Hayley, 21: Steve’s daughter Hayley spent 9 + months in Thailand last year volunteering her time, brilliant energy, giving spirit and endless care and defense to those less fortunate. It is clear that Hayley truly found a home in Thailand. And she found it right smack dab in the middle of the dark underbelly of the sex trade at the Pattaya Orphanage. As was pointed out to me when I was there “this is one of the few orphanages in the world where little boys outnumber little girls because in this culture, in this particular place, a women (or a girl) is worth much more than man.” And Hayley’s work continues through her education, relationships, connections and time. She’ll return to Pattaya, Thailand this month, roll up her sleeves, smile from ear to ear, and get to work.
