The Adventure Project

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Heeey

I have this friend since second grade, when we talk on the phone (every couple months or so) we open with “heeeey” (pronounced like “hay” with the “a” drawn out). Every time I can hear her smile-and I’m sure she can hear me smile as well-and then we pick up where we left off. The “heeey” is our way of saying, “I’m sorry it’s been so long, we have 10 kids between us, life is bound to go too quickly.”

So…heeeey.

I think the best way I can summarize what’s been going on is with bullet points.

-The big 3 are wrestling. My dad was a good wrestler, as was my brother. I come from “a wrestling family”, as it were. If you live in Iowa and you say you are from “a wrestling family” you automatically get a little more street cred. This state is crazy about its men in tights rolling around with each other. Because I’ve loved my little brother so intensely for as long as I can remember I used to hate watching him wrestle. It’s just so intense, it’s just so vulnerable. Weeeell, it’s way worse as a mom. Boys had their first tournament last weekend and I really did feel like I was going to throw up all day. It is insanely hard to watch them get beat at something. I’m nowhere close to a helicopter parent but in those moments I see why it’s an epidemic in this nation-in many ways it’d be so much easier to shelter my kids from experiencing that for as long as I can. Instead, I sign them up for another tournament this weekend. Builds character, right?

-We got a new kitten. Made the mistake of going to a friend’s house who lives in the country. Their farm cat had 7 farm kittens. Say what you will but dammit if the sight of all 5 of my kids begging me for another cat isn’t impossible to say no to. Zach finds it just as difficult, thus: Evie D. (“Evie” for Z’s grandma “Evelyn” and “D” for my grandma “Delores”.) She’s sassy and fun and funny just like our grandmas. Oh, and we brought her home on New Years EVE. It’s just the perfect name. 🙂

-I took the GRE. Yeah I did. I decided to apply to grad school. It’s something I knew I wanted to do since I was in college myself, but I’ve loved raising my kids so much. Now that they’re in school it’s just good timing. I’m going for my PhD in Communication Studies, hoping to one day teach at the collegiate level. If I get in then I know it was as good a timing as we thought, if not, there’s always next year!

-Christmas was amazing. Many times on Christmas Day I looked around me and thought “I never even thought to dream this big.” That is how good life is right now. It’s busy, and it’s crazy but it’s good. This year we did the “Something you want, something you need, something you wear and something you read.” Then a gift from Santa and some stocking stuffers from us. I LOVED it. By nature I love things simple and efficient, so that fit the bill extremely well. If you’ve been looking to downsize presents in order to focus on more important stuff, I can’t urge you enough to do something like it.

-I’m going to Haiti in just over a week. After Wine to Water Jody asked if I’d like to go and see just how good The Adventure Project really is. Um, yeah. Many times, particularly as money is always tight around Christmas, I’d say to Zach, “Honey I just won’t go to Haiti, it’s fine.” And God love him, he consistently said, “It doesn’t matter, you have to go, Tesi. I won’t let you not go.” Sweet Jesus I love that man. So I’m going. I am really, really excited.

So much more has gone on, obviously, in the last few months. But as I rang in the new year with my kiddos, my hubby and my sister/brother-in-law I couldn’t help but realize just how great this year was. We had our struggles, boy did we! But they were worth it. Because we’ve come to 2013 and we are stronger and happier than ever.

We have no idea what 2013 holds for us but we are excited about life. We are thankful for it. And I’ll take that any day.

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Wine to Water Online Auction!

If you’re anything like me, there are times in this online world that you feel completely bummed that you are missing something taking place in places like California or Colorado or Seattle. And I know, because you all have told me, that a lot of you across this great nation are bummed you are missing Wine to Water. So last year we held an online auction of some of the art available at the event. The online auction brought in almost $1000. So how could we not do it again?

Here is your chance. Your chance to bid on really beautiful art as well as enter into this story.
This story is complicated and brutifal. It involves using “small” people (moms, friends, sisters) to do big things across the world. It involves a small-ish community to change the face of a big community. It involves entering into the story of our moms, friends, sisters around the world. And I can attest to the fact that when you choose to enter into the story, your life will never be the same. Every time you look at that piece of art, you will remember that you are part of it. Incredible.
So here’s the deal. The online auction starts right now, and will close Saturday, November 10th at 12pm CST. Send your highest bid to me at tesileagh@gmail.com. We will have someone bidding on your behalf Saturday night. So if you love a piece, bid high to ensure you get it! 🙂 If you have any questions about the piece, email me and I will find the answer for you! Also, the photography is not awesome, I apologize. It comes from various sources with various levels of clarity. 
Remember, your bid (should you win) will go directly to The Adventure Project. Your bid will be tax deductible! Win a piece of incredible art AND tackle the water crisis? Incredible.
This is just a portion of the art available at the event on Saturday. If you are even close to Davenport, Iowa you need to be making the trip to see the rest. Beautiful stuff. Oh, and the party is really, really fun. Have I mentioned that? And edgy and cool. Need proof? From last year (Thanks, Captain!)

Alas, the art! Good luck and happy bidding!
1) “Mother Africa” is a 14×11 canvas Acrylic mixed media painting with original photography transfer.
2) “Falling Waters” is a 27×74 quilted wall hanging. 
3) “Giving Hands” is an 11×14 Acrylic on Canvas
4) “Water is Life” is a 16×20 Acrylic on canvas
5) “African Savannah” is an 11×14 Acrylic on canvas
6) “Ocean Rose” is an 18×24 Oil on canvas
7) “African Village” is 4 1/2′ x 18″. It is hand painted by an African Fair Trade Artist and then machine quilted and bound in the Quad Cities. 

8) “Water Gives Life” is a series of 3 (you are bidding on them together) 16×20 Acrylic on canvas. When combined, the piece is 20 x 4.5′. 
9) “Sirocco Solano” is 5′ x 4′ framed oil on canvas.

I’m so excited! Go! Bid! 

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ADVENTUREbalm!

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program where I tell you all of my shortcomings as a mom to do something really exciting.

WE ARE SELLING LIP BALM!!! All natural, organic lip balm. The best part? Your money goes directly to one of my favorite organizations of all time, The Adventure Project, to fund clean water solutions.

A few months ago I had coffee with my sis-in-law, Leslie and her friend (my new friend, woot!) Jennie to talk about what we could do to support TAP. Leslie had just written an article about making your own lip balm and it was there that the idea was born.

So here’s the deal. If you buy your tin(s) today you can help fully fund TAP’s program (read more at Jody’s blog here). Time is certainly of the essence. I want you to buy them for your moms, your sisters, your aunties. EVERYONE. If you’re like me and know of some of your women friends going through some stuff right now this would be the perfect, “I love you, I’m thinking of you constantly and please know I wish I could be there for you” gift.

This is the website Leslie set up to tell you more about ADVENTUREbalm.

So go here and buy 1 tin for $7 or 3 for $15. Leave me a comment or email me your address and I will send them. If you’re local I will hand deliver (oh yes I will!)

All directions are on this website.

Here’s what I know. I screwed up last night as a mom. I forgot to be the tooth fairy, I put the kids down early so I could start Desperate Housewives, etc. Despite all of that, I’m using this lip balm as a way to do something today to redeem myself.

Because grace isn’t always big gestures. Sometimes grace comes in the form of lip balm.