big news :)

Only when we take human existence upon ourselves in its starkest and most humiliating misery -- a misery in which nothing has meaning -- can we win through to the only possible way to live. Only when we taste the lot of all, when we become involved deeply in world suffering, one in heart with the need of humanity, can we win through to our true vocation. Only when the conscience becomes active, only when love is born out of suffering, only when hardship leads to liberating action, is victory near.


~ Eberhard Arnold, via the daily dig

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what an appropriate segue :)

my husband and i were talking at work yesterday about wanting to do something for our friends (crystal & fish), but also for the victims of hurricane katrina - what we have decided to do is hold a benefit. we are doing so on september 16th at the vfw hall down the road from our restaurant (pending approval at their meeting next week), and they are donating the hall to us. we will be having a live band (no cost to us as our busboy rocks out, yes) and we are donating the food. all we have to do is come up with a price - he said $5/head, i say $10 - we are supplying all the food and drink, live music, may even have karoake (sp?) in between sets (jim's cousin is a lounge liz, but a great one, as is one of our servers and one of our great customers...) - kind of showcase the local talents and raise money and awareness at the same time!

i am jazzed :)

if anyone has had any experience doing something like this, please clue me in - as always, we are flying by the seat of our pants - but i could use suggestions, like how much food to make, should we make tee-shirts, sell tickets in advance, that sort of thing. the monies will be split down the middle - half to crys and chad, the other half will go directly to the red cross. since all the food is being donated by us, we are not opposed to asking for other food donations from local restaurants and even raffle prizes. all this in about two weeks' time (wasn't our idea any way, it was God's. He can help us "get it done" - He's good like that!)

since i know many of you will be unable to attend in person, i have put up a paypal button on the right-hand side, complete with a link to this really long post of explanation, if you should choose to donate to our worthy effort -- all monies raised through this blog will go directly to crystal and chad and their four children -- no worries there! i will also keep track of who is donating so they will be aware once they receive their monies who we can thank and pray for.

i spoke with crystal last night and i have to tell you, she is an amazing woman of strength and courage. they are holding up pretty well under all the strain and they have the amazing ability to see the hand of God in all of this. true brothers and sisters in Christ, we all are.

donate! donate early and often! bless you for anything you can do, and if you can't, that's cool too - please simply pray for this effort.

peace, out :)