The Mother Letter Project

NEW SITE

2009-03-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

The Mother Letter Project has moved to www.motherletter.com! Come visit us!

New Site Coming Soon

2009-02-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT. Don't forget to read about the Mother's Day Edition.

Please bear with me. We are moving the site as we speak. I hope to have it up and running in the next week or so. At that point, we begin the Big Push, part II. Won't you be a part of raising charitable donations this Mother's Day?

MLP Bites Back

2009-02-11T05:41:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT. Don't forget to read about the Mother's Day Edition.

MALARIA UPDATE

Recently, a compassionate heart sent me some information related to Compassion's Malaria Intervention Fund and the Bite Back campaign. Want to familiarize yourself with the materials? Get to know this work; it is the work in which we are trying to take part.

Keep the letters coming. All proceeds generated from the Mother's Day Edition will go directly to Compassion's Malaria Intervention fund. Help other mothers save their children.

The Mother Letters

2009-02-11T00:51:00.000-08:00

Here is the good stuff. This is where the magic happens. Mothers, post your letters in the comment section, or email to motherletter@gmail.com.

UPDATE

We are still taking submissions for the Mother's Day Edition, 2009. Give us your best stuff!Thank you so much for your letters. We are eternally grateful.

The MLP on The Significance of Stories

2009-02-10T06:18:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT. Don't forget to read about the Mother's Day Edition.

Amber and I have been discussing the power of our stories. Our stories empower us. They are as distinct and complex as our fingerprints. And although distinct, the similarities we find within our’s and other’s can lend encouragement and hope. If we are dots, are stories are the connecting lines. I believe that it’s time to start drawing.

Amber has decided to share our love story on Tuesdays on her site. Similarly, I have decided to begin sharing some of the stories of the Mother Letter Project. Put the snowflake under the microscope. Examine the fine lines. Discuss what you see, both the beauty and deformity. It makes us who we are.

Today I am sharing a brief excerpt from a letter written by my friend Kari. Enjoy, and feel free to discuss:

Dear Mother,

When we found out our son would have challenges and would possibly see
God sooner than we would I hurt in a way that I didn't know was possible. I
would have done anything to make it better, but for the first time there was
absolutely nothing I could do, nothing I could say to change the situation. …
How helpless I felt, and yet how much strength I drew from knowing God was in
the middle of it. …

Special care became part of our lives and when those requirements became noticeable to those around and to those who passed, I found myself not resentful, but rather feeling love and compassion toward everyone who passed. I will never look at a mother of a child with additional care requirements the same - they do so much, give so much, love so deeply, endure so strongly, hurt so keenly, and appreciate life so much. …
My little one has entered the gates of heaven, but I will forever be his mother, and he a part of me. As much as I would give anything to hold my little one close, my life will be forever richer because of him. It is only through him that I have learned that the love of a mother is a love that knows no bounds….

If asked what lessons I have learned… I would say this taught me to trust that God, who made me a mother and who created my child, equipped me to meet the needs of my child. I would say listen, really listen to what your child is teaching you. As you would sit and listen to God, sit and listen to the silence, to the things they do not say and to the things they do say - actively listen to them. Make time to get to know them; not just who you think they are, but who they think they are. Strip yourself of what you want them to be and look deeply into what God has made them, who they dream of being, who they are.
… The handprints of our children will be captured on our hearts forever and
will shape our hearts into a work of art that only a child can create.

Love,
Kari

The MLP Mother's Day Edition Clarified

2009-02-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT.

As you now know, we have extended the Mother Letter Project and are trying to raise a bit of money for Compassion International's Malaria Intervention Fund (read here for more on Malaria). Why Malaria? As if it were not enough that Malaria kills 3,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa alone, that little village in Mozambique wages war with the parasite every rainy season. And they are not winning the battle. So, it is our hope that by supporting a charitable organization that is fighting malaria, we may in some small way “bite back” at the disease that is crippling the Yao people in Mozambique.

So what is the charity, you ask? We intend to raise money for Compassion International’s Malaria Intervention Fund. According to their website, the fund provides mosquito nets for thousands of women and children with malaria. In addition, they provide life saving medication to those trying to fight the disease.

Here is how it will work. For those of you who have not yet submitted a Mother Letter, you may do so before Mother’s Day. If you meet the deadline, you will get a complimentary copy of the letters to give to your mom, or your daughter, or your best friend for Mother’s Day. If you have already submitted your letter and would like a copy of the new round, or if you would like to purchase a copy for a friend or loved one for mother's day, you can pledge $0.10 per letter to Compassion's Malaria Intervention Fund and, upon doing so, I will send you a copy once it is compiled.

Will you get behind the effort? Will you help beat the bushes for more letters? Will you pledge to donate at least $0.10 per letter to fight malaria. We have this one lifetime to make a difference. Let’s do it.

The Mother Letter Project--Social Networking

2009-02-02T04:32:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT.

We have extended the project to Mother's Day. You can read about the extended project HERE. Submit your letter via email HERE, or COMMENT HERE.

UPDATE—Facebook Fans And Twitterings

In the very near future, the MLP will be using certain social networking media to give you updates on the MLP Mother's Day Edition. As of today's date, the MLP has a Facebook profile page, in addition to a fan page. Make sure to befriend "Ml Proj" to get important updates regarding the project.

In addition, the MLP joined Twitter some time ago. Although my Twitter musings have been somewhat limited in the past, I will begin to use Twitter to give you important information relating to our fight against Malaria, in addition to other updates on the project. Don't know what Twitter is? Read about it here. If you are already a member, feel free to follow me on Twitter.

Let's start building some momentum. I can't wait to see what happens.

The MLP--On Ice 'Till Next Week

2009-01-30T10:34:00.001-08:00

I am in the middle of organizing a thousand person rally to help with the ice storm carnage of this week. Details are still sketchy, and perhaps it will never get off of the ground. However, that's what I thought about the MLP. So I am cautiously confident that I can round up 1,000 people to volunteer time and talent to help my beautiful home town of Fayetteville, Arkansas. In fact, I think I have already found one or two.

Are you are your church/civic club (preferably those within some proximity) looking for a service project? Well, do I have an idea for you. You could help me, and the rest of Fayetteville, clean up stuff like this:

Although a close friend of mine and I are just now starting the organizational efforts, we'd love to know whether you want to jump in. And if you do, we'll hang out some, and have a brief party at my place where we will revel in God's grace that covers a multitude of icicles.

The MLP post will come next Monday, don't worry. Get ready. We're about to make another big push!

THE MOTHER'S DAY EDITION--CHARITY POST

2009-01-26T04:30:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT.

UPDATE—The Charity

As you now know, we have extended the Mother Letter Project and are trying to raise a bit of money for Compassion International's Malaria Intervention Fund (read here for more on Malaria).

Why Malaria? As if it were not enough that Malaria kills 3,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa alone, that little village in Mozambique wages war with the parasite every rainy season. And they are not winning the battle. So, it is our hope that by supporting a charitable organization that is fighting malaria, we may in some small way “bite back” at the disease that is crippling the Yao people in Mozambique.

So what is the charity, you ask? We intend to raise money for Compassion International’s Malaria Intervention Fund. According to their website, the fund provides mosquito nets for thousands of women and children with malaria. In addition, they provide life saving medication to those trying to fight the disease.

Here is how it works. We have extended the project to include a Mother’s Day Edition. For those of you who have not yet submitted a Mother Letter, you may do so before Mother’s Day. If you meet the deadline, you will get a complimentary copy of the letters to give to your mom, or your daughter, or your best friend for Mother’s Day.

If you have already submitted your letter and would like a copy of the new round, or if you would like to purchase a copy for a friend or loved one for mother's day, you can pledge $0.10 per letter to Compassion's Malaria Intervention Fund and, upon doing so, I will send you a copy once it is compiled.

Will you get behind the effort? Will you help beat the bushes for more letters? Will you pledge to donate at least $0.10 per letter to fight malaria.

We have this one lifetime to make a difference. Let’s do it.

THE MLP-MOTHER'S DAY EDITION?

2009-01-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

Did you think we were finished with the Mother Letter Project? Well, so did I.

Since the completion of the Project, many have written me requesting copies of the letters. The requests seem to be centered around generating a copy to give to their dearest mums for Mother's Day. It is a difficult thing to say "I'm sorry." It is difficult to tell another mother, who might need her own set electronic encouragement, "no." And the truth is, I don't want to say no.

So, this week, Penny put me over the edge. Penny was the request that begged the question, "should we do Round II?" A question that needs your help answering.

Amber and I have decided to give you another run at it. Were you a late comer to the party? Did you forget to bring your present and wrap it with a bow? Well, the party just moved into the wee hours of the morning, and Wal-Mart's still open.

We are taking submissions again. If you submit your Mother Letter before Mother's Day, we'll compile the MLP Mother's Day Edition and distribute it. Will you get the original set of letters? Here is where I say, "I'm sorry, no." But you will get the Mother's Day Edition, which is sure to be chock-full of good submissions (I know someone named Jana who needs to write one).

I know that many of you who already submitted are asking, "will I receive a copy of the Mother's Day Edition?" Yes, and no. We are currently trying to locate a relief organization in Africa that deals with women's/mother's issues (suggestions in the comments). If you pledge to give $0.10 (10 cents!) per letter generated from the Mother's Day Edition to that charity, you'll get a copy of the Mother's Day Edition.

As always, you may email the project HERE, or COMMENT HERE.

Help me get the word out today? Twitter it? Email it? Let's get rollin'.

The Mother Letter Project--A Forum

2009-01-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

First things first... I will post about her reaction in the coming days, but she says THANK YOU!

Also, know that you may still submit a letter via comments or email (motherletter@gmail.com). Although the deadline has passed for receiving a copy of the original MLP, I would still love to present your letter to Amber.

A FORUM
Now that many of you have received your copies of the letters, I am opening up this post as a forum for your comments--not to me, but to the other mothers. Did another letter touch your heart? Did another mother speak a timely word for you?

The pages are numbered. Give a reference and discuss!

Enjoy, and...

Merry Christmas, 2009?

A PLUG FOR WEARETHATFAMILY

2009-01-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

a gleaning

2009-01-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

-------------

Another thank you is in such order here, friends. This is Amber, the Mama who is married to the Daddy of The Mother Letters. We do call him "Daddy" around here, even though his email and twitter name is "Mother."

I've been gleaning and gleaning in these letters. Have you? I can't stop thinking about the blessing they'll be even years from now as we enter new stages and take on different perspectives.

It's been slow-going. I haven't read very many of them because I can only be touched so deeply in one day. I'm telling you, I think my heart might turn inside-out sometimes.

How would you feel if I shared a bit of what is really getting me about these letters as I read them - if I share with you what I'm gleaning? I want to talk about them as I read, and since you wrote them, I was wondering if we could talk.

Here are only a few segments I've loved from the first two sections (I have read more than that, by the way). I've had to go back again and again for them:

"When I smell your chocolate chip cookies, I smile and take a deep breath in and smell the goodness of being home" - Anita S, p. 3

"Strip yourself of what you want them to be and look deeply into what God has made them, who they dream of being. [...] Enjoy every opportunity where little hands seek yours and find contentment there. Revel in the snuggles after dark that provide the chance to hear the softly spoken thoughts from the bottoms of their souls. Breathe them in deeply. [...] The handprints of our children will be captured on our hearts forever and will shape our hearts into a work of art that only a child can create." - Kari Clark, p. 8

"When I was a little girl, my mother would tuck me into bed and in a low hum, sing sweet melodies to ease me to sleep. [...] I wanted to curl up inside her vibrations; her warm tones covered me like a blanket. Her voice was pure love and I was safe and secure. Once I was sleepy, she would quietly exit my room and go next door to my sister's room. I would roll toward the side of the bed, press my ear against the wall, and listen [...]" - Leah, p. 32

"Slow down." - Ann Kroeker, p. 36

"I've been afraid, and fear creates perfectionism, and perfectionism kills grace, and gracelessness kills everything. Death is not a place where the love that grew a child belongs." - Angela, p. 46

"So a mother kneels. So a mother gets up and works and prays, prays and works. Because the prayers we weave into the matching of socks, the stirring of oatmeal, the reading of stories, they survive fire." - Ann Voskamp, p. 41

-----------

Whoa! Isn't it so much to think about? Has anything in The Mother Letters really grabbed you, encouraged you, or humbled you? Please share.

Thank you for confirming Motherhood as a real, tender, uneasy grace. It makes me want to reverse time a little, catch the sand with my hands and shove it back into the glass.

Relishing more,

Amber@theRunaMuck

A Brief Intermission

2009-01-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

A Post For a Friend-NEW UPDATE REQUEST

2009-01-12T06:56:00.000-08:00

By now you know the story, see the FAQs for more explanation.

A POST FOR A FRIEND

We know these people. They are the kind of people I want to be when I grow up. And right now, they are engaged in a battle for their son's life. A blogger summed up his struggle almost 2 weeks ago. She said:

As we spend our day today at the hospital with our nurse friends and family, we will be thinking about our young friend from church Robbie Shackelford and his family. He is here in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and has been diagnosed with Encelphalitis. Here’s the latest report we have on him. “Robbie still has a lot of pain from his neurologically induced cramps and spasms which are now going up into his hips and back as well has his legs and feet. He has thrush in his mouth which is annoying him. His mind is as sharp as ever. He has built one Bionicle and is in the middle of his legos when his pain secedes long enough. Sometimes, he lacks the strength to snap some of them and gets a little impatient with his dad’s slowness in figuring out what to put where.... Please join us in lifting Robbie up, praying for healing for his body, wisdom for his caregivers, and peace and comfort for his family during this Christmas away from home.

Monday morning, I received an email regarding young Robbie Shackelford. His struggle has become much worse. He is enduring full body spasms and the medication is not working. The doctors are at a loss for answers. The parents, Ken and Tanja, are struggling through sleepless nights in prayer for their son. Will you join them today?

Please use the comment section below to tell the Shackelford's that you are praying for them (after all, this is a blog devoted to parents). In fact, if you would like to write a short prayer for Robbie, use the comments below. I will see that they are delivered. Moreover, if you do not have a post ready for today, please feel free to cut and copy this post. This is not about recognition, it's about reconciliation. Please do some small part today.

See the update below, and keep praying.

NEW UPDATED PRAYER REQUEST (to read previous update, click here)

In an email today, Robbie's father said it was a "relatively decent day" and that Robbie was able to sleep through most of the night. However, Robbie has had a full day of muscle spasms that have caused him severe discomfort. Ken reports that the Robbie's attitude is amazing and he is trying to be a blessing to all, even in the worst of his pain.

Although there has been some progress, please pray for Robbie on Wednesday. He is having surgery to put a food tube in place. Robbie will be under general anesthesia for the surgery. In an email, Ken stated that "the next day or two will be tough... so we ask for your prayers for strength."

Please continue offering your prayers and thoughts for this family.

THE LITTLE VILLAGE THAT DOES

2009-01-09T11:40:00.000-08:00

WHAT DID AMBER GIVE?

2009-01-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT. Instead of purchasing Christmas this year, our family created it and donated the "difference" to a small African village. I collected a series of open letters-the Mother Letters-for my wife's Christmas present. You may still submit a letter via email HERE, or COMMENT HERE. Please refer to the FAQs in the side bar for more details.

UPDATE
"DEAR SETH, WHAT DID AMBER GIVE YOU FOR CHRISTMAS?"

That, my friends, is the single most asked question of MLP readers. Directly following said question, many of you have asked me to explain the parameters for "creating Christmas." In others words, if you want to attempt the task this year, how much are you allowed to spend?

I hope to answer those questions in a single post. Bear with me.

Explaining Amber's gift to me will, I hope, clarify the later question. Amber gave me a book titled, What I want to do With You in 2009: a Year-Long to do List For Seth And Amber. The to-do list, normally a dreaded foe of husbands from here to the most remote reaches of Tristan da Cunha, has taken on new meaning. Each to-do item Amber listed coincides with some deeply rooted passion of mine. Some of the to-do items are as follows: January-start memorizing scripture from the New English Bible and journal the verses; March-get a sitter and go for a long Arkansas drive, looking for photo opportunities; June-fly fishing together; September-plant a fall garden together; November-accept a cooking challenge from one another; December-be working hard to bring our Abri (the Ethiopian child we hope to adopt) home.

I could not ask for a better gift! By her gift, she intentioned to make 2009 our year; she has purposed to engage in my love language. What a gift!

You will recognize that several of the items will require us to spend a bit of money. After all, gas for a multi-mile drive is not free. However, she came well within our parameters. First, she did not spend font-end money on my Christmas presents. In addition, if you added up the coming "to do list" expenditures, she still spent considerably less on this gift than in the previous years. And what of the money she would have blown on the once-a-year-buzzing-sparkly-totally-forgettable gadget purchase? It's going to Mozambique.

So, what did Amber give me? She gave me intentionality in our marriage-a gift that will reap benefits for us and our children. She also gave the Yao another row to hoe and another seed to sow. That is a great Christmas, if you ask me. And you did.

This coming year, think about how you can spend less money (or none) and give more intentionally. Give more relationally. Isn't that what Christmas is about?

Start thinking now. After all, is it ever too early to consider Advent?

I covet your thoughts on this one.

The MLP--Lessons Learned

2008-12-31T19:26:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT. By now you know the story. Instead of purchasing Christmas this year, our family created it and donated the "difference" to a small African village. To that end, I collected a series of open letters-the Mother Letters-for my wife's Christmas present. You may still submit a letter via email HERE, or COMMENT HERE. Please refer to the FAQs in the side bar for answers to more of your questions. They explain the project in greater detail.

UPDATE--LESSONS LEARNED

This week has been eventful. After the Big Reveal, life intervened. On December 26th, I received a somber telephone call. My dear uncle passed to the next life. He was 57.

I have listened to stories of his life-those discrete personal moments, shared by family over tears and pecan pie. Some shared stories to lighten the burden. Some shared stories of sorrow. The common thread, however, was time. Time is the essence of our lives.

We have been given but one span of time, marked with an unknown date of expiration. We move toward the spent column faster than we know. We move forward because of the requirement of accountability.

"Why such a somber post on the MLP," you ask? I have realized in reading your letters, in sharing your stories, and in talking to Amber, that each opportunity is most important. There is only one chance to love hard-your wife, you husband, and children. There is but one chance to reconcile-with your past, your family, and your friends. When viewed in the scope of eternity, that one brief moment is called "today." It is our life.

To those of you who have spouses-intention to love them well in 2009. For all with children and grandchildren-let your love be passed to them with creativity and gusto. To those with difficult pasts, the kinds that so easily entangle-cast them aside and press on reconciliation.

2009 is the year. It will only be lived once.

Here is to 2009!

The Mother Letter Project Reveal--HOW'D IT ALL GO DOWN?

2008-12-29T04:51:00.000-08:00

Update--HOW'D IT ALL GO DOWN?
I am officially back to the land of internet connectivity (please be patient as I sift through your emails related to the project). So, I thought I'd give you all my side of how it all went down.

On our way to Amber's Alabama home-place, I started to tell her that her present had not come together like I thought and that she probably wouldn't be receiving a gift on Christmas day. I told her that she could expect something later in December, or maybe January, or maybe... She hid her dissapointment well.

On Christmas Eve, I made my way to Huntsville in order to "pick up a few things." As you all know, my primary reason for traveling to Huntsville was to put the finishing touches on the project and send a mass email, which consequently caused my account to be temporarily suspended; I was tagged as a SPAMMER, you see.

I then made my way back to the homestead and informed Amber that, beyond a shadow of any doubt, her Christmas present was not going to work out. She didn't know that I had devised a tricky play with her sister.

On Christmas morning, I biffed. I totally forgot about her stocking. As a last minute filler, I stuffed it with toffee (which was really no surprise since we had already eaten a half-tin) and a partial roll of toilet paper. When she opened it, she didn't see the need for the toilet paper. I mean, the toffee was really good but it was nothing to cry about. Again, she hid her deflation--barely.

About ten minutes later, her brother-in-law called and asked me to help him put together a Christmas present. If you know me, this is laughable--I am the least handy man in America. However, I agreed and Amber's sister asked Amber to come along. So, early on Christmas morning, we loaded up and made our way to the sister's house.

Amber's sister has recently acquired the internet, so upon arrival the sis said "hey Amber, come and look at these new facebook pictures." They cruised through facebook for a few minutes and then Erin said "what I really want you to see is this." It was Shannon's post. You know the post--the reveal post.

At first, she smiled just a little. Then, a tear formed. Then, as she kept reading, she started giggling. Then, full on gut-laughter. Then a tearful breakdown with much fanning of the hands and covering of the eyes. She said "hold on, I'm repenting"--I knew the toilet paper filler was bad, but I didn't think it was that bad.

Over the next 30 minutes, I took her to the MLP site and then to your comments on her blog (remember how I hacked in and left a post for you guys to leave her some Christmas cheer?). She was absolutely beside herself.

And then, when the dust settled, we all made our way back to the homestead to eat our Christmas breakfast. And I think it was the best breakfast either of us had ever eaten.

Thank you again so much. Words can only go so far to express my grattitude. You are all heroes.

If you so desire, keep submitting your letters. We will read them all. And please feel free to work in the forum. It's your way to let the other mothers know how their letters touched you.

WELCOME TO THE STABLE--A Christmas present from the MLP

2008-12-25T00:03:00.000-08:00

Perhaps Mary would have said:

Video completed by Josh Graber

As I thought about a Christmas offering for those of you who gave of yourselves, I wondered what Mary would say if she could drop us into the narrative of her motherhood—the narrative of Christmas. A dear friend of mine gives this offering:

A Letter From Mary

Dear Mother,

As you celebrate this day,
when the baby savior came to be with us,
you may imagine what I must have thought
as God With Us was birthed into my arms.

Mother,
Both you and I
have opened to the immensity of his light.
Just as his Spirit overwhelmed me,
so you have let his lambent wings enfold you.
He made his flame unfurl its life in you,
and as you opened,
opened to the gifts in your arms,
He made his joy uncurl inside of you.

Both you and I
have been given the gift of Love.
Just as he made me to love this Jesus baby,
he let an ecstasy of love inside of you
fan out like leaves of joy before your sons.

Dear Beautiful Mother,
You have given all to him, have let yourself
be sifted clean, while daily you have sent
your heart surrendered trilling out before Him.
Your prayers flutter and unfold
like fronds of tender foliage for your sons.
Your open palms are ornaments of God.
Our Lord is glad.

Dear Tender Mother,
Do not be afraid of being less.
The God of Immeasurably More
has birthed his gifts in you, has shone
his light on you, unfurled
his brightness in you, birthed
in you these sons as gifts for the world.

And, yes,
His light is light in you.
Your sons are heirs of light.

Dear Mother,
day after day,
as you serve your little ones,
He is swarmed in love around you.

Dear mother,
He
Is
Swarmed
In
Love
Around
You.
Your sons are heirs of light.

Caroline Hruska

The Village--Mozambique, Africa

2008-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

The African Village:

You know the story. I was affected greatly by a trip to Lichinga, Mozambique. I wanted make a little difference this Christmas, and donate it to that village. And here is your chance to do the same!

My dear friends Kyle, Ginger, Rusty, and Ann serve a people group called the Yao. They teach them how to find reconciliation—reconcilliation with both the land and the Creator. For a people with relatively little agricultural knowledge, Rusty, Kyle, and the gang bring a store-house of wisdom. They bring change, and hopefully, they sow seeds of justice and salvation.

These guys are my heroes. I hope you get to know them.

Please visit their website to learn more about them and their projects. If you would like to donate a little Christmas “difference” to them this year, you may send your check to:

Covenant Fellowship Church

801 S Elm StSearcy, AR 72143

Please note Mozambique in the memo line. We hope to have online donation set up soon. If we can get it set up, you will start to see the above button used quite a bit. Keep checking the site!

WHO I AM!

2008-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please allow me to introduce myself.

My name—my real name—is Seth. I am the husband to the love of my life, Amber, and father to my three sons Isaac (4), Jude (2), and Ian (1). We live our lives and make our home in Arkansas, U.S.A.

I will not belabor the point—by now you know the story. But let me take this opportunity to thank you. Over the course of the last month, you have submitted quite an awe-inpsiring collection of letters. You shared your hopes, fears, losses, and wisdom; you shared your mother story.

You have authored a project that reached farther than I could have ever imagined—all seven continents are represented. I am truly grateful for your response, and know that Amber will be also!

I also want to say a special thanks to Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. Many of you know how she assisted in spreading the word. I am awestruck by her response to a single email that she very well could have deleted. Thanks forever, Shannon.

Thanks also to Ann and Ann, who also took the time to respond to an email from a random strangers in middle-America. Thank you Robin for your PR tips and the endless publicity. Thank you to the rest of you who gave of yourself this Christmas so that you could affect the life of a complete stranger.

Please stop by the sites of Sarah, Cindy, and Nicole and thank them for helping me put this project together!

For a while, I am without internet access. Today’s posts were authored and scheduled well before I left for my Christmas trip. As a result, it will be a few days before I can post Amber’s reaction. Until then, you can get to know her through her musings at her Blog.

For those of you who have posted in the last few days, be looking for the post-Christmas supplement that will include your letters.

The Mother Letter Project--CHRISTMAS DAY SURPRISE!

2008-12-14T12:28:00.000-08:00

The Mother Letter Project--The Five Days of Christmas Recap

2008-12-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

THE FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... CHARITY NAME DROPPING CONTINUED

In the spirit of the Mother Letter Project, I encouraged you to pick a charity and donate a little "difference" this Christmas season. To that end, I promoted 5 charities over 5 days. Read here for the charities I recommended, including Living Water, Compassion, The Luke Sponberg Foundation, Heifer International, and the entire continent of Africa.

At the end of the post for day 5, I left an auto-link segment so that you could recommend charities for Mother Letter readers to support and many of you participated. In fact, I even discovered a cause or two I would like to support, for instance this particular cause (I understand that religious affiliations differ on this site, and I welcome charitable causes with any or no religious affiliation). Although I would love for you to save a bit of Christmas "change" for my friends in that small African village, I understand if you want to give your Christmas "difference" to another cause. With that in mind, tell us who you would like to see supported this Christmas? Use the box below to tell us. Give us a list. After all, it is Christmas.

Let's do some work.

The MLP Music Extravaganza

2008-12-05T06:10:00.000-08:00

FREE CHRISTMAS MUSIC?

The response to this project has been amazing! As I read all of these letters, written by so many amazing mothers, I wonder if there is not an entire group of mothers who have been unintentionally left out of this project? I think about my grandmother, and the amazing stories she would have of raising a child while her husband was fighting Nazis in Europe. Where is her story?

So, here is the challenge. Collect some letters from mothers who are not connected to the information super-highway. Collect handwritten submissions and scan them or retype them. Just send them my way. Then, put the challenge out on your blogs. She who collects the most letters from non-net-connected mothers will receive a free copy of Sarah Groves' new Christmas album (and if you know her, ask her to write a letter ;)). In the event of a tie? We'll settle this the old fashioned way--drawing names from Santa's hat.

Who doesn't like free music?

Have fun; be encouraged. Merry Christmas.

The 5 Days of Christmas

2008-12-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS... LIVING WATER!

In the spirit of the Mother Letter Project, I am respectfully asking you to pick a charity to donate a little "difference" to this Christmas. Need a charitable cause? You are in luck. This week, I will be featuring 5 charities in 5 days; pick one and make a difference.

Today's charity is Living Water International, the charity supported by the folks at the Advent Conspiracy. According to the Advent Conspiracy website, the lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in under-resourced countries. Moreover, 1.8 million people die every year from water born illnesses, including 3,900 children a day. What's the solution?

"Drilling a fresh water well is a relatively inexpensive, yet permanent solution to this epidemic. $10 will give a child clean water for life. That's not an estimate. It's a fact. And here's another fact: Solving this water problem once and for all will cost about $10 billion. Not bad considering Americans spent $450 billion on Christmas last year. Our hope is that, by celebrating Christ in a new way at Christmas, the church can serve as the leading movement behind ending the water crisis once and for all."
-http://www.adventconspiracy.org/water/

Please visit the websites of Advent Conspiracy and Living Waters. Tell 'em Danny from the Mother Letter Project sent you. And donate a little loose change; after all, it is Christmas!
----------------------------------

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS... COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL!

In the spirit of the Mother Letter Project, I am respectfully asking you to pick a charity to donate a little "difference" to this Christmas. Need a charitable cause? You are in luck. This week, I will be featuring 5 charities in 5 days; pick one and make a difference. Note: to read about the previous charities, click here.

Today's charity is Compassion International. In their words: "Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. ... Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 25 countries."

So many good people have blogged about Compassion, but none better than Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. Read her post about Compassion and read her Africa story. Then, sit down with your family and decide whether you will donate some "difference" this year by adopting a child. After all, it is Christmas!

------------------------------
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS... THE LUKE SPONBERG FOUNDATION

(click here to see previous charities posted)

Let’s bring it back to the grass roots. I know; I know. The above badge is not that of the Luke Sponberg Foundation. Bear with me, this charity post takes some ‘splainin.

I have been reading blogs lately—a pastime in which I previously was not engaged. Moreover, I have been reading your blogs. In so doing I stumbled across Angie’s blog (Bring the Rain), and was absolutely inspired by the grace that oozed from her story of personal loss. Read the story here. I wrote her and asked her whether we could donate to a foundation she supported—perhaps one that touched on the discrete issues with which she has dealt. Do you know what she did?

She directed me to her brother’s site—The Luke Sponberg Foundation. And that story was also moving. The Sponberg’s lost a son to SIDS earlier this year. Many of you know the story better than I, but needless to say, the grace with which they write inspires me to reexamine my trappings. It is humbling.

So here’s what I’m asking you to do today. If you are moved by these stories, please purpose to donate a little of your Christmas “difference” to the Luke Sponberg Foundation. A little "change" from a lot of us would go a long way. To donate directly to the foundation, email Greg Sponberg, or visit the website and ask how you can make a donation.

Many of you know these people, whether in person or in blog-land. Perhaps your connection with them individually will inspire you to make a difference today. And if you do, please, oh please, comment below. You may do it anonymously if you wish. Just remember that you can make a difference. After all, it is Christmas.

Thank you so much for helping me build this collection. Have fun; be encouraged. And, as always, merry Christmas!

--------------------------

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS... GIVE A PIG

In the spirit of the Mother Letter Project, I am encouraging you to pick a charity and donate a little "difference" this Christmas season. To that end, I have been running 5 charities in 5 days. Read here for previous charity posts.

Many of you know much about Heifer International. Heifer International is a group dedicated to using a "holistic approach... to build sustainable communities." What does that mean, you ask? The good people at Heifer are attempting to end "world hunger and poverty...." Simple as that.

The idea is timeless. You have all heard the saying before. Give a man a pig, and he'll eat for several days. And if that man knows how to smoke and salt some bacon, perhaps he'll eat for a month. But teach a man to raise pigs and... well... he can sell some of those pigs at the market place so he can purchase milk, honey, and perhaps pair of shoes or two. Moreover, that man can teach a neighbor to raise pigs and so on, and so on.

I have seen their methods used on the field and it is positively enlightening.

How can you help? Visit Heifer International's donation page. Or, visit their online catalogue and give a man a flock of ducks or geese. Or, get a group together (your family perhaps) and donate a water buffalo.

How can you pass on donating some "difference" to purchase a smelly water buffalo? Come on. After all, it is Christmas.
--------------------------------------------

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS... THE AFRICAN MYSTERY AND OTHER RANDOM LINKS

In the spirit of the Mother Letter Project, I am encouraging you to pick a charity and donate a little "difference" this Christmas season. To that end, I have promoting 5 charities over the last 5 days. Read here for previous charity posts.

Today is the day I have been anticipating. It is the day to plant seeds of mystery. Today I am asking you to consider that small, unnamed village in Africa. My wife and I are.

It is a dark village--one without electricity, modern plumbing, adequate housing, or means of food production. It is a village whose opportunity has been stripped by years of governmental corruption and oppression. It is a village unreached by hope.

Unfortunately, this little village is one of millions that pock-mark the continental country side.

Unfortunately, my family cannot help every African village. But, with your help, we can help one. So we (although she doesn't know it yet) are asking you to consider Africa; consider this village. On Christmas day, I will disclose the village, the people group, and the workers trying to make a difference. On Christmas day, I will have a place for you to donate the "difference"--$3, $4, $5. It is up to you.

Please plan to visit this site on Christmas day (I'll also have a little surprise for you). After the wrappings, trappings, and forgotten batteries, fire up that new laptop and stop by this speck of cyberspace. Do for others what they cannot do for themselves--this was the original divine plan of Christmas. Please remember that.

I know, I know. You wanted a charity and I gave you mystery. Perhaps you would rather donate some of your "difference" to disclosed charitable entity. I understand that. So, in an effort to give you a more exhaustive list of charitable entities or individuals involved in relief work, I have provided an auto-link box for your use. What charitable organizations, relief workers, missionaries, or foundations would you like to see supported this Christmas? Use the box below to tell us. Give us a list. After all, it is Christmas.

Let's do some work.

The MLP On The Kindness of Strangers

2008-12-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

I have been reflecting on this project. I have been really reflecting.

Over the last 12 days I have received letters—letters of joy, wisdom, sorrow, and ultimately, of love. There have been stories from expecting mothers—one may be in the delivery room as we speak and one just had an Ethiopian court approve her adoption (please drop by and share you joy with her). And its not just the stories; some of you have written prayers over my wife and my children, and in effect, written prayers over each woman and children who will ultimately receive a copy of this project.

It is amazing.

How did we get here? Simply, this place has been created by the kindness of strangers. It is truly mind-blowing.

Shannon did not know me when I sent a random email to her. She did not have to respond. She did not have to post about it on her blog. But she did. And when you all read it, you did not have to pass it along to your friends. You could have slept on it. You could have passed on by. But you stopped, and thought, and offered your stories. And then, you passed the site along (see the ever growing blogroll and visit one or two).

Many of you have offered to help the project. Robin wrote about it on this incredible site (Blissfully Domestic-go check it out). She sponsored the badge-creating project. There were four awesome submissions, one which I accidentally forgot to send Robin’s way (so sorry). Lisa (see above) ultimately won the tied-up-contest, but man-oh-man were the other submissions top-notch! Please visit Blissfully Domestic to see the other submissions and visit their respective blogs and websites.

Others of you have offered encouragement to me, ideas (for presentation of the gift or otherwise), and general wisdom on how this blog-world works. Thank you so much! Please keep it coming. I could use a good idea now and then.

All of your letters and kind words have already blessed me. I cannot wait to see how it will bless my wife. As I have told most of you, I am humbled that you have chosen to share your stories. Please help me continue to gather them.

And if you find yourself in this little corner of the Internet, take some time to offer thanks for the kindness of strangers. And then, go find another stranger in need of a bit of encouragement and offer them the same hospitality. After all, it is Christmas.

Thanks again!

I Twitter, Therefore I Am

2008-12-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

So what's the deal with this Twitter business. I was told that it is addictive-an understatement no doubt. Please follow the MLP (screen name motherletter) on Twitter and stay up to date on the latest news.

The Mother Letter--5 Charities in 5 Days!

2008-12-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

Mother Letter Update-Lisa Makes The Official MLP Badge

2008-12-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT.

By now you know the story. I am collecting a series of open letters-the Mother Letters-for my wife's Christmas present. How do I leave a letter, you inquire? Email HERE, or comment HERE. Please refer to the FAQs in the side bar for answers to more of your questions. They explain the project in greater detail.

BADGE UPDATE

Congratulations to Lisa, who has officially created the Mother Letter Project badge! She is currently helping me code the badge (as previously stated, this mysterious blog-land is new to me). She is the feature post for today (at least) and I am donating $25 to that little African village on her behalf!

A little about Lisa in her own words:

I'm Lisa from Crazy Adventures in Parenting. I'm a military wife with six children, who, as I'm sure you can tell, is super busy! We have three boys and three girls. When I'm not finding humor and craziness to blog about in changing diapers, playing referee or taxi, kissing boo boos, baking from scratch or simmering down teenage hormones, I'm the Big Families editor at TypeAMom.net, a contributing vlogger at NewBaby.com and beginning the new year, I will be a contributing writer for the topic "Parenting/Military Life" at Happy To Be At Home. As a chemically sensitive family, I'm a big advocate for living naturally and huge organic nut. I love to bake and cook from scratch, do arts and crafts with the kids, I also love giving and helping others. You'll often find me blogging somewhere about recipes, budgeting, kid humor and tips and tricks to make parenting that much easier, or at least a little funnier.

Thanks again, Lisa!

Have fun; be encouraged. Merry Christmas

The Mother Letter Project--The 3rd Day of Christmas

2008-12-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE MOTHER LETTER PROJECT.

By now you know the story. Instead of purchasing Christmas this year, our family is "creating" Christmas and donating the "difference" to a small African village. To that end, I am collecting a series of open letters-the Mother Letters-for my wife's Christmas present. How do I leave a letter, you inquire? Email HERE, or comment HERE. Please refer to the FAQs in the side bar for answers to more of your questions. They explain the project in greater detail.

ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS... THE LUKE SPONBERG FOUNDATION

(click here to see previous charities posted)

Let’s bring it back to the grass roots. I know; I know. The above badge is not that of the Luke Sponberg Foundation. Bear with me, this charity post takes some ‘splainin.

I have been reading blogs lately—a pastime in which I previously was not engaged. Moreover, I have been reading your blogs. In so doing I stumbled across Angie’s blog (Bring the Rain), and was absolutely inspired by the grace that oozed from her story of personal loss. Read the story here. I wrote her and asked her whether we could donate to a foundation she supported—perhaps one that touched on the discrete issues with which she has dealt. Do you know what she did?

She directed me to her brother’s site—The Luke Sponberg Foundation. And that story was also moving. The Sponberg’s lost a son to SIDS earlier this year. Many of you know the story better than I, but needless to say, the grace with which they write inspires me to reexamine my trappings. It is humbling.

So here’s what I’m asking you to do today. If you are moved by these stories, please purpose to donate a little of your Christmas “difference” to the Luke Sponberg Foundation. A little "change" from a lot of us would go a long way. To donate directly to the foundation, email Greg Sponberg, or visit the website and ask how you can make a donation.

Many of you know these people, whether in person or in blog-land. Perhaps your connection with them individually will inspire you to make a difference today. And if you do, please, oh please, comment below. You may do it anonymously if you wish. Just remember that you can make a difference. After all, it is Christmas.

Thank you so much for helping me build this collection. Have fun; be encouraged. And, as always, merry Christmas!

The Charity Post

2008-11-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

I hope you have done it. I hope you and your loved-ones have already pondered how you intend to create Christmas. I hope you have picked your charitable (or neighborly) purposes and have already made plans to donate a little difference. Join in the conspiracy.

In not, call a family meeting. If your family is spread across the country, call them, email them, send a facsimile, use Morse code, or create an intricate system of smoke signals to get the word out-"we're creating a little bit of Christmas this year."

And then, when you have...

List those for whom you intend to create Christmas this year. It may be a charity, a church, or an individual. Maybe it is Habitat. Maybe it is Love146. Maybe it is A Glimmer. Or what about Compassion?

Use the comments. Tell us. Let us know.

Creating Christmas

2008-11-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

Are you joining us for Christmas? Tell us how you intend to create Christmas instead of buy it. Then, tell us to whom you are donating the difference. If you want to get really nuts, tell us the amount of difference you are donating. Perhaps, when this is all over, we'll have quite a large number to show the world.

The Mother Letter Project--The 4th Day of Christmas

2008-11-11T04:45:00.000-08:00

How will I receive the Mother Letters?

2008-10-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

The original MLP has been transmitted to all contributors (if you contributed but have not received your copy, please let me know). However, if you are new to the project, submit your letter before Mother's Day and you will receive a complimentary copy of the Mother's Day Edition.

If you sumbitted to the original MLP and would like to receive a copy of the Mother's Day Edition, pledge to donate ten cents per letter to our charity, and I will send you an electronic copy of the Mother's Day Edition. If you are a man, looking for a good present, pledge to donate ten cents per letter generated in the Mother's Day Edition, and I will send you an electronic copy to present to your wife or mother.

Simple, eh?

Can I be included in Mother Letter's bloglines?

2008-10-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

If you want to be included in the bloglines, simply write a review of the Mother Letter Project (encouraging others to get involved) and post it on your own blog. Then forward the link to me at the email, or leave your blog address in the comments of this particular post. I'll visit your site, leave a comment letting you know you're in the bloglines, and you'll be off to the races.

Merry Christmas!

What's The Story?

2008-10-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Christmas day of 2007 came and went. It was the typical American Christmas—gizmos, gadgets, whatnots, and an oversized helping of turkey. Two days and a transatlantic flight later I was standing in a small other-continental village regretfully pondering my extra helping of Christmas turkey and materialism. I decided that things would be different in 2008.

During the Christmas season of 2008, my wife and our extended families decided to give a Christmas present to that little village. We decided to spread the wealth, meager though it may be. Instead of purchasing presents, we created presents for each other and donated the difference to our friends in the village. That is where you stepped in.

As my gift to Amber, my wife, I created the Mother Letter Project with your help. Simply stated, I collected around 600 "open letters" from you. You submitted your stories—no matter though raw and difficult. You shared you concerns. You shared your wisdom. Simply, you shared your mother stories.

The project was more successful that I could have hoped or imagined. You came through, submitting almost 600 letters! We have been blown away by your generosity.

But what if? What if we could pick an initiative and raise awareness and support. What if we could pick an initiative and make a difference with these letters? We can.

Submit your letter before Mother's Day. We will be compiling a second book--the Mother's Day Edition. If you submit before Mother's Day, you will get a complimentary copy of the Edition. And anyone else who wants a copy of the project? They can purchase it for ten cents per letter generated, with all proceeds going to Compassion International's malaria intervention initiative. The only rules? Start your letter “Dear Mother” and sign it. Then, share a letter here or by email (motherletter@gmail.com).

Do you want to write a Mother Letter?

What is a Mother Letter?

2008-10-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

Simply stated, a Mother Letter is a letter from you, to another mother. You may share a story—no matter how raw or difficult. You may share your concerns or worries—no matter how foolish they may seem. You may share your wisdom—no matter how you came by it. Share your mother story; your Mother Letter. The only request? Start the letter “Dear Mother” and sign it (electronically, of course).

You may submit your Mother Letter here, or email it to motherletter@gmail.com .

See This Video

2008-10-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Am I a conspirator, you ask? Why yes, I am.

Draft...

2007-12-09T15:08:00.000-08:00

Let’s bring it back to the grass roots. Bear with me, this charity post takes some ‘splainin.

I have been reading blogs lately—a pastime in which I previously was not engaged. Moreover, I have been reading your blogs. In so doing I stumbled across Angie’s blog (Bring the Rain), and was absolutely inspired by the grace that oozed from her story of personal loss. Read the story here. I wrote her and asked her whether we could donate to a foundation she supported—perhaps one that touched on the discrete issues with which she has dealt. Do you know what she did?

She directed me to her brother’s site—The Luke Sponberg Foundation. And that story was also moving. The Sponberg’s lost a son to SIDS earlier this year. Many of you know the story better than I, but needless to say, the grace with which they write inspires me to reexamine my trappings. It is humbling.

So here’s what I’m asking you to do today. If you are moved by these stories, please purpose to donate a little of your Christmas “difference” to the American SIDS institute on behalf of the Sonbergs. Better yet, leave them a comment asking if there is another way you can be involved in dontating some "difference" to their foundation. Or, alternatively, donate a bit of your Christmas “difference” to the Hope Clinic for Women—another charitable organization recommended by Angie.

Many of you know these people, whether in person or in blog-land. Perhaps your connection with them individually will inspire you to make a difference today. And if you do, please, oh please, comment below. You may do it anonymously if you wish.