Last year for Christmas I gave each member of our family a piece of red string and we tied them around each others' wrists. 2013 was a particularly rugged year in a many ways and I knew it would stretch us.
The red string was a symbol that our connections might tangle and stretch, but never break. They did tangle and stretch but didn't break.
Now on the eve of 2014 we have much to be grateful for.
My Christmas gifts to my family are these signs and a big bag of Blue Marbles. On New Years Day we'll begin 2014 on the streets and raise funds for the Homeless Garden Project, an organization I greatly admire and appreciate, and hand a blue marble to anyone who contributes.
If you'd like to join us, stop by the Slow Coast Airstream and pick up some blue marbles, make your own signs and start the year off right by supporting your favorite organization.
UPDATE:
We all have hopes/dreams/goals/pledges/resolutions for 2014 but we decided 2 begin the year by raising $ for #HomelessGardenProject, in support of some of the people most in need in our community.
Julia, Grayce, Kanami and Maddie began 2014 panhandling downtown in support of the local Homeless Garden Project, an urban farm that trains people in business and farm skills, and provides the county's oldest CSA.
The girls raised almost $100 for HGP and acquired many humbling, shared experiences and emotions to remember and learn from. From being asked to explain HGP frequently (which they did eloquently), asked if they were homeless themselves, and being managed in a very serious manner by the downtown police.
A rich experience for everyone, and a small contribution to a wonderful project.