Mother Inferior

Poetry Wins: The "Heart and Soul" Grant Program

How often does your organization step back and remember your mission? Sure, you know what your mission is, but how often do you refine the sense of mission that exists in the hearts of your staff, board members and supporters?

This year's Heart & Soul grant program, put on by the CTK Foundation, is designed to do just that. To win, you have to channel your creativity to write an original four- to eight-line poem or stanza that reflects the work or mission of your nonprofit. No poets on staff? Ask your supporters to write a poem for you.

The 1st place winner will receive $10,000 and will have their submission turned into a song to be used in public education or awareness. The song will be written and recorded by songwriter Bill Dillon -- who was recently exonerated after 27 years in prison thanks to Innocence Project of Florida -- and produced by Jim Tullio of Butcher Boy Studios.

The contest is open to all nonprofits in the United States, Canada and the UK. The winning nonprofits will receive one of the following awards:

•1st place award is the song, plus a cash grant of $10,000 (US) or it's value in foreign currency

•2nd place award is a cash grant of $5,000 (US) or it's value in foreign currency

•The 2011 Blogger's Choice Award, where a randomly selected blogger participating in spreading the word among nonprofits about the H&S Grant Award Program will choose a nonprofit applicant to receive a $1,000 cash grant or it's value in foreign currency

•2 steel-stringed guitars, signed by all members of Los Lonely Boys (which you can auction for fund-raising)

In addition , there will be up to 20 technology grants, valued at $10,000, to nonprofits that indicate an interest.

There is a quick turnaround on these grants. You must submit an application by midnight on March 28, 2011, and you'll be notified if you've won on April 10.

Visit Community Tech Knowledge's site to apply.

Follow the effort on Twitter at #ctkgrant.

Keep Your Toddler Busy--and Healthy!

I'm in the middle of a big move, and haven't had time to blog lately. But here's a great guest article by child fitness expert--and now digital picture book publisher--Wendy Toone: What can often be a parents' worst nightmare? A long wait in a waiting room or lobby with an active toddler or two. Does the thought of sitting in a small, stifling lobby or waiting with youngsters in tow make you cringe? If you're like me, one giant question races through your mind: How am I going to occupy my children so they aren't consumed with boredom which results in their running around or squabbling with each other? You can kill two birds with one stone by helping them with their fine motor skills via a few fun activities: 1. Fingers. Finger songs are great waiting games. "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "10 Little Indians", "Where is Thumbkin?" are all fun songs for kids. If it's a quiet room you're waiting in, whisper singing brings a new twist to the songs. Don't worry - Paula and Simon won't be judging you. You're a parent; you can get away with it. Don't forget about "Twinkle Little Star", which is a natural progression to practicing one's "ABC's"......weird how they're the same tune, huh? If you're really on a roll and there are others waiting with you, earn a gold star by getting everyone to do a rousing chorus of "The Wheels On the Bus". Party on!! 2. Toes. Yep, wiggling fingers counts as fine motor, but so does the wiggling of toes. Harkening back to the ballet lessons of my childhood, I remember learning "flex" and "point". Of course, all ballerinas are supposed to point their toes. But it takes muscle control to make little feet point down and flex up to the sky. Have your child sit down and extend their legs in front of them. Using imagery such as lighting a candle (flex their feet), blowing out the candle (point their toes), can sometimes teach the concept to very young children. 3. Carry a scarf with you. Not only can you accessorize at a moment's notice (fabulous, dahling!), but you'll be amazed how you can occupy yourself and your child. Smooth it out and teach shapes.... it's a square.... take one corner and fold it into a triangle.... can you make a rectangle? You can be silly, too. Be a ghost by putting it over your child's head. Turn him/her into Little Red Riding Hood. Tell the story if they've never heard it. (Don't forget to use funny voices to really hold their attention.) Use your imagination, and your child's imagination. And encourage them to manipulate the scarf to really get those fine muscle groups working. So the next time you and your child are waiting, don't let boredom get the best of you. Don't worry about your child getting out of control. Use the time to develop your child's fine motor skills, and watch how the time quickly goes by. I am often asked a question that sounds like this, "Other than fine motor and gross motor exercises, is there anything else I can do to pass the time with my child while waiting anywhere?" Do you know the answer? Hint - I Spy, children's digital picture books.

Wendy Toone is a child expert having owned and operated a leading franchise children's fitness center and now producing MobiStories, Digital Books for KidsTM, as well as being a mom to her two children. To experience the world of digital children's picture books, visit www.mobistories.com.

To download a free copy of Mommy's High Heel Shoes for your PC or Mac, visit MobiStories.com and enter the promo code: MHHS0710. The offer expires 8/22.Mommy's High Heel Shoes is also available for download as an app via the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad in the iTunes store where you can check out more great story apps from MobiStories: To order a hard cover copy of Kristie Finnan's book, Mommy's High Heeled shoes, visit her at KristieFinnan.com. *This advertorial post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writers Network.

A Magical Holiday Album for a Great Cause

I had the honor a few weeks ago of receiving a review copy of a unique  holiday album. It's called The Greatest Gift and you can preview it here. The mastermind behind The Greatest Gift is Alexis Cole, a renowed jazz vocalist who won the 2007 Jazzmobile competition. The CD is a wonderful mix of traditional and original tunes, in a variety of styles--jazz, blues, pop, and classical. Her friends and even some family members, all of the accomplished musicians, share their talents on this delightful album.

One of the coolest things about the project is that through it, Alexis is raising money for World Bicycle Relief, an organization which provides sustainable access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities in developing nations through the power of bicycles. You need to visit the website if you haven't heard about WBR (I hadn't, and I was so impressed!). In fact, Alexis is donating 100 percent of the net proceeds of her CD to World Bicycle Relief.

I recently interviewed Alexis and wanted to share her thoughts with you.

Q: I loved your CD, Alexis. Can you share with my readers about how you came up with the concept?

A: Thanks!  I wanted to make a recording that I could listen to every Christmas and never get tired of.  I figured having a lot of variety of instrumentation, arrangers, and styles plus mixing up vocal tunes and instrumentals would help to give the recording longevity. 

Q: Why did you get involved with World Bicycle Relief?

A: I had the idea to connect the CD with a charity, and looked around for something to do with bikes, because I’m really into biking.  The fact that World Bicycle Relief is also working in Africa and on AIDS education made them an easy decision for me.  I also like the way they’re building support systems into the work their doing, not just dropping off a container of used bikes in the middle of nowhere, where people can’t exactly backorder parts online.

Q: What are your hopes for this album?

A: I hope the album will sell wildly and that all the information about World Bicycle Relief that’s in the album packaging will help to raise awareness of that project. Ideally, people will be inspired by the music to order bicycles for their friends, instead of getting them baskets of cheese and sausage. 

Q: Any favorite cuts on the CD?

A: My Dad’s tune ‘Jesus is the Best Part of Christmas’ was so much fun to work on, with the children’s choir.  I love how energetic and poppy it is.  I think that tune is destined to be a new Christmas standard!

Two Wonderful New CD's

I've been listening to and thoroughly enjoying two new CD's lately, both which I highly recommend:

--First, Harry Connick Jr.'s Your Songs, which is a compilation of classic tunes like "Just the Way You Are," "Close to You," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "Mona Lisa." What can I say? It's divine! I love Harry Connick Jr.'s voice (his face ain't bad, either! <g>) and these arrangements are stellar. It's the perfect CD to listen to when you want to get in a romantic mood.

--Then, Joshua Bell's At Home with Friends, a project that sprang from the parties he hosts at his house, which start with great food and conversation and end with a concert. Joshua is assisted on the CD by a "Who's Who" from the music world...Sting, Chris Botti, Kristin Chenoweth (their "My Funny Valentine" was a highlight for me--I'm a big fan of hers), and Regina Spektor. And the version of "Eleanor Rigby" he does with Frankie Moreno might just blow your mind. :)

Thanks to One2One Network for providing me the opportunity to receive and review these CD's.

Free Music Downloads (from Kenny Loggins' AWESOME new CD for Families)

Boy, have I got a treat for you! :) My family and I have been thoroughly enjoying a preview of Kenny Loggin's new CD for families, "All Join In." In fact, it has helped get us (at least the non-morning people in our house, who shall remain anonymous) "un-grumpy" a few times on the way to school. The music is joyful, well-produced, and contagious. (I'm not a big fan of the Ghandi/Bhudda song, but all the others are amazing!)

And now, I can offer you, my favorite people, four free song downloads. Yay! Here's the link and after listening, you just answer a couple quick questions about your thoughts on the music and then you'll get an email with a link to download 4 FREE digital songs (MP3s) from "All Join In".  

You can thank me later. :) Have a wonderful, joy-filled day!

When God Turns on the Light

The world seems pretty dark right now, doesn't it? Unemployment, Swine Flu, pirates (!), war, nuclear testing, recession--the news just isn't very good. And in my immediate circle, family members and friends are struggling with their own crises. All these problems and concerns caused me to lose sleep more than once over the past week.

 

Sometimes, I want to pull the covers over my head and not get out of bed. Since that's not an option, (thank God for perky preschoolers!), I try to focus on God's word, and not the world's noise. I count my many blessings, and remember the scriptures that promise a good outcome--if not right away, then eventually! :)

And I journal, pouring my thoughts and fears on paper. Here's something I wrote several years ago that still applies today. I hope it encourages you to look for the light, and to shine it for others:

 

The other night, our toddler, Jackson, was laying beside me on the bed. I told him a story and then got up to turn off the light. As soon as I flipped the switch, I got back in bed beside him. Still, he started crying. "Mommy!" he yelled. "Where are you? I can't see you! Turn on the light!" I immediately got up and turned a small light back on.

 

"Mommy's right here," I said soothingly. "I'm not going anywhere." As soon as he could see me, he quieted down and began to fall asleep.

 

As I lay next to him, stroking his soft har, God revealed to me that I am soooo much like my little boy. When things are not going well and I can't see what God's doing, I begin to panic. "Where are you?" I cry. "I can't see you! Turn on the light!"

 

"Dena," God whispered to me heart, "I'm here even when you can't see me. I'm right next to you." Like the Perfect Parent He is, He doesn't scold me or chastise my lack of faith. Because He understands my frailties and fears, He turns on the light for me, just as I immediately turned on the light for my little man.

 

Sometimes the light comes through comforting scriptures, or through the sweet voice of a friend. Sometimes, it appears with a hug from my husband or older son. And sometimes, light breaks through with a hymn or a worship song that I hear on the radio. Whatever form it takes, the result is the same...peace, comfort--and rest. Praise God, He never leaves me in the dark...and He never, ever leaves me alone.

Yes, That's My Husband in the Deer Costume!

Christians in the Arts

My friend and fellow author Leanne interviewed me recently (mostly about the theater where my hubby and I work) and the results are on her blog today. I'd be honored if you'd read it. If you visit her blog, be sure to read some of the other material she's collected. Leanne has some great interviews with authors, musicians, artists and other creative types. :)

A new Point of Grace song (and contest!)

My friend Whitney (THANKS, girl!) emailed me this link today. I absolutely LOVE this new song and video from Point of Grace. (And if you're a mom, I predict you will too.) I hope the single crosses over to country or AC radio and brings them a whole new set of fans. They deserve it!

In fact, I am going to give away one of each of my books to the first person to answer two Point of Grace questions:

• What was POG's name before the quartet came out with their first album on a record label? (They had already recorded one album as an independent artist, but since they were known as --- and it was already taken in the Nashville music industry, Word records had them change it.)
• What college did the four original group members attend?

I happen to know these very trivial facts because I saw them in concert in '93, right before they hit the bigtime :).

If you know the answers, or can find them, just leave a comment--and be sure and leave your mailing address.