Tippin' Tuesday

for tippin' tuesday we are going to answer a question from amy who wanted to know how to incorporate her daughter in with giving service to those who need it. to start off, we have a story to share from another reader lisa who has this to say:

"About 2 years ago I was needing some kind of a carrier to use because my 1 year old was a very clingy toddler. He was
WAY too big for the snugli I had and wearing the camping backpack around the house was just a pain! I had a hard time getting things done because he wanted me to hold him all the time. So after a lot of research and trial and error I designed my own "Asian style" baby carrier or "mei tai". People would see me using mine and ask about it so I started making them for other people as well. I started up a little LLC and made a website too. I mainly get my business through word of mouth. It works great for me and keeps me busy enough, but not super busy. I have 4 kids and I am definitely a mom first.

My oldest sister adopted a little girl from China about two years ago. She is a little girl who was born with a cleft lip. My sister is involved in a charity organization called "Love Without Boundaries" (http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/) that helps Chinese orphans. This organization was in the process of establishing a "cleft house" where babies with cleft lips and palates will go to get ready for and recover from surgery. The babies have to weigh 10 pounds before they are eligible to have their clefts repaired, but many babies of these babies have a hard time eating enough because of their clefts. The staff and medical professionals knew that if these babies were snuggled and carried more it would be easier for them to gain weight. My sister knew that I had a small business making carriers and called me to ask if I could help. She said that they needed a way for the nannies to be able to carry the babies around and still care for the other children at the same time. (Who can say no to Chinese orphans with cleft lips?) My sister talked to some of the other staff members and said that they would be able to reimburse me for the cost of the fabric and for the shipping to Seattle, where they would be packed and taken to China by one of the staff. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to do something to help. I also contacted a friend of mine who makes ring slings and she was able to donate four slings. During the days I was working on the JP's for China I would read the "cleft house" blog (http://www.lwbclefthome.blogspot.com/) and see how it was coming along. I spent some time on the Love Without Boundaries website as well and my heart just ached for these children who didn't have a mom and a dad. I wished I had the financial means to sponsor a child or to pay for one child to have their heart or cleft repaired. When the JP's were done, I notified the person who was going to take them to China and I told them that I couldn't make a huge financial contribution but that I didn't need to be reimbursed for the shipping and the fabric. I wanted to truly do something to help."

here are some photos that were taken during a training session at the Anhui Cleft Healing Home.




i know that my children hear about sad stories, and wonder how those things can happen. we recently took a care package-- that was put together by some children from our church--to an older woman from our church. on the way, we talked about why it's important to help others and look for opportunities to do so. after our visit, on the car ride home the kids thought it was "cool" that they got to help someone out. i think that lisa is setting an excellent example for her children and teaching by doing. which is the best thing we can do. thank you lisa for sharing that touching story, be sure to visit the websites above if you would like to learn more about lisa's mei tai's or the organizations she mentioned.

We will be tipping on ways to serve with your children each Tuesday and Thursday in October.