The Ball is Rolling

SO many changes over the last 7 weeks, I just have to take a big breath in and figure out where to begin. I believe that Direct Abundance has the right mix of people, with the ability to envision what we are aiming for.

In seven short weeks we have managed to get a Board of Directors together, overhaul some by-laws, ran a successful vitamin drive and ship over 50 pounds of medication and clothes, which were donated to us by a variety of individuals from our Facebook page, to the children of Holy Cross.

Heather was able to set up a Sister School Program and get the kids emailing between Holy Cross and Greenholme School here in Canada. Pictures of the children using the computers in Mr. Shane's class can be seen at www.tacogirl.com Direct Abundance has made another contact with the Roman Catholic School in Belize and the Board of Directors are heading down to Belize on June 18, 2009 to meet with a contact from there and make a trip to the Holy Cross.

We have been able to start some fundraising activities, and set an agenda for Volunteer Tours. Yes, there has been much activity around these parts of the world for the last 7 weeks and it doesn't stop there.

Cathy, our newest member, is setting up a buddy system between daycares in Belize and daycares in Canada.

In addition to all of this, we nearly have our website up and running and have a wonderful editor for all of our written material.

It never ceases to amaze me at how much can be accomplished when people work together. We are so excited to be taking our first trip down to Belize together, to visit with the children, hopefully taking along with us plenty of donations, attending a fundraiser for Holy Cross at Changes in Latitudes, and meeting all the wonderful people that help this school to grow and succeed.

Thanks to all for your support! The children appreciate it as much as we do!

My Holiday

As I said earlier back from Belize. I had a great time with my friends Erin, Laurie, Paul and Bronz. It was nice to see old faces from last year as well.



We sure ate a lot of seafood and drank a lot of fresh juice. A lady named Maria makes fresh juice every morning and it tasted so good.

At the beginning of the trip I stayed at Laurie and Paul's house which was beautiful, and when Bronz arrived I moved to Caribbean Villas. The villas were amazing. We had a loft, with a gorgeous view of the ocean.





Zack gave me a great recipe for Pina Coladas, and I spruced it up with fresh pineapple. We really enjoyed those!

Erin and I went on a boat ride to Captain Morgan's and then we all went back for a buffet dinner. The plantain was awesome!! We also took a tour of Reef Village. We joined a protest boat parade at 7 am, to stop the destruction of the Wetlands and Mangroves. Ironically, that is what I am currently learning about in University. Bronz and I laughed to see our faces on the front page of the paper.





I drove the cart from one end of the island to the other, and am officially the best trained and selected cart driver around. I stargazed at the end of the dock, and enjoyed watching fish.











I looked into Real Estate and Rentals for next year. It is hard to believe that I will be spending nearly 3 months there.

I was sad to come home, but was happy to see my kids and to find that the weather was mild.

Adios Amigos see you in December :) Pictures to follow.....

Joanne

Two More Days Til Paradise

I am so excited as I sit her looking out the window at the cold, bitter snow on the balcony, realizing that in 2 short days I will be back in Belize, with my sandals on.

I was able to muster up lots of donations to take down to the Holy Cross School. Dream Makers donated lots of teddy bears and t shirts, and people from work donated Vitamins and school supplies.

I will be meeting with Dr. Shackelford, from the University of Mississippi, and talking about the work I will be doing on my long term stay later this year. I will be visiting the school at least two or three times this week, so look for interesting pictures!

I am also heading over to Caye Caulker, to explore another island, and I think Erin and I will likely take a water taxi to Belize City. The only way I could convince her was to remind her that it is a long boat ride.

I can't wait to see Laurie and Paul.

This week I have been sick with blood pressure. I finally went to a Naturopath who treated me. I had acupuncture done and prescribed some Chinese Medicine. She altered my diet, and I felt very relaxed and good with her. I feel that this scare, and it was a REAL SCARE! was enough to cure me of smoking.

I must end this blog now, get back to my reading and studies.

Next blog coming from SAN PEDRO, BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA! SEE YOU THERE!

A New Year 2009

Okay! So here it is, my annual reflection on the past year and my looking forward to the next.

2008 - Another great year for me. The first thing I can think of is that I landed a good job that I really like. I earn good money and have good co-workers and bosses and to top it all off, they granted me a three month leave of absence to begin December 2009.

My second accomplishment was that I completed 4 more university courses, and I got 2 A's and 2 B's.

I made several new friends, and two stick out in my mind the most. Bronze, my lovely beau, and Martina, a co-worker.

I took two vacations as well, one to Belize to visit my friends Laurie and Paul, and one to Cuba with the kids. I went horsebacking with my kids on the beach and jumped in the waves in the Caribbean.

I did not meet all my health goals - however, I am going into 2009 20 pounds lighter, 90% vegetarian, and dairy free.

I celebrated as my eldest daughter took flight to Italy in March 2008, and my youngest brought home 6 A's on her report card.

Thankfully this year has had very little chaos and many blessings. In the year 2009 I wish to aim for the following goals

*3 month leave of absense December 2009 to March 2010 and volunteer with the Holy Cross Anglican School, a week in Honduras, and a week in Mexico.

*2 week vacation in Belize (coming up January 27)

* fundraise for the trip to the Holy Cross and raise minimum of $1000.00 to pay for shipping of donations

*pay off bills and possiblu acquire a second property

*have my divorce finalized (it is nearly 75% done)

*finish my BA and get a few more A's

*do well on Kasamba

*continue to live healthy and think healthy

I have a feeling this might be ne of those work your ass ff years, but the final pay off seems so worth it. The end of 2009 has a lot of making my ultimate dream come true.

As I sit here at work 1 hour before midnight I once again reflect what a truly wonderful year it has been. Life is good. Life is so very, very good. What more could I ask for.

The only thing to fear is fear itself

I am taking a big plunge ! I am going to buy a place in Belize. I am a little afraid, but I know there is nothing to fear. It is not a lot of money, and it is a good investment, but still.......

I think about writing from my laptop on the balcony, overlooking the water, and seeing smiling faces walking down the beach. I think about the water. I spent a lot of time in a lawn chair under a palapa, looking at the water, and wondering if I could really have it all......... and now I realize that I can.

I can watch the sun come up in the morning, and in the evening watch the beautiful sunset into the ocean. My bones have been so sore. This week I have gone to the specialist, and the physiotherapist, and against my better judgement, I even had to take a tylenol to make it to work. In Belize I will walk into the warm salt water and let it heal my bones.

I will be able to do lots of volunteer work. When I am bored I can take a walk, look at nature, go to the ocean and look at the ocean creatures. I can visit with friends and dance on the beach.

That is my most memorable moment :) Dancing on the beach ............. oh how I could live my life dancing on the beach and my bare toes in the sand.

Just as I am writing this, I got a letter from Tim, the owner of Banana Beach, where I am thinking of moving. I loved it there.

Here I was in March envisioning buying it............. maybe now it is a reality

Good News !!!

I just got off the phone with the principal at my daughter's school. There is good news!
The school here in Mississauga is willing to do a pen pal program with The Holy Cross School in Belize. We won't be able to start until September, but I do have approval from the school, which is very motivating. I am trying to get some copies burnt of the slide show, so I can go and present it to groups of churches and schools that are interested in helping.

I am finished my winter university courses, and I did quite well. My Professor has encouraged me to carry on for a Masters Degree, and so I will likely be continuing after this year.

Today I made the decision to take 3 weeks off next year and go to Belize and volunteer with the school. I have written the school and asked that they send me a letter to present to my employer. I was so excited while I was planning it!

I better get back to the books. Today is pretty much all the time I have. I am doing a fund-raiser tomorrow for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. I hope I will be able to raise a lot of money. I need to get to 2000.0 before September and I am at 610.00.

Making space and getting rid of junk

I am getting excited. Life is changing once again. My best friend and I have decided that we will live together, and in doing so, we will reduce both of our overhead debt in half, freeing us up to live our lives.

I am cleaning out a lot of JUNK. It is interesting to see the things that I have held onto and acquired over the years, and it is a relief to let them go...... cleaning out the clutter.

I am hopeful that once she is here permanently, that I will be able to spend more time in Belize. I really am drawn to the Holy Cross School and plan to set up a pen pal program hopefully with my daughter's school. I will do that tomorrow, approach the principal and see if we can get it going.

I also want to look at buying some property in Belize. I am not quite sure how I am going to do it, but I am sure I am going to do it. Everyday I find myself being drawn there more and more. There is lots of work I can help with, and my feet don't hurt there. It must be the warm weather or the sea salt or the sand. Not sure exactly, but know it feels good to me. I had the opportunity to look over some photos today and they reminded me of how enjoyable life is down there.......

I finished my final exam, and it went well. A few more courses and I am finished my BA, hopefully onto a teaching career.

Well I best return to the cleaning of the clutter.

JO

So Many Options ~~ So much to do

Well I am back from San Pedro Belize, and must say, I am looking forward to returning. I have found a place that warms my heart and the options are endless. When I was there, I felt more alive than I have in years. San Pedro is my natural clock. I wake with the sunrise, and sleep around midnight. My aching bones went away, my nails grew, and my breathing improved.

I plan on buying a piece of land there this year, and hopefully my best friend, Erin will build with me on it. My little piece of paradise far, far away. A small 14 seater plane will fly me to my destination. Amidst the beauty of the sea and the warm air, there is a small part of San Pedro that could use some help.






I saw that there was ample humanitarian work that could be started there. After talking with the school officials, it became clear, that I could get some pilot projects started on this tiny island. Some of the things I was told were desperately needed are:

Sponsor a grade 8 student to go to high school for 1000.00 US per year, there are 35 students who need to go to high school next year, and for half the yearly salary of a US or Canadian teacher 35 deserving kids can have that.

There needs to be sewage in San Mateo and electricity. The smell of San Mateo will stay with me for a long time. There is nothing so disappointing as the SMELL of poverty.

A safe house for women and children needs to be built. I spoke with a female police officer that informed me she would be interested in working on a domestic abuse program.

A donation needs to come from a shipping company to deliver the playground that is waiting to be shipped from Texas to the school so that the children can play in a nice safe playground, and not be surrounded by broken glass and bottles.


I am planning on trying to connect with some church groups, social groups and organizations to see if we can get donations of money, time, and service. After all we are all one. I am looking forward to a day when I will be able to give my time to those that could use the help.

The options are endless where to help and I just can't wait to get started. I also will enjoy after a hard day of work, going to the beach and watching the sunset. Ya! That warms my heart!