Valentine’s Day… “The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth”

We rent a hot water heater from a company which charges a minimum monthly fee with the agreement if anything goes wrong with it the company will replace/repair it at no cost.  This small fee is automatically deducted each month from our bank account.

When the water heater broke down, my fearless husband, made a call to save the day.  After hours on hold, several negotiated agreements and a service call later, Rob proudly announced that the water heater had been fixed and “for our troubles” the company had agreed to forego two months of automatic deductions.  Sounds fair enough, right?  So wrong!

Instead, the water heater rental company started charging our account DOUBLE each month!  The minimum monthly fee was NOW not so minimal, and this situation had gone from bad to worse.  Although we now have hot water after 5pm, Rob’s carefully constructed plan to resolve the hot water heater saga was still causing a strain in our bank account and our marriage.

In an effort to create peace and harmony in the Ramey household once again, Rob knew the key to my heart…Shakespeare!

My Fairest Love,

I in loving fondness inquired of our financial institution of the misfortune that we have long suffered.  That being the abusive nature of which our distributor of waters warmth erroneously charged us for our usage.  Our financial institution doth so agree that such charges coming from our wealth is in fact duplicated.  They have given me a scroll by which to prove our claim. Henceforth, I will bid you this note, this claim that gives proof of this vile evil. 

Oh my Fair Lady, how I detest the notion to call on you for your service,  but dare I ask you to take these scrolls the financial institution hath provided and scribe them via faxation to our lender of waters’  warmth.  I know thou lovest me and would be so willing to help in this transaction, but all the while I cringe to think of asking you of such a trivial matter.

Please forgive my Love, Rob

I declare Rob FORGIVEN!  I am reminded today how humor has always been a great healer in our marriage and of Lysander’s words from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”  

Poverty Uncovered

Underprivileged children are everywhere. Tucked away in a community of affluence where the average household income surpasses $80,540 is a family of seven with five children. Two weeks ago, the Bed Brigade delivered five beds to these five underprivileged children living in a privileged society.  How can this be and how did we find out? 

Educators love kids and notice when they are hurting and tired.  At the high school where I serve as an administrator, one teacher…one day… decided to ask WHY.  Although pride threatened to stand in the way, an eighteen-year-old senior finally confided in someone.  He shared with his trusted teacher that he and his four siblings did not have beds and were sleeping on floors with the only barrier between them and the cold concrete…a thin piece of carpet.  Winter months in Ohio are cold and currently in the single digits.  With frigid conditions and no where to lay his head, this young man described how his back, muscles and body ached all over and how he had gone without a good night's sleep for nine long years. 

                                                                                 

This troubled teacher gathered her thoughts and remembered the Bed Brigade. The Bed Brigade is a movement inspired by S.A.F.E. to provide underprivileged children in the United States with beds of their very own.   In less than 72 hours, and with the help of donors and friends of the Bed Brigade, the family had five new beds, mattresses, mattress covers, pillows, pillow covers, sheets and comforters. 

Although I know five more children are tucked in at night, the thought still chills me to the bone to think of others sleeping on cold floors and going to school without a good night’s sleep.  The Bed Brigade does not discriminate and crosses all boundaries to reach all kids in privileged and underprivileged societies.  I am thankful each day when I see these two beautiful young people walking the halls of our high school looking well rested and ready to face their day. 

Since I personally know and love two of the five children who were grateful recipients of beds, this is the first time S.A.F.E. and the Bed Brigade have hit so close to home for me.  The mattresses that are frequently piled in our garage, the make-shift workshops all over three counties and two states seemed like my husband’s work, but today my heart is also stirred and the passion ignited to share in his work and the mission of S.A.F.E.  Won't you join us? 

Tonya Ramey     

Homes for Haiti 5K

We are organizing a 5K race with profits used to build homes in Haiti.   The race will be held April 16, 2011, 9 A.M. in Plain City, OH. 

We couldn't be more excited to have our race featured on Yahoo Sports!  Please, click on the below link to view more information and support the cause!

Yahoo Sports Features Homes for Haiti 5K

Anniversaries

A week ago today my husband and I celebrated our 20-year wedding anniversary. We went out for a nice candle-lit dinner and had a chance to recount some of our fondest memories from each and every year. And then it hit me today... Today is the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti! I was looking through some online photos of Haiti as it stands today when I was overtaken by the stark contrast of mood between my "happy" anniversary day last week and the "sad" anniversary that the people of Haiti must be feeling today. Please, if there is anything you can do to help these people -- it has been one year! Think back to your life this past year and try to recount one uncomfortable event. How long did it last? I lost my dad to a tragic suicide on August 12th. It took me months to find peace again. But think, it was only months for me -- not an entire year. During my emotional distress I was still in a comfortable home and had plenty to eat.

I've shared some photos taken in Haiti, all taken within the past couple of days, to let you see for yourself how their day might be going. While you're looking through please ask yourself how it might compare to your uncomfortable event and how your life would be different if the event had happened as a Haitian citizen instead of as an American.

by Michelle Taylor, Volunteer